Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2012 15:21:54 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 3, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board Newsclips for January 3, 2012. 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 delays border-crossing pollution rule. A federal court Friday put on hold a controversial Obama administration regulation aimed at reducing power plant pollution in 27 states that contributes to unhealthy air downwind. More than a dozen electric power companies, municipal power plant operators and states had sought to delay the rules until the litigation plays out. A federal appeals court in Washington approved their request Friday. The EPA, in a statement, said it was confident that the rule would ultimately be upheld on its merits. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/30/2665512/court-delays-border-crossing-pollution.html#storylink=misearch Valley's air under siege from fireplace soot. Don't take a deep breath in Clovis and Fresno this holiday season if you smell fireplace smoke. The Valley's haze has become a nasty brew of soot and debris twice the federal health standard. And it's getting worse. Nature and the economy have created a perfect storm of dirty air -- the worst December bout for the Fresno-Clovis area in more than a decade. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/12/29/2664862/valley-under-siege-from-fireplace.html#storylink=misearch CLIMATE CHANGE Police Inquiry Prompts New Speculation on Who Leaked Climate-Change E-Mails. For two years, the mystery has endured: who set out to undercut climate scientists by publishing more than 1,000 of their private e-mails on the Internet? The original e-mails, released in 2009 on the eve of a high-stakes United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen, sowed doubts about the scientists’ research and integrity and galvanized skeptics who challenge the scientific consensus that global warming is under way. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/02/science/earth/new-speculation-on-who-leaked-climate-change-e-mails.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse San Mateo County working on plan to reduce greenhouse gases. For some people, their New Year's resolution is to cut out the sweets and lose some weight by the summer. For San Mateo County, it's to cut greenhouse gas emissions, starting with a 15 percent reduction below 2005 emission levels by 2020. County staff and consultants are drafting a "climate action plan" that targets government operations and the county's unincorporated areas. The plan is funded through a $350,000 grant from the federal Department of Energy and is required to be completed by this fall. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_19661950 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19661950?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Top 6 U.S. climate-policy happenings of 2011. As the year winds down, it's a good time to take stock of climate policy in the United States. Here's a quick roundup of what happened -- or didn't happen -- in 2011. The year began with big questions about what the Obama administration and states would do to address climate change and clean energy, absent a comprehensive federal climate policy. This year's record was decidedly mixed. Not as much happened as some would have liked, but it was in total better than many feared as the year began. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-policy/2011-12-31-top-6-us-climate-policy-happenings-of-2011 FUELS End of ethanol subsidy will raise the price of gas. Gasoline could cost 4.5 cents a gallon more starting as early as this week, and it's not because of rising oil prices. It's because Congress declined to renew the 30-year-old federal subsidy for ethanol, letting it expire Sunday. Ethanol, denatured grain alcohol used as a proven smog-cutting ingredient, currently makes up 10% of most gasoline-based motor fuel for general use, so-called E-10. In a few areas, E-85 fuel, 85% ethanol, also is available. E-85 can be burned only by vehicles equipped for "flex fuel." Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/story/2012-01-03/ethanol-subsidy-gas-prices/52355056/1 Judge blocks California's low-carbon fuel rules. A federal judge has blocked California from enforcing regulations on carbon output from vehicle fuels, according to news reports. U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence O’Neill said the standards favor biofuels produced in California, in violation of constitutional commerce laws, the Washington Post reported. The California Air Resources Board said it will ask the judge to stay his ruling, and may appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/03/judge-blocks-low-carbon-fuel-rules/ EPA raises ethanol goal. The federal government has set its target for biofuels production in 2012, increasing by 1.25 billion gallons the amount of ethanol and biofuels that must be blended into the fuel supply. Fuel providers will be required to blend 15.2 billion gallons of renewable fuel into the fuel supply in 2012. This includes 8.65 million gallons of cellulosic biofuels, up from 6.6 million gallons in 2011. Posted. http://www.argusleader.com/article/20120101/NEWS/301010030/EPA-raises-ethanol-goal Santa Cruz nonprofit hopes to make fuel from ocean-based plastic. Plying through the infamous "Garbage Patch" in the North Pacific, a solar-powered catamaran gobbles up fishing nets, plastic bags and Styrofoam blocks and then shoves them into a high-temperature cooker to convert the litter to fuel. This fuel propels the boat farther to devour more plastic -- until every large piece has been scooped up. It sounds like an environmentalist's dream. But it's the ambitious mission of the Santa Cruz nonprofit Clean Oceans Project, which six months ago teamed up with a Japanese manufacturer and a San Jose distributor, E-N-ergy, to bring plastic-to-fuel technology to the Monterey Bay. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19658574 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19658574 VEHICLES New green stickers to allow partial-zero emission vehicles in California's carpool lanes. Continuing its push for cleaner vehicles, California this week begins offering green decals to owners of near zero-emission cars, allowing them to drive solo in the state's carpool lanes. But freeway diamond lanes around Sacramento and the state won't be seeing green anytime soon: It turns out no commercially available cars on the road meet the new standards. "The vehicles that will qualify are not likely to be seen for a few more months," said John Swanton of the California Air Resources Board. "It is not going to be a mad rush." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/01/v-print/4155825/new-green-stickers-to-allow-partial.html Woman takes unique road to sue Honda over mileage. Torrance, Calif. -- A woman who expected her 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid to be her dream car wants Honda to pay for not delivering the high mileage it promised. But rather than joining other owners in a class-action lawsuit, she is going solo in small claims court, an unusual move that could offer a bigger payout if it doesn't backfire. A trial is set for Tuesday afternoon in Torrance, where American Honda Motor Co. has its West Coast headquarters. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/01/03/national/a004443S52.DTL http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-honda-smallclaims-20111227,0,959031.story More hybrid vehicles may plug in locally. A federal judge has blocked California from enforcing regulations on carbon output from vehicle fuels, according to news reports. U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence O’Neill said the standards favor biofuels produced in California, in violation of constitutional commerce laws, the Washington Post reported. The California Air Resources Board said it will ask the judge to stay his ruling, and may appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/03/judge-blocks-low-carbon-fuel-rules/ Fisker recalls plug-in Karma over battery defect. Fisker Automotive is recalling 239 hybrid plug-in cars to fix a defect in the vehicle’s high-voltage battery. The recall notice, posted today on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Web site, says the campaign targets all 2012 Karma models manufactured between July 1 and Nov. 3 of this year. A123 Systems supplies Fisker with the lithium-ion batteries used in the Karma. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20111229/OEM11/111229919/1186 Toyota works on recycling hybrid batteries. Los Angeles -- Forget those fears that hybrid and electric vehicles will result in landfills full of dead batteries. When Toyota hybrid battery packs reach the end of their lives, every piece is recycled. And it’s all because of a program launched a year ago by Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. and its dealers. Moreover, service departments can use the battery-handling process to help sell new vehicles to used-Prius owners. Posted. http://www.plasticsnews.com/headlines2.html?id=24099&channel=355 GREEN ENERGY High heating bills prompt energy efficiency checks for homeowners. The high heating bills that come with winter’s chill have sent some homeowners hunting for energy efficiency. “It’s been cold. People have been cranking up the heat,” said Jim Apperson, owner of Apperson Energy Management, with offices in Mendocino and Sonoma counties. When they find it costs too much to keep the house toasty, some seek a home energy evaluation. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120101/ARTICLES/120109985 MISCELLANEOUS Green waste recycling has branched out over the years. For many, decorating a Christmas tree is an enjoyable holiday tradition. For a few, however, grinding those trees into a million tiny pieces is just as fun. For Agromin, an Oxnard-based company that makes mulch from plant waste collected curbside weekly in the county, chewing up and spitting out Christmas trees has become a holiday tradition. "We started recycling organic waste in l992," said CEO Bill Camarillo. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jan/01/green-waste-recycling-has-branched-out-over-the/ OPINIONS Where the Real Jobs Are. The Republicans believe they have President Obama in a box: either he approves a controversial Canadian oil pipeline or they accuse him of depriving the nation of jobs. Mr. Obama can and should push back hard. This is precisely the moment for him to argue the case for alternative fuel sources and clean energy jobs — and to lambaste the Republicans for doubling down on conventional fuels while ceding a $5 trillion global clean technology market (and the jobs that go with it) to more aggressive competitors like China and Germany. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/02/opinion/where-the-real-jobs-are.html?scp=4&sq=fuels&st=cse Elias: Car improvements run into the usual opposition. If California highways and parking lots of 2025 look considerably different from today's, it will probably be because they'll contain almost 1.5 million more hybrid cars and trucks, hydrogen-driven vehicles and plug-in hybrids that run mostly on electricity except on long trips. That's the vision behind the latest set of proposed rules rolled out by the California Air Resources Board even as the Republican chairman of the main investigative committee in the House of Representatives seeks to drag it into hearings about whether it is exceeding its mission. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jan/02/elias-car-improvements-run-into-the-usual/ FORUM: Issa wrong on opposition to sensible fuel standards. As publications across the world talk of austerity measures and tightening budgets at a private and public level, it is hard to think why anyone would be opposed to measures that would save a few dollars. A big missed source of savings for Americans starts at the pump: As demand for oil accelerates with China and India's continued growth, Americans can expect sharp increases in the cost of fuel in the future. But it doesn't have to be this way. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/forum-issa-wrong-on-opposition-to-sensible-fuel-standards/article_418db3ec-22e1-50b7-bd87-43cbfa67cf7f.html Build pipeline, build it safely and create jobs. The following editorial appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Friday, Dec. 30: Saying no to the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline across the Great Plains states would not change the demand for oil by one barrel nor would it lessen the impact of getting that oil out of the tar sands of Canada's Alberta province. Despite the promise of alternative fuels and more fuel-efficient vehicles, and our need to develop them, demand for oil will remain high for several decades yet even in the most optimistic projections, here and in places such as China and India. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/03/2009696/build-pipeline-build-it-safely.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Natural gas: Cheap, clean and risky. Natural gas has a key role in our energy future, but it must be handled with care. Political leaders from both parties argue that natural gas could save our economy, the environment and promote our national security. Is this so? Or is it just a dream? It turns out that the way one develops natural gas will determine whether it is a serious help to our energy and climate problems, or a dangerous extension of bad habits. On the face of it, natural gas looks terrific. The United States — and many other countries — have abundant domestic supplies. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-harvey-natural-gas-20120103,0,1747653.story Good riddance to ethanol subsidies. Call it a holiday miracle. For decades, conservative critics have assailed federal ethanol subsidies of 45 cents per gallon as corporate welfare that came to cost taxpayers as much as $6 billion per year. Liberal critics joined the chorus as they noticed that the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit drove up corn and feed prices. Also, studies had begun to show that, contrary to expectations, the corn ethanol industry increased net carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/02/EDIC1MJ2PJ.DTL&type=printable New Effort To Improve Cars Draws The Usual Misguided Opposition. If California highways and parking lots of 2025 look considerably different from today’s, it will probably be because they’ll contain almost 1.5 million more hybrid cars and trucks, hydrogen-driven vehicles, and plug-in hybrids that run mostly on electricity except on long trips. That’s the vision behind the latest set of proposed rules rolled out by the California Air Resources Board even as the Republican chairman of the main investigative committee in the House of Representatives seeks to drag it into hearings about whether it is exceeding its mission. Posted. http://www.smmirror.com/#mode=single&view=33791 BLOGS California high-speed rail funding could be in jeopardy. The Legislature should not authorize the issuance of $6 billion in bonds to start building California's $98.5-billion bullet train project, a state-appointed review panel says in a key report to be released later Tuesday. The conclusion by the California High-Speed Rail Peer Review Group is a serious blow to the project as it is currently designed because state law specifically empowered the group to make recommendation before any serious money on the train could be spent. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/01/state-bonds.html How bad is the Valley's air right now? Worst in the country. Someone asked me how the San Joaquin Valley's winter air stacks up against the rest of the country. Check it out for yourself. This is definitely the worst place right now. Which brings me to another point that doesn't get discussed a lot. Air pollution is nearly a year-round problem here -- among the worst in the nation for a full three seasons plus each year. There's very little break here compared to most places in the country. Posted. http://fresnobeehive.com/news/2011/12/how_bad_is_the_valleys_air_rig.html#storylink=misearch The 10 Emerging Sustainable Cities to Watch in 2012. When “green,” “sustainable” or resilient cities come to mind, the usual suspects crop up: Portland, Amsterdam, San Francisco and even high-tech Abu Dhabi score plenty of attention. As more cities push their green agenda the way they promote business opportunities or local tourism, some cities are way ahead of others. Mayors now try to jockey themselves to the front of the sustainability beauty contest with some cities here in the United States showing far more success (Chicago) than others that miserably fail (Los Angeles). Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/01/top-10-sustainable-cities-2012/ 2011 Made Fracking a Household Word. This was the year that "fracking" became a household word. It wasn't just that environmental concerns about the underground drilling process finally struck a mainstream chord . For the first time, independent scientific investigations linked the drilling technique with water pollution , and a variety of federal and state agencies responded to the growing apprehension about water contamination with more studies and more regulation. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/fracking-household-word/ Republican Congressman calls for end of $7,500 plug-in vehicle tax credit. Remember Republican Congressman Mike Kelly, the representative from Pennsylvania who said "there is no market for [the Chevrolet Volt]"? He wants to make sure that ends up being true. On December 30th, Kelly introduced H.R. 3768, which seeks "To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the credit for plug-in electric drive vehicles." "Amending" in this case simply mean to eliminate the up to $7,500 tax credit that the Code currently offers to people who buy a plug-in car. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/03/republican-congressman-calls-for-end-of-7-500-plug-in-vehicle-t/ ====================================================================== 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 Jan 2012 15:35:30 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ADDENDUM TO Newsclips for January 3, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ADDENDUM TO California Air Resources Board Newsclips for January 3, 2012. More hybrid vehicles may plug in locally. A federal judge has blocked California from enforcing regulations on carbon output from vehicle fuels, according to news reports. U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence O’Neill said the standards favor biofuels produced in California, in violation of constitutional commerce laws, the Washington Post reported. The California Air Resources Board said it will ask the judge to stay his ruling, and may appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Posted. http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/more-hybrid-vehicles-may-plug-in-locally-1306880.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, 4 Jan 2012 14:46:30 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 4, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 4, 2012. 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, India Mount Opposition Against EU Imposing Carbon Curbs on Airlines. The European Union faced increased pressure to scale down its plan to impose carbon curbs on airlines after China’s carriers said they won’t comply with the rules and India signaled it may attempt to scupper the EU plan. Europe should either scrap or delay its initiative to include flights to and from the region’s airports in its emissions trading system as of this year, according to the China Air Transport Association, or CATA. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-04/india-china-mount-opposition-against-eu-imposing-carbon-curbs-on-airlines.html Groups want pollution monitoring near CA freeways. Los Angeles—Several groups said Tuesday that an air monitoring plan approved by the Environmental Protection Agency doesn't do enough to address the health concerns of Southern California residents living near congested highways. Led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, the groups contend the EPA violated the Clean Air Act when it accepted a plan by the region's anti-smog agency that detailed locations of pollution sensors in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_19667249 http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/03/2669189/groups-want-pollution-monitoring.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/groups-want-pollution-monitoring-near-ca-freeways/article_c9ce21b4-b31c-556b-8ee0-af49901825ed.html#ixzz1iW2GzBRx http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/03/2010256/groups-want-pollution-monitoring.html CLIMATE CHANGE Climate coverage down again in 2011. Media coverage of climate change continued to tumble in 2011, declining roughly 20 percent from 2010's levels and nearly 42 percent from 2009's peak, according to analysis of DailyClimate.org's archive of global media. The declining coverage came amid bouts of extreme weather across the globe – historic wildfires in Arizona, drought in Texas, famine in the Horn of Africa – and flashes of political frenzy. Posted. http://wwwp.dailyclimate.org/tdc-newsroom/2012/01/climate-coverage-2011 Delta, Lufthansa to hike prices to cover emissions. Within days of new European rules on carbon emissions produced by passenger jets, two major airlines say they will raise fares. Delta Air Lines Inc. began adding $6 per round trip to the price of tickets sold in the U.S. for travel to Europe. And Deutsche Lufthansa AG said it will raise prices but not right away. Under European regulations that took effect this week, airlines flying in and out of Europe must get certificates to pay for the carbon dioxide emissions produced by their flights. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/04/2011227/delta-lufthansa-to-hike-prices.html DIESEL EMISSIONS California Curbs Diesel Truck and Bus Emissions. New regulations for reducing emissions from heavy diesel trucks and buses took effect in California on January 1. By requiring that trucks and buses be equipped with diesel particulate matter filters, the regulation will reduce emissions from the nearly one million heavy-duty diesel trucks that operate in California. The regulation is one of several emission control measures that target diesel pollution, which is associated with a host of health ailments including cancer. Posted. http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2012/2012-01-02-092.html FUELS California clean air regulations could “wipe out” Hydro’s export revenues. California’s new carbon cap-and-trade regulations, which came into effect Jan. 1, will require BC Hydro’s power exporting arm to buy carbon credits on its energy exports starting in January, 2013, likely wiping out Hydro’s main export market and increasing electricity costs to B.C. consumers, a B.C. energy economist said Tuesday. California’s new carbon cap-and-trade regulations, which came into effect Jan. 1, will require BC Hydro’s power exporting arm to buy costly carbon credits on its energy exports beginning in January, 2013, …Posted. http://www.vancouversun.com/story_print.html?id=5942081&sponsor= State review council to consider dropping California standards. Ariz. looks to kill car emission rules. The Gov. Jan Brewer administration's proposal to kill "clean-car" emission standards for Arizona will be considered in the coming week by a state regulatory review council. Tougher emission standards raise the short-term cost of owning and maintaining a vehicle. But there are debates among public officials and environmentalists if the long-term improvement in air quality justifies that cost. Posted. http://azstarnet.com/news/science/environment/ariz-looks-to-kill-car-emission-rules/article_17bba802-267e-51db-b4af-3f28335fa701.html ‘Fracking’ waste disposal tied to Ohio earthquakes. The disposal of wastewater used in the booming practice known as “fracking” is responsible for a rash of recent earthquakes in Ohio, and critics have latched on to the seismic events as evidence that the popular natural gas extraction method is dangerous and should be banned. Ohio has experienced at least 11 tremors since March, including a 4.0 temblor that shook Youngstown on New Year's Eve. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/3/fracking-waste-disposal-tied-to-ohio-earthquakes/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS Heating Oil Gains on Speculation Europe Diesel Imports to Rise. Heating oil jumped to a six-week high on speculation that Europe will import more diesel from the U.S. after three regional refineries close this month and on the prospect of a European ban on Iranian oil. Futures rose as Petroplus Holdings AG, Europe’s largest independent refiner by capacity, will temporarily shut three of its five plants. Heating oil increased gains when Brent crude surged on reports that European governments will ban imports of Iranian oil. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-04/heating-oil-gains-on-speculation-europe-diesel-imports-to-rise.html VEHICLES GM’s Chevy Volt Misses 2011 U.S. Sales Goal as Safety Probed. General Motors Co. (GM)’s Chevrolet Volt missed its U.S. sales target of 10,000 cars in 2011, the company said. Chevy dealers sold 1,529 of the plug-in hybrids last month, leaving the brand 2,329 shy of its goal. A slow production increase kept dealers in short supply until December, and a federal investigation of three fires that occurred after Volt crash tests lowered demand for the car, according to Bandon, Oregon-based CNW Marketing Research Inc. U.S. dealers sold a total of 7,671 Volts last year. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-04/gm-s-chevy-volt-misses-2011-sales-target-as-safety-probe-goes-on.html http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-volt-20120104,0,6521148.story Review urges delay in borrowing billions for bullet train. State-mandated panel concludes that the high-speed rail program 'is not financially feasible.' Gov. Jerry Brown's office signals that he isn't likely to be swayed by the findings. In a scathing critique that could further jeopardize political support for California's proposed $98.5-billion bullet train, a key independent review panel is recommending that state officials postpone borrowing billions of dollars to start building the first section of track this year. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bullet-train-report-20120104,0,5203985,print.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/03/BAKF1MKFOG.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics-government/ci_19668834?source=rss SF transit officials want to reduce car use. San Francisco transit officials want to decrease vehicle use in the city. The Municipal Transportation Agency set a goal on Tuesday of making public transit, walking or biking the mode of transportation for half of all trips in the city within six years. They currently account for 38 percent of those trips, with motorized vehicles responsible for the rest. City transportation chief Ed Reiskin told the San Francisco Chronicle (http://bit.ly/AfnDTB) the goal is ambitious It would require drawing people away from their cars. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/04/2011049/sf-transit-officials-want-to-reduce.html Americans bought more cars and trucks in 2011. Americans bought more cars and trucks last year, inspired by easier credit, an improved economy and the desire to replace aging vehicles that got them through the Great Recession. Sales rose sharply for Detroit's three carmakers and for Japan's Nissan in 2011, aided by a surge in November and December. Analysts expect that momentum to continue into 2012. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/americans-bought-more-cars-and-trucks-in/article_4bdddeaa-f587-580a-a455-b5c642bfe4f2.html#ixzz1iW3fdHw3 EVs to obtain more attention from EU policy-makers in 2012. A number of initiatives relevant to clean vehicles such as electrically powered cars are foreseen within the following 12 months in the European Union (EU). cars21.com brings an overview of some EU-level policies that will be significant in bringing electric vehicles (EVs) faster to the market. On the basis of its long-term low carbon strategy that aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 80-95% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels, the EU will aim to reduce its oil dependency and increase the share of clean technology and renewable energy. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/72520120104.php Electric Car Conversion Guides Reviewed At Electricity4Cars.com Offer Insights About EV Projects. Over the past couple of years, the electric car has broken through the modern vehicle market, mainly touting significant ecological benefits and fuel efficiency. Notably, the United States, along with various European countries, Japan, China and many others, have presented plans regarding the introduction of electric vehicles. Fiscal incentives have been brought and thorough researches going on to push for electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.theopenpress.com/index.php?a=press&id=127298 GREEN ENERGY Local architecture firm wins design award. Behr Browers Architects Inc. recently received an Architectural Design Honor Award from the American Institute of Architects, Ventura Chapter, for the design of the Summit Retail Project in Calabasas, California. The Summit was the first private commercial development to be required to achieve LEED Silver equivalent standards by the City of Calabasas. The project's distinctive design reflects it's mission of incorporating and integrating numerous energy and resource conservation strategies in order to reduce the development's carbon footprint. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jan/03/local-architecture-firm-wins-design-award-4656/ China Sets New Record For Renewable Energy Storage. BYD Co., which counts Warren Buffett as an investor, has completed the world’s largest lithium-ion battery project to bottle wind and solar electricity in China, which will likely see more large energy storage projects as a result of its ambition to add lots more renewable energy. The Chinese electric car and battery maker finished the 36 megawatt-hours storage farm in December for the State Grid Corporation of China, …Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/uciliawang/2012/01/04/china-sets-new-record-for-renewable-energy-storage/ Scotland looks to build on a record year for renewable energy. Scotland's Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has called on the renewable energy industry to build on the successes of 2011. Two weeks after Department for Energy and Climate Change figures were released which showed 2011 is on track to be the best year ever for renewable energy in Scotland, with 94 per cent of 2010's entire output generated in the first three quarters alone, Mr Ewing said he was determined to make 2012 an even better year. Posted. http://www.clickgreen.org.uk/news/national-news/123000-scotland-looks-to-build-on-a-record-year-for-renewable-energy.html MISCELLANEOUS 2011 CoolCalifornia Small Business Awards application period now open. The California Air Resources Board is proud to announce the application period for the 3rd CoolCalifornia Small Business Awards is NOW OPEN. Applications will be accepted from January 3 to February 29, 2012. These awards recognize small businesses in California that took action during 2011 to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, promote climate friendly practices, and integrate the tools on CoolCalifornia.org into their business operations. Posted. http://yubanet.com/california/2011-CoolCalifornia-Small-Business-Awards-application-period-now-open.php OPINIONS High-tech cars -- and equally high-tech security issues. Remember "Christine," the malevolent Plymouth Fury of book (Stephen King) and movie fame? Guess what: Her high-tech sister may be back, sort of. Or maybe it's more "Car 54, Where Are You?" except this time your car can tell you where it is, and a whole lot more. Steve Johnson of the San Jose Mercury News reported on recent studies by university researchers and security companies concerning the possibility of cyber attacks on today's brainy cars and trucks: Posted. http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2012/01/cars-cyber-attack-risk.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OpinionLa+%28L.A.+Times+-+Opinion+Blog%29 Welcome progress on U.S. fuel efficiency. The following editorial appeared in the Kansas City Star on Monday, Jan. 2: Less than a decade ago, oil cost less than $30 a barrel and drivers pumped $1.50-a-gallon gasoline into their vehicles. While those good old days aren't likely to return, several notable events in 2011 showed it's time for Americans to change at least some of their old ways of thinking about oil. That was then: Any threats to petroleum supplies from the Middle East will result in immediately soaring prices. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/04/v-print/4161603/welcome-progress-on-us-fuel-efficiency.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/04/2010986/welcome-progress-on-us-fuel-efficiency.html BLOGS A Conversation With: Air Pollution Expert Dr. Gunasekar. Saurabh Das/Associated PressCyclists and vehicles ride through New Delhi’s morning smog on January 3. Dr. Arunachalam Gunasekar is a 30-year veteran of the Indian armed forces, where he was a public health professional and director of medical research. He joined the World Health Organization in 2008, where he currently specializes in environmental health issues including air pollution and associated health problems. Posted. http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/a-conversation-with-air-pollution-expert-dr-gunasekar/?pagemode=print Panel: High Speed Rail Plans Not Fully Cooked. A panel of independent reviewers says that without more certainty on funding and operations, any start to construction of a high speed rail system "represents an immense financial risk to the state of California." The new report is further proof that 2012 will be the most important year yet in the debate over the ambitious but costly bullet train system. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/capitalnotes/2012/01/03/panel-high-speed-rail-plans-not-fully-cooked/ http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/01/california-high-speed-rail-revote-legislature.html http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/california-high-speed-rail-peer-review-group.html Volvo releases details about Volvo XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept. Anyone in the U.S. who's been looking longingly at the Volvo's diesel-electric V60 plug-in hybrid – which is only scheduled to go on sale in Europe, starting sometime later this year – take hope: the Swedish automaker has taken the digital wraps off of the new XC60 Plug-in Hybrid Concept, and is dropping all sorts of hints that it's coming to America. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/04/volvo-releases-details-about-volvo-xc60-plug-in-hybrid-concept/ New Air Pollution Rules Could Reduce US Electric-Sector CO2 Emissions By More Than 4 Percent. Two new federal air pollution regulations are expected to spur the closure of up to 67 aging, inefficient, coal-fired power plants, reducing both harmful air pollutants and emissions of the climate destabilizing greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), according to an AP survey of US power plant operators and a preliminary Breakthrough Institute analysis of the likely impacts on CO2 emissions. Posted. http://theenergycollective.com/breakthroughinstitut/73545/breakthrough-analysis-new-air-pollution-rules-could-reduce-us-electric-se Study finds increased air pollution can worsen both drought and flooding. Increases in air pollution and other particulate matter in the atmosphere can strongly affect cloud development in ways that reduce precipitation in cool and relatively dry regions, but also can increase rain and the intensity of severe storms in warm and moist regions or seasons, such as the eastern half of the US during summer, according to a new study by researchers in the US and Israel. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/li-20120103.html European Carbon Regulation for Airlines Takes Off. 2012 started with some good news. On Sunday, the European Union began charging all airlines flying into and out of Europe for their carbon emissions. Covering a third of all global flights, this new scheme is one of the widest-reaching measures adopted lately by any country or regional bloc to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Given all the hurdles and protest it faced, the fact that this scheme actually began is not just an incredible accomplishment for the EU, but also a bit of a miracle. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/01/european-carbon-regulation-after-overcoming-worldwide-resistance/ ====================================================================== 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 Jan 2012 12:06:10 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 5, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 5, 2012. 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-air tractor saves fuel, cuts pollution. When Guillermo Bucio climbs behind the wheel of Acquistapace Farms' new high-tech, clean-air tractor, he's stepping into the future but harking back to the past. The $250,000 contraption uses satellite-based navigation to ensure straight crop rows, rides on tank tracks to reduce soil compaction, and boasts emission controls that bring it close to pollution levels of an old-school horse and plow - zero. Posted. http://syvnews.com/news/local/clean-air-tractor-saves-fuel-cuts-pollution/article_39b79b80-368e-11e1-9803-0019bb2963f4.html CDC scientist proposes wide testing on gas drilling safety to humans, animals, environment. One of the government’s top scientists says much more research is needed to determine the possible impacts of shale gas drilling on human health and the environment. “Studies should include all the ways people can be exposed, such as through air, water, soil, plants and animals,” Dr. Christopher Portier wrote to The Associated Press in an email. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/cdc-scientist-proposes-wide-testing-on-gas-drilling-safety-to-humans-animals-environment/2012/01/04/gIQAanL4aP_story.html CLIMATE CHANGE Delta, Lufthansa among first airlines raising fares to cover new European emissions rules. Within days of new European rules on carbon emissions produced by passenger jets, two major airlines say they will raise fares. Delta Air Lines Inc. began adding $6 per round trip to the price of tickets sold in the U.S. for travel to Europe. And Deutsche Lufthansa AG said it will raise prices but not right away. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/delta-lufthansa-among-first-airlines-to-signal-higher-fares-to-cover-european-emissions-rules/2012/01/04/gIQAa41caP_story.html China calls on Europe for talks over carbon charge. China urged the European Union on Thursday to heed objections to its plans to charge airlines for carbon emissions and to hold talks with opponents. The charges, which took effect Sunday, are aimed at curbing emissions of climate-changing gases but airlines oppose them as an improper tax. The ratings agency Fitch warned last month the conflict could spiral into a global trade dispute. "China opposes the EU forcing through unilateral legislation," said a foreign ministry spokesman, Hong Lei. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CHINA_EUROPE_AIRLINES?SITE=OKTUL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/china-calls-on-europe-to-heed-objections-to-airline-carbon-charge-hold-talks-with-opponents/2012/01/05/gIQAUPX5bP_story.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19680236?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.nctimes.com/business/china-calls-on-europe-for-talks-over-carbon-charge/article_8cc89100-ed0f-5f13-8a30-b0e622591bfa.html#ixzz1ibiyxpjd Higher Education Can Make a Significant Impact in Combatting Climate Change. As this year’s 17th conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Durban, South Africa, resulted in yet another stand-off among today’s leading nations, there are plenty of reasons to share in the embitterment and despair shadowing the climate change community. And while the Durban discussions did lead to a few positive …Posted. http://apus-sustainability.com/tag/californias-air-resources-board/ Scientists back 'significant broadening' of climate research. U.S. scientists want to expand research into climate change to focus on its social effects and ways to adapt to a changing planet, but tighter budgets may crimp those plans, the National Academy of Sciences reported Thursday. The 10-year plan reviewed by the academy represents a "significant broadening" of the federal Global Change Research Program, which includes researchers from across the U.S. government. Posted. http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/05/us/climate-research/index.html DIESEL EMISSIONS School buses ‘go green’ after retrofit. A retrofitted school bus is a cleaner school bus. That is the motivation behind the Lower-Emission School Bus Program administered by the State of California’s Air Resources Board (ARB). Kernville Union School District Superintendent, Robin Shive, demonstrated how the district is doing its part to comply with the program. “California mandates that all buses be retrofitted with an exhaust system to lower the emissions.” She continued, “KUSD received a grant to get a head start on keeping the valley and its residents ‘green’.” Posted. http://www.kvsun.com/articles/2012/01/04/kv_life/education/doc4f0370ab60a89612224621.txt L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa Celebrates Milestone in Clean Truck Program at Port of Los Angeles. Delivering on his promise to reduce pollution at the Port of Los Angeles and protect public health, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today marked a major milestone in the Clean Truck Program. The program required all trucks at the Port of Los Angeles to meet the toughest environmental standards in the nation by January 1, 2012.“The Clean Truck Program has greened our port for the long haul and ensured Angelenos will breathe cleaner air for generations to come,” Mayor Villaraigosa said. Posted. http://californianewswire.com/2012/01/04/CNW10657_110258.php Diesel spill in Huntington Harbour. Containment booms are being use to prevent the spread of a diesel fuel spill in Huntington Harbour. Huntington Beach fire spokesman Jeff Lopez tells City News Service that a fuel slick the size of a football field appeared in the harbor behind Peter's Landing on Wednesday night. A department hazardous materials squad and the California Department of Fish and Game have been working to contain the spill. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/05/2012494/diesel-spill-in-huntington-harbour.html FUELS Oil industry chief warns Obama on Canada pipeline. The oil industry's top lobbyist warned the Obama administration Wednesday to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline or face "huge political consequences" in an election year. Jack Gerard, president of the American Petroleum Institute, said it would be a "huge mistake" for President Barack Obama to reject the 1,700-mile, Canada-to-Texas pipeline. Obama faces a Feb. 21 deadline to decide whether the $7 billion pipeline is in the national interest Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/04/2011485/oil-industry-chief-warns-obama.html Corn Board lauds judgment striking down California’s carbon fuel standard. The Nebraska Corn Board celebrated the end of 2011 with a victory when Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill struck down California’s low carbon fuel standard. Judge O’Neill found the standard unconstitutional by violating the Commerce Clause of the US Constitution. “This is a great victory for Nebraska’s ethanol and corn industries and Nebraska’s economy as a whole,” said Tim Scheer, farmer director from St. Paul and vice chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board. Posted. http://www.imperialrepublican.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3613:corn-board-lauds-judgment-striking-down-californias-carbon-fuel-standard&catid=41:agbusiness&Itemid=53 VEHICLES California's push for cleaner cars draws the usual squeals from Big Oil. If California highways and parking lots look considerably different in 2025 than today, it will probably be because they'll contain almost 1.5 million more hybrid cars and trucks, hydrogen-driven vehicles and plug-in hybrids that run mostly on electricity, except on long trips. That's the vision behind the latest set of proposed rules rolled out by the California Air Resources Board, even as the Republican chairman of the main investigative committee in the House of Representatives seeks to drag it into hearings about whether it is exceeding its mission. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/columns/ci_19678725 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19678725?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Report: GM wants to work on all Chevy Volts sold in U.S. for fire danger. Detroit -- A person briefed on the matter says General Motors will ask Volt owners to bring their electric cars into dealers to strengthen the structure around the batteries. The move is similar to a recall and involves the 8,000 Volts sold in the U.S. in the past two years. The move comes after three batteries caught fire after side-impact crash tests done by federal safety regulators. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/cars/ci_19680381 Toyota works on recycling hybrid batteries. Forget those fears that hybrid and electric vehicles will result in landfills full of dead batteries. When Toyota hybrid battery packs reach the end of their lives, every piece is recycled. And it’s all because of a program launched a year ago by Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. and its dealers. Moreover, service departments can use the battery-handling process to help sell new vehicles to used-Prius owners. Posted. http://www.europeanplasticsnews.com/subscriber/headlines2.html?cat=1&id=1325757572 GREEN ENERGY Struggling Idaho solar plant fears power cutoff. A struggling plant in southeastern Idaho that hopes to produce material for solar panels fears Idaho Power Co. will shut off its electricity after it missed a payment. Hoku Materials Inc., which has survived so far with help from Chinese financiers, recently said that Idaho's biggest utility threatened to cut off power to its unfinished Pocatello plant after the company missed a payment. It lodged a formal protest with Idaho Public Utilities Commission regulators after getting a termination of service notice. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/ap/business/struggling-idaho-solar-plant-fears-power-cutoff/article_16192434-f69a-5524-8362-99bef8d1834f.html MISCELLANEOUS Personnel Profile: David Pettit. David Pettit is a senior attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, currently involved with the recent litigation around California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard. Tell me a bit about yourself. I’ve been a litigator for about 35 years now. I was a legal services lawyer for a while, I was in private practice for many years following that, and I’ve been here at the NRDC for close to five years now. And a lot of litigation I do has to do with air pollution and environmental justice issues. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/features/personnelProfile.php?_c=109fb7d8whpxmc8&1=1&id=109day5zm0vlats&done=.109dorc1xln7g2z&_credir=1325789381&_c=109fb7d8whpxmc8 Man gets 12 years in prison for green energy scam. Federal prosecutors say a Carson man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for getting dozens of people to invest a total of more than $1 million in a non-existent wind energy technology business. A judge on Wednesday also ordered 42-year-old James Rivera to pay restitution of more than $1 million to victims in the case. Rivera was convicted of soliciting investments in companies that he falsely claimed would manufacture revolutionary new wind turbines to produce electricity. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/04/2012209/man-gets-12-years-in-prison-for.html Pick Your Poison. State figures on pesticide use show increasing reliance on methyl bromide alternatives. It was a good year for strawberries in Monterey County, and also for the pesticides that make them a nearly $1 billion crop. The quantity of pesticides applied locally to all crops rose to nearly 9 million pounds, a 12-percent increase from 2009 to 2010, according to figures released last week by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Posted. http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/2012/jan/05/pick-your-poison/ OPINIONS Mercury News editorial: Peer review should bury high-speed rail How many fiscal autopsies will it take before the state buries the corpse that is California's high-speed rail proposal? The latest ugly conclusion comes from the high-speed rail peer review group, which on Tuesday recommended that the Legislature not approve the appropriation of bond proceeds for the project this year. Amen to that. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_19675945 New effort to improve cars draws usual opposition. If California highways and parking lots of 2025 look considerably different from today’s, it will probably be because they’ll contain almost 1.5 million more hybrid cars and trucks, hydrogen-driven vehicles and plug-in hybrids that run mostly on electricity except on long trips. That’s the vision behind the latest set of proposed rules rolled out by the California Air Resources Board even as the Republican chairman of the main investigative committee in the House of Representatives seeks to drag it into hearings about whether it is exceeding its mission. Posted. http://napavalleyregister.com/news/opinion/columnists/new-effort-to-improve-cars-draws-usual-opposition/article_283b8770-34fb-11e1-9037-0019bb2963f4.html INLAND: Golf-path dream. Money earmarked to improve air quality should pay for projects that actually address pollution. Southern California Air quality officials should use a new pot of money to curb pollutants in the Coachella Valley, and not spend most of the funds on a proposal that has at best a tenuous relationship to cleaner air. Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit wants to spend up to $40 million in air quality funds to pay for part of a 30-mile parkway for joggers, bicycles and golf carts. Posted. http://www.pe.com/opinion/editorials-headlines/20120104-inland-golf-path-dream.ece How Traffic Jams Affect Air Quality. No one will be surprised to learn that areas with the largest number of cars on the road see higher levels of air pollution on average. Motor vehicles are one of the largest sources of pollution worldwide. You may be surprised to learn, however, that slower moving traffic emits more pollution than when cars move at freeway speeds. Traffic jams are bad for our air. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/01/05/how-traffic-jams-affect-air-quality/ The case of the missing gas mileage. Contrary to common perception, the major automakers have produced large increases in fuel efficiency through better technology in recent decades. There’s just one catch: All those advances have barely increased the mileage per gallon that autos actually achieve on the road. Sound perplexing? This situation is the result of a trend newly quantified by MIT economist Christopher Knittel: Posted. http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/cars-on-steroids-0104.html BLOGS A Photographic Blast From the Past. In January 1972, the Environmental Protection Agency asked nearly 100 freelance photographers to roam the country in the pursuit of a single goal: documenting “the environmental happenings and non-happenings” of the decade. By 1977, the photographers had submitted more than 80,000 images for the project, known as Documerica. About one-quarter of the photographs were shown in public exhibitions but then filed away and largely forgotten. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/a-photographic-blast-from-the-past/ California Urges Drivers to Change the Oil Less Often. A California agency is campaigning to get car owners to change their motor oil at a longer interval, claiming that the time-honored practice of switching the oil every 3,000 miles is financially wasteful, detrimental to the environment and unwarranted. Michael Springer/Bloomberg NewsDrivers of new cars are encouraged to change their oil at a longer interval than in the past. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/california-urges-drivers-to-change-the-oil-less-often/ And Now, the Oil Industry Caucus. North America could be self-sufficient in gasoline and diesel fuel in 15 years if only the government would get out of the way, the president of the American Petroleum Institute said on Wednesday in a “state of American energy” address intended to raise the industry’s profile in the presidential election. Jack N. Gerard, the president and chief executive of the trade group, said repeatedly that his organization would not take a position on whom to vote for. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/and-now-the-oil-industry-caucus/ For Seal Pups on Thin Ice, a Short Childhood. For a mother harp seal, timing is everything. Pups are born and nursed on seasonal sea ice during a brief window before the spring sun melts the ephemeral nursery. After only 12 days, the mother weans her pups and the family slides into the ocean together. Should the ice melt early, however, the pups will meet an early end, either drowning in the sea or getting crushed by shifting floes. In 2010, nearly 100 percent of eastern Canadian pups are estimated to have perished in this situation. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/05/a-short-childhood-for-seal-pups-on-thin-ice/ Biodiesel and the 'unconstitutional' LCFS. The LCFS excluded corn ethanol due to its high carbon intensity, but used cooking oil biodiesel achieved the lowest rating ever scored by CARB. So what's the biodiesel industry's position on the finding that the LCFS violates the U.S. constitution? Ever since it was released a couple of years ago that corn ethanol scores poorly under the California low carbon fuel standard…Posted. http://biodieselmagazine.com/blog/article/2012/01/biodiesel-and-the-unconstitutional-lcfs Residents Near Highways in LA Deserve Clean Air Too. Yesterday, NRDC along with Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles and Communities for a Better Environment filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) challenging the failure to provide air monitoring for harmful particulate pollution near highways in the Los Angeles region. You can read about the lawsuit here. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/amartinez/residents_near_highways_in_la.html Dr. Paul Anastas outlines EPA’s new research paradigm, The Path Forward; realigning EPA research around sustainability. In a paper published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, Dr. Paul Anastas, Science Advisor to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as the Agency’s Assistant Administrator for Research and Development, outlines the principles of the EPA’s new research paradigm called “The Path Forward”, as well as the actions taken since 2010 to align EPA’s research efforts with the goal of sustainability. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/anastas-20120105.html New silica-organic hybrid absorbents deliver among highest performance yet reported for CO2 capture from air. A team from the Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, reports on an improved material for capturing carbon dioxide from the air—silica−organic hybrid adsorbents—in a paper published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Reported capture values under humid conditions are among the highest reported for CO2 adsorption from the air. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/loker-20120104.html First Ford Focus Electric heads to Google. This time last year, Ford was pulling the wraps off the Focus Electric at CES in Las Vegas. Twelve months later, Ford is slowly beginning production of its first EV at its Michigan Assembly plant and dropped off one early example to the crew at Google. We're not sure what the search giant is doing with Dearborn's inaugural EV, but something involving either Google Street View or its autonomous vehicle program isn't out of the question. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/04/first-ford-focus-electric-heads-to-google/ Chevy Volt has best month ever, but Nissan Leaf still wins 2011 plug-in sales contest. And the numbers are in. For December, the Chevrolet Volt sold 1,529. units, putting the plug-in car's 2011 total at 7,671. While that overall number fell well short of the announced target of 10,000-12,000, December 2011 was the Volt's best sales month ever and the positive trend positions the car in a good place going into 2012. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/04/chevy-volt-has-best-month-ever-but-nissan-leaf-still-wins-2011/ Insurance payouts point to climate change. Natural disasters in 2011 exerted the costliest toll in history — a whopping $380 billion worth of losses from earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, tsunamis and more. Only a third of those costs were covered by insurance. And the tally ignores completely any expenses associated with sickness or injuries triggered by the disasters. Posted. http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/337368/title/Insurance_payouts_point_to_climate_change ====================================================================== 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 Jan 2012 14:56:07 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 6, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 6, 2012. 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 Smoggy Beijing to reveal more pollution data. A bureau in charge of monitoring China's frequently smog-choked capital will release more detailed reports, state media said Friday, following a public outcry over the hazards of fine particle pollution. Beijing's decision to publish the data appeared aimed at appeasing residents' anger over the pollution and a lack of government transparency. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h2PTD1PtBYvN_TApyHMlPWNJRL8g?docId=72c4244667f3462686dcaba35f4f2a86 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/beijing-agrees-to-release-more-detailed-pollution-data-following-public-outcry/2012/01/06/gIQAEnKOeP_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/01/06/international/i003341S48.DTL http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/06/2672491/smoggy-beijing-to-reveal-more.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/06/2013856/smoggy-beijing-to-reveal-more.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19686946?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com A Coal-Fired Plant That Is Eager for U.S. Rules. As operators of coal-fired power plants around the country welcome a court-ordered delay on tighter pollution rules, the owner of a retrofitted plant here says that the rules cannot come too soon. The company, Constellation Energy, says it is an issue of fairness. A little more than two years ago, it completed an $885 million installation that has vastly reduced emissions from two giant coal-burning units at its Brandon Shores plant here, within view of the city’s downtown office towers. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/business/energy-environment/constellation-energy-coal-company-urges-stricter-pollution-rules.html?_r=2&ref=earth Bay Area air quality worst in years this winter. The unusual winter calm and gleaming sunshine that brightened up the holidays is largely responsible for some of the worst air pollution seen in the Bay Area in years, experts said this week. Winter Spare the Air days have been called 12 times since Nov. 1 in the Bay Area, which has exceeded federal health standards for fine particle pollution seven times. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/06/MNGQ1MIBLV.DTL&type=printable DIESEL EMISSIONS Corning in Long-Term Diesel Deals. Corning Inc. has entered into long-term supply agreements with heavy-duty diesel engine, truck, construction and agricultural equipment manufacturers. The terms of these agreements were not disclosed, including the number of companies involved. However, the company specified that the agreements involved core customers and will ensure those manufacturers have access to Corning products in the coming years. Corning is a leading global supplier of cellular ceramic substrates and diesel particulate filters. Posted. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/corning-long-term-diesel-deals-191521085.html FUELS Calif. appeals judge's low-carbon fuels ruling. California officials are appealing a federal judge's ruling that blocked implementation of the state's mandate for low-carbon fuels. Stanley Young, spokesman for the California Air Resources Board, said the appeal was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court. The appeal comes after Fresno-based U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence O'Neill blocked California from implementing its first-in-the-nation low-carbon fuel standard. The board will request a stay of O'Neill's ruling next week. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9S30QK80.htm http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/01/05/state/n121655S35.DTL http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/05/2671678/calif-appeals-judges-low-carbon.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/05/2012946/calif-appeals-judges-low-carbon.html http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19681726 http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120105/A_NEWS/120109957&cid=sitesearch CARB to appeal LCFS ruling, request enforcement through 2012. Almost exactly two years after filing a lawsuit to challenge the constitutionality of the California Air Resources Board’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, a California district court sided with a coalition of ethanol and petroleum interests on Dec. 29, ruling that the LCFS violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution by discriminating against Midwestern ethanol. Posted. http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/8461/carb-to-appeal-lcfs-ruling-request-enforcement-through-2012 http://domesticfuel.com/2012/01/05/california-files-appeal-in-ethanol-ruling/ Natural gas, oil boom spurs sand mining in Midwest. The rolling hills and scenic bluffs of western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota hide a valuable resource that has sparked what's been called a modern-day gold rush. The object of desire is not gold but a soft sandstone needed by drilling companies to unlock underground natural gas and oil supplies in a controversial practice called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19687884?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/natural-gas-oil-boom-spurs-sand-mining-in-midwest/article_bee1cf16-3501-50f2-a45d-e6485f6e0a4d.html VEHICLES China releases four EV charging standards. Recently, China issued four common standards regarding power charging of EVs that will take effect on 1st March 2012. The standards include requirements for DC/AC charge coupler inlets and the communication protocol between the charging generator and battery management system. How to implement the new standards and make them uniform to existing local standards becomes the crucial task now for China's EV industry. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/72720120106.php MISCELLANEOUS 2nd appeal filed - halts all building for the Cup. A local environmentalist group filed a second appeal against the America's Cup Wednesday. The San Francisco chapter of the Sierra Club is citing concerns about water pollution impacts and other criticisms of the project's final environmental impact report, which the state requires before construction can begin. City planners failed to analyze water pollution, air pollution and possible diesel fuel leaks from the giant floating TV screen that is slated to be installed in Aquatic Park, wrote Rebecca Evans, chair of the San Francisco chapter, in the appeal. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/06/BA2Q1ML4RM.DTL&type=printable http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/06/2672604/environmentalists-challenge-americas.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/06/2013969/environmentalists-challenge-americas.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19687699?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://blog.sfgate.com/americascup/2012/01/06/2nd-appeal-filed-halts-all-building-for-the-cup/ http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120106/WIRE/120109726 OPINIONS MILLOY: EPA’s statistics not science, but nonsense. The Chinese city of Xi’an has some of the worst air quality in the world. Yet its air is significantly safer than the air in U.S. cities, according to a new study. If you have trouble believing that, then you ought to have trouble believing Obama Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that U.S. ambient air quality is killing tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people per year. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/5/epas-statistics-not-science-but-nonsense/ Surprising safety and fuel efficiency innovations to watch out for this year. A host of new features you may never have heard of - and certainly didn't expect to see in mainstream cars and trucks - will be commonplace by the end of 2012. New technologies and safety and fuel economy concerns have accelerated automakers' innovation into hyperdrive. Here's some of what to watch for in 2012 and at the North American International Auto Show next week…Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/06/2013954/surprising-safety-and-fuel-efficiency.html Port of LA Shows You Can Be Pro-Jobs and Pro-Environment. I recently returned from a trade mission to China, Japan, and South Korea. Of the many conversations I had with business leaders and government officials, one thing was clear: Los Angeles is the premier destination for goods entering the United States from the Pacific Rim. But the clock is ticking. We know the folks down in Panama are working hard to widen their canal, and when the widening is done, shippers will have more choice about the destination for their cargo. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/antonio-villaraigosa/port-of-la-shows-you-can-_b_1187747.html Is Global Warming A Bipolar Disorder? We now have a full one-third of a century of satellite-measured lower atmospheric temperatures, and what an interesting story the machines are revealing! I think it’s fair to say that they provide increasing evidence in favor of the “lukewarm” view of climate change, or the hypothesis of modest warming. In climate change, “it’s not the heat, it’s the sensitivity”, or the amount of warming that a change in carbon dioxide causes, that is important. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmichaels/2012/01/05/is-global-warming-a-bipolar-disorder/ BLOGS Rethinking the Effects of Aerosols. When you hear the word aerosol, a can of hairspray, spray paint or whipped cream may come to mind. But technically an aerosol is any suspension of liquid or solid particles in a gas. And both natural aerosols, resulting from phenomena like erupting volcanoes or desert winds, and manmade aerosols, like those from crop spraying or burning coal, can have serious climate implications — far more serious than whether your hair stays in place for 12 hours after that squirt of hair spray. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/rethinking-the-effects-of-aerosols/ Call to end $7,500 plug-in vehicle tax credit spreads to WaPo. First Congressman Mike Kelly (R-PA) introduced legislation calling for an end to the tax credit given to purchasers of electric vehicles, now the Washington Post editorial board has joined in the call. The Post board applauds the expiration of tax breaks for installing charging stations at home or commercial locations, then complains that since electric vehicles are expensive, providing tax breaks on their purchase amounts to a give away to the "well-to-do." Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/call-to-end-7-500-plug-in-vehicle-tax-credit-spreads-to-wapo/ MIT: U.S. could have much better MPG, but our cars got fat. Americans have gained weight over the last thirty years, and not just around the midsection. American garages and driveways have also put on pounds as cars have become larger and more powerful. A new study from MIT says that, if not for the increase in vehicle weight, we could already be exceeding vehicle mileage targets still years away. Since 1980, gas mileage is up by 15 percent, an improvement of only about half a percent a year. However, the weight of vehicles has gone up by 26 percent at the same time. Not only that, but horsepower over the period is up by an astounding 107 percent. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/05/mit-u-s-could-have-much-better-mpg-but-our-cars-got-fat/ State launches 'green ribbon award' for schools. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced today that California schools may apply for the inaugural Green Ribbon Award to receive federal recognition as some of the nation's highest-performing green schools. "California is proud to participate in this new federal program to recognize schools with environmentally sustainable learning spaces that have boosted student performance," said Torlakson. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/blogs/thegrade/x1797587748/State-launches-green-ribbon-award-for-schools Early Warming: Crisis and Response in the Climate-Changed North. Nancy Lord is a writer who has spent her adult life in Alaska. In her new book, Early Warming: Crisis and Response in the Climate-Changed North, she tells the stories of people and places and natural environments on whom climate change is impacting in her part of the world. She is climate science savvy, understanding why “in the north we live with disappearing sea ice, melting glaciers, thawing permafrost, drying wetlands, dying trees and changing landscapes, unusual animal sightings, and strange weather events”. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/early-warming-crisis-and-response-climate-changed/ Understanding the variability of GHG life cycle studies of oil sands production. a paper published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, Stanford University assistant professor Adam Brandt reviews a number of recent life cycle assessment (LCA) studies calculating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from oil sands extraction, upgrading, and refining pathways—the results of which vary considerably. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/brandt-20120106.html The Costs of Inaction: Cement Company Fined $1.7M for Clean Air Act Violations. Cement manufacture accounts for 5% of greenhouse gas emissions every year. Recently, Essroc Cement, the 8th largest cement producer in the country, was found to be in violation of the Clean Air Act and they have agreed to pay $1.7 million in penalty. In addition to this, the company has also agreed to invest approximately $33 million in pollution control technology. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/01/costs-inaction-cement-company-fined-17m-clean-air-act-violations/comment-page-1/ ====================================================================== 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 Jan 2012 15:52:57 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 9, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 9, 2012. 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 Hong Kong air pollution at worst levels ever. HONG KONG - Air pollution levels in Hong Kong were the worst ever last year, the South China Morning Post reported on Monday, a finding that may further undermine the city's role as an Asian financial centre as business executives relocate because of health concerns. Worsening air quality in Hong Kong caused by vehicle emissions and industrial pollution from the neighboring Pearl River Delta is already forcing many in the financial community to move to Singapore. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/09/uk-pollution-hong-kong-idUSLNE80800G20120109?feedType=RSS China to Release More Data on Air Pollution in Beijing. Shanghai — China said on Friday that it would begin to publish more detailed air quality data on Beijing later this month, following a public outcry over official government readings that critics said underestimated the severity of the air pollution problem in the smog-filled capital. Beijing plans to publish hourly air quality reports based on an international standard known as PM 2.5, which measures tiny particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter… Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/07/world/asia/china-to-release-more-data-on-air-pollution-in-beijing.html?_r=1 Air worse than it seems, so watch burn days. You walk outside, you take a deep breath, and, ah, the air seems so crisp and clear and clean. But — cough, cough, wheeze, wheeze, gasp, gasp — it's not. In fact, for most of the last month or so, it's been just the opposite. If you want to know what the air's really like, turn to The Bee's daily weather page, and there on the upper right portion of the back page of the B section you'll find the telltale signs: …Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/06/2014720/the-air-is-worse-than-it-seems.html Record air pollution hammers Calif's ag heartland. Fresno, Calif. -- This is the time of year when residents who often live with the nation's worst pollution often can draw a breath of fresh air. But this winter has not been kind to people who want to play outside in California's Central Valley. A dry December and January has stagnated air across California, but nowhere is the situation more serious than between Modesto and Bakersfield, where nearly every day dirty air has exceeded federal health standards. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/07/v-print/4169751/record-air-pollution-hammers-califs.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19695547?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19695547?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19695547?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Port gets a big lift. At 400 tons and 220 feet tall once fully assembled, the two harbor cranes that arrived at the Port of Stockton last week will be among most massive and, certainly, tallest structures in town. The cranes, costing nearly $5 million apiece, will serve as the centerpiece of a so-called marine highway, employing barges to shuttle marine shipping containers between the Port of Oakland and the inland ports at Stockton and West Sacramento. By supplanting truck transport, it would ease regional highway congestion and air pollution. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120108/A_BIZ/201080301&cid=sitesearch Smog agency: Switch to gas logs, get $200. If you have a wood-burning fireplace and live below 3,000 feet in the South Coast Air Basin, smog regulators have a deal for you: Switch to gas and receive a $200 discount for doing it. The idea is to reduce the amount of residential wood-smoke in the basin, emitted by an estimated 1.2 million homes and responsible for some five tons per day of harmful, fine-particle emissions. That’s four times the amount from all the power plants in the region, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2012/01/06/smog-agency-switch-to-gas-logs-get-200/166358/ CLIMATE CHANGE USC researchers discover new, cheaper CO2 capture. Researchers at USC, right here in our backyard, have just announced a new, superefficient way to pull CO2 out of the air. And, potentially, out of effluents from smokestacks and other industrial sources. And to then release it again, recycling the capture material over and over. The secrets? Sand. And plastic. The new process, detailed in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, claims to have the highest carbon dioxide removal capacity for real-world conditions, Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-new-cheaper-co2-capture-discovered-20120106,0,7127959.story?track=rss New Materials Remove Carbon Dioxide from Smokestacks, Tailpipes and Even the Air. Scientists are reporting discovery of an improved way to remove carbon dioxide -- the major greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming -- from smokestacks and other sources, including the atmosphere. Their report on the process, which achieves some of the highest carbon dioxide removal capacity ever reported for real-world conditions where the air contains moisture, appears in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Posted. -http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120104115100.htm Next Ice Age Delayed By Global Warming Gases, Study Finds. London - High levels of carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere mean the next ice age is unlikely to begin for at least 1,500 years, an article in the journal Nature Geoscience said on Monday. Concentrations of the main gases blamed for global warming reached record levels in 2010 and will linger in the atmosphere for decades even if the world stopped pumping out emissions today, according to the U.N.'s weather agency. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/09/next-ice-age-global-warming_n_1193900.html?ref=green FUELS Ethanol subsidy dies, auto industry shrugs. The Jan. 1 demise of a 30-year federal tax subsidy for corn-based ethanol came and went as a so-what moment in the auto industry. Automakers and industry observers said it will have little impact on sales of so-called flex-fuel models -- many of which roll through their lives, after winning federal fuel-economy credits for their makers, without burning a drop of ethanol. Car companies receive a credit toward their corporate average fuel economy for every model they build that is capable of burning E85 -- a blend of gasoline and up to 85 percent ethanol. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120109/OEM06/301099961/1186 VEHICLES GM goal: Protect Volt's battery, image. General Motors last week offered a voluntary modification meant to keep the Chevrolet Volt's battery pack from catching fire after a severe crash, a big step toward sidestepping a potential image hit to the halo car. GM is asking its 8,000 Volt customers to bring the plug-in hybrid to their Chevy dealership for a fix that will reinforce the steel surrounding the battery pack to prevent it from being punctured during a crash. It also will add a sensor to the battery pack to monitor coolant leaks. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120109/OEM01/301099944/1186 GREEN ENERGY Renewable energy projects in California go unused. Millions of dollars in projects intended to provide power to facilities in the state's national parks and forests are sitting idle because of a years-long squabble with Southern California Edison. Millions of dollars in renewable energy projects intended to provide power to facilities in California's national parks and forests are sitting idle because of a years-long squabble with Southern California Edison. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-parks-solar-20120109,0,1759062.story New program helps contractors, Realtors and loan officers think green. Having a green household is more possible than people think. That's what officials at Energy Upgrade California want homeowners and prospective buyers to know as the officials promote financing options and rebates for those who want to save money while making their homes more energy-efficient. The $30 million Energy Upgrade California program, which provides rebates for energy and water home improvements…Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jan/06/new-program-helps-contractors-realtors-and-loan/ Windsor school, town officials battle over solar array. Windsor’s desire to embrace green, energy-saving practices could be tested in a controversy involving a private school’s application to install a solar array next to its campus. Windsor planning department officials recently rejected the Sonoma Country Day School’s application to install the photovoltaic panels, saying it is incompatible with the zoning on the parcel. “I view this request as an encroachment of the school use into the Town’s Light Industrial zone,” Planning Director Jim Bergman wrote in a letter explaining his decision. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120108/ARTICLES/120109607 RETAIL: Stater Bros. lauded for waste reduction. The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery has recognized Stater Bros. with a 2011 Waste Reduction Award for the company’s efforts to recycling materials and eliminate waste from its Southern California operations. The CalRecycle Waste Reduction Awards Program, initiated in 1993, recognizes business is the state for their environmentally friendly practices. This is the second year running Stater Bros. has received the award. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/business-insider-headlines/20120106-retail-stater-bros.-lauded-for-waste-reduction.ece MISCELLANEOUS Capping an era of L.A. oil exploration. Long-abandoned wells on the Los Angeles City Oil Field, which sparked Southern California's oil boom 120 years ago, are being sealed to make way for a 45-unit affordable housing project. It almost seemed as though oil drilling rigs were ready to tap into Los Angeles' first petroleum field again. But the workers setting up a pair of derricks south of Echo Park last week were plugging some of the city's oldest wells — not drilling new ones. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-old-wells-20120109,0,7837974,print.story In Person: John Bryson, who aims to strengthen U.S. competitiveness. New Secretary of Commerce John Bryson talks about dealing with China, encouraging U.S. businesses to create jobs, and other issues. Washington — John Bryson knows what it's like to be in crisis mode. His 18-year stint as chief executive of Edison International included a tumultuous stretch a decade ago when he fought to keep the company afloat during the California electricity crisis. Posted. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017186822_inpersonbryson09.html Rolling Stone: Utah’s Shurtleff one who gets it done. Rolling Stone asks the same question asked many Utah Democrats (yes, they do exist) - “How did Democrats let a conservative Republican from Orrin Hatch’s home state get out in front on this issue?” Other leaders honored by the magazine are Mary Nichols, head of the California Air Resources Board, Paul Reickoff, Executive Director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, New York City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Kahn, Massachusetts Senate Candidate Elizabeth Warren-D …Posted. http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-salt-lake-city/rolling-stone-utah-s-shurtleff-one-who-gets-it-done OPINIONS Jerry Brown 2.0 at 1. A year into his latest go-round as governor of California, Jerry Brown doesn't stand much on ceremony these days. That was evident even before the snafu which caused the roll-out of his state budget five days earlier than scheduled (and delayed this about to roll-out piece). I talked with Brown over the holidays about how things have gone, how they are going, and how they (he hopes) will go. President Barack Obama will carry California. That's not in question. What is in question is California's future. Brown made it very clear that he intends to keep thinking big even in a time of limits. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-bradley/jerry-brown-2012_b_1190844.html LFTR: A Long-Term Energy Solution? Currently more than 80 percent of the world's energy is obtained from fossil fuels: petroleum, coal, and natural gas. Another 10 percent comes from biomass and waste, leaving only 10 percent from sources other than carbon burning. According to the World Health Organization, urban outdoor air pollution is estimated to cause 1.3 million deaths worldwide per year, from respiratory infections, heat disease, and lung cancer. Indoor air pollution is estimated to cause approximately 2 million premature deaths mostly in developing countries. Almost half of these deaths are due to pneumonia in children under 5 years of age. The source in both cases is carbon combustion, from fossil fuels or biomass. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/victor-stenger/lftr-a-longterm-energy-so_b_1192584.html?ref=green Beverly Bean: A pesticide challenge. The transition away from fossil fuels is the obvious action needed to combat the devastating effects of global warming, which are already starting to be felt worldwide. The United States — "the best democracy money can buy"— has been the main stumbling block for any meaningful worldwide action due to the shortsighted focus on their bottom line by the large energy corporations which control political action in Washington. Posted. http://www.montereyherald.com/opinion/ci_19703679 Detroit to India: The clean-vehicle paradigm shift. In 1900, it wasn’t obvious that we needed a replacement for horses. After all, horses were all-terrain vehicles that got the job done. So, when car’s arrived, they were greeted with far less fanfare than, say, the iPad, and were all but dismissed as dirty, noisy and unnecessary. The shift to computers was much the same. When the machines first started hitting desktops, everyone knew at least one writer who turned up their nose and treated the phrase “word processor” like a four-letter word. These are likely the same writers who are madly texting their grandkids on their smart phones today. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-innovations/the-clean-vehicle-paradigm-shift/2012/01/06/gIQAxKYblP_story.html Electric vehicles: To support with subsidies or not. The Jan. 2 editorial “Overcharged,”which celebrated the end of government support to all-electric cars, was shortsighted. The limited tax credit served a worthy goal: to boost private investment in the infrastructure needed to make all-electric vehicles a viable alternative — especially for drivers who travel short distances to Metro, to work and around town. Until charging stations are built, it will be hard for drivers to count on charging their cars when they are away from home. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/electric-vehicles-to-support-with-subsidies-or-not/2012/01/02/gIQA6PcufP_story.html It’s year for ‘fracking’ to break up or break through. The natural gas industry and its opponents are readying their final arguments for what many think will be a critical year in the debate over “fracking” safety. Supporters of the hydraulic fracturing process - the use of water, sand and chemicals to break underground rock and release huge amounts of gas - boast of recent economic growth, with hundreds of thousands of jobs created in the past several years and small, sleepy communities in Pennsylvania, North Dakota and elsewhere transformed into boomtowns. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/8/its-year-for-fracking-to-break-up-or-break-through/?page=1 ====================================================================== 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 Jan 2012 13:18:10 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 10, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 10, 2012. 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. metals recycling company faces new charges from EPA. San Jose, Calif. -- A San Francisco Bay Area metals recycling company that drew widespread attention - and a fine - for a fire that sent a huge plume of black, acrid smoke into the air over Silicon Valley five years ago is facing new pollution charges from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA said Monday that it has issued a notice of violation to Sims Metal Management, located at the Port of Redwood City, for polluting San Francisco Bay with lead, mercury, PCBs, copper and zinc. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/10/4175725/calif-metals-recycling-company.html http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_19708312?source=rss http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19708314?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Stronger Valley air pollution alerts to be issued. In the midst of the nation's worst soot problem this season, air authorities are issuing stronger warnings when pollution is at a much lower level than before -- a new protective measure. The San Joaquin Valley has been caught in a seven-week dry spell that shows no sign of relief. The lack of cleansing storms has allowed a haze of tiny debris to build up and violate the federal health standard for 37 consecutive days. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/09/2676861/stronger-valley-alerts-will-be.html Valley kids head back to school amidst dirty air. FRESNO, Calif. -- Consistently poor air quality is prompting local schools to take extra precautions for children playing outdoors. Monday was the first day back to school from winter break for kids here in Visalia, and already students aren't being allowed to spend long periods of time outside. Every Visalia Unified School had an orange flag hanging outside, warning students and teachers that the air quality is unhealthy. Posted. http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8497073 New CO2 Sucker Could Help Clear the Air. Researchers in California have produced a cheap plastic capable of removing large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air. Down the road, the new material could enable the development of large-scale batteries and even form the basis of "artificial trees" that lower atmospheric concentrations of CO2 in an effort to stave off catastrophic climate change. Posted. http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/43828 CLIMATE CHANGE Governor Brown Sees $500 Million Cap-and-Trade Fees for California Budget. California (STOCA1) Governor Jerry Brown plans to use half of the revenue from the nation’s first state- run cap-and-trade air-pollution program to help ease a $9.2 billion deficit in the most populous U.S. state. Brown estimates the state will take in about $1 billion in the year beginning July 1 under the landmark legislation, which allows industry to buy and sell carbon credits to reduce greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-01-10/brown-sees-500-million-cap-and-trade-fees-for-california-budget.html Climate Talks Should Fix CO2 Price, Not Cap, Neuroscientist Says. United Nations climate envoys should set a carbon price rather than fix a global cap on greenhouse- gas emissions, cutting the complexity of international negotiations, said a neuroscientist. Developing nations may accept a global harmonized carbon price as long as they receive the money from setting that amount as well as a portion of funds raised by developed nations that have mostly caused climate change, said David Silverstein, a neuroscientist with an interest in climate negotiations. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-10/climate-talks-should-fix-co2-price-not-cap-neuroscientist-says.html Governments Get EU Warning on Delays in Carbon Allocation Plans. The European Union urged 17 member states that failed to submit on time their plans on allocating free carbon permits to companies to explain the reasons for delay within 10 weeks or risk infringement proceedings. Only 10 out of 27 EU member states have so far notified their so-called national implementation measures for the period from 2013 to 2020 to the EU, the European Commission said on its website. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-10/governments-get-eu-warning-on-delays-in-carbon-allocation-plans.html Town faces challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Seems there's a plan for just about everything these days, so it should come as no surprise that Los Gatos must develop a "sustainability plan" by September. In effect, a sustainability plan is a blueprint for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and it's mandated by state law. The idea is that by 2020, greenhouse gas emissions in California will be rolled back to 1990 levels. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/los-gatos/ci_19708278?source=rss A Fight for the Future of San Diego. When you ask the people of San Diego what they want in a transportation system, the answer is usually balance. In a 2009 survey [PDF] by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California, 75 percent of San Diego residents thought the region should complement its existing highway system by expanding the transit network and implementing programs like congestion pricing. Posted. http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/01/fight-future-san-diego/910/ Carbon dioxide super-scrubber? Potential good news in global warming fight. Using cheap, readily available materials, a team of chemists has developed a new compound for drawing carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. The compound holds the potential to drive down the cost of capturing carbon, although it's too early to say by how much, the scientists say. The results "add to the list of possible materials that can absorb CO2 from the air, and it potentially could be quite a good one," says Klaus Lackner, who heads the department of earth and environmental engineering at Columbia University in New York and was not part of the team formulating the material. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2012/0105/Carbon-dioxide-super-scrubber-Potential-good-news-in-global-warming-fight DIESEL EMISSIONS VTA changes could make commuting easier. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority will begin implementing a few changes this month to make commuting in 2012 a smoother process. Various VTA bus routes will experience schedule and frequency changes to improve efficiency and schedule reliability. VTA bus service will see minor schedule changes made to lines 57 and 58 to improve schedule reliability. Both lines end at West Valley College in Saratoga. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19708244?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19708244?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com FUELS A Fine for Not Using a Biofuel That Doesn’t Exist. Washington — When the companies that supply motor fuel close the books on 2011, they will pay about $6.8 million in penalties to the Treasury because they failed to mix a special type of biofuel into their gasoline and diesel as required by law. But there was none to be had. Outside a handful of laboratories and workshops, the ingredient, cellulosic biofuel, does not exist. In 2012, the oil companies expect to pay even higher penalties for failing to blend in the fuel, which is made from wood chips or the inedible parts of plants like corncobs. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/business/energy-environment/companies-face-fines-for-not-using-unavailable-biofuel.html Ethanol refiners raise corn use 280%. Number of the day. 280 percent. That's how much ethanol refiners have increased their consumption of corn since 2005. The fuel additive took more than 40 percent of the total U.S. crop last year, pushing up corn prices and topping the amount used as animal feed, according to the Agriculture Department. Cattle and chicken producers cut back their output as profits margins narrowed, though the pressure may ease in coming years after a tax credit for ethanol producers expired on Dec. 31. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/10/BUPV1MMT0R.DTL&type=printable VEHICLES Wanted or Not: Alternative-Fuel Cars Flood Auto Show. Detroit — In the race to claim ever-higher fuel-economy numbers and keep up with government regulations, automakers are rolling out hybrids and electric cars aplenty at this week’s Detroit auto show. If only buyers were arriving as fast as the cars. Hybrid sales waned as gasoline prices ebbed in 2011, declining to 2.2 percent of the market from 2.4 percent a year earlier, according to the research firm LMC Automotive. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/business/wanted-or-not-alternative-fuel-cars-flood-auto-show.html Toyota shows off new smaller, lighter and cheaper version of the Prius. Toyota on Tuesday unveiled the Prius c, a new smaller and more affordable version of its popular hybrid, aimed at young, city-dwelling buyers. The c, which stands for city, is set to go on sale in March and will be smaller, lighter and more nimble than previous versions. The subcompact hatchback also will also be priced under $19,000, more than $4,000 less than the starting price of the current version of the traditional Prius. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/toyota-shows-off-new-smaller-lighter-and-cheaper-version-of-the-prius/2012/01/10/gIQAEB0IoP_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/01/10/financial/f085940S35.DTL&tsp=1 GM likely to recapture global auto sales lead. Detroit -- General Motors Co. is on track to retake the title of world's top-selling automaker, riding strong sales in the U.S. and China to beat Volkswagen and Toyota. GM, which lost the crown to Toyota in 2008 after holding it for more than seven decades, won't release global sales numbers until later this month, but it's on pace to finish 2011 at around 9 million cars and trucks, at least 800,000 more than its German and Japanese rivals. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/01/09/national/a120644S79.DTL High-speed rail sticks to Antelope Valley route. After months of second thoughts, the California High-Speed Rail Authority has decided it was right the first time: The best northbound path from Los Angeles passes through Palmdale, not over the Grapevine. The authority, which chose a zig-zag route via Palmdale in 2005, ordered a second look at the Grapevine route last May after getting sticker shock over the $15 billion cost estimate for building the train from Los Angeles to Bakersfield via Palmdale. Posted. http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2012/01/09/high-speed-rail-sticks-to-antelope-valley-route/146140/ MISCELLANEOUS Areva Says Banks Trim Loans for Offshore Wind Farms on Crisis. Areva SA, which is bidding with other companies to build five offshore wind farms in France needing 10 billion euros ($12.8 billion) of investment, said banks are lending less because of the financial crisis. “Where we used to have 15 banks around the table,” Areva now has to invite about 40 banks “to convince everyone to bring a share to the financing,” Philippe Kavafyan, vice president of Areva Wind France, said in an interview at the company’s headquarters in Paris today. Posted. http://sfgate.bloomberg.com/SFChronicle/Story?docId=1376-LXL8EE0D9L3501-7KA5C6NPAO14G862O359DI39R9 California gets new consumer affair chief. Denise Brown, 60, of Fair Oaks, has been appointed director of the California Department of Consumer Affairs by Gov. Jerry Brown. Ms. Brown was an advisor to the executive officer and staff of the California Air Resources Board from 2009 to 2011. Earlier, she served in the Department of Consumer Affairs in multiple positions from 1977 to 2009, including chief deputy director. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=20147 Solar lamps replace toxic kerosene in poorest countries. When the sun goes down over large swathes of the developing world, the 1.3 billion people currently living without access to an electricity connection are plunged into darkness. According to figures from the International Energy Agency, at least 20% of the planet's inhabitants are still without the simple luxury of a light-switch. From the shantytowns of Sub-Saharan Africa to the sprawling slums of the Indian sub-continent, night-time brings with it a noxious ritual of candles, gas lamps and open fires. Posted. http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/10/tech/innovation/solar-powered-led-lamps/index.html OPINIONS China's Fake Carbon Tax. Beijing wants to take the moral high ground and stick the West with the bill. Beijing was widely blamed for derailing the 2009 Copenhagen summit and its chances of producing an agreement on climate change. But suddenly last week, state media announced that the Ministry of Finance could soon approve a carbon tax on China's biggest energy consumers before the end of the current Five-Year Plan (2011-2015). Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204257504577152141420308320.html?_nocache=1326223158764&user=welcome BY SUBSCRIPTION Council District 15: Wilmington and the air that it breathes. Sometimes you can smell Wilmington before you see it. It might be the scent of the wells, tucked in between houses and neighborhood streets, pumping the last drops of oil from the giant Wilmington oil field, the third-largest petroleum field in the contiguous United States; it might be the odor of one of the refineries -- either the massive Valero oil plant, turning heavy crude into jet fuel and gasoline, …Posted. http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2012/01/council-district-15-wilmington.html Editorial: Warm weather rules! Not where smog pools. Yes, it's hard to gripe much about weather that allows you to wear shorts in January – a fashion statement that many in California have recently embraced. For people who like mild weather, the numerous dry and sunny days of late have been a blessing, but the lack of wind and rain comes with some downsides. A big one is dirty air, which is a particular health threat for children and people with asthma and other respiratory diseases. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/10/v-print/4175192/warm-weather-rules-not-where-smog.html Our dirty winter air: Natural factors count. After researching the past month's newspapers, I found that we have not been able to burn our fireplaces since Dec. 16. The air pollution board claims that the bad air in the San Joaquin Valley is the result of wood burning. How do they account for the fluctuation of air quality from a low of 102 on the air index to a high of 162 when no wood burning has been allowed? This could not have been caused by wood burning. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x606215983/Our-dirty-winter-air-Natural-factors-count Fast tracking of major projects worries bullet train critics. Since the recession began, the state Legislature has put some big-ticket construction projects on the environmental fast track in the name of creating jobs. At the behest of then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, lawmakers agreed in 2009 to exempt 10 multimillion-dollar highway construction projects from environmental review. Last year, they gave a similar environmental green light to a proposed $800 million, 75,000-seat professional football stadium in Los Angeles. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/09/v-print/2676894/fast-tracking-of-major-construction.html Just call me a skeptic regarding climate change. Occasionally, I check American mainstream newspapers for stories on climate change. I sometimes find reports from those who have more dire predictions about the devastating consequences of global warming. Most politicians seem to be on board with this concept. They and their administrative agencies keep giving us more and more environmental regulations. Unfortunately, this is costing average folks plenty. Posted. http://www.lodinews.com/opinion/columnists/steve_hansen/article_4a3a23f5-4171-58c9-9461-b209d077b167.html?photo=0 Dodging a gas hike. Judge blocks state's low-carbon fuel mandate. In a victory for consumers and fuel producers over an unreasonable dictate by California regulators, the low-carbon mandate of the state's Global Warming Solutions Act has been put on hold by a federal judge. With challenges pending to similar laws in other states, a Supreme Court showdown on the issue is in the offing, and until then we are hopeful these Draconian, economy-stifling restrictions can be held at bay. Posted. http://www.vvdailypress.com/articles/california-32278-challenge-hopeful.html Welcome end to ethanol subsidy. Sometimes inactivity can be quite productive. Such is the case with Congress' failure to renew the 45-cent-per-gallon subsidy on ethanol or the 54-cent-per-gallon tariff on imported ethanol on the eve of the Iowa caucus. The subsidy cost taxpayers as much as $6 billion a year, enriching agribusinesses that used their crops to inefficiently produce ethanol, which then is mixed with gasoline. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/opinions/ci_19705688 Watch Out Cows -- The Siberian Shelf Makes a Lot of Methane, Too. Over the last couple weeks, the climate blogosphere has been lighting up over a recent report that enormous plumes of methane are bubbling to the surface off the coast of eastern Siberia in Russia. (Original article in the Independent online.) So, what does this mean? It's a lot of methane, to be sure. The discovery was first made in 2010 and estimated at over 7 million tons (roughly equivalent to the methane emissions from the rest of the whole ocean). Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-anderson/ocean-methane-emissions_b_1195318.html?ref=green Climate change is happening but it's out of man's control. Yes, global warming/climate change is a fact, but the letter writer from Boca Raton, on Dec. 18, does not seem to understand that the science concerning humans being primarily responsible is far from settled. The writer states that global warming/climate change has been happening for 30 to 100 years, which understates the time frame by about 20,000 years. Starting at the peak of the last Ice Age, which was about 20,000 years ago... Posted. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/fl-readers-view-global-warming-20120110,0,6201898.story Fear and polluting on the campaign trail: Clean energy needs to hit back. I've been writing for years about how renewable energy is "an issue we can all rally around" that shouldn't involve partisan politics. In an ideal world that would hold true. But after seeing the relentless campaign waged by a small-but-powerful group of belligerents determined to marginalize the industry, my opinion changed in 2011. Posted. http://www.grist.org/renewable-energy/2012-01-09-fear-and-polluting-on-the-campaign-trail-clean-energy-needs-to-h The Year That Winter Forgot: Is It Climate Change? As I got off the plane in the Vermont town of Burlington on Sunday, I felt something new: cold. It wasn't that cold — high temperatures in Burlington were hovering around the freezing mark, a little warmer than average for this city of eager ski bums. But after more than a month of unusually mild weather in New York City — where Januarys can sometimes be nothing short of brutal — it was almost a treat to feel a hazy hint of winter. Posted. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2104040,00.html?xid=gonewsedit BLOGS Coda Electric Car Will Have Two Range Options. Electric-car maker Coda Automotive said its new Coda sedan will give buyers the choice of two battery packs — one that gives the car a range up to 150 miles and another with a range of up to 125 miles. The company made the announcement at the North American International Auto Show, where it displayed a group of the new cars. The new, less-expensive battery lowers the car’s price to less than $30,000 if you include a $7,500 tax credit. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/01/10/coda-electric-car-will-have-two-range-options/ BY SUBSCRIPTION Are electric cars really a disappointment? Lately, much of the press coverage of electric cars has implied that the technology has been a huge letdown. See, for instance, USA Today’s story: “Are electric cars losing their spark?” The angst mostly centers around sales: In 2011, the first year they were available, the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt sold just 17,345 units in the United States — slightly below expectations. Placed in perspective, though, those weak sales don’t look all that apocalyptic. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/are-electric-cars-really-a-disappointment/2012/01/09/gIQArQVWlP_blog.html Biomass and Electricity, Part 2. On Monday, I wrote about a new way to use landfill gas to make electricity from a renewable source. Another pathway for converting gas to electricity is fuel cells, which produce electricity with no byproducts except distilled water and a little bit of waste heat. But their carbon footprint depends on where they get their own fuel, hydrogen. One common source is natural gas, which is made up mostly of methane, a molecule with four hydrogen atoms and one carbon atom. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/biomass-and-electricity-part-2/ Biomass and Electricity, Part One. Burning natural gas releases less heat-trapping carbon dioxide then burning coal does because it has only about half as much carbon per unit of energy. But it can exacerbate global warming if it escapes unburned into the atmosphere as methane; in a century, a methane molecule will trap as much heat as 21 carbon dioxide molecules would. The easy solution is simply to burn the methane. But some sources emit methane at concentrations too low to burn. What then? Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/biomass-and-electricity-part-one/ Songbirds as a Casualty of Warming. As the United States experiences a snow shortage, researchers have released a study showing that declining snowfall in the mountainous regions of Arizona are causing a cascading series of effects that are proving devastating to songbirds . In recent years, scientists have become increasingly intent on understanding how the warming of the earth will affect wildlife populations. A lot of attention has been paid to how climate change has spawned deadly mismatches between animal and plant life cycles. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/songbirds-as-a-casualty-of-warming/ Dianne Feinstein urges moving high-speed rail to CalTrans. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein this week added her voice to the chorus of those who want the California Department of Transportation to take over the state's increasingly controversial high-speed rail project. In a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown made public Tuesday, Feinstein declared that "deploying the expertise and resources of CalTrans towards this effort over the next six months" could help turn the project around. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/feinstein-urges-moving-high-speed-rail-to-caltrans.html The Whip Snaps at High Speed Rail... and More. For the man whose Central Valley hometown is supposed to be an anchor point in the first construction phase of high speed rail, Rep. Kevin McCarthy seems intent on doing everything he can do block the project. And given McCarthy is the third highest ranking member of the GOP congressional leadership, he may be able to do a lot. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/capitalnotes/2012/01/09/the-whip-snaps-at-high-speed-rail-and-more/ Cruise ships massively pollute our oceans and air. According to a petition being circulated on the activist site Care2.com, the world's ocean liners and cruise ships contribute massively to pollution of not only our air but also our seas. The petition, "Tell Cruise Ships to Stop Spewing Filth Into Our Pristine Oceans!," asserts that "the 15 largest cruise ships produce as much air pollution as the world's 760 million cars" and that they "also generate tremendous waste": Posted. http://www.examiner.com/freethought-in-national/cruise-ships-massively-pollute-our-oceans-and-air EPA's Tough New Air Pollution Rules And The Value of Life And Breath. It might surprise many Americans to learn that, until just a couple of weeks ago, there were no federal standards requiring operators of the nation's roughly 600 coal- and oil-fired power plants to limit the amount of mercury, arsenic other toxic pollutants that they discharge into the air. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-zeller-jr/epa-air-pollution-rules_b_1195108.html?ref=green Blue Skies for 2012: Cutting Air Pollution and Strengthening Information Transparency in China. Power plant emissions and air quality standards targeting some of the most harmful impacts of coal are coming under greater scrutiny starting this year in China. As of January 1, new thermal power plants have tougher restrictions on soot, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxides (92% of the current fleet is coal-fired). Mercury will be controlled starting in 2015. Small particulate matter and ozone standards will take effect nationwide in 2016; …Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/bfinamore/blue_skies_for_2012_cutting_ai.html An energy-saving socket concept that's not for the easily startled. The PumPing Tap is a spring-loaded electrical socket that physically ejects plugs belonging to appliances and electronics that are not being used but still drawing small amounts of energy in standby mode. Although I’m not sure if this will ever pan out beyond the conceptual stage — and I certainly wouldn’t recommend it to those who are easily startled or have seen “Paranormal Activity” and its sequels too many times Posted. http://www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/blogs/an-energy-saving-socket-concept-thats-not-for-the-easily-startled Concerned Scientists Get Real Happy over EPA Standards on Mercury. From the nice people at the Union of Concerned Scientists : Great news! Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized the first-ever national standards to limit the amount of mercury and other toxic pollutants that power plants can spew into the environment. Toxic air pollutants from power plants—mercury, lead, arsenic, and others—are linked to health problems such as cancer, heart disease, neurological damage, birth defects, asthma attacks, and even premature death. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/concerned-scientists-get-real-happy-over-epa-stand/ Honda to offer two-motor plug-in hybrid system on 2013 Accord. Honda’s 2013 Accord, the 9th generation of the model, which is due to go on sale this fall, will feature three all-new powertrains, including the first US application of both a 2.4-liter direct-injected engine and two-motor plug-in hybrid system (earlier post) from Honda’s suite of next-generation Earth Dreams powertrain technologies. (Earlier post.) Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/honda-to-offer-two-motor-plug-in-hybrid-system-on-2013-accord.html New catalytic process for producing renewable diesel from microalgae oils. A team from the Technische Universität München led by Dr. Johannes Lercher, who is also Director of the Institute for Integrated Catalysis at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, has introduced a new catalytic process that allows the effective conversion of diesel-range alkanes from microalgae oils under mild conditions. A paper on the work appears in the journal Angewandte Chemie. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/lercher-20120110.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, 11 Jan 2012 11:34:39 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 11, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 11, 2012. 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 praises 'vital' work of EPA. President Barack Obama defended the work of the Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday, saying he would stand with the agency that has taken a beating from Republicans in Congress and on the presidential campaign trail for regulations that the GOP maintains will cripple the economy and kill jobs. Obama, making his first-ever visit to the EPA, took issue with those claims, saying he did not buy the notion that there is a choice between clean air and clean water and a growing economy. He said the mission of the agency was “vital.” Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hh7j6c8aKtAgYtr864Xa_C-9BluA?docId=67dd4fbbfa3d42e587131a46b58e5f11 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-defends-epa-says-agency-work-vital-and-some-environmental-regulations-necessary/2012/01/10/gIQAq1SioP_story.html http://www.nctimes.com/entertainment/tv/obama-praises-vital-work-of-epa/article_9702b650-6bdb-538e-92cd-a11b6330dd55.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/10/2019731/obama-praises-vital-work-of-epa.html Hong Kong to Widen Pollutants Watch as Beijing Plans to Do More. Hong Kong, facing criticism over its air quality, will measure pollutants smaller than 2.5 micrometers at all its monitoring stations by March, a week after Beijing pledged to make publicly available similar data. Hong Kong is testing sampler monitors at nine stations, adding to the five that are already measuring the fine particulate pollutants, Environment Secretary Edward Yau said in a written reply to questions from lawmakers today. Yau didn’t say if the data would be released to the public. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-11/hong-kong-to-widen-pollutants-watch-as-beijing-plans-to-do-more.html Winter Spare the Air Alert called for Wednesday. Air quality authorities have called the 13th Spare the Air Alert of the winter season on Wednesday, banning the burning of wood, manufactured fire logs and any other solid wood for 24 hours. Cool, still weather patterns will continue through Wednesday, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. During these weather conditions, the earth cools the air close to the ground, which creates an inversion layer of warmer air above. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_19713407 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/11/BA4O1MNCSO.DTL&type=green http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_19713407?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19713407?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Stronger alerts will be issued even when Valley’s air pollution is low. In the midst of the nation’s worst soot problem this season, air authorities are issuing stronger warnings when pollution is at a much lower level than before — a new protective measure. The San Joaquin Valley has been caught in a seven-week dry spell that shows no sign of relief. The lack of cleansing storms has allowed a haze of tiny debris to build up and violate the federal health standard for 37 consecutive days. Posted. http://clovisindependent.com/2012/01/10/stronger-alerts-will-be-issued-even-when-valleys-air-pollution-is-low/ W. Pa. power plant getting $700M pollution upgrade. The owners of a coal-fired western Pennsylvania power plant identified by regulators as one of the nation's worst polluters plan to add $700 million in pollution control equipment there. A federal judge in Pittsburgh late last year dismissed a pollution lawsuit filed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection against the Homer City Generating Station, the state's second-largest coal plant. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19719119?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19719119?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/65385--w-pa-power-plant-getting-700m-pollution-upgrade Officials Say Bad Air Quality Reaching Historic Levels. Air pollution officials say our air quality is now reaching historically bad levels. They say the length of our current string of bad days has set a record. Local air officials say our warm mild winter is keeping the atmosphere from mixing leading to our bad air quality. It’s a problem you can see: pollution so thick it blocks out views of the mountains. But this is different than the ozone pollution problem we have in the summer. Posted. http://www.turnto23.com/central/30181820/detail.html CLIMATE CHANGE Gov. Brown's cap-and-trade spending plan angers businesses. He aims to spend $1 billion from the auction of greenhouse gas emission credits to help shrink the budget shortfall. Industry groups call that a back-door tax hike. Reporting from Sacramento— Gov. Jerry Brown has found a new pot of money to help him fill a $9-billion hole in his proposed budget: $1 billion from auctioning credits to allow California companies to emit greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-greenhouse-credits-20120111,0,6040921.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fbusiness+%28L.A.+Times+-+Business%29 State shift of carbon fee to deficit questioned. Gov. Jerry Brown's budget proposal includes nearly $500 million in spending from the proceeds of California's first-in-the-nation cap-and-trade program, but the plan is raising questions about whether the governor is using the new money to cut the budget deficit instead of promoting new greenhouse-gas-reducing programs. The controversial cap-andtrade program essentially puts a price on carbon emissions by limiting the amount of CO2 that can be produced by the state's largest polluters. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/10/BAAL1MNFM4.DTL&type=science DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB fines businesses $383,000 for air quality violations. The California Air Resources Board will collect $383,000 after settling 53 air quality violation cases stemming from late 2011. In a news release, CARB said most of the violations involved truck and bus fleets that didn’t conduct annual emission tests as required by law, though nearly half of the fine totals were tied to illegal motorcycles being sold or tampered with in California. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2012/Jan12/010912/011012-05.shtml Port generates $202 million in economic output, report says. The Oxnard Harbor Commission is beginning the year with new leadership, tough regulatory challenges and an economic impact report that indicates the Port of Hueneme generates about $202 million in economic output, pays $15.4 million in local taxes and supports 1,516 local jobs. The report was prepared by economists at California Lutheran University under a different method from the one used the last time such a study was undertaken, so a comparison is not possible. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jan/10/port-generates-202-million-in-economic-output FUELS Cool Planet BioFuels Announces Road Testing of Negative Carbon Gasoline Begins in California. Cool Planet BioFuels announced today it has received approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to begin fleet-testing its negative carbon gasoline. Cool Planet BioFuel's technology converts low-grade biomass -- such as grass and woodchips -- into high-grade fuel. This process also produces a byproduct, which can be used to sequester carbon and act as a soil conditioner. This makes the CoolPlanetBioFuels product a negative carbon fuel. Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cool-planet-biofuels-announces-road-testing-of-negative-carbon-gasoline-begins-in-california-2012-01-11 VEHICLES Electric vehicle battery costs coming down: Chu. Industry and government are on track to bring down the cost of batteries to power hybrid and electric cars, which is crucial for improving commercial appeal of those vehicles, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said on Wednesday. Chu said at the Detroit Economic Club the Obama administration is not deterred by soft sales of plug-ins in their first full year in showrooms, nor does it worry about the potential for overcapacity in battery production. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/11/us-autoshow-batteries-idUSTRE80A1FA20120111 California getting majority of electric vehicle VC, study finds. A December report by the Next 10 public policy group showed that California brought in $840 million in venture capital invested in electric vehicle technology, 80 perent of the U.S. total. As the industry grows throughout the state, two electric vehicle companies in the North Bay said that they were also gaining momentum. Zap Jonway, a Santa Rosa-based manufacturer and developer of electric vehicles, and CODA Automotive, based in Santa Monica with an assembly plant in Benicia,…Posted. http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/46609/california-getting-majority-of-electric-vehicle-vc-study-finds/ Solution to higher mpg lies in conventional engines, panelists say. The U.S. auto industry may only have to look under the hood to find a solution for meeting increasingly stringent fuel economy regulations. Industry experts speaking during a panel on public-policy issues at the Automotive News World Congress today said that some of the greatest improvements in fuel efficiency will come by adding new gas-saving technologies to the internal combustion engine. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120110/OEM09/120119960/1186 Ghosn warns of disruptive shifts in auto industry. Carlos Ghosn, CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, warned today that global paradigm shifts in energy and demographics threaten to disrupt the auto industry. Exploding populations in developing countries are spurring unprecedented demand for cars and the fossil fuels powering then, he said in a keynote address at the Automotive News World Congress. But instead of preparing, carmakers are passively reacting, he said. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120110/OEM09/120119975/1186 Hybrids, China’s second best choice to go green. China held a conference to discuss the development plan for energy-saving and new energy vehicles for 2011 to 2020 last week. In China’s future development plan, more support will now be given to hybrid and other new energy automobiles. The Chinese State Council held a conference on 6th January to discuss the development plan for energy-saving and new energy vehicles for 2011 to 2020. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/72920120111.php GREEN ENERGY A Return to the Good Old Days? Preliminary results show that cleantech investment returned to levels not seen in three years. And it gets better, as the Cleantech Group said that 2012 may be the best year ever. Global cleantech investments were a shade under $9 billion last year for clean technology venture and corporate investments, a 13 percent increase over 2010. Cleantech mergers and acquisitions reached record highs in 2011 with 391 deals and a dollar volume of $41.2 billion, a robust 153 percent growth over 2010. Posted. http://www.renewablesbiz.com/article/12/01/return-good-old-days A Return to the Good Old Days? Clean energy VC at 2008 levels. Preliminary results show that cleantech investment returned to levels not seen in three years. And it gets better, as the Cleantech Group said that 2012 may be the best year ever. Global cleantech investments were a shade under $9 billion last year for clean technology venture and corporate investments, a 13 percent increase over 2010. Posted. http://www.renewablesbiz.com/article/12/01/return-good-old-days MISCELLANEOUS Doomsday Clock Overview. The Doomsday Clock conveys how close humanity is to catastrophic destruction--the figurative midnight--and monitors the means humankind could use to obliterate itself. First and foremost, these include nuclear weapons, but they also encompass climate-changing technologies and new developments in the life sciences that could inflict irrevocable harm. Posted. http://www.thebulletin.org/content/doomsday-clock/overview OPINIONS Alan Salzman: Global investors see the future in clean energy. Global investors controlling tens of trillions of dollars will gather Thursday at United Nations headquarters to showcase investments in clean energy and energy efficiency solutions. There's a powerful narrative here: Even in the face of paralysis among governments, many in the private sector are moving ahead on energy and climate change innovation. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/opinion/ci_19714790?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19714790?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com EDITORIAL: Moderate winter plagues Valley air quality. It's hard to gripe about weather that allows you to wear shorts in January -- a fashion statement that many in California have been embracing. For people who like mild weather, the numerous sunny days of late have been a blessing, but the lack of wind and rain comes with some downsides. A big one is dirty air, which is a particular health threat for children and people with asthma and other respiratory diseases. On Tuesday, Fresno's air was among the dirtiest in the country. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/10/2678023/editorial-moderate-winter-plagues.html#storylink=misearch FORUM: Forum on fuel rules missed the point. The Community Forum appearing Monday, Jan. 2, by Eric Buechele totally misses the point with his unfair criticism of Congressman Darrell Issa. What Buechele and many others fail to understand is that the government's efforts to limit fuel availability, manage vehicle production, impose millage standards, and limit roadway construction are all built on a deliberate and calculated barrage of misinformation. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/forum-forum-on-fuel-rules-missed-the-point/article_18a65007-a244-5e0d-b672-09276703bf1a.html Letter: No air pollution from wind power. I like wind power because it does not cause air pollution, and further protects our air by preventing dirty coal and oil from being burned. Opponents who say that it spoils the view need to consider what will be included in their view without clean energy sources. Standing atop a mountain in Rocky Mountain National Park and seeing the view shrouded in what looked like brownish haze from humidity baffled me in that super dry climate. Posted. http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20120111/OPINION03/120111008/Letter-No-air-pollution-from-wind-power BLOGS Obama Drops by the E.P.A. President Obama, who has been both applauded and jeered for his record on environmental issues, paid a brief visit to the headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington on Tuesday to try to raise spirits at an agency that has been under siege for the past year. All the Republican presidential candidates and the House Republican majority have criticized the agency for what they cast as intrusive environmental regulations that cost jobs and harm the economy. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/obama-drops-by-the-e-p-a/ Can Better Communication of Climate Science Cut Climate Risks? Over the weekend I noticed a clever new effort to visualize how natural climate variability interacts with the heating effect from accumulating greenhouse gases – made by Ole Christoffer Haga for the Danish television program Siffa: The video, which has been making the rounds, reminded me of a conversation I videotaped a year and a half ago when I met up with Murray Gell-Mann, a physics Nobelist and dean of efforts to understand complex, consequential systems. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/can-better-communication-of-climate-science-cut-climate-risks/?src=twrhp Addressing Climate Change: Vote for Green, Not Junk Jobs, in 2012. The liquid golden light of winter floods our flowering yard, perfumed by blooming narcissus, cymbidium orchids, Andean lilies, and others. Tropical? No, we live in a temperate zone, but this year's unseasonable balmy to hot, dry weather persisted from the US southwest to the now-not-so-frozen Canadian north, as climate change melted away white Christmas hopes. Ah, warm, sunny winter weather -- an insidious, sinful delight of climate change. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-ellen-harte-and-john-harte/addressing-climate-change_9_b_1197929.html?ref=green Bay Area's Urban Planning Must Address Public Health, Study Says. For nearly four years, Cassandra Martin lived in West Oakland, a few blocks from two freeways and the city’s port. This has made her an accidental expert on air pollution. “I used to wonder what that black stuff was on the windowsill,” said Martin, who was diagnosed with asthma in 2009. “I would constantly wipe the walls and windowsills, but it would get so caked with soot. That’s a reason I was wondering about particulate matter.” Martin now works part time collecting air-quality data for a West Oakland environmental group. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/11/bay-area-urban-planning_n_1199549.html Doomsday Clock kicks off more conspiracy theories. The Doomsday Clock moved one minute closer to midnight Tuesday. It is now 11:55, five minutes before the hour in which humankind will face its fate. Have we all gone mad with apocalyptophobia? Since 1947, the Doomsday Clock has charted how near humanity is to its destruction. And we have always been prone to end-is-nigh hysteria. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/doomsday-clock-kicks-off-more-conspiracy-theories/2012/01/11/gIQA0k0nqP_blog.html NSF Early Career Award supports investigation of technique to measure temperature of low-temperature combustion reactions. David Rothamer, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, recently received a $405,000 National Science Foundation 2011 Faculty Early Career Development Award (CAREER) to investigate a new technique using nanoparticle thermographic phosphors for measuring the temperature of a low-temperature combustion reaction through the entire process. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/career-20120111.html Fraccidents. We've all seen (or at least heard of) the movie "Erin Brockovich" in which a bold and fiercely determined mom takes on a chemical company for exposing a small town and the families and children that live there to toxic chemicals that have been linked to cancer. It's Academy Award winning material. And it's happening again. In a small town in Colorado, 600 yards from three elementary schools and a childcare center, the natural gas industry is about to drill wells and expose hundreds of school children to chemicals that have never been proven safe. Posted. http://www.enviroblog.org/2012/01/fraccidents.html Coda will offer cheaper electric Sedan with less range, now starts at $37,250. Will electric-car buyers trade away 25 miles of driving range in exchange for $2,650? That's what Coda Automotive is betting on. Los Angeles-based electric-vehicle maker said this week that, in addition to offering its standard Coda Sedan battery-electric vehicle, which has a 150-mile range, for $39,900, it will also sell a cheaper version with a 125-mile range for a base price of $37,250. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/11/coda-will-offer-cheaper-electric-sedan-with-less-range-now-star/ ====================================================================== 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 Jan 2012 12:43:03 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 12, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 12, 2012. 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 Factbox: EPA's looming clean air rules. The Environmental Protection Agency is introducing its most ambitious clean air rules in decades, though it is making some concessions to election-minded Republicans who oppose them. The EPA, facing backlash from heavy industry, has delayed several of the rules and made adjustments in others. Some industry groups say the rules will cost companies billions of dollars and increase power bills for consumers. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/11/us-usa-epa-air-idUSTRE80A2FK20120111 Hong Kong Pollution Link to 7,240 Premature Deaths, Group Says. Roadside pollution in Hong Kong, which benchmarks itself against a 25-year-old air standard, contributed to about 7,240 premature deaths from 2005 to 2011, a public think tank said, citing data from an environmental index. High nitrogen dioxide levels are linked to the deaths, the Hong Kong-based Civic Exchange said in a statement today …Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-12/hong-kong-pollution-link-to-7-240-premature-deaths-group-says.html Texas' emissions top EPA list. Texas likes to brag that it’s big. Turns out that it’s a big emitter of greenhouse gases, too. A new federal database shows that in 2010 the Lone Star State’s power plants and refineries sent 294 million metric tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere – more than twice the amount released by similar facilities in any other state. The data, posted online Wednesday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la--me-gs-emissions-texas-0120111,0,3217162.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fscience%2Fenvironment+%28L.A.+Times+-+Environment%29 Spare the Air Alert issued for Thursday. Officials have declared a Spare the Air alert for today, the second such alert in as many days and the 14th since the winter air-quality season began Nov. 1. An alert for Friday is also likely as long as stagnant weather persists, said Kristine Roselius, a spokeswoman for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/12/BA4U1MO655.DTL&type=green Unfair air quality fines. Most agree that equitable air pollution regulations are necessary. However, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is required by the Environmental Protection Agency to levy a $29 million fine every day air standards are not met in this region. District vehicle owners must now pay one such fine, with yet another being tacked onto DMV fees. Also, uncontrolled growth makes more fines inevitable. According to our Constitution, Congress makes laws and the judiciary enforces them. What's going on? Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/12/v-print/2679454/unfair-air-quality-fines.html Oceano Dunes enthusiasts sue air board on dust rule. Group disputes study that links off-road riding to unhealthy air on Nipomo Mesa. A group of off-highway vehicle users has sued the county Air Pollution Control District in an effort to overturn a new rule controlling dust emissions from the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. Friends of Oceano Dunes filed the lawsuit Jan. 4 in San Luis Obispo Superior Court. Posted. http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/01/11/1903999/oceano-dunes-enthusiasts-sue-board.html CLIMATE CHANGE EPA: Power plants main global warming culprits. The most detailed data yet on emissions of heat-trapping gases show that U.S. power plants are responsible for the bulk of the pollution blamed for global warming. Power plants released 72 percent of the greenhouse gases reported to the Environmental Protection Agency for 2010, according to information released Wednesday that was the first catalog of global warming pollution by facility. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GREENHOUSE_GASES?SITE=MOSTP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/12/MN3R1MO54H.DTL&type=green http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203436904577155160478913928.html?_nocache=1326393419371&user=welcome BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/11/2021171/epa-power-plants-main-global-warming.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/epa-power-plants-main-global-warming-culprits/article_2458cd2d-ac5f-5098-8c3e-770fbe449fca.html EPA Web tool tracks major greenhouse gas sources. The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled a new interactive website Wednesday that allows users to track the total annual greenhouse gas emissions of power plants, oil refineries and other big industrial facilities that account for 80% of the country’s output of the gases that are the primary contributors to global climate change. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-epa-web-tool-tracks-major-greenhouse-gas-sources-20120111,0,370183.story?track=rss State shift of carbon fee to deficit questioned. Sacramento -- Gov. Jerry Brown's budget proposal includes nearly $500 million in spending from the proceeds of California's first-in-the-nation cap-and-trade program, but the plan is raising questions about whether the governor is using the new money to cut the budget deficit instead of promoting new greenhouse-gas-reducing programs. The controversial cap-and trade program essentially puts a price on carbon emissions by limiting the amount of CO2 that can be produced by the state's largest polluters. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/11/BAAL1MNFM4.DTL&type=green Cold, hard cash from cap and trade draws lawmakers' interest. The news that California is banking on getting $1 billion from its cap-and-trade program this upcoming fiscal year has sparked a vigorous debate about how -- and whether -- it can be used. Gov. Jerry Brown (D) last week included the money in his proposed budget for 2012-2013, despite the fact that auctions aren't starting until August. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/01/12/archive/4?terms=cold+hard+cash BY SUBSCRIPTION Scientists develop material to trap carbon dioxide. As atmospheric carbon dioxide levels continue to climb, a team of California scientists has created a new material that will help reduce the amount escaping from smokestacks and power plants. The material, called polyethylenimine, or PEI, acts like a carbon dioxide fly-tape trap, attracting the greenhouse-gas molecules and sticking to them so they can't escape. Posted. http://www.grist.org/climate-energy/2012-01-11-scientists-develop-material-to-trap-carbon-dioxide EPA Sets Stage for 2012 Climate Clashes. The Obama administration is laying the foundation — quite literally — for the battles it faces this year on climate change. On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled the first-ever searchable database of greenhouse-gas emissions from most major sectors of the economy. The database, mandated by Congress in 2008 through an appropriations bill, doesn’t require any new regulations but it is user-friendly: …Posted. http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/epa-sets-stage-for-2012-climate-clashes-20120111?mrefid=freehplead_3 DIESEL EMISSIONS Clean diesel sales beating hybrids, up 27% in 2011. Sales of clean diesel vehicles in the United States rose by 27.4% in 2011 compared to 2010. At the same time, hybrids saw sales drop by 2.2% in the same period. Clean diesels make up about twice the market segment that hybrids do. According to Baum and Associates, a market research firm, clean diesel vehicles (defined as diesels with lower emissions and better efficiency than traditional automobiles) make up about 3% of the current passenger vehicle sales market in the U.S. Hybrids make up a little over 1% of that market. Posted. http://www.torquenews.com/1080/clean-diesel-sales-beating-hybrids-27-2011 FUELS Super fracking push for more oil, gas production. As regulators and environmentalists study whether hydraulic fracturing can damage the environment, industry scientists are studying ways to create longer, deeper cracks in the Earth to release more oil and natural gas. Energy companies are focused on boosting production and lowering costs associated with so-called fracking, a technique that uses high-pressure injections of water, sand and chemicals to break apart petroleum-saturated rock. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/12/BUUM1MNRAC.DTL&type=green Cool Planet BioFuels Starts Road Testing. Camarillo-based Cool Planet Biofuels, the cellulosic biofuels developer backed by BP, Shea Ventures, General Electric, Google Ventures, ConocoPhillips, NRG and North Bridge Venture Partners, announced today that it has received approval from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to begin fleet-testing its low carbon gasoline. Cool Planet is developing a process to convert low-grade biomass such as grass and woodchips, into gasoline. Posted. http://www.socaltech.com/cool_planet_biofuels_starts_road_testing/s-0040349.html VEHICLES Carson fined for illegal catalytic converter sales. A Carson company has been fined for selling illegal catalytic converters for use on passenger vehicles, state air quality regulators said Wednesday. The California Air Resources Board said U.S. Auto Parts Network Inc. paid $233,000 in penalties after investigators documented the sales of 932 illegal catalytic converters. The converters at issue were no longer legal for sale in California due to new regulations that took effect on Jan. 1, 2009, said Karen Caesar, a CARB information officer. The agency's investigation occurred from that date through March 10, 2010, she added. Posted. http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_19721853#.Tw6iJZY8gjg.email PERRIS: Hybrid vehicles will save city money. Perris officials have continued their commitment to green energy with the purchase of two hybrid vehicles that will save thousands of gallons of gasoline and reduce carbon emissions for years. The new Lincoln MKZ cars were purchased with money provided through the Air Quality Management District as an incentive for the city to remove older, less fuel-efficient, vehicles from its fleet. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/perris/perris-headlines-index/20120111-perris-hybrid-vehicles-will-save-city-money.ece Switch reluctant motors and EV fast charging at gas stations - Electric Japan Weekly No36. Nidec has announced that it will start delivering switch reluctant electric motors for EVs without rare earth materials to car makers by 2013. Japanese oil companies introduce a paying fast charging system at pumping stations. And Kanazawa is starting free fast charging service for citizens. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/73020120112.php GREEN ENERGY 'Green energy' is the best route to profitable public investment. Bloomington, Ind. -- The Obama administration's investments in the green energy economy have already produced a great number of jobs in a sector with significant potential for additional growth. It would be a serious mistake to undercut the initiative just as it's contributing to the recovery. While estimates vary on exactly how many jobs the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created, several experts have put the number at 2 million or more. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/12/v-print/4182376/green-energy-is-the-best-route.html Alameda and Contra Costa among top Bay Area green counties. Alameda County is leading the Bay Area in energy efficiency among homeowners and officials from StopWaste.org are banking on Livermore-Amador-Valley residents to widen the gap. Since the Energy Upgrade California program began in March, 33 percent of Alameda County homeowners have completed a home energy upgrade that includes anything from new attic insulation to solar panels. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19714029?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19714029?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com MISCELLANEOUS UC system bans smoking, chewing of tobacco. Oakland, Calif. -- The University of California is banning smoking and the chewing of tobacco on all of its 10 campuses. UC President Mark Yudof announced the ban to campus chancellors this week. It will go into effect in 2014. The San Jose Mercury News reports (http://bit.ly/w5vvHm) that about 8 percent of UC students and 10 percent of employees smoke. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/12/4182805/uc-system-bans-smoking-chewing.html BART plans to order test batch of new cars in May. BART plans to buy a slick new ride - 260 new rail cars - for about $1 billion in May. The cars will sport a sleek modern look, cleaner seats, digital information displays, even air conditioning that works on hot days. And if transit officials are pleased, and can come up with another $2 billion or so, they'll buy another 515 cars. After years of planning and scrounging for funding, BART is ready to lurch forward with the start of its plans to replace its 669-car fleet of rail cars, most of which are about to turn 40. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/12/BAHH1MO3KQ.DTL&tsp=1 Sunflowers inspire improved solar power plant. The well-tuned geometry of the florets on the face of the sunflower head has inspired an improved layout for mirrors used to concentrate sunlight and generate electricity, according to new research. The sunflower-inspired layout could reduce the footprint of concentrating solar power (CSP) plants by about 20 percent, which could be a boon for a technology that's limited, in part, by its massive land requirements. Posted. http://futureoftech.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/11/10118661-sunflowers-inspire-improved-solar-power-plant?chromedomain=cosmiclog OPINIONS California can't afford the bullet train [Most commented]. Dump California's bullet train. At least, that's the overwhelming sentiment among readers who've been responding to the board's most recent editorial, "Keep California's bullet train on track." The board wrote: The project is unquestionably risky, far more expensive than voters were told it would be when they approved nearly $10 billion in bonds to build it in 2008, and unlikely to be finished until years later than promoters had suggested. Posted. http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2012/01/california-cant-afford-the-bullet-train-most-commented.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OpinionLa+%28L.A.+Times+-+Opinion+Blog%29 California's bullet train debate; a Brit's crusade against the word "awesome"; how to spend the peace dividend. Lure of the rails. Re "Keep the bullet train on track," Editorial, Jan. 7. Should California continue its high-speed rail project? Yes. But should we get locked into the current plan by the California High-Speed Rail Authority? No. Most people favor, in principle, building a bullet train system, even many who object to the cost and poor design. So the real question is why we're locked into such an unrealistic plan. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0111-wednesday-20120111,0,4632320.story Dan Morain: Valero's revenge foils AB 32 implementation. Forgive Valero and other oil producers if they're feeling a little bit smug. A little more than a year ago, the Texas oil company spent $5 million to promote an ill-advised initiative to upend California's Assembly Bill 32, the landmark 2006 legislation that seeks to force a reduction in greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/12/4181493/valeros-revenge-foils-ab-32-implementation.html Toyota Unveils Newest Prius Model, Plug-In Hybrid Concept. Obviously, Toyota is dedicated to hybrid technology. It builds the best-selling hybrid on the planet, the Prius. The Japanese giant announced plans to expand its Prius lineup last year here in Detroit with the release of the larger Prius v. At the 2012 North American International Auto Show, Toyota unveiled the production version of the next model in that range, the smaller Prius c. Posted. http://editorial.autos.msn.com/toyota-unveils-newest-prius-model-plug-in-hybrid-concept?icid=autos_2282 Why Alternative Energy, Part Two. Sometime between 2008 and 2009, or perhaps before then, I got it in my head that the best poetry was political in nature, the best fiction was psychological or sociological in nature, and the best non-fiction, well, was non-fiction! It was sometime around then that I got on board the alternative energy train, or perhaps hopped on the caboose that’s being dragged by the engine. At the time, I wasn’t thinking about writing about the subject. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaynejung/2012/01/12/why-alternative-energy-part-two/ The Effects of Urban Pollutants and Acid Rain. Steaks on the bar-b tonight!! When I smell charcoal burning, usually early Saturday mornings, my thoughts immediately revert back to when I last attended a bar-b-que cook out. The smell of mesquite charcoal, well-seasoned top choice T-Bone steaks, baked potato, baked beans, corn-on-the-cobb, etc. I could go on and on but that would only cause you to seek out the nearest grocery store to retrieve the essentials for your weekend outing. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/green-living-in-tampa-bay/the-effects-of-urban-pollutants-and-acid-rain BLOGS On Our Radar: The Nation’s Greenhouse Gas Culprits. The Environmental Protection Agency releases an interactive online tool for identifying major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. The database and map allow residents and governments to learn about the biggest polluters in their neighborhoods and get the broad picture as well. [Environmental Protection Agency] Amid a wave of complaints about its worsening air quality, Hong Kong will begin measuring pollutants smaller than 2.5 micrometers at all its monitoring stations by March, an official says. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/on-our-radar-the-nations-greenhouse-gas-culprits/ New York Plans Bigger Recycling Effort. The Bloomberg administration has set a goal of doubling the amount of garbage it diverts from landfills over the next five years. The plan, which is expected to be announced at 1 p.m. by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in his State of the City address on the campus of Morris High School in the Bronx, seems to reflect a deeper commitment to programs that encourage the reuse and prevention of waste, including the city’s long-neglected residential recycling program. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/12/new-york-plans-bigger-recycling-effort/ Follow the Carbon: Find the Biggest Greenhouse Gas Emitters Near You. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has just made tracking greenhouse gases a lot easier. The agency has produced its own map of major GHG producers, with fresh data and customizable features. Two years ago, when we produced our map of California emitters for Climate Watch, we had to cobble it together with raw data from the state Air Resources Board emissions inventory, numbers that were relatively hard to find and infrequently updated. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/01/11/follow-the-carbon-epa-maps-greenhouse-gas-emitters/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 How Plastic Trees Could Help Pull Carbon Dioxide Out of the Air. We know that real trees soak up carbon from the atmosphere — but fake trees? Kimberly Ayers. And you thought plastic palm trees had no redeeming value... A cheap plastic that removes carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere? “Yes,” says a team of chemists at the University of Southern California’s (USC) Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute…Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/01/11/cleaner-air-the-word-could-still-be-plastics/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 When will EPA release its new car pollution proposal? This is a post about an EPA proposal that hasn’t been proposed. It’s a post about a proposal that environmentalists, state air regulators, and industry stakeholders have been waiting a year and a half to see. And, it’s a post about an important issue that has not received much attention, so it may be news to you. Here goes: On May 21, 2010, I joined my colleagues at EPA, in the health and environmental communities, and in the vehicle emissions industries in the White House Rose Garden to hear President Obama announce a three-part plan to reduce pollution from our nation’s vehicles. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/rkassel/unfinished_business_at_epa_tim.html Hyundai offers 'lifetime battery replacement guarantee' for Sonata Hybrid. Hyundai is complementing its standard 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty by adding a "lifetime battery replacement guarantee" for the Sonata Hybrid, the only hybrid the South Korean automaker sells. Hyundai said Monday that, in the event of breakdown of the Sonata Hybrid's lithium polymer battery, the company will replace the battery free of charge and pay for its recycling costs. Hyundai, which co-developed the lithium polymer battery with LG Chem, says the Sonata Hybrid's drivetrain can hold up under more than 300,000 miles of driving with "minimal degradation." Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/11/hyundai-offers-lifetime-battery-replacement-guarantee-for-sona/ UN Sustainable Energy for All Initiative. Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki Moon has set three objectives for his his new Sustainable Energy for All Initiative to be achieved by 2030: ensure universal access to modern energy services; double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency; and double the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/un-sustainable-energy-all-initiative/ Chemically Removing CO2 from Air Is Ridiculously Expensive. Trapping harmful pollutants directly from the atmosphere using chemicals sounds like a suitable solution to curb the appalling levels of air pollution. However, research led by experts from Stanford and MIT clearly indicates that the plan is viable only on paper, since the prohibitive costs of this method make it unsuitable. This theory is backed by a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, revealing that capturing emissions from local sources…. Posted. http://news.softpedia.com/news/Chemically-Removing-CO2-from-Air-is-Ridiculously-Expensive-246025.shtml ====================================================================== 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 Jan 2012 14:14:54 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 13, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 13, 2012. 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 Bay Area air district discourages wood-burning Friday. The regional board that monitors air quality asks Bay Area residents not to burn wood on Friday. While fireplace burning is not banned, it could be unhealthy, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The agency issued several Winter Spare the Air Alerts this season because of smoky air. While the air should not become unhealthy enough to trigger another alert, the district "strongly discourages" wood fires to keep it that way. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19729971 Judge rules innovative Bay Area development guidelines are flawed. Development review guidelines meant to cut air pollution, the first of their kind when approved in 2010, are in limbo after a judge ruled their adoption by the region's air board was flawed. One building industry leader predicted the ruling would force a rewrite of land-use guidelines that he said delay and add costs to "infill" development of homes and businesses from San Jose to Oakland and Walnut Creek. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_19730654 Martinez company settles air pollution fines. Plains Products Terminals of Martinez has agreed to pay $116,000 to settle air pollution violations at its petroleum storage site and marine terminal, regulators announced Thursday. The settlement covers seven violations between 2008 and 2011, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District said. None of the violations posed a significant threat to air quality or public health, according to the air district. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_19730838 Bucket brigade evaluates toxic tour results. The results of the bucket brigade's toxic tour are in. In December, Arvin residents concerned with air quality took their own sample near composting operator Community Recycling & Resource Recovery Inc. They sent it off to a Simi Valley lab and tested the sample for dozens of sulfur gases and volatile organic compounds. This week, the group said it found "threatening" levels of hydrogen sulfide, the colorless gas that smells like rotten eggs and can, in very high concentrations, lead to death. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1794008703/Bucket-brigade-evaluates-toxic-tour-results East Kern Air Pollution Control District board will meet in Tehachapi. The January meeting of the EKAPCD Board of Directors will be held on Jan. 12, 2012, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Golden Hills Community Services District office, 21415 Reeves, Tehachapi. The meeting is open to the public. Among items to be considered by the board is a response to a Kern County Grand Jury recommendation that the district be consolidated with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. That proposal has been widely criticized. Posted. http://www.tehachapinews.com/news/local/x1105064244/East-Kern-Air-Pollution-Control-District-board-will-meet-in-Tehachapi Dust levels up in SLO County. Although San Luis Obispo County’s air quality remains much better than other parts of California, unusual weather patterns have caused a slight increase in dust levels locally. Records kept by the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District show local air quality has already violated state standards for fine particulate matter twice this year. That’s unusual, said Aeron Arlin-Genet, air district spokeswoman. Posted. http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/01/12/v-print/1905240/dust-levels-up-in-slocounty.html Is a county building making employees sick? Sarah Kirk made a show-stopping entrance to the county Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, her son Gavin immobile in a wheelchair that she pushed before her. Sarah Kirk addresses the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday with her son, Gavin, at her side in a wheelchair. The nine-year-old boy is perhaps the most arresting visual in the two-year insistence by county employees that there is something toxic at a Social Services Agency office building on North Eckoff Street in Orange that houses about 400 workers. Posted. http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2012/01/13/is-a-county-building-making-employees-sick/146330/ CLIMATE CHANGE Investors see climate opportunity to make money, create jobs. UNITED NATIONS — In the language of the 450 large institutional investors meeting at a conference here Thursday, climate change is a risk to avoid and also an opportunity to make a good return on investments. The investors, who control more than $20 trillion worldwide, are looking at climate change from a business perspective even as Washington steers clear of the issue. Clean energy investments worldwide grew 5 percent in 2011 over 2010…Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/13/us-climate-investment-idUSTRE80C03S20120113 http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/12/v-print/4183833/investors-see-climate-opportunity.html Climate change not just about CO2; study says cut methane, soot to slow warming, save lives. Washington — An international team of scientists says it’s figured out how to slow global warming in the short run and prevent millions of deaths from dirty air: Stop focusing so much on carbon dioxide. They say the key is to reduce emissions of two powerful and fast-acting causes of global warming — methane and soot. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/climate-change-not-just-about-co2-study-says-cut-methane-soot-to-slow-warming-save-lives/2012/01/12/gIQAJdjytP_story.html http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/scientists-global-warming-slowed-millions-lives-saved-cutting-emissions-methane-soot-article-1.1005472 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/13/MN8C1MONRU.DTL To Slow Climate Change, Cut Down On Soot, Ozone. Politically, climate change is off this year's campaign agenda. Jobs, the economy and social issues are front and center. But scientists are working as hard as ever to figure out how much the Earth is warming and what to do about it. Some now say it's time for a new strategy, one that gets faster results. Talk to Durwood Zaelke, for example. Zaelke is a grizzled veteran of the climate wars: ..Posted. http://www.npr.org/2012/01/12/145117211/scientists-turn-focus-to-ozone-soot-to-fix-climate DIESEL EMISSIONS Grant money flows for Oakland port truckers, but for some it's too little, too late. The grant money is flowing to help Oakland Port truckers buy newer, less polluting rigs, but financial aid appears to have come too late for some drivers who found other jobs or couldn't afford to take on new debt. Friday is the deadline for port haulers with 2004 model-year trucks to apply for $10,000 truck replacement grants issued by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_19731747 FUELS ‘Crunch time’ at troubled nuclear fuel plant. U.S. Enrichment Corp., which produces fuel for nuclear power plants, is having its own sort of meltdown. Disillusioned investors have wiped out 95 percent of the company’s market value since 2007. Standard & Poor’s has saddled it with a dismal CCC-plus credit rating. And USEC’s chief executive John Welch says that “clearly we’re coming to crunch time here.” When USEC was created by the U.S. government in the 1990s, the idea was to privatize the job of uranium enrichment. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/crunch-time-at-troubled-nuclear-fuel-plant/2011/12/20/gIQAIpUJwP_story.html GREEN ENERGY California sets new efficiency rules for battery chargers. California will become the first state in the nation to require greater energy efficiency in the battery chargers that millions of consumers use to power their cellphones, laptops, power tools and other electrical devices. The California Energy Commission on Thursday unanimously approved new standards for battery chargers, which the agency says waste nearly two-thirds of the energy they collect. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/13/4184722/california-sets-new-efficiency.html http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-energy-vampires-20120113,0,6391528.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/13/BUAB1MOQFA.DTL http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120113/A_NEWS/120119943 Boxer urges SoCal Edison to expedite renewable energy projects. In a letter to SCE's president, the senator chastises the utility for delays that have left solar projects sitting idle in national parks and forests. Sen. Barbara Boxer on Thursday urged Southern California Edison to expedite agreements with national parks and forests so that millions of dollars in renewable energy projects can begin producing electricity. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-boxer-20120113,0,317264.story Vestas Jobs Threat Pressures Obama to Extend Tax Break. Vestas Wind Systems A/S’s threat to fire 1,600 workers in the U.S. undermines President Barack Obama’s goal of creating green jobs and adds to pressure on Congress to extend a tax credit that the industry relies on. The world’s biggest maker of wind turbines said yesterday it will probably reduce its staff beyond the 2,335 posts it’s eliminating worldwide if the U.S. doesn’t renew the so-called Production Tax Credit, which expires at the end of this year. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-13/vestas-jobs-threat-pressures-obama-to-extend-tax-break.html MISCELLANEOUS Chief executive of high-speed rail project steps down. Roelof van Ark's departure raises new questions about the controversial project's stability. At the same time, Thomas Umberg announces he is leaving as chairman of the project's board. The political and management challenges facing California's bullet train project grew more complicated Thursday, when the chief executive of the $98.5-billion effort suddenly announced his resignation, just months before construction was supposed to begin. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0113-bullet-resign-20120113,0,7586034.story http://www.mercurynews.com/california-budget/ci_19730194 http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/13/4184727/rail-projects-chief-board-chairman.html OPINIONS Protect natural resources — phase out dirty fuels. The recent ruling by a federal judge to block California's landmark Low Carbon Fuel Standard is a huge blow to our state's efforts to dramatically reduce global warming pollution that threatens people, wildlife and natural resources across the state. Fuels that run our vehicles are the second biggest source of carbon emissions in the U.S., and our clean energy future depends on phasing out dirty fuels like tar sands and phasing in clean fuels. Posted. http://www.lodinews.com/opinion/letters/article_161dfeb6-c8c2-5688-8235-38c7a9862e2a.html ELIAS: New effort on better cars draws usual misguided opposition. If California highways and parking lots of 2025 look considerably different from today's, it will probably be because they'll contain almost 1.5 million more hybrid cars and trucks, hydrogen-driven vehicles and plug-in hybrids that run mostly on electricity except on long trips. That's the vision behind the latest set of proposed rules rolled out by the California Air Resources Board even as the Republican chairman of the main investigative committee in the House of Representatives seeks to drag it into hearings about whether it is exceeding its mission. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/elias/elias-new-effort-on-better-cars-draws-usual-misguided-opposition/article_fac4364e-f6e3-5b3d-989c-1dc6a0284934.html Letter: There is hope for renters. As a renter, I definitely would prefer if my home were in a building that was smoke-free. Most of my neighbors would agree because secondhand smoke is a toxic pollutant and a serious health threat. The U.S. Surgeon General recently stated there is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure. Also, in 2006 the California Air Resources Board designated secondhand smoke as a toxic air contaminant, in the same category as car exhaust and many factory emissions. Posted. http://www.chicoer.com/opinion/ci_19734519 How Environmental Protection Fares in Governor's Budget . Planning & Conservation League. Last week, due to a technical glitch, the Brown Administration unintentionally released the Governor’s proposed budget a few days earlier than expected. Through $10.3 billion in cuts and increased revenues, the proposed budget would close a $9.2 billion deficit, compared to last year's $26 billion gap, and build a $1.1 billion reserve. The most severe cuts will be inflicted on CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, child care, and the Cal Grant Program. Posted. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/comment/reply/9751 Far-reaching effects of refining regs. While the American electorate and media were focused on the Iowa caucuses at year’s end, and are now fixated on the early presidential primaries, a serious — potentially devastating — problem is brewing that could affect every driver and other users of refined petroleum products in the U.S. The warning signs came in late 2011, when two major oil companies — Sunoco and ConocoPhilips — announced that they were closing three oil refineries in the Northeast. This means the loss of more than 50 percent of the refining capacity in that region. Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=6BBA4B3A-E0C4-4A28-80CB-294377477C60 BLOGS On Our Radar: Reducing Soot and Methane. Adam Ferguson for The New York TimesSoot from early-morning cooking fires in a village in Uttar Pradesh, India. Reiterating that carbon dioxide need not be the only focus, an international team of scientists suggests 14 ways of controlling emissions of methane and soot, from cleaning up cookstoves to changing cultivation methods for rice paddies. If adopted more widely, the scientists calculate, these methods would reduce projected global warming by 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit by the year 2050. [Associated Press]. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/on-our-radar-reducing-soot-and-methane/?pagemode=print Shell’s Arctic Drilling Plan Clears Hurdle. Royal Dutch Shell has been on a six-year crusade to drill in Arctic waters off Alaska’s coast, and has spent about $4 billion on the effort so far without drilling a single well. But the company took one more bureaucratic baby step forward this week toward drilling in the Chukchi Sea later this year. An appeals board of the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday rejected four challenges brought by the environmental groups like Alaska Native Peoples and Earthjustice to block Clean Air Act permits covering airborne emissions from industrial operations. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/shells-arctic-drilling-plan-clears-hurdle/?ref=science Savings May Come Soon Under New Fuel Economy Standard. Consumer group says 54.5 mpg by 2025 a win for drivers & car makers. Gasoline prices hit record highs in 2011 and for the first time last year, the cost of gas equaled or exceeded even the cost of owning a vehicle: on average, the roughly $2,800 dollars that a household spent at the pump was more than a year’s worth of car payments. Crunching the numbers on a hypothetical new car purchase 13 years from now, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) says what we’ll save in gas will more than cover the extra spent on new fuel-saving technologies — an $800 savings even at the end of a five-year loan. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/01/12/new-fuel-economy-standard-savings-come-soon/ Climate Change and Coastal Communities: Facing the Rising Tide. As the water rises, a documentary maker ponders why people aren’t more concerned. Opinion by Claire Schoen. I recently dug out an old letter which I had written to my Dad back in 1982. “Have you heard about this thing called Global Warming?” I asked. Back in the 80’s, I was already aware of what is now referred to as “climate change.” So why is it that so few Americans understand this threat today? In fact, America is in retreat on the subject. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/01/12/climate-change-and-coastal-communities-facing-the-rising-tide/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 Court’s Latest Stay of Clean Air Regulations Shows the Best Can Be the Enemy of the Good. On December 30, The U.S. Court of Appeals for Washington, D.C. stayed implementation of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), which was to take effect on January 1, 2012. The EPA maintains that CSAPR would save 13,000 to 34,000 premature deaths annually, as well as lead to improvements in visibility in national and state parks…Posted. http://www.economonitor.com/dolanecon/2012/01/12/court%E2%80%99s-latest-stay-of-clean-air-regulations-shows-the-best-can-be-the-enemy-of-the-good/ Putting a Price Tag on Whales Won't Save Them. This week American scientists proposed a market-based approach to “saving” whales: set tradable quotas for them. Establishing a “cap and trade” market for whaling – while academically interesting – is a terrible idea. It would legalize commercial whaling, which has been banned by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) since the moratorium on commercial whaling took effect in 1986. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/tkiekow/putting_a_price_tag_on_whales.html Direct Data from Largest US Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Available Online for First Time. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data direct from the largest emitters in the US are being made available for the first time ever via a new online database from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The 2010 GHG data released Jan. 11 by the EPA accounts for 80% of total US GHG emissions for the year. Public information from more than 6,700 entities organized across facilities in nine industry groups and 29 source categories that directly emit large quantities of GHGs … Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2012/01/13/direct-data-from-largest-us-sources-of-greenhouse-gas-emissions-available-online-for-first-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: Tue, 17 Jan 2012 11:40:58 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 17, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 17, 2012. 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 Hong Kong Says New Air Quality Objectives May Start in 2014. Hong Kong, facing criticism over its pollution, plans to have new objectives for its air quality by 2014 and seeks to use the World Health Organization’s targets as a benchmark, according to a statement from the government. The city’s government will submit amendments to the air pollution ordinance to the Legislative Council in 2012-13, according to the statement. It wants to review its objectives every five years. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-17/hong-kong-says-new-air-quality-objectives-may-start-in-2014.html http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204468004577166383365590226.html BY SUBSCRIPTION Pollution tied to disease risk in L.A. black women. In a study of more than 4,000 black women in Los Angeles, those who lived in areas with higher levels of traffic-related air pollution were at increased risk of developing diabetes and high blood pressure. The researchers, led by Patricia Coogan at Boston University, found that black women living in neighborhoods with high levels of nitrogen oxides, pollutants found in traffic exhaust, were 25 percent more likely to develop diabetes and 14 percent more likely to develop hypertension than those living in sections with cleaner air. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/13/us-pollution-disease-risk-idUSTRE80C1TP20120113 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/13/la-air-pollution-tied-to-disease-risk-black-women_n_1205303.html Clean-air advocates see real need to check pollution levels along region's freeways. A growing body of science has confirmed common-sense instinct that dirty freeway air is seriously bad for health, and that research is spurring activists and regulators to consider new ways of addressing Southern California pollution. Despite studies showing troubling health effects, it remains a mystery exactly what's in the air near heavily trafficked freeways on any given day. Regional air regulators have 36 air-quality sensors across Southern California but they don't monitor pollution next to freeways. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19754442?source=most_viewed http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_19754442?source=rss http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_19754895 Winter air pollution raises health worries. If you haven't been feeling well, the tiny particles that have filled the Valley's air, and your body, may be to blame. Kevin Hall, Director of the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition believes the region has been hit hard by microscopic pollution, known as PM 2.5. "We've been through the worst winter air pollution episode for fine particulates that anyone can remember. Posted. http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8506668 STATE OF THE AIR REPORT FALLS SHORT. Beginning in 2000, the American Lung Association (ALA) has periodically released its “State of the Air” report. The report gives letter grades to counties in the country based on air quality. But despite being well intentioned, some local government officials believe the report has a number of flaws that result in unfair grading. The ALA uses stricter air quality standards than the EPA when determining grades for ambient air quality. Posted. http://www.publicceo.com/2012/01/state-of-the-air-report-falls-short/ CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Proposal Puts Practicality Ahead of Sacrifice. The current issue of the journal Science contains a proposal to slow global warming that is extraordinary for a couple of reasons: 1. In theory, it would help people living in poor countries now, instead of mainly benefiting their descendants. 2. In practice, it might actually work. This proposal comes from an international team of researchers — in climate modeling, atmospheric chemistry, economics, agriculture and public health —…Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/science/countering-climate-change-without-waiting-for-a-payoff.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Growing Doubts in Europe On Future of Carbon Storage. The European Union’s long-term energy plans to abate global warming while still burning fossil fuels hinge on proposals to capture carbon dioxide emissions and store them in deep underground rock formations. Yet weak support for the untested technology is putting Europe in the rear ranks of its development. Two carbon capture and storage projects in Germany and Britain were canceled last quarter …Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/technology/17iht-rbog-ccs17.html?scp=3&sq=fuels&st=cse Climate change skepticism seeps into science classrooms. Some states have introduced education standards requiring teachers to defend the denial of man-made global warming. A national watchdog group says it will start monitoring classrooms. Reporting from Washington— A flash point has emerged in American science education that echoes the battle over evolution, as scientists and educators report mounting resistance to the study of man-made climate change in middle and high schools. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-climate-change-school-20120116,0,2808837.story http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/17/4193444/climate-change-skepticism-seeps.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/16/scientists-want-climate-change-young-minds/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS Rising home insurance rates point to climate change. Insurance companies don’t care if you believe in climate change or not: Your premiums are going up anyhow. NPR reported Monday that home insurance premiums are going up across the board in response to the record number of tornadoes, floods, fires, blizzards and other heavy weather that hit the country in 2011. The piece features insurance executives at major firms such as Allstate and State Farm saying they are raising rates as much as 10%. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-insurance-rates-driven-up-by-global-warming-npr-reports-20120116,0,3679812.story?track=rss Greenhouse gases in your backyard. Data showing how much carbon dioxide and other climate changing gases power plants, refineries and other industrial operations emitted in 2010 are, for the first time, widely available to the public on a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website. The U.S. EPAs Greenhouse Gas Inventory collects data from several industries that comprise about 80 percent of the yearly total industrial emissions of gas linked to global warming. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/16/v-print/4191324/greenhouse-gases-in-your-backyard.html DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB registry accepts mismatched model years; OOIDA urges caution. California’s Truck and Bus Rule registry will accept any combination you may have of truck, engine and VIN numbers. That information, however, could leave a truck owner open to enforcement by CARB, EPA or others should your truck not meet standards of the federal Clean Air Act. The California Air Resources Board’s Truck and Bus Rule registration system is online, and CARB says about 20,000 trucks have signed up in the last two weeks. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2012/Jan12/010912/011312-02.shtml FUELS Electric plants shift from coal to natural gas. The huge, belching smokestacks of electric power plants have long symbolized air pollution woes. But a shift is under way: More and more electric plants around the nation are being fueled by natural gas, which is far cleaner than coal, the traditional fuel. The most optimistic projections describe an abundant domestic energy source that will create enormous numbers of jobs and lead to cleaner skies. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gwTFgyJcaehjsPpUa5Q0GIXUItjA?docId=b411c24334fb47518b446cf1a81ca91a AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/16/2685090/electric-plants-shift-from-coal.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/16/2027734/electric-plants-shift-from-coal.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/electric-plants-shift-from-coal-to-natural-gas/article_29f86c71-0322-5693-8122-19a6c19b0404.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jan/16/bc-us--gas-drilling-electricity-1st-ld-electric/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19752376?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19752376?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com SG Biofuels Gets $17 Million to Develop Bioenergy Crop Jatropha. SG Biofuels Inc., a closely held U.S. bioenergy crop company, received $17 million in venture capital that will fund research and international jatropha planting programs. Thomas, McNerney & Partners led the Series B financing round, and Finistere Ventures LLC also participated, SG Biofuels said today in a statement. Existing backers Life Technologies Corp. (LIFE) and Koch Industries Inc.’s Flint Hills Resources LLC unit also reinvested. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-17/sg-biofuels-gets-17-million-to-develop-bioenergy-crop-jatropha.html Keystone XL pipeline would be hard to kill, analysts say. Even if the Obama administration rejected it on environmental grounds, demand for oil and jobs means an alternative probably would emerge. Reporting from Washington— A provision attached to the recent payroll tax bill requires President Obama to decide by Feb. 21 on the construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the U.S. But even if the administration rejects the project, it may not be enough to kill it, industry analysts said. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-keystone-pipeline-20120116,0,367991.story Bulgaria bans Chevron from using 'fracking' Bowing to public pressure, Bulgaria's government said U.S. oil company Chevron cannot explore for shale gas in the country using the extraction technique known as "fracking." Energy Minister Traicho Traikov said that under Tuesday's decision "Chevron can still have the right to test for oil and gas, but without using the controversial technology of hydraulic fracturing." He said San Ramon, Calif.-based Chevron had not yet been notified of the decision and negotiations on the contract are pending. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/01/17/financial/f063001S56.DTL California biodiesel conference addresses LCFS, bad RIN issues. Leaders of the California biodiesel industry met Jan. 16 in San Francisco to partake in the inaugural California Biodiesel & Renewable Diesel Conference. More than 180 industry stakeholders attended event, which was presented by the California Biodiesel Alliance and Biodiesel Magazine. Eric Bowen, chairman of the California Biodiesel Alliance and executive director of corporate business development and legal affairs at the Renewable Energy Group Inc., was on hand to deliver the keynote address. Posted. http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/8275/california-biodiesel-conference-addresses-lcfs-bad-rin-issues Volatility Rules Markets. Natural gas continues to set the tone for national power markets, but federal crackdown on coal generation and the uncertain policy outlook for renewables also dominate the energy sector. Clean energy continues to be most sensitive to these trends. The latest in the ICF Integrated Energy Outlook Series was the subject of a recent webinar that discussed natural gas, coal, power, emissions, and renewable energy markets in light of impending regulations of hazardous air pollutants rules and other recent areas of concern. Posted. http://www.renewablesbiz.com/article/12/01/volatility-rules-markets Negative-Carbon Gasoline? Cool Planet BioFuels Ready to Road Test. Despite a hot 2011 for biofuels, startup Cool Planet BioFuels flew mostly under the radar. That's surprising considering that the company has a number of marquee backers. It's also about to change, thanks to an announcement that the California Air Resources Board approved road tests of Cool Planet's “negative-carbon” gasoline. Cool Planet is an intriguing case because the firm has skipped the ethanol game altogether. Posted. http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/negative-carbon-gasoline-cool-planet-biofuels-ready-to-road-test/ VEHICLES Doubts cast on cost estimates for high-speed rail alternatives. Bullet train promoters predict it will cost $171 billion to build new airports and roads if the trains aren't completed. But experts say that figure is greatly exaggerated. As the price tag for California's bullet train has soared to nearly $100 billion, a central argument for forging ahead with the controversial project is an even loftier figure: the $171 billion that promoters recently estimated will be needed for new roads and airports if no high-speed rail is built. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bullet-exaggeration-20120117,0,4293248.story New vehicles' U.S. fuel mileage rises. Fuel mileage on new motor vehicles purchased nationwide in 2011 averaged 22.2 miles per gallon compared with 21.7 mpg in 2010, according to calculations by Santa Monica-based TrueCar.com. "It may seem insignificant, but an increase of a half a mile per gallon in fuel economy translates to a reduction in fuel consumption of 214 million gallons, or a savings of about $722 million in fuel annually in the U.S.," said Jesse Toprak, TrueCar's vice president of industry trends. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/17/2028894/new-vehicles-us-fuel-mileage-rises.html Detroit Auto Show: Electric premieres. The 105th North American International Auto Show 2012 is held in Detroit until 22 January. New electric cars, some of them even already planned for production, can be seen at the biggest US automotive event. cars21.com summarises the electric premieres of NAIAS 2012. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/73320120117.php GREEN ENERGY Solar grid parity 101 — and why you should care. This post originally appeared on Energy Self-Reliant States, a resource of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s New Rules Project. Solar grid parity is considered the tipping point for solar power, when installing solar power will cost less than buying electricity from the grid. It’s also a tipping point for the electricity system, when millions of Americans can choose energy production and self-reliance over dependence on their electric utility. Posted. http://grist.org/solar-power/2012-01-12-solar-grid-parity-101/ MISCELLANEOUS New ads reignite fight over Keystone XL jobs figures. As the deadline looms for President Obama’s Feb. 21 decision on whether to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, the dogfight is focused on job numbers. Project proponents tout an enormous number of new jobs created by the pipeline, but a labor institute says those numbers are greatly inflated. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-new-ads-keystone-xl-jobs-figures-20120116,0,6768250.story Sonoma County's Cedars a rare geologic wonder. At an old mining camp in the mountains above Cazadero in Sonoma County is a Mars-like panorama of steep crumbling red slopes, bizarre mineralized formations and green serpentine rock. The 11-square-mile area, called the Cedars, is a mysterious land of one-of-a-kind geological phenomena next to the Austin Creek State Recreation Area and Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve that almost nobody in the Bay Area knows anything about. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/16/MNIM1MNAG8.DTL&type=printable OPINIONS Michael Gerson: Climate change added to politics of culture war. The attempt by Newt Gingrich to cover his tracks on climate change has been one of the shabbier little episodes of the 2012 presidential campaign. His forthcoming sequel to "A Contract With the Earth" was to feature a chapter by Katharine Hayhoe, a young professor of atmospheric sciences at Texas Tech University. Hayhoe is a scientist, an evangelical Christian and a moderate voice warning of climate disruption. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/17/v-print/4192349/climate-change-added-to-politics.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/climate-and-the-culture-war/2012/01/16/gIQA6qH63P_story.html Editor’s pick: Reader offers science lesson. In a letter Saturday, Violet Smith expressed concern about air pollution in airplane exhaust contrails and asked if anyone knew more about the air pollution in these contrails. Actually, only a small fraction of the contrails is air pollution. The vast majority is water in the form of ice crystals. As explained in WeatherQuestions.com: “Water vapor is a natural by-product of the burning of petroleum-based fuels, and the amounts produced by jet engines are sometimes larger than the cold, thin air of the upper troposphere can hold in vapor form. Posted. http://www.centredaily.com/2012/01/17/3055204/reader-offers-science-lesson.html Are 'green energy' policies thwarting job growth? No: Route to profitable public investment. The Obama administration's investments in the green energy economy have already produced a great number of jobs in a sector with significant potential for additional growth. It would be a serious mistake to undercut the initiative just as it's contributing to the recovery. While estimates vary on exactly how many jobs the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act created, several experts have put the number at 2 million or more. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/14/2025945/are-green-energy-policies-thwarting.html INLAND: Quarry rejection is bad news for all. Permit me to voice my dismay that the Riverside County Planning Commission voted to turn down the Liberty Quarry project despite Granite Construction having gone through an extensive EIR process, with approval by the planning staff of the work by that organization and its consultants, each of whom is a well-known professional in his or her field. The commission’s decision is another in an unfortunate pattern found repeatedly in California of narrow local political pressures inhibiting the state’s economy. Posted. http://www.pe.com/opinion/local-views-headlines/20120115-inland-quarry-rejection-is-bad-news-for-all.ece More misguided CARB complaints. If California highways and parking lots of 2025 look considerably different from today's, it will probably be because they'll contain almost 1.5 million more hybrid cars and trucks, hydrogen-driven vehicles and plug-in hybrids that run mostly on electricity, except on long trips. That's the vision behind the proposed rules rolled out by the California Air Resources Board, even as the Republican chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives' main investigative committee seeks to drag it into hearings about whether it is exceeding its mission. Posted. http://www.thereporter.com/opinion/ci_19747513 BLOGS On the Horizon, Planes Powered by Plant Fuel. The use of jet fuel from renewable sources is now well demonstrated, but it costs more than double what fuel made from petroleum does, according to airlines, aircraft companies and suppliers. One way to cut the cost may be to tinker with the plants that biofuel is made from. Take jatropha, for example. Lufthansa said last week that it had completed a series of more than 800 flights by an Airbus A321 that shuttled between Hamburg and Frankfurt while burning a 50 percent biofuel mix in one of its two engines. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/on-the-horizon-planes-powered-by-plant-fuel/ A Climate Change Idea That Might Work. A new proposal to slow global warming is extraordinary, John Tierney writes in The New York Times, because it would help poor countries now, and “it might actually work.” The proposal, outlined in the latest issue of Science magazine, takes into account an often ignored fact: “When there’s a conflict between policies promoting economic growth and policies restricting carbon dioxide, economic growth wins every time,” the article says. Posted. http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/16/a-climate-change-idea-that-might-work/?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Climate 101 – Online and Free. As part of the trend in higher education toward moving more course offerings onto the Web, the University of Chicago has launched Open Climate 101, an online version of a popular course led by David Archer that explores for non-science majors the body of research pointing to a rising human influence on the climate system. It’s built around Archer’s climate text, “Global Warming: Understanding the Forecast” (sample chapter). (I have a particular affection for that title.) Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/16/climate-101-online-and-free/ Public to Obama Administration: Adopt New Auto Fuel Efficiency and Carbon Standards. Greetings from the Motor City! Obama Administration officials are in Detroit to gather public input on the EPA and Department of Transportation proposal to raise new automobile efficiency standards to the equivalent of 54.5 mpg by 2025, nearly double that of today’s new vehicles. As I’ll be testifying later today, the standards are a huge step forward. They will dramatically cut U.S. oil consumption and dangerous emissions carbon pollution. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ltonachel/public_to_the_feds_adopt_new_a.html India Emerges as Solar Energy Hotspot. India emerged as a solar energy market hotspot in 2011, as the Indian government set a goal of scaling up solar power generation from 20,000-megawatts (MW) to 20,000-MW by 2020. Government support to achieve the ambitious target is attracting private sector investment from a host of domestic, as well as some foreign, solar energy industry participants, the latest one being Talma Chemical Industries. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/01/india-emerges-solar-energy-hotspot/ California Renewable Energy Off to a Good Start in 2012 with Five Big Projects. Renewable energy is getting off to a good start in California this new year despite being buffeted by supply-demand imbalances, rising trade friction and uncertainty over federal support for clean energy and technology. As NPD-Solarbuzz reports, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has approved five renewable energy contracts so far this month, which will result in the production of some 1,088-megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable power and forecasts 2,927 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electrical energy. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/01/california-renewable-energy-good-2012-start-approval-1-gigawatt-plus-projects/ Scientists Pour Water Into Oregon Volcano to Generate Energy. A team of scientists from Seattle-based AltaRock Energy, Inc. and Davenport Newberry Holdings LLC has announced plans to harness one of Mother Nature’s most powerful energy sources by pumping 24 million gallons of water into the side of a dormant volcano in Central Oregon. The team hopes that the water will return to the surface boiling hot, at which point it can be used to generate clean and cheap energy – without the explosive side effects and liquid magma associated with active volcanoes. Posted. http://inhabitat.com/scientists-pour-water-into-oregon-volcano-to-generate-energy/ US and UK researchers report direct measurement of key atmospheric reactant; more rapid formation of secondary aerosols. Molecules called Criegee intermediates—carbonyl oxides—are important atmospheric reactants, but only indirect knowledge of their reaction kinetics has been available. Now, researchers from Sandia National Laboratory’s Combustion Research Facility, the University of Manchester and the University of Bristol report in a paper in Science the first direct kinetics measurements made of reactions of any gas-phase Criegee intermediate, in this case formaldehyde oxide (CH2OO). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/criegee-20120116.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, 18 Jan 2012 11:51:44 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 12, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 18, 2012. 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 Second lawsuit filed against the air quality district. A San Luis Obispo man filed a second lawsuit against the air quality district over its contentious Oceano Dunes dust rule, this one focusing on alleged procedural errors. The lawsuit, filed by Kevin Rice on Tuesday, charges the air quality district with failing to follow California laws when it passed a rule 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. Posted. http://calcoastnews.com/2012/01/second-lawsuit-filed-against-the-air-quality-district/ Mecca: Tribe agrees to air quality rules. Polluting businesses on tribal land near Mecca could soon face air district regulations under what officials say is a landmark agreement with a sovereign tribe. The Cabazon Band of Mission Indians has agreed to 39 air qualities rules for its 600-plus acre industrial park area that’s normally outside the jurisdiction of South Coast Air Quality Management District. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20120117-mecca-tribe-agrees-to-air-quality-rules.ece CLIMATE CHANGE Cost of 30 percent EU carbon cut less than thought: draft. Raising the European Union's 2020 emission reduction target to 30 percent would be considerably less costly than originally thought and the effort could be shared fairly among EU governments, according to a draft EU document. The analysis by the European Commission could reignite the debate over whether the EU should boost its climate ambitions, after the economic downturn made emission cuts easier to achieve, but also reduced the ability of governments and companies to make the necessary investments. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/18/us-eu-climate-target-idUSTRE80H19220120118 San Diego Climatologist Identifies 14 Measures To Slow Global Warming. For many years, scientists concerned about global warming have pointed to Carbon Dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels as the major culprit. And Carbon Dioxide remains the biggest factor in global climate change. But recently, other sources of air pollution have been identified as significant problems. A San Diego climate scientist's research is at the heart of a NASA study on ways to control them. Posted. http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/jan/17/sd-climate-scientists-14-measures-slow-global-warm/ China Sets Historic Limits on GHG Emissions from Select Regions. China is starting to get on board with the international push to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Last week, China's authoritarian government ordered five cities and two provinces to institute limits on GHG emissions. These areas will now have to submit proposals to the national government's National Development and Reform Commission on how they plan to achieve it. Posted. http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/43871 DIESEL EMISSIONS Cleaner Air In L.A. Ports Comes At A Cost To Truckers. The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are the busiest in the nation. They also have some of the dirtiest air, thanks to thousands of cargo trucks that pass through each day. But this month marks the beginning of a new era, as tighter emissions standards go into effect. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2012/01/18/145338359/cleaner-air-in-l-a-ports-comes-at-a-cost-to-truckers Diesel truck emissions in Oakland fall sharply. West Oakland’s 22,000 residents live beside three freeways, two rail yards, and the nation’s fifth busiest container port—a destination for thousands of diesel trucks hauling goods back and forth daily while spewing pollutants into the neighborhood around them. According to a 2008 health risk assessment by the California Air Resources Board, diesel particulate matter (PM) emissions from Oakland’s port operations, the rail yard, and the freeways result in 1,200 excess cancers per million for residents of West Oakland. Posted. http://its.berkeley.edu/btl/2012/winter/harley FUELS Refining Outlook Is ‘Dire’ on Excess Capacity, BP’s Ruehl Says. The outlook for oil refining in the next two decades is “dire” given excess capacity in the industry, BP Plc (BP/)’s Chief Economist Christof Ruehl said. “Demand growth is expected to be weighted toward middle distillates while fuel oil consumption declines,” Ruehl said today at the company’s Energy Outlook 2030 presentation today in London. “This will continue to put pressure on those refineries with limited upgrading capacity.” Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-18/refining-outlook-is-dire-on-excess-capacity-bp-s-ruehl-says.html Investing in Clean Fuels Benefits Everyone. The process to implement California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard has had an interesting month. In mid-December we achieved a great victory when California’s Air Resources Board (CARB) unanimously agreed to move forward with implementation of the low emission fuel standard. However, a couple weeks after the December 15th vote, a legal ruling was issued that might delay that progress. Posted. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/comment/reply/9764 Major oil refinery to close in US Virgin Islands. The giant Hovensa oil refinery that has dominated the economy and part of the landscape of the island of St. Croix for decades will cease operations next month, the operator said Wednesday. Local officials said the closure will slam the economy of the small U.S. territory, though oil analysts said it was unlikely to have a major effect on the global oil market. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/major-oil-refinery-to-close-in-us-virgin-islands/article_0ccc3b10-6982-541e-a90c-90afea60bf3d.html#ixzz1jpeAIjrO VEHICLES New Gas Economy Rules Generate Wide Support. Writing new regulations that will require cars and trucks to have significantly higher fuel economy by 2025 prompted years of fighting among automakers, environmentalists, regulators and consumer groups. But now that the standards have been proposed, nearly everyone involved in the process is on board with the results, as a public hearing held Tuesday in Detroit showed. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/business/energy-environment/new-fuel-economy-rules-win-broad-support.html?scp=1&sq=fuel%20rules&st=cse New CAFE proposal would add $5,000 to sticker price, NADA says. An Obama administration proposal to nearly double today's fuel economy standards could end up tacking on $5,000 to the sticker price of a new vehicle, a top official with the National Automobile Dealers Association said today. The proposal, which seeks to raise the corporate average fuel economy to 54.5 mpg by the 2025 model year, would force automakers to adopt costly fuel-saving technologies that could eventually price some buyers out of the new-car market, said Don Chalmers, chairman of NADA's government relations committee. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120117/OEM11/120119854/1186 EU standards – a prerequisite for EV infrastructure investments, experts say. The European Expert Group on Future Transport Fuels has published its second report focusing on infrastructure for alternative fuels, including electricity. Recommendations on policy actions will serve as a basis for the European Commission proposals due to be published in the first quarter of 2012. The report lists five policy options that will serve as the basis for recommendations by the group. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/73420120118.php Meet The Microhybrid: A New Class Of Green Cars. Although cars such as the Chevy Volt aim to be the next new cars for consumers, a new class of hybrid vehicles is emerging that promises to be more fuel efficient than gasoline-run vehicles and cheaper than the Volt and other electric rides. They are call the microhybrids, or stop-start cars, which are so named because their combustion engines are turned off when the cars stop, say, at an intersection when the light turns red. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/uciliawang/2012/01/17/a-new-class-of-hybrid-electric-car-emerges-to-woo-consumers/ GREEN ENERGY Renewable-Energy Growth to Outpace Oil, Gas Through 2030, BP Says. Wind power, solar electricity and biofuels consumption will grow at a faster pace than demand for fossil fuels in the next 20 years as nations seek to meet rising energy needs without adding to carbon emissions, BP Plc (BP/) said. Global renewables consumption will rise 8.2 percent a year through 2030, outstripping the annual 2.1 percent gain for natural gas, the fastest-growing fossil fuel, BP said today in its annual outlook. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-18/renewables-to-grow-more-than-8-a-year-through-2030-bp-says.html Keystone XL pipeline to be rejected by Obama administration. The State Department on Wednesday will reject the Keystone XL pipeline, multiple sources following the project told POLITICO. The formal announcement is expected at 3 p.m. from Deputy Secretary of State William Burns. Although the permit would be rejected, TransCanada would still be allowed to continue to work on and pitch an alternative route through Nebraska. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71598.html Maine college has biomass plant for heat, energy. While temperatures dropped below zero in Maine, Colby College fired up a new biomass plant that will offset the need for oil by burning wood chips, bark and treetops. The Waterville college says its $11 million biomass plant will replace about 1 million gallons of heating fuel with about 22,000 tons of locally produced wood annually. During peak usage, the college is expected to save $250,000 monthly at current market prices. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19766422?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19766422?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/18/2030597/maine-college-has-biomass-plant.html#storylink=cpy ENERGY: Protest planned for opening of SDG&E energy center. A homeowners group plans to protest the opening of San Diego Gas & Electric Co.'s new energy center on Wednesday at noon, protest organizers said Tuesday. The group is irate over SDG&E's proposal to regulators to unbundle electric rates in such a way that would add $20 to $30 a month to a solar power user's electric bills. The proposal attracted opposition from solar businesses, residential solar customers, and some government agencies. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/business/energy/energy-protest-planned-for-opening-of-sdg-e-energy-center/article_3e3732ec-f716-51d8-9b53-fab140ac8072.html#ixzz1jpeXD75j Green Business at Davos. What do green issues have to do with Davos? Many people assume that the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting will focus on the financial crisis still rippling through the world. This may be an important part of the program, but it's far from the whole story. A strong green thread runs right through the Meeting, demonstrating the fact that questions about economic growth and environmental sustainability are not separate, but tightly intertwined. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominic-waughray/green-business-at-davos_b_1212885.html?ref=green OPINIONS A smoke-free UC goes too far. University system's plan for campuses to be smoke- and tobacco-free within two years has noble intent but goes too far. There's nothing to say in defense of cigarettes. Smoking is a detestable, dangerous habit — but it's also a legal one, and there is plenty to say in defense of allowing adults to make bad decisions if they're not breaking the law or harming others. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-smoke-20120118,0,880814.story Burning America's future. An energy policy outlined by the head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in which we use all of the nation's coal, gas and oil is beyond dumb. At the turn of the last century, Time magazine published a list of what it considered to be the 100 worst ideas of the 20th century. It included Prohibition, leisure suits, the Titanic, cold fusion. You get the idea. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-mckibben-a-spectacularly-bad-idea-for-energy-20120118,0,6051362.story Air Pollution. On Jan. 12, I attended a meeting in Tehachapi where the Eastern Air Pollution Control Board met to discuss a recommendation by the grand jury to combine the Eastern and Western Kern Air Pollution Control Boards. I believe the problem with this idea is obvious: By combining the control boards, businesses and residences in the Eastern Kern County area could soon be regulated by the stricter standards that are established for the Western County. Posted. http://www.kvsun.com/articles/2012/01/17/opinion/letters/doc4f1603a2c2a27145197633.txt LUFT: Market-based future for ethanol. For years, ethanol has been the fuel free marketers loved to hate. Much of this is for good reason. Ethanol represented what most Americans dislike about Washington: undue government intervention in the free market, abuse of taxpayer dollars and political favoritism. The result is that for many people, ethanol is identified with pork and corruption rather than with energy security. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/17/market-based-future-for-ethanol/ This electric car news isn’t as good as it sounds at first. Electric car enthusiasts – those who want someone else to subsidize their extravagances and then pretend that the electricity they use isn’t created with fossil fuel anyway – may at first find something to cheer about in this news from England. There are now more charging stations than electric vehicles on the road, reports the MailOnline. Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2012/01/17/this-electric-car-news-isnt-as-good-as-it-sounds-at-first/66600/ BLOGS BP Does BHP a Favor. BP’s latest long-term energy outlook actually appears to offer better news for that other big London-listed commodity producer, BHP Billiton. Demand for BP’s main product, oil and other liquid fuels, is forecast to continue rising to 103.5 million barrels per day in 2030 (consumption this year is estimated to be just over 90 million bpd according to the latest International Energy Agency projection). But at just 0.8% per year between 2010 and 2030, oil is set to have the slowest growth of any major energy source by some way. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/overheard/2012/01/18/bp-does-bhp-a-favor/ 32,100 and Counting: New Yorkers Speak Out on Fracking. Officials with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation say they have counted 32,100 statements so far since the close of a public comment period on Wednesday on their proposal to allow hydrofracking in the state. The count continues, said Emily DeSantis, a spokeswoman for the department, and the tally may exceed 40,000 by the time all of the letters are accounted for. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/32100-and-counting-new-yorkers-speak-out-on-fracking/?scp=7&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Wind Turbines and Health Hazards. There is no conclusive evidence so far that wind turbines are responsible for health problems ranging from balance problems to diabetes, an independent panel of health experts reports.With turbine farms on the rise, complaints and lawsuits brought by communities where they have been placed have mushroomed. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/18/wind-turbines-and-health-hazards/?scp=4&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Air Pollution Monitors Could Come to L.A. Freeways. For Southern Californians living near freeways, in what we at LA Weekly call "Black Lung Lofts," breathing in dirty air has been a concern for years, and it's one that's been neglected by Los Angeles and federal officials. The highly publicized Children's Health Study, released by USC in 2004, confirmed that kids living within two blocks of any freeway in Southern California contract asthma at higher levels, and some suffer lifelong lung damage. Posted. http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2012/01/freeway_air_monitors_lawsuit.php Save Lives and Keep Extreme Weather in Check by Cutting Smog, Soot, and CO2 Pollution. An important study published in Science last week shows that targeted measures to curb methane, black carbon, and carbon dioxide emissions would yield huge public health and environmental benefits. Pollution reductions from this strategy would prevent 700,000 to 4.7 million premature deaths each year, increase crop yields, and greatly reduce the risk of extreme climate disruption that lies beyond global warming of 2 degrees Celsius. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dlashof/save_lives_and_keep_extreme_we.html U.S. ethanol subsidy expiration may be driving up gas prices. Last month's expiration of ethanol subsidies from the U.S. federal government may already be driving up gas prices. Average gas prices as of Friday were $3.39 a gallon, up three cents from a week ago and up from $3.26 a month ago, according to AAA. Fuel prices for the three weeks ended January 6 rose 12 cents to $3.36 a gallon, marking the first three-week increase since late October, Bloomberg News reported earlier this week, citing Lundberg Survey Inc. Bloomberg said prices rose almost 28 cents from a year earlier. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/u-s-ethanol-subsidy-expiration-may-be-driving-up-gas-prices/ For low carbon ICT, don't throw it away. Slowing down the lifecycle of ICT equipment will help cut carbon emissions, so we all need to use less, re-use and recycle. More than half of the lifetime carbon emissions of ICT equipment can be generated during manufacture, so the longer a product remains in use, the more carbon efficient it is. It means that what happens to equipment when it's no longer needed is an important factor in low-carbon ICT. Unfortunately, IT departments have a habit of automatically replacing products after a set time. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/low-carbon-ict-recycle?newsfeed=true As Electric Vehicles Take Charge, Costs Power Down. Thanks to a cost-sharing project with the DOE, GM has been able to develop the capacity to build electric and hybrid motors internally. That capacity has made electric cars like the upcoming Chevy Spark electric car. The record number of electric vehicles on the floor of Detroit’s North American International Auto Show this week sends a clear message – the American auto industry is dedicated to driving innovation and delivering advanced electric cars to consumers here and around the world. Posted. http://www.evwind.es/noticias.php?id_not=15963 Two solar power/EV charging projects at California campuses. The Center for Environmental Research and Technology at the University of California, Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering, has received a $2-million award for a two-year project to build solar arrays, advanced battery storage, vehicle charging stations, an electric trolley, and a grid management system to provide clean energy to clean vehicles efficiently. Separately, AECOM Technology Corporation and REC Solar unveiled a 1.16 MW installation at the California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) campus. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/cali-20120117.html Why Mileage-Based Auto Insurance is Good for Drivers, Insurers and the Planet. In this election season, we’re hearing a lot about reducing the role of the federal government. Letting the states decide the issues. Turning national legislation like Roe v Wade back to the states. Even shuttering federal agencies like the EPA. The cry for smaller government runs through both Republican and Democratic campaigns. But then you run into something as sensible as mileage-based auto insurance, which has lingered for years in state legislatures while people who don’t drive much continue to pay up to 30 percent more than they should for insurance. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/01/mileage-based-auto-insurance-good-drivers-insurers-planet/ ====================================================================== 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 Jan 2012 13:13:55 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 19, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for January 19, 2012. 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. GOVERNORS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS State of the State 2012: "California on the Mend" In his 2012 State of the State speech, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. said California is “on the mend” and laid out an ambitious agenda for economic growth in the year ahead. The full text of the speech is below: (Remarks as prepared). As required by the state constitution, I am reporting to you this morning on the condition of our state. Putting it as simply as I can, California is on the mend. Posted. http://gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=17386 AIR POLLUTION Cabazon tribe agrees to air quality monitoring. Environmental regulators will be allowed to enforce air quality laws on reservation in the Coachella Valley. Environmental regulators will be allowed to enforce air quality laws on the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians reservation in the Coachella Valley, an agreement reached seven months after noxious odors from a recycling facility sickened nearby schoolchildren. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-toxic-waste-cabazon-20120119,0,6528489,print.story South Coast Air Quality Management District, Cabazon Band of Mission Indians near historic deal. Some east valley residents still worried about odors. COACHELLA — Regional air quality officials are on the verge of a landmark deal with the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians to enforce clean-air standards on tribal lands. “This is historic in nature,” Barry Wallerstein, the South Coast Air Quality Management District's executive officer, said of his agency's pending agreement with the tribe. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120118/NEWS01/120118016/South-Coast-Air-Quality-Management-District-Cabazon-Band-Mission-Indians-agree-Mecca-air-deal Sierra Club sues Texas for upping plant emissions. An advocacy group has filed a court challenge against Texas' environmental regulatory agency after it agreed to allow four coal-fired power plants to emit more pollution. The Sierra Club argues in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality didn't allow for public comment or look closely enough at the plants' emission controls and their impacts on air quality. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19774386?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19774386?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com CLIMATE CHANGE Dueling NY studies over natural gas climate impact. ALBANY, N.Y. — Two groups of scientists at Cornell University are dueling over whether natural gas from shale is better or worse than coal when it comes to global climate change. It's a significant question because proponents of shale gas development using the controversial practice of high-volume hydraulic fracturing argue that natural gas is a cleaner-burning "bridge fuel" from the age of coal to an era of wind, solar and other sustainable energy sources. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/AP5a65cb4fae304d60ba49904e3053e259.html BY SUBSCRIPTION Jerry Brown defends high-speed rail. Sacramento -- Gov. Jerry Brown took ownership of California's controversial high-speed-rail project on Wednesday in his State of the State speech, forcefully defending the plan that has received blistering bipartisan criticism in recent weeks. Brown likened the project to massive infrastructure advances of past decades, including the building of the Panama Canal, BART and the interstate highway system - …Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/19/MNOP1MR40G.DTL California cap and trade program likely to face legal challenges. On Oct. 20, 2011, the California Air Resources Board adopted administrative rules to implement California’s “cap-and-trade” program for industrial emissions of greenhouse gases. It’s the first of its kind at the state level, and is set to take effect in 2013. Before it does, however, it is likely to face significant legal challenges that, like the canary in the coal mine, may provide a hint of what other states may expect if they attempt to impose a similar program. Posted. http://djcoregon.com/news/2012/01/18/california-cap-and-trade-program-likely-to-face-legal-challenges/ Report: Natural Gas From Shale Not Suitable as "Bridge Fuel," May Worsen Climate Change. Researchers Note Gas Emissions From Marcellus Shale and Other Sites Linked to Significant Increased Risk of Near-Term Climate Change. Far from being a "solution" to climate change, natural gas extracted from shale is a huge contributor of greenhouse gases when both methane and carbon dioxide are considered, according to a major new study by three Cornell University researchers. Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/report-natural-gas-from-shale-not-suitable-as-bridge-fuel-may-worsen-climate-change-2012-01-19 DIESEL EMISSIONS Trucks and Diesel Air Pollution. It is annoying to be driving behind a truck especially one that smells of diesel combustion products. Doing something about that is desirable but it will come at a tremendous cost. trucks are bought and used for years. It is not something that you replace quickly because it is costly. A common trend in environmental reporting is to put things in terms of jobs vs. the environment. For the port cities such as LA environmental protection has become more important than jobs. Posted. http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/43879/print FUELS Keystone XL Pipeline Seen Moving Ahead on Alternative Route. TransCanada Corp. (TRP)’s $7 billion Keystone XL oil pipeline still will move ahead with an alternate route after President Barack Obama’s decision to deny a permit, investors, public officials and analysts say. Obama blamed congressional Republicans yesterday for imposing a deadline on his decision, which he said left no time to approve the project. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-18/obama-administration-is-said-to-reject-transcanada-s-keystone-xl-pipeline.html Obama administration denies Keystone XL oil pipeline permit. The State Department says it needs more time to assess the proposal under current law. Project advocates and opponents both are likely to prolong the political fight. The Obama administration denied a permit for the controversial Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada, leaving the door open for the builder to reapply this year but prolonging a bitter political fight that has raged for months and energized each party's political base. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-keystone-20120119,0,2176733,print.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/19/MNDA1MR7RV.DTL&type=green Judge: California’s low carbon fuel standard unconstitutional. A judge in Federal District Court in Fresno, Calif., has sided with the ethanol industry in ruling that California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) is unconstitutional. Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill agreed with arguments that the LCFS is in violation of the Commerce Clause the U.S. Constitution. Posted. http://www.agriview.com/news/crop/judge-california-s-low-carbon-fuel-standard-unconstitutional/article_f90de266-42c1-11e1-83be-001871e3ce6c.html VEHICLES Car review: 2012 Subaru Impreza adds fuel economy. Subaru says this new Impreza, available as a sedan and a hatchback, is the most fuel-efficient all-wheel-drive vehicle in the U.S. It's rated at 27 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. The recipe for Subaru's compact Impreza is getting a rewrite for 2012. Previously, it was like a bag of trail mix that skimped on the M&Ms. The Impreza was a hearty, go-anywhere offering that was long on nutrition but short on a key ingredient to sweeten the concoction and broaden its appeal. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-review-subaru-impreza-20120119,0,7121644.story UK EV charge points outnumber EV cars. The DfT has revealed that 2,500 vehicle charging points have been installed across the UK, while sales figures for EVs stand at only 2,149 vehicles sold since 2006, despite a government subsidy of £5,000 for environmentally cars. Sales of electric vehicles did rise in 2011 however, increasing from 138 units in 2010 to 1,082 registered in 2011. Posted. http://cars.uk.msn.com/news/uk-ev-charge-points-outnumber-ev-cars GREEN ENERGY Utilities unveil online tool to help customers save energy. Three big California power utilities are launching a Web-based tool to help their customers save energy – and money. Called “Green Button,” the online tool unveiled Wednesday by Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric and Pacific Gas & Electric will allow consumers and businesses to see how much electricity they’re using and to download the data so that they can figure out how to use less. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-energy-saving-tool-20120118,0,4452052,print.story California utilities unveil 'Green Button' system. Aneesh Chopra, the Obama administration's chief technology officer, visited Silicon Valley on Wednesday to celebrate the launch of the "Green Button" -- an online tool that lets consumers download energy usage data from their utility's website in an easy, standard format. California's utilities are leading the way: The Green Button feature is already available on the PG&E and San Diego Gas websites. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_19770177?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_19770177?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Delta solar farm could get green light under new law. A Delta farmer's plan to build a 120-acre solar array might yet bear fruit, if growing actual crops on his land is as hopeless as he claims. San Joaquin County supervisors this week declined to take the unusual step of canceling Michael J. Robinson's contract under the Williamson Act, a state program that preserves farmland. But they did decide that the 20-megawatt solar farm - said to be the first of its kind for San Joaquin - is compatible with the county's General Plan. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120119/A_NEWS14/201190318&cid=sitesearch MISCELLANEOUS WWDSS? What would Dr. Seuss say about climate change? A version of this post first appeared in The Last Word on Nothing. Late last year, I wrote about the dominance of the tragic “Lorax narrative” in environmental reporting. It made me wonder: How would Dr. Seuss himself tackle climate change? After all, the story of climate change is muddy and complex, and its real drama is both geographically distant (if you’re lucky) and years in the future (ditto) — in other words, it lacks most of the ingredients that make any narrative memorable. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-change/wwdss-what-would-dr-seuss-say-about-climate-change/ OPINIONS A Good Call on the Pipeline. President Obama has properly rejected, at least for now, the Keystone XL oil pipeline that would run from Canada to the Gulf Coast. He rebuffed the demand of House Republicans that the controversial project be decided in haste under an election-year deadline. The foolish requirement that Mr. Obama issue a decision on the pipeline by Feb. 21 — cynically inserted into the payroll tax bill passed in December — could never be met given the need for a thorough environmental study before any judgment is made. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/opinion/a-good-call-on-the-keystone-xl-oil-pipeline.html Five myths about the Keystone XL pipeline. After months of intense debates and protests, the Obama administration has finally decided the fate of the Keystone XL pipeline project: It’s not going to happen anytime soon. The proposed pipeline would have moved about 700,000 barrels of oil-like bitumen from the Alberta oil sands to Texas refineries each day, and oil companies and their allies lobbied hard for it — including with an ad blitz that ran during Republican presidential debates. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-the-keystone-xl-pipeline/2011/12/19/gIQApUAX8P_story.html Advertising on California's beaches; keeping track of high-speed rail; climate change in the classroom. High-speed rail, low-speed results. Re "Brown enlarges his bullet train role," Jan. 14. No one can argue against the notion that the California High-Speed Rail Authority is struggling. But to suggest, as The Times has, that the agency is "foundering" — that is, utterly failing — is somewhat extreme and not necessarily the case. The authority needs to quickly assess where and how it has gotten sidetracked. Its draft business plan is much improved over earlier versions, providing much greater detail as to where the high-speed line and its stations would be located and what the building and operating costs would be. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0119-thursday-20120119,0,4094383,print.story Trying to teach climate change. Re "Classrooms feel climate skepticism," Jan. 16.This intrusion into science education is much more dangerous than the evolution versus creation controversy. That issue arose over a difference between scientific views and religious beliefs. With climate change, the opposition to the accepted science is being driven by political and economic interests, and the consequences due to postponed government action will probably be severe. Climate-change denial is not a valid scientific position. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0119-thursday-20120119,0,4094383,print.story Opinion: Clean vehicles move California forward. Predictions about the effect of vehicle standards are older than the Model T. Henry Ford and Horace Dodge sued in 1904 to stop a vehicle registration law that they said gave an unfair advantage to the horse-drawn carriage. Fast forward to 1973, when GM warned that extending California-style emissions requirements to the rest of the nation raised "the prospect of an unreasonable risk of business catastrophe and massive difficulties with these vehicles in the hands of the public." Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_19769435 The ‘Check Engine’ Light Should Be Banned. It’s pretty easy to dismiss the check-engine light as stupid, because it is. I suppose if you thought the smoke coming from under your hood had something to do with the floor mats, then, sure, the check engine light is handy. Beyond that, though, it is useless. But that’s not the real problem. The real problem is that the check-engine light is a tool for the propagation of consumer ignorance about their cars. That is why it needs to die. Now. Posted. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/01/ban-check-engine-lights/ Mining site all wrong. When self-appointed expert John Husing, who lives in Redlands, tries to tell me what is best for Temecula it is a real source of irritation (“Quarry rejection is bad news for all,” Perspective, Jan. 15). There is a prevailing wind from the southwest nearly every day that would carry silicone dust right through Temecula. There is no way that granite dust could be mitigated entirely. That’s bad news for those living downwind — all of Temecula — from the proposed quarry. Posted. http://www.pe.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor-headlines/20120118-your-views-jan.-19.ece Legal ruling could force California to rethink CO2 plan. A legal ruling by a U.S. federal judge has left a big hole in California's plan to cut emissions and could force the cash-strapped and politically-gridlocked state to consider new strategies if it is to meet its domestic goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions. On December 29, a federal court ruled that California's plan to cut the carbon content of transport fuels by 15 million tonnes of carbon dioxide violates the U.S. Constitution as it discriminates against out-of-state fuel sources. Posted. http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/California/News/2012/01_-_January/Legal_ruling_could_force_California_to_rethink_CO2_plan/ BLOGS Chevy Modifies Volt to Improve Emissions, Boost Sales. General Motors Co. is revamping its Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric vehicle to meet California emissions requirements, aiming to juice sales after failing last year to qualify for state incentives that helped fuel the rise of Nissan Motor Co.’s rival Leaf. Chevrolet engineers made modifications to the Volt’s exhaust system and expect by March to begin selling models that meet California’s stringent emissions standards, allowing California buyers to qualify for a $1,500 state rebate on top of a $7,500 federal tax break. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/01/19/chevy-modifies-volt-to-improve-emissions-boost-sales/?mod=google_news_blog BY SUBSCRIPTION Calculating the Carbon Value of a Swamp. A nonprofit organization and a Gulf Coast electric company have come up with a way that might raise money to help protect New Orleans and surrounding areas from storms made worse by climate change – by collecting funds from people who feel bad about their carbon dioxide emissions. The American Carbon Registry of Arlington, Va., runs a market for carbon credits. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/calculating-the-carbon-value-of-a-swamp/ Agriculture and Climate Change, Revisited. Agriculture has long been a stepchild in global negotiations over the climate. Hopes had risen that this might change at the latest big global climate session, in Durban, South Africa, in December. It did not. Now, a group of experts led by John Beddington, the chief science adviser of the British government, is issuing a call for renewed research and advocacy regarding the future of the world’s food system. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/agriculture-and-climate-change-revisited/ The Indoor Pollution Threat You May Not Have Known Existed. Americans spend 90 percent of their time indoors, but have you ever thought about the purity of the air that you are breathing as you sit inside your home, office or even a restaurant? Indoor air quality is considered to be the fourth greatest pollution threat to Americans by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Even if you can never see, and can't always smell, the chemicals inside your home, they are there. Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/indoor-pollution-threat-may-not-known-existed-120400425--abc-news.html EPA won’t promise final power plant carbon rules before 2012 elections. The Environmental Protection Agency will soon float delayed draft rules to curb greenhouse gas pollution from power plants, but the agency’s top air-quality official isn’t making any promises that the standards will be finalized before the 2012 elections. “I at this point won’t anticipate when that is going to be completed,” Gina McCarthy, who heads the Office of Air and Radiation, said at a briefing Thursday hosted by ICF International. Posted. http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/205081-epa-wont-promise-final-power-plant-carbon-rules-before-2012-elections Chinese Climate Change Report Says Environmental Future "Grim" While you were cheering the Obama administration's decision to halt (for now at least) the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline—which pre-eminent climate scientist Dr James Hansen has called "game over" for the climate if it gets built—you may have missed that China has just made public its latest report on how our changing climate will damage the nation. In short: Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/climate-change/chinese-climate-change-report-says-environmental-future-grim.html Cutting dirty diesel pollution can reduce global warming while it improves human health. My colleague, Dan Lashof, just posted a great summary of the study, published in Science this week that explained how cutting soot and smog pollution could help reduce the impacts of global warming in the short-term, while improving human health and buying time for critically important reductions in carbon pollution to take effect over the long term. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/rkassel/cutting_dirty_diesel_pollution.html First hearing on 54.5 mpg proposal reveals widespread support. They came from as close as the General Motors headquarters across the street and as far away as Santa Fe, New Mexico. They represented groups as diverse as automakers and the military, steel manufacturers and religious organizations. And nearly all of the 90 or so people who testified on a proposal to raise the nation's fuel economy standard to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 offered support for the plan before a joint government panel in downtown Detroit. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/18/first-hearing-on-54-5-mpg-proposal-reveals-widespread-support/ Amazon In Transition from Net Carbon Sink to Net Carbon Source. A Review in this week’s Nature shows that the southern and eastern Amazon forest is experiencing a transition in energy and water cycles. Preliminary evidence also suggests that the Amazon may be transitioning from a net carbon sink to a net carbon source. Eric Davidson and colleagues examine recent research on the effects of climate change and disturbances such as deforestation and fire on the functioning of the Amazon Basin. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/amazon-transition-net-carbon-sink-net-carbon-sourc/ How to cut carbon emissions. Don’t be middle-aged. CARBON emissions vary hugely between countries. That is well known, as is the finding that rich people emit more than poor ones. But a newly revised paper* by Emilio Zagheni of the Max Planck Institute in Rostock, Germany also shows how carbon footprints vary by age—and the worrying implications of this. Average spending patterns vary over a lifetime. Posted. http://www.economist.com/node/21543133 ====================================================================== 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 Jan 2012 13:42:39 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for January 20, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for January 20, 2012. 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 Navistar Running Out Of Pollution Credits - California Board. Truck maker Navistar International Corp. (NAV) is quickly running out of the pollution credits that have allowed the company to sell heavy-duty truck engines that don't meet the latest U.S. standards for diesel engine exhaust, according to California's Air Resources Board. The board, which is part the state's Environmental Protection Agency, said it's prepared to rescind an executive order that has allowed Navistar to sell noncompliant engines in California. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120120-705495.html?_nocache=1327078767823&user=welcome BY SUBSCRIPTION Beijing makes rare concession on pollution measure. BEIJING — In a rare bow to public pressure, the Beijing local government has begun using a more stringent measure for air quality, and the first publicly announced readings Thursday showed the air was “hazardous” in at least two areas of the polluted capital city. The release of the data followed online protests and complaints that the U.S. Embassy in Beijing was providing a more accurate gauge of Beijing’s air than the city government, which typically tries to downplay the pollution as mere “fog.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/beijing-makes-rare-concession-on-pollution-measure/2012/01/19/gIQApsI6BQ_story.html San Lorenzo Valley residents air complaints over smoky conditions: Use of fireplaces, wood-burning stoves increases, worsening air quality. The Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District is reminding county residents, especially those in the San Lorenzo Valley, to be wary of using fireplaces and wood stoves during cool temperatures. A lack of rain - until Thursday - and cool temperatures have combined to worsen the air quality in the valley, as residents fire up their wood-burning stoves and fireplaces to stay warm. With little wind, the smoke is lingering in the air, leading to several complaints. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_19777241 District sets list of air quality goals. After a challenging year for air quality in the San Joaquin Valley, officials on Thursday approved a list of goals for 2012, including more air-quality stations, cleaner vehicles and new alternatives for burning agricultural waste. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District says pollution has declined 80 percent from factories and businesses, and 60 percent from mobile sources such as cars and trucks since 1980. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120120/A_NEWS/201200320 CLIMATE CHANGE French Corn Farmers Plant Earlier, Lift Yields as Climate Warms. Corn farmers in France, the European Union’s largest producer, are planting their crop earlier compared with a decade ago as climate change causes higher temperatures, boosting yields, researchers and growers said. Corn planting has advanced by about a month, giving crops more time to grow and develop, Jacques Mathieu, head of crop researcher Arvalis Institut du Vegetal, said in an interview this week in Dijon in eastern France. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-20/french-corn-farmers-plant-earlier-lift-yields-as-climate-warms.html World not quite as hot in 2011. The world last year wasn't quite as warm as it has been for most of the past decade, government scientists said Thursday, but it continues a general trend of rising temperatures. The average global temperature was 57.9 degrees Fahrenheit, making 2011 the 11th hottest on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. That's 0.9 degrees warmer than the 20th century average, officials said. In fact, it was hotter than every year last century except 1998. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/19/world-not-quite-as-hot-in-2011-ranks-11th-warmest/print/ http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120119/A_NEWS/120119859&cid=sitesearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/19/2032165/world-not-quite-as-hot-in-2011.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19774751?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com Barclays Closes US Carbon Desk In Latest Cap And Trade Setback. A major European bank closed its US carbon trading business this week in a sign that 2012 is a "make-or-break" year for cap-and-trade programs designed to fight climate change. London-based Barclays determined the US carbon market, currently comprised of a handful of states, is too small to justify the expense of a dedicated trading desk in New York, according to sources familiar with the decision. Posted. http://energy.aol.com/2012/01/20/barclays-closes-us-carbon-desk-in-latest-cap-and-trade-setback/ FUELS Ever wonder where fossil fuels come from? Many people are very concerned about climate change and how and why the Earth seems to be getting warmer. Steps to prevent this warming from continuing include recycling, reducing people’s “carbon footprint” and finding ways to produce energy that doesn’t pollute and that is renewable, which means it can be created again and again. Reducing your carbon footprint means releasing less carbon dioxide into the environment. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/ever-wonder-where-fossil-fuels-come-from/2011/11/30/gIQAfxQeDQ_story.html Seaweed in the tank? Company turns to aquaculture for ethanol. Imagine driving up to a gas station for ethanol made not from corn farms in the heartland but from seaweed farms on the coasts. Futuristic, yes. But as the world looks for ways to reduce the use of fossil fuels, farming for seaweed as a fuel feedstock could emerge as an option. It's already starting in the earliest stages of testing in Chile. On Thursday, a breakthrough in the development of biofuels and useful chemicals from seaweed made the cover of the current issue of Science magazine. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/19/2032425/seaweed-in-the-tank-company-turns.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/19/2689268/seaweed-in-the-tank-company-turns.html#storylink=misearch Traders worry that a Calif. low-carbon fuels decision could apply to electricity imports. A federal judge's decision overturning California's emissions reduction program for transport fuels is making carbon traders and lawyers nervous. The ruling, they fear, may not just apply to fuel. It could open California's cap-and-trade system to charges that it violates the U.S. Constitution's Commerce Clause by regulating shipments of electricity from out-of-state power generators. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/01/20/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY With Pipeline Stopped for Now, Tar Sands Battle Continues in California Courts. A legal brawl over a low-carbon fuel rule will shape the appetite of global markets for Canada's dirtier crude. A high-stakes legal battle is underway in California over whether the state's clean air agency can enforce a first-ever rule to slash carbon emissions in transportation fuels. The fight is being closely watched because the rule could choke global market demand for Alberta's carbon-intensive oil sands at a very precarious time for the industry. Posted. http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20120120/tar-sands-california-low-carbon-fuel-standard-carb-federal-judge-keystone-xl-obama-european-union VEHICLES Road Safety Agency Is Urged to Add Expertise in Electronics Systems. A branch of the National Academy of Sciences reported Wednesday that federal safety regulators lack the expertise to monitor vehicles with increasingly sophisticated electronics. In a widely anticipated study, the group called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to add technical help, refine its investigative techniques and push for automakers to install “black boxes” that record data in car crashes. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/business/group-proposes-nhtsa-add-expertise-in-electronics.html?_r=1&scp=6&sq=vehicles&st=cse Chevrolet plans special Volt to qualify for carpool sticker, rebate. General Motors Co. plans to bring a special version of the Chevrolet Volt to the California market that will qualify the plug-in hybrid sedan for a $1,500 state rebate and a coveted carpool lane sticker. The Volt, which the automaker has made the poster child for its environmental credentials, has sold slower in California than its all-electric rival, the Nissan Leaf -- in part because it previously did not qualify as a vehicle solo drivers could use in the state’s network of time-saving carpool lanes. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-chevrolet-volt-20120119,0,6323739.story GREEN ENERGY Report highlights California's huge 'wave power' potential. A new report by the Department of Energy says that waves off California's 1,100-mile coastline could generate more than 140 terawatt hours of electricity a year -- enough to power 14 million homes -- if tidal and wave energy was developed to its maximum potential. The United States uses about 4,000 terawatt hours of electricity a year; 1 terawatt hour powers about 100,000 American homes. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19777304 MISCELLANEOUS REGION: Boxer calls on Congress to pass transportation bill. Against the backdrop of a new railroad overpass in Riverside County, Sen. Barbara Boxer on Wednesday called on Congress to pass legislation that would significantly change the way the federal government pays for transportation projects. Boxer's Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted 18-0 in November to maintain federal transportation funding at current levels for two years, while sharpening the program's focus. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/region-boxer-calls-on-congress-to-pass-transportation-bill/article_3c40566a-9b06-52d6-8d08-ec6190ed45ab.html As other cities add SMART stations, Petaluma will still get only one. While other North Bay cities are gaining additional train stations in the initial phase of the SMART rail system, Petaluma commuters will have to make tracks to a single downtown station with no plans for additional parking. Saying construction bids came in low, SMART officials recently announced they are adding a station in Santa Rosa near Coddingtown and another in Novato at Atherton Ave. This first phase of SMART will now stretch from the Guerneville Road Coddingtown to downtown San Rafael. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120120/COMMUNITY/120129990 OPINIONS Help Next-Generation Nuclear Advance During Building Lull: View. It’s been 34 years since the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a new operating license for a nuclear reactor. Not, that is, since before the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island in 1979. Finally, the agency is set to move ahead. In December, it approved the design of a so-called generation III-plus reactor, the Westinghouse AP1000. Soon the NRC is expected to license four of these, two in South Carolina and two in Georgia. That’s promising news for the U.S.’s energy future. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-20/help-next-generation-nuclear-power-advance-during-long-building-lull-view.html Dan Morain: Brown buys a risky ticket on high-speed rail. You have to hand it to Jerry Brown. He's not shrinking from taking a big risk on high-speed rail. The governor used his State of the State speech Wednesday to give a full-throated endorsement of the project, even as cost estimates soar, polls suggest that the electorate has turned against it and many politicians look for ways to derail it. Brown made clear that high-speed rail is a point of pride. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/19/v-print/4198239/brown-buys-a-risky-ticket-on-high.html Robert Samuelson: Rejecting Keystone XL act of national insanity. President Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico is an act of national insanity. It isn't often that a president makes a decision that has no redeeming virtues and – beyond the symbolism – won't even advance the goals of the groups that demanded it. All it tells us is that Obama is so obsessed with his re-election that, through some sort of political calculus, he believes that placating his environmental supporters will improve his chances. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/oil-336459-obama-decision.html EDITORIAL: Environmental disaster. President Barack Obama's decision to block the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast is a monumental blunder, one that will not only ship jobs from the United States to China, but will significantly increase air pollution while doing nothing to decrease our dependence on fossil fuels. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-environmental-disaster/article_ccfd7039-4293-5538-904a-88b86d3b78c0.html Misguided Obama blocks Keystone pipeline. The following editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune on Thursday, Jan. 19: It's going to be a long, long year in Washington. The Obama administration announced Wednesday that it will deny a permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline, an important link between a U.S. market that's thirsty for energy and a rich source of petroleum in nice, stable, neighborly Canada. But, the administration said, this doesn't necessarily mean the president is against the Keystone pipeline. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/19/2690209/misguided-obama-blocks-keystone.html#storylink=misearch Keystone surprise: Greens stronger & GOP dumber than predicted. In October 2011, National Journal surveyed energy experts about whether Obama was likely to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry Canadian tar-sands oil through the U.S. to the Gulf of Mexico. Ninety-one percent of the “energy and environment insiders” believed he would. On Wednesday, Obama proved them wrong. How could the experts have gotten it so wrong? The answer is twofold: Grassroots environmentalists were stronger and congressional Republicans dumber, than anyone predicted. Posted. http://grist.org/oil/keystone-surprise-greens-stronger-gop-dumber-predicted/ BLOGS Scrapping fossil-fuel subsidies would get us halfway there on climate change. Here’s one free-market way to tackle global warming. In 2010, the world spent $409 billion on fossil-fuel subsidies to artificially lower the price of coal, gas and oil. Eliminating those subsidies would curb fuel use and lead to half the emissions cuts necessary to avoid 2°C of warming. That’s all according to Fatih Birol, chief economist at the International Energy Agency. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/scrapping-fossil-fuel-subsidies-would-get-us-halfway-on-climate-change/2012/01/20/gIQAtZbcDQ_blog.html Come Hell With High Water. DHAKA, Bangladesh — Earlier this month, Bangladesh’s foreign minister chided the world’s developed nations for failing to honor their pledge to help this low-lying, water-logged nation adapt to the effects of climate change. Of the $30 billion that poor countries were promised three years ago, just $2.5 billion have been disbursed. “Our achievements — social, economic, environmental — of the past decades” are at risk, Dipu Moni told the Guardian. Posted. http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/bangladesh-faces-environmental-calamity-if-carbon-emissions-arent-cut/?scp=9&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Pushing the Green Button for Energy Savings. The White House hopes that someday soon everyone will be able to monitor and control their home energy usage, and lower their monthly utility bills, with a few swipes on a smartphone app. At least that’s the vision of the Green Button initiative, a recent White House effort to bring together the nation’s utilities, energy consumers and private industry to develop Internet and mobile phone-style technologies and business models aimed at reducing energy consumption. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/20/a-phone-app-for-turning-down-the-thermostat/?scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=cse California Expects $1 Billion From Carbon Trading. There might be more money in the first year of California’s cap-and-trade program than expected. Governor Brown’s 2012-2013 budget includes $1 billion in revenue from the state’s cap-and-trade program, ramping up this year as part of California’s 2006 climate legislation, known as AB 32. That might seem surprising since 90% of initial permits to emit greenhouse gases will be given away to industry. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/01/19/california-expects-1-billion-from-carbon-trading/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 http://www.pbs.org/engage/node/61039 Obama gambles for green votes. President Barack Obama has taken every left turn toward his liberal voter base of unions, minorities, youth, big-city democrats and enviro-voters. Obama’s pandering to the green eco-establishment has recently led him to stop the Keystone XL Pipeline that would bring Canadian-produced oil to U.S. refineries, provide thousands of new permanent jobs, and diminish our dependency on foreign oil. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/ecopolitics-in-los-angeles/obama-gambles-for-green-votes ====================================================================== 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 Jan 2012 13:28:07 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 23, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for January 23, 2012. 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 Beijing releases pollution data; US figures higher. Caving to public pressure, Beijing environmental authorities started releasing more detailed air quality data Saturday that may better reflect how bad the Chinese capital's air pollution is. But one expert says measurements from the first day were low compared with data U.S. officials have been collecting for years. The initial measurements were low on a day where you could see blue sky. After a week of smothering smog, the skies over the city were being cleared by a north wind. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ghmLZJQIbwF4hreV_X3UU7C2754w?docId=5fb6fb17070e4a20bbe5e9ac06518ac7 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/beijing-starts-releasing-key-data-expected-to-indicate-extent-of-citys-air-pollution/2012/01/21/gIQA3jOaFQ_story.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19789328?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19789328?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Judge sends Central Valley ozone plan back for revision. State and local air pollution districts in California's Central Valley must come up with a new plan to meet ozone emission standards after a federal appeals court ruled that the data used was out of date. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the plan in 2010. But Earthjustice sued arguing that the plan and emission projections didn't match reality. To measure diesel emissions, the San Joaquin Air Pollution Control District had considered where trucks were registered — not whether they drove through the region. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120120/A_NEWS/120129987&cid=sitesearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/21/2035920/court-sends-ozone-plan-for-valley.html CLIMATE CHANGE Weaker sun will not delay global warming. A weaker sun over the next 90 years is not likely to significantly delay a rise in global temperature caused by greenhouse gases, a report said Monday. The study, by Britain's Meteorological Office and the university of Reading, found that the Sun's output would decrease up until 2100 but this would only lead to a fall in global temperatures of 0.08 degrees Celsius. Scientists have warned that more extreme weather is likely across the globe this century as the Earth's climate warms. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/23/us-sun-global-warming-idUSTRE80M1HG20120123 Environmentalists see reason for alarm in GOP race. Four years after the GOP's rallying cry became "drill, baby, drill," environmental issues have barely registered a blip in this Republican presidential primary. That's likely to change as the race turns to Florida. The candidates' positions on environmental regulation, global warming as well as clean air and water are all but certain to get attention ahead of the Jan. 31 primary in a state where the twin issues of offshore oil drilling and Everglades restoration are considered mandatory topics for discussion. Posted. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57363788/environmentalists-see-reason-for-alarm-in-gop-race/ Putting Cap and Trade Back Into Play. The nation's first experiment with a cap and trade system for carbon emissions has come to an end -- as of the first of the year, the Chicago Climate Exchange no longer deals in carbon credits. That is a blow to the U.S.'s effort to limit greenhouse gases, but it cannot and must not be the end of the story. Cap and trade has always made sense as a practical market-driven solution for reducing carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/donald-g-rynne/cap-and-trade_b_1223818.html Climate change threatens Calif. economy by drying up ecosystems – report. Global warming could dry up portions of California's grasslands and forests, posing a threat to the state's economy, according to a study published in the February issue of Climatic Change. Researchers say climate shifts will decrease the natural vegetation that livestock need for grazing by 14 to 58 percent by the end of the century, forcing ranchers to grow or buy additional hay to supplement the animals' diets. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/01/23/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS As Price of Oil Soars, Users Shiver and Cross Their Fingers. When David Harris built his 2,000-square-foot hilltop home nine years ago, he wanted to put in natural gas, but the utility wouldn’t run a line to his house. Like many people here, he was stuck using heating oil. Mr. Harris added a wood stove to help cut costs and now uses only about one-third of the oil the house would otherwise need. But that did not stop a deliveryman for Crowley Fuel from handing him a $471.21 bill earlier this month for a refill that should get him to April. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/business/heating-oil-costs-surge-and-many-in-northeast-cant-switch.html?ref=earth CARB calls for stay on injunction for low carbon fuel standard. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has asked the US District Court for the Eastern District of California to stay its injunction it issued at the end of last year to stop CARB’s introduction of the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Judge Lawrence O'Neill, who implemented the injunction, says he did so because he believes the LCFS ‘violates the commerce clause of the US Constitution’. Posted. http://www.biofuels-news.com/industry_news.php?item_id=4502 Chesapeake to cut natural gas production. Faced with decade-low natural gas prices that have made some drilling operations unprofitable, Chesapeake Energy Corp. says it will drastically cut drilling and production of the fuel in the U.S. Chesapeake, the nation's second largest natural gas producer, said Monday that it plans to cut production 8 percent. That means the company would produce the same or slightly less natural gas in 2012 than it did in 2011. Chesapeake produces about 9 percent of the nation's natural gas. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g-G2kWq7T7dyQqWuerXQEcH9419g?docId=12fb7e3e277a47fc81ff72283bb5bd16 AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/23/2693698/chesapeake-to-cut-natural-gas.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19799004?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19799004?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/23/2037425/chesapeake-to-cut-natural-gas.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Calif. cites trade damage in asking court to lift injunction. California policymakers asked a federal judge on Friday to lift his injunction against their low-carbon fuel regulation, saying several biofuels producers have already suffered economically. U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence O'Neill in Fresno will now decide whether to allow the low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) to continue while the state appeals his decision of last month. The regulation, in force since last year, is designed to lower the carbon content of fuels sold in-state by 10 percent by 2020. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/01/23/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES In Fire Investigation, Regulators Say They Found No Defect in Volt. Federal safety regulators on Friday closed their investigation into the Chevrolet Volt, saying that they found no evidence of a defect and that plug-in vehicles posed no greater fire risk after a crash than gasoline-powered ones. Still, analysts say that General Motors faces a challenge to rebuild consumer confidence in the car and that related safety concerns could hurt overall acceptance of the growing number of electrified vehicles coming on the market. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/21/business/us-finds-no-defect-in-volt.html?scp=8&sq=vehicles&st=cse Event on electric vehicles scheduled. The California Center for Sustainable Energy will be hosting an event called Plug-In Electric Vehicles: Innovation, Incentives and Infrastructure from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at Pleasant Valley School District auditorium, 2222 E. Ventura Blvd., Camarillo. The free workshop is offered by the CCSE in partnership with the Ventura County Air Pollution Control District, the Community Environmental Council and the Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jan/21/electric-vehicles/ New electric-car charging stations coming to Sonoma County. Sonoma County officials are taking steps this year to significantly expand the region’s number of charging stations for plug-in electric vehicles, an effort to jump-start a relatively new sector of green transportation. Through a $1.4 million package of state and federal grants and funding from local governments, the county expects to add as many as 100 charging stations in cities and other spots across the region starting in spring. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120123/ARTICLES/120129841 UK invests more than EUR 480 million in hydrogen mobility. A project to boost the deployment of hydrogen as a fuel, to evaluate the conditions and prepare grounds for a mass-market rollout of fuel cell electric vehicles by 2015 has been initiated in the United Kingdom (UK). UK H2 Mobility, funded both by industry and government aims to put the UK at the forefront of hydrogen mobility in Europe. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/73820120123.php GREEN ENERGY A Smart Power Grid Begins With a Promise for the Future. Substation No. 505 in Oak Park, with its nondescript cluster of bulky transformers and web of power lines, seems an unlikely place for Commonwealth Edison to start the $2.6 billion smart grid it says will prepare the region’s antiquated power system for the digital age. Arguments raged over legislation, approved last year over Gov. Pat Quinn’s veto, that authorizes ComEd’s 10-year investment in the grid. ComEd says that the project will ultimately save customers more than it costs them. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/us/comeds-smart-grid-begins-with-a-promise-for-the-future.html?ref=earth Obstacles to Danish Wind Power. During howling winter weather two years ago, the thousands of windmills dotting Denmark and its coastline generated so much power that Danes had to pay other countries to take the surplus. The incident was the first of its kind, and lasted only a few hours. Low temperatures were an aggravating factor, because Denmark’s combined heat and power plants were also running full bore and generating a lot of electricity. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/23/business/global/obstacles-to-danish-wind-power.html?scp=9&sq=fuels&st=cse California solar strikes gold in N.J. It may be better known for smokestack industries, but New Jersey is fast becoming a green haven for a number of Sacramento-grown solar companies. Lured by some of the most attractive incentives in the solar industry, SPI Solar of Roseville and Premier Power Renewable Energy of El Dorado Hills have lined up a significant amount of work in the Garden State. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/22/2034766/california-solar-strikes-gold.html Government energy geeks: Fracking might not get us as far as we thought. Government energy geeks from the Energy Information Administration this morning released the abridged version of their Annual Energy Outlook. One of the most dramatic bits of the outlook for 2012 is that the EIA cut their estimate of “technically recoverable” shale gas almost in half, from 827 trillion cubic feet to 482 trillion cubic feet. Posted. http://grist.org/list/government-energy-geeks-fracking-might-not-get-us-as-far-as-we-thought/ MISCELLANEOUS Car-sharing networks flourish in the Bay Area. Donnie Fowler owns a 2006 Saab that's fully paid for, but he almost never drives it. A self-employed consultant who lives in San Francisco, he often works from home and takes public transportation to most of his meetings. But his car does not sit idle -- it's out on the streets earning money. Fowler rents out his Saab for $8 per hour via Getaround, one of several car-sharing networks that have sprouted in the Bay Area. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19778908?source=rss Environmentalists see reason for alarm in GOP race. Four years after the GOP's rallying cry became "drill, baby, drill," environmental issues have barely registered a blip in this Republican presidential primary. That's likely to change as the race turns to Florida. The candidates' positions on environmental regulation, global warming as well as clean air and water are all but certain to get attention ahead of the Jan. 31 primary …Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/environmentalists-see-reason-for-alarm-in-gop-race/article_c230487a-b9e8-559e-a4d6-178666c84fb9.html Retired Marine sergeant helps veterans find green jobs. Jarom Vahai learned early on in the Marine Corps never to desert a fellow Marine in need. He's taken that credo with him back to civilian life. The San Bruno resident formed a nonprofit last summer that's dedicated to helping veterans find green jobs, and the organization is already getting results. Green & Gold Careers for Veterans has found jobs for more than 40 people, and that number is about to increase dramatically. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19796259?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com OPINIONS The verdict is in on climate change. When it comes to climate change, open-mindedness is the wrong approach. Recently I had jury duty, and during jury selection something remarkable occurred. Early in the proceedings, the judge posed a hypothetical question to the 60 or so potential jurors in the room: "If I were to send you out now and ask you to render a verdict, what would it be? How many of you would vote not guilty?" A few raised their hands. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-oreskes-judging-climate-change-20120122,0,5387746.story?track=rss As California drives, so drives the nation. These days, people seem surprised when government works the way it was intended. This week, in San Francisco and in Los Angeles, we have the satisfaction of witnessing firsthand government working exactly as it is supposed to. A state agency is working in concert with not one, but two federal agencies, supported by many local ones. Businesses are pleased with the outcome of a government regulation, consumers will save money, and they will be healthier as a result. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/23/EDDU1MS9A5.DTL&type=green Thumbs down on Keystone. The following editorial appeared in the Baltimore Sun on Thursday, Jan. 19: President Barack Obama is not going to issue a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline in its current form, and for this, even the project's most ardent supporters should be grateful. That includes TransCanada Corp. which was reportedly considering pulling its application for the pipeline to avoid further partisan bickering over the original route. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/23/2037359/thumbs-down-on-keystone.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY It's Climate Change, Stupid. I watched the two Republican presidential candidate debates in South Carolina last week, and although the contenders spent quite a bit of time bickering over economic issues (as well as bashing each other), they ignored the elephant in the room. The biggest long-term threat to the U.S. economy isn't government over-regulation, high taxes, or even the deficit. It's climate change. I work for a nonpartisan, tax-exempt organization that can't endorse candidates. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elliott-negin/its-climate-change-stupid_b_1222718.html Will natural gas fuel the future? We’ve all heard the hype, seen the television commercials, and even heard presidential candidates talking about it: the U.S. is awash in natural gas. The fossil fuel burns cleaner, and new drilling technologies have supposedly unlocked enough natural gas to last “a hundred years,” which makes it sound like we can consume the resource at twice current rates and still have it last 50 years. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/renewable-energy-in-eugene/will-natural-gas-fuel-the-future BLOGS Comparing Pollution Data: Beijing vs. U.S. Embassy on PM2.5. Beijing’s municipal government began releasing new air-pollution data over the weekend that will likely raise questions among government critics who worry that authorities aren’t going far enough to better track air quality. On Saturday, Beijing’s municipal government began publishing hourly measures of what are known as PM2.5 pollutants, or pollutants that measure less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/01/23/comparing-pollution-data-beijing-vs-u-s-embassy-on-pm2-5/ Home, Home … on Less Range. To see how thoroughly the concept of ecosystem services — the economic analysis of the natural world’s intersection with human endeavors — is embedded in climate change research, check out this forecast from a group led by researchers at Duke University and the Environmental Defense Fund. It examines the future of cattle ranching, an industry that is bound up with America’s self-image, thanks to Hollywood, pulp novels and Cormac McCarthy, through the lens of a climate-changed California landscape. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/23/home-home-on-less-range/?scp=3&sq=green%20energy&st=cse NHTSA: Volt investigation proves plug-in vehicles do not "pose a greater risk of fire than gasoline-powered vehicles.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's official word on the Chevrolet Volt fire incident is out, and it's all good. Following a two-month investigation into the crash test that resulted in a fire three weeks after the fact last summer, NHTSA says it "does not believe that Chevy Volts or other electric vehicles pose a greater risk of fire than gasoline-powered vehicles. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/23/nhtsa-volt-investigation-proves-plug-in-vehicles-do-not-pose-a/ Global hybrid and plug-in truck sales will almost double this year. Global hybrid and plug-in truck sales will almost double this year as more companies and public entities turn to advanced powertrains to cut fuel costs, green-technology research firm Pike Research said. In 2012, hybrid and electric-drive truck sales around the world will reach about 19,000 vehicles and will increase by more than 45 percent for each of the next five years until it hits more than 100,000 vehicles by the end of 2017, Pike Research said. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/22/global-hybrid-and-plug-in-truck-sales-will-almost-double-this-ye/ New car-pool sticker program starts with little fanfare. California's yellow clean-air car stickers were popular: They allowed 85,000 solo drivers of vehicles such as the Toyota Prius free use of the state's car-pool lanes, until the program expired last summer. The quiet start was probably because there's no car yet on the market eligible for the state's new and more stringent program. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/news/transportation/region-new-car-pool-sticker-program-starts-with-little-fanfare/article_2da85ede-6273-5da9-ad9b-204c6880c0c9.html Next Week's Vote on California's Clean Car Standards: What it Means for the State. At a time when consumers and businesses are being held hostage to oil rising to over $100 a barrel, our oil dependency is once again threatening our economic recovery. It would seem like we have little control in all of this as we are impacted by threats by Iran to disrupt oil shipments, by Nigerian strikes, and by the growing appetite for oil in Asia. Well, think again. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/smui/next_weeks_vote_on_californias.html For dying O.C. activist, an electric car rally. The friends of a Seal Beach environmental activist suffering from terminal lung cancer filled a Los Alamitos home Sunday with memories of his vigorous campaigns, fiery emails and torrent of ideas — along with a powerful sense of triumph. Doug Korthof, 68, greeted friends and activist colleagues with smiles, chuckles and jokes as they converged on the event, many pulling up in electric vehicles they said Korthof inspired them to drive. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2012/01/23/for-dying-o-c-activist-an-electric-car-rally/166983/ MIT team calls initial performance results of magnesium-antimony liquid metal battery “promising”. Drs. Donald Sadoway and David Bradwell of MIT and colleagues report promising initial performance results for a high-temperature (700 °C) magnesium–antimony liquid metal stationary storage battery comprising a negative electrode of Mg (magnesium), a molten salt electrolyte (MgCl2–KCl–NaCl), and a positive electrode of Sb (antimony) in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/sadoway-20120123.html Geoengineered Food? Climate Fix Could Boost Crop Yields, But With Risks. For a few years now, a handful of scientists have been proposing grandiose technological fixes for the world's climate to combat the effects of global warming — schemes called geoengineering. Climate change has the potential to wreak all kinds of havoc on the planet, including the food system. Scientists predict that two variables farmers depend on heavily — temperature and precipitation …Posted. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/01/23/145535536/geoengineered-food-climate-fix-could-boost-crop-yields-but-with-risks California, Climate change and our economic future (2). economy by reducing the types of natural, non-irrigated vegetation available for livestock forage and the ability of forest ecosystems to store carbon dioxide." This finding was published in a peer-reviewed study in the scientific journal Climatic Change. The Global Warming Solutions Act, also known as Assembly Bill 32 or AB 32, is based on this idea that we need our ecosystems to store carbon dioxide. Posted. http://blogs.redding.com/dcraig/archives/2012/01/california-clim-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: Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:45:20 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 24, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for January 24, 2012. 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. has a coal problem. When protesters were arrested at the management offices of a huge coal-fired power plant in Arizona in December, it highlighted a very untidy fact about electricity in green-conscious L.A.: about half of it comes from coal. The protests were at the Tempe offices of the Salt River Project, managing partners of the massive Navajo Generating Station, which is a coal-fired power plant. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-las-dirty-coal-problem-20120123,0,1168088.story?track=rss Weekend storm helps to clear Valley air. The light storm over the weekend in the Central Valley has reduced air pollution in Merced County and surrounding areas. But it's not clear how long favorable conditions will last. Air quality in Merced County has improved to "good" from "moderate" over the past few days, according to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's real-time air advisory network. "Was this a huge storm? No. But did it clear out the area? Yes," said Jaime Holt, spokeswoman with the regional air district. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/01/24/2202785/weekend-storm-helps-to-clear-valley.html Board to make decision today on America's Cup pollution report. Environmental groups are appealing the America’s Cup environmental impact report because of concerns about water pollution and air quality impacts. Air quality impacts and San Francisco Bay water pollution brought by the America’s Cup yacht race will be vetted today by the Board of Supervisors, which is set to decide on an appeal of plans for the regatta that is coming to The City. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2012/01/board-make-decision-today-americas-cup-pollution-report CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Science Education: It's Important. This week, an article came out in the LA Times describing climate change education as the new "evolution debate" in schools, reporting that some states are considering new policies that would require teachers to "teach climate change denial as a valid scientific position." ACE was founded to fill an enormous gap in our educational sciences curriculum around this very subject. Currently, there are no state or national science standards in public high schools that address teaching of the science of global warming…Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rebecca-anderson/climate-science-education_b_1224904.html?ref=green Climate Change Threatens California Economy by Changing Ecosystems. Climate change is likely to harm California's economy by reducing the types of natural, non-irrigated vegetation available for livestock forage and the ability of forest ecosystems to store carbon dioxide, according to a peer-reviewed study published in the scientific journal Climatic Change. The ability of ecosystems to store carbon dioxide is a key part of implementing the state's climate law, the Global Warming Solutions Act, also known as Assembly Bill 32 or AB 32. Posted. http://pr-usa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1050048&Itemid=99999999 DIESEL EMISSIONS UC Davis double-decker bus on way back to England. A double-decker bus purchased for UC Davis students more than four decades ago from a London transit company is on its way back to England. Old RTL 1014, purchased in 1968 for $3,500, was loaded on a flatbed truck for about an 18-hour journey to Long Beach. >From there it would be shipped to back to the mother country. The journey to Long Beach, scheduled for Monday, was to take so long because the flatbed with its tall cargo had to skirt low freeway bridges. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/24/v-print/4210877/uc-davis-double-decker-bus-on.html EPA's valley visit signals hope, officials say. A top U.S. Environmental Protection Agency official will travel to the Central Valley this week to discuss reducing diesel emissions as well as a strategic plan for meeting tough federal air goals. The visit by regional administrator Jared Blumenfeld coincides with news the valley will receive $5 million of $21 million the EPA is allocating statewide to fund cleaner locomotives, school buses, trucks, ships and agricultural irrigation pumps. " Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/local/x1827696294/EPAs-valley-visit-signals-hope-officials-say CARB tells Navistar its engine pollution credits could soon run out. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued an executive order informing Navistar that its pollution credits allowing it to sell heavy-duty engines not in compliance with the most recent environmental standards are nearly used up. A CARB spokesman said future action by the board will depend on what Navistar’s plans for future engines are. Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2012/1/24/CARBtellsNavistaritsenginepollutioncreditscouldsoonrunout.aspx FUELS California agency says court ruling puts at risk biodiesel plant. A US District Court decision last month against California's low carbon fuel standard jeopardizes projects aimed at producing lower carbon fuels, the California Air Resources Board said in a motion asking the court for a stay against the standard. "In the absence of a stay, fuel producers that have invested in lower carbon fuels are unable to recoup those investments," CARB said in the motion, which was sent to reporters on Saturday. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/Petrochemicals/6882108 Environmentalists challenge judge's decision on low carbon fuel standard. Environmentalists have gone to federal court to support California’s program requiring the use of low-carbon fuels as a means of cutting climate-changing greenhouse gases. On Friday, the Natural Resources Defense Council filed a motion to block the court’s ruling last month that halted the California Air Resources Board’s decision to move ahead with the Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, or LCFS, which is intended to cut carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=10b1953ds6jprll&1=1&xid=10ayj5n4bj19u65&done=.10aykdjd9be78ej&_credir=1327424008&_c=10b1953ds6jprll VEHICLES Volt electric car's 2011 sales below goal at 7,671. Number of the day 7,671That's how many Volt electric cars were sold by General Motors last year, below its target of 10,000 (and trailing the Nissan Leaf's sales of 9,674). GM is starting to improve the plug-in Volt's image after federal regulators last week closed their investigation into a battery fire, saying the sedan is no more prone to fires than other autos. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/24/BUQ61MT96J.DTL&type=business India: At least 7 million EVs on roads by 2020. According to a study commissioned by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers and the Ministry of Heavy Industry, India has the potential to reach sales of over 7 million electric vehicles (EVs) by 2020. The government’s incentives for EV manufacturers and consumers have sparked interest, however, challenges remain. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/73920120124.php GREEN ENERGY Solar storm sends charged particles toward Earth. The bombardment is expected to reach us Tuesday morning, but the threat to satellites and power grids appears to be low. A massive explosion on the sun's surface has triggered the largest solar radiation storm since 2005 and has unleashed a torrent of charged plasma particles toward Earth, though the threat to satellites, power grids and other high-tech hardware is believed to be manageable, scientists said. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-solar-flare-20120124,0,2353551.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/24/MNJJ1MTCTM.DTL&type=science MISCELLANEOUS Wood protection law creates splintering in guitar industry. While the National Assn. of Music Merchants and some guitar makers seek reform of the federal Lacey Act that protects certain exotic woods, others benefit from it. Veteran guitar repairman Bob Wirtz faced a wall of pricey custom-built electric guitars, and he had the ear of Gibson Guitar Corp.'s resident expert on the instruments. But what Wirtz wanted to talk about was international law. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-namm-gibson-20120124,0,7282435.story OPINIONS Heating Costs. To the Editor: Re “As Price of Oil Soars, Users Can Only Shiver and Cross Their Fingers” (news article, Jan. 22): As your article points out, when consumers switch from diesel oil to natural gas heating, unhealthful air pollution levels go down, and short-term heating costs do, too. But the article doesn’t mention the long-term solution to keeping heating costs down. By installing more efficient furnaces, consumers can keep costs low even when roller-coaster gas prices increase again, as they inevitably will. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/opinion/heating-costs.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print California's clean-car agenda. California pulled off a clean-air triple play last summer when it led other pollution-worried states, Detroit carmakers and Washington into agreeing to nearly double auto mileage in coming years. The result was a White House announcement, mandating an astonishing 54.4 miles per gallon rule for most cars and trucks by 2025. Now comes the tricky part: to design millions of vehicles to meet that deadline and even cleaner cars in the decades beyond. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/24/EDCK1MT98J.DTL Barnidge: On Spare the Air Days, only firewood dealers burn. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is not just another government agency with an unwieldy title and a lot of directors (22, at last count). It is the state-appointed body that regulates the "stationary sources of air pollution in the nine counties that surround San Francisco Bay." In the winter months, that means it's the fireplace police. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19800237 Bill McEwen: EPA's $21m won't fix Valley's toxic air. The Environmental Protection Agency this morning will announce that it's sending $21 million to help clean the air in the smoggy San Joaquin Valley and elsewhere in California. In addition, the federal agency will roll out its plan for protecting the health of Valley residents with an emphasis on air and water quality, enforcement of public health standards and environmental justice. Better late than never, I suppose. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/23/v-print/2694703/epas-21m-wont-fix-valleys-toxic.html INLAND: Clean-air equity. Clean-air regulations should apply to businesses on tribal land as well as those elsewhere. So a Coachella Valley tribe made a promising step in agreeing to impose air quality rules on private industries operating on its reservation. But the pact’s effectiveness depends on the tribal government, which needs to back those good intentions with real enforcement muscle. Posted. http://www.pe.com/opinion/editorials-headlines/20120123-inland-clean-air-equity.ece Killing drilling with farcical ‘science’ The academic face of the anti-fracking movement — Cornell marine ecologist Robert Howarth — increasingly looks like he’s willing to turn science into farce. Last spring, the once-obscure professor became the go-to expert for anti-fracking journalists and lawmakers when he published a report claiming shale gas pollutes more than coal. Posted. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/killing_drilling_with_farcical_science_qxVUkyMRYQAwT8ovAYKAgJ BLOGS On Our Radar: Solar Kits for Haitians. Haiti’s president says he aims to double the number of rural households with electricity within two years by offering people loans to buy solar kits that can charge cellphones or computers. The $40 million program also calls for installing streetlights in the countryside and repairing power lines in the capital. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/on-our-radar-solar-kits-for-haitians/ Yes, someone has written a book about the history of snowmen. And it’s pretty interesting. To some snow evokes hazardous road conditions, school closings and schedule changes. But for kids and kids at heart (not to mention uninhibited snow lovers) snow is the raw ingredient for a favorite winter activity: making snowmen (is “snow people” more PC?). Who could not enjoy the thrill and fun of rolling snowballs; …Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/yes-someone-has-written-a-book-about-the-history-of-snowmen-and-its-pretty-interesting/2012/01/22/gIQAF0ocNQ_blog.html REGION: State attorney general joins lawsuit against regional transportation plan. California Attorney General Kamala Harris said Monday that she will join a lawsuit aimed at revamping the 2050 Regional Transportation Plan ---- the San Diego region's blueprint for freeway and mass-transit projects. Leaders of the San Diego Association of Governments, which developed and approved the $214 billion plan, said they will defend it vigorously. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/news/transportation/region-state-attorney-general-joins-lawsuit-against-regional-transportation-plan/article_0476d1ae-c1dc-558e-9e2b-74fa5c668f9d.html http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/01/23/state-joins-suit-against-san-diego-regional-transportation-plan/ California’s Rangeland Could Take a Hit from Climate Change. California’s ranchers could face a tougher economic future under climate change. The grasslands they depend on to feed their cattle could shrink by almost 40% by the end of the century, according to a study from Duke University and the Environmental Defense Fund. The researchers modeled two different climate futures for California: a warmer, wetter scenario and a warmer, drier one. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/01/23/californias-rangeland-could-take-a-hit-from-climate-change/ An Electric Vehicle for You? 2012 will see the introduction of a myriad of plug-in electric vehicles: sports cars, an SUV, compacts, hatchbacks, sub-compacts, and sedans. Over the next several years, up to 40 plug-in models will be introduced. Later this week, the California Air Resources Board will vote on improvements to strengthen the state’s Zero Emission Vehicle program that will provide automakers with the long-term certainty necessary to ensure this proliferation of vehicle choice continues. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/mbaumhefner/an_electric_vehicle_for_you.html US District Court denies California Air Resources Board motion to stay injunction of enforcement of Low Carbon Fuel Standard; outcome relies on appeal. In an order issued 23 January, US District Court Judge Lawrence O’Neill denied a motion filed by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to stay the injunction on the enforcement of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) he had ordered in the earlier decisions of 29 December 2011 while ARB appeals the rulings. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/lcfs-20120124.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 Jan 2012 13:31:45 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 25, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for January 25, 2012. 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 gives millions to clean valley's air. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday announced a $5 million investment in the San Joaquin Valley to try to solve some of the most pressing issues in what is one of the most polluted regions in the country. An additional $16 million in grants also was announced to help curb diesel emissions and to improve air quality and public health throughout California. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/24/v-print/2040169/epa-gives-millions-to-clean-valleys.html http://thebusinessjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=11200:epa-announces-21m-to-fund-valley-clean-air-project&catid=15:energy-and-environment&Itemid=122 Environmental groups ask Kentucky lawmakers to consider coal's health impact. Kentucky's leaders should consider the health hazards of mining, moving and burning coal as they craft the state's energy policy, an environmental group said Tuesday. The Kentucky Environmental Foundation, based in Berea, released a 44-page "health-impact assessment" on coal and sent copies to Gov. Steve Beshear and the General Assembly. The statement cites published, peer-reviewed scientific studies from recent years that document health risks associated with coal. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/25/2040537/environmental-groups-ask-kentucky.html CLIMATE CHANGE Denmark to Stimulate Discussion on EU 2030 Climate Goal in March. Denmark, which holds the European Union rotating presidency, seeks to stimulate a debate on future greenhouse-gas reduction goals in March to prevent further declines in carbon prices after they dropped to a four-year low. The price of EU emission permits is lower than the bloc expected when the system was started in 2005 and governments’ support for a policy paper sketching out the most cost-efficient way to long-term climate goals. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-25/denmark-to-stimulate-discussion-on-eu-2030-climate-goal-in-march.html Guangdong Carbon Program to Be China’s Largest, New Energy Says. A program to curb the increase of greenhouse gas emissions in China’s Guangdong province will probably be the largest of the nation’s seven test climate- protection systems, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Guangdong is seeking to cut the amount of carbon emitted per unit of production in its economy by 19.5 percent in the five years through 2015, New Energy Finance said yesterday in an e-mailed research note. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-25/guangdong-carbon-program-to-be-china-s-largest-new-energy-says.html Signs of New Life as U.N. Searches for a Climate Accord. Critics and supporters alike agree that the U.N. forum for negotiating international climate change policies is an ungainly mess, its annual gatherings marked by discord, disarray and brinkmanship. Each year, exhausted delegates and observers return home thinking that there has to be a better way to address what they believe to be one of the defining challenges of our time: the relentless warming of the planet and its impact on the world’s inhabitants. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/business/global/signs-of-new-life-as-un-searches-for-a-climate-accord.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=climate%20change&st=cse DIESEL EMISSIONS Study: Old Port of Oakland trucks out, cleaner air in. The air quality in neighborhoods around the Port of Oakland is bad enough to cause health problems for residents three times the state average. But a new study shows that steps taken by state air regulators to rid the port of old polluting diesel trucks cut the most noxious exhaust emissions in half. main conduits to the Port of Oakland, the fifth busiest container port in the country. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19818462 Long Beach to study port-related effects. Long Beach — Long Beach city leaders on Tuesday green-lighted a study of port-connected air pollution effects on nearby neighborhoods. The City Council also gave a 10-year key tenant loan extension to the developers of Marina Pacifica, a mixed commercial-residential area near Alamitos Bay. Both pieces of legislation were approved unanimously. Posted. http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_19813679 CARB extends registry deadline for Truck and Bus Rule. The California Air Resources Board has extended its deadline for truck owners to submit their information and possibly gain more compliance time for the Truck and Bus Rule. The Truck and Bus Rule registry is a database used by the California Air Resources Board to keep track of the hundreds of thousands of commercial vehicles that operate in California annually. The Truck and Bus Rule, also known as the “Retrofit Rule,” will require trucking fleets to either install diesel particulate filters or upgrade their trucks. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=22023 FUELS EPA's new mileage standards win carmakers' support. A parade of car manufacturers, environmentalists and consumer groups praised a proposal by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to drastically increase American fuel efficiency standards over the next 13 years. The proposed rules, which would require vehicles in the United States to get 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, were laid out Tuesday during an EPA and U.S. Department of Transportation hearing in San Francisco. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/25/BA001MTTNP.DTL&type=printable Obama Pushes Natural-Gas Fracking to Create 600,000 U.S. Jobs. President Barack Obama pushed drilling for gas in shale rock and support for cleaner energy sources to boost the economy in his final State of the Union address before facing U.S. voters in November. Hydraulic fracturing, the process of injecting water, sand and chemicals underground to free gas trapped in rock, could create more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade, Obama said yesterday. The process, called fracking, is among a list of energy policies Obama said would fuel economic growth. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-25/obama-pushes-natural-gas-fracking-to-create-600-000-u-s-jobs.html California tries new court to move ahead on Low Carbon Fuel Standard. The California Air Resources Board has shifted to a new court in an attempt to win a stay of a decision halting its Low Carbon Fuel Standard, after being denied its motion by a judge Monday, a CARB spokesman said Tuesday. "ARB has already filed its appeal of the full decision with the 9th Circuit [in San Francisco]," CARB spokesman Dave Clegern said in an emailed statement. "The timetable on the motion to stay the injunction in the appellate court, and on the appeal itself, are still being developed by the court." Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/Oil/3908847 US: 'Serious' Questions On Pipeline Bill. A Republican bill that would strip President Barack Obama of his authority to decide on a Canada-to-Texas oil pipeline raises serious legal questions, the State Department said Wednesday in objecting to the bill. Assistant Secretary of State Kerri-Ann Jones told Congress that the bill "imposes narrow time constraints and creates automatic mandates that prevent an informed decision" on the $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline. Posted. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=145834242 Judge denies California attempt to reimplement LCFS. Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill denied the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) motion to stay the decision he issued on Dec. 29, 2011 that had halted the enforcement of California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) regulation because that regulation is unconstitutional. On Friday, Jan. 20, 2012, CARB filed papers asking the Court to reverse its decision and allow the state to continue implementing the LCFS in 2012. Judge O'Neill ruled that CARB "improperly seeks to relitigate issues this Court resolved in its order granting the preliminary injunction and orders on the summary judgment motions." Posted. http://westernfarmpress.com/government/judge-denies-california-attempt-reimplement-lcfs Ethanol industry responds to CARB quest for stay of LCFS preliminary injunction. Yesterday, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) asked Judge Lawrence O'Neill of the U.S District Court for the Eastern District of California to stay the injunction he issued on December 29, 2011, that halted CARB's implementation and enforcement of the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Judge O'Neill issued the injunction because he had determined that the LCFS violates the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution. Earlier this month, on January 5, CARB filed an appeal of Judge's O'Neill's decision with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. Posted. http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/ethanol-industry-responds-to-carb-quest-for-stay-of-lcfs-preliminary-injunc/ VEHICLES California High-Speed Rail Project Relies on Risky Funding, Auditor Says. California (STOCA1)’s plan to build a high- speed train network relies on risky funding and oversight of the agency charged with building the rail lines remains weak, according to a state audit. While the California High-Speed Rail Authority names the U.S. government as its largest potential funding source for the $98.5 billion project, its business plan provides few details on how it will obtain the money, state Auditor Elaine Howle said today in a report. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-24/california-high-speed-rail-project-relies-on-risky-funding-auditor-says.html http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bullet-train-20120125,0,2642100.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.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/01/24/state/n163400S73.DTL&type=business ‘Social Equity’ to Be Weighed in U.S. Transit Funding Rule. The U.S. Department of Transportation wants to give more weight to factors including affordable-housing policy in deciding which local mass-transit initiatives will get federal money. Its proposed rules, published in the Federal Register today, are part of a move over the past two years to alter the criteria that President George W. Bush’s administration used to award grants for light-rail, subway and rapid-bus systems. Posted. http://webfarm.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-25/-social-equity-to-be-weighed-in-transit-funding-under-u-s-rule.html Toyota global sales forecast rises on green demand. Toyota raised its global sales target for this year to 8.58 million vehicles, up 21 percent from the previous year, as incentives for ecological cars lift demand in Japan. Toyota Motor Corp., which struggled from production interruptions last year caused by Japan's tsunami and flooding in Thailand, raised its forecast for Japan sales Wednesday to 1.63 million vehicles from an earlier 1.53 million. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19816914?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com GM’s Chevy Volt Used as ‘Political Punching Bag,’ Akerson Says. The General Motors Co. Chevrolet Volt, the first mass-market electric vehicle sold by a U.S. automaker, has become a “political punching bag,” GM Chief Executive Officer Dan Akerson said. Akerson, testifying before a U.S. House panel today, said the Volt, which the company is fixing after fires following crash tests, is engineered for safety. “Unfortunately, there is one thing we did not engineer,” Akerson told a House subcommittee led by Representative Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-25/gm-s-chevy-volt-used-as-political-punching-bag-akerson-says.html Mitsubishi trying to make town into electric-car mecca. Mitsubishi Motors is slowly rolling out its new electric car, the i, and trying to burnish its ad campaign around the Illinois town where it has its U.S. factory. Mitsu is trying to how an all-American town like Normal, Ill., can become a shining example of electric transportation, so it just delivered six of its electric vehicles for use by the town. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/01/mitsubishi-i-electric-car-normal-bloomington-ill/1 Honda Fit electric vehicle enters US market, to be made available for lease in select cities. First models hit the roads in Torrance, California; more cities planned for summer 2012. Just two months after debuting at the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Honda Fit electric vehicle has made its first entry into the U.S. market in the city of Torrance, California. Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/honda-fit-electric-vehicle-enters-market-made-lease-select-cities-article-1.1011583 New Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Coming To Santa Monica. New, publicly-accessible EV charging stations at seven sites and numerous residences throughout Santa Monica will be installed by EV Connect, a leading provider of electric vehicle infrastructure solutions. The new publicly-accessible stations are in high traffic locations, including Santa Monica Place Mall, Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Civic Center, and Santa Monica Airport. Posted. http://www.smmirror.com/#mode=single&view=33943 GREEN ENERGY Rooftop solar capacity soars in Sacramento, report shows. Rooftop solar power installations nearly tripled in Sacramento during the past two years, making it the fastest-growing solar city in the state. In a report released today, Environment California Research & Policy Center said local residents and businesses have installed nearly 16 megawatts of solar capacity, enough to power 12,000 homes. In 2009, Sacramento's rooftop solar capacity was about 5.5 megawatts. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/25/v-print/4212609/rooftop-solar-capacity-soars-in.html California's top solar city does not lie within the eco-conscious Bay Area. Instead, San Diego has more solar installations - generating more electricity - than any other city in the Golden State, according to a report issued Tuesday. The report, California's Solar Cities 2012, traces the spread of solar power across the state, showing which communities have installed the most panels. With 4,507 installations generating 37 megawatts of electricity, San Diego leads the pack, producing more solar power than all of Mexico. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/25/BUI01MTTOM.DTL >From Brown to Green. It's a myth that environmental laws are job killers. In fact, the East Bay is home to many cleaned-up toxic sites that are now spurring the economy. During a Republican presidential primary debate last June, Michele Bachmann lit into the Environmental Protection Agency, recommending it be renamed the "job-killing organization of America. Posted. http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/from-brown-to-green/Content?oid=3108815 Stockton: center of clean technology? Quietly, without many of its citizens perhaps noticing, the Central Valley city of Stockton is becoming a hub for clean technology, says Jared Blumenfeld, regional administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He was in Stockton Tuesday to help promote the EPA’s involvement in funding a clean energy upgrade to a locomotive at Central California Traction Company, a 107-year-old short line railroad based in Stockton. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=20253 MISCELLANEOUS SF supes ok environmental plan for America's Cup. The city's Board of Supervisors is upholding an environmental impact report for the America's Cup, overriding some environmental and community groups' concerns about the sailing event. The Sierra Club's San Francisco chapter challenged the report earlier this month, citing concerns about pollution and other aspects of America's Cup-related construction projects. Race organizers responded to the issues, and the board on Tuesday evening unanimously certified the environmental impact report. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/news/california/2012/01/sf-supes-ok-environmental-plan-americas-cup?category=18 http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_19815563 http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_19815424 Open houses on Cheyenne power plant scheduled. Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power is hosting two open house meetings on plans to build a natural-gas fired power plant just east of Cheyenne. The open houses will take place from 3-7 p.m. Wednesday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18. Both events will take place at the Cheyenne Holiday Inn. The utility is in the process of filing air pollution permits with the state Department of Environmental Quality and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/25/2040734/open-houses-on-cheyenne-power.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19817418?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19817418?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com OPINIONS A brighter energy future? A week after President Obama denied the application for the Keystone XL pipeline — which would carry oil from Canada’s tar sands deposits in Alberta to U.S. refineries along the Gulf of Mexico — it’s time for an energy reality check. What does the future hold? It may be better than you think. That’s one message from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest “Annual Energy Outlook,” which projects the supply and demand for fuels through 2035. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-brighter-energy-future/2012/01/25/gIQA8CcVQQ_story.html TRZUPEK: Age of environmental fear. Government regulators, environmental groups and the news media tell us that the air we breathe is polluted, the water we drink is tainted, our orange juice contains a fungicide, and evil corporations are hoping to make a profit at Mother Earth’s expense. They also remind us that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies are protecting us by fighting the greedy capitalists who seek our destruction. Don’t believe it. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/24/age-of-environmental-fear/ Our Voice: Cabazon Band takes the right step on air quality. The landmark agreement between the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and the South Coast Air Quality Management District holds great promise to protect the environment of the east valley. It is believed to be the first such agreement between an air quality district and a tribe. Cabazon Band Chairman David Roosevelt said, “This agreement is the demonstration of our commitment to the community and environmental stewardship on sovereign lands.” Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120125/OPINION01/201240348/Our-Voice-Cabazon-Band-takes-right-step-air-quality?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|p Speaking Out for Clean Cars. Seven years ago this month, while I was at Rainforest Action Network, we were working with several hundred California residents who were fighting to prevent their electric cars from being seized, crushed, and sold for scrap. These vehicles were fully functioning, economical and, because they were electric, didn't use a drop of gas. Yet they were being pulled off the roads by major automakers -- over the objections of the people who loved driving them. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-brune/speaking-out-for-clean-ca_b_1229469.html http://blog.sfgate.com/mbrune/2012/01/24/clean-cars/ California Must Continue Leading the Country on Clean Cars. The recent spate of high particle pollution days in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley regions is a stark reminder that California’s legacy of severe air pollution continues today. Over the past two months, stagnant air conditions have led to unhealthy pollution levels, especially troubling to those suffering from asthma and other respiratory conditions. Cars, trucks and other vehicles, and the fossil fuels they burn, contribute to smog and particle pollution and to greenhouse gases that threaten our planet. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/01/california-must-continue-leading-the-country-on-clean-cars/ Jennifer M. Granholm: Former Michigan governor supports clean air standards. This month, federal agencies held three public hearings around the country, including one in San Francisco this week, on a proposed rule to increase corporate fuel efficiency (CAFÉ) standards to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. When finalized in the summer, this strong national standard will save families in California and across the country thousands of dollars at the pump over a vehicle's lifetime, reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and help to significantly reduce harmful carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_19811871 BLOGS California’s Lead in Solar Is Slowly Eroding. The growth of California’s local solar-power systems, not only on rooftops but in parking lots, farmers’ fields and vineyard irrigation ponds, has kept the state well ahead of others in the total power generated from photovoltaic systems. In 2011, according to a new report by Environment California, California’s total capacity exceeded 1,000 megawatts — up from less than 10 megawatts in 2000. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/californias-lead-in-solar-is-slowly-eroding/ The State of the Union, With the Future in Mind. President Obama focused his State of the Union address on American policies and priorities that work for the long haul — which is one way to define sustainable human advancement anywhere. It would be impossible to talk about a durable path for the country without talking about pursuing educational excellence, nurturing a culture of innovation and collaboration and building an energy menu that can foster progress through this century without overloading the atmosphere with greenhouse gases. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/24/the-state-of-the-union-with-the-future-in-mind/ A Legal Defense Fund for Climate Scientists. For years, climate scientists have been assailed from many sides — through e-mail hacking, death threats, politician’s demands for documents, Freedom of Information requests (many having the strong smell of a fishing expedition). A Climate Science Legal Defense Fund set up last fall has taken on a formal affiliation with Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, an established nonprofit group offering aid and advice to government whistleblowers and scientists working on environmental issues. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/25/a-legal-defense-fund-for-climate-scientists/ Obama wants a “clean energy standard.” What does that mean? In his State of the Union address, President Obama noted that a climate bill can’t pass Congress: “The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now.” But he did ask lawmakers for “a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation.” Is that a close substitute? And could it pass? Various proposals for a clean energy standard (PDF) have been knocking around the Senate for years. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/obama-wants-a-clean-energy-standard-what-does-that-mean/2012/01/25/gIQAlUyFQQ_blog.html Tar sands battle continues in California courts. A high-stakes legal battle is underway in California over whether the state's clean air agency can enforce a first-ever rule to slash carbon emissions in transportation fuels. The fight is being closely watched because the rule could choke global market demand for Alberta's carbon-intensive oil sands at a very precarious time for the industry. On Wednesday, the Obama administration rejected a permit for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, which could have increased imports of the fuel into the U.S. by up to 830,000 barrels a day. Posted. http://www.hcn.org/hcn/blogs/range/tar-sands-battle-continues-in-california-courts SoCal Shines Brightest in Solar Rankings. The Bay Area likes to tout its clean, green reputation, but when it comes to installing solar, Southern California shines brightest. San Diego and Los Angeles lead the state in rooftop solar installations, according to a report released today by Environment California’s Research & Policy Center. San Jose comes in third with more than 2,700 rooftop installations, while San Francisco comes in fourth with more than 2,400 (though it’s fifth in terms of overall capacity). Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/01/24/socal-shines-brightest-in-solar-rankings/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 Feds Likely to Catch Up to California on Fuel Economy Standards. The EPA is pushing new nationwide fuel economy standards that would bring the nation up to California’s strict standards. Consumer groups say the EPA's proposed fuel economy standard will mean you'll pay less at the pump. At a public hearing in San Francisco today a diverse group of stakeholders lined up to support the EPA’s proposal to increase the fuel efficiency standard for cars and light trucks to 54.5 miles per gallon. Posted. http://www.pbs.org/engage/node/61166 Obama blueprint for a US economy “built to last” includes “all-of-the-above” energy strategy; call for 80% of US electricity from clean sources by 2035. President Obama used his last State-of-the-Union (SOTU) address of his term to outline four main elements of a blueprint for an “economy that’s built to last: an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.”. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/sotu-20120125.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, 26 Jan 2012 12:13:17 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for January 26, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for January 26, 2012. 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. CLEAN CAR REGULATIONS Calif. poised to vote on new 'clean car' regs. San Francisco The head of California's air quality board is calling proposed rules that would require automakers to build less-polluting cars and trucks by 2025 a historic move for a cleaner environment. A vote on the rules will come at a meeting that began Thursday of the California Air Resources Board. Board Chairman Mary Nichols says she hopes the rules to require that vehicles emit about three-quarters less smog-producing pollutants will "lead the nation and the world." Posted. http://hosted2.ap.org/PAGRE/8b068da42337421092f81e6bcce678fa/Article_2012-01-26-California%20Clean%20Car%20Standards/id-0c7384284c5b45f5a6dfeb552178ec43 http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CALIFORNIA_CLEAN_CAR_STANDARDS?SITE=CAANR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/calif-poised-to-vote-on-new-regs-to-cut-auto-pollution-and-increase-zero-emission-vehicles/2012/01/26/gIQAnyBESQ_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/01/26/national/a001057S87.DTL&type=printable http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_19821240 http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/26/2697943/calif-poised-to-vote-on-new-clean.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/calif-poised-to-vote-on-new-clean-car-regs/article_1552c0c0-fe9b-53e5-bce5-8c0cc39683f5.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19824861?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_19821240?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120126/BUSINESS/120126004/New-clean-car-regulations-considered-by-state-board?odyssey=nav%7Chead http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/72017.html#ixzz1kaSSB4p2 http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/26/california-to-vote-on-new-clean-car-regulations/ http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/state&id=8519697 http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/California-Clean-Car-Program-Zero-Emission-Vehicle-Hybrid-138124558.html http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Calif-Demands-More-Electric-Cars-138123583.html http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2012/01/26/calif_poised_to_vote_on_new_clean_car_regs/ http://www.independentmail.com/news/2012/jan/26/california-poised-vote-new-clean-car-regulations/?print=1 http://www.newsday.com/business/calif-poised-to-vote-on-new-clean-car-regs-1.3480557 http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/morning_call/2012/01/california-air-board-to-vote-on.html http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/24498-1 http://www.hybridcars.com/news/california-expected-approve-landmark-ev-rules-35760.html http://www.torquenews.com/397/election-year-begins-california-seeks-clear-air http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2012/1/26/california_air_board_to_vote_on.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tX1xi7iy0Q http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/1512219/New-Smog-Requirements-Proposed.html AIR POLLUTION FirstEnergy closing 6 coal-fired power plants. FirstEnergy Corp. said Thursday that new environmental regulations led to a decision to shut down six older, coal-fired power plants in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland, affecting more than 500 employees. The plants, which are in Cleveland, Ashtabula, Oregon and Eastlake in Ohio, Adrian, Pa. and Williamsport, Md., will be retired by Sept. 1. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19826393?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19826393?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Car emissions may fuel desert forest fires. Nitrogen emissions from car exhaust and industrial sources might be increasing forest fires across the California desert by fueling the spread of invasive grasses, according to a new report by the Ecological Society of America. Agricultural nitrogen is also causing groundwater contamination in the state, the report concluded. Most nitrogen in the atmosphere is trapped in an inert form that is unusable by most plants and animals. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/car-emissions-may-fuel-desert-forest-fires-14625 CLIMATE CHANGE Britain ranks top risks posed by climate change. Coastlines, working patterns, and even the country's most famous meal are under threat from climate change, Britain said Thursday in its first-ever national assessment of the likely risks. The 2.8 million pound ($4.4 million) study sets out the most pressing problems expected to affect the United Kingdom as a result of climate change, from rising sea levels to more frequent summer droughts. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gubwafVHHU9KLdK-M8qerqixDAAA?docId=6c8ca7e3548a4db5b09945ef9e588a3b AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/uk-ranks-top-risks-posed-by-climate-change-including-to-nations-beloved-fish-and-chips/2012/01/26/gIQAnnoRSQ_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/26/2698033/britain-ranks-top-risks-posed.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/britain-ranks-top-risks-posed-by-climate-change/article_8eb99a91-e72e-5fc5-9cbf-4bc175a6ffe8.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19825326?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19825326?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Why Climate Change Will Make You Love Big Government. A Secret History of Free Enterprise and the Government That Made It Possible. Look back on 2011 and you’ll notice a destructive trail of extreme weather slashing through the year. In Texas, it was the driest year ever recorded. An epic drought there killed half a billion trees, touched off wildfires that burned four million acres, and destroyed or damaged thousands of homes and buildings. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christian-parenti/why-climate-change-will-m_b_1233903.html?view=print&comm_ref=false Watch 131 Years of Global Warming in 26 Seconds. From our friends at NASA comes this amazing 26-second video, depicting how temperatures around the globe have warmed since 1880. That year is what scientists call the beginning of the “modern record.” You’ll note an acceleration of those temperatures in the late 1970s as greenhouse gas emissions from energy production increased worldwide and clean air laws reduced emissions of pollutants that had a cooling effect on the climate, and thus were masking some of the global warming signal. Posted. http://www.climatecentral.org/videos/web_features/nasa-finds-2011-ninth-warmest-year-on-record/ VEHICLES More retail centers installing electric vehicle charging stations. Mall operators and retailers consider the chargers a good investment, a way to one-up competitors and burnish a green reputation — even though few of their customers own electric vehicles. "Charge it" may soon have new meaning at shopping malls and retail centers across the country. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-retail-electricity-charging-20120126,0,4419792.story Tesla Motors to unveil the Model X Feb. 9. For Tesla Motors (TSLA), 2012 is the year of its all-electric sedan, the Model S. But before the Model S even hits the street this summer, the company is stoking interest in its next electric vehicle, the Model X. Described in a regulatory filing as having "the functionality of a minivan with a design as cool as an SUV," the first prototype of the Model X will be unveiled Feb. 9 at Tesla's design studio in Hawthorne, near downtown Los Angeles. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19820723?source=rss GREEN ENERGY Obama doesn’t back down on clean energy. After every State of the Union speech, pundits rush to lament that the speech contained lofty rhetoric unmatched by substantial policy proposals. All the concrete ideas are “small bore,” a “laundry list.” And indeed, that’s a fair way to characterize last night’s speech. But that criticism misses the point. The president does not control domestic policy. Posted. http://grist.org/politics/obama-doesnt-back-down-on-clean-energy/ MISCELLANEOUS This old house: Why fixing up old homes is greener than building new ones. Looking for the ultimate earth-friendly bungalow? No need to engineer some LEED certified space pod. Buy an old house and gird yourself for an eco-friendly remodel. A study released Tuesday finds that in almost every instance, remodeling an old building is greener than building a new one. Posted. http://grist.org/cities/this-old-house-why-fixing-up-old-homes-is-greener-than-building-new-ones/ OPINIONS Martin Lagod: Other states still look to California to lead the way. There's a formula for success California businesses use to great advantage, in everything from film and aerospace to computers and high tech industries: leadership = market development = jobs. We incubate great ideas here, bring them to market, and then -- most crucially -- lock in our leadership position so we keep the jobs those ideas create in California. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_19821417 Guest commentary: Cleaner air standards under attack in Congress. The ink has barely dried on the long awaited mercury and air toxics standards, and already there are some in Congress furiously working to unravel this and other vital healthy air protections. A recent survey conducted by the American Lung Association revealed that 60% of Michigan and Ohio voters want EPA scientists, not members of Congress, to set pollution standards. Posted. http://www.freep.com/article/20120126/OPINION05/201260431/Guest-commentary-Cleaner-air-standards-under-attack-in-Congress?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7COpinion%7Cp BLOGS California to Consider Major Revision to Zero-Emission Mandate. This week, the California Air Resources Board, commonly known as CARB, will vote this week on a staff recommendation to require a significant increase of zero- and near-zero-emission cars to be on state roads in 2025. If the program is adopted, it would effectively require the addition of 1.4 million advanced-powertrain vehicles in 2025. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/california-to-consider-major-revision-to-zero-emission-mandate/ Clean Car Agreement Moving Auto Industry & America Forward. In his State of the Union speech, President Obama touted the remarkable turnaround of the auto industry. Critical to this turnaround was the original clean car agreement the administration brokered in 2009. That agreement helped lay the foundations for the industry’s recover by putting fuel-efficiency product plans into high gear. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/rhwang/clean_car_agreement_exemplifie.html Study Revises Cost of Long Beach Air Pollution. New research by USC and UMass puts the average price of living with asthma at 7 percent of annual income here, and blames half of new cases on air pollution. Each case of asthma in Long Beach costs an average of $3,819 a year, and local traffic-related air pollution is likely a major cause, a new study says. Posted. http://belmontshore.patch.com/articles/usc-long-beach-pollution-study Mayor Works to Bring Clean Tech to Los Angeles. At the VerdeXchange Marketmakers Conference that took place in downtown Los Angeles this week, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa gave a keynote speech to an audience of 500 industry leaders working to build and shape the green economy of Los Angeles and the nation. The group included individuals working in both the public and private sectors to further the development of technologies and markets related to energy efficiency…Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/01/mayor-works-bring-clean-tech-los-angeles/ ====================================================================== 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 Jan 2012 12:38:56 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for January 27, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for January 26, 2012. 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. CLEAN CAR REGULATIONS California passes new auto emission rules. SAN FRANCISCO - California air regulators passed sweeping auto emission standards Friday that include a mandate to have 1.4 million electric and hybrid vehicles on state roads by 2025. California's auto emissions standards are often more strict than federal ones, and the move could set the pace for other states. The California Air Resources Board unanimously approved the new rules, which require that one in seven new cars sold in the state in 2025 be an electric or other zero-emission vehicle. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CALIFORNIA_CLEAN_CAR_STANDARDS?SITE=SCAND&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_19835994 http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/27/v-print/4220304/california-approves-far-reaching.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/27/2043850/car-makers-support-califs-new.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/27/2699500/car-makers-support-califs-new.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19833669?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/car-makers-support-calif-s-new-clean-car-regs/article_1552c0c0-fe9b-53e5-bce5-8c0cc39683f5.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19833669?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19833669?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/automakers-support-calif-regs-to-cut-auto-pollution-and-increase-zero-emission-vehicles/2012/01/27/gIQACk0iUQ_story.html http://www.siliconvalley.com/green-energy/ci_19835994 http://kstp.com/news/stories/s2469030.shtml http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/13eed6062a384e53b4f892655e9f1956/US--California-Clean-Car-Standards/ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/27/MNQA1MUV0S.DTL&type=printable http://smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?type=wnews&title=Debate%20over%20state’s%20new%20‘clean%20car’%20regulations&id=227449 http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/01/27/automakers-supporting-proposed-calif-clean-car-regulations/ http://rumors.automobilemag.com/california-tests-new-car-regulations-more-plug-in-hybrids-more-hydrogen-gas-stations-104889.html http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/carbs-new-zev-mandate-revision-could-add-1-4m-more-advanced-gre/ http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2012/01/27/233007.htm AIR POLLUTION Popular Criticism Cracks China’s Wall of Denial About Pollution. Beijing — Weary of waiting for the authorities to alert residents to the city’s most pernicious air pollutant, citizen activists last May took matters here into their own hands: they bought their own $4,000 air-quality monitor and started posting its daily readings on the Internet. That began a chain reaction. Volunteers in Shanghai and Guangzhou purchased monitors in December, followed by citizens in Wenzhou, who are selling oranges to finance their device. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/world/asia/internet-criticism-pushes-china-to-act-on-air-pollution.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print 3 coal-fired power plants on Lake Erie to close. Chicago -- An Ohio-based utility said Thursday that it will close three Lake Erie coal plants and all but one unit at another, scrapping some of the biggest fish killers on the Great Lakes. Like other power companies that rely on coal, FirstEnergy Corp. faces more-stringent pollution limits and competition from suddenly abundant and relatively cheap natural gas. The company decided it wasn't worth upgrading the Ohio plants, and others in Pennsylvania and Maryland, to comply with new air and water standards. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/26/4218548/3-coal-fired-power-plants-on-lake.html http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/26/4218681/midwest-utility-to-shut-coal-burning.html CLIMATE CHANGE Planners want to direct Bay Area residents to live in existing communities to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions. Concord -- A Bay Area plan for where to build new houses, shops and offices in a way that helps cut greenhouse gases relies on increased population concentrations some communities may reject, a state homebuilding industry representative told Contra Costa business and political leaders Thursday. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19830649?source=rss http://www.mercurynews.com/cupertino/ci_19830648 Obama admin says new forest rules stress science. The Obama administration says new rules to manage nearly 200 million acres of national forests will protect watersheds and wildlife while promoting uses ranging from recreation to logging. The new rules, to replace guidelines thrown out by a federal court in 2009, are set to take effect in early March. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the rule change on Thursday. Vilsack said in an interview that the rules reflect more than 300,000 comments received since a draft plan was released last year. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/26/2698434/apnewsbreak-us-to-unveil-new-forest.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy VEHICLES Auto Retailer Heralds a Turnaround, Citing Demand to Replace Aging Cars. The nation’s biggest automotive retailer on Thursday reported strong financial results for 2011 and suggested the recovery of the American car market had reached a turning point. AutoNation, which sells domestic and import brands at more than 250 dealerships across the country, said its fourth-quarter revenue increased 13 percent to $3.7 billion and its profits rose by 3 percent to $69 million. Posted. www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/business/citing-increased-demand-autonation-improves-its-outlook.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=vehicles&st=cse Ford posts big profits but misses Wall Street. Ford's stock price fell after weak sales in Europe and production losses in Asia hurt fourth-quarter earnings. Ford Motor Co. reported $13.62 billion in net income, but investors brushed off the result because most of that came from an accounting change. Excluding that change, earnings totaled $1.1 billion, or 20 cents a share, missing Wall Street expectations by 5 cents. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19834060?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com GREEN ENERGY Obama looks to Mich. to revive clean energy debate. A Michigan factory that made luxury yachts before the recession and diversified to add wind energy products when times got tough was touted by President Barack Obama at his State of the Union Address as an example of an industry creating forward-thinking jobs _ with a little help from the government. In urging Congress to approve clean energy tax credits, Obama cited Energetx Composites LLC, a wind turbine blade manufacturer in Holland, Mich., that received millions in government assistance. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/obama-looks-to-mich-to-revive-clean-energy-debate/article_4701336a-ca00-5ef2-8ada-e8170df305e6.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19828284?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19831130?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/26/2698797/obama-looks-to-mich-to-revive.html#storylink=misearch Parent of Obama-backed battery maker goes bankrupt. The parent company of an electric car battery maker that received a $118 million grant from the Obama administration filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday. New York-based Ener1 said it has been affected by competition from China and other countries. Ener1 subsidiary EnerDel received a $118 million stimulus grant from the Energy Department in 2009, and Vice President Joe Biden visited the company's new battery plant in Indiana last year. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/parent-company-of-car-battery-maker-that-received-energy-dept-grant-files-for-bankruptcy/2012/01/26/gIQA78QKUQ_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/26/2043600/parent-of-obama-backed-battery.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19831130?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19831130?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com OPINIONS Editorial: San Francisco's green ethos goes only so far. Gee, do you think San Francisco could get any more hysterical about proposed alternatives to the city getting its water from a submerged and majestic canyon in Yosemite National Park? Even the esteemed San Francisco Chronicle has joined the epidemic of panic, blaming such ideas on "fringe environmentalists" in a Sunday editorial. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and the general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission believe that a U.S. …Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/26/v-print/4215630/san-franciscos-green-ethos-goes.html BLOGS Reaping a Bonus From Cap-and-Trade. Criticism of cap-and-trade programs often centers on the costs they impose on electric power companies and their consumers. But as I report in Friday’s Times, New York and other Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states that are trying out such a system have found that those costs can be offset by energy efficiency measures paid for by the cap-and-trade program itself. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/reaping-a-bonus-from-cap-and-trade/ Can natural gas vehicles get us off oil? On Thursday, President Obama traveled to Las Vegas to pitch a few new energy policies — including tax breaks for firms that buy natural gas-powered trucks. T. Boone Pickens, for one, has argued that fueling vehicles with natural gas will help us curtail oil use. Can it? It all depends on what the alternatives are. Fueling up cars and trucks directly with natural gas could help cut America’s reliance on oil. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/are-natural-gas-vehicles-a-good-idea/2012/01/26/gIQA4MPlTQ_blog.html Toyota works on electric-drive powertrains that don't need rare earth metals. Toyota is working on a method of making electric-drive powertrains without using magnets that require pricey rare-earth metals such as neodymium and dysprosium, and may start integrating that process into vehicle production within two years, Reuters reported, citing Japan's Kyodo News. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/toyota-works-on-electric-drive-powertrains-that-dont-need-rare/ Berkeley Lab developing novel metal-organic framework materials for high-capacity hydrogen storage. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is working to synthesize novel metal-organic framework materials with high hydrogen adsorption capacities sufficient to provide safe and cost-effective storage that could support a 300-mile (483-km) range on vehicles. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/berkeley-20120127.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, 27 Jan 2012 12:40:48 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- AMENDED - ARB NEWSCLIPS FOR JANUARY 27, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB NEWSCLIPS FOR JANUARY 27, 2012. ARB News Clips for January 27, 2012 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. CLEAN CAR REGULATIONS California passes new auto emission rules. SAN FRANCISCO - California air regulators passed sweeping auto emission standards Friday that include a mandate to have 1.4 million electric and hybrid vehicles on state roads by 2025. California's auto emissions standards are often more strict than federal ones, and the move could set the pace for other states. The California Air Resources Board unanimously approved the new rules, which require that one in seven new cars sold in the state in 2025 be an electric or other zero-emission vehicle. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CALIFORNIA_CLEAN_CAR_STANDARDS?SITE=SCAND&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_19835994 http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/27/v-print/4220304/california-approves-far-reaching.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/27/2043850/car-makers-support-califs-new.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/27/2699500/car-makers-support-califs-new.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19833669?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/car-makers-support-calif-s-new-clean-car-regs/article_1552c0c0-fe9b-53e5-bce5-8c0cc39683f5.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19833669?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19833669?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/automakers-support-calif-regs-to-cut-auto-pollution-and-increase-zero-emission-vehicles/2012/01/27/gIQACk0iUQ_story.html http://www.siliconvalley.com/green-energy/ci_19835994 http://kstp.com/news/stories/s2469030.shtml http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/13eed6062a384e53b4f892655e9f1956/US--California-Clean-Car-Standards/ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/27/MNQA1MUV0S.DTL&type=printable http://smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?type=wnews&title=Debate%20over%20state’s%20new%20‘clean%20car’%20regulations&id=227449 http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/01/27/automakers-supporting-proposed-calif-clean-car-regulations/ http://rumors.automobilemag.com/california-tests-new-car-regulations-more-plug-in-hybrids-more-hydrogen-gas-stations-104889.html http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/26/carbs-new-zev-mandate-revision-could-add-1-4m-more-advanced-gre/ http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2012/01/27/233007.htm AIR POLLUTION Popular Criticism Cracks China’s Wall of Denial About Pollution. Beijing — Weary of waiting for the authorities to alert residents to the city’s most pernicious air pollutant, citizen activists last May took matters here into their own hands: they bought their own $4,000 air-quality monitor and started posting its daily readings on the Internet. That began a chain reaction. Volunteers in Shanghai and Guangzhou purchased monitors in December, followed by citizens in Wenzhou, who are selling oranges to finance their device. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/world/asia/internet-criticism-pushes-china-to-act-on-air-pollution.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print 3 coal-fired power plants on Lake Erie to close. Chicago -- An Ohio-based utility said Thursday that it will close three Lake Erie coal plants and all but one unit at another, scrapping some of the biggest fish killers on the Great Lakes. Like other power companies that rely on coal, FirstEnergy Corp. faces more-stringent pollution limits and competition from suddenly abundant and relatively cheap natural gas. The company decided it wasn't worth upgrading the Ohio plants, and others in Pennsylvania and Maryland, to comply with new air and water standards. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/26/4218548/3-coal-fired-power-plants-on-lake.html http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/26/4218681/midwest-utility-to-shut-coal-burning.html CLIMATE CHANGE Planners want to direct Bay Area residents to live in existing communities to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions. Concord -- A Bay Area plan for where to build new houses, shops and offices in a way that helps cut greenhouse gases relies on increased population concentrations some communities may reject, a state homebuilding industry representative told Contra Costa business and political leaders Thursday. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19830649?source=rss http://www.mercurynews.com/cupertino/ci_19830648 Obama admin says new forest rules stress science. The Obama administration says new rules to manage nearly 200 million acres of national forests will protect watersheds and wildlife while promoting uses ranging from recreation to logging. The new rules, to replace guidelines thrown out by a federal court in 2009, are set to take effect in early March. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the rule change on Thursday. Vilsack said in an interview that the rules reflect more than 300,000 comments received since a draft plan was released last year. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/26/2698434/apnewsbreak-us-to-unveil-new-forest.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy VEHICLES Auto Retailer Heralds a Turnaround, Citing Demand to Replace Aging Cars. The nation’s biggest automotive retailer on Thursday reported strong financial results for 2011 and suggested the recovery of the American car market had reached a turning point. AutoNation, which sells domestic and import brands at more than 250 dealerships across the country, said its fourth-quarter revenue increased 13 percent to $3.7 billion and its profits rose by 3 percent to $69 million. Posted. www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/business/citing-increased-demand-autonation-improves-its-outlook.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=vehicles&st=cse Ford posts big profits but misses Wall Street. Ford's stock price fell after weak sales in Europe and production losses in Asia hurt fourth-quarter earnings. Ford Motor Co. reported $13.62 billion in net income, but investors brushed off the result because most of that came from an accounting change. Excluding that change, earnings totaled $1.1 billion, or 20 cents a share, missing Wall Street expectations by 5 cents. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19834060?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com GREEN ENERGY Obama looks to Mich. to revive clean energy debate. A Michigan factory that made luxury yachts before the recession and diversified to add wind energy products when times got tough was touted by President Barack Obama at his State of the Union Address as an example of an industry creating forward-thinking jobs _ with a little help from the government. In urging Congress to approve clean energy tax credits, Obama cited Energetx Composites LLC, a wind turbine blade manufacturer in Holland, Mich., that received millions in government assistance. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/obama-looks-to-mich-to-revive-clean-energy-debate/article_4701336a-ca00-5ef2-8ada-e8170df305e6.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19828284?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19831130?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/26/2698797/obama-looks-to-mich-to-revive.html#storylink=misearch Parent of Obama-backed battery maker goes bankrupt. The parent company of an electric car battery maker that received a $118 million grant from the Obama administration filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday. New York-based Ener1 said it has been affected by competition from China and other countries. Ener1 subsidiary EnerDel received a $118 million stimulus grant from the Energy Department in 2009, and Vice President Joe Biden visited the company's new battery plant in Indiana last year. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/parent-company-of-car-battery-maker-that-received-energy-dept-grant-files-for-bankruptcy/2012/01/26/gIQA78QKUQ_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/26/2043600/parent-of-obama-backed-battery.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19831130?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19831130?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com OPINIONS Editorial: San Francisco's green ethos goes only so far. Gee, do you think San Francisco could get any more hysterical about proposed alternatives to the city getting its water from a submerged and majestic canyon in Yosemite National Park? Even the esteemed San Francisco Chronicle has joined the epidemic of panic, blaming such ideas on "fringe environmentalists" in a Sunday editorial. Sen. Dianne Feinstein and the general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission believe that a U.S. …Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/26/v-print/4215630/san-franciscos-green-ethos-goes.html BLOGS Reaping a Bonus From Cap-and-Trade. Criticism of cap-and-trade programs often centers on the costs they impose on electric power companies and their consumers. But as I report in Friday’s Times, New York and other Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states that are trying out such a system have found that those costs can be offset by energy efficiency measures paid for by the cap-and-trade program itself. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/reaping-a-bonus-from-cap-and-trade/ Can natural gas vehicles get us off oil? On Thursday, President Obama traveled to Las Vegas to pitch a few new energy policies — including tax breaks for firms that buy natural gas-powered trucks. T. Boone Pickens, for one, has argued that fueling vehicles with natural gas will help us curtail oil use. Can it? It all depends on what the alternatives are. Fueling up cars and trucks directly with natural gas could help cut America’s reliance on oil. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/are-natural-gas-vehicles-a-good-idea/2012/01/26/gIQA4MPlTQ_blog.html Toyota works on electric-drive powertrains that don't need rare earth metals. Toyota is working on a method of making electric-drive powertrains without using magnets that require pricey rare-earth metals such as neodymium and dysprosium, and may start integrating that process into vehicle production within two years, Reuters reported, citing Japan's Kyodo News. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/27/toyota-works-on-electric-drive-powertrains-that-dont-need-rare/ Berkeley Lab developing novel metal-organic framework materials for high-capacity hydrogen storage. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) is working to synthesize novel metal-organic framework materials with high hydrogen adsorption capacities sufficient to provide safe and cost-effective storage that could support a 300-mile (483-km) range on vehicles. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/berkeley-20120127.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, 30 Jan 2012 13:43:57 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 30, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for January 30, 2012. 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. CLEAN CAR REGULATIONS California Orders Automakers to Sell More Non-Polluting Cars. California will require automakers to sell millions of “zero-emission” vehicles -- battery- electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-powered -- setting new standards followed by states from New York to Oregon. The rules adopted today by the California Air Resources Board mean manufacturers will have to produce about 1.4 million advanced vehicles for sale in that state alone by 2025, more than 40 times the number put on the road from 1996 through 2010, according to a state analysis. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-01-27/california-orders-automakers-to-sell-more-non-polluting-vehicles-in-state.html California Passes New Auto-Emission Rules. California regulators established new rules on Friday that require dramatic cuts in emissions from most cars and trucks by 2025. The new "advanced clean cars" regulations, adopted in a unanimous vote by the state Air Resources Board, requires cars and light trucks sold in 2025 to emit 75% fewer smog-forming pollutants and reduce carbon dioxide by about a third. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204661604577187194121457630.html?_nocache=1327942890123&user=welcome BY SUBCRIPTION California orders hike in number of super clean cars. The state's air board issues new rules to automakers as part of its effort to cut greenhouse gases. California, long a national leader in cutting auto pollution, pushed the envelope further Friday as state regulators approved rules to cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars and put significantly more pollution-free vehicles on the road in coming years. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-clean-car-20120127,0,5258802.story California passes landmark rules to curb auto emissions. Transforming the next decade of America's auto industry, the California Air Resources Board on Friday approved historic new rules that require 15 percent of new cars sold in California by 2025 run on electricity, hydrogen or other systems producing little or no smog. The board, meeting in Los Angeles, voted 9-0 to approve the package of "advanced clean car rules." Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/argus/ci_19835996 Calif. orders stepped-up sales of nonpolluting vehicles. California regulators have approved a rule requiring 15.4 percent of new vehicles sold in the state to be electric, fuel-cell or plug-in hybrid vehicles by 2025. The rule -- supported by major automakers -- is part of a broader package of regulations called the Advanced Clean Car program designed to cut vehicle greenhouse gas and smog-forming emissions. The new standards could mean 1.4 million electric, fuel-cell and plug-in hybrid vehicles on California roads by 2025. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20120130/OEM06/301309918#ixzz1kxspiy2R Official: California Requires More Hybrids, Electrics on the Road by 2025. California has long been the leader in green car legislation. Now, the state’s air-quality regulator, the California Air Resources Board, has approved a stringent round of laws that require the addition of 1.4 million electric, plug-in, and fuel cell vehicles on California roads by 2025. Posted. http://rumors.automobilemag.com/official-california-requires-more-hybrids-electrics-on-the-road-by-2025-105333.html UPDATE: 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 that foresee one in seven new vehicles sold in 2025 to be a zero-emission or plug-in hybrid car were adopted on 27 January 2012. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/69720111121.php AIR POLLUTION Beijing air pollution soars with fireworks smoke. Clouds of smoke from Lunar New Year fireworks sent air pollution readings soaring in the more sensitive measurement system Beijing started using a little more than a week ago, reports said Sunday. Readings of fine particulate matter called PM2.5 reached 1.593 milligrams per cubic meter on the Jan. 22 eve of the holiday, about 100 times worse than the amount considered good for 24-hour exposure, the city's environmental bureau said. The reading drew wide publicity in the local media on Sunday. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h6yY2jDxqkvVpmQTiWyhhmCQ6Ciw?docId=d5e07af0c80f4e82b07f26d3a74f59ca AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/28/2701547/fireworks-send-beijing-air-pollution.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19846233?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19846233?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/beijing-air-pollution-soars-with-fireworks-smoke/article_56439b12-ffc9-53f1-b6cc-91b2d0f4b440.html#ixzz1kxkT6794 http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/28/2046126/fireworks-send-beijing-air-pollution.html Controlled burns may bring smoky conditions in Lake Tahoe. Beginning Monday and throughout the week, Lake Tahoe residents and visitors can expect to see smoke from prescribed fire operations in various areas. The controlled burns are planned at Emerald Bay, Kingsbury Grade, Kings Beach and the Bunker area of Tahoe City, with size, location and timing depending on weather conditions. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/28/4221500/controlled-burns-may-bring-smoky.html Suit targets dirty air. Activists want monitors near highways. A growing body of science has confirmed common-sense instinct that dirty freeway air is seriously bad for health, and that research is now spurring Los Angeles activists and regulators to consider new ways of addressing pollution. Although air quality in Southern California has improved dramatically since the 1970s, more and more evidence shows that pollutants remain concentrated close to traffic corridors... Posted. http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/news/ci_19849738?source=rss Enviro Technology predicts air quality will move up the political agenda in 2012. The next 12 months will see a substantial increase in awareness of the issue of air quality in the UK and a renewed focus on solving the problem, according to air quality monitoring experts, Enviro Technology. With poor air quality now shortening the life expectancy of people in the UK by an average of seven to eight months and costing society up to £20 billion per year[i]…Posted. http://www.environmental-expert.com/news/enviro-technology-predicts-air-quality-will-move-up-the-political-agenda-in-2012-278817 CLIMATE CHANGE Ventura company looks to be player in carbon market. From an office overlooking Ventura, Kirsten McGregor is trying to rehabilitate the economies in Nicaragua and Cameroon while keeping temperatures from rising around the world — all while turning a profit. "We saw this as a huge opportunity," said McGregor, co-founder and president of Global Green Carbon, a Ventura-based company creating programs that companies can use to offset their carbon dioxide pollution. "The concept of doing good while making a profit made sense." Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jan/28/ventura-company-looks-to-be-player-in-carbon/ FUELS California fuels rule sparks controversy. Just as it pioneered curbs on greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks a decade ago, California is championing standards that could transform the fuel that goes into their tanks. But its new rule, which requires lowering the amount of carbon in fuel sold in the state, has become embroiled in a fierce public battle and has been barred from being enforced. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/california-fuels-rule-sparks-controversy/2012/01/23/gIQAQtEuaQ_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage No relief in rising gasoline prices as refineries shut down. American motorists may well be wondering when, if ever, they will again see a sustained and significant drop in retail gasoline prices. Not in the foreseeable future, it seems. In California, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline has risen another 3.3 cents in the last week, to $3.747, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. That's 39.1 cents a gallon higher than the old record for Jan. 30, set just last year. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-gas-prices-20120130,0,3885077.story MORENO VALLEY: Natural gas station will open soon. Drivers will be able to stop in Moreno Valley next month to fill up their natural gas-powered vehicles. A San Clemente company called Go Natural Gas Inc. (GNC) is building a gas station in the Canyon Springs shopping center on Day Street. “We don’t expect there to be high volume, maybe 10 vehicles a day,” said Julia Descoteaux, an associate planner with the city who is overseeing the project. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/moreno-valley/moreno-valley-headlines-index/20120129-moreno-valley-natural-gas-station-will-open-soon.ece VEHICLES Honda Begins Deliveries of Battery-Powered Fit. HONDA has begun handing over the keys to its all-electric Fit EV. The first of the 2013-model cars have been delivered to Google, Stanford University and the city of Torrance, Calif., in advance of the public introduction this summer. The three first cars will be part of a demonstration program to provide advanced research and driving feedback that Honda can use in the development of future electric cars and powertrains. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/29/automobiles/honda-begins-deliveries-of-battery-powered-fit.html?scp=10&sq=vehicles&st=cse A big bet on electric vehicle manufacturing goes bust. For politicians betting on electric vehicles to drive job growth, the view from inside Think City's plant here is their worst nightmare: 100 unfinished vehicles lined up with no word on whether they will be completed. Only two years ago, the tiny Think cars (two can fit in a regular parking space) were expected to bring more than 400 jobs to this ailing city and a lifeline to suppliers who once made parts for gas-guzzling recreational vehicles. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-think-mainbar-20120127,0,6820299.story Brown rejects high-speed rail cost estimate of $100 billion. California's high-speed rail project will cost far less than the state's current estimate of nearly $100 billion and environmental fees paid by carbon producers will be a source of funding, Gov. Jerry Brown said in an interview aired in Los Angeles on Sunday. The Democratic governor's remarks suggested Brown may make substantial changes to the rail plan before seeking legislative approval this year. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/30/v-print/4224247/brown-rejects-high-speed-rail.html MPG-pressed automakers still skip U.S. with new diesels. Automakers are creating top-notch, affordable and fuel-saving diesel engines -- and refusing to sell them in the U.S. Case in point: the Honda Civic. Honda, already known for its engine prowess, unveiled a new diesel for the Accord to reporters last month that smaller, lighter and as powerful as its gas engines. It will go on sale in Europe, and the U.S. will get left out, Automotive News reports. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/01/why-automakers-skip-the-us-on-new-diesel-cars/1 Expanded EV range through CO2 heat pump air-con. Ancillary units and assisting systems like air-conditioning have a distinct impact on the range of electric vehicles. Konvekta has therefore developed a heat pump system with CO2 as refrigerant, that can heat and cool the vehicle, reheat and dehumidify the cubicle as well as keep the battery in optimal temperature range without using electrical energy from the battery. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/74320120130.php GREEN ENERGY UN panel urges world at Rio to launch energy fixes. A high-profile U.N. panel headed by the presidents of Finland and South Africa hopes to spark an "ever-green" energy revolution later this year in Brazil using a general roadmap it presented Monday on how world leaders could wean the world off fossil fuels. Its report links the world body's goals of reducing poverty and inequality to promoting the use of wind, solar and other renewable sources of energy to run the economies of nations rich and poor. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UN_ENERGY_REVOLUTION?SITE=VOICESD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/un-panel-urges-world-to-kick-off-energy-revolution-at-rio-summit-this-year/2012/01/30/gIQAq5FfcQ_story.html http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46191851 MISCELLANEOUS LIBERTY QUARRY: Appeal hearing today in Riverside. More than 1,000 people -- many riding buses from Temecula -- are expected to gather this morning in the Riverside Convention Center for the first of two Riverside County Board of Supervisors hearings on the proposed Liberty Quarry. The five-member board will hear an appeal of the county Planning Commission’s decision denying a surface mining permit and related approvals for the quarry, which is being sought for a 414-acre site just outside Temecula. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/reports/liberty-quarry/liberty-quarry-headlines/20120130-liberty-quarry-appeal-hearing-today-in-riverside.ece OPINIONS Contra Costa Times editorial: California air board's vision of green cars requires huge new sources of electicity. California is taking a bold step toward transforming the automobile industry with its highly ambitious new rules mandating a steady increase in the sales of ultralow and zero-emission vehicles. If all goes according to the California Air Resources Board's plans, sales of plug-in hybrid, battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars will rise from a tiny fraction of 1 percent today to 4 percent of total state sales in 2018, to 15.4 percent in 2025. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19837669 Another Global Warming Oops Moment, and it’s a dilly. The Wall Street Journal has a letter today signed by 16 noteworthy scientists who wanted to go on the record about global warming. What they had to say constitutes today’s Global Warming Oops Moment, one of those delightful public displays that reveal the emperor has no clothes. We quote: “Speaking for many scientists and engineers who have looked carefully and independently at the science of climate, we have a message to any candidate for public office: Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2012/01/27/another-global-warming-oops-moment-and-its-a-dilly/66912/ Will EPA stay course? The federal Environmental Protection Agency, which has been longer on rules than protection, discovered the Valley last week. EPA Regional Administrator Jered Blumenfeld rolled through the Valley for a series of photo-op stops to tout the agency's newfound interest in cleaning up some of the nation's worst polluted air. "Four times more people die in the San Joaquin Valley from air pollution than they do from traffic fatalities," said Blumenfeld, who heads the EPA's San Francisco office. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120130/A_OPINION01/201300302/-1/NEWSMAP CARB, Nichols Ignore Global COOLING. In California, everything is upside down. On Friday, the California Air Resources Board clicked its jackboots and ordered one in seven California cars to be “ultra clean” by 2025. That means “battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell and plug-in hybrid vehicles.” It’s supposed to cut the greenhouse gases that supposedly cause global warming. CARB Commissar Mary Nichols explained, “Today’s vote … represents a new chapter for clean cars in California and in the nation as a whole.” Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/01/carb-nichols-ignore-global-cooling/ Remarkable Editorial Bias on Climate Science at the Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board has long been understood to be not only antagonistic to the facts of climate science, but hostile. But in a remarkable example of their unabashed bias, on Friday they published an opinion piece that not only repeats many of the flawed and misleading arguments about climate science, but purports to be of special significance because it was signed by 16 “scientists.” Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/petergleick/2012/01/27/remarkable-editorial-bias-on-climate-science-at-the-wall-street-journal/ BLOGS Europe Zeroes In on Shipping Emissions. New rules to limit pollution from ships begin moving through the European Parliament on Tuesday, with the specter of potential environmental contamination from a stricken cruise ship lending momentum to the debate. While the legislation aims to reduce emissions of harmful gases and particles, environmental groups are also hoping to build support for accelerating the use of cleaner-burning fuels. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/30/europe-zeroes-in-on-shipping-emissions/?smid=tw-nytenvironment&seid=auto It’s No Beijing, But Hong Kong Is Choking, Too. For the business, political and media glitterati assembled in the rarefied Alpine atmosphere of Davos, air pollution has probably not been terribly high on the agenda. Not so in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other mainland Chinese cities: As my colleague Sharon LaFraniere recently reported, China’s air pollution levels have started to seriously worry — and anger — many of the country’s 1.3 billion citizens. Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/28/its-no-beijing-but-hong-kong-is-choking-too/?scp=6&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse A Plea for Southern Treasures. The Southern Environmental Law Center, a Virginia-based nonprofit legal advocacy group, has released its 2012 list of the Top 10 endangered places in the Southeast, environmentally speaking. While the list changes from year to year, certain places like the Chesapeake Bay remain a top concern — and issues like pollution from coal-fired power plants and the protection of public lands and old-growth forests are recurring themes. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/30/a-plea-for-southern-treasures/?scp=6&sq=green%20energy&st=cse New USDA plant zones clearly show climate change. Planting zones are retreating north all over the country, but the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) won’t state the obvious: the shift is a rock solid indicator of climate change. On Wednesday, the USDA released a new plant hardiness zone map, which contours the nation according to average annual lowest winter temperatures. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/new-usda-plant-zones-clearly-show-climate-change/2012/01/27/gIQA7Vz2VQ_blog.html Jerry Brown says cap-and-trade fees will fund high-speed rail. Gov. Jerry Brown said in an interview airing in Los Angeles today that California’s high-speed rail project will cost far less than the state’s current estimate of nearly $100 billion and that environmental fees paid by carbon producers will be a source of funding. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/01/jerry-brown-says-cap-and-trade-fees-will-fund-high-speed-rail.html California’s “Clean Car” Rules: A Historical Perspective. Today, California air regulators approved a package of “Clean Car” standards that many are calling historic. But there’s nothing new about that. California’s been out front in the clean car derby for decades. In her recent story on QUEST, Lauren Sommer unpacks the proposed emissions standards. As part of her reporting she spoke with Dan Sperling, director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis, and a member of California’s Air Resources Board. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/01/27/californias-clean-car-rules-a-historical-perspective/ ENERGY: Rebelling against SDG&E: Locals want alternative. Frustrated by recent proposals from San Diego Gas & Electric Co., Lane Sharman and Bill Powers are fomenting a rebellion. The two men are spearheading a foundation ---- and they hope a movement ---- to create a kind of communal utility managed by local governments that would give locals an alternative to SDG&E. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/business/energy/energy-rebelling-against-sdg-e-locals-want-alternative/article_1807c045-3646-554e-8e51-54d02852c2fd.html Tesla Model X crossover teased, full reveal to be live on Internet. Perhaps the biggest reveal of 2012 for fans of luxury performance all-electric vehicles (or, perhaps, anyone automotively-inclined with a pulse) is set for the 9th of February when Tesla Motors pulls the shroud from its Model X crossover at its new Los Angeles design studio. And now, we have been given a strong hint of what to expect. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/28/tesla-model-x-crossover-teased-full-reveal-to-be-live-on-intern/ U.S. plug-in vehicle sales will jump fivefold this year to 100,000 units, report says. U.S. plug-in vehicle sales will increase more than fivefold this year to 100,000 units, website CleanFleetReport.com said, citing technology research firm Gartner. Thilo Koslowski, vice president of Gartner's Automotive and Vehicle Practice, confirmed the forecast, which factors in issues such as a wider range of battery-electric models…Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/30/u-s-plug-in-vehicle-sales-will-jump-fivefold-this-year-to-100-0/ California’s new ZEV rule introduces the BEVx; ARB staff expects these vehicles to play a longer-term role than plug-in hybrids. On Friday 27 January, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) adopted the new Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) package that sets out the regulatory emissions and technology requirements for light-duty automobiles through model year 2025. (Earlier post.) The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) regulation—one of the three main regulatory packages that constitute ACC—introduces a new regulatory vehicle category…Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/01/bevx-20120129.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 Jan 2012 11:52:02 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for January 31, 2011 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for January 31, 2012. 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. CLEAN CAR REGULATIONS Calif. Rule Tries To Jumpstart Electric Car Market. California officials have approved a rule mandating that, by 2025, 15 percent of new cars and trucks sold be powered by batteries, hydrogen fuel cells or other technology that produces little or no air pollution. California has tried this before and it didn't work. (TRANSCRIPT) Posted. http://www.npr.org/2012/01/30/146099711/calif-rule-tries-to-jumpstart-electric-car-market Clean Cars Will Come To California In Droves. On Friday, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted unanimously to require 15 percent of new passenger vehicles and light-duty trucks sold to emit close to zero- or zero-emissions by 2025. Of that, the new state regulations have mandated 1.4 million zero-emission vehicles on California’s roads by the same time. Meanwhile, gasoline and diesel vehicles must have 50 percent less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 75 percent less smog-related emissions than today. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaynejung/2012/01/31/clean-cars-will-come-to-california-in-droves/ Calif. pushes for cleaner cars on roads. California has voted to increase the number of environmentally clean cars on the state's roads by 2018, officials said. State regulators have approved rules to cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars and put a significantly greater number of pollution-free vehicles on the road, the Los Angeles Times reported. Posted. http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2012/01/30/Calif-pushes-for-cleaner-cars-on-roads/UPI-66081327961665/ AIR POLLUTION Bay Area Air board hits the road to see business pollution up close. The Bay Area's air pollution board will soon hit the road, holding some of its meetings at businesses it regulates to give members more insight into the board's job of protecting clean air. Starting with a public meeting at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday meeting at the Port of Oakland, the board intends to hold several meetings this year at or near a power plant, oil refinery, dry cleaner, gas station, and Silicon Valley high tech industry. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_19854917 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19854917?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com CLIMATE CHANGE Rebate Debate Over Utility-Sector Cap & Trade Revenues. If you've been wondering whatever happened to Cap & Trade in California, it's not your fault. The topic has bounced around several state agencies, and it was tied up in the courts for awhile. But now is a good time to tune back in, because they're talking about how to divide up the money, and things are starting to get interesting (that is, if you like getting money). The state Air Resources Board (ARB) passed an initial Cap & Trade rule on Dec. 16, 2010. After weathering the first wave of litigation, ARB adopted the regulation on Oc. 20, 2011. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-sandler/rebate-debate-over-utilit_b_1240769.html 55 major European airports join carbon emissions scheme, industry group says. Brussels — Airports Council International says that 55 major European airports accounting for over half of all passenger traffic on the continent are now part of a scheme aimed at cutting carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/55-major-european-airports-join-carbon-emissions-scheme-industry-group-says/2012/01/31/gIQAWhU4eQ_story.html Better Forest Data Lends Confidence to Carbon Markets. A study published in Nature Climate Change this week measured both the biomass of different types of tropical forests and the emissions lost via deforestation, providing more accurate data than was previously available, according to lead author Alessandro Baccini. That’s important for creating confidence in nascent carbon markets. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/ericagies/2012/01/31/better-forest-data-lends-confidence-to-carbon-markets/ Global warming study casts doubt on “missing heat” hypothesis. Have you heard the tale about the “missing heat” in the climate system? Well, it turns out it may not have gone missing after all. Global warming is driven by an imbalance between how much energy the planet takes in from the sun, and how much it lets back out into space in the form of thermal radiation. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/global-warming-study-casts-doubt-on-missing-heat-hypothesis/2012/01/29/gIQAj38fcQ_blog.html FUELS MORENO VALLEY: Natural gas station will open soon. Drivers will be able to stop in Moreno Valley next month to fill up their natural gas-powered vehicles. A San Clemente company called Go Natural Gas Inc. (GNC) is building a gas station in the Canyon Springs shopping center on Day Street. “We don’t expect there to be high volume, maybe 10 vehicles a day,” said Julia Descoteaux, an associate planner with the city who is overseeing the project. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/moreno-valley/moreno-valley-headlines-index/20120129-moreno-valley-natural-gas-station-will-open-soon.ece California's fuels policy igniting public uproar. Rule requiring lowering amount of carbon is on hold. Just as it pioneered curbs on greenhouse-gas emissions from cars and light trucks a decade ago, California is championing standards that could transform the fuel that goes into their tanks. But its new rule, which requires lowering the amount of carbon in fuel sold in the state, has become embroiled in a fierce public battle and has been barred from being enforced. Posted. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2012/01/31/20120131california-fuels-policy-igniting-public-uproar.html VEHICLES Chevrolet to include eco-labeling in all vehicles beginning in 2013. All models will detail environmental impacts of manufacturing, driving and recycling. Chevrolet will include green labeling in all of its vehicles as part of an concerted effort to tout the company’s environmental credentials. The General Motors-owned brand said last week that its models will soon carry 'EcoLogic' labels detailing features of the vehicle that are related to the environmental impacts of manufacturing, driving and recycling. Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/chevrolet-include-eco-labeling-vehicles-beginning-2013-article-1.1014551 GREEN ENERGY Power paradox: Clean might not be green forever. As energy demand grows, even alternative energy sources such as wind, solar and nuclear fusion could begin to affect the climate. "A better, richer and happier life for all our citizens." That's the American dream. In practice, it means living in a spacious, air-conditioned house, owning a car or three and maybe a boat or a holiday home, not to mention flying off to exotic destinations. Posted. http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21328491.700-power-paradox-clean-might-not-be-green-forever.html?DCMP=NLC-nletter&nsref=mg21328491.700 OPINIONS Viewpoints: Brown's backdoor tax hike is a business shakedown. Earlier this month Gov. Jerry Brown released his proposed budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year. The centerpiece of his proposal is to ask voters to approve $35 billion in higher taxes over five years at a time when our unemployment continues to be among the highest in the nation. Much of the public's attention has focused on this job-killing tax hike, and appropriately so. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/30/4224172/editorial-browns-backdoor-tax.html Letters to the Editor: High-speed rail, parks, hospice care, nurse walkout, bailouts. Put brakes on high-speed rail. Re "Brown rejects rail cost estimate" (Capitol & California, Jan. 30): Gov. Jerry Brown this weekend said that the cost of the rail project will be far less than $100 billion. His own High-Speed Rail Authority produced that number. The Bureau of State Audits, the Legislative Analyst's Office and the rail authority's peer group have all heavily criticized the project. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/31/4226517/letters-to-the-editor-high-speed.html Back the climate plan. I attended the recent Vallejo Planning Commission meeting and felt encouraged and excited by the proposed Climate Action Plan. Vallejo hired a firm out of Oakland called PMC to create this plan. Sonoma State University was involved, too. Unfortunately there were few of us from the community in attendance. It was also unfortunate that the commission did not approve of the plan. Posted. http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_19857693 California Issues Clown Car Mandate. Golden State regulators have passed sweeping emission standards requiring one in seven new cars sold in the state in 2025 be an electric or other zero-emission vehicle. What can go wrong? Plenty, for if we've learned anything in recent years, it's that industrial policy and telling consumers what they need and must have vs. what they want and find useful doesn't work. Posted. http://news.investors.com/Article/599405/201201301825/california-mandates-zero-emission-vehicle-use-WEBHED-California-Issues-Clown-Car-Mandate.htm WSJ letter downplaying global warming is a call to play with fire. In some ways, the recent letter by 16 scientists to the WSJ, claiming that there is 'no need to panic about global warming', is indeed reassuring. The very fact that this slice of global warming skepticism has attracted such a feeble number of scientists - of whom only 2 have published in the climate science field recently - shows how global warming denialism has failed to gain any traction in the scientific community. But the global warming debate matters most, not in the rarefied sphere of climate science, but in the hurly-burly world of opinions formers and political spinmeisters. Posted. http://www.earthtimes.org/climate/wsj-letter-downplaying-global-warming-call-play-fire/1792/ BLOGS Coal’s not dying — it’s just getting shipped abroad. The U.S. is burning less and less coal each year, thanks to cheap natural gas and new pollution rules. From a climate perspective, that’s a huge deal — less coal means less carbon. But here’s the catch: if the U.S. just exports its unused coal abroad, the end result could actually be more carbon. Coal use in the United States really does appear to be waning. In 2000, the country got 52 percent of its electricity from coal. In 2010, that dropped to 45 percent. By 2030, the government expects that to fall to 39 percent. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/us-coal-use-is-falling-but-what-if-the-coal-gets-shipped-abroad/2012/01/30/gIQAV9DoeQ_blog.html New rules slash emissions at Port of Oakland, but threaten local truckers. For years, West Oakland residents have pushed government officials to do something about air quality in their neighborhood, which is sandwiched between three major highways and the Port of Oakland, and dotted with industrial sites. In particular, locals have pointed to the estimated 2,000 diesel trucks that drive in and out of the port several times each day. Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/inoakland/2012/01/30/new-rules-slash-emissions-at-port-of-oakland-but-threaten-local-truckers/ California and the EU are leading the way for lower carbon emissions by 2020. The next generation must focus on clean energies in the future to help lower greenhouse-gas emissions. California and the EU (European Union) are creating legislation that leads to cleaner air by 2020, standing in the way is a common enemy; big oil companies. California a decade ago led the way to curb greenhouse-gas emissions in cars and trucks, this improved air quality. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-los-angeles/california-and-the-eu-are-leading-the-way-for-low-carbon-emissions-by-2020 ====================================================================== 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 Feb 2012 14:15:21 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 1, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 1, 2012. 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 Battle intensifies over proposed Temecula rock quarry. Conservative politicians rail against corporate arrogance and environmental devastation, while union workers push the project as a job creator. The issue is heading toward a vote before Riverside County supervisors. A giant rock quarry proposed in the hills above Temecula had politicians from one of the most conservative corners of the Inland Empire railing Monday against corporate arrogance and environmental devastation, while union workers pushed the project as a job creator. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-quarry-hearing-20120131,0,7989672.story DIESEL EMISSIONS US EPA Prepared To Fine Navistar For Diesel-Engine Pollution. U.S. regulators are prepared to fine Navistar International Corp. (NAV) as much as $2,000 for every heavy-duty truck engine it sells in the U.S. that doesn't comply with the latest pollution standards for diesel-engine exhaust. The penalties would allow the truck maker to continue selling engines without interruption when it runs out of pollution credits. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board estimate Navistar will use up its credits for heavy-duty engines by the end of February. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120131-721839.html BY SUBSCRIPTION http://webfarm.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-01/navistar-faces-epa-fines-of-up-to-2-000-per-heavy-duty-engine.html California School Bus Retrofit Program Seeks Applications. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) has announced the opening of the Statewide School Bus Retrofit Program. The purpose of this program is to provide assistance to California school districts with early compliance of the Air Resources Board’s (ARB or Board) Truck and Bus Regulation. This program will provide incentive funds to retrofit 1987 and newer engine model year diesel-powered school buses with ARB-verified Level 3 diesel emission control strategies (retrofits). Posted. http://www.stnonline.com/home/press-releases/4079-2012-02-01-17-34-41 VEHICLES Study: More fuel-efficient cars on market. New light-duty automobiles entering the U.S. market are more fuel-efficient and give motorists up to 1.7 miles per gallon more on the road than vehicles bought before 2008, a University of Michigan study indicated. "Recent Fuel Economy Trends for New Vehicles in the U.S." reported on gains made as a result of automobile design and manufacture changes made in the past five years. Posted. http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/01/31/Study-More-fuel-efficient-cars-on-market/UPI-53731328045156/ Chrysler, VW post sales gains of 44% or more. Detroit -- Chrysler Group -- benefiting from stronger deliveries at the Jeep, Ram and Chrysler brands -- posted a 44 percent increase in January car and light truck sales. Ford Motor Co., Nissan Motor Co. and Volkswagen also posted sales gains last month, but General Motors said deliveries dropped 6 percent. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120201/RETAIL01/120209995/chrysler-vw-post-sales-gains-of-44-or-more Tough Times for U.S. EV Battery Makers. The U.S. government's effort to create an electric-vehicle battery industry suffered a setback last week when one of the companies it funded as part of this effort saw its parent company file for bankruptcy protection. Battery maker Enerdel had been awarded a $118.5 million grant to build a lithium-ion battery factory in Indiana as part of a $2 billion grant program for electric-vehicle component and battery manufacturing; its parent company is Ener1. Posted. http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/39578/ China’s largest EV charging station up and running, sales of pure EVs exceed hybrids - EV CHINA No4. China’s largest EV charging and battery swapping station went into operation on 29 January 2012. In 2011, the sale of pure electric vehicles has exceeded the sale of hybrids. China’s EV market faces the problem of regional barriers, local protectionism threatening to undermine a cohesive national EV market. On 29 January 2012, China’s largest EV charging and battery swapping station Gaoantun opened its doors. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/74620120201.php MISCELLANEOUS House GOP transportation bill at odds with Boxer's. Washington -- House Republicans rolled out a $270 billion transportation bill Tuesday that would open the California coast to oil drilling and eliminate most bicycle and pedestrian programs. And that's just for starters. The bill stands in defiance of a bipartisan effort produced by Sen. Barbara Boxer, the California Democrat who chairs the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/01/MNP11N107S.DTL&type=green Columbus Salame to pay millions for ammonia leaks. South San Francisco meat-processing plant has agreed to pay millions of dollars to overhaul its refrigeration system and implement safety measures after two ammonia leaks sickened dozens of people, according to a settlement agreement announced today by federal investigators. The consent decree by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Justice means Columbus Manufacturing Inc., a popular salami maker, must pay $685,446 in penalties and make improvements to the plant amounting to about $6 million, officials said. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/31/BAPS1N0KC0.DTL&type=science Julianne Moore wants clean air for kids. Did you guys know Julianne Moore wrote a children’s book? This is apparently the thing celebrities do when they’re over 25 (under 25, they start a perfume line). It’s about the heartbreak of being a ginger, and not about environmental stuff at all, but that isn’t stopping Moore from plugging it in her video for the Moms Clean Air Force. (It’s a little labored — something about polluters being bullies.) Posted. http://grist.org/list/julieanne-moore-wants-clean-air-for-kids/ OPINIONS Should California bite the bullet on high-speed rail? Is the state chasing a costly boondoggle, or making a large investment in the future? Travelers are for, against and unsure about devoting so much money to an expensive, futuristic project. If and when California's high-speed train is built, how fast would it have to go, and how much cheaper would a ticket have to cost, for you to give up flying? Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-me-0201-lopez-highspeedtrain-20120131,0,2549054.column?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+SteveLopez+%28L.A.+Times+-+Points+West+%7C+Steve+Lopez%29 Editorial: Buyers will be key to state goal of cleaner cars. The California Air Resources Board has pushed the envelope yet again. The most aggressive clean air rule-making body in the country unanimously approved new regulations last week that mandate car manufacturers to cut smog emissions from new vehicles by 75 percent by 2025 and greenhouse gases by 34 percent. To produce that level of emission reductions, CARB has set an ambitious target. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/01/v-print/4229354/buyers-will-be-key-to-state-goal.html Dan Walters: Jerry Brown plans to cut back high-speed rail to save it. Gov. Jerry Brown is scaling back the state's highly controversial bullet train project to keep it alive. Just three months ago, his administration unveiled – with great fanfare – a revised "business plan" for building the north-south bullet train system to answer the embryonic project's many critics. The project would be slowed down and stretched out timewise with a new and supposedly more realistic cost structure, officials declared. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/01/v-print/4229661/dan-walters-jerry-brown-plans.html Valley air a priority? We'll see. Jared Blumenfeld, a regional chief of the Environmental Protection Agency, whisked through Stockton the other day, announcing a plan to clean Valley pollution. "Four times more people die in the San Joaquin Valley from air pollution than they do from traffic fatalities," Blumenfeld said. "If we had a tornado that swept through the Valley and 200 people died, it would be a huge national crisis. We have literally thousands of people dying from air pollution, but it's invisible. You just don't see those people.” Excuse me. We see those people. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120201/A_NEWS0803/202010313&cid=sitesearch Chevy Volt And The Wrong-Headed Right. The recent media coverage of so-called “Chevrolet Volt fires,” especially by the conservative talk shows and Fox News, has attracted my attention and ire. Let’s set out the facts (and feel free to check them yourself): 1) Not one Chevrolet Volt has ever caught fire in normal use or in accidents. Not a single one. 2) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, even after the highly artificial crash test (placing the car on its back, even though it did not roll over in the test) nevertheless awarded the Volt NHTSA’s highest crash-safety rating: 5 stars. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/boblutz/2012/01/30/chevy-volt-and-the-wrong-headed-right/ The Wall Street Journal’s willful climate lies. It wasn’t surprising that the Wall Street Journal published an error-riddled op-ed about climate change last week, essentially saying it was bunk and we shouldn’t “panic” about it. We’ve gotten used to that. But what has really started to amaze me about that newspaper’s editorial page and the far right is that they now venture beyond delusion or misinformation. They lie, and they know they are lying. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-skeptics/the-wall-street-journals-willful-climate-lies/ For the Electric Car, A Slow Road to Success. The big electric car launches of 2011 failed to generate the consumer excitement that some had predicted. But as new battery technologies emerge and tougher mileage standards kick in, automakers and analysts still believe that electric vehicles have a bright future. At the Detroit Auto Show early this month, I sat down with some Nissan executives who were celebrating the sale of the 10,000th Leaf battery car in the U.S. (and 20,000th worldwide). Behind them on the company’s stand was the eNV200, Posted. http://e360.yale.edu/feature/for_the_electric_car_a_slow_road_to_success/2488/ BLOGS The grassroots energy on the left. Will Republicans again benefit from a big “enthusiasm gap” in the 2012 elections, just as they did in 2010? There are various ways of gauging the energy level of the Democratic base — the metrics seem mixed — but here’s one that perhaps suggests the left will be very energized indeed this year. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee is set to announce some surprising fundraising numbers this morning — and the key is that the group’s totals this cycle have already surpassed its 2010 numbers, even though 2012 is just getting started. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/the-grassroots-energy-on-the-left/2012/02/01/gIQAfr0ihQ_blog.html India’s Air the World’s Unhealthiest, Study Says. India’s has the worst air pollution in the entire world, beating China, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, according to a study released during this year’s World Economic Forum in Davos. Of 132 countries whose environments were surveyed, India ranks dead last in the ‘Air (effects on human health)’ ranking. Posted. http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/indias-air-the-worlds-unhealthiest-study-says/?scp=3&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse New York’s Solar Balance Sheet. Despite uncertainties in the solar energy market, New York officials should support the “steady and measured growth” of solar power in the state as part of a balanced renewable energy strategy, a new report recommends. The report, by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, known as Nyserda, evaluated the costs and benefits of pursuing the growth of solar to an installed capacity of 5,000 megawatts by the year 2025, from around 110 megawatts now. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/new-yorks-solar-balance-sheet/ Tesla shows off Model S in new promo video. Never a company to hesitate when it comes to self-promotion, Tesla Motors has released a new video touting the upcoming Model S. Just a few minutes long, the video features Tesla's chief designer, Franz Von Holzhausen, and George Blankenship, Tesla's VP of sales and ownership experience (and former Apple retail strategist) speaking no evil about the all-electric vehicle. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/tesla-shows-of-model-s-in-new-promo-video/ Buick's smartphone games simulate fuel-efficient driving in app form. Remember the car-racing video games you played as a kid? Think of this as the opposite. General Motors is looking to raise consumer awareness of the hybrid drivetrains on its Buick LaCrosse and Regal by offering three Buick-branded smartphone application games that reward players for "driving" in a more fuel-efficient manner. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/01/31/buicks-smartphone-games-simulate-fuel-efficient-driving-in-app/ MIT study concludes V2G-enabled electric commercial trucks could offer lower total operating cost than conventional diesel fleet. A new study by researchers at MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL), concludes that electric commercial vehicles can cost 9 to 12% less to operate than trucks powered by diesel engines when used to make deliveries on an everyday basis in big cities and when V2G (vehicle-to-grid) revenue is incorporated. The CTL study was conducted using data collected by the international office supplier Staples, as well as ISO New England, the nonprofit firm that runs New England’s electric power grid. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/02/ctl-20120201.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, 2 Feb 2012 11:27:07 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 2, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 2, 2012. 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 Three States to Require Insurers to Disclose Climate-Change Response Plans. Insurance commissioners in California, New York and Washington State will require that companies disclose how they intend to respond to the risks their businesses and customers face from increasingly severe storms and wildfires, rising sea levels and other consequences of climate change, California’s commissioner said Wednesday. Up until this point, those states required about a third of larger insurers to turn over the information in a survey; for all others it was voluntary. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/business/energy-environment/three-states-tell-insurers-to-disclose-responses-to-climate-change.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Climate Change Is Putting Punxsutawney Phil Out of a Job. With the non-winter we've had here on the East Coast, this year, Punxsutawney Phil could not have done his job right no matter what the little guy predicted. "This is the most philosophically perplexing Groundhog Day ever," noted CNBC's John Carney. This year, our furry meteorologist "saw his shadow," meaning six more weeks of winter. But, what does that mean when the winter hasn't happened? We can't have six more weeks of something we haven't had. Perhaps six more weeks of non-winter is ahead. "Six more weeks of winter would imply there has been one in the first place," adds @globeandmail. Groundhog Day has become a paradox. Phil can't have the right answer, making his job basically obsolete. Posted. http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2012/02/climate-change-putting-punxsutawney-phil-out-job/48198/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Navistar Faces EPA Fines of Up To $2,000 Per Heavy-Duty Engine. Navistar International Corp., the maker of International brand trucks, faces fines of as much as $2,000 for each of its heavy-duty engines because they don’t meet pollution standards, according to a federal regulation. The Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency rule yesterday on fines for truck-engine makers that don’t meet federal nitrogen oxides standards, without naming the company. Transport Topics reported that the regulation applied to Navistar. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-01/navistar-faces-epa-fines-of-up-to-2-000-per-heavy-duty-engine.html China quietly shelves new diesel emission standards. It ought to have been a centrepiece of China's efforts to reduce smog, but the government has quietly postponed plans to clean the fumes from truck and bus exhaust pipes. The 18-month delay of new diesel emission standards, which was announced this month, runs contrary to the authorities' promises to tighten controls on air pollution. Environmental scientists say the move shows public health concerns remain far less of a priority for China's leaders than the economic interests of state-owned petrol companies, PetroChina and Sinopec. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2012/feb/01/china-shelves-plan-diesel-emissions Stockton truck plant grows. Electric Vehicles International is expanding its Stockton assembly plant and has opened a Michigan office to support national marketing and sales efforts, company officials announced this week. A visit to the plant on Army Court north of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard revealed computerized machine tools being installed and a 30,000-square-foot plant expansion being readied for an assembly line where EVI will produce electric-powered, walk-in vans for delivery giant UPS. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120202/A_BIZ/202020318&cid=sitesearch VEHICLES Woman takes Honda to small-claims, wins big. A Southern California woman took Honda to small-claims court and won in a big way. Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Douglas Carnahan ruled Wednesday that the automaker misled Heather Peters about the potential fuel economy of her hybrid car and awarded her $9,867 — much more than the couple hundred dollars cash that a proposed class-action settlement is offering. “At a bare minimum Honda was aware ... that by the time Peters bought her car there were problems with its living up to its advertised mileage,” Carnahan wrote in the judgment. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jL8BebRqMUVzmIqCq3Zqzg2LEZVw?docId=cce1459b21c14fdb8aca51858d245584 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/california-woman-takes-honda-to-small-claims-court-and-wins-in-a-big-way/2012/02/02/gIQATDGqjQ_story.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/02/honda-hybrid-lawsuit-heather-peters-wins_n_1248357.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/01/2051120/woman-wins-small-claims-suit-over.html Support for Electric Vehicle Programs on the Increase in the United States. Last Friday, the California Air Resources Board voted to support an Advanced Clean Cars regulatory program for vehicles produced from 2018 through to 2025. The program, which was launched three years ago, is designed to help build the future market for lithium battery electric vehicles. Among the most interesting implications for the lithium industry are the new standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to be achieved through existing and new technologies and more efficient use of lighter and stronger materials. A modified “Zero Emission Vehicle” regulation requires a minimum number of lithium battery electric vehicles to be sold within California. Posted. Posted. http://resourceinvestingnews.com/30774-support-for-electric-vehicle-programs-on-the-increase-in-the-united-states.html MISCELLANEOUS Ventura's bright ideas earn it an energy award. Ventura is officially cool — at least according to Southern California Edison, which lauded the city last month for its efforts to combat climate change. Since 2007, the city has curbed greenhouse gas emissions by 14 percent, the equivalent of taking 380 vehicles off the road, according to the Climate Registry, which partners with Edison to help reduce electricity consumption in the region. "We've tied this to cost savings," said Joe Yahner, the city's environmental services supervisor. "When you reduce energy use, not only do you reduce the carbon emissions; you also save money." Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/feb/01/venturas-bright-ideas-earn-it-an-energy-award/ OPINION Cheap natural gas jumbles energy markets, stirs fears it could inhibit renewables. For the past three years, promoters of shale gas and environmentalists opposed to coal-fired power plants have hailed the sudden abundance of U.S. natural gas as a bridge to a renewable-energy future. But natural gas has become so cheap that many energy experts and environmentalists now wonder whether it will turn into a long, bumpy detour. U.S. natural gas prices, which hit more than $13 per thousand cubic feet in 2008, have tumbled to about $2.50 per thousand cubic feet. Rapidly rising production of shale gas and a warm winter have created a glut and pushed supplies in storage to 21 percent above the average of the past five years. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/cheap-natural-gas-jumbles-energy-markets-stirs-fears-it-could-inhibit-renewables/2012/01/08/gIQApLr5hQ_story.html Editorial: Climate data chills global-warming alarmism. The Earth's temperature hasn't increased significantly in about 15 years, which wouldn't be big news except global warming extremists had predicted temperatures would soar during that time because of manmade greenhouse-gas emissions. That forecast would be just another failed hypothesis, except governments around the world used the threatened overheating as an excuse to regulate, tax and subsidize in order to curb greenhouse gases and, of course, to save the Earth. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/global-338432-warming-energy.html MILLOY: Clean-energy hostages. “Let the fossil fuels go, or the wind industry gets it in the wallet.” That’s the threat congressional Republicans need to convey to their colleagues across the aisle to stop the Obama war against fossil fuels. Despite President Obama’s effort in his State of the Union address to position himself as favoring an “all of the above” approach to domestic energy production, the reality of the past three years has been quite to the contrary. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/31/clean-energy-hostages/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS BLOGS Two Nobelists Offer Views of Human-Driven Global Warming. Given the flurry of attention this week around what two batches of scientists of various stripes think of evidence that humans are exerting a growing and disruptive influence on climate, it’s worth checking in with two Nobel laureates who’ve long been focused on the atmosphere and climate. As I’ve written before, whatever your view of the science and policy choices related to global warming, you can probably find a Nobelist with matching views. But Mario Molina and Burton Richter deserve a prominent place at this table given their sustained attention to relevant issues. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/two-nobelists-offer-views-of-human-driven-global-warming/ ‘Gasland’ Filmmaker Arrested at Capitol Hearing. Josh Fox, whose HBO documentary “Gasland” raised questions about the safety of the natural gas drilling technique known as horizontal hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, was handcuffed and led away on Wednesday as he tried to film a House Science Committee hearing on the topic. The Capitol Police said that Mr. Fox, whose film was nominated for an Academy Award last year, was charged with unlawful entry. Mr. Fox brought a crew to film a hearing of the energy and environment subcommittee that was looking into an Environmental Protection Agency finding that fracking was probably responsible for groundwater contamination in Pavillion, Wyo. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/gasland-filmmaker-arrested-at-capitol-hearing/ The Earth's "Missing Energy". Two years ago, scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., released a study claiming that inconsistencies between satellite observations of Earth's heat and measurements of ocean heating amounted to evidence of "missing energy" in the planet's system. Where was it going? Or, they wondered, was something wrong with the way researchers tracked energy as it was absorbed from the sun and emitted back into space? An international team of atmospheric scientists and oceanographers, led by Norman Loeb of NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., and including Graeme Stephens of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., set out to investigate the mystery. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/earths-missing-energy/ Call to Ground Aircraft Not Complying with EU's ETS. An influential committee of MPs is concerned Government policy for a unilateral carbon floor price will devastate UK industry. A report by the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee the move will 'artificially raise electricity prices' and have 'no overall impact' on emissions. The report also argues the UK could play a 'key role' in ensuring compliance with EU ETS on aviation. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/call-ground-aircraft-not-complying-eus-ets/ New study of emissions and health impacts from EVs in China, including massive e-bike fleet. A new study by researchers from the University of Tennessee, University of Minnesota, and Tsinghua University compares emissions (CO2, PM2.5, NOx, HC) and environmental health impacts (primary PM2.5) from the use of conventional vehicles (CVs) and electric vehicles (EVs)—incl uding electric cars, bicycles and light scooters—in 34 major cities in China. The study’s findings highlight the importance of considering exposures—especially the proximity of emissions to people—when evaluating environmental health impacts for EVs, the team said. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/02/ji-20120202.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, 3 Feb 2012 13:56:10 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for February 3, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for February 3, 2012. 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 First Energy gets boost from closing coal plants. Instead of complaining about clean air rules, maybe utilities should cheer them. Sometimes, the rules lead to big gains. First Energy, a utility based in Ohio, got such a boost Thursday, a week after the company announced it would close six coal-fired plants, blaming new federal rules aimed at slowing emissions of mercury and other toxins. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_UTILITIES_PROFITING_FROM_CLOSURES?SITE=PASUN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreaks http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/02/2052864/first-energy-gets-boost-from-closing.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/02/2707455/first-energy-gets-boost-from-closing.html#storylink=misearch VEHICLES High-speed rail tapped state funds for unusual lobbying contract. Taxpayer money used to hire PR firm to solicit support of lawmakers. In an extremely unusual use of taxpayer money, the leaders behind California's $99 billion high-speed train quietly hired a lobbyist to sway the Legislature -- the same politicians who appointed them to build the project in the first place. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california-high-speed-rail/ci_19881156?source=rss Stockton truck plant grows. Electric Vehicles International is expanding its Stockton assembly plant and has opened a Michigan office to support national marketing and sales efforts, company officials announced this week. A visit to the plant on Army Court north of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard revealed computerized machine tools being installed and a 30,000-square-foot plant expansion being readied for an assembly line where EVI will produce electric-powered, walk-in vans for delivery giant UPS. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120202/A_BIZ/202020318&cid=sitesearch Hyundai reveals details of its Hybrid lifetime battery guarantee. Hyundai today shared details of its Lifetime Hybrid Battery Replacement Guarantee, expanding the benefits of Hyundai Assurance, the industry’s most comprehensive warranty program. Initially announced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this month, the Hybrid Battery Replacement Guarantee applies to all U.S. 2012 model year Sonata Hybrids and is the first-of-its-kind in the industry. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/2/hyundai-reveals-details-its-hybrid-lifetime-batter/ GREEN ENERGY Feds: Mid-Atlantic wind farms take step forward. The view off the mid-Atlantic shore in the next decade could include giant wind turbines generating electricity for homes in several states if federal efforts to speed approval for the projects shave years off the process as officials intend. It usually takes at least five years from the time contractors say they want to lease a site to the turbines being installed, an offshore wind developer official said. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/offshore-wind-farms-along-mid-atlantic-closer-to-reality-after-positive-environmental-review/2012/02/02/gIQAk3OmkQ_story.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/feds-mid-atlantic-wind-farms-take-step-forward/article_ecb2c6cf-6100-5b1b-a744-59b7046d9153.html#ixzz1lLGjA57U http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/02/2707016/salazar-mid-atlantic-wind-farms.html#storylink=misearch Energy mythbusting: The truth about those energy-saving tips. You've read the energy-saving tips. You've armed yourself with caulk. You're ready to do some serious damage to your gas and electric bills. Not so fast. Some common recommendations for cutting energy use don't save as much as we're led to believe, said Michael Blasnik, a building-science consultant from the Boston area. Blasnik analyzes and evaluates energy efficiency claims, and he's found that some widely cited savings don't hold up to scrutiny. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/03/2708164/energy-mythbusting-the-truth-about.html#storylink=misearch Could Cheap Gas Slow Growth Of Renewable Energy? The boom in cheap natural gas in this country is good news for the environment, because relatively clean gas is replacing dirty coal-fired power plants. But in the long run, cheap natural gas could slow the growth of even cleaner sources of energy, such as wind and solar power. Natural gas has a bad rap in some parts of the country, because the process of fracking is not popular. But many people looking at cheap natural gas from the global perspective see it as a good thing. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2012/02/02/146297284/could-cheap-gas-slow-growth-of-renewable-energy MISCELLANEOUS Environmental groups laud Calif. pesticide chief. Environmental groups are applauding the naming of a former conservation official as California's new chief pesticide regulator. Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Brian Leahy on Thursday to head the Department of Pesticide Regulation. Leahy is the former assistant director at the California Department of Conservation, as well as a former organic farmer. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/03/BAL61N2F8O.DTL House panel bans high-speed rail funding in transportation bill. A key House panel late Thursday gave the back of its hand to California's embattled high-speed rail program. In another sign of the project's political travails, the House committee writing a massive transportation bill included an amendment that prohibits new federal funds from going to the state's proposed $98 billion project during the five-year life of the bill. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/03/2708318/house-panel-bans-high-speed-rail.html Forest industries of Amador, Calaveras getting $16 million boost. Economically depressed Amador and Calaveras counties are about to receive millions of dollars in forest-restoration funding from the federal government. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced Thursday a 10-year commitment of up to $16 million to revive the health of forest-related industries on national forest lands in the two counties. The Cornerstone Project in the headwaters of the Mokelumne, Calaveras, Stanislaus and Cosumnes rivers will receive $730,000 this year. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120203/A_NEWS/202030315&cid=sitesearch OPINIONS In the House, a transportation train wreck. House Republicans are playing games again by introducing a thoroughly partisan transportation bill. After Congress pushed the nation to the verge of catastrophe last year by delaying a deal to raise the debt ceiling until the eleventh hour, our capacity to be surprised by that body's irresponsible gamesmanship was somewhat diminished. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-transportation-20120203,0,6231861.story Fran Pavley and Dan Logue agree on AB 32, sort of. Re "Brown's backdoor tax hike is a business shakedown," (Viewpoints, Jan. 31): It's not often that Assemblymember Dan Logue and I agree. But in his recent opinion piece on AB 32, California's clean, secure energy law, he makes a simple point worth restating: carbon pollution fees must be used to reduce carbon pollution. The California Supreme Court, in Sinclair Paint v. State Board of Equalization, found that the California Constitution forbids unrestrained spending of polluter's fees. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/02/v-print/4234542/response-on-assemblymember-logue.html Head to Head: Are California's emission rules for new cars reasonable? THE ISSUE: The California Air Resources Board last week approved sweeping new vehicle efficiency rules requiring, among other things, that 15 percent of cars sold in the Golden State by 2025 are "zero-emission vehicles," such as a plug-in electric. Are California's emission rules for new cars reasonable? CARB's mandate that one in seven new cars sold by 2025 be "zero-emission" is utopian public policy fueled by green fantasies housed in a frame of pure crony capitalism. But think of the savings! Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/02/v-print/4232665/are-californias-emission-rules.html Can Californians afford cleaner cars? The California Air Resources Board has pushed the envelope yet again. The most aggressive clean air rule-making body in the country unanimously approved regulations last week that mandate car manufacturers cut smog emissions from new vehicles by 75 percent by 2025 and greenhouse gases by 34 percent. To produce that level of emission reductions, CARB has set an ambitious target. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/02/2052951/can-californians-afford-cleaner.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY EDITORIAL: The U.N.’s new, big, scary report. The United Nations is raising the alarm that unless the world’s governments take drastic action to impose strict development controls, humanity is in grave peril. So what else is new? On Jan. 30, the U.N. High-level Panel on Global Sustainability issued a report entitled “Resilient People, Resilient Planet: A Future Worth Choosing.” Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/2/the-uns-new-big-scary-report// Why aren't we paying attention to Shai Agassi? New boss needs to be the same as old boss, only cleaner. Some people spend a lot of time lamenting that early in the last century, electric vehicles lost the race to petroleum-fueled models, that the past somehow irrevocably broke the future. The fact of the matter is, the future isn't broken. It will just be different, as the future always is. Posted. http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120202/GREEN/120209974 BLOGS Federal Government Opens More Ocean to Wind Projects. Enthusiasm for offshore wind projects may have cooled among developers in the United States these days, but the Obama administration is still trying to make a ribbon of wind farms off the Atlantic Coast a reality. On Thursday, Ken Salazar, the secretary of the interior, and Tommy P. Beaudreau, the director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, said the government had completed an environmental review and found that selling leases for wind energy …Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/federal-government-opens-more-ocean-to-wind-projects/?scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=cse The worst air pollution in the world. You may think the air is bad in Los Angeles, but researchers say it's worse in India and Bangladesh. A new study released at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, found that India had the worst air pollution in the world, followed by Bangladesh and Nepal. The United States ties with a slew of other countries for first place, including Japan and Argentina. Other interesting tidbits from the rankings include: Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/02/worst-air-pollution-in-the-world.html With the notable exception of the Tesla Roadster, electric cars and hybrids have rarely been seen as sexy. Take the Nissan Leaf. Cute? Yes. Cool? Yes, in that dig-my-new-smartphone way. Sexy? Not a chance. But perhaps that isn’t the fault of the cars so much as the way we think of them. We focus on their eco credentials, their benefits to the environment, their ability to save us money at the gas pump. It doesn’t even occur to most of us that these cars could be considered sexy. Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/energy/2012/02/03/bikinis-and-evs/ Insurance Industry Awakening to Climate Risks. California will require all major insurers to survey and report climate risks. Insurance commissioners in three states, including California, are now requiring that insurers report on how they’re preparing for climate change. Insurers will fill out a survey, which was adopted by The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in 2009, but was never implemented by commissioners in all fifty states. Instead, it’s been a piecemeal approach. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/02/02/insurance-industry-awakening-to-climate-risks/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 AB 32 was not Intended to be a Revenue Raiser. This weekend, Gov. Jerry Brown proclaimed that revenue from the cap-and-trade system under AB 32 will go toward the construction of California’s High Speed Rail project. AB 32 was not intended to be a revenue raiser for the state of California. We dug up then-Assembly Speaker (and bill author) …Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/02/ab-32-was-not-intended-to-be-a-revenue-raiser/ DOE's David Sandalow defends Obama's auto record. One of the differences between the Washington Auto Show and car shows in other cities is the almost overwhelming appearance of politicians and government officials. Whether they come to learn or to lecture (or both), these folks create a well-worn trail from the Hill to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center every January. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/does-david-sandalow-defends-obamas-auto-record/ ====================================================================== 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 Feb 2012 14:26:35 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 6, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 6, 2012. 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 bars its airlines from paying EU carbon tax. China announced Monday it will prohibit its airlines from paying European Union charges on carbon emissions, ratcheting up a global dispute over the cost of combatting climate change. The charges are aimed at curbing emissions of climate-changing gases but governments including China, the United States and Russia oppose them. The ratings agency Fitch warned in December the conflict could spiral into a global trade dispute. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CHINA_EU_AIRLINES?SITE=MOSPL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT AP Newsbreak: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-06/china-bans-airlines-from-joining-european-union-s-carbon-emissions-system.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/china-bars-its-airlines-from-paying-eu-carbon-tax-ratcheting-up-global-dispute/2012/02/06/gIQAIa2AuQ_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/05/2711274/china-bars-its-airlines-from-paying.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19903244?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19903244?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Opponents of EU airline CO2 scheme to meet in Moscow. A group of 26 countries vehemently opposed to the EU's aviation emissions trading scheme will meet in Moscow on February 21 to discuss a plan of action, EU and Indian sources told Reuters on Monday. The governments, which include Russia, India, China and the U.S., claim an EU law forcing all airlines touching down or taking off within the bloc to pay for their CO2 emissions from last month is discriminatory and illegal, and some are prohibiting their carriers from complying. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/06/us-russia-aviation-idUSTRE8151QJ20120206 Spain Needs $466 Million in Carbon Credits to Meet Kyoto Limit. Spain may need to buy at least 355 million euros ($466 million) of carbon emissions permits to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, Agriculture Minister Miguel Arias-Canete said. The country will need at least 67 million metric tons of emissions permits to cover greenhouse gas emissions that exceed the volume allowed under the 1997 Kyoto agreement, Arias-Canete told a parliamentary committee last week. “The government needs a lot of permits,” the minister said. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-06/spain-needs-466-million-in-carbon-credits-to-meet-kyoto-limit.html E.U. Rebuffs China's Challenge to Pollution Plan. Brussels — The European Commission said Monday that it would continue charging airlines for their greenhouse gas emissions, despite an announcement from China that its carriers would be forbidden to pay without its permission. “We’re not backing down in our legislation, we’ll apply this to companies operating in Europe,” said Isaac Valero-Ladron, a spokesman for the European Commission, the Union’s executive body. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/business/global/eu-rebuffs-chinas-challenge-to-pollution-plan.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Climate change gives gardeners new options. If you're planting a spring garden in the U.S. this year, you may want to set aside some extra seed money. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has updated its plant hardiness zone map for the first time since 1990, reflecting how some crops are moving north as winter grows warmer. Despite all the long-term dangers associated with global warming, it does have a few short-term perks …Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/06/4242647/climate-change-gives-gardeners.html Disclosing greenhouse gas emissions boosts business, study finds. New research shows it can pay to be green. A pair of California business school researchers has found that companies that disclose greenhouse gas emissions enjoy an immediate rise in stock value and positive returns to shareholders. Their study appeared in Social Science Research Network. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/disclosing-greenhouse-gas-emissions-boosts-business-study-finds-14765 http://www.news10.net/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=177204 The Complex Process of Reducing Carbon Intensity. The next big piece of California's groundbreaking climate strategy is to clean up the fuels we use, reducing the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. The Low Carbon Fuel Standard calls for a 10 percent reduction in the average "carbon intensity" of fuels by the end of the decade. But Midwestern ethanol producers are challenging the regulation in court. Posted. http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201202030850/a Why climate change will make you love big government. This essay was originally published on TomDispatch and is republished here with Tom’s kind permission. Look back on 2011 and you’ll notice a destructive trail of extreme weather slashing through the year. In Texas, it was the driest year ever recorded. An epic drought there killed half a billion trees, touched off wildfires that burned 4 million acres, and destroyed or damaged thousands of homes and buildings. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-change/why-climate-change-will-make-you-love-big-government/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Commuters continue to breathe diesel exhaust at Chicago's Union Station. Thousands of commuters continue to breathe high levels of lung-damaging diesel exhaust at Chicago's Union Station, in part because of nagging maintenance problems at the Old Post Office that straddles the southbound tracks. Testing by Amtrak has determined that ventilation fans at the shuttered post office building repeatedly malfunction. Posted. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-old-post-office-pollution-0206-20120206,0,1354245.story Landmark Diesel Exhaust Study Stalled Amid Industry And Congressional Objections. Publication of a landmark government study probing whether diesel engine exhaust causes lung cancer in miners — already 20 years in the making — has been delayed by industry and congressional insistence on seeing study data and documents before the public does. A federal judge has affirmed the right of an industry group and a House committee to review the materials and has held the Department of Health and Human Services in contempt for not producing all of them. Posted. http://njtoday.net/2012/02/06/landmark-diesel-exhaust-study-stalled-amid-industry-and-congressional-objections/ Stalemate looms on NOx vs CO2 diesel emission limits. Which emissions are more harmful: oxides of nitrogen (NOx) or carbon dioxide (CO2)? No-one can provide a definitive answer, because any judgment on the subject is akin to comparing apples with oranges. Nitrogen oxides are pollutants, constituting an immediate threat to human health, while CO2 is a longer-term - albeit profound - hazard, detrimentally affecting the planet’s climate. Posted. http://www.automotiveworld.com/news/commercial-vehicles/91883-stalemate-looms-on-nox-vs-co2-diesel-emission-limits FUELS 2012 begins with highest January gasoline prices ever. January is typically a month of falling gasoline prices because fuel demand traditionally falters in the slower travel weeks that follow the end-of-the-year holidays. Not so this year. The last month was the most expensive January ever for retail gasoline as prices averaged out at $3.37 a gallon, according to the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) in New Jersey. That compared with the previous record average for the month of $3.095 a gallon SET last year. In 2010, January gasoline prices averaged just $2.71 a gallon. The new record meant more pain in Americans' budgets. A typical household, burning about 50 gallons of gasoline a month, had to pay about $168.50 for that fuel in January, or $33 more than it did in 2010. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-gas-oil-prices-20120206,0,1341783.story?track=rss Five Key Biofuels Issues for 2012. The 2011 ethanol tax incentive might be gone, but the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) is still in place. As a result, the upcoming year promises to see a great deal of legal activity surrounding ethanol use, according to the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). Here are five stories the organization is keeping an eye on in 2012…Posted. http://www.agweb.com/article/five_key_biofuels_issues_for_2012/ VEHICLES California Car Deal Criticized as Hurting Green Sales. When California’s air regulators approved new car-pollution rules to cut down on smog and global warming, they included a provision that critics described as a loophole that could substantially reduce the number of electric vehicles sold in the state in coming years. Under the new Advanced Clean Cars Program rules, approved last month, automakers will be required; beginning in 2018, to sell an escalating number of automobiles and light vehicles in California that can run on electricity, fuel cells or other zero-tailpipe-emission technologies. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/05/us/california-clean-cars-deal-criticized-as-hurting-green-sales.html?_r=1&scp=8&sq=smog&st=cse 100-mpg Fusion sparks interest -- too early. When a customer told Vandalia, Ohio, Ford dealer Larry Taylor last week that he was interested in buying a Fusion Hybrid, Taylor walked him over to look at a 2012 Fusion Hybrid. The customer looked at the car and shook his head. He said, "No, not that one. I want the one that gets more than 90 mpg," Taylor recounts. Taylor had to tell the customer that the car he was interested in, the 2013 Fusion Energi, a plug-in hybrid that Ford says will get in excess of 100 mpg, probably won't arrive until fall…Taylor still has about 80 units of the 2012 Fusion on his lot. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20120206/OEM06/302069940#ixzz1lcjJfIYy GREEN ENERGY Activists Fight Green Projects, Seeing U.N. Plot. Across the country, activists with ties to the Tea Party are railing against all sorts of local and state efforts to control sprawl and conserve energy. They brand government action for things like expanding public transportation routes and preserving open space as part of a United Nations-led conspiracy to deny property rights and herd citizens toward cities. They are showing up at planning meetings to denounce bike lanes on public streets and smart meters on home appliances — efforts they equate to a big-government blueprint against individual rights. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/us/activists-fight-green-projects-seeing-un-plot.html?_r=3&emc=eta1 Energy cells help power Century City skyscraper. Century City skyscraper Constellation Place, formerly known as MGM Tower, is the first Los Angeles high-rise to be served by electricity-generating fuel cells. Landlord JMB Realty installed two Bloom Energy Servers that will produce 400 kilowatts of power, about one-third of the electricity needed by the 35-story tower. Bloom servers, made by Bloom Energy of Sunnyvale, Calif., are each big enough to occupy an average parking space and contain thousands of Bloom fuel cells …Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-energy-cells-20120203,0,7643742,print.story MISCELLANEOUS Republican primary candidates on climate change. In the past five years, climate scientists have become increasingly convinced that human activities are having a dangerous, long-lasting impact on the global climate. Many Republican primary candidates meanwhile, have been moving the other way. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/05/INFM1N13NV.DTL OPINIONS A rational approach to rail. New priorities — start in urban areas, build on what's in place — could propel the bullet train. California's proposed bullet train is being recalibrated. And designers may finally be on the right track. Sensitive to growing public and political opposition, high-speed rail officials seem to be coming to a rational conclusion: It makes good sense to begin service ASAP in urban areas where people might actually ride the trains. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cap-train-20120206,0,5033707,print.column High-speed rail ... or fail? A bullet train official tries to answer tough questions about soaring costs and judging the risks of new technology. Can it be built faster, better and cheaper? When it comes to California's plans for high-speed rail, scads of people have strong opinions. But that shouldn't be a surprise. As I noted in Wednesday's column, voters in 2008 approved a 520-mile train route that was supposed to cost $33 billion and be completed in 2020. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0205-lopez-hispeed-20120205,0,3518201.column EU an ocean apart from U.S. on climate change. Soon after arriving in the Bay Area, my Anglo American partner gave up on public transport and decided to lease a car. She opted for a Honda Fit, which had "good" mileage of 33 mpg until compared with the same model sold in the United Kingdom, which does around 55 mpg. I asked the dealer at Honda Marin whether he knew what the tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions were. He looked at me blankly. When I told him that in the European Union, it's now a legal requirement to label cars with the grams of carbon dioxide emitted per mile and zero-emission vehicles get a road tax break, he looked as if I'd landed from Mars. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/05/INFM1N1645.DTL Climate-change solutions depend on open dialogue. Katharine Hayhoe is a busy woman. As an atmospheric scientist at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, she studies the regional impact of climate change. As a Christian, she volunteers, sharing her science with church and public groups. And as the mother of a young child - well, enough said. So it's not surprising she was frustrated when a chapter about climate science she wrote for an upcoming Newt Gingrich book was casually dumped by the Republican presidential primary candidate in the lead up to the Iowa caucuses. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/05/INFM1N12Q9.DTL&type=green Should the U.S. end restrictions on domestic oil drilling? No: This will discourage green energy. Gasoline prices rose sharply in 2008 and again in 2011, largely as a consequence of rising global demand and limited supply. People's reactions were mixed. Some called for immediate relief in the form of gas tax rebates or increased oil drilling, both onshore and offshore. Others welcomed higher gas prices because they motivate auto companies to design and market more fuel-efficient vehicles, and consumers to buy them. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/04/2055864/should-the-us-end-restrictions.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY EDITORIAL: State's cleaner car goal won't work without buyers. The California Air Resources Board has unanimously approved new regulations that mandate car manufacturers to cut smog emissions from new vehicles by 75% by 2025 and greenhouse gases by 34%. To produce that level of emission reductions, CARB has set an ambitious target. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/06/2711618/editorial-states-cleaner-car-goal.html#storylink=misearch California's Dreaming: It Thinks It Can Force You To Buy A Car You Don't Want. Last Friday, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) mandated that by 2025, 15% of new cars sold in California must have zero or near-zero emissions – in other words, that they be electric, plug-in hybrid, and hydrogen vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf, the Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen car and soon the Tesla Model S. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/rebeccalindland/2012/01/31/californias-dreaming-it-thinks-it-can-force-you-to-buy-a-car-you-dont-want/ "Global Warming Has Stopped"? How to Fool People Using "Cherry-Picked" Climate Data. The current favorite argument of those who argue that climate changes isn’t happening, or a problem, or worth dealing with, is that global warming has stopped. Therefore (they conclude) scientists must be wrong when they say that climate change is caused by humans, worsening, and ultimately a serious environmental problem that must be addressed by policy makers. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/petergleick/2012/02/05/global-warming-has-stopped-how-to-fool-people-using-cherry-picked-climate-data/ Commentary: California Drives Investment in Cleaner Cars. Last week, the California Air Resources Board passed a new package of Advanced Clean Car rules continuing California’s leadership in auto technology. It is rare that a regulatory action will result in such a big win for the economy, consumers, national security and the environment. Simply put, cleaner cars will save money and drive job creation. As the original author of California’s landmark clean car law that now serves as our national standard,…Posted. http://encino.patch.com/articles/commentary-california-drives-investment-in-cleaner-cars BLOGS A Bay Area Experiment in Electric Bike Sharing. Any cyclist who pedals around San Francisco will soon learn about the Wiggle, a bicycle route that weaves a delightfully flat path across this city of hills. But the Wiggle, just one mile long, can save cyclists from only so many hills. Soon San Franciscans will have a new option for navigating the local terrain without breaking a sweat or resorting to a car, thanks to a pioneering federally financed electric bike share program that will start up this year. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/06/a-bay-area-experiment-in-electric-bike-sharing/ Who was for, who was against CARB's ZEV mandate "over-compliance" rule. What impact will the "over-compliance" rule – some would say loophole – in the California Air Resources Board's recent changes to the Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate have? The short and obvious answer is that only time will tell, but one can make the case both that it's a good thing and that it's a bad thing. Odd, but true. Before we get too far into this, a primer on the ZEV Mandate changes and what the over-compliance rule actually is is important. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/03/who-was-for-who-was-against-carbs-zev-mandate-over-compliance/ Business Coalition BICEP Endorses California’s Advanced Clean Car Program. Business advocacy Coalition, BICEP (Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy) has endorsed the California Air Resources Board’s, Advanced Clean Cars Program, which passed last week – citing benefits which they say will spark economic growth. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/02/business-coalition-bicep-endorses-calirfornias-advanced-clean-car-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: Tue, 7 Feb 2012 13:49:38 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 7, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 7, 2012. 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 Carbon Capture Projects Imperiled by Worst-Case Scenario: Energy. The cloud of carbon dioxide that burst out of Lake Nyos in Cameroon and asphyxiated 1,700 people haunts the plans of oil and power companies to bury their greenhouse gases underground. “It was shocking,” said Minoru Kusakabe, a Japanese geochemist who makes regular trips to the site of the 1986 disaster near the border with Nigeria. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-07/carbon-capture-projects-imperiled-by-worst-case-scenario-energy.html EON’s Teyssen Urges Fix to ‘Bust’ EU CO2 Plan, Energy Rules. The European Union needs to fix its “bust” emissions cap-and-trade program, the world’s largest, and improve existing energy rules after investors lost trust in the EU’s policies, said EON AG’s chief executive officer. “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s talk real: the ETS is bust, it’s dead,” EON’s Johannes Teyssen said.. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-07/europe-s-emissions-trading-system-is-dead-eon-ceo-teyssen-says.html E.U. Rebuffs China's Challenge to Airline Emission System. The European Commission said Monday that it would continue charging airlines for their greenhouse gas emissions, despite an announcement from China that its carriers would be forbidden to pay without its permission. The E.U. program, which began Jan. 1, requires airlines to account for all emissions on flights using European airports and represents the Union’s boldest move to protect the environment. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/business/global/eu-rebuffs-chinas-challenge-to-pollution-plan.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse NM regulators repeal carbon cap and trade rules. Albuquerque, N.M. — New Mexico's participation in a regional cap and trade program aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions became more unlikely Monday with a unanimous vote by state regulators. The decision by the Environmental Improvement Board to repeal the cap and trade rules came in response to petitions filed by New Mexico's largest electric utilities, oil and gas developers and others who feared the rules would push businesses and jobs to neighboring states. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46294972 County seeks grant to cut new emissions. Napa County is seeking grant funding to create a local carbon-offset program, the centerpiece of its initiative to reduce greenhouse emissions in its unincorporated areas. The program would allow commercial and vineyard developers to calculate their projects’ carbon emissions, and then pay into a fund that would support local energy conservation, habitat restoration and land conservation as a way to offset those emissions. Posted. http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/county-seeks-grant-to-cut-new-emissions/article_a2e93b8c-514a-11e1-ab9f-0019bb2963f4.html Analysts See Energy Shock From California Climate Law. California energy users have a shock in store between 2015 and 2020, warns a new analysis by ICF International. That's when California's greenhouse gas law, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, really bites. Popularly known as AB 32, the law requires progressive reductions in carbon dioxide and other gases associated with global warming, aiming to cut the state's emissions to their 1990 level by 2020. Posted. http://energy.aol.com/2012/02/07/analysts-see-energy-shock-from-california-climate-law/ Study: Minorities face greatest climate-change impacts. The California Department of Public Health has released a study finding that heat events, flooding and wildfires —events associated with anticipated future climate change — will impact Fresno County's minorities the greatest. Fresno and Los Angeles counties were examined for the study. The study also found areas with a predominantly minority population were more susceptible to heat stress …Posted. http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/energy-and-environment/722-study-minorities-will-be-impact-more-by-climate-change UN panel promotes carbon tax, eco-based prices. Governments must craft a global pact that promotes a carbon tax and prices goods based on ecological costs, politicians and U.N. panelists urged Monday. Former Swiss President Micheline Calmy-Rey said the planet is living beyond its means and needs a "sustainable" economy that better manages natural resources for its 7 billion inhabitants, while promoting human rights, equality and an end to poverty. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/feb/06/un-panel-promotes-carbon-tax-eco-based-prices/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Cummins Receives EPA’s Certification For School Bus Market. Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) said it has received certification from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for two new school bus ratings. These new ratings for the ISB6.7 are certified at 0.20g Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) per brake horsepower hour without the use of emissions credits. They include offerings of 220 hp (164 kW) with 520 lb-ft (705 N.m) of torque and 250 hp (186 kW) with 660 lb-ft of torque (895 N.m). Posted. http://trailer-bodybuilders.com/chassis/cummins-receives-epa-cert-0206/ FUELS Proposed Utah mine expansion reflects politics of coal. An obstacle to greening L.A.'s energy portfolio is the DWP's contract with a Utah plant, which requires the city to buy coal power until 2027. The gritty fuel is now stoking controversy over energy policy, environmental damage and how much consumers should pay to kick the habit. It was the simple beauty of the sagebrush hills and the first-rate fishing that drew Vince Salvato here 15 years ago. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-utah-coal-20120207,0,5900382.story Oil refiners and biofuels: 2012 to feature fight over RFS, cooperation on RIN fraud. In Florida, the National Biodiesel Conference — biodiesel’s grandest show — opened with exuberance over 2011 results, and resolve to meet the industry’s two major issues in 2012, defense of the Renewable Fuel Standard, and a crack-down on phony biodiesel credits sold to obligated parties by con artists posing as legitimate biodiesel producers. Posted. http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2012/02/07/oil-refiners-and-biofuels-2012-to-feature-fight-over-rfs-cooperation-on-rin-fraud/ VEHICLES Stanford team develops plan for electric highway. With new state regulations demanding an increase in the number of clean and green cars, the future is looking bright for electric cars, such as the Nissan Leaf. The problem is, most electric cars can’t go more than about 100 miles without being recharged. But a team of Stanford University researchers may have come up with a novel infrastructure design that could solve this problem. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/stanford-team-develops-plan-electric-highway-14781 State says motorists change oil too often. "Frequent oil changes do not necessarily mean better performance or longer engine life," says CalRecycle Director Carroll Mortensen. With almost 10 million California residents changing their oil every 3,000 miles or less, state officials said motorists need to rethink their habits as auto technology advances allow vehicles to go farther without maintenance. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/oil-339096-miles-change.html GREEN ENERGY California Reveals Price It Pays For Renewable Energy. California has one of the nation’s most ambitious renewable energy mandates – 33% of its electricity must be carbon free by 2020 – yet the price of that power had long remain locked in a black box, kept confidential by state regulators. Not any longer. Forced by a new law to publish the electricity rates of utility contracts it has approved, the California Public Utilities Commission on Friday issued a report detailing what green energy costs consumers. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/toddwoody/2012/02/07/california-reveals-price-it-pays-for-renewable-energy/ MISCELLANEOUS Fisker lays off workers, wants to renegotiate federal load. Fisker Automotive has stopped work at a former General Motors auto plant in Delaware where it plans to build Project Nina, a family-size plug-in hybrid that is expected to sell for about $50,000. The Anaheim-based auto company laid off 26 workers at the plant and let go 40 contract employees working at its headquarters. That leaves the company with about 600 employees working on automotive development in Anaheim. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-fisker-layoff-20120206,0,187452.story http://economy.ocregister.com/2012/02/06/oc-hybrid-car-maker-lays-off-26/103568/ Arnold man joins Assembly contest. A political activist for the past decade, Marc Boyd's entrée into politics was only a matter of time. A property manager living in Arnold, Boyd joins a crowded race for California's District 5 Assembly seat.Although not as seasoned a politician as fellow candidates Rico Oller, a former Assemblyman, and Frank Bigelow, a Madera County supervisor, Boyd is accustomed to rubbing shoulders with policy makers. In 2007, Boyd prepared a climate action plan for San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed's administration that featured 101 initiatives to help San Jose soften its ecological footprint. Posted. http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/news/article_17d30804-51ac-11e1-bdd1-0019bb2963f4.html OPINIONS Solar energy versus the environment; birth control, the government and the Roman Catholic Church; the Internet's 'junk info'. Power vs. the desert. Re "The power compromise," Feb. 5. If people want renewable energy, they should understand it must come from somewhere. In this case, the desert ecosystem is the somewhere. Although the Ivanpah Valley solar site and similar projects represent a devastating loss to this environment, if we continue to depend on fossil fuels, there will be devastation just as bad elsewhere in the world. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0207-tuesday-20120207,0,3848173.story A little rain on this climate change parade. Dana Point, Larry Hamlin: The graphics associated with the article, “A costly year: Weather disasters spike in 2011” [Feb. 5] portraying that 2011 experienced more severe weather events than any other year since 1980 is particularly misleading. The arbitrary use of a $1 billion in damages icon to portray the number of events in a year grossly exaggerates 2011 compared to other years. Posted. http://letters.ocregister.com/2012/02/06/a-little-rain-on-this-climate-change-parade/ Another Global Warming Oops Moment. One of the certainties regarding those who think the government knows best is that the government barely knows at all, particularly when it comes to the consequences of its brainstorms. Today we have yet another example of what was unintended, but probably could have been seen coming had our government know-it-alls not been blinded by their ideological mission. We call these Global Warming Oops Moments. Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2012/02/06/another-global-warming-oops-moment-8/67187/ The Great Carbon Bubble. Why the Fossil Fuel Industry Fights So Hard. If we could see the world with a particularly illuminating set of spectacles, one of its most prominent features at the moment would be a giant carbon bubble, whose bursting someday will make the housing bubble of 2007 look like a lark. As yet -- as we shall see -- it’s unfortunately largely invisible to us. In compensation, though, we have some truly beautiful images made possible by new technology. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-mckibben/the-great-carbon-bubble_b_1259782.html?ref=green NEW: CA Launches Green Chemistry Inquisition. No one expects the California Green Chemistry Inquisition. In post-industrial California, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control has launched an inquisition called the Green Chemistry Initiative to determine if there are safer alternatives to the use of some 3,000 chemicals used in commercial products. Posted. http://www.calwatchdog.com/2012/02/06/ca-launches-green-chemistry-inquisition/ How does the rebound effect fit into the big picture on climate change? In my last two posts, I tried to explain the rebound effect and explore its implications for policy. (Short version: Rebound effects are real and in some cases substantial, but they do not undermine the case for energy efficiency.) In this post — the last in what I promise was never intended to become a multi-part series — I explore the question of what the rebound effect means for our larger understanding of the fight against climate change. Posted. http://grist.org/energy-efficiency/how-does-the-rebound-effect-fit-into-the-big-picture-on-climate-change/ BLOGS Peter Hoffmann Responds to Your Questions About Fuel Cells. Though there are a number of potential impediments to the broad adoption of hydrogen fuel cells in passenger cars, major automakers expect to commercialize the technology in their vehicles by 2015. Peter Hoffmann, the author of two books about hydrogen fuel cells and editor of The Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Letter, was featured in a recent interview with Jim Motavalli, a frequent Wheels contributor . Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/06/peter-hoffmann-responds-to-your-questions-about-fuel-cells/ The sea is rising? Island nations will see you in court. If the globe keeps warming and the seas keep rising, the country of Palau could be wiped off the map. So the Pacific island is teaming up with other small island nations to fight the threat of climate change -- in court. The countries want the International Court of Justice to offer an opinion on whether countries that pollute have a responsibility to other countries that get hurt by that pollution. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/02/sea-rising-island-nations-court.html January U.S. alt-fuel vehicle sales: Prius leaves other hybrids in the dust. When it came to January alt-fuel sales, there was Toyota, and then there was everyone else. While the world's biggest maker of hybrids appeared to get back on track and get its supply chain in order after last year's Japan tsunami hampered production, most advanced-powertrain models other automakers sold in the U.S. experienced a substantial dropoff despite the fact that gas prices were up about 10 percent from a year earlier. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/06/january-u-s-alf-fuel-vehicle-sales-prius-leaves-other-hybrids/ Suppliers Lag Behind in Reducing Carbon Emissions. For most large global companies, carbon tracking and management has become standard practice. Organizations that started working to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions several years ago are reaping the benefits of efficiency improvements and energy management programs in the form of emissions reductions and cost savings. And now these companies are starting to look down their supply chains for ways to squeeze even more carbon out of their overall footprint. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/02/suppliers-lag-behind-reducing-carbon-emissions/ Government of Québec to invest $27M in Enerkem/Greenfield Ethanol waste-to-biofuels plant. The Government of Québec plans to inject C$27 million in Québec’s first full-scale commercial cellulosic ethanol plant through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Investissement Québec. This facility will be built and operated by a joint venture partnership formed by Enerkem, a waste-to-biofuels and chemicals company, and GreenField Ethanol, Canada’s largest ethanol company. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/02/enerkem-20120207.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 Feb 2012 11:39:15 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for February 8, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for February 8, 2012. 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 Smoky air can harm dogs and cats, too, says vets and pollution experts. You've heard of the no-wood-burning alerts on bad air days this winter to protect people in the Bay Area, but there are others to guard from the smoke as well -- cats, dogs and horses. Fido and Fluffy can have lung and bronchial ailments aggravated by wood smoke on Spare the Air days, veterinarians and air pollution officials say. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19914479 http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_19914479?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19914479?IADID=Search- IndoorDoctor Says Winter Can Be the Most Effective Time to Test Indoor Air Quality. IndoorDoctor, a New England-based indoor air quality testing firm, has seen a steady rise in indoor air quality concerns during winter months. Simply put, more people spend their time indoors when it's cold outside. "As homes become more energy-efficient indoor air pollution will accumulate with greater concentration," says environmental engineer and company president Jeffrey Bradley. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46311667 CLIMATE CHANGE South Korean Lawmakers Vote for Limits on Greenhouse-Gas Emissions. Lawmakers in South Korea voted to impose greenhouse-gas limits on the nation's largest companies, overruling industry opposition and laying groundwork for the third emissions-trading program in the Asia-Pacific region. A special committee of the National Assembly on climate change passed legislation today to establish a so-called cap-and-trade system in 2015. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-02-08/south-korea-moves-closer-to-setting-limits-on-carbon-emissions.html Airlines seek swift end to row over EU CO2 scheme. British Airways, Qantas and other airlines are calling on governments to find a swift resolution to a political dispute over the European Union's carbon scheme, because the deadlock may create competitive distortions. Since the start of 2012, EU law obliges all airlines using EU airports to be included in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), the 27-nation bloc's main policy to fight global warming as it caps emissions on over 11,000 power and industrial plants. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/08/us-carbon-aviation-idUSTRE8171T520120208 VEHICLES Safest small cars. Choosing the safest auto available is never more important than when shopping for a small car, where every advantage is essential. That’s because the laws of physics dictate that a smaller and lighter vehicle will tend to fare worse in a crash than a larger and heavier model will. Fortunately, those shopping for a compact or subcompact car for themselves or younger members of the family will find an ample selection of model-year 2012 vehicles from which to choose that are rated as “Top Safety Picks” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Posted. http://www.pe.com/cars/cars-headlines-index/20120208-safest-small-cars.ece Electric car maker Fisker: Layoffs in Del., Calif. Fisker Automotive, an electric car maker that received a half-billion-dollar loan from the federal government, said Monday that it has laid off workers in Delaware and California. The layoffs include 26 workers at a former General Motors plant in Wilmington that Fisker is retooling to manufacture its Nina plug-in hybrid sedan. Another 40 contractors and employees who were working in design and development of Fisker's Karma luxury car in Anaheim also have been cut. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/ap/business/electric-car-maker-fisker-layoffs-in-del-calif/article_21864614-a1fe-58dc-8f94-506844b5b2d9.html#ixzz1loQvzrm1 California’s ‘Clean Car’ Rules. Help Remake U.S. Auto Industry. With the passage of strict new auto emission and air pollution standards, California has again demonstrated its role as the U.S.’s environmental pacesetter. In an interview with Yale Environment 360, Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, explains how her state is helping drive a clean-car revolution. How likely is it that your next vehicle might be an electric car? California just increased the odds. Posted. http://e360.yale.edu/feature/californias_clean_car_rules_help_remake_us_auto_industry/2492/ Electric Car Tops Out Greenest Vehicle List. For the first time in the 12 year history of the Greencars.org Greenest Vehicle List, an electric vehicle has topped the list, based on the 14th annual comprehensive environmental rankings provided by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The Mitsubishi i-MIEV battery electric vehicle claimed the top spot from the Honda Civic Natural Gas which, up until this year, had held the top spot for 8 years running. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2012/02/08/electric-car-tops-out-greenest-vehicle-list/ GREEN ENERGY Sacramento loses clean-tech jobs in 2010, for first time since 1999. Sacramento's green economy employed 200 fewer people in 2010, the first industry wide job decline since 1995, according to a new report. Even so, the local clean-tech sector weathered the recession better than the overall capital region economy. Next 10, a San Francisco nonprofit that promotes the growth of California's clean economy, said the local clean-energy producers, green builders, agriculture tech companies and other clean industries employed a total of 14,500 people in 2010, a 1.4 percent decline from the year earlier. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/08/v-print/4247026/sacramento-loses-clean-tech-jobs.html Green economy lost jobs as recession raged. The green economy that California officials hoped would add jobs during the depths of the recent recession actually lost positions instead, according to a new report. And yet, California clean-tech companies still fared better than the state's economy as a whole in 2009, the year covered by the report. Employment in California's "core green economy" shrank 3 percent between January of 2009 and January of 2010, according to the "Many Shades of Green" report, released late Tuesday. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/08/BU7M1N4D35.DTL&type=printable MISCELLANEOUS Consumer Confidential: 'Lorax' rakes in green; bogus fish sales. Here's your walk-like-an-Egyptian Wednesday roundup of consumer news from around the Web: --How do you sell merchandise for a green movie? With green businesses, of course. The Lorax, perhaps the most famous anti-industrial crusader from children's literature, is getting just such treatment. Universal Pictures will begin promoting "Dr. Seuss' The Lorax" this month. The animated movie is about a creature who "speaks for the trees" and fights rampant industrialism. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-consumer-confidential-20120208,0,7750642.story http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/08/4247471/forget-the-happy-meal-lorax-gets.html OPINIONS Europe's Carbon Trade War. Beijing tells Brussels what it can do with its airline emissions tax. Does the world need a new trade war? Probably not, though our friends in Brussels seem to think so: Over intense international protest, they've plowed ahead with a new tax that requires airlines to purchase carbon emissions permits for the entirety of any flight that lands in or takes off from Europe. That goes even if only a fraction of, say, a Chicago to Frankfurt flight cuts over European airspace. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204136404577206843756874580.html BY SUBSCRIPTION House transportation bill is a "greedy oil party" lie. Re "Solutions to crumbling roads, bridges elusive," (Online, Feb. 2): Thanks for your article. Unfortunately, the House bill referenced is yet another attempt to destroy the environment and mask it as a transportation bill. President Obama had a real transportation bill and the House of the Greedy Oil Party (aka Obstructionist Party) denied passage of the bill in its entirety and then subsequently each individual component/part. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/07/4246627/solutions-to-crumbling-roads-bridges.html Will consumers shell out for cleaner cars? Re "Buyers want cleaner cars," (Letters, Feb. 7): Shannon Baker Branstetter states that consumers want cleaner cars, but do they want the changes, based on current technology that these cleaner vehicles may bring to their want and needs in their transportation choices. Smaller, lighter, less power, limited range, smaller load carrying or towing capacity are just a few of the concerns. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/07/4246677/cleaner-cars.html Smog checks unscrupulous. I recently had my smog checked at a reputable local smog-check facility. My car failed. The failure had nothing to do with emissions or exhaust leakage or anything mechanical. It was simply the "check engine" light, which had came on in time to its 60,000 mile suggested tune-up. One of the criteria for a clean smog test is that the "check engine" dash lights are not activated. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2012/feb/08/rob-patterson-smog-checks-unscrupulous/ Commentary: California air board tightens screws on the automakers. It didn't take long. A scant seven months after the Obama administration proposed a 54 miles-per-gallon fuel economy average for cars and light trucks sold in the U.S. by 2025, the state of California has countered with an even more draconian set of mandates for the auto companies. This time, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) isn't setting fuel economy targets per se. Rather, it's telling the companies what kinds of technologies will be acceptable. Posted. http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120208/OPINION01/202080316/1008/opinion01/Commentary-California-air-board-tightens-screws-automakers Investing in the New Economy. Our country is built on the promise that anyone can come up with an idea that changes the world. We've seen it time and again, a subtle improvement or a whole new creation that captures the world's imagination -- spawning new industries -- from Facebook to the iPhone to the clean energy revolution. Investing gives individuals and institutions the opportunity to tap into the growth potential of these companies and industries, while giving them access to needed capital. It's how the system works. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/phaedra-ellislamkins/green-jobs_b_1262652.html?ref=business BLOGS What’s a Science Teacher to Do? It used to be sex ed that got science teachers into challenging situations once in awhile. Evolution, too, of course. Increasingly, the “C” word, climate, is creating challenges for educators trying to explore the heat-trapping properties of carbon dioxide and the implications for climate as concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gases rise. Here’s an excerpt from a post at Real Climate that asks, “So What’s a Teacher to Do?” Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/06/whats-a-science-teacher-to-do/?scp=4&sq=climate%20change&st=cse A Fresh Take on Chaotic Weather. The crazy weather continues. People in Europe are freezing to death in one of the coldest winters on record. It snowed on Monday in Libya. Libya! That is a country better known, weather-wise, for suffering the highest temperature recorded on earth in modern times (136 degrees Fahrenheit, in 1922). Meanwhile, the United States is enjoying a bizarrely mild winter, in stark contrast to last year’s. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/a-fresh-take-on-chaotic-weather/ California, Clean Energy, and the Obama Promise. President Obama made a strong State of the Union commitment not to walk away from the promise of clean energy. Was it a shrewd long-term strategy or a political liability that will result in even more “Solyndras” here in California? On the one hand, Obama’s clean energy focus has helped expand the clean energy job market, into a sector with more than 2.7 million jobs …Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/02/07/california-clean-energy-and-the-obama-promise/ GM looks to spur Chevy Volt sales with California leasing incentives. General Motors appears to be looking to spur sales of its Chevrolet Volt by offering potential California customers a chance to lease the $40,000 extended-range plug-in vehicle with no cash down, GreenCarReports.com said, citing a California Chevrolet dealer. GM is offering a so-called "Quad $0" lease program on the Volt, in which leasing the car requires no down payment, no security deposit, no first-month's payment and no cash due upon sale, the website said, citing Randall Baum at Quality Chevrolet in Escondido, CA. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/08/gm-looks-to-spur-chevy-volt-sales-with-california-leasing-incent/ Infographic: A lifetime of fuel costs, gas vs. solar. When you drive a plug-in vehicle for the first time, it's common to get the "EV grin" that advocates have talked about for a long time. But, once that initial thrill quiets down a bit, something else can happen – you start to think about the bigger picture. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/07/infographic-a-lifetime-of-fuel-costs-gas-vs-solar/ ====================================================================== 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 Feb 2012 14:20:22 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for February 10, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for February 10, 2012. 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 AEP Reduces Coal-Fired Plants It Will Shut Because of EPA Rules. American Electric Power Co. (AEP), the largest U.S. coal consumer, reduced by 13 percent the amount of coal-fired generation it will shut because of new environmental regulations, saying it may get state support to spend $940 million to keep a Kentucky unit operating. The company still plans to close power plants with about 5,138 megawatts of capacity, Chief Executive Officer Nick Akins said at an investor conference in New York today. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-10/aep-reduces-coal-fired-plants-it-will-shut-because-of-epa-rules.html CLIMATE CHANGE California eyes dividends, deficit cuts from cap-and-trade. Revenue raised by California's greenhouse-gas emissions trading program could be distributed to state residents to offset higher fuel costs or used to reduce the state's projected deficits, a state budget watchdog agency said on Thursday. "Our analysis indicates that such revenues could be returned directly to Californians - …Posted. http://af.reuters.com/article/idAFL2E8DA0OC20120210 VEHICLES Safety regulators probe Camry fires; Nissan recalls Versa. Federal safety regulators have launched an investigation into the cause of fires in 2007 model year Toyota Camry sedans and RAV-4 sport-utility vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened the probe after receiving six complaints of fires starting in the driver’s side door of the vehicles. The agency said that it appears that the fires are starting in the power window master switch on the door. The agency said it is looking at about 830,000 vehicles. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-camry-fire-versa-recall-20120210,0,5632693,print.story Obama administration reiterates support for California High-Speed Rail. Continuing his push for the California High-Speed Rail, Gov. Jerry Brown met Thursday with U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, who said President Obama remains committed to the project. “High-Speed Rail is a key step in modernizing our transportation system and will create much needed and good paying jobs,” Brown said in a prepared statement released after the meeting. Posted. http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2012/02/09/obama-administration-reiterates-support-for-california-high-speed-rail/148360/ Auto Recyclers Challenged on Potentially Toxic Waste. In Oakland and Redwood City, industrial shredders the size of department stores grind thousands of junked automobiles into fist-sized scraps, loading the lumps onto waiting ships to become fodder for a global recycling industry. But as the “green steel” goes out to sea, the leftovers — pulverized seat cushions, insulation and grime, collectively known in the shredding industry as “auto fluff” — are trucked to regional landfills. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/environmental-health/story/auto-recyclers-challenged-potentially/print/ GREEN ENERGY Wind Tower Makers in U.S. Hurt by China Imports, Panel Finds. U.S. makers of wind towers such as Broadwind Energy Inc. are being harmed by cheaper imports from China and Vietnam, a trade panel ruled in the first step toward imposing tariffs on the shipments. The U.S. International Trade Commission voted today in a preliminary ruling on a petition from the Wind Tower Trade Coalition asking the Obama administration to impose anti-dumping and countervailing duties. Posted. http://sfgate.adc.bloomberg.wallst.com/SFChronicle/Story?docId=1376-LZ56CM0YHQ0Z01-72DS99TDM2RUHGPDSVUD71QFL0 APNewsBreak: White House report says green energy loans could cost government $3B. Washington — An independent review finds the government could lose about $3 billion on Energy Department loans for green energy programs — far less than the $10 billion Congress set aside for the high-risk program. The White House ordered the review after criticism of a $528 million loan to Solyndra Inc., a solar company that went bankrupt. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/apnewsbreak-white-house-report-says-green-energy-loans-could-cost-government-3b/2012/02/10/gIQARkxN4Q_story.html Merced Irrigation District questions state's green energy costs, requirements. State mandate has companies looking at timing of contracts. Worries that the state's evolving renewable energy requirements will translate into unbearable rate increases for consumers have been eased somewhat by recent government studies. The cost of buying renewable energy decreased 30 percent from 2009 to 2011, according to the most recent quarterly report issued by the California Public Utilities Commission. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/02/10/v-print/2225082/merced-irrigtation-district-questions.html MISCELLANEOUS Inspectors find no asbestos at San Marcos school debris site. An inspector with the county Air Pollution Control District found no asbestos at a debris site that had parents at a San Marcos elementary school concerned for their children's safety. "That was very good news," said John Adams, the compliance chief with the district. Although the inspection found the site apparently safe, the head of the Air Pollution Control District said he wondered why the district decided to put the debris so near an elementary school. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/san-marcos/exclusive-inspectors-find-no-asbestos-at-san-marcos-school-debris/article_8958fbfe-a883-50bd-8ced-ef6c416b638b.html#ixzz1m0LDc18i California sets trends in health regulation. Beyond skateboards, Silicon Valley and hippies, California has a trendsetting streak of a different kind. The state has been first to pass major public health initiatives that have spread throughout the country. California was first to require smog checks for clean air, pass anti-tobacco initiatives and bike helmets laws. While these laws were met with skepticism and ridicule, they've often become standard practice in other states. Posted. http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/10/health/california-leads-health-laws/index.html . OPINIONS The green jobs debate: A boon or a bust for the economy? Jonah Goldberg took President Obama to task in an August column about green jobs. “[T]he windfall in green jobs,” he wrote, “has always been a con job.” The record in America has been no better, Obama's campaign stump speeches notwithstanding. The New York Times, which has been touting the green agenda in its news pages for years, admitted last week that "federal and state efforts to stimulate creation of green jobs have largely failed, government records show." Posted. http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2012/02/green-jobs-debate.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OpinionLa+%28L.A.+Times+-+Opinion+Blog%29 Four Things You Should Know about High-Speed Rail. If all goes according to plan, San Diegans will one day be able to board a bullet train and get to points north much more quickly than they can now by car or Amtrak. Los Angeles would be closer than 90 minutes away, while riders could reach the Bay Area within just a few hours. But that day won't be next year. Or five years from now. Or sometime in the 2020s. In fact, it'll be several decades before San Diegans get a piece of the high-speed action. Posted. http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/this_just_in/article_d854c3b4-5351-11e1-b7d2-0019bb2963f4.html Has the Earth's Missing Heat Been Found? NASA climate scientist Jim Hansen and colleagues weigh in on the missing heat issue. In 2009 Kevin Trenberth, of the National Center for Atmospheric Research, raised the issue of missing heat in a paper (PDF) titled "An Imperative for Climate Change Planning: Tracking Earth's Global Energy." In principle, the excess heat trapped in the Earth as a result of greenhouse gases must show up somewhere on the Earth as heat; and, given its large heat capacity, we expect most of that heat to end up in the ocean. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-chameides/has-the-earths-missing-he_b_1268673.html?view=print&comm_ref=false This 'n that. Those who believe in global warming and its doomsday implications got a reality check Feb. 9. The science journal Nature offered the first comprehensive study of the world’s glaciers and ice caps, and one of its conclusions has shocked scientists (and, concurrently, global warmers). Using GRACE, a pair of orbiting satellites racing around the planet at an altitude of 300 miles, it has concluded that the Himalayas have barely melted at all in the past 10 years. Posted. http://www.vvdailypress.com/opinion/global-32816-check-science.html BLOGS A Carbon Allowance in Every Pot. Imagine carbon allowances as a playground commodity, like the marbles and baseball cards of earlier generations. That’s a subset of an idea from Ian Gough, a researcher at the London School of Economics. Citing the failure of international climate change policy to achieve results, he proposed a different approach in a recent article, arguing that the distribution and trade of personal carbon allowances —Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/a-carbon-allowance-in-every-pot/?pagemode=print Tesla Unveils Model X at Its Southern California Design Studios. On Thursday, Tesla Motors unveiled a prototype of its third vehicle, the Model X, here at the company’s design studios. Elon Musk, the chief executive of the electric-vehicle start-up, said the crossover-like car would enter production in late 2013. “This is kind of the killer app for families,” Mr. Musk said of the X in an interview after a preview for media. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/tesla-unveils-model-x-at-its-design-studios/ Nuclear Power vs. Natural Gas. When critics say nuclear power is risky, they often mean the risk of an accident. But people in the nuclear industry say that the bigger threat is natural gas. To look like a smart move, the $14 billion nuclear project undertaken by the Southern Company and its partners must meet several challenges, including actually completing the job for that figure, always a question in nuclear construction. But for the 104 nuclear reactors now running in this country, and for many of the ones that have retired, the big issue has always been the price of electricity from competing sources. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/natural-gas-vs-nuclear-power/ California cap-and-trade money should be spent carefully, analyst says. California's experiment in combating global warming by creating a cap-and-trade program could generate more than $12 billion a year in revenue, but officials can't rely on that windfall to fix the state's fiscal problems, according to a new report. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office said the amount of money generated by auctions of credits allowing polluters to release greenhouse gases would vary wildly, from less than $1 billion to $14 billion in some years. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/02/california-cap-and-trade.html State Analyst: Cap & Trade Plan Good as Far as it Goes. A non-partisan analysis of California’s recently approved cap-and-trade program says state regulators at the Air Resources Board (CARB) did a decent job of balancing competing directives, but warns that legislators need to start thinking about what happens after the program runs its course, less than a decade from now. “The legislature and the Air Board need to provide some certainty of what the regulatory landscape will look like after 2020, Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/02/09/state-analyst-cap-trade-plan-good-as-far-as-it-goes/ ====================================================================== 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 Feb 2012 14:04:42 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 13, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 13, 2012. 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 Southern Californians at risk of death from air pollution, EPA says. Southern Californians are among those at highest risk of death due to air pollution, according to recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency research published in the journal Risk Analysis. The study, published last month, was conducted to “provide insight to the size and location of public health risks associated with recent levels of fine particles and ozone, allowing decision-makers to better target air quality policies,” the federal agency said in a statement responding to California Watch inquiries. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/southern-californians-risk-death-air-pollution-epa-says-14843 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/13/southern-california-air-pollution_n_1273348.html CLIMATE CHANGE EU open to talks but won't scrap carbon tax. Europe is willing to discuss its new carbon emissions tax for airlines with disgruntled governments but has no plans to scrap the levy, top EU officials said Monday. Airlines and governments have complained the tax is too costly and was implemented without consultation. Industry leaders are warning the disagreement could spark a trade war between Europe and the rest of the world. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/13/financial/f032152S70.DTL http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/13/2720203/eu-open-to-talks-but-wont-scrap.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/business/eu-open-to-talks-but-won-t-scrap-carbon-tax/article_98260491-0715-5b26-9014-507200ffe9f6.html California’s Climate Change Laboratory: AB 32. “It is one of the happy accidents of the federal system that a single courageous state may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory, and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country.” (New State Ice Co. v. Liebman, 285 U.S. 262, 311 (1932) (dissent). California embodies Justice Brandeis’s famous metaphor of states as the laboratories of democracy, particularly when it comes to progressive environmental regulation. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/02/13/california%E2%80%99s-climate-change-laboratory-ab-32/ FUELS Calif asks for stay of low-carbon fuel ruling. California officials are asking a federal judge to allow work to resume on implementation of the state's first-in-the-nation mandate for low-carbon vehicle fuels. The California Air Resources Board on Friday filed a request for a stay in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, asking the court to allow work to resume while it appeals a lower court decision to halt the program. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19940493 VEHICLES Caltrain plan would fast-track electric rail. The overhaul of California's high-speed rail project could bring the Bay Area $1 billion to electrify Caltrain and lay the path for bullet train service between San Francisco and San Jose sooner than anticipated. The Chronicle has learned that officials with Bay Area transportation agencies are in negotiations with each other, and with the California High-Speed Rail Authority, to craft an agreement that would fund an advanced train-control system…Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/13/MNQJ1N64G0.DTL&type=printable Drivers frustrated by near-empty lanes. By 5:30 a.m, there are already enough cars filling southbound Highway 101 toward Petaluma to make Gus Kouninos grateful for the new third lane running over the Cotati Grade. But on his evening drive home, the Santa Rosa resident can only look at the new construction in frustration. The third lanes between Cotati and Petaluma are closed to solo drivers from 7 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6:30 p.m. during the commute crunch. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120211/COMMUNITY/120219915 Retrofitters plug into EV fleet niche. Automakers are having a hard time selling electric vehicles in volume. But retrofitters aiming for tiny niches are proliferating. With business models geared to selling small batches of electrified vehicles to utilities, governmental units and the like, you might say that retrofitters are playing small ball. But they see a steadily growing market of customers who are motivated to make their fleets green -- and who want to cut fuel costs for their fleets. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20120213/OEM06/302139936#ixzz1mHl5ORlW GREEN ENERGY ENERGY: Uncertainty clouds Obama’s latest solar push. President Barack Obama wants to revive the renewable energy push that fostered a solar development boom in the first years of his administration, particularly across the sun-drenched deserts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. But clouding his effort is the expiration of federal programs meant to spur investment, a backlash against the White House’s policies in the wake of the Solyndra debacle, and unresolved questions about where large-scale plants can be built. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/ben-goad-headlines/20120211-energy-uncertainty-clouds-obamas-latest-solar-push.ece How 1.6 billion people who live on less than a dollar a day afford renewables. If you’re not already connected to an electricity grid, renewable energy is a no-brainer, argues Michigan professor of history and “scholar of the Muslim world” Juan Cole. For the one-third of the world’s population that lives on less than a dollar a day, fossil fuels aren’t just environmentally unsustainable — they’re financially unsustainable too. For example: As cell phones have become ubiquitous throughout Africa and the developing world, the electricity to charge them has not. Posted. http://grist.org/list/how-1-6-billion-people-who-live-on-less-than-a-dollar-a-day-afford-renewables/ Phoenix rising: Can ‘the world’s least sustainable city’ go green? What was the most surprising thing that came out of Andrew Ross’s two-year research stint in Phoenix, Ariz.? For my money, it’s this: People who live there (weirdly) don’t expect their desert civilization to collapse around them at any moment. “One of New Yorkers’ favorite things is to imagine the destruction of their city. There’s a whole library of movies and novels that do this,” Ross said during a recent visit to the Grist offices. “There’s no equivalent in Phoenix.” Posted. http://grist.org/cities/phoenix-rising-can-the-worlds-least-sustainable-city-go-green/ Problems cast shadows of doubt on solar project. The unexpected deaths of kit foxes and discovery of ancient human settlements threaten to delay or even cancel a $1-billion, 250-megawatt installation on federal land in the desert near Blythe. Reporting from Blythe, Calif. -- One of California's showcase solar energy projects, under construction in the desert east of Los Angeles, is being threatened by a deadly outbreak of distemper among kit foxes and the discovery of a prehistoric human settlement on the work site. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-foxes-20120211,0,5232686,print.story MISCELLANEOUS Zipcar expands service to over 45 college campuses. Zipcar Inc. said Monday that it has launched its car sharing services at more than 45 college and university campuses since the beginning of the current school year. The Cambridge, Mass.-based company said that since December, it has has begun service at 10 new universities including Valparaiso University, University of Oregon and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. That came after Zipcar began services at 36 additional campuses around the start of the 2011-2012 school year, the company said. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19953560?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com&IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Petition drive for more bicycle safety in SCAG plan nears deadline. Rachel Morris, executive director of a Ventura County climate-change group dedicated to getting people out of cars and onto bicycles, isn't happy with the latest regional transportation draft plan by the Southern California Association of Governments. In Morris' estimation, the regional planning organization's 23-year, nearly $500 billion plan budgets too few funds for bicycle and pedestrian safety. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/feb/12/petition-drive-for-more-bicycle-safety-in-scag/#ixzz1mHhDwH8m OPINIONS New energy supplies may rock orthodox auto beliefs. New discoveries of natural gas threaten to overturn many assumptions about energy supplies and may also bring big changes in the way cars are powered. When the conventional wisdom had it that supplies of oil were going to run out sooner rather than later, it made sense for automobile manufacturers to embrace government campaigns to quickly ratchet up fuel consumption rules for cars and light trucks. Posted. http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120208/OPINION03/202080332/1148/AUTO01/New-energy-supplies-may-rock-orthodox-auto-beliefs You and the Law: Air Resources Board puts California drivers at risk. Unless you live in a handful of California regions — generally over 4,000 feet elevation — there is something which your car certainly should have for safe winter driving, but which is currently almost impossible to purchase in other areas of the state. It’s winter windshield washer solution, the type that does not freeze, and which until recently, could legally be sold anywhere. Posted. http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/opinion/columnists/you-and-the-law-air-resources-board-puts-california-drivers/article_a0cc32fc-5440-11e1-8705-001871e3ce6c.html Editorial: California's cap-and-trade slush fund. We warned long ago that the state of California's war on global warming never really had much to do with the globe getting warmer. Rather, it's always been about control and money. Now the pretense should be obvious to all. The nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Analyst reported last week on Gov. Jerry Brown's intention to raise money from a carbon emission cap-and-trade scheme through the regulatory might of the California Air Resources Board, enabled by the arrogantly titled Global Warming Solutions Act, approved in 2006 as Assembly Bill 32. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/california-339832-warming-state.html BLOGS States Sue E.P.A. Over Delayed Soot Rules. The Obama administration, already contending with a lawsuit from health and environmental groups arguing that ozone pollution standards are inadequate, now faces another suit over soot. Eleven states, including New York and California, joined forces on Friday to sue the federal Environmental Protection Agency in Federal District Court in Manhattan over the agency’s delays in tightening air quality standards involving fine particulate matter, or soot, from diesel trucks, buses, power plants and other sources. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/10/states-sue-e-p-a-over-delayed-soot-rules/ Can Efficiency Counter a Loss of Nuclear Power? In an era when almost every energy technology is unpopular with somebody, the people who don’t want wind turbines, generating stations or new transmission lines installed in their neighborhoods often raise the idea of improving energy efficiency as an alternative. That argument is particularly common in New York State and in Vermont, where state governments are trying to close nuclear reactors within their borders. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/can-efficiency-counter-a-loss-of-nuclear-power/?scp=3&sq=green%20energy&st=cse The Coming Fight Over Cap-and-Trade Revenues. A new source of revenues is on the horizon. So is a big fight. Should average citizens get the new fees? In this era of perpetual budget cuts, the state faces a strange new problem on the horizon: a big new pool of revenues that is likely to produce a big fight. That pool of revenues is expected to result from the sale of allowances to produce greenhouse gases under Calfiornia so-called "cap and trade program." Cap and trade caps the amount of pollution available -- and then auctions off available rights to polluters. Posted. http://www.nbcsandiego.com/blogs/prop-zero/Climate-Change-Cap-Trade-Revenues-Allowances-139074354.html Next Tesla Roadster delayed until after mass-market EV launch. With the demise of the Lotus Elise in the United States, the Tesla Roadster's fate was sealed. With no chassis rolling out of Hethel, Tesla had to end production of the Roadster and shift its focus to the Model S and the just-revealed Model X. But some kind of Roadster successor has always been in the cards and as Tesla's SEC filings revealed two years ago, the new sports car was supposed to arrive next year. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/11/next-tesla-roadster-delayed-until-after-mass-market-ev-launch/ Auto industry about to go diesel crazy. Volkswagen is showing the Beetle TDI -- diesel -- at the Chicago auto show, another signal that automakers are moving faster into diesel power after years of hesitation and emphasis on hybrids and electrics. VW, which already has diesel options for its Golf, Jetta, Passat and Touareg models, will be joined by new entrants in the U.S. market for diesel, such as General Motors, Mazda and Chrysler Group. Other makers, such as Honda, still are holding back some of their best, newest advanced diesels from the U.S., unsure whether buyers here will embrace them. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/02/volkswagen-beetle-diesel/1 ====================================================================== 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 Feb 2012 11:39:12 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 14, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for February 14, 2012. 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 tied to stroke, memory loss. A study published Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine found a higher risk of stroke after "moderate" compared to "good" air quality days in Boston-area residents, especially when traffic-related pollution was high. And another report in the same journal documented a faster long-term decline in thinking and memory skills in women living in higher-pollution areas of the United States. Posted http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/13/us-air-pollution-memory-loss-idUSTRE81C24N20120213 http://www.newsday.com/news/health/air-pollution-tied-to-stroke-memory-loss-1.3528599 http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/02/14/air-pollution-tied-to-stroke-memory-loss/ http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/air-pollution-might-harm-brain-study-says-14874 Alexandria power plant fined again. Alexandria’s coal-burning power plant, scheduled to shut down Oct. 1 after years of local opposition, must pay a $280,704 fine for violating air-quality laws, the largest such fine ever imposed against the plant. The GenOn Potomac River power plant, whose five stubby smokestacks loom over the north end of Old Town Alexandria, exceeded its nitrogen oxides limit six times between June 28 and July 18, 2011…Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/alexandria-power-plant-fined-again/2012/02/10/gIQAzKUYDR_story.html U.S. Carbon Emission Rules Could Ultimately 'Send The Message That Coal Is Dead'. The Obama administration is expected soon to unveil long-delayed rules limiting carbon emissions from new coal-fired power stations, possibly helping to slam the door shut well into the future on building plants that run on the fuel. The Environmental Protection Agency has dragged its feet on proposing the new standards on carbon emissions that would hit new coal plants or facilities undergoing expansion. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/13/us-carbon-emission-rules_n_1274149.html?ref=green CLIMATE CHANGE This Valentine's Day, Say It With (Climate) Science. Climate change isn't lovable. But the people who research its effects certainly are. And this year has been especially rough on them. It seems the more scientists and experts provide conclusive science to show that human-caused climate change is happening now, the more they are chastised and threatened for it. Take Katherine Hayhoe, for example. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heather-libby/this-valentines-day-say-i_b_1275772.html?view=print&comm_ref=false FUELS Never before have gas prices risen so high so early in the year. The U.S. average for regular gasoline climbed to $3.523 a gallon over the last week — and $3.835 in California — a sign that pain at the pump will rise to some of the highest levels ever this year. U.S. motorists have seen the national average for regular gasoline rise above $3.50 a gallon in just three different years, but it has never happened this early. The national average hit $3.523 a gallon, the Energy Department said Monday, up 4.1 cents from a week earlier. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gas-prices-20120214,0,1919032,print.story Ethanol mandate fails economically and environmentally. Mandated use of ethanol as a partial substitute for gasoline was supposed to decrease our oil imports and be more environmentally friendly. But like many green fantasies, the program has failed on both counts. While the mandate may be a boon to corn growers, especially large agribusiness, it is not cost effective for end users. Currently, seasonal gasoline is 10% ethanol, but E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) is being touted as a solution to our dependence on foreign petroleum sources. Posted. http://tucsoncitizen.com/wryheat/2012/02/14/ethanol-mandate-fails-economically-and-environmentally/ Forthcoming Study Comes Amidst Legal Threat Over Leaded Aviation Fuel. A regional air pollution control agency in Southern California, in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is planning a first-ever comprehensive study of the air quality levels of Long Beach Airport, according to a spokesperson for the government agency. The Business Journal learned last week that the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) is proposing to conduct a “special study” within the next 12 months, sampling the emission levels of lead, ultra-fine particles and black carbon…Posted. http://lbbusinessjournal.com/long-beach-business-journal-newswatch/90-12-02-14/358-aqmd-to-study-air-pollution-at-long-beach-airport.html VEHICLES California considers objection to settlement of Honda hybrid class-action settlement. California’s Department of Justice is considering whether to object to a proposed class-action settlement between Honda and car owners over inflated fuel-efficiency claims on the automaker’s hybrid vehicles. San Diego Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor on Tuesday gave the attorney general until Feb. 29 to declare any opposition to the settlement. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/california-considers-objection-to-settlement-of-honda-hybrid-class-action-settlement/2012/02/14/gIQAf92gDR_story.html California’s ‘Clean Car’ Rules Help Remake U.S. Auto Industry. How likely is it that your next vehicle might be an electric car? California just increased the odds. On Jan. 27, the California Air Resources Board, a powerful state agency with a history of setting first-in-the-nation clean air and climate regulations, voted 9-0 on a package of sweeping “clean car” rules that are expected to help reshape the U.S. auto industry. The chairman of the board, Mary Nichols, oversaw the enactment of these new rules…Posted. http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/02/california%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98clean-car%E2%80%99-rules-help-remake-u-s-auto-industry/print/ Obama seeks to boost electric-car subsidies to $10,000. President Obama's proposed budget calls for boosting electric-car subsidies to $10,000, up from the present $7,500, even though plug-ins are typically bought by the wealthy. That's significant because the election-year budget attempts to narrow deficits by increasing taxes on the wealthy. If 10,000 electrics like the Chevrolet Volt extended-range sedan, a plug-in that qualifies for the subsidy, were sold a year, the program would cost taxpayers another $100 million a year, reports the Daily Caller points out, via Yahoo News. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/02/president-obama-budget-electric-car-subsidies-chevrolet-volt/1#.TzqXiPJYH3U Why Electric Cars Are More Polluting than Gas Guzzlers — at Least in China. It’s unspoken, but every driver gliding around town behind the wheel of a Prius is thinking the same thing: “I’m saving the planet. What are you doing, you dirty-fossil-fuel burner?” What’s implied is that hybrid or electric-car drivers are also saving human lives, since the fuel-burning internal combustion engines that power conventional vehicles emit carbon dioxide and fine particulate matter including acids, organic chemicals as well as dust and soil; this pollution has been linked to respiratory and heart problems and cancer. Posted. http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/14/why-electric-cars-are-more-polluting-than-gas-guzzlers-at-least-in-china/ GREEN ENERGY Overcapacity could drag on solar for some time. Solar panel manufacturers will have a hard time boosting revenues this year with Germany cutting government incentives at a time when the market is flush with supply, industry analysts believe. Solar shares were among the hardest hit Tuesday in the energy sector, with the largest U.S. provider, First Solar Inc., tumbling more than 8 pct. Even after a rash of factory closures, the solar industry is on pace to expand production capacity in 2012, said Maxim Group analyst Aaron Chew. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iMRJJF2pz5R0-aMopgcwDgu_Wpaw?docId=df874fc325c5418c80c1440044e4f3a1 AP Newsbreak: http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/14/2069006/overcapacity-could-drag-on-solar.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19961795?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19961795?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Nearly $3B in energy loans could default. A report commissioned by the Obama administration to re-examine the Department of Energy's loans to clean energy companies after the bankruptcies of the first two loan recipients, including Fremont-based Solyndra, found that close to $3 billion in loans could be at risk for default, which is in line with the department's own internal estimate. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/nearly-3b-energy-loans-could-default-14873 SOLAR: Disagreements on proposed plant’s wildlife impacts. At a workshop for the Rio Mesa facility near Blythe, planned plant officials and environmentalists clash. Sacramento — Wildlife experts and representatives of a company seeking to build a huge solar-energy field in eastern Riverside County sparred Monday over the extent of surveys to judge the project’s impact on migrating birds and eagles. The Rio Mesa Solar Energy Generating Facility southwest of Blythe would consist of three solar fields and generate 750 megawatts, enough electricity to power 300,000 homes. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/jim-miller-headlines/20120213-solar-disagreements-on-proposed-plants-wildlife-impacts.ece Green energy projects struggled in 2011, but some see hope in 2012. While 2011 saw a swath of green energy failures that cost taxpayers millions and January isn't starting off much better, Manish Bapna of the World Resources Institute hopes that 2012 becomes the year of renewable energy. The most recognizable green energy failure in 2011 came in the form of Solyndra , a California-based solar panel company that filed for bankruptcy in September despite having received a $528 million government loan. Posted. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765550424/Green-energy-projects-struggled-in-2011-but-some-see-hope-in-2012.html MISCELLANEOUS Study finds risk to children from coal-tar sealants. Chicago -- Children living next to driveways or parking lots coated with coal tar are exposed to significantly higher doses of cancer-causing chemicals than those living near untreated asphalt, according to a study that raises new questions about commonly used pavement sealants. Researchers from Baylor University and the U.S. Geological Survey also found that children living near areas treated with coal-tar-based sealants ingest twice as many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from contaminated dust tracked into their homes as they do from food. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/13/v-print/4262086/study-finds-risk-to-children-from.html Supes to consider fumigant options. Staff option: Wait and see on methyl iodide. Options on the controversial strawberry fumigant methyl iodide including sending letters to Gov. Brown, adopting a resolution urging the governor to re-examine the registration of the fumigant or taking a wait and see position, will presented to the Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday for possible action. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the use of toxic fumigant, used to control pests in the soil…Posted. http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20120213/NEWS01/120213018/Supes-consider-fumigant-options OPINIONS California Rules. California, long a leader on clean air and other environmental issues, is doing good things again. The state’s powerful Air Resources Board has issued new rules that, when finally approved, will lead to many fewer smog-causing pollutants, fewer greenhouse gases and, in time, encourage the auto industry to build millions more emissions-free cars and trucks, including a new generation of all-electric or hydrogen-powered vehicles. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/opinion/californias-clean-car-rules.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print OUR VIEW: More evidence PM 2.5 is slowly killing us. Some question the need to restrict the use of residential fireplaces and limit diesel exhaust, in some cases questioning the potential for harm from the airborne particulate matter that those emission sources create. Yet another study, however, underscores the importance of reducing PM 2.5, the fine particulate matter that hovers over the Central Valley most days. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency research published in the journal Risk Analysis last month examined 2005 air pollution exposure. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/x1608244907/More-evidence-PM-2-5-is-slowly-killing-us Carbon market: there’s still time. A few little things separate a gold medal sprinter from an also-ran. The same applies to the European Union’s carbon emissions trading scheme. When it pioneered the idea of a fully fledged carbon trading market in 2005, the EU envisaged that a price of about €40 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent emitted would encourage big polluters, such as power generators, to invest in clean energy. Posted. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-news/global-exchange/financial-times/carbon-market-theres-still-time/article2337453/ BLOGS Obama’s Wish List for Energy. The Energy Department’s budget request for the fiscal year that begins on Oct. 1 sounds a familiar theme. “The United States is competing in a global race for the clean energy jobs of the future,’’ a cover letter from the federal energy secretary, Steven Chu, says. “Do we want the clean energy technologies of tomorrow to be invented in America by American innovators, made by American workers and sold around the world?” he writes. “Or do we want to concede those jobs to our competitors?” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/obamas-wish-list-for-energy/ A Young Green Innovator Turning Fungi into Jobs Muses on the Path to Breakthroughs. On a recent visit to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in upstate New York, I broke away to visit Ecovative Design, a remarkable 40-employee firm creating packaging for Dell Computer, wine shippers and other clients by turning fungi and farm waste into a durable and biodegradable substitute for foam. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/14/a-young-green-innovator-turning-fungi-into-jobs-muses-on-the-path-to-breakthroughs/ Air pollution linked to cognitive impairment in older women. So maybe you don’t care much about air pollution’s effects on wildlife and such. But would you be more interested if you knew it might be tied to humans’ cognitive decline? Research published Monday afternoon in the Archives of Internal Medicine suggests that chronic exposure to airborne particulate matter — small solid particles suspended in air — is associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-checkup/post/air-pollution-linked-to-cognitive-impairment-in-older-women/2010/12/20/gIQAiohqBR_blog.html Obama budget contains nearly $35 billion for passenger rail. The Obama administration, which has been urging California to push through growing opposition to its high-speed rail project, asked Congress on Monday for nearly $35 billion in passenger rail funding over the next five years. The request in its fiscal 2013 budget includes $1 billion for next year and nearly $8 billion in 2018, a massive funding plan that faces difficult odds of getting through Congress. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/02/obama-budget-contains-nearly-35-billion-for-passenger-rail.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lanowblog+%28L.A.+Now%29 The clean blue line. California State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) remembers the day he picked up a local newspaper and read the shocking news: A 940-passenger cruise ship had chucked a 18-ton load of sewage, dirty water and oily bilge perilously near to the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary off the California coast. Simitian, then serving in the California Assembly, was outraged, as were many of his constituents: The ship’s captain had broken a written promise to the city of Monterey with the dumping, and the city thereafter banned that cruise line from their port. Posted. http://www.hcn.org/hcn/blogs/goat/the-clean-blue-line ====================================================================== 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 Feb 2012 13:32:45 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 15, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 15, 2012. 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 May Harm Women's Brains: Study. The more air pollution they were exposed to, the greater their mental decline. A lifetime's exposure to air pollution may contribute to mental decline in older women, a new study says. Researchers used data from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air monitors combined with address information on more than 19,000 women aged 70 to 81 taking part in the U.S. Nurses' Health Study to calculate their exposure to air pollution over the course of seven to 14 years. Posted. http://health.msn.com/womens-health/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100285856#scptid L.A. air pollution may increase risk of stroke. L.A.’s smog problem might not be as visible as it was in the bad old days of the 1970s and '80s, but city residents might be at an increased risk of stroke even at levels of pollution that meet EPA standards. Oh yeah, and memory loss. A new study published Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that Boston residents experienced more strokes when exposed to “moderate” amounts of particulate air pollution, as opposed to “good” amounts of pollution, according to EPA standards. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-la-air-pollution-may-increase-risk-of-stroke-20120214,0,7456303.story?track=rss Rail yards: Clean-up plan prompts contempt allegation. Railroad officials have asked a federal judge to find Southern California’s air quality chief Barry Wallerstein and other air district officials in contempt of court in a long-running legal dispute over efforts to reduce diesel pollution coming from rail yards. Attorneys representing Union Pacific, BNSF Railway and the American Railroad Association contend that Wallerstein, his planning officer and top attorney violated a 2007 court order by including rules to limit locomotive idling in a regional air clean-up plan that must be approved by state and federal agencies. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20120214-rail-yards-clean-up-plan-prompts-contempt-allegation.ece LIBERTY QUARRY: No vote Tuesday, supervisors reconvene Thursday. Riverside County supervisors could decide the fate of a proposed Temecula-area quarry Thursday after spending much of Tuesday questioning the project’s developer. The 8:30 a.m. hearing is set for the board chambers at the County Administrative Center, 4080 Lemon St., Riverside. Board of Supervisors Chairman John Tavaglione said he hopes the board can decide by 11 a.m. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/temecula/temecula-headlines-index/20120214-liberty-quarry-no-vote-tuesday-supervisors-reconvene-thursday.ece CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Traders Group Urges Overhaul of EU Cap-and-Trade Plan. The European Union should change its carbon-trading plan by introducing a mechanism to allow changing the bloc's pollution cap to reflect economic conditions, the International Emissions Trading Association said. While the world's biggest cap-and-trade program is working as intended, fragmented policies are undermining its price signal at the time when an economic slowdown weighs on the market, IETA said in a statement today. Posted. http://news.businessweek.com/article.asp?documentKey=1376-LZFLEU6JIJXF01-5SB30MBFFR03I6N1QS2BAFQLA4 Carbon capture caught in a rut? Carbon capture has been offered as one answer to climate change but is Kevin Rudd's $300 million CCS project giving value for money for Australia? (Transcript). Posted. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-02-14/carbon-capture-caught-in-a-rut/3830226?section=vic Study: Sierra snowfall consistent over 130 years. Snowfall in the Sierra Nevada has remained consistent for 130 years, with no evidence that anything has changed as a result of climate change, according to a study released Tuesday. The analysis of snowfall data in the Sierra going back to 1878 found no more or less snow overall - a result that, on the surface, appears to contradict aspects of recent climate change models. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/15/BA8N1N7HNQ.DTL&type=printable RIVERSIDE: EPA information chief visits UCR. A top Environmental Protection Agency official told a group of UC Riverside earth science students not to be discouraged by the political noise surrounding issues such as climate change, but to rely on good science. “Just keep reiterating the message and stick to the facts,” said Malcolm Jackson, who is the Chief Information Officer and Director of the Office of Environmental Information for the EPA. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20120214-riverside-epa-information-chief-visits-ucr.ece FUELS Maersk Leads Shipping Industry Developing Fuels From Waste. A.P. Moeller Maersk (MAERSKB) A/S, the world’s biggest container ship owner, is leading its industry in developing biofuels made from organic waste that could cut its carbon emissions and reduce a $6 billion-a-year fuel bill. Maersk (MAERSKB) is conducting tests with companies including Man Diesel & Turbo SE and two Danish universities to develop clean fuels tailored for ships and has worked with the U.S. Navy... Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-02-15/maersk-leads-shipping-industry-developing-fuels-to-cut-emissions.html Sky-high gas prices loom. It's only mid-February, but energy analysts already are warning of a perfect storm that could drive gasoline prices to all-time highs when the weather warms up. The latest evidence came in Tuesday's monthly California gas price survey released by AAA. AAA said the average statewide price of regular unleaded gasoline climbed 15 cents from last month to $3.85 a gallon. That's on top of an 11-cent gain from December to January. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/15/v-print/4264585/sky-high-gas-prices-loom.html VEHICLES Electric-car subsidies would to go to automakers. We told you earlier about how the Obama administration is proposing to increase subsidies for electric cars, but it turns out that the breaks would go to automakers, not directly to consumers. Whether makers want to pass through the subsidies is their business. Patrick Olsen of Cars.com, in a report based on an analysis from Leaf electric-car maker Nissan, lays out these bullet points about how the new program would work: Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/02/obama-wants-electric-car-subsidies-to-go-to-automakers/1 Can a Prius increase global warming? Some argue that driving fuel-efficient cars will actually encourage people to drive more, boosting carbon emissions and hastening climate change. Here's why they're wrong. I haven't read David Owen's new book but he appears to be taking Jevons too seriously. He needs to read Gary Becker's work on the value of time in a society where our value of time is rising. Here is the blurb for his book: "Hybrid cars, fast trains, compact florescent light bulbs, solar panels, carbon offsets: Everything you've been told about living green is wrong. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Green-Economics/2012/0214/Can-a-Prius-increase-global-warming Tesla loss seen widening ahead of Model S as Roadster sales end. Tesla Motors Inc. may have seen its loss widen in 2011's final quarter as it wound down production and sales of $109,000 Roadster electric cars. Tesla's Model S sedan, intended to expand the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company's sales volume with a base model priced at $57,400, won't go into production until mid-2012. Until then, Tesla's main revenue source is supplying battery packs and other components to Toyota Motor Corp. and Daimler AG, two of its investors. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20120214/OEM05/302149784#ixzz1mTw1rwTr GREEN ENERGY Problems cast shadows of doubt on solar project. Blythe, Calif. -- One of California's showcase solar energy projects, under construction in the desert east of Los Angeles, is being threatened by a deadly outbreak of distemper among kit foxes and the discovery of a prehistoric human settlement on the work site. The $1 billion Genesis Solar Energy Project has been expedited by state and federal regulatory agencies that are eager to demonstrate that the nation can build solar plants quickly to ease dependence on fossil fuels and curb global warming. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/15/v-print/4265359/problems-cast-shadows-of-doubt.html Republicans take Solyndra message to Obama. If you want a window into how outside Republican groups are likely to assail President Barack Obama's record this year, look no further than how the GOP is lambasting the administration's handling of solar company Solyndra. Republicans have used Obama's ties to the bankrupt California manufacturer to argue that he plays the same political games that have consumed Washington for generations - and has failed to live up to promises to change the nation's capital. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/14/2069406/republicans-take-solyndra-message.html BY SUBSCRIPTION Sales of residential solar in Japan explode like reactor #4. Sales of solar panels for Japanese homes are up 30.7 percent in 2011, despite — or, let’s be real, because of — the economic hit the country took in the wake of the Fukushima disaster. Sales rose to 1,296 MW, which at high noon on a sunny day is a ton of power — as much as a decent-size conventional power plant. (Granted, the sun doesn’t always shine, blah blah blah. But on the other hand it’s often shining when demand is at its peak — during the day.) Posted. http://grist.org/list/sales-of-residential-solar-in-japan-explode-like-reactor-4/ 11 important clean energy provisions in Obama’s budget proposal. President Obama’s proposed 2013 budget invests in clean energy to help power the engine of economic growth. The budget would direct funds to efficiency and renewable electricity technologies to create jobs and boost domestic manufacturing, and would also make manufacturing more efficient. The cleaner energy that will result from these investments will reduce pollution and protect public health. Posted. http://grist.org/energy-policy/11-important-clean-energy-provisions-in-obamas-budget-proposal/ BLOGS Air Pollution Linked to Heart and Brain Risks. It may be time to start paying more attention to those local air pollution alerts. That is the message of three new studies this week that found, collectively, that people exposed to higher levels of air pollution have a greater risk of stroke, heart attacks and cognitive deterioration. The impact of pollution on the heart and brain was seen over both the short and the long term. Posted. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/air-pollution-tied-to-heart-and-brain-risks/?hp Road Use by E.V. Drivers: To Tax or Not to Tax? Drivers of purely electric vehicles avoid paying the gas taxes included in the cost of a petro-product fill-up. Consequently, if E.V.’s were to become widely adopted, less money could flow into accounts that pay to build and maintain roads. That possibility is the impetus behind the efforts of some states to impose alternative forms of taxation on E.V. drivers, like flat annual fees or levies based on the miles traveled. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/road-use-by-e-v-drivers-to-tax-or-not-to-tax/?scp=7&sq=vehicles&st=cse MRI Reveals Mysteries Inside Batteries for Gadgets and Electric Cars. The ability to make batteries lighter, cheaper and longer lasting is crucial to the development and adoption of next-generation electronics—from mobile phones and tablets to electric cars. Advances in lithium ion batteries have helped slim down smart phones and put cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt on the road. Yet lithium can also be volatile and has been accused of causing electrical fires in gadgets and even Volt test vehicles. Posted. http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2012/02/14/mri-reveals-mysteries-inside-batteries-for-gadgets-and-electric-cars/ Pike forecasts worldwide revenue from fuel cells and hydrogen will reach $785M million in 2012; interest in fuel cell vehicles re-emerges. The total size of the global hydrogen and fuel cell market—including revenues from fuel cells and from hydrogen for fuel cells and internal combustion engines (ICEs)—will reach $785 million in 2012, according to a new white paper from Pike Research. The white paper describes ten key trends for the hydrogen and fuel cell industry in 2012. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/02/pike-forecasts-worldwide-revenue-from-fuel-cells-and-hydrogen-will-reach-785m-million-in-2012-intere.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, 16 Feb 2012 11:30:44 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 16, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 16, 2012. 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 Worsening air pollution costs China dearly: study. China's worsening air pollution, after decades of unbridled economic growth, cost the country $112 billion in 2005 in lost economic productivity, a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has found. The figure, which also took into account people's lost leisure time because of illness or death, was $22 billion in 1975, according to researchers at the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change. The study, published in the journal Global Environmental Change, measured the harmful effects of two air pollutants: ozone and particulates, which can lead to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/16/us-china-pollution-costs-idUSTRE81F09M20120216 Hearts and air pollution: Five deadly air pollutants on five continents. Around the world, breathing a variety of air pollutants – in some cases for a single day – increases the chance that people will suffer heart attacks, according to a new analysis published Tuesday. For the first time, scientists analyzed previous studies from five continents to verify and quantify the links between air pollution and heart health. They found that short-term exposure – less than seven days – to all major air pollutants except ozone was associated with an increase in heart attacks. Posted. http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/hearts-and-air-pollution/hearts-and-air-pollution Air pollution tied to higher heart attack risk, stroke, memory loss. Researchers led by Hazrije Mustafic from the Paris Cardiovascular Research Center found that heart attacks were slightly more common at high levels of every main pollutant except ozone, the group reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association. They looked at 34 studies comparing the risk of suffering a heart attack, or myocardial infarction, at various levels of inhaling industrial and traffic-related air pollutants including carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and very small soot-like particles. Posted. http://www.bworldonline.com/weekender/content.php?id=46886 Orange alert! Air quality in Chico took a nosedive this winter despite a new city ordinance. “You’d think being up here, away from the big cities, it shouldn’t be an issue,” said Monique Bird on a recent Sunday. She and Roylene Mahic were talking about Chico’s air quality, while sitting together not far from the head of the mosaic dragon in Lower Bidwell Park’s Caper Acres playground. Their sons, both 7, briefly checked in before darting off again at full speed to another part of the packed play area. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/chico/orange-alert/content?oid=5172526 CLIMATE CHANGE U.S. Pushes to Cut Emissions of Some Pollutants That Hasten Climate Change. Impatient with the slow pace of international climate change negotiations, a small group of countries led by the United States is starting a program to reduce emissions of common pollutants that contribute to rapid climate change and widespread health problems. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to announce the initiative at the State Department on Thursday accompanied by officials from Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden and the United Nations Environment Program. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/science/earth/us-pushes-to-cut-emissions-that-speed-climate-change.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=climate%20change&st=cse U.S. Joins Effort to Fight Climate Change. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Thursday the formation of a new global coalition to fight emissions other than carbon dioxide that contribute to climate change. The coalition—which includes Sweden, Mexico, Canada, Bangladesh and the U.S.—will be funded with $15 million, mostly from the U.S. It hasn't yet determined which actions it will take to reduce the emissions, nor has it identified specific reduction targets. Such precise goals will be developed in coming months, a senior administration official said on a call with reporters. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204792404577227134018262436.html?mod=googlenews_wsj NM regulators repeal carbon cap and trade rules. New Mexico's participation in a regional cap and trade program aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions became more unlikely Monday with a unanimous vote by state regulators. The decision by the Environmental Improvement Board to repeal the cap and trade rules came in response to petitions filed by New Mexico's largest electric utilities, oil and gas developers and others who feared the rules would push businesses and jobs to neighboring states. Gov. Susana Martinez, a critic of regulating carbon emissions at the state level, was pleased with the board's decision, spokesman Scott Darnell said. Posted. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57372435/nm-regulators-repeal-carbon-cap-and-trade-rules/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Chinese VP set for 2-day Calif. Visit. Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's visit to Los Angeles will be a reminder of his country's big footprint at the busiest port in the United States—nearly 60 percent of the imports moving through the Port of Los Angeles come from China, $120 billion worth of computers, TVs, sneakers and other goods last year. But the visit comes at a politically challenging time in U.S.-China relations, with the White House sending stern messages on currency and trade policies and Republican presidential candidates charging President Barack Obama isn't doing enough to keep America competitive with the Chinese economy. Posted. AP Newsbreak: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57379253/chinese-vp-set-for-2-day-calif-visit/ http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/16/2724283/chinese-vp-set-for-2-day-calif.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/16/2071809/chinese-vp-set-for-2-day-calif.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19977099?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19977099?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/chinese-vp-set-for--day-calif-visit/article_b645e907-4ab0-5b43-99db-9dd98d3cb711.html Rail yards: Clean-up plan prompts contempt allegation. Railroad officials have asked a federal judge to find Southern California’s air quality chief Barry Wallerstein and other air district officials in contempt of court in a long-running legal dispute over efforts to reduce diesel pollution coming from rail yards. Attorneys representing Union Pacific, BNSF Railway and the American Railroad Association contend that Wallerstein, his planning officer and top attorney violated a 2007 court order by including rules to limit locomotive idling in a regional air clean-up plan that must be approved by state and federal agencies. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20120214-rail-yards-clean-up-plan-prompts-contempt-allegation.ece FUELS Time for an oil change: Americans strongly oppose fossil fuel subsidies. As part of the fiscal year 2013 budget [PDF] released on Feb. 13, President Obama proposed to eliminate $40 billion in tax breaks for oil and gas producers over the next 10 years. Yesterday, the Yale Project on Climate Change reiterated its recent finding that Americans of all political stripes oppose subsidies for “coal, oil, and natural gas companies.” They oppose these subsidies by 70 percent to 30 percent — better than two to one. Republicans oppose these subsidies by 67 percent to 34 percent (reflects rounding of percentages). Posted. http://grist.org/fossil-fuels/time-for-an-oil-change-americans-strongly-oppose-fossil-fuel-subsidies/ GREEN ENERGY City moving forward with manure-to-power project. A Southern California city known as Horsetown USA because of its equestrian lifestyle is moving forward with a proposed $36 million manure-to-power conversion plant. The Norco City Council voted Wednesday to go ahead with an environmental impact report. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/16/state/n085252S36.DTL VEHICLES Tesla will help develop new electric Mercedes-Benz. Electric car company Tesla Motors Inc. announced that it has a deal to provide the powertrain for a new Mercedes-Benz vehicle, even as it moves closer to manufacturing its own vehicles later this year. The Palo Alto automaker also said Wednesday that it expected revenue to roughly triple this year, when it will begin selling the Tesla Model S sedan, its first ground-up design. The company is about to launch production of the Model S at its factory in Fremont, Calif. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-tesla-mercedes-20120215,0,2550206.story Personal car-sharing is a new twist on auto rentals. Emily Castor's metallic gray Honda has been driven by dozens of people she's never met. They treat it well, pay any tickets they get and do the dirty work of finding a legal parking spot when they return it to her neighborhood near Golden Gate Park. Castor, 29, is pulling in hundreds of dollars each month through one of several personal car-sharing companies that have burgeoned in the Bay Area over the last year. For $8 an hour or $45 a day, renters can climb behind the wheel of her Civic. Insurance is included. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-personal-car-sharing-20120215,0,4712879.story No free rides: States consider taxing electric cars. Electric cars are finally picking up speed on American roads after being stalled out for a decade or two. The new cars are zippy, they corner like they’re on rails, and they’re a hell of a lot cheaper to drive than the gas burning kind. But that last part might change: Several states, including Washington and Arizona, are now considering taxing electric vehicles. And while many electric car drivers seem game, others are concerned that a tax could bomb a nascent industry on the runway, just as it is finally about to take off. Posted. http://grist.org/transportation/no-free-rides-states-consider-taxing-electric-cars/ Electric vehicle market: myths and facts in 2012. Prior EV market predictions by leading consulting and research institutes have been proven wrong by the slow sales of EVs in the market. Analysts have now begun to re-evaluate their judgements for market trends, presenting a more realistic view that the global EV market will probably endure a slower growth in the near future. Many consultancies, market research institutes and EV websites have released their predictions regarding the EV market growth during the past few years. Most of these forecasts seemed to suggest that we have moved into the decade of EVs. However, slow sales growth of EVs in the market defied these predictions. Leading analysts have begun to re-evaluate their judgements for the EV market in the future. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/75520120215.php?AlertDate=2012-02-14 BLOGS On Our Radar: Climate Change and Curriculums. The unauthorized release of financial and other documents from the conservative Heartland Institute revives a controversy over efforts by climate denialists to influence school curriculums. [The New York Times] The Texas Forest Service says that the current drought has killed 5.6 million trees in the state’s cities alone. [The Austin Amefrican-Statesman] Environmental regulators in Michigan reach a deal under which Dow Chemical will clean up to 1,400 residential properties in Midland, the site of its corporate headquarters and a plant that polluted the area with dioxin for much of the past century. [Associated Press] Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/on-our-radar-climate-change-and-curriculums/ The Heartland Files and the Climate Fight. The Heartland Institute, a private group backed by industry and independent donors opposed to government regulation, has for years supported an array of efforts fighting restrictions on greenhouse gases. There’s no great secret there. A blog storm began building Tuesday and broke on Wednesday as environmental groups posted a batch of documents — ranging from tax forms to lists of donors to a 2012 Heartland “climate strategy” — that appeared to expose the group’s game plan, budgets and backers in remarkable detail. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/documents-appear-to-reveal-broad-effort-to-amplify-climate-uncertainty/ EVs in China create more pollutants than gas-powered cars. The University of Tennessee has just come up with a theory about China electric vehicles that may have some believing that there was a little too much of the local whiskey involved in the process. According to a report released by the university, EVs in China are more environmentally harmful than gas-powered vehicles when factoring in how electricity is produced. The study claims that, when calculating "well-to-wheel" emissions, EVs can be just as harmful as – wait for it – diesel buses. The study, which calculated five types of vehicles and their effect on air quality in 34 Chinese cities, factored in all particulate matter produced in the electricity production process, including dust particles, metals, organic chemicals and acids. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/16/evs-in-china-create-more-pollutants-than-gas-powered-cars/ Washington State senate passes $100 annual fee for electric vehicles. Washington State's senate has passed a bill that would impose an annual fee of $100 to electric-vehicle drivers in an effort to compensate for the gas taxes that EV drivers don't pay, the Associated Press reported. The fee, which doesn't apply to hybrids or neighborhood-electric vehicles, will be used for road services that would be otherwise paid through gas taxes. Washington charges 37.5 cents a gallon in fuel taxes. The bill, which passed by a two-to-one margin, will next be voted on by the state's house of representatives, the wire service said. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/15/washington-state-senate-passes-100-annual-fee-for-electric-vehi/ Methane, Soot Are Targets Of New U.S. Climate Initiative. The United States and five other nations are embarking on a new program to limit pollutants connected to global warming. But they're not targeting carbon dioxide with this effort — instead, they're looking at methane gas, and soot. NPR's Richard Harris filed this report for our Newscast desk: "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the U.S. is teaming up with Canada, Mexico, Sweden, Ghana and Bangladesh to get countries thinking about some potent contributors to climate change." Posted. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/02/16/146988856/methane-soot-are-targets-of-new-u-s-climate-initiative No light at the end of the tunnel, as regulators and railroads are still fighting about air quality. Railyard companies are asking a federal court to find the executive director of this region's air quality management district in contempt, according to lawyers familiar with the case and news reports out of the Inland Empire. The move comes in a court battle over rules governing idling locomotives California and regional air regulators tried to make. The California Air Resources Board and the South Coast Air Quality Management District want to limit diesel particulate pollution from trains because that kind of pollution is associated with way higher cancer rates in fence line neighborhoods. Railroads have long claimed that California can't do that, because federal law precludes the state from regulating matters of interstate commerce. In 2007, a federal district court judge agreed. And so since then, the air district hasn't tried to enforce those rules. Posted. http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/2012/02/16/4703/night-time-switchyard-and-regulators-and-railroads/ ====================================================================== 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 Feb 2012 13:18:11 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 17, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 17, 2012 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 An Upside to China’s Air Pollution: More Snowfall in the Sierra Nevada. A storm of yellow dust darkens the skies above Beijing, an increasingly familiar phenomenon blamed on the disappearance of Asian forests. A week later, in California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, where annual precipitation levels are expected to decline as the climate changes, a snowstorm delights skiers. The storms are starkly different and separated by thousands of miles, but scientists have discovered that they are linked. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/science/earth/chinas-air-pollution-brings-snowfall-to-sierra-nevada.html?scp=3&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Republicans use rare tactic to block 2 Obama rules. Republicans in Congress are launching bids to nullify Obama administration rules that would speed up union elections and set new air pollution standards for the nation's oldest and dirtiest power plants. The rarely used tactic requires a simple majority for passage. Both have a chance at clearing the Senate, but a vote would force some Democrats to take a public stand on two volatile issues in an election year. AP NEWSBREAK: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/16/national/w100352S60.DTL#ixzz1mf1JKVOk http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19979313?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19979313?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/16/2724744/republicans-use-rare-tactic-to.html#storylink=misearch LIBERTY QUARRY: Supervisors turn down mine, 3-2. Seven years of debate over a proposed Temecula-area rock quarry came down to a tense hearing and a swing vote as Riverside County supervisors voted 3-2 Thursday to reject one of the most divisive land-use projects in recent memory. Cheers erupted, tears flowed and orange hats were waved by orange-clad Liberty Quarry opponents as the Board of Supervisors denied an appeal by quarry developer Granite Construction. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/temecula/temecula-headlines-index/20120216-liberty-quarry-supervisors-turn-down-mine-3-2.ece http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/region-controversial-quarry-voted-down-by-board/article_4374b39c-0aa1-51f0-a271-2f6967ec94ea.html CLIMATE CHANGE EU to persevere with airline carbon emissions tax. Governments opposed to the European Union's new carbon emissions tax for airlines should not underestimate its determination to curb climate-changing gases, the EU's climate chief warned Friday. Connie Hedegaard, the European commissioner for climate action, also challenged nations that don't like the EU program to propose their own ways of cutting carbon emissions, rather than just criticizing the plan which went into effect on Jan. 1. AP NEWSBREAK: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/17/international/i053944S74.DTL#ixzz1mf22JoGB http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19987654?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19987654?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19987654?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/17/2725950/eu-to-persevere-with-airline-carbon.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/ap-interview-eu-will-persevere-with-new-carbon-emissions-tax-for-airlines/2012/02/17/gIQA9CNXJR_story.html http://www.nctimes.com/business/eu-to-persevere-with-airline-carbon-emissions-tax/article_eaca22c5-d2a1-5353-affc-82b16b2c5165.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/17/2073683/eu-to-persevere-with-airline-carbon.html EU's Airline-Emissions Fees Face Challenge. Diplomats from countries opposed to the European Union's levies on airline emissions plan to meet in Moscow next week to discuss responses and potential retaliation, according to a draft agenda. The group of more than 25 countries, including the U.S., Russia, China, India and Brazil, contends that the EU is exceeding its legal authority by imposing emissions charges on airlines for portions of flights outside the 27-country bloc. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204059804577227173526305492.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution U.S. Pushes to Cut Emissions of Some Pollutants That Hasten Climate Change. Impatient with the slow pace of international climate change negotiations, a small group of countries led by the United States is starting a program to reduce emissions of common pollutants that contribute to rapid climate change and widespread health problems. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to announce the initiative at the State Department on Thursday accompanied by officials from Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden and the United Nations Environment Program. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/science/earth/us-pushes-to-cut-emissions-that-speed-climate-change.html?scp=4&sq=climate%20change&st=cse U.S. Joins Effort to Fight Climate Change. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Thursday the formation of a new global coalition to fight emissions other than carbon dioxide that contribute to climate change. The coalition—which includes Sweden, Mexico, Canada, Bangladesh and the U.S.—will be funded with $15 million, mostly from the U.S. It hasn't yet determined which actions it will take to reduce the emissions, nor has it identified specific reduction targets. Such precise goals will be developed in coming months, a senior administration official said on a call with reporters. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204792404577227134018262436.html?KEYWORDS=climate+change Climate change doubter Heartland Institute documents leaked. Once in a while, there comes along a reason to believe in karma. Earlier this week, the Heartland Institute, a self-described “free-market think tank” that pilloried climate scientists whose stolen emails were released in 2009 as part of the so-called Climategate flap, found itself duped out of several confidential fundraising documents that were then distributed widely over the Internet, offering a glimpse of its priorities. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-climate-deniers-heartland-institute-documents-leaked-20120216,0,3932985.story Leaks show group's climate efforts. Leaked documents from a prominent conservative think tank show how it sought to teach schoolchildren skepticism about global warming and planned other behind-the-scenes tactics using millions of dollars in donations from big corporate names. More than $14 million of the money used by the Chicago-based Heartland Institute would come from one anonymous man, according to the documents prepared for a meeting of the group's board. AP NEWSBREAK: http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19982821?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19982821?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/16/2072570/influence-game-leaks-show-groups.html Bay Area Climate Change Plans Lack Regional Cooperation. New York City has a plan to keep the subways from flooding. Queensland, Australia, has a plan to keep agricultural lands from drying up. Chicago has a plan to cope with higher temperatures. In the Bay Area, where climate change is expected to cause flooding, shoreline erosion, heat waves, water shortages and a spread of exotic infectious diseases, it seems as if people are drowning in plans — but with little regional coordination. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/science/earth/bay-area-climate-change-plans-lack-regional-cooperation.html?scp=3&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Downtown housing goal slashed by 90%. The number of new downtown homes envisioned in a draft plan to combat climate change has been slashed by 90 percent, alarming those who say the new target is not ambitious enough. Until recently, development of the city's climate plan centered on building 3,000 new housing units downtown by 2020. But the draft plan, released earlier this month, aims for 300 units. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120217/A_NEWS/202170318&cid=sitesearch FUELS Report: natural gas could help Fairbanks. A study on building a natural gas distribution network in the Fairbanks area has some good news for residents. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner ( http://bit.ly/xZccKM) says the study finds that bringing natural gas to the area would help residents with their heating bills and improve air quality in Alaska's second largest city. Once fully rolled out, the study says natural gas is estimated to reduce the borough's fine particulate pollution by as much as 93 percent. The study says it also would result in anywhere between $800 and $2,700 of yearly savings for home heating, depending on the final price of gas. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_19987498?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_19987498?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_19987498?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com GREEN ENERGY Kennedy High receives green-planning grant. Kennedy High School is receiving a $15,000 planning grant from the state Clean Technology and Renewable Energy California Partnership Academy program. The money is being used to plan the Green Technology Academy at Kennedy, in collaboration with the Mission Valley Regional Occupational Program, to educate and train students for opportunities in the industry. "Students will benefit from real world learning opportunities through internships, technical lectures from trade experts, job shadowing, hands-on projects, and community-based learning," Mission Valley ROP Superintendent Pete Murchison said in a statement. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19982074?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19982076/kennedy-high-receives-green-planning-grant?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Industry petitions U.S. to ease grid limits. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is sending a petition today to federal regulators proposing a solution to a standard that has limited the amount of solar power that can be added to homes in booming regions like California, Hawaii and New Jersey. These states have seen solar panels, boosted by falling prices and generous subsidies, bloom on rooftops at a record pace. The surge has come so quickly, in fact, that sections of the grid have run into what's known as the 15 percent rule, a standard that has effectively capped rooftop solar installations, frustrating consumers and retailers alike. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/02/16/1 VEHICLES Resurgent General Motors posts record $7.6-billion profit for 2011. Three years after nearly collapsing into liquidation, a resurgentGeneral Motors Co.has posted its best annual profit, surpassing what it earned during its heyday in the mid-1990s. In earning $7.6 billion last year, the automaker demonstrated how it has capitalized on its 2009 bankruptcy reorganization and federal bailout to shed brands, slash debt, rewrite union contracts and close surplus factories. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-gm-comeback-20120217,0,5227978.story Chrysler Pulls Loan Request. Chrysler Group LLC on Thursday withdrew its application for a $3.5 billion low-interest loan from the U.S. Department of Energy to be used to fund research and tooling for more fuel-efficient vehicles. "The DOE's proposed terms were very restrictive and compliance would have negatively affected our operational flexibility," a Chrysler spokeswoman said on Thursday. The decision won't impact Chrysler's ability to achieve its previously announced business targets, she said. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204792404577227532209697696.html?KEYWORDS=vehicles http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/16/2072846/chrysler-pulls-request-for-35b.html OPINION Did not mislead. Your Feb. 13 editorial concerning the small-claims court case brought against Honda is based on an erroneous assertion - that Honda misled its customers by advertising the U.S. EPA fuel economy ratings of the Civic Hybrid. The fuel economy numbers issued by the U.S. EPA that are at the center of this debate were established to help consumers make apples-to-apples comparisons between competing vehicles, based on a federal government standard for the measurement and certification of every new vehicle's fuel economy. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_19983533?IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com BLOGS Brown's budget can't count on cap-and-trade revenue, analyst says. In another blow to the state budget, the state's Legislative Analyst's Office said Gov. Jerry Brown should not count on $500 million in revenue from California's controversial cap-and-trade emissions control program to help balance the budget. Only one-fifth of that sum could be spent without major hurdles, the nonpartisan office concluded in a report issued Thursday. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/02/jerry-brown-budget.html For Mexico City, a Repurposed Landfill. In developing countries, closing a landfill often means just that: locking the gate and walking away. But when Mexico City’s government shut down the giant Bordo Poniente landfill last December, officials announced that they had a full-blown plan for the site. As I write in Friday’s Times, the city aims to capture the methane gas produced by the landfill to fuel a power plant that could supply electricity to as many as 35,000 homes. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/for-mexico-city-a-repurposed-landfill/ Future Fuel Economy Mandates, Part II: Ford. In response to my last column on this subject – Future Fuel Economy Mandates, Part I: 54.5 mpg is going to be hard to reach – commenter TxPatriot wondered why (non-hybrid) modern cars can't deliver the 53-58-mpg fuel economy he says his 1989 Geo Metro does. "I've yet to receive a satisfactory answer to this question," he wrote. Well, for starters, that 23-year-old econobox did not have to carry the structure and all the equipment necessary to meet 2012 federal safety, damageability and emissions standards, or the suite of comfort, convenience and infotainment features even today's small econocars must have to compete. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/17/future-fuel-economy-mandates-part-ii-ford/ The Heartland Files and the Climate Fight. The Heartland Institute, a private group backed by industry and independent donors opposed to government regulation, has for years supported an array of efforts fighting restrictions on greenhouse gases. There’s no great secret there. A blog storm began building Tuesday and broke on Wednesday as environmental groups posted a batch of documents — ranging from tax forms to lists of donors to a 2012 Heartland “climate strategy” — that appeared to expose the group’s game plan, budgets and backers in remarkable detail. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/documents-appear-to-reveal-broad-effort-to-amplify-climate-uncertainty/ ====================================================================== 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 Feb 2012 11:01:26 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 21, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 21, 2012. 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 Scientists Find New Dangers in Tiny but Pervasive Particles in Air Pollution. Fine atmospheric particles — smaller than one-thirtieth of the diameter of a human hair — were identified more than 20 years ago as the most lethal of the widely dispersed air pollutants in the United States. Linked to both heart and lung disease, they kill an estimated 50,000 Americans each year. But more recently, scientists have been puzzled to learn that a subset of these particles, called secondary organic aerosols, has a greater total mass, and is thus more dangerous, than previously understood. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/19/science/earth/scientists-find-new-dangers-in-tiny-but-pervasive-particles-in-air-pollution.html?scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse L.A. Says $1.5 Billion Too Much For Dust Control. The City of Los Angeles claims that a demand for dust abatement at Owens Lake could cost California's taxpayers $1.5 billion. The city wants to test the validity of Great Basins Unified Air Pollution Control District's dust pollution control program under a section of the Health and Safety Code. It says the program could cost $1.5 billion, making it, "the most expensive dust control program in the entire nation, and likely the world." It asks the Superior Court to order the State Air Resources Board to conduct an independent hearing to review Great Basin's 2011 Supplemental Control Requirements Decision (SCRD). Posted. http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/02/17/44002.htm CLIMATE CHANGE Activist Says He Lied to Obtain Climate Papers. A prominent environmental researcher, activist and blogger from Oakland admitted Monday night that he had deceitfully obtained and distributed confidential internal materials from the Heartland Institute, a libertarian group based in Chicago devoted in part to questioning the reality of global warming. Peter Gleick, founder and president of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security, wrote in a statement published on The Huffington Post that he had posed as someone else to get the materials, which include fundraising and strategy documents intended only for the board and top executives of the group. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/science/earth/activist-says-heartland-climate-papers-obtained-by-deceit.html?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20007701?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20007701?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_20007701?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com The inside story of climate scientists under siege. It is almost possible to dismiss Michael Mann’s account of a vast conspiracy by the fossil fuel industry to harass scientists and befuddle the public. His story of that campaign, and his own journey from naive computer geek to battle-hardened climate ninja, seems overwrought, maybe even paranoid. But now comes the unauthorized release of documents showing how a libertarian think tank, the Heartland Institute, which has in the past been supported by Exxon, spent millions on lavish conferences attacking scientists and concocting projects to counter science teaching for kindergarteners. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-skeptics/the-inside-story-of-climate-scientists-under-siege/ Shasta County releases third environmental report on proposed power plant. Shasta County officials have issued a third draft of an environmental impact report for a proposed cogeneration plant in Anderson, once again changing their stance on greenhouse gases. The report says the proposed Sierra Pacific Industries' $40 million plant would not have a significant environmental impact, even though it will release about 330,000 tons of greenhouse gases annually from burning wood to generate electricity. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2012/feb/18/shasta-county-releases-third-environmental-on/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Clean-air regs cost Nevada companies big bucks. Nevada transportation companies that do business in California are finding it costly to comply with rules and regulations enacted to clean up California’s air. Beginning Jan. 1, new California Air Resources Board rules require privately owned diesel trucks to be retrofitted with exhaust filters to capture pollutants before they are emitted to the air. CARB regulations also stipulate replacement of older vehicles beginning in 2015 so that from 2020 to 2023 all older vehicles would be upgraded to meet 2010 exhaust emissions standards. Posted. http://www.nnbw.com/ArticleRead.aspx?storyID=18922 Truck Trailer Skirt Manufacturer TransFoil Systems Reports Spike in Demand for Aerodynamic Trailer Side Skirts. Georgia based manufacturer TransFoil Systems reports seeing a recent spike in demand for Aerodynamic Trailer Side Skirts. These side skirts, also called aerodynamic skirts, wind skirts, or belly fairings, are engineered to reduce the amount of wind turbulence underneath semi trailers, refrigerated trailers, and container chassis. The results have been so pronounced, says Lucas Stewart, president & CEO of TransFoil Systems, that even he has been surprised. "We have been receiving testimonials from TransFoil customers who report saving as much ten or eleven percent on their overall diesel fuel consumption. And these fleet operators are very sophisticated. Posted. http://www.timesunion.com/business/press-releases/article/Truck-Trailer-Skirt-Manufacturer-TransFoil-3341456.php Marine Diesel Engine Fuel Switch Problems Alleviated by New Technology. Diesel engine fuel switching from heavy oil to low sulfur content marine distillates as ships enter the 24-mile offshore Emission Control Area (ECA) of the California Air Resources Board has not always gone smoothly. Now comes an electronic control device, the Diesel Switch MK ll, culmination of ten years' R&D by Swedish manufacturers JOWA Technology, a tool designed to speed up the whole process while removing the wrinkles from a procedure that demands meticulous attention by ships' engineers. Earlier in the week the company, whose technology has been given a stamp of approval by classification society Germanischer Lloyd, reported orders for installation in ten ships of Norway’s Jo Tanker fleet, as well as in its newbuildings. Posted. http://articles.maritimepropulsion.com/article/Marine-Diesel-Engine-Fuel-Switch-Problems-Solved-by-Advanced-Technology-1955.aspx GREEN ENERGY Brown pins legacy to Calif. high-speed rail plans. Critics have called it the train to nowhere and a $98 billion boondoggle. As concerns mount over the practicality and affordability of California's plan to build a high-speed rail system, even many former supporters are beginning to sound skeptical. Not so Gov. Jerry Brown. He has emerged as the most vocal cheerleader of a project that is as risky as it is ambitious. Building a first-in-the-nation project would provide a lasting legacy for the 73-year-old Democratic governor as he moves into the twilight of a long political career. His father is revered for promoting the construction of California's comprehensive water system and expanding the state's higher education system into a national model. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hjqJ_AbX1mt0PE8VP-q3UpT3qgtw?docId=1d4bb70c08bb437d9ca7e7ec7767644a AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/18/2727238/brown-pins-legacy-to-calif-high.html#storylink=misearch www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/18/national/a080113S34.DTL http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/brown-pins-legacy-to-calif-high-speed-rail-plans/article_2e258ecf-ea58-5b6d-90e1-842b0507b726.html California leads nation in green-tech venture capital funding. When it comes to U.S. venture capital funding for the most promising new green technology firms, there's California and there's everybody else. California companies raked in $2.8 billion, or 57%, of the $4.9 billion in venture capital offered up in the so-called clean-tech category of funding nationwide last year, according to a recently released analysis from Ernst & Young. Massachusetts companies were a distant second with $465.1 million, followed by Colorado companies, which pulled in $363.3 million. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-green-tech-funding-20120221,0,4991139.story Why the Clean Tech Boom Went Bust. John Doerr was crying. The billionaire venture capitalist had come to the end of his now-famous March 8, 2007, TED talk on climate change and renewable energy, and his emotions were getting the better of him. Doerr had begun by describing how his teenage daughter told him that it was up to his generation to fix global warming, since they had caused it. After detailing how the public and private sectors had so far failed at this, Doerr, who made his fortune investing early in companies that became some of Silicon Valley’s biggest names—Netscape, Amazon.com, and Google, among others—exhorted the audience and his peers (largely one and the same) to band together and transform the nation’s energy supply. “I really, really hope we multiply all of our energy, all of our talent, and all of our influence to solve this problem,” he said, falling silent as he fought back tears. “Because if we do, I can look forward to the conversation I’m going to have with my daughter in 20 years.” Posted. http://www.wired.com/magazine/2012/01/ff_solyndra/all/1 VEHICLES Car Stickers Reveal More. Car shoppers have a new tool to compare the fuel efficiency and cost of new vehicles. All 2013 model vehicles, which are starting to come out as early as this month, are required to have a revised fuel-economy sticker, says Bo Saulsbury, a researcher at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which developed and maintains the fueleconomy.gov site for the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204369404577209104117053234.html?KEYWORDS=clKEYWORDS%3Dclimate+change MISCELLANEOUS Air Resources Board chair to give Yale conference keynote. The chairman of the California Air Resources Board will give the keynote address at the Yale Environmental Law Association’s second annual conference on Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. Mary Nichols, a Yale Law School graduate and the board’s chairman since 2007, led the implementation of California’s landmark Global Warming Solutions Act, which will aggressively reduce the state’s emission of greenhouse gases over the next decade. She also has been responsible for efforts to curb diesel pollution at ports and to pass regulations aimed at providing cleaner air for Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley. Daniel Esty, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, will introduce her. Posted. http://news.yale.edu/2012/02/20/air-resources-board-chair-give-yale-conference-keynote-0 OPINION Concerned Scientists Reply on Global Warming. The interest generated by our Wall Street Journal op-ed of Jan. 27, "No Need to Panic about Global Warming," is gratifying but so extensive that we will limit our response to the letter to the editor the Journal published on Feb. 1, 2012 by Kevin Trenberth and 37 other signatories, and to the Feb. 6 letter by Robert Byer, President of the American Physical Society. (We, of course, thank the writers of supportive letters.) We agree with Mr. Trenberth et al. that expertise is important in medical care, as it is in any matter of importance to humans or our environment. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203646004577213244084429540.html?KEYWORDS=clKEYWORDS%3Dclimate+change Climate denial in the classroom. The culture wars have been fought in the classroom for decades, waged over such issues as school prayer, the teaching of evolution and whether the Pledge of Allegiance should include the phrase "under God." But the conflict usually pits backers of religious instruction against secularists. The latest skirmish, by contrast, is centered on a scientific issue that has nothing to do with religious teaching: climate change. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-climate-20120220,0,3564279.story http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/21/2730208/climate-denial-in-the-classroom.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/21/2078963/climate-denial-in-the-classroom.html Viewpoints: State should tap into 'biogas' as a clean energy source. References to "biogas" in the political arena are likely to elicit jokes about the seemingly endless speeches during this election year. But in 2012, I plan on leading California in establishing a more sensible policy toward the real thing. Biogas, also known as bio-methane, is natural gas produced by decomposing matter. In other words, it's a byproduct of many regular activities. Landfills, water treatment plants and dairy farms all generate biogas during the regular course of business. Biogas can be burned instead of natural gas in electricity-producing facilities, natural gas-powered vehicles and home appliances. It also generates just a quarter of the lifetime emissions of "regular" natural gas, a fossil fuel. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/21/4278134/state-should-tap-into-biogas-as.html Dan Walters: Big green needed to ‘go green'. California has made a full-blown commitment to reducing reliance on fossil-fuel energy and other limited resources. The state is mandating that automakers dramatically ramp up sales of battery-powered and other low-emission cars. It is imposing new cap-and-trade emission controls on business with hefty fees. Utilities are required to use solar, wind and geothermal sources for a third of their electricity supply by 2020, while owners of homes and businesses are being urged to install solar panels. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/california-341072-green-state.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/19/2077031/walters-going-green-has-its-costs.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/walters/walters-going-green-will-cost-lots-of-green/article_0967ef1a-7e1d-5828-828e-bd9222d6ae27.html Europe's Cap-and-Trade Lesson for California. In October of last year, a unanimous vote by the Golden State’s “Air Resources Board” gave California the nation’s first ever state-administered cap-and-trade program. According to the Los Angeles Times, the board’s plan—slated to go into effect this year—was inspired by European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme. The California program’s European roots may be an inspiration to some here in the states. But in light of recent reports regarding the current status of the EU’s cap-and-trade program, such connections should instill concern rather than confidence amongst many Americans. Posted. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/on-energy/2012/02/17/europes-cap-and-trade-lesson-for-california BLOGS The Quest for ‘Hydricity’. In the 1980s and ’90s, hydrogen fuel cell technology seemed like a strong candidate for use in cars and stationary applications, converting hydrogen to electricity with no emissions beyond a puff of antiseptic water vapor. Geoffrey Ballard, founder of Ballard Power Systems, coined a term to describe the new system, “hydricity,” a fusion of hydrogen and electricity. Surplus electricity could be used to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, with the hydrogen stored for reconversion into electricity. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/21/the-quest-for-hydricity/ Indirect Carbon Emissions and Why They Matter. According to our recent research, a combination of regulation and consumer demand means that 93% of multinational companies are now taking steps to address carbon emissions directly related to their business. More companies are recognising that lowering their carbon emissions leads to reputational and efficiency gains, which means savings to the bottom line and ultimately increased revenue. There is also an increasingly pressing need to address a bigger challenge – ‘scope 3’ or indirect emissions that are a consequence of the activities of the reporting company, but occur at sources owned or controlled by another organisation – including both upstream and downstream of companies along the value chain. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/02/indirect-carbon-emissions-matter/ EVs Charged Up for $10K Rebate. Those thinking about jumping into the EV market might have a nice new incentive in the form of a $10,000 rebate, which is part of President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2013 budget plan. The proposal is a boost and a change in direction – buyers of electric vehicles currently are eligible for a $7,500 tax credit for the tax-filing year, while the new rebate program would allow consumers to slice $10,000 off the top of an EV at the time of purchase. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/02/evs-charged-10k-rebate/ Renewables Are a Reality: How We Can Ditch Fossil Fuels Without Any Help From Congress. Amory B. Lovins is fond of referring to the Rocky Mountain Institute, where he serves as chairman and chief scientist, as a “think and do” tank, and it’s clear that to Lovins the doing is every bit as important as the thinking. Hardly lacking in confidence or ambition, Lovins — in conjunction with his colleagues at the institute — has published Reinventing Fire, his step-by-step blueprint for how to transition to a renewable energy economy by mid-century. Posted. http://www.alternet.org/environment/154222/renewables_are_a_reality%3A_how_we_can_ditch_fossil_fuels_without_any_help_from_congress/?page=entire ====================================================================== 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 Feb 2012 11:27:59 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 22, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 22, 2012. 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 National parks conservation group urges tighter air quality measures to protect Mammoth Cave. A plan by the Environmental Protection Agency to exempt some older coal plants from tough air quality standards could hurt Mammoth Cave National Park, according to the National Parks Conservation Association. The group is urging the EPA not to allow the exemption, citing a report released this month that it would allow emissions of 243 percent more nitrogen oxides "than the best pollution controls would allow." Posted. http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/f061fb5dbd374320884b108ec44f3a0b/KY--Mammoth-Cave-Power-Plant/ CLIMATE CHANGE UN climate chief turns to CEOs for action. As governments bicker over who should do what to slow the pace of global warming, the U.N.’s climate chief is increasingly looking to business leaders to show the way forward to a low-carbon future. Christiana Figueres told The Associated Press that her efforts to reach out to high-profile executives from companies such as Coca-Cola, Unilever and Virgin Group represent “a deeper recognition of the fact that the private sector can contribute in a decisive way.” Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hGmqzwwpyR_8KNIPc9c3wyKaD62A?docId=e17ea0a8642f496a9a5b08593c08deed AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ap-interview-un-climate-chief-courts-ceos-in-bid-to-accelerate-efforts-to-curb-warming/2012/02/21/gIQAOp6aRR_story.html http://www.nctimes.com/business/un-climate-chief-turns-to-ceos-for-action/article_a72a30dc-9b04-5a38-a2a4-a25516f3eb79.html#ixzz1n8F8j4Mi Greenhouse gas battle could reap billions in auctions. As California’s attempt to curb climate-changing greenhouse gases ramps up, critical pieces of the landmark law remain uncertain, including the impact of the all-important auctions of hundreds of millions of so-called “emission allowances” that will serve as the spur for utilities, refiners and others to comply. Over the next eight years, the quarterly auctions by some estimates are projected to raise between $8 billion and $41 billion, with the money going to everything from helping balancing the state budget to promoting the virtues of clean energy to giving breaks to millions of residential and commercial electricity customers. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=10dg2dfoaglpo1s&xid=10dfn6vkwnv1z7e&done=.10dg2dfoagm1o1s# DIESEL EMISSIONS Incentives help Sacramento Valley farmers replace diesel pumps with electric to cut pollution. A wine grape vineyard in Galt is helping to clear the air in the Sacramento Valley. The ranch is one of hundreds that are replacing sooty diesel irrigation pumps with cleaner electric pumps, part of a regional program to cut diesel emissions in agriculture, construction and trucking. Carl Maggio, ranch manager at the Pacific Agri Lands vineyard in Galt, said the property has 10 pumps to draw groundwater for irrigating the grapes. Three diesel pumps have been replaced with electric ones, and he's expecting to replace two more this year. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/18/4273065/incentives-help-sacramento-valley.html Swift and Los Angeles reach port truck cash settlement. The Port of Los Angeles and Swift Transportation have reached a settlement over the mega-carrier’s $11.8 million grant grab from the port to purchase new trucks. In 2010, the port revealed that only 30 percent of the 2,000 trucks purchased with port money had made the required 300 trips per year. At that time, nearly 400 trucks purchased with the port money hadn’t made a single trip to the port. Swift will pay the port $4 million, confirmed Phillip Sanfield, Los Angeles port spokesman. “We’re pleased the Los Angeles Harbor Commission approved the settlement between the port and Swift,” Sanfield said. “The settlement avoids any potential for a costly and protracted legal battle.” Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=22826 Emission regs may force Willows to upgrade equipment. Emission standards designed to control air pollution has Willows officials scrambling to find money to buy new heavy equipment. With an anticipated general fund deficit, the city hopes to use grant funding to purchase a new street sweeper that meets clean air standards, officials said last week. The California Air Resources Board, which developed a comprehensive strategy to control diesel emissions, set goals to reduce diesel particulate mater emissions in California by 85 percent by 2020. Construction equipment such as bulldozers, cranes, sweepers and forklifts account for 32 percent of all carbon dioxide and seven percent of fine particle emissions expelled in the air, according to the state. Posted. http://www.willows-journal.com/common/printer/view.php?db=wjournal&id=7999 Donaldson Gets CARB OK. Donaldson Co. said that it has received Level 3 Plus conditional verification by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for its Non Road Low NO2 Filter (NR-LNF Muffler). The emissions retrofit device is applicable to off-road engines produced from 1996 to 2010 with power ranges from 100 to 600 Hp. The NR-LNF Muffler incorporates a DPF (diesel particulate filter) solution for vehicles with sufficient duty cycles to permit a passive DPF. “We’re very pleased to have received the CARB conditional verification for the NR-LNF Muffler,” said Ted Angelo, Exhaust & Emissions general manager at Donaldson. “This expands the successful LNF product into the off-road market, where performance and compact size are critical. Posted. http://www.dieselprogress.com/emissionstechnologyforum/index_news_detail.asp?pick=472&fm=N FUELS Canadian oil: Could some of it be headed for California? Much of the focus behind Canada’s push to build a new oil pipeline to the West Coast has been to diversify its markets, to reduce its reliance on the U.S. as a customer. The Canadian government says it wants to start selling oil to China and South Korea. But there are strong indications that California could be the ultimate destination for much of the oil shipped on the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline. Analysts say California could see as much as half of the oil transported out of the tar sands of northern Alberta to a port on the coast of British Columbia, where it would be loaded onto tankers for destinations as yet unknown. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-canadian-oil-20110221,0,1702847.story Money Minute: Can we drill our way to lower gas prices? [Video] Gas prices are climbing -- again. And as they go up, calls are growing in some quarters for more domestic oil drilling. But can we drill our way to energy independence? The answer, experts say, is no. And it's a simple math problem. The United States consumes more than 20% of the world's oil every year and a similar percentage of natural gas. But we have only about 1.6% of proven oil reserves and only about 3.8% of proven gas reserves. That means we could drill like fiends, planting oil rigs everywhere there's oil to be tapped, and we'd still be importing fuel. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-money-minute-20120221,0,2140886.story VEHICLES Fisker: My company is 'viable, self-funded'. Just to be clear, Henrik Fisker says his fledging auto company is not circling the drain. Fisker Automotive recently missed vehicle development and sales milestones needed to obtain another round of Department of Energy funding -- resulting in layoffs and speculation that the luxury-hybrid startup is failing. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20120220/OEM02/302209970#ixzz1n8IU5UIu OPINION Heartland Institute: Not a think tank, just in the tank. The purported Heartland Institute internal documents leaked to media outlets last week were not exactly revelatory. Collectively, the 100 or so pages describe an advocacy group going about the business of pushing its agenda and raising money to help it do so. Chicago-based Heartland has been doing that since it was created in 1984 "to discover, develop and promote free-market solutions to social and economic problems," according to its current mission statement. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/22/2080639/heartland-institute-not-a-think.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY BLOGS New Enzyme Could Cut Cost of Ethanol Made From Waste. It is one of the holy grails of clean energy production: finding a way to make ethanol from the cellulose in biowaste like corn husks and household trash. Although several pilot projects are up and running — with many more in the pipeline — commercial production has remained elusive, with the costs remaining much higher than for producing ethanol from corn, or gasoline. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/new-enzyme-could-cut-cost-of-ethanol-made-from-waste/ Battery cost dropping below $200 per kWh soon, says Tesla's Elon Musk. During its recent fourth quarter 2011 financial results Q&A conference call, CEO Elon Musk had, of course, lots to say about Tesla Motors and its various products. One statement though, concerning the falling cost of batteries, spoke to the broader electric vehicle (EV) market and bears repeating. The high price of energy storage is, after all, one of the major barriers to lower EV prices and, consequently, faster consumer adoption. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/21/battery-cost-dropping-below-200-per-kwh-soon-says-teslas-elon/ ‘Sticky smog’ might help solve smoggy mystery. The hazardous gases that make up Southern California’s smoggy haze might stick together like tar, not dissolve inside droplets, a new study by UC Irvine scientists shows. And while that might sound like splitting hairs, it could have profound implications for how we understand smog and forecast its effects. The finding, by UCI chemistry professor Barbara Finlayson-Pitts and a team of researchers, might help solve the mystery of “missing” smog particles — the huge discrepancy known to pollution regulators between the amount of some kinds of smog particles forecast by computer models, and the far larger amount seen in reality. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2012/02/21/sticky-smog-might-solve-pollution-mystery/168278/ E15 may be cleared for commercial sales by summer, advocates say. E15, which is gasoline with a blend of 15 percent ethanol, may be cleared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to be sold as commercial gasoline in time for the busy summer driving season, website DomesticFuel.com reports, citing statements by ethanol advocates Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/22/e15-may-be-cleared-for-commercial-sales-by-summer-advocates-say/ ====================================================================== 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 Feb 2012 12:14:27 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 23, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 23, 2012. 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 challenge EPA air quality permits to halt Arctic drilling. Conservation groups are challenging proposed exploratory oil drilling the Arctic Sea at every step of the way, most recently with a lawsuit challenging an EPA air pollution permit for Shell’s proposed operations in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. The lawsuit filed in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals last week claims the permits shouldn’t have been issued because Shell’s oil exploration ship, the Discoverer, doesn’t meet the latest Clean Air Act standards. Posted. http://summitcountyvoice.com/2012/02/23/groups-challenge-epa-air-quality-permits-to-halt-arctic-oil-drilling/ CLIMATE CHANGE EU committee makes no decision on oil sands crude. A European Union committee failed Thursday to reach a definite decision on labeling oil derived from oil sands as worse for climate change than crude oil—a proposal vigorously opposed by officials in Canada, where such oil is produced. The proposal will now ultimately be decided by the environment ministers of EU's 27 member countries, said a spokesman for EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard. The spokesman, Isaac Valero-Ladron, said a decision was expected by June. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gJmnjoBSOnN4LEoqYarNZtpB7jnA?docId=fd82ae02076b4d748a73805e1123f526 AP Newsbreak: http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20026894?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20026894?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/23/2082260/eu-committee-makes-no-decision.html http://www.nctimes.com/business/eu-committee-makes-no-decision-on-oil-sands-crude/article_e50da478-dbb1-51ba-92f2-d659f68ce5bb.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/23/financial/f042020S88.DTL Why Do Meteorologists Dismiss Climate Change Science? Meteorologists are notoriously reluctant to accept climate change. Why so? Theirs is a profession that studies the weather, which is akin to what climate scientists do by studying the weather over relatively long periods. Of course, they are not as educated as climate scientists who have PhD's in their field, while many meteorologists have college degrees unrelated to meteorology. Meteorologists know the pitfalls of being wrong when making a forecast, however, they do not seem to realize that the conclusions of climate scientists are not the same as saying there is a 50% chance of precipitation tomorrow. The International Panel on Climate Change or IPCC put a probability that it is more than 90% likely that man is causing climate change. Do meteorologists, weathermen to use a more prosaic term, just feel inferior to climate scientists or just why are they so dismissive about climate change? Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marvin-meadors/why-do-meteorologists-dis_b_1289630.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Blue Bird Bus Engines Earn EPA, CARB Certification. Blue Bird Corporation, a leading manufacturer of school buses that is based in Fort Valley, Ga., announced that the Cummins ISB6.7 engineers in its 2010-2012 school buses has received certification from EPA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The company also said customers are reporting outstanding results from Selective Catalytic Reduction technology that, to date, has been installed on more than 10,000 school buses by the company. "The ability to deliver these new ratings can be attributed to Cummins' total system integration with SCR technology. This system integration, coupled with the highly capable base engine, result[s] in the ability to deliver near-zero emissions without compromising fuel economy, reliability or durability," its Feb. 21 news release states. Posted. http://ohsonline.com/articles/2012/02/23/blue-bird-bus-engines-earn-certification.aspx?admgarea=news FUELS For Cleaner Burning Coal, Throw It In The Microwave. Opponents of coal argue that we must wean ourselves off one of the dirtiest fossil fuels around. They don’t, however, argue with statistics that show we’re burning mind-boggling volumes of the stuff every year. That weaning won’t be pleasant. Led by emerging economies such as China, coal consumption is up 403% in Asia over 1980, while North America burns about 1.1 billion tons each year generating about half of its electricity (see this infographic to understand just how much coal China uses). The Energy Information Administration predicts world coal consumption will rise an average rate of 1.5 percent annually through 2035. Posted. http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679321/for-cleaner-burning-coal-throw-it-in-the-microwave Map shows avalanche of cellulosic ethanol projects on the way. In the battle between food and fuel, cellulosic ethanol might not be a great idea or even a viable solution to our energy woes, but enzyme company Novozymes says it’s coming, regardless. (Cellulosic ethanol is different than the regular kind — it’s produced from “leftover” crop waste that is first digested by enzymes.) Posted. http://grist.org/list/map-shows-avalanche-of-cellulosic-ethanol-projects-on-the-way/ GREEN ENERGY In Germany, solar will be as cheap as conventional electricity by 2013. Solar probably won’t really take off until it makes more economic sense to slap some photovoltaics on your roof than to continue paying your utility company for their dirty, probably mostly coal-fired power. That day has arrived in parts of sunny California and Hawaii, and it’s coming to (not-so-sunny) Germany by 2013, reports Michael Coren at Fast Company. Global PV solar installation grew from 0.26 GW to 16.1 GW between 2000 to 2010, while manufacturing costs fell 100 times. Of course, “grid parity,” as it’s called, doesn’t mean you can just painlessly switch from the old power source to a new one. There’s still the up-front cost of installing solar panels, which is a lot to spend, even on something that is going to save you money in the long run. Posted. http://grist.org/list/in-germany-solar-will-be-as-cheap-as-conventional-electricity-by-2013/ VEHICLES Who killed the electric car? You, perhaps, if you didn't charge it. DON'T leave your electric car parked for too long - by the time you get back it could have turned into a $200,000 brick. Electric car maker Tesla is defending claims its cars become immobilised if the battery ever becomes completely discharged. This results in a battery replacement cost of about one-fifth the car's $206,000 sticker price. Tesla owners in the US who have parked their vehicles with low battery power remaining - for as little as a week - have found their cars had become "bricks" that could not be re-charged. Posted. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/technology/who-killed-the-electric-car-you-perhaps-if-you-didnt-charge-it/story-fn5izo02-1226279836483 BLOGS A Chat With RealClimate Blogger Gavin Schmidt. I’m in the second year of co-teaching a Pace University course helping environmental science graduate students develop the ability to communicate their work and avoid the pitfalls that come in a field that is often at the center of policy disputes. (You might have seen scientists at the center of a few such disputes of late.) The students write letters to the editor and op-ed-style articles. They learn to use Twitter (the course hashtag is #PaceEnv) and blogs both for outreach and as learning and network-building tools. They become comfortable giving public presentations. And they hear from an array of guests, often via Skype, who recount what they’ve learned as public scientists. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/a-chat-with-realclimate-blogger-gavin-schmidt/ >From Unlikely Source, Car-Sharing Start-Up Gets $13.7 Million Vote of Confidence. Zipcar, the international car-sharing service, has led a $13.7 million investment in Wheelz, a start-up company that has helped students at Stanford University rent their personal vehicles to other students on campus since September. Hundreds of Stanford students are signed up and using 25 vehicles registered with Wheelz, according to Jeff Miller, a co-founder and the company’s chief executive. Wheelz plans to start a network next week at the University of California, Berkeley. Additional programs at the University of Southern California and the University of California, Los Angeles, are expected to follow. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/22/from-an-unlikely-source-a-car-sharing-start-up-gets-a-13-7-million-vote-of-confidence/ Will your kid be taught that climate change is a hoax? One revelation from the recent Heartland Institute document leak is that the group is crafting a K-12 curriculum to teach kids that global warming is “controversial.” Heartland officials have confirmed this. So is climate change set to join evolution as the next big classroom controversy? Things do seem to be trending that way. Joshua Rosenau spends most of his time defending the teaching of evolution in schools for the National Center for Science Education. But a few years ago, he noticed that the teachers he was doing workshops with were far more interested in learning how to talk about global warming. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/will-your-kid-be-taught-that-climate-change-is-a-hoax/2012/02/22/gIQAp6fFVR_blog.html Hong Kong’s Killer Pollution. With its iconic skyline, world-class infrastructure and China’s giant economy at its doorstep, Hong Kong has long been an attractive choice to those looking for a perch in Asia. But there’s a not-so-hidden catch: Its toxic air pollution is killing people at a rate worse than in mainland China. Air pollution can be blamed for 43 out of every 100,000 deaths in Hong Kong, the 8th highest mortality rate in the world, according to a new report by local lobby group Clean Air Network (CAN). Based on those numbers, Hong Kong’s air is more than 20% deadlier than the air in mainland China. Posted. SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/02/23/hong-kong%E2%80%99s-killer-pollution/?KEYWORDS=air+pollution Satellite study finds NO2 and SO2 pollution over Canadian oil sands region comparable to that of a large power plant. Atmospheric nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide pollution over Canada’s oil sands region is comparable to that seen over a large power plant, according to satellite remote sensing observations of the two pollutants reported in a paper in Geophysical Research Letters, a publication of the American Geophysical Union. The international team of researchers created high-resolution maps that revealed distinct enhancements in both pollutant species over an area (roughly 30 km x 50 km, or 19 miles x 31 miles) of intensive oil sands surface mining at scales of a few kilometers. The magnitude of these enhancements, quantified in terms of total mass, are comparable to the largest seen in Canada from individual sources, the team said. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/02/mclinden-20120223.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 Feb 2012 13:07:01 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 24, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 24, 2012 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 Fairbanks Borough Assembly sets emission standards. FAIRBANKS, Alaska—The North Star Fairbanks Borough Assembly has passed an ordinance setting emission standards for wood and other fuel burners. Under the ordinance, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner ( http://bit.ly/xXhawn) reports that the fuel-burning devices are limited to 30 percent opacity. The ordinance goes into effect Oct. 29. The move by the borough followed nearly two hours of heated public testimony Thursday night. The new standard is part of a wider range of efforts by the borough to tackle the problem of air pollution, which exceeds federal standards. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20036817?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20035875?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20036817?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com CLIMATE CHANGE Actress Lucy Lawless and Greenpeace activists climb oil-drilling ship in New Zealand protest. Television actress Lucy Lawless climbed aboard an oil-drilling ship Friday in New Zealand, joining six Greenpeace activists to try to stop the vessel from setting off for the Arctic. Speaking from atop a 174-foot (53-meter) drilling tower aboard the Noble Discoverer in Port Taranaki, Lawless told The Associated Press on Friday that wind gusts were making it difficult to stay put but that she and the other protesters planned to stay there for “as long as we possibly can.” She said she had a “little bit” of food and some provisions with her. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/actress-lucy-lawless-and-greenpeace-activists-climb-oil-drilling-ship-in-new-zealand-protest/2012/02/23/gIQALAeRWR_story.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Event highlights clean diesel technology. A day-long exhibition and press event featuring the most modern clean diesel trucks and tractors and highlighting the major advances in clean diesel technology over the past decade will be held Feb. 28. The exhibit will be held outside the CAL-EPA building in downtown Sacramento and sponsored by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and diesel industry officials. Posted. http://fleetowner.com/trucking_news/event-hilights-clean-diesel-0224/ FUELS E.U. Stalemate on 'Dirty' Label for Fuel From Tar Sands. Years of lobbying over European Union rules that would label fuel from tar sands as more polluting than fuels from other sources reached a stalemate Thursday when a committee of technical experts failed to agree on the draft. The European Commission, the Union’s executive branch, and many environmentalists say the “dirty” label is necessary to help fuel buyers choose the least carbon-intensive energy forms and help to curb global warming. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/business/global/eu-stalemate-on-dirty-label-for-fuel-from-tar-sands.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=fuels&st=cse Alpha Natural Resources posts $733M loss. Alpha Natural Resources posted a fourth-quarter loss Friday after booking $745 million in charges due to weak demand for coal and also new environmental regulations. Losses amounted to $733 million, or $3.34 per share, for the final three months of 2011, compared with a profit of $10.8 million, or 9 cents per share, in the same part of 2010. Revenue more than doubled to $2.07 billion. AP NEWSBREAK: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/24/financial/f050633S54.DTL#ixzz1nJonvNdW http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20035875?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20035875?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20035875?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/24/2734525/alpha-natural-resources-posts.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/alpha-natural-resources-reports-733-million-loss-due-to-goodwill-impairment-charge/2012/02/24/gIQAByqgXR_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/24/2083717/alpha-natural-resources-posts.html Gas prices could cause election-year headache for Obama. President Obama said Thursday that there are no “quick fixes” for rising gasoline prices that are threatening the economic recovery and providing fodder for attacks from his political rivals.Gas prices have risen 29 cents per gallon since December, with regular-grade gas now averaging $3.64 a gallon in the Washington region at a time of year when consumers usually enjoy a respite from price hikes. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/gas-prices-could-cause-election-year-headache-for-obama/2012/02/24/gIQAgvw4XR_story.html Bigger corn crop may help food and fuel prices. The U.S. corn crop may rise as farmers plant the most acres since World War II, easing pressure on higher food and fuel prices, the government said. Soybean planting may be little changed while wheat expands. Farmers will sow corn on 94 million acres, up 2.3 percent from last year and the most since 1944, Joe Glauber, the chief economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said Thursday at a conference in Arlington, Va. The forecast was less than the 94.329 million expected by analysts in a Bloomberg News survey, and unchanged from an estimate in the USDA's 10-year baseline report, released Feb. 13. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/23/BUV31NBHA3.DTL#ixzz1nJqjThd4 Small businesses find ways to cope with gas prices. As any driver knows, rising gas prices can put a dent in a household budget. For small business owners, it can hurt - or even wipe out - profits. The recent rise in the price of gas is pressuring business owners to find ways to protect their earnings. Some of their strategies are simple, such as using GPS devices to track fuel usage. Others are drastic - like moving manufacturing operations to the U.S. from Asia. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/23/2082971/small-businesses-find-ways-to.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Register for solar power meeting. Coachella Valley property owners can learn about the potential benefits of solar power at a meeting hosted by the city of Palm Desert and Southern California Edison from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday. Pre-registration is required for the free solar connection event in the Council Chamber at Palm Desert City Hall, 73-510 Fred Waring Drive. SCE and licensed solar contractors will provide information, answer questions and make appointments to evaluate homes for solar energy systems. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012202240338 O’Malley vouches for wind energy bill. Gov. Martin O'Malley testified Thursday on his offshore wind energy bill, telling a House committee the proposal would create jobs and lower reliance on fossil fuels while causing only a modest increase in energy prices. Mr. O'Malley, a Democrat, is taking a second crack at establishing framework for the technology after supporting a failed version of the legislation in the 2011 General Assembly session. The bill would allow wind energy firms to set up turbines off the Eastern Shore and sell renewable-energy credits to in-state energy companies. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/23/omalley-vouches-for-wind-energy-bill/ VEHICLES Ford Boosts China Capacity. Ford Motor Co. on Friday opened its fourth passenger-vehicle assembly plant in China, as it bets that aggressive expansion and new-model introductions will help it overcome strong competition in a moderating vehicle market. The new $490 million factory in the southwestern city of Chongqing will initially produce the latest Focus compact model. Able to churn out up to 150,000 a year, it will take the annual capacity of Ford's Chinese passenger-vehicle joint venture, Changan Ford Mazda Automobile, to 600,000 vehicles, and Ford's global capacity in "C-segment" vehicles—the class to which the Focus belongs—to two million. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203960804577242740048559280.html?KEYWORDS=vehicles BASF Targets Next-Generation Car Batteries. Chemicals giant BASF on Friday underscored its plans for developing next-generation batteries for cars and trucks, after making three acquisitions in the technology this year alone with a total value of more than $100 million. The German company, which released 2011 earnings on Friday, has long been keen to reduce its dependence on cyclical businesses like plastics and chemicals, and has recently set it sights on developing batteries that can be used for electro-mobility for cars and trucks. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2012/02/24/basf-targets-next-generation-car-batteries/?KEYWORDS=vehicles OPINION Editorial: Rogue tactics undermine the climate crusade. As big industries ramp up their campaign to discredit the science of global climate change, researchers who've helped document the threats posed by rising greenhouse gases have paid a steep price. Some have had their emails stolen. Others have come under attack from industry-funded groups. Still others have been summoned to appear before hostile congressional committees. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/23/4284240/rogue-tactics-undermine-the-climate.html 'Stupid' and Oil Prices. 'The American people aren't stupid," thundered President Obama yesterday in Miami, ridiculing Republicans who are blaming him for rising gasoline prices. Let's hope he's right, because not even Forrest Gump could believe the logic of what Mr. Obama is trying to sell. To wit, that a) gasoline prices are beyond his control, but b) to the extent oil and gas production is rising in America, his energy policies deserve all the credit, and c) higher prices are one more reason to raise taxes on oil and gas drillers while handing even more subsidies to his friends in green energy. Where to begin? Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203918304577241623995642182.html?KEYWORDS=green+energy What to do about $4 gas. Angelenos don't get many opportunities to grouse about the weather, so in this town our preferred topic of complainversation is gasoline prices. Lately, we've had a wealth of material. Prices at the pump have been rising for the last five weeks, hitting an average in California of $4.035 for a gallon of regular on Monday, a 5.2% jump over the previous week. This is more than just an inconvenience: If the spike continues, it could derail the nation's economic recovery. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-gasoline-20120223,0,211624.story The Methanol Alternative to Gasoline. PRESIDENT Obama recently called the United States the “Saudi Arabia of natural gas” and asserted that it was time for our oil-dominated transportation fuel market to open the door to natural gas. He’s right. It would be cheaper for consumers and reduce the strategic importance of oil. But first we need cars that can run on methanol, a high-octane fuel made from converted natural gas. We’re producing more natural gas these days than we can use, thanks to new techniques to extract gas from shale. A recent report from the M.I.T. Energy Initiative, “The Future of Natural Gas,” called methanol “the liquid fuel that is most efficiently and inexpensively produced from natural gas.” China has already taken notice. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/opinion/methanol-as-an-alternative-to-gasoline.html?scp=1&sq=fuels&st=cse Beschloss: Energy plan called a total catastrophe. Celebrated, globally published and world-renowned energy expert Michael J. Economides accused the Obama administration of igniting a worldwide energy development civil war that, he believes, the U.S. leadership is destined to lose in confrontation with China. Speaking to a record-sized crowd of the Houston-based Pipe-Valve-Fitting Roundtable, which meets quarter-annually, the much-published exponent of the global energy crisis based his contention on the “misguided” U.S. Energy Department's direction. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012202230347 Infrastructure crisis looming. Maybe it was a sign, though when it comes to the infrastructure crisis confronting Southern California, it's not as if we need any more proof…The surge in high-efficiency and alternative-fuel cars is draining the trust fund used to finance transportation projects through the federal highway gas tax, and by fiscal year 2014, the Congressional Budget Office projects, the fund will be empty. Among the alternatives being discussed are fees based on miles driven, an increase in toll roads and public-private partnerships. Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/ci_20028575?IADID=Search-www.sbsun.com-www.sbsun.com http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_20028575?IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com Gas prices may fuel changes. The following editorial appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on Wednesday, Feb. 22: Motorists stung by rising gas prices may be on their own in the short term, but it's vital that they learn how to cope - for the sake of their household budgets as well as the nation's fragile economic recovery. The early arrival of springtime price increases at the gas pump is being fueled by factors beyond the control of most consumers. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/24/2734527/gas-prices-may-fuel-changes.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/24/2083723/gas-prices-may-fuel-changes.html EDITORIAL: Global warming’s desperate caper. For believers in a science that supposedly is “settled,” global-warming advocates are awfully concerned about the need to silence dissent. Last week, the ethics chairman for the American Geophysical Union resigned in disgrace over his role in a black-bag job meant to intimidate the Heartland Institute, one of the most effective voices questioning the anti-carbon-dioxide orthodoxy. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/23/global-warmings-desperate-caper/ Plant's conversion makes sense for valley. Wind and solar have been the driving forces behind Kern's green energy industry, but lesser-known projects are also contributing. A good example is the Mt. Poso Cogeneration plant, which for 20 years produced power for the grid and steam for nearby oil fields by burning coal and, at times, waste tires. Thanks to a recent conversion project, the plant now runs solely on biomass -- mainly wood waste from local agriculture and municipal programs. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/our-view/x1801991602/Plants-conversion-makes-sense-for-valley BLOGS Will Expensive Gas Push Drivers Out of Big Trucks? Spikes in fuel prices often drive consumers to trade in their gas-guzzling vehicles for more fuel-efficient models, but analysts say the changes in their buying habits generally last a few months at most. After that people tend to return to their old ways, especially if gas prices fall significantly after a surge. But what happens during periods of sustained high fuel prices — like right now? Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/02/23/will-expensive-gas-push-drivers-out-of-big-trucks/?KEYWORDS=vehicles Behind the Controversy, an Effort to Rewrite Curriculum on Climate Change. Focus on the contents of the internal documents leaked last week from the Heartland Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit known for attacking climate science, has been largely lost in the wake of the revelation of the leaker’s identity: Peter Gleick, a scientist. But beyond the controversy and the confession is the fact that Heartland does not deny what the two authentic documents obtained by Dr. Gleick reveal: that the institute is working to influence climate education in the schools. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/behind-the-controversy-an-effort-to-rewrite-curriculum-on-climate-change/?scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Dryden Becomes New York’s Test Town on Fracking. The town of Dryden in upstate New York doesn’t have foundries or auto manufacturing plants. Its residents say they cherish their trees, meadows and farms and local officials said they wanted to preserve what one called “our country way of life” when they passed zoning laws to keep heavy industry away. So it was not surprising when the town board last year passed a ban on hydrofracking. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/23/dryden-becomes-new-yorks-test-town-on-fracking/ Proof that Disclosing Carbon Emissions Increases Stock Prices. A new study by the University of California provides evidence that companies that publicly announce information about their carbon emissions will see a significant and almost immediate increase in share price. The study, conducted by Paul Griffin of UC Davis and Yuan Sun of UC Berkeley, involved an analysis of ten years of news releases from Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire, which regularly publishes press releases disclosing companies’ greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/02/proof-disclosing-carbon-emissions-increases-stock-prices/ GM starts deliveries of 2012 HOV-lane-eligible Chevy Volts in California. An update at least a year-and-a-half in the making, General Motors has just started delivering 2012 Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in models that are eligible for California customers to drive alone in that state's high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes, as the automaker looks to spur sales from the most populous U.S. state. In addition to HOV-lane access thanks to enhAT-PZEV designation, 2012 Chevrolet Volt buyers can be eligible for a $1,500 California rebate in addition to the $7,500 federal tax credit. About 140 California Chevrolet dealers will be carrying the vehicle by the end of the month. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/24/gm-starts-deliveries-of-2012-hov-lane-eligible-chevy-volts-in-ca/ Tesla bricked battery story may have a short circuit. Yesterday's outrageous attack on electric vehicles didn't come from the GOP (for a change), but from a seemingly disinterested blogger, one Michael Degusta. His charges against Tesla include suggesting that its cars will have "eventual, inevitable, catastrophic battery failure," lambasting the company for poor warranty service, accusing Tesla of tracking its owners without consent, and intimating that the company is not only failing to provide owners with proper notice of this phenomenon but also covering up the whole sordid affair. Serious stuff, this post of his that's rippled through the automotive web with the force of a 185-kW electric motor. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/23/tesla-bricked-battery-story-may-have-a-short-circuit/ ====================================================================== 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 Feb 2012 14:21:38 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 27, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 27, 2012. 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 under high pollution advisory, windy conditions likely. The Valley is under a high pollution advisory Monday with the anticipated arrival of wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour in an area that hasn't seen rain in two months. With the pollution advisory from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the Maricopa County Air Quality Department has also put "no burn day" restrictions into place. Monday afternoon or evening, a dry, cold front is expected to move through the Valley. Posted. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/article_1bead418-6164-11e1-896e-0019bb2963f4.html CLIMATE CHANGE EPA Plans to Keep Carbon Rules Limited to Top Polluters. The Environmental Protection Agency proposed keeping U.S. limits on permitting requirements for greenhouse-gas emissions to power plants and other sources that discharge more than 100,000 tons per year. The proposal, posted on the agency’s website on Feb. 24 without notification, would maintain standards established in 2010 for new or revamped plants. The rules require companies building qualifying plants to get state permits, and to use “best available” control technologies. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-02-27/epa-proposes-keeping-carbon-regulation-limited-to-top-polluters.html http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USTRE81Q1JG20120227 EU Lawmakers Seen Backing Moves on CO2 Market. BRUSSELS—European Union lawmakers are expected Tuesday to back the possible withdrawal of carbon-dioxide emissions permits from the EU carbon market, but are likely to soften the language from a previous proposal that had triggered a 30% jump in CO2 prices. The energy committee of the European Parliament, which is negotiating a draft energy efficiency law on behalf of the assembly…Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204520204577249572893132652.html?link=sm_newsticker&_nocache=1330375962969&user=welcome BY SUBSCRIPTION Scientists say cassava will thrive in climate change, best bet for African farmers. Calling cassava “the Rambo of food crops,” scientists Monday said the long-neglected root becomes even more productive in hotter temperatures and could be the best bet for African farmers threatened by climate change. Cassava is the second most important source of carbohydrate in sub-Saharan African, after maize, and is eaten by around 500 million people every day, scientists said. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/scientists-say-cassava-will-thrive-in-climate-change-best-bet-for-african-farmers/2012/02/27/gIQAdvDodR_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/27/international/i063422S70.DTL&type=science http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/27/2087879/scientists-cassava-will-thrive.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Much to Savor, and Worry About, Amid Mild Winter’s Early Blooms. At the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, an experimental plot was in full flower on a recent February afternoon, as the thermometer edged toward 60. The Japanese camellias, which typically bloom in early spring, have displayed their rose-hued flowers continuously since December. Honeybees, a rarity before late March, were nursing the tiny pink clusters on a Dawn viburnum, while the Adonis amurensis, a ground-hugging spring ephemeral, was a profusion of yellow. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/nyregion/amid-winter-blooms-wondering-what-that-means-for-spring.html?scp=6&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Global warming feeds bark beetles: Are they unstoppable? Hear the sound of chewing out in our vast forests of lodgepole pine, spruce and fir, the chewing that’s already destroyed half the commercial timber in important regions like British Columbia? That’s the sound of climate change, says biologist Reese Halter. Global warming in the form of a bark beetle. Halter’s short but disturbing new book, “The Insatiable Bark Beetle,” addresses one of the biggest and most visible issues facing global forests, and particularly the relatively large forests left in the U.S. and Canada. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-global-warming-and-unstoppable-bark-beetles-20120226,0,5332608,print.story Students compete in environmental competition. Twenty-eight teams of students from seven schools are participating in the second Ventura County Idea to Impact competition. Idea to Impact originated when Edison International's Edison Challenge was discontinued in August 2010 and Ventura County teachers didn't want to tell the students, who had already come up with their topics. The Ventura County Office of Education and CSU Channel Islands created a version of their own, according to Debby West of the Oak Park Unified School District. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/feb/24/students-compete-in-environmental-competition/ EPA greenhouse gas rules face new legal challenges. U.S. limits on greenhouse gas emissions face a challenge in federal court this week from more than 100 industry groups and several U.S. states, the latest high-profile effort to halt or overturn the Environmental Protection Agency's rules. Three federal judges will hear arguments on Tuesday and Wednesday at the D.C. Court of Appeals from groups seeking to overturn the regulations and also convince the judges that the science used by the EPA is wrong. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/10115841 Reducing Production of Super Greenhouse Gas Under Montreal Protocol Is Critical Climate Strategy. Phasing down the production and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol ozone treaty is one of the most effective climate protection strategies available to the world today: it could substantially eliminate emissions of one of the fastest growing greenhouse gases globally. Low-climate-impact substitutes for HFCs are already available and could be quickly adopted. Posted. http://www.enn.com/press_releases/3938/print FUELS Sweating Rocks for Oil Splits Shell, Environmentalists. A proposal to tap the world’s largest oil-shale deposits in the western U.S. by heating rocks until petroleum sweats out has become the latest election-year conflict over energy policy. Companies including Chevron Corp. (CVX), Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDS/A), an Estonia utility called Eesti Energia AS, and a joint venture of Genie Energy Ltd. and France’s Total SA (FP), are seeking to tap into as much as 4.29 trillion barrels of oil. Posted. http://webfarm.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-02-27/sweating-rocks-for-oil-pits-shell-against-u-s-environmentalists.html Canadian firm to push ahead with part of Keystone pipeline. The Canadian firm hoping to build a massive oil pipeline from Canada to the U.S. gulf coast announced Monday that it will push ahead with plans to build a $2.3 billion segment of the pipeline running from Cushing, Okla., to Port Arthur, Tex., while submitting a separate permit application for the portion of the project running from the Canadian border to Steele City, Neb. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/canadian-firm-to-push-ahead-with-part-of-keystone-pipeline/2012/02/27/gIQAvJFtdR_story.html Keystone XL: Trans-Canada not giving up, forges ahead on 2 fronts. Reporting from Seattle— The Canadian pipeline company thwarted last year in its bid to build the 1,700-mile Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the Texas Gulf Coast hasn't given up. The company on Monday announced its intention to reapply for a permit for the project -- and to proceed immediately with plans to build the southern portion of the pipeline, from Oklahoma to the coast. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-keystone-xl-20120227,0,7186079.story http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/27/4294975/trans-canada-not-giving-up-on.html Gas prices soaring in Sacramento. Sacramento-area gasoline prices are in full flight. The average price of gas in the Sacramento area rose a whopping 24.6 cents to $4.19 a gallon over the past week, according to today's weekly report by www.SactoGasPrices.com, a www.GasBuddy.com website. That was on top of a nearly 20-cent increase the week before. Local pump prices are now 50.3 cents per gallon higher than one year ago, and 55.1 cents above last month. Nationally, the average price jumped 11.3 cents to $3.64 a gallon. That's 26.6 cents higher than last month and 29.8 cents higher than last year. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/27/4294498/gas-prices-rise-a-quarter-in-a.html Amyris captures $83.7 million in new financing to close cash flow gap, shares surge. Amyris has landed $83.7 million in additional financing, a combination of equity and debt, helping the Emeryville-based biofuels company to combat its woes in scaling up production, Amyris said Monday. The financing includes a $58.7 million private placement of stock by new investors, including a company owned by Qatar-based Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani, as well as existing investors such as France-based Total Gas & Power. Amyris also obtained $25 million in convertible debt that's due in 2017. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_20054409 VEHICLES Nissan recalling vehicles for possible gas leaks. Nissan says it is recalling more than 79,000 vehicles in the U.S. to fix possible gasoline leaks. The automaker is recalling certain Nissan Juke small crossover SUVs, Infiniti QX large SUVs and Infiniti M sedans from the 2011 and 2012 model years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says on its website that fuel pressure sensors on the vehicles may not be tight enough and gasoline could leak and cause a fire. Nissan says no fires have been reported. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hdbdhyWXme7ssBTdfViUfqPysbpQ?docId=054e413c18b24593aecb5d8817e26277 AP Newsbreak: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/27/financial/f061456S44.DTL http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/02/27/2738288/nissan-recalling-vehicles-for.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20053660?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Tech companies taking a second look at county. When people think of the United Parcel Service, the international company's well-marketed catch phrase describing its brown delivery trucks likely comes to mind: "What can brown do for you?" Stockton's Electric Vehicles International company, however, had a different thought: "What can green do for brown?" EVI is hard at work building 100 electric delivery trucks under a multimillion dollar contract with UPS, a company that wants to modernize its California fleet. EVI Marketing and Sales Director Frank Jenkins said the brown trucks will go 90 miles per charge. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120226/A_SPECIAL13/202240304&cid=sitesearch Detroit automakers race to keep up with sales. Auto sales are growing so fast that Detroit can barely keep up. Three years after the U.S. auto industry nearly collapsed, sales of cars and trucks are surging. Sales could exceed 14 million this year, above last year's 12.8 million. The result: Carmakers are adding shifts and hiring thousands of workers around the country. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/detroit-automakers-race-to-keep-up-with-sales/article_2e2950d8-9bae-537d-99d7-4c066818bd8f.html#ixzz1nbdjlXDI Battery maker, Shanghai at odds over lead report. As Shanghai authorities and major battery maker Johnson Controls clash over what caused a spate of lead poisoning cases, families of the dozens of children recovering from the contamination are fretting over future risks from the heavy metal. Shanghai has prohibited the U.S. battery maker from resuming lead processing at its automotive battery plant in the city's outskirts following a probe that blames the company for excess lead emissionsPosted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/battery-maker-shanghai-at-odds-over-lead-report/article_d1258cb0-ff50-5825-8fc2-4af773247f5f.html#ixzz1nbdNt1Dq EVs in fleets: What are the benefits? "In the right circumstances EVs can provide a clear benefit for business now", reads a recently launched report "EV 20 Plugged-In Fleets" that provides a guidance to fleet managers on employing electric vehicles (EVs) in fleets. It demonstrates the economic and environmental advantages of EVs in the United Kingdom (UK) while considering their life cycle. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/76220120227.php Tesla: Blogger's battery post sparks ‘irrational' fear over 'bricking'. Electric carmaker Tesla Motors Inc. said a blog post asserting Roadster batteries are at risk of failing if owners don't keep the cars plugged in stoked an "irrational" fear. "A single blogger is spreading a rumor about electric vehicles becoming inoperable," a condition referred to as "bricking," the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company said Friday on its website. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20120225/OEM05/120229920#ixzz1nbkFefpJ GREEN ENERGY How Big a Battery Would It Take to Power All of the U.S.? Haresh Kamath of the Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto, Calif., says many factors will determine how much storage is needed. What penetration of renewables do people want? What level are they willing to pay for? How much transmission are they willing to live with? What kind of loads are they likely to use? And what level of reliability are they prepared to live with? Posted. http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=castelvecchi-how-big-battery-would-it-take-power-usa&page=2 MISCELLANEOUS Berkeley Law: environmental law. When Joe Sax joined the Berkeley Law faculty in 1986, he had already pioneered a new approach to protecting natural resources. His legal strategy found a receptive audience in the courts. Sax's "public trust doctrine" fueled a series of legal efforts by Californians to protect the state's streams, lakes and tidelands from pollution, overdevelopment and private exploitation. Sax's strategy helped save Tomales Bay in Point Reyes from commercial development. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/26/INNB1N9UKT.DTL&type=printable Cannella's hearing on ag hears from those affected by state regulations. Sen. Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres) held an informational hearing of the California Senate Committee on Agriculture, which he chairs. The hearing covered the impact the state’s regulations have on the agriculture industry. “Today’s hearing was a great opportunity for me to hear directly from those involved in the agriculture community exactly how they are impacted by state regulation,” Cannella said in a news release. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/02/26/2245685/cannellas-hearing-on-ag-hears.html Big changes ahead at Port of Stockton. If Santa Claus came a little late to the Port of Stockton this year, nobody's complaining. Santa's sleigh, in the form of the U.S.-flagged Ocean Titan, arrived in the first week of January to deliver two giant harbor cranes. And those tagged to operate the state-of-the-art behemoths - each reaching as high as 220 feet and weighing 400 tons - couldn't be more pleased. "I love it," said Mike Holman, as he participated in operator training earlier this month. "I haven't been so happy in a long time." Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120226/A_SPECIAL13/202240306&cid=sitesearch OPINIONS Carbon emission policy could slash debt, improve environment. At the end of this year, the United States will confront a trifecta of difficult fiscal challenges: The Bush tax cuts will be set to expire; the defense budget and spending on civilian programs will face a $110 billion sequester; and a new extension of the federal debt limit will be looming. At the same time, the evidence will be clearer than ever that urgent action is needed to protect our nation and the world from irreversible climate change. The overwhelming scientific consensus will have grown even stronger. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/carbon-emission-policy-could-slash-debt-improve-environment/2012/02/13/gIQAQ0LZWR_story.html EDITORIAL: Global warming’s desperate caper. Climate scientist’s theft of Heartland document backfires. For believers in a science that supposedly is “settled,” global-warming advocates are awfully concerned about the need to silence dissent. Last week, the ethics chairman for the American Geophysical Union resigned in disgrace over his role in a black-bag job meant to intimidate the Heartland Institute, one of the most effective voices questioning the anti-carbon-dioxide orthodoxy. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/23/global-warmings-desperate-caper/ Is the fight against global warming hopeless? IS THE FIGHT against global warming hopeless? It can seem so. The long-term threat to the climate comes from carbon dioxide, which lingers in the atmosphere for hundreds of years, locking in higher temperatures for generations. After decades of effort, only about one-tenth of America’s energy mix comes from renewable sources that don’t produce carbon dioxide. But two policies can buy the world more time to allow carbon-free technologies to catch up. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/is-the-fight-against-global-warming-hopeless/2012/02/17/gIQAhRAXaR_story.html Airlines, Emissions and Europe’s Sensible Plan. The carbon dioxide from airplanes accounts for about 3 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, a share projected to go up as air traffic rises. The European Union is now requiring airlines that fly into or out of Europe to pay a fee for these emissions. This is a smart response to an urgent problem. The United States and the other nations opposing the program should either come up with a better idea — soon — or drop their objections. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/opinion/airlines-emissions-and-europes-sensible-plan.html?scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse The greening of faith. Santorum is at odds with his own church on environmental issues. It has long been a maxim that mixing religion and politics can spell trouble. So when Rick Santorum told a partisan crowd in Columbus, Ohio, recently that President Obama's worldview was based on a "phony theology" that drives "radical environmentalists," he must have known his comments would reverberate far beyond his conservative political base. Santorum was speaking of efforts to forestall the worst effects of climate change through controls on greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, and policies aimed at encouraging the development of renewable sources of energy. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-stammer-santorum-and-religious-environmental-20120227,0,5583549.story CLIMATE CHANGE. Truth and denial. Scientist Peter Gleick has given climate-change deniers exactly what they wanted: something to focus on besides the reality of the overwhelming scientific consensus that the planet is warming at an alarming rate and that emissions generated by humans are a major cause. Don't look here for sympathy for Gleick, an oft-quoted source for stories on a wide array of water and science issues, an occasional contributor to our opinion pages and a regular blogger on SFGate's City Brights feature. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/26/INLN1MNTGK.DTL&type=printable Respected voice of climate change has his own meltdown. Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute and a prominent climate change expert, admitted recently that he lied. He pretended to be someone else to obtain documents from the Heartland Institute, which has challenged mainstream scientific consensus on the role of man in climate change. Earlier this month, Gleick was the chairman of the American Geophysical Union's Task Force on Scientific Ethics. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120227/A_OPINION0619/202270302&cid=sitesearch US energy independence requires a balanced strategy. Conserving energy and developing new energy sources. Those used to be "good things." But that was before this election year made them political footballs to be kicked around. I suppose if I wanted to, I could heat and cool my home and leave my lights burning without regard for how much energy I am consuming. And in truck-driving Kern County, I could join a lot of other people on the road, and roar between my home and downtown Bakersfield office in a four-wheel-drive gas-guzzler. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/community/x1801991690/US-energy-independence-A-political-football AB 32: A misguided state law based on a dubious theory. AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, became a law in 2006 under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The law set a goal of greenhouse emissions reduction by 2020: bring carbon emissions down to 1990 levels and produce 30 percent of energy from "renewable sources." The California Air Resources Board has been given authority to develop a plan to reach this goal. The bureaucrats even formed an Environmental Justice Committee. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/community/x2097370331/AB-32-A-misguided-state-law-based-on-a-dubious-theory REGION: Watts up? Mitsubishi volts into e-race. When I got the call, my reaction was decidedly low octane. I hemmed, hawed, hedged and hung up. A couple of days later, I paid $4.05 for gas. Five days later, the price was 30 cents a gallon higher. I really had to make a decision. Early Friday morning, a KNX radio announcer said something that sounded very much like, “Five dollars and nine cents for gas in LA.” That did it. All signs pointed to San Berdoo. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/columns/dan-bernstein-headlines/20120226-region-watts-up-mitsubishi-volts-into-e-race.ece Brown pins legacy to Calif. high-speed rail plans. Critics have called it the train to nowhere and a $98 billion boondoggle. As concerns mount over the practicality and affordability of California's plan to build a high-speed rail system, even many former supporters are beginning to sound skeptical. Not so Gov. Jerry Brown. He has emerged as the most vocal cheerleader of a project that is as risky as it is ambitious. Building a first-in-the-nation project would provide a lasting legacy for the 73-year-old Democratic governor as he moves into the twilight of a long political career. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/perspective/brown-pins-legacy-to-calif-high-speed-rail-plans/article_0ef82c39-7153-5db8-a52e-5cfc604c129b.html#ixzz1nbZn4vik BLOGS Will the EPA’s new climate rules get killed in court? Congress isn’t planning to tackle climate change anytime soon, which means the Environmental Protection Agency is now America’s last line of defense. But could the EPA’s new rules on carbon pollution get tossed out by the courts? We’re about to find out. To regulate or not to regulate? (David Spencer - Associated Press) On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will hear two days of oral arguments from industry groups that are challenging the EPA’s authority to regulate carbon dioxide. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/will-the-courts-kill-the-epas-climate-rules/2012/02/27/gIQAa7rDeR_blog.html The Wages of Eco-Angst. The carbon dioxide from airplanes accounts for about 3 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, a share projected to go up as air traffic rises. The European Union is now requiring airlines that fly into or out of Europe to pay a fee for these emissions. This is a smart response to an urgent problem. The United States and the other nations opposing the program should either come up with a better idea — soon — or drop their objections. Posted. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/the-wages-of-eco-angst/?scp=5&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse A Second N.Y. Ruling Upholds Local Authority Over Gas Drilling. After two state judges upheld drilling bans established by two upstate towns in New York, the question becomes: how many more towns will go ahead and pass their own prohibitions on hydrofracking? A New York state judge ruled Friday that the town of Middlefield in Otsego County can ban natural gas drilling within its borders, the second time in a week that a state court has affirmed local authority over the drilling process known as hydrofracking. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/a-second-n-y-ruling-upholds-local-authority-over-gas-drilling/ Heartland Institute Reveals E-Mail Trail. For those following the tale of the documents stolen from the Heartland Institute, that organization has just posted what it describes as the e-mail trail by which the scientist Peter Gleick obtained material meant for Heartland board members. The posting includes screen shots of the e-mails with most identifying details blacked out. But it’s nonetheless easy to follow the chain of events. Heartland has a fresh statement about the e-mails. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/heartland-institute-reveals-e-mail-trail/ Hybrid Army tank renderings, some specs revealed. New renderings and some specifications for the hybrid-electric U.S. Army tank that's been in the works for more than four years have been revealed. BAE Systems, which demonstrated the first hybrid-drive ground-combat vehicle (GCV) in August 2007, says the tank is as much as 20 percent more fuel-efficient than conventional diesel-powered tanks and is quicker – relatively speaking, of course – off the line. The 70-ton tank has room for 12. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/27/hybrid-army-tank-renderings-some-specs-revealed/ Tesla libel suit against Top Gear fails again. Tesla and the company's lawyers are nothing if not determined. After a judge smacked down the electric vehicle manufacturer's libel suit against the BBC and Top Gear for comments made about the range of the Tesla Roadster, the automaker rallied with a second, amended lawsuit. It didn't take long for the same judge to nix the new case, too, saying the amendment was "not capable of being defamatory at all, or, if it is, it is not capable of being a sufficiently serious defamatory meaning to constitute a real and substantial tort." Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/24/tesla-libel-suit-against-top-gear-fails-again/ A New Battery of Tools to Fight Patent Pollution. The America Invents Act (AIA) of 2011 is the most sweeping reform of the US patent laws since 1952. The new law seeks in part to harmonize the US with the rest of the world by converting the US from a “first to invent” country to a “first to file” a patent application country. In addition, the AIA adds tools to the repertoire of accused infringers for challenging the validity of issued patents at the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/02/a-new-battery-of-tools-to-fight-patent-pollution.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 Feb 2012 11:09:07 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for February 28, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for February 28, 2012. 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 Chico's indoor wood fire regulation period ends Wednesday. CHICO — The first winter enforcement period when indoor wood fires were banned in Chico on poor air quality days comes to an end Wednesday, with no one fined by the city for repeat violations. This winter, the Butte County Air Quality Management District issued 25 of the "Check Before You Light" advisories that trigger the city of Chico's mandatory ban. Federal air quality standards were violated 23 times. Posted. http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_20059801 Energy Efficiency, Air Quality Remain Top Concerns Driving Regional Green Industry. Many of those who work and live in the Greater Long Beach area know that two of the top environmental concerns for the region are air quality and energy efficiency. In addition to addressing these concerns, going “green” may help facilitate economic growth and job creation in the sustainability sector. With its close proximity to the 710 and 405 freeways, and to the neighboring twin port complex, Long Beach is impacted daily by ozone and fine particulate matter pollution. Posted. http://lbbusinessjournal.com/long-beach-business-journal-newswatch/94-lof-scroller-features-12-02-28/379-energy-efficiency-air-quality-remain-top-concerns-driving-regional-green-industry.html CLIMATE CHANGE U.S. greenhouse gas emissions rebound 3.3 percent. Higher energy consumption and warmer weather drove up total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 3.3 percent to 6.866 billion tonnes between 2009 and 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said in its latest emissions inventory report released Monday. After declining in both 2008 and 2009, greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel consumption rose 3.6 percent in 2010, according to the report. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/28/us-carbon-us-idUSTRE81R0E920120228?feedType=RSS Oil Drilling Finds Friends Among Greens Embracing Carbon Capture. Oil drilling, long opposed by environmentalists worried about climate change, gained a friend among green groups that say old wells may offer a low-cost way to keep a gas linked to global warming out of the atmosphere. At an event today in Washington, Southern Co. (SO) and Arch Coal Inc. (ACI) will join their usual green foes to push tax breaks for so- called enhanced oil recovery, which advocates say will boost domestic production and curb emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas scientists blame for rising temperatures. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-28/oil-drilling-finds-friends-among-greens-embracing-carbon-capture.html Caribbean to use loans to ready for climate change. International lenders will give $65 million in concessionary loans to 18 Caribbean nations to help the islands defend their coasts and fragile economies from the impact of climate change. The European Investment Bank will channel its lending through the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank, which announced the initiative Monday. The program will provide low-cost funds for public and private sector projects that deal with climate change adaptation or help reduce carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/27/international/i135742S83.DTL http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20055716?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20055716?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Conn. Shoreline task force holds first meeting. The newly formed Climate Change and Shoreline Preservation task force is planning how it can best investigate the ways Connecticut can adapt to rising sea levels and guard against future storms. The task force met for the first time Monday afternoon to discuss objectives to guide their work. At the meeting some members said they would like to explore legislation that can be adjusted based on an area's need and other conditions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/02/28/financial/f065915S08.DTL Global warming, oceans, top green headlines in February. Global warming is very real. Our oceans are changing and with them, our way of life. Earth depends on a balanced Eco-system. Current news illustrates how far out of balance things have become. Gas prices are rising steadily. February's headlines brought us news of Lucy Lawless fighting back against big oil. Rick Santorum continues to refute global warming. According to Wired Science, Americans are more likely to listen to politicians than scientists. Meanwhile, BBC News tells us colder temperatures in the UK are the direct result of melting ice caps. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/green-culture-in-denver/global-warming-oceans-top-green-headlines-february DIESEL EMISSIONS RAILYARDS: Judge throws out contempt attempt. Railroad officials failed to have Southern California’s air quality chief Barry Wallerstein and other air district officials declared in contempt of court. U.S. District Judge John F. Walter in Los Angeles harshly admonished the railroads for seeking a contempt finding in the first place. Attorneys representing Union Pacific, BNSF Railway and the American Railroad Association had wanted Walter to find Wallerstein, his planning officer and top attorney in violation of his 2007 court order for including rules that limit locomotive idling in a recent regional air clean-up plan. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20120227-railyards-judge-throws-out-contempt-attempt.ece FUELS Canadian firm to proceed with southern leg of Keystone pipeline. Blocked for now in the northern U.S., TransCanada aims to start on a stretch from Oklahoma to the Texas coast. Environmentalists vow to fight. Reporting from Seattle— The Keystone XL battle isn't over. The Canadian company behind the controversial pipeline announced Monday that it would proceed immediately with a shorter version of the project south of Oklahoma — even as it seeks a new permit for the segment through the northern U.S. Opponents immediately vowed to fight on both fronts. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-keystone-20120228,0,2584770.story Sacramento's Pacific Ethanol sees strong sales gains. Robust year-over-year sales increases helped boost 2011 financial results for Sacramento's Pacific Ethanol Inc. PEI, which spent much of 2010 repairing its finances after a 2009 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by its production subsidiaries, on Monday reported sales of $241.7 million in last year's fourth quarter, up from $134.2 million in the same period of 2010. Sales for all of 2011 totaled $901.1 million, up from $328.3 million in 2010. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/28/v-print/4296102/sacramentos-pacific-ethanol-sees.html VEHICLES Obama's Green-Car Plan Runs Into Alternative-Fuel Limits: Cars. President Barack Obama's administration is buying fewer hybrid and electric cars and more vehicles that can consume both ethanol and gasoline to meet 2015 environmental goals, favoring older technology over new. Obama gave speeches across the U.S. last year touting his twin goals of buying only alternative-fuel vehicles for the U.S. fleet by 2015 and getting 1 million electric vehicles on the country's roads by that year. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/02/24/bloomberg_articlesLZUPO01A74E901-LZWR9.DTL Appeals court upholds plan for cleaner air in Utah. A federal appeals court upheld an Environmental Protection Agency mandate Friday for air pollution reductions along a wide area of northern Utah. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., ruled the EPA can force Utah to crack down on industrial and car emissions that blow into the Great Salt Lake basin from Tooele County on the west and Box Elder County on the north. Officials for the largely rural counties filed the lawsuit against the EPA, asserting they shouldn't be forced to control or reduce emissions that drift toward more populated areas along the 120-mile Wasatch Front urban corridor. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/feb/27/appeals-court-upholds-plan-for-cleaner-air-in/ http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-salt-lake-city/legislature-moves-forward-to-stop-slc-idling-ordinance MISCELLANEOUS Toxic chemical found under O.C. building. Levels of tetrachloroethylene exceeding safety standards are found beneath offices used by Orange County agencies, including the Sheriff's Department and Social Services Agency. The building is already the subject of two lawsuits. A toxic chemical used in dry cleaning and for degreasing equipment has been found underneath an Orange County building that is already the subject of two lawsuits, officials said Monday. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-toxic-building-20120228,0,5121225,print.story OPINIONS How to Extract Gas Responsibly. Fracking isn’t going away. To put it another way, the technique of hydraulic fracturing, used to extract natural gas from once-impossible-to-get-at reservoirs like the Marcellus Shale that lies beneath New York and Pennsylvania, has more than proved its value. At this point, shale gas, as it’s called, makes up more than 30 percent of the country’s natural gas supply, up from 2 percent in 2001 — a figure that is sure to keep rising. Fracking’s enemies can stamp their feet all they want, but that gas is too important to leave it in the ground. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/opinion/nocera-how-to-frack-responsibly.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Empty suggestions. Re "What to do about $4 gas," Editorial, Feb. 23. Who wrote this editorial? Not someone who lives in Upland but works in Irvine. Not someone who is an outside sales representative and needs to visits clients. Not someone who is keeping his old car because he cannot afford a car payment. How could someone live in Los Angeles and say that if you are not able to afford an expensive electric car, you can ride public transportation? Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0227-monday-20120227,0,7921727.story GOP drills for votes. Republicans claim to be the champions of the free market. Yet they say that more domestic oil production can lower gasoline prices. They purposely or naively ignore the global nature of the oil market. U.S. domestic production is at its highest level since 2003. But world demand is such that it is impossible for us to produce enough oil to lower the world price. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/28/ED311ND252.DTL To Newt, cheap gas is good. Newt Gingrich presented a stark contrast between Republicans and Democrats on gasoline prices Saturday at the California GOP convention in Burlingame. Gingrich promised, if elected, to bring gasoline prices below $2.50 per gallon. A day earlier, in a signature speech on energy, President Obama told the University of Miami that there "are no silver bullets short term when it comes to gas prices." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/28/ED4U1ND21R.DTL&type=printable Other views: New clean air rule creates jobs. After 20 years of delay and litigation by polluters, the Obama administration approved in December one of the most important rules in the history of the Clean Air Act. It will require power plants to reduce emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants by more than 90 percent in the next five years and is expected to prevent as many as 11,000 premature deaths annually from asthma, other respiratory diseases and heart attacks. The technology to control the pollutants is readily available. Posted. http://www.montereyherald.com/opinion/ci_20049592/new-clean-air-rule-creates-jobs Diane Harkey: The new California currency. The state's carbon cap-and-trade scheme involves monetizing pollution. You can't accuse California of not being creative. You know we have reached the pinnacle in regulation when we cannot manufacture goods and services, but can manufacture a "market" for pollution. Thanks to all the unemployed investment bankers that fled Wall Street after the housing bubble burst, landing in San Francisco to assist us with our debt needs, we will be monetizing pollution. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/state-342107-pollution-certificates.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 Feb 2012 15:43:28 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for February 29, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for February 29, 2012. 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 orders more accurate air-quality measure. China's cabinet ordered on Wednesday new air-quality standards to measure the most dangerous form of particulate matter, following a public outcry over worsening air pollution. The State Council told 31 major regional capitals including Beijing and Shanghai to begin monitoring PM2.5 particulate, or fine particles measuring 2.5 microns in diameter, this year, the cabinet said on its website. The new measure -- which had been demanded by environmental campaigners -- would be compulsory for 113 more cities in 2013, it said. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j5ZtmyH-RaJJuSuxROXSfzM0MxPw?docId=CNG.a2c6398d74224e219834c94f0a38051c.7c1 GenOn Will Shut Plants Through 2015 on Environmental Rules. GenOn Energy Inc. (GEN), the third-largest U.S. independent power producer by market value, expects to shut about 13 percent of its generating capacity by May 2015 because of environmental regulations. Shutdowns will begin in June at the units, which don’t generate enough profit to cover the costs of complying with the rules, Houston-based GenOn said today in a statement. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-02-29/genon-will-shut-plants-through-2015-on-environmental-rules-1-.html Utilities announce closure of 10 aging power plants in Midwest, East. Two separate utilities announced the closure of 10 aging U.S. power plants Wednesday, a move environmental groups hailed as a major victory in their ongoing effort to phase out the nation’s coal-fired electricity generation. Midwest Generation, which had come under intense pressure from environmental activists, Chicago residents and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, said it would retire its Fisk power plant in 2012 and Crawford plant in 2014. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/utilities-announce-closure-of-10-aging-power-plants-in-midwest-east/2012/02/29/gIQANSLEiR_story.html EPA’s San Joaquin Valley smog actions challenged. A Fresno-based health group and environmental advocates are asking the 9th U.S. Court of Appeals to force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to come up with a tougher plan to scour the smog from the San Joaquin Valley’s air. Federal law set a limit on the amount of ozone emissions allowed during a one-hour period and required that the Valley attain the standard by November 2010. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=20517 New real-time measurements suggest that black carbon emissions from light-duty gasoline vehicles are significantly underestimated. A study by researchers from Environment Canada making real-time measurements of black carbon (BC) using two laser-induced incandescence techniques has found that BC emission factors from light-duty gasoline vehicles are at least a factor of 2 higher than previous North American measurements, and a factor of 9 higher than currently used emission inventories in Canada, which are derived with the MOBILE 6.2C model. Their study appears in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/02/liggio-20120229.html CLIMATE CHANGE Arguments preview fight on EPA greenhouse gas rules. Heavy industry groups and states argued in a federal court on Tuesday that U.S. environmental regulators had used faulty science in determining that greenhouse gas emissions endangered human health in the latest attempt to dismantle the Obama administration's rules on the emissions. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/29/us-usa-epa-court-idUSTRE81S01U20120229?feedType=RSS EPA Greenhouse Gas Rules Under Scrutiny in Two-Day Hearing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s limits on vehicle and industrial emissions of greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide are being scrutinized by U.S. judges as a two-day court hearing began in Washington. The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals is considering challenges to the agency’s finding that greenhouse gases are pollutants that endanger human health, and to rules determining when states and industries must comply with regulations curtailing their use. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-02-28/epa-greenhouse-gas-limits-face-appeals-court-challenge-over-public-danger.html Rethinking Carbon Dioxide (CO2): from a pollutant to a moneymaker. Three startup companies led by prominent scientists are working on new technologies to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. The scientific community is skeptical, but these entrepreneurs believe removing CO2 can eventually be profitable and help cool the planet. With global greenhouse gas emissions still on the rise, despite decades of talk about curbing them, maybe the time has come to think differently about the climate crisis. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2012/0229/Rethinking-Carbon-Dioxide-CO2-from-a-pollutant-to-a-moneymaker DIESEL EMISSIONS California bill would end smoke testing requirement for certain trucks. California truck drivers will likely welcome the news about a new bill at the statehouse that would keep some money in their pockets. An Assembly bill would do away with a mandate that certain trucks based in the state undergo smoke testing. The state’s Air Resources Board now requires owners or operators of at least two California-based trucks, with gross vehicle weight ratings of at least 14,000 pounds, to undergo annual inspections of their vehicles for excessive emissions of smoke. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=23287 VEHICLES Toyota Prius plug-in cleared for Calif. rebate, carpool lanes. Toyota Motor Corp. said the 2012 Prius plug-in hybrid has been approved for California's Clean Vehicle Rebate Program and for use in the state's carpool lanes. California's zero-emission vehicle subsidy for consumers, the rebate program offers a $2,500 rebate for buyers of eligible electric, plug-in hybrid or fuel-cell vehicles in California. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20120227/OEM05/120229903#ixzz1nnLsdAvU GM-backed startup reports battery breakthrough. A startup backed by General Motors claims it has developed a breakthrough lithium ion battery that could slash the cost of electric vehicles. Envia Systems said today that it has produced lighter, more powerful battery cells than cells now used in EVs. The Newark, Calif., company said the technology could reduce by more than half the cost of a battery pack in an EV with a 300-mile electric range. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20120227/OEM05/120229905#ixzz1nnMDKtAN Fuel cell vehicles investigated for military use. The United States Army is looking at hydrogen fuel cell vehicles hoping that sometime in the near future they'll play an important military role, maybe even on the battlefield. The military has been looking at alternative fuels like this because the difficulty, expense and danger of securing oil and gasoline supplies among other reasons. Hydrogen fuel cells, in particular, seem promising because of their design flexibility, said Major General Roger Matthews, Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Pacific. Posted. http://www.fox19.com/story/17024190/fuel-cell-vehicles-investigated-for-military-use Filling up an electric car battery like a gas engine. Check out this idea: a next-generation electric car where you could refuel the battery’s electrolyte in the same way you’d fill up an internal combustion car at the gas station. Sound crazy? Well, a startup called Eos Energy Storage is researching a next-generation hybrid flow battery made from zinc and air that could provide such a scenario. The refillable flow electric car battery isn’t the company’s first target product —Posted. http://gigaom.com/cleantech/filling-up-an-electric-car-battery-like-a-gas-engine/ GREEN ENERGY Projects to Add Wind Power for City Gain Momentum. Despite Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s long-expressed dream of putting wind turbines on skyscrapers and bridges, the constraints of an urban landscape have so far proved too challenging for reliable wind power in the city, energy experts said. As a result, New York City has been largely inactive — and behind the national curve — in embracing wind power. But that is about to change. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/nyregion/new-york-to-renew-push-for-wind-power.html Myhrvold finds we need clean energy yesterday (and no natural gas) to avoid being cooked. Several years ago, Nathan Myhrvold — former Microsoft exec, kajillionaire, inventor, founder of Intellectual Ventures, author of the world’s most high-tech cookbook, and all-around polymath genius type — was quoted in the book SuperFreakonomics saying dismissive things about climate activists. He was worried they might get “a real head of steam” behind their “immediate and precipitous anti-carbon initiatives.” (In retrospect, he needn’t have worried.) Instead, Myhrvold said, we should be … researching geoengineering. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-change/climate-safety-requires-massive-clean-energy-transition-with-no-natural-gas-myhrvold-finds/ Making Solar Power Competitive with Coal. By the end of the decade, manufacturers in the United States could make solar panels that are less than half as expensive as the ones they make now. That would be cheap enough for solar power to compete with electricity from fossil fuels, according to a new study in Energy & Environmental Science. The cost reductions will come via technology that's already being demonstrated in research labs at startups, universities, and major solar manufacturers, and could involve silicon, the material most solar panels are made from today. Posted. http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/39771/?p1=A6 OPINIONS Canada's carbon lesson: Just put a price on it. Five years ago, the province of British Columbia launched a quest to slash its carbon emissions. Here's what it has learned. California's implementation of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, is meeting stiff resistance from greenhouse gas emitters and other opponents of climate change regulation. After one (unsuccessful) attempt to gut it at the ballot box, there remain roadblocks to enforcement and dire predictions of economic ruin if the state goes the whole distance. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-wood-bcaction-plan-20120229,0,6166154.story Michael Mann's counterstrike in the climate wars. Climate change may have dropped off the national political agenda, but unfortunately that doesn't mean the problem has gone away. As of January, the Earth's atmosphere contained 393 parts per million of carbon dioxide. And rising. To understand why that's a very sad number, it helps to know that from the dawn of human civilization until the 19th century, the concentration was about 275 parts per million, and that many scientists believe 350 parts per million is a sort of tipping point: …Posted. http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2012/02/mann-climate.html Subterfuge vs. propaganda in global warming debate. Environmental advocate Peter Gleick's admission that he obtained Heartland Institute documents, including its plan to fight global warming policies, has the wrong side answering questions. Peter Gleick is about the last person you'd expect to put himself in the position to be labeled a thief, a faker, and a crook. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20120229,0,1163347.column Climate Change May Alter Earth's Rotation. The basic premise behind man-made climate change is a simple one: Earth's atmosphere naturally contains greenhouse gases that keep our planet warm enough to be liveable. When we burn fossil fuels, though, we increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, disrupting Earth's ideal balance nature had developed. The result is global warming (an increase in the planet's average annual temperature) which, in turn, triggers climate change. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/neil-wagner/climate-change-earth-rotation-_b_1289596.html Gas price spikes aren't Obama's fault. George W. Bush wasn't to blame when gas prices surged above $4.50 a gallon in summer 2008, and President Barack Obama is not responsible for the 30-cents-a-gallon spike we've seen since December. During Bush's second term, speculative trading, a weak dollar and growing demand from China and India were the culprits. Today, once again, Wall Street speculators are part of the reason, along with the uncertainty of supply from Iran and an increase in demand from the improving economy. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/29/2090866/gas-price-spikes-arent-obamas.html BY SUBSCRIPTION Why Californians pay more. California has the highest gas prices because of the blended fuel requirement. Gasoline in our state and the country must put all the oil companies on an equal footing nationwide. Open up competition by having the whole country use the same fuel! Let each refinery compete nationwide! There is no shortage of oil or gasoline, just no incentive to drop the price! Think about it. Oil companies are not expanding refining capacity because they are perfectly happy the way it is! Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/28/2090476/why-californians-pay-more.html BY SUBSCRIPTION BLOGS New York and Wind Power: Can It Take Off? As we report in Wednesday’s Times, New York is finally pursuing wind power by planning a few projects that take advantage of the city’s coastal features. In the meantime, many city residents can buy wind power through their utility companies. Paul Thomas, chief executive officer of Green Mountain Energy, a provider that offers a “pollution free” blend of wind and hydropower through Con Edison, said that tens of thousands of New Yorkers who buy from his company do not mind paying a small premium for wind power. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/new-york-and-wind-power-can-it-take-off/?scp=7&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Counting the Family Carbon. Which has the lower carbon footprint — our life in the New Jersey suburbs or our life in a cabin in the woods of Maine? We recently hit the halfway mark for our year in the woods, so I now have enough data to answer the question. As a social scientist at the Nature Conservancy, I collect data compulsively. It’s not my only compulsion, but it’s on par with drinking fine beers. (Sadly, the two do not mix well — unless I’m counting beers.) Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/counting-the-family-carbon/?hp Energy Field’s Long Shots Show Off Their Stuff. ARPA-E, the Energy Department’s program for betting on long-shot technologies, is holding a convention in Washington this week, and several dozen teams working on unusual ideas showed up to hobnob with potential investors and potential government customers. None of the technologies are ready for the market, but that is as it should be, said Arun Mujamdar, the program’s director. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/energy-fields-long-shots-show-off-their-stuff/?scp=10&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Nissan Leaf available nationwide in March. The wait is over. After the initial launch in limited markets at the end of 2010 and a methodical rollout in 2011, the Nissan Leaf will finally be available to order all around the U.S. starting pretty much immediately. Nissan recently sent out an email that reads, in part: Your time has arrived. Orders for the 2012 Nissan Leaf will begin in March, making the Nissan Leaf available nationwide. we are officially a 100% electric nation. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/29/nissan-leaf-available-nationwide-in-march/ BMW releases video promoting i3 and i8 electric-drive vehicles. BMW has released a video that shows both its i3 and i8 concept electric-drive vehicles tooling around the Chicago area, as the German automaker looks to drum up interest in its battery-electric vehicles. The video, titled "BMW i. Born Electric," runs one-minute ten seconds and doesn't include any voiceover or any facts about the cars' performance or other details, but you can still see it after the jump. BMW said late last year that it would debut a production version of its battery-electric i3 four-door next year and would start making the plug-in hybrid-electric i8 two-door sports car in 2014. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/02/28/bmw-releases-video-promoting-i3-and-i8-electric-drive-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: Thu, 1 Mar 2012 12:15:06 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 1, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for March 1, 2012. 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 Deal to shut Chicago's 2 coal-fired plants reached. Rafael Hurtado says the grime that coats houses and cars whenever smokestacks are cleaned or coal dust blows off big piles at the nearby coal-fired power plant is just a fact of life in his southwest side Chicago neighborhood. He's learned to manage his asthma after being diagnosed in fourth grade. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i_PosduYbKDAxsoHiO-JRBe0Q55g?docId=5264bcaa359946c88786dfb4441a0dc7 AP Newsbreak: http://www.modbee.com/2012/02/29/2091244/deal-to-close-chicagos-2-coal.html BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20120301/business/703019933/ http://www.thestate.com/2012/02/29/2172319/deal-to-close-chicagos-2-coal.html Valley air district blames dry winter for spike in air pollution. The valley air district's wintertime fireplace restriction program ended for the season Wednesday, but not before communities up and down the region experienced the worst particle air pollution increases in recent years. Officials say dry weather patterns are largely to blame. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's program, known as Check Before You Burn, runs from November through February each winter. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x832573302/Valley-air-district-blames-dry-winter-for-spike-in-air-pollution Five Steps for Healthier Indoor Air. Did you know that the air you're breathing in your home can be two to five times more polluted than the air outdoors? And that after remodeling, renovating, or using cleaning products in your home, the air indoors can be up to 1,000 times more polluted than the outdoor air? It's mind-boggling but true. The reason is this: common products used to build, furnish, and maintain our homes--from flooring, furniture, and paint to drywall, cabinets, and cleaners--can release potentially hazardous chemicals…Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maria-rodale/five-steps-for-healthier_b_1312949.html?view=print&comm_ref=false CLIMATE CHANGE Opponents question EPA authority in greenhouse gas case. Washington - The Environmental Protection Agency overstepped its authority by moving to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and industrial facilities, industry groups and representatives argued in federal court on Wednesday. In the second day of two-day arguments on a case seeking to overturn the agency's proposed greenhouse gas regulations, challengers took on two of the EPA's proposed rules to regulate stationary sources under the Clean Air Act. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/29/epa-greenhouse-gas-idUSL2E8DTDWP20120229 More Americans now believe in global warming. After several years of finding that fewer and fewer Americans believed in man-made climate change, pollsters are now finding that belief is on the uptick. The newest study from the National Survey of American Public Opinion on Climate Change, which is a biannual survey taken since fall 2008 and organized by the Brookings Institute, shows that 62% of Americans now believe that man-made climate change is occurring, and 26% do not. The others are unsure. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-more-americans-now-believe-in-global-warming-20120229,0,2120287.story Global warming brings snow to Southern California. Monday’s weather forecast for Los Angeles called for snow flurries in several of the county’s neighborhoods. Though most areas did not receive such weather, snow and hail did make themselves apparent just north of Los Angeles County. A stretch along Interstate 5, in particular, was hit with wintery conditions that caused a closure of the freeway. According to recent scientific research at the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center as well as Atlanta’s Georgia Institute of Technology, this blustery winter weather in the area…Posted. http://www.examiner.com/la-in-los-angeles/global-warming-brings-snow-to-southern-california Rebooting high-speed rail. Meet Dan Richard, the guy trying to save the state’s plan. Dan Richard, incoming chairman of the board for the California High-Speed Rail Authority is not the easiest man to get hold of. One interview got scuttled when it turned out Gov. Jerry Brown wanted to meet Richard at the same time. Subsequent calls were missed. Voice mails were exchanged—“I’m driving back from Fresno right now, because there’s no high-speed rail. Try you later.” There was more travel and more missed connections, before SN&R finally caught up with Richard by phone in Washington, D.C. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/PrintFriendly?oid=5310124 DIESEL EMISSIONS Clean diesel conference celebrates ‘fundamental transformation of an industry’. Sacramento, Calif. — At a day-long “clean diesel” exhibit and conference here Wednesday, members of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and industry stakeholders celebrated the “fundamental transformation of an industry to clean diesel.” “Today we come together to recognize a fundamental transformation of an industry to a new technology — clean diesel …Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2012/3/1/Cleandieselconferencecelebratesfundamentaltransformationofanindustry.aspx Alternative vehicles get a test drive in Bakersfield. In the San Joaquin Valley, 80 percent of smog-component nitrogen oxide comes from mobile sources -- trucks, farm equipment, passenger cars and trains. And the heavy-duty diesel trucks, used for things like moving goods from ports in Los Angeles upstate, are the biggest contributor. And the San Joaquin Valley and South Coast air basins have some of the highest air pollution levels in the country. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x832573415/Alternative-vehicles-get-a-test-drive-in-Bakersfield?utm_source=widget_182&utm_medium=latest_entries_widget&utm_campaign=synapse California ARB to award $1M for locomotive advanced technology demonstration project. The California Air Resources Board (ARB or Board) announced a solicitation for a grantee for up to $1 million to support up to two independent projects for demonstration and administration of advanced locomotive technologies that approach, meet, or exceed US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tier-4 locomotive NOx and PM emission standards (i.e., 1.3 g NOx/bhp-hr and 0.03 g PM/bhp-hr), with a particular emphasis on higher horsepower line haul locomotives (i.e., 4,000 to 4,500 hp). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/03/arb-20120301.html FUELS Congress urged to extend biofuels tax provisions. Leaders of America’s rapidly emerging advanced biofuels industry urged congressional leaders to extend two tax provisions that are critical to the ongoing development and commercialization of new biofuel production technologies. In a letter addressed to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee…Posted. http://westernfarmpress.com/government/congress-urged-extend-biofuels-tax-provisions China to cultivate biofuel use. China is expected to use 12 million metric tonnes of aviation biofuels by 2020, accounting for 30 per cent of the country’s total use of jet fuel, according to Li Jian, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. The market value of jet biofuels will exceed 120 billion yuan ($19 billion) by 2020, Li said on Tuesday. He said the new carbon-emissions tax the European Union is imposing on airlines will prompt China to develop jet biofuels…Posted. http://www.eco-business.com/news/china-to-cultivate-biofuel-use/ VEHICLES Air Products wants to supply California drivers with hydrogen. In 1943, visibility on the streets of Los Angeles dropped to about three blocks as a layer of filth descended from the sky, attacking the eyes, lungs and stomachs of the city's inhabitants. The culprit: smog. In 1952, California Institute of Technology biochemistry professor Arie Haagen-Smit discovered how smog forms when nitrogen oxides from vehicle tailpipes and hydrocarbons from oil refineries react with sunlight in a photochemical stew to create ozone. Posted. http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-outlook-allentown-air-products-20120310,0,2483648.story GREEN ENERGY Green energy puts green in homeowner wallets. Two and half years ago, Steve Stewart erected a 100-foot windmill at his Barstow, California home. Stewart is no eco-crusader, but he does know a good deal when he hears it. Although the windmill cost $53,000, Stewart paid only $32,000 thanks to state tax incentives. His electric bill has zeroed out from $2,000 annually before, and most months he can even sell back surplus power to his local utility, Southern California Edison, netting as much as $500 per year. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/28/us-yourmoney-energyalternatives-homeowne-idUSTRE81R1EI20120228 MISCELLANEOUS Reducing Waste: New recycling mandates come online in July. Starting this July, many commercial enterprises in California will be required to recycle. Back in 2006, then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32). Considered to be a landmark piece of legislation, this bill requires California to lower its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. That's the equivalent of taking approximately 28 million cars off the nation's roads. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20071103 OPINIONS PYLE: Kelp is on the way to help with high gas prices. In an attempt to calm the country’s growing concerns about U.S. energy policy and high gas prices, President Obama addressed the nation last week from the University of Miami, in part calling for new subsidies for fuels made from algae. His claim: “We could replace up to 17 percent of the oil we import for transportation with this fuel that we can grow right here in the United States.” Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/feb/29/kelp-is-on-the-way-to-help-with-high-gas-prices/ INLAND: Pollution dodge. A court ruling this week should end a distracting legal battle and focus attention on the more crucial issue: Railroads need to help clean up Southern California’s air. The federal government needs to approve tougher measures to curb emissions from locomotives and rail yards. Without steps to cut all diesel pollution, the state will struggle to meet federal clean air mandates. U Posted. http://www.pe.com/opinion/editorials-headlines/20120229-inland-pollution-dodge.ece US energy independence requires a balanced strategy. Conserving energy and developing new energy sources. Those used to be "good things." But that was before this election year made them political footballs to be kicked around. I suppose if I wanted to, I could heat and cool my home and leave my lights burning without regard for how much energy I am consuming. And in truck-driving Kern County, I could join a lot of other people on the road, and roar between my home and downtown Bakersfield office in a four-wheel-drive gas-guzzler. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/community/x1801991690/US-energy-independence-A-political-football BLOGS A Fresh Scientific Defense of the Merits of Moving from Coal to Shale Gas. There’s been a fresh development in a prolonged intellectual tussle among researchers at Cornell University over the climate benefits of moving from coal to natural gas, including gas extracted from shale using hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Lawrence M. Cathles of the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, with three colleagues, has offered a fresh rebuttal to the conclusions of a team led by Robert Howarth, a biogeochemist at the university. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/a-fresh-scientific-defense-of-the-merits-of-moving-from-coal-to-shale-gas/ New Carbon Markets Combine Best of Public And Private Initiatives. Regular readers of this blog know what I think of the climate-change denial “movement”, but I do agree with those guys on one thing: namely, that massive bureaucracies like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) aren’t equipped to create and micro-manage what would become the largest, most important capital market in the history of the planet – at least, not without active input from the private sector. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevezwick/2012/03/01/governments-incubating-climate-change-solutions/ ====================================================================== 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 Mar 2012 11:37:02 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 2, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 2, 2012. 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 Two-thirds of China's cities fail on air standards. Two-thirds of China's cities currently fail to meet stricter air quality standards that the government wants to phase in over four years to combat notoriously smoggy skies, a senior Chinese environmental official said Friday. The State Council, China's Cabinet, on Wednesday issued new limits on pollutants to go into effect nationwide by 2016. It also said major cities must launch programs this year to regularly monitor additional kinds of pollutants for the first time, including fine particles associated with health problems. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/official-two-thirds-of-chinese-cities-fail-to-comply-with-chinas-new-air-quality-standards/2012/03/02/gIQAldpxlR_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/02/two-thirds-of-chinas-cities-fail-on-air/#ixzz1nywAG92 http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/01/2093728/two-thirds-of-chinas-cities-fail.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20085394?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20085394?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20085394?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/01/2743489/two-thirds-of-chinas-cities-fail.html#storylink=misearch Funding down the road? Federal air pollution money might go to transportation projects. Oroville — Oroville's in line for federal money for a roundabout, two traffic signal projects and a park-and-ride lot, although that list might change. At the last meeting of the Butte County Association of Government, a list of recommended projects for federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding was presented, and it included those four. The money comes to Butte County because air pollution here violates federal standards several times each year. Posted. http://www.orovillemr.com/ci_20085825?source=most_viewed Sonoma County residents get 108 'Spare the Air' warnings. Sonoma County residents were slapped with 108 of the 346 warning letters issued during the Spare the Air season that ended Wednesday. That was the most of any jurisdiction in the nine-county Bay Area. When the Bay Area Air Quality Management District catches someone violating the rule, a warning letter is issued. A second instance will result in a notice of violation and a $400 fine. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120301/ARTICLES/120309941/1334/news?Title=County-residents-get-108-Spare-the-Air-warnings Assault on clean air, science. This week a federal court in Washington heard oral arguments on a historic case - a legal challenge to the Environmental Protection Agency's science-based determination that heat-trapping greenhouse gas pollution is a threat to our health and well-being. The scientific foundation for this determination is both extensive and authoritative. Litigants asked the court to overturn that determination. Posted. http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/03/01/1970289/assault-on-clean-air-science.html CLIMATE CHANGE Va. court halts quest for climate change emails. The Virginia Supreme Court halted Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli's demand for a former University of Virginia climate researcher's emails Friday, ruling that he lacked authority to subpoena the records. The ruling is a victory for the university, researcher Michael Mann and higher education officials and faculty who claimed Cuccinelli's "civil investigative demand" threatened to chill academic freedom and scientific research. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/va-court-rules-attorney-general-lacks-authority-to-demand-climate-researchers-records/2012/03/02/gIQAbtotmR_story.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20085325?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20085325?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20085325?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/02/2744006/va-court-halts-quest-for-climate.html#storylink=misearch TEDx video stream brings science events to Sacramento. In back-to-back addresses, two pivotal figures in the debate over global warming and energy policy took the stage to address an exclusive audience Wednesday at the TED 2012 event in Long Beach. "We have to get off oil purchased from the enemy," energy financier T. Boone Pickens, told the audience. What followed was a detailed case for America gaining its energy independence by adopting natural gas as a cleaner "bridge" fuel. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/01/v-print/4302128/hed-here.html Climate change skeptic's university course criticized. A group of scientists is raising alarm about "incorrect science" in a course at Ottawa's Carleton University that was taught for three years by a climate change skeptic. "We describe a case in which noted climate change deniers have gained access to the Canadian higher education system through a course taught at Carleton University," the Ottawa-based Committee for the Advancement of Scientific Skepticism said in a report this week. But the course instructor, Tom Harris, denies there are any problems with the science he taught. Posted. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/03/01/environment-climate-change-carleton-course.html Climate Leadership Award Winners Revealed. Twenty companies, including IBM, San Diego Gas & Electric, Port of Los Angeles, SAP and UPS, were named the winners of the inaugural Climate Leadership Awards by the EPA, the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO), the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) (formerly the Pew Center on Global Climate Change), and The Climate Registry (TCR).The awards, presented at the Climate Leadership Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., recognize corporate, organizational, and individual leaders for their efforts to address climate change and reduce carbon pollution. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/03/02/climate-leadership-award-winners-revealed/ Linking Climate Policy to Fiscal and Environmental Reform. Both presidential candidates in 2008 campaigned for an economy-wide cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases as the centerpiece of climate policy. Senator John McCain was an early and frequent supporter of cap-and-trade, co-sponsoring a number of such bills, including the Climate Stewardship Act of 2003 and the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007. He campaigned on a plan to enact an economy-wide cap-and-trade system to reduce U.S. carbon emissions by 60 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Posted. http://www.brookings.edu/papers/2012/0302_climate_policy_gayer.aspx Report Details Federal Action to Address Climate Change Risks, Impact. While the need and best way to reduce carbon emissions is still (obtusely) being debated in Congress, the federal government has begun a widespread effort to detail and respond to the long-term risks posed to the U.S. by climate change. These findings are put forward by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) in an updated report, “Climate Change Adaptation: What Federal Agencies Are Doing.” Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/02/report-details-federal-action-to-address-climate-change-risks-impact/ FUELS Polish report: shale gas extraction not harmful. A scientific study in Poland has found that shale gas extraction at one site produced some toxic refuse but that the waste was reused and didn't harm the environment. The report was presented Friday by the Polish Geological Institute, which carried out its study last year when a company, Canadian Lane Energy, began test drilling near Lebien, in northern Poland. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/poland-expected-to-scale-down-us-estimates-of-its-shale-gas-deposits/2012/03/01/gIQAiLPZkR_story.html http://www.nctimes.com/business/polish-report-shale-gas-extraction-not-harmful/article_6ba27dbe-1886-522b-92d9-a0ddd260e490.html#ixzz1nyyNgVkj http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/02/2093952/polish-report-shale-gas-extraction.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20086132?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20086132?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20086132?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/02/2743681/polish-report-shale-gas-extraction.html#storylink=misearch Obama Seeks to End Subsidies for Oil and Gas Companies. With his re-election fate increasingly tied to the price Americans are paying at the gas pump, President Obama asked Congress on Thursday to end $4 billion in subsidies for oil and gas companies and vowed to tackle the country’s long-term energy issues while shunning “phony election-year promises about lower gas prices.” Mr. Obama, in an appearance at Nashua Community College here, took a page out of his jobs strategy of last year, calling on Americans to contact their Congressional representatives and demand a vote on the oil subsidies in the next few weeks. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/02/us/politics/obama-calls-for-an-end-to-subsidies-for-oil-and-gas-companies.html?_r=1&scp=5&sq=fuels&st=cse Big investor trims stake in Green Plains Renewable. Green Plains Renewable Energy Inc. said Thursday that the Irish investment firm that has been its biggest shareholder is reducing its stake in the ethanol and corn oil producer. The Omaha-based company said that the shareholder, NTR PLC, plans to sell 3 million Green Plains shares in a public offering that has been priced at $10.41 per share. In addition, Green Plains said it will buy back another 3.7 million of its shares from NTR at the same price paid by the public offering's underwriter. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/01/big-investor-trims-stake-in-green-plains/#ixzz1nyxfzTFv VEHICLES Auto Sales Pick Up Pace Despite Rising Gas Prices. Auto sales jumped 16 percent last month to the highest level since before the recession, helped by declining unemployment and improving consumer confidence even as gasoline prices topped $4 a gallon in parts of the country. The seasonally adjusted, annualized selling rate for new vehicles, a closely watched indication of the auto industry’s health, climbed to 15.1 million in February. It was the first time the rate reached that level since 2008. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/02/business/ford-and-chrysler-report-sales-gains-despite-gas-prices.html?scp=2&sq=vehicles&st=cse Robotic cars get boost from Alex Padilla's bill. Robotic cars may have just turned a corner in California. Several years after Google's autonomous vehicles began zipping up and down the state's highways, a legislator has introduced a bill that would potentially clear the way for everyday use. Sen. Alex Padilla's proposal affirms the legality of such automobiles and sets down a process for creating safety rules. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/02/MNQP1NEOK0.DTL&feed=rss.pageone Five questions with CARB: Why is California pushing for electric cars? Today, we kick off a new series of interview-driven posts focused the most influential people, companies, and organizations in the automotive industry by speaking with California Air Resources Board (aka CARB, a division of the California EPA). The aim with these periodic reports is to go behind the scenes to see what’s driving trends that could affect consumers and the cars they buy in coming years. Posted. http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/03/five-questions-with-carb-why-is-california-pushing-for-electric-cars.html Bright Automotive withdraws DOE loan request, closes shop. Electric-vehicle startup Bright Automotive is closing its operations after withdrawing its application for a loan from the U.S. Department of Energy. Bright, which was formed in 2008 to produce electric vans for sale to corporate fleets, announced Tuesday its plan to withdraw the application, blaming an overly rigorous and lengthy loan-approval process for the decision to close, according to The Wall Street Journal. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20120301/OEM05/120309990#ixzz1nz7rXQfj MISCELLANEOUS Asbestos waste found in warehouse yard near Mountain View High School in El Monte. El Monte - State environmental agencies have secured between 600 and 800 bags of hazardous waste labeled as containing asbestos from an illegal waste transport facility located next door to Mountain View High School, agencies announced Thursday. Both the state Department of Toxic Substances Control and the South Coast Air Quality Management District are investigating numerous violations at Titan Environmental Inc., 12432 Valley Blvd. Posted. http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_20081707 Climate crisis science vs. denial. The Climate Reality Project will present a free seminar at 6:30 tonight at the Red Bluff Community and Senior Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. The climate crisis looms as the most serious threat to human civilization. Recent data indicate more rapid warming and accelerating greenhouse gas emissions than previously projected. As the political process addresses the issues, disinformation floods the public space, creating confusion and delay. Posted. http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/ci_20087363 OPINIONS Letter: High-speed rail, oil prices, air fares. Editor, I very much appreciated reading Gail Parker’s (of Alexandria, Va.) letter on Wednesday on high-speed rail. It was also very timely — flip the letter’s page and the AP article, “Facing costly fuel, airlines hike fares” appear. The sooner the San Francisco-Los Angeles train is built, the sooner travelers will have another high-speed travel option available at much lower cost than you’ll find leaving SFO by air. Posted. http://smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?type=opinions&title=Letter:%20%20High-speed%20rail,%20oil%20prices,%20air%20fares&id=229685 Analysis: In politics, emotion – not science – drives beliefs. Some of the biggest issues in the politics – including global warming and evolution – are far from being resolved by data and analysis. When Republicans head to the polls on Super Tuesday, they'll carry with them views on creationism and global warming that set them apart from Democrats – views shared in degrees by the four GOP presidential hopefuls. But few voters from either party honestly understand the science Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/percent-342714-global-warming.html Clean Energy Is Needed Now (Climate Scientists & Climate Economists Say). I posted David Roberts’ piece on a new climate and energy study by former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold and climate scientist Ken Caldeira here on CleanTechnica the other day. I’ve run across more good quotes and a good graphic on the matter since then and just posted on these over on Planetsave. Additionally, I posted a related story on the difference in cost between taking strong climate action now versus continued climate inaction. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/02/clean-energy-is-needed-now-climate-scientists-climate-economists-say/ BLOGS Bill Clinton Points Fingers in Clean-Energy Speech. Bill Clinton, speaking at a Department of Energy conference this week, said that despite new ways of recovering oil and gas in the U.S.–and despite the efforts of climate change naysayers and other opponents–the country should still pursue cleaner energy sources and energy efficiency. Associated Press Shown here in a Thursday speech, Clinton spoke earlier in the week at a clean-technology conference. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2012/03/01/bill-clinton-points-fingers-in-climate-change-speech/ When It Rains, It Will Really Pour. Early last year I attended a conference in Sacramento where state and federal scientists warned emergency planners, insurance executives and others about the danger of a superstorm‘s riding into California from warmer Pacific waters on an “atmospheric river” and inundating everything in sight. Now comes a parallel prediction that throughout the Western states, the power of extreme winter storms will increase by more than 12 percent over the next 20 years, and more thereafter. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/02/when-it-rains-it-will-really-pour/?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse A CO2 Warning Etched in Stone and Sediment. A comprehensive new review of research on episodes of carbon-driven disruption of ocean and climate conditions over the last 300 million years shows the power of a big pulse of carbon dioxide to profoundly affect the environment. The review, which is being published in the journal Science on Friday, concludes that the human-driven buildup of carbon dioxide under way now appears to be far outpacing past natural events…Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/01/a-co2-warning-etched-in-stone-and-sedimen/?scp=4&sq=climate%20change&st=cse What Next for Gas Prices? As I write in Thursday’s Times, gasoline prices keep going higher and higher. And how high they are going to go is just about anyone’s guess. Those who track the supply and demand fundamentals say the price of oil should be about $80 a barrel and gasoline prices should be as much as 50 cents below where they are. But throw tensions with Iran into the mix, and you get scary prices. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/01/what-next-for-gas-prices/?scp=9&sq=climate%20change&st=cse A 1,400-Horsepower Tank, Batteries Included. Some hybrid vehicles are engineered to be as light as possible. This one is projected to weigh around 140,000 pounds, fully equipped. The Ground Combat Vehicle is being developed by the defense systems manufacturers BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman. Based on appearances, most civilians may call it a tank, although Mark Signorelli, the vice president of ground combat vehicles for BAE, said in a telephone interview that the vehicle’s platform and powertrain could be used in other military vehicle applications. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/01/a-1400-horsepower-tank-batteries-included/?scp=1&sq=vehicles&st=cse Flex-Fuel Amendment Makes for Strange Bedfellows. Faced with a bill that would require 80 percent of gasoline-burning cars and trucks to be compatible with ethanol and methanol by the 2018 model year, stakeholders who typically disagree on critical issues find themselves in a rare position. They agree. The legislation, known as the Open Fuels Standard Act of 2011 and introduced in the Senate last September by the Washington Democrat Maria Cantwell and Indiana Republican Richard G. Lugar, was proposed as an amendment to the pending Senate version of the contentious transportation bill. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/01/flex-fuel-amendment-makes-for-strange-bedfellows/?scp=3&sq=vehicles&st=cse Chevy Volt climbs up, Nissan Leaf falls down in February 2012 sales. Nissan's winter plug-in vehicle sales slump continues, with the Nissan Leaf dropping to just 478 units sold in February, down from 676 in January. This even though overall Nissan North America sales increased by 15.5 percent over last February's numbers. Perhaps, now that the all-electric car is going to be available in all 50 states, the tide will turn. For the Chevrolet Volt, things are already looking up, with 1,023 sales in February. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/01/chevy-volt-nissan-leaf-february-2012-sales/ New York Times Reversal: Cornell University Research Undermines Hysteria Contention that Shale Gas is "Dirty". There are new twists to in the ever-entertaining faux debate over the dangers of shale gas. The New York Times, which turned obscure Cornell University marine ecologist Robert Howarth into an anti-fracking rock star in its questionable spring series on shale gas, and got hammered for it by its own public editor—I‘ll take some of the credit—is finally getting on the science bandwagon. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonentine/2012/03/02/new-york-times-reversal-cornell-university-research-undermines-hysteria-contention-that-shale-gas-is-dirty/ ====================================================================== 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 Mar 2012 14:49:23 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 5, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 5, 2012. 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 Federal court rejects delay of N.M. power plant pollution controls. A federal appeals court has ruled that the owners of the San Juan Generating Station, a huge coal-fired power plant near Farmington, N.M., must continue with plans to install strong pollution controls. Several California cities purchase electricity from the plant. The federal Environmental Protection Agency ruled last fall that the plant was required to install strong "selective catalytic reduction," or SCR, equipment to cut its yearly output of 16,000 tons of ozone, fine particulate matter and other pollutants in order to meet federal standards. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-court-wont-let-san-juan-power-station-stall-pollution-controls-20120305,0,558773.story Summit to clear air about asthma in S.J. Daylong event shares innovative research, tips on ways to cope. Stoctkon - If all 115,000 residents of San Joaquin County with asthma decide to attend the upcoming free asthma summit, the organizers will have to find a new venue. "Connecting Community to Combat Asthma" is a one-day, two-part health summit for professional health care providers and those interested in learning more about the incurable, chronic disorder that causes a person's lung airways to swell and narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120305/A_NEWS/203050308 Air Pollution Exposure Tied to Allergies. Increased exposure to common air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter, was associated with sensitivity to both indoor and outdoor allergens, a researcher said here. After adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, urban-rural status, poverty, and smoking, each 10-ppb increment in average nitrogen dioxide exposure was associated with a 25% higher likelihood of sensitivity to outdoor allergens (odds ratio 1.25, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.49), said Capt. Charles Weir, MPH, of the U.S. Public Health Service, currently stationed in Atlanta. Posted. http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AAAAIMeeting/31472 CLIMATE CHANGE More Americans now believe in global warming. After several years of finding that fewer and fewer Americans believed in man-made climate change, pollsters are now finding that belief is on the uptick. The newest study from the National Survey of American Public Opinion on Climate Change, which is a biannual survey taken since fall 2008 and organized by the Brookings Institute, shows that 62 percent of Americans now believe that man-made climate change is occurring, and 26 percent do not. The others are unsure. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/05/v-print/4312116/more-americans-now-believe-in.html http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-more-americans-now-believe-in-global-warming-20120229,0,2120287.story?track=rss http://www.sgvtribune.com/lottery/ci_20099297 Climate change melting backyard hockey rinks in Canada, scientists say. Shorter Canadian winters could well mean no more Wayne Gretzkys, a scientific study reports Monday. Five years of meticulous analysis by researchers at McGill and Concordia universities tracked evidence for the “significant shortening” of the outdoor skating season across Canada. Fewer backyard rinks and less time on the ice means an attack on “a critical component of Canadian identity and culture,” the study says. “Wayne Gretzky learned to skate. Posted. http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/681518--climate-change-melting-backyard-hockey-rinks-in-canada-scientists-say In climate wars, radicalization of researchers brings risks. Everybody talks about the weather, Mark Twain famously wrote, but nobody does anything about it. Many climate researchers are no longer following Twain’s adage, noted Michael McPhaden, president of the American Geophysical Union. “Scientists today, they don’t just want to talk about it. They want to do something about it,” he said in an interview. “We’re the trustees of information which, in many ways, is of critical benefit to society.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/in-climate-wars-radicalization-of-researchers-brings-risks/2012/02/24/gIQAcQWsrR_story.html Climate change will shake the Earth — literally. The idea that a changing climate can persuade the ground to shake, volcanoes to rumble, and tsunamis to crash on to unsuspecting coastlines seems, at first, to be bordering on the insane. How can what happens in the thin envelope of gas that shrouds and protects our world possibly influence the potentially Earth-shattering processes that operate deep beneath the surface? Posted. http://grist.org/climate-change/climate-change-will-shake-the-earth-literally/ Climate Change: Insurers Confirm Growing Risks, Costs. Stakeholders from the insurance industry met with members of the U.S. Senate to acknowledge the role global warming plays in extreme weather-related losses, and to issue a call for action. The politics of global warming have typically involved much debate as to the role climate change plays in growing weather-related risk. Yesterday, however, at a Capital Hill a press conference on the cost of climate change, debate was not on the agenda. Posted. http://www.insurancenetworking.com/news/insurance-climate-change-risk-ceres-30007-1.html?zkPrintable=true DIESEL EMISSIONS Study links heavy diesel exhaust to lung cancer. There's new evidence that exposure to exhaust from diesel engines increases the risk of lung cancer. Diesel exhaust has long been classified as a probable carcinogen. But the 20-year study from the National Cancer Institute took a closer look by tracking more than 12,000 workers in certain kinds of mines—facilities that mined for potash, lime and other nonmetals. They breathed varying levels of exhaust from diesel-powered equipment, levels higher than the general population encounters. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/02/2744491/study-links-heavy-diesel-exhaust.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20089528 http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/02/2094754/study-links-heavy-diesel-exhaust.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120304/Diesel-exhaust-fumes-linked-to-lung-cancer-among-miners.aspx?page=2 FUELS Fuel economy: Auto fleet average starts to climb. Gas prices continue their relentless climb and consumers are reacting. Small cars were the hottest segment of auto sales last month. About 24% of the vehicles sold last month were small cars, according to Erich Merkle, the sales analyst at Ford Motor Co. That compares to less than 20% just two months ago, he said. The consumer move toward purchasing more fuel-efficient vehicles appears to be more than just a reaction to gasoline price spikes. It is a much longer trend. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-car-fuel-economy-20120305,0,1456797.story?track=rss EPA heightens scrutiny over Pa. gas drilling. Tugging on rubber gloves, a laboratory worker kneels before a gushing spigot behind Kim Grosso’s house and positions an empty bottle under the clear, cold stream. The process is repeated dozens of times as bottles are filled, marked and packed into coolers. After extensive testing, Grosso and dozens of her neighbors will know this week what may be lurking in their well water as federal regulators investigate claims of contamination in the midst of one of the nation’s most productive natural gas fields. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/5/epa-heighten-scrutiny-pennsylvania-marcellus-shale/ Ethanol groups file brief supporting injunction on California LCFS. A coalition of national ethanol groups, along with California and Midwest farming groups, filed a brief urging the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold a court-ordered injunction on the California Air Resource Board’s low-carbon fuel standard. The coalition includes Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association. Posted. http://domesticfuel.com/2012/03/03/ethanol-groups-order-injunction-on-california-lcfs/ http://westernfarmpress.com/government/ethanol-groups-file-brief-supporting-injunction-california-lcfs Study finds gasoline exhaust contributes more to formation of secondary organic aerosols than diesel. Contrary to expectations, exhaust from gasoline vehicles contributes more to the production of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) than exhaust from diesel vehicles, according to a new study by scientists from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) and other colleagues. Based on their study, the team estimated that within a day of processing…Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/03/bahreini-20120303.html Gasoline worse than diesel when it comes to some types of air pollution. The exhaust fumes from gasoline vehicles contribute more to the production of a specific type of air pollution -- secondary organic aerosols -- than those from diesel vehicles, according to a new study by scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, or CIRES, NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory and other colleagues. Posted. http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2012/03/02/gasoline-worse-diesel-when-it-comes-some-types-air-pollution BP Rises Most in Month After Gulf of Mexico Spill Settlement: London Mover. BP Plc (BP/) rose the most in a month after Europe’s second-biggest oil company reached a $7.8 billion settlement with businesses and individuals over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster. BP climbed as much as 3.1 percent, the biggest intraday advance since Feb. 1, and traded at 507.90 pence as of 8:06 a.m. in London. The benchmark FTSE 100 Index was down 0.3 percent. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-05/bp-rises-most-in-month-after-gulf-of-mexico-spill-settlement-london-mover.html VEHICLES Electric-Car Loans Dry Up Ahead of Election on Solyndra. Four times, the U.S. Energy Department offered terms to Bright Automotive Inc. for a loan the startup company was seeking to finance production of electric commercial vans. Each successive, conditional offer arrived with stiffer terms, Chief Operating Officer Mike Donoughe said in an interview. He likened the experience to offering to buy a car for $20,000 and having the dealer try to bargain up to $40,000. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-03-05/electric-car-producers-shun-u-s-loans-as-post-solyndra-red-tape-increases.html GM to pause Chevy Volt production for 5 weeks. General Motors will temporarily lay off about 1,300 workers at its Detroit Hamtramck plant while it stops making Volts. GM has surplus Volts waiting to be sold, the automaker says. Auto giant General Motors Co. is pausing production of its Chevrolet Volt and temporarily laying off about 1,300 employees because of slow sales of the plug-in hybrid. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-gm-volt-20120303,0,7772508,print.story Tracy earns funds for green vehicles. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has awarded the city a $100,000 grant to purchase five alternative-fuel vehicles. Grant funds are part of a program to help government agencies and public institutions meet clean-air projects that directly affect the air quality for Valley residents. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120305/A_NEWS/120309950&cid=sitesearch Austerity brings smaller cars to Geneva auto show. Automakers are thinking small _ in size, not ambition. After years marked by environmental concerns, then the economic downturn and now European austerity measures, car manufacturers have honed their products to cater for cost-conscious buyers. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/austerity-brings-smaller-cars-to-geneva-auto-show/article_31a3e875-4eb4-549e-b466-9824b71ffbaf.html#ixzz1oGdT3bq1 GM trucks use CNG and gasoline. General Motors this week will unveil redesigned heavy-duty pickups, the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500, that switch between compressed natural gas and regular gasoline. GM will begin selling the bifuel pickups in the fourth quarter as 2013 model. It will sell them through its dealers primarily to fleet customers, although individual buyers also will be able to order them. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20120305/OEM03/303059965#ixzz1oGlldkV8 GREEN ENERGY Gov. hopes new plan will reactivate green energy. Gov. John Kitzhaber has a new 10-year plan he hopes will be able to reactivate green energy in Oregon. Despite the state's embrace of wind and solar companies, they're not making much of a contribution to the state's energy needs. The Columbia Plateau is now draped in wind turbines, but they supply only 3 percent of Oregon's electricity. Solar and geothermal make a small contribution. Existing hydro-electricity is a big contributor, but fossil fuel plants still contribute half the state's electricity. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/04/gov-hopes-new-plan-will-reactivate-green-energy/ MISCELLANEOUS Saving desert tortoises is a costly hurdle for solar projects. BrightSource Energy has spent $56 million so far to protect the endangered creatures, but calamities have befallen the effort. Reporting from Ivanpah Valley, Calif.— Stubborn does not come close to describing the desert tortoise, a species that did its evolving more than 220 million years ago and has since remained resolutely prehistoric. Its slowpoke take on biological adaptation has exposed modern vulnerabilities. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-tortoise-20120304,0,6145488.story OPINIONS Take the Subway. OUR plan was to meet for lunch at noon in Moscow. It was to be just myself and Fyodor Lukyanov, the editor of the journal Russia in Global Affairs. He picked the restaurant. It had been snowing that day, and the Moscow traffic — already nearly impossible because the city, which 15 years ago had 300,000 cars and today hosts nearly four million registered vehicles — was even more impossible than usual…As we hurriedly put on our coats, Lukyanov had one piece of advice for me, and it wasn’t that the U.S. should stay out of Syria. It was: “Take the subway.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/opinion/sunday/friedman-take-the-subway.html?scp=2&sq=smog&st=cse Drill Baby Drill, Redux. It’s campaign season and the pandering about gas prices is in full swing. Hardly a day goes by that a Republican politician does not throw facts to the wind and claim that rising costs at the pump are the result of President Obama’s decisions to block the Keystone XL pipeline and impose sensible environmental regulations and modest restrictions on offshore drilling. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/05/opinion/drill-baby-drill-redux.html?_r=1&scp=3&sq=fuels&st=cse Gasoline prices got you down? Re "Gas prices deliver a blow," Feb. 28. It is time we started looking at gasoline prices as a matter of patriotism, or a lack thereof. When oil companies raise prices precipitously at a time the economy is showing the first signs of recovery, it is sure to have a chilling effect, thus harming the interests of millions of struggling people and the nation itself. It would be one thing if the oil companies were merely passing on cost increases, but they have raked in record profits. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0304-sunday-20120304,0,6606410.story Cigarettes' lessons for climate change. Successful anti-smoking efforts of decades past offer a blueprint for how we might tackle global warming. In the 1970s it seemed like we had problems we could never fix — and I'm not talking about white polyester disco suits and the band Air Supply. The '70s presented America with the residue of a catastrophic war, soaring inner-city crime rates, runaway inflation and subjugation to Middle East oil. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-schendler-cigarettes-lessons-for-climate-cha-20120304,0,6134172.story LOIS HENRY: Ranch takes double hit: from CARB, terrorists. Ludicrosity alert! Ludicrosity alert! No, that's not a real word, but you'll be using it too by the time you finish reading this tale about the California Air Resources Board, Harris Ranch and a cowardly act of terrorism. Oh, I should clarify: The cowardly act of terrorism was done by true criminals, as opposed to CARB, which isn't technically a crime syndicate but, as I've reported before, often employs a legal form of intimidation to achieve its ends. More on that in a bit. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/columnists/lois-henry/x1498654977/LOIS-HENRY-Ranch-takes-double-hit-from-CARB-terrorists Mark Landsbaum: Carbon market a doomed government fantasy. California's political class yearns to be European. Here's some advice for Gov. Jerry Brown and associates: Beware of what you desire. You just may get it. Their latest self-destructive fascination is the lunacy of a carbon trading market. It's part of the still-loonier cap-and-trade scheme to save California from the looniest concept of all, make-believe devastation from manmade global warming. It doesn't get more European than that. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/carbon-342902-government-europe.html Cap-and-trade is not a budget solution. “Good news! We found billions of dollars to help the state budget and fund more government programs.” If this sounds too good to be true, you’re right. The Governor’s plan to spend billions extracted from California employers under AB 32’s cap-and-trade program is actually bad news that will hurt the environment and kill jobs. The purpose of cap-and-trade is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, not raise billions in new revenue for state coffers. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=10eiw3519iy1fqh&xid=10eivgmg9gxp9zo&done=.10eiw3519iyefqh GREENHUT: Saving the Earth, one fraud at a time. If the theory of man-made global warming were such a self-obvious truth, the result of scientific consensus, then why do advocates for this idea keep committing frauds to advance it? Even more disturbing, why are some writers willing to defend this behavior? The latest embarrassment for global-warming activists came on Feb. 20 after Peter Gleick, founder of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security in Oakland, admitted …Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/greenhut/greenhut-saving-the-earth-one-fraud-at-a-time/article_75767d33-19e2-5062-9647-9e199f62f598.html#ixzz1oGd81s00 Budget sub-committee ponders use of cap-and-trade revenues. The Assembly Budget Subcommittee 3 hosted an informational hearing on the potential use of revenues from the AB 32 Cap-and-Trade program due to begin January 2013. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will hold the first auctions of allowances in August and November this year. The Governor’s proposed budget assumes $1 billion in auction revenue for the 2012-2013 budget year. He would use the revenue to offset $500 million of current general fund spending for environmental purposes, and the balance would fund new environmental programs. Posted. http://www.cmta.net/page/legupdate-article.php?legupdate_id=2129%22 BLOGS GM shutting down Chevy Volt production for five weeks. Even with the new HOV-eligible 2012 Chevrolet Volt models heading to California and sales up in February, General Motors has reportedly decided to shut down production of the plug-in hybrid for five weeks because of overall sluggish sales. With a 150-day supply of Volts sitting on dealer lots around the country, this shut down will temporarily lay off 1,300 employees. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/02/gm-shutting-down-chevy-volt-production-for-five-weeks/ GM's funding of climate-change denying Heartland Institute stirs up trouble. The Heartland Institute is a big daddy in climate change denialism and recently became a more household name thanks to a trove of documents that were exposed on DeSmogBlog. The documents purport to be leaked internal memos that detail the ways the institute is funded and disseminates its "nothing to see here, folks" message. 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: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 12:31:57 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 6, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 6, 2012. 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 CARB fines bus, truck companies nearly $227,000 in air quality violations. Sacramento, Calif. — The California Air Resources Board announced today that during the fourth quarter of 2011 it settled 33 cases of air quality violations by trucks and buses, mostly for failure to properly conduct and pass self-inspections aimed at measuring vehicle smoke emissions to ensure state requirements are met. Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2012/3/6/CARBfinesbustruckcompaniesnearly227000inairqualityviolations.aspx Emissions from Asia put US cities over the ozone limit. Satellite data could warn of incoming air pollution. As plumes of pollution rise over the booming industrial towns of Asia, satellite data could help to alert people in other regions to the approach of drifting smog. A team of researchers from the United States has conducted the first high-resolution analysis of ozone — the main constituent of smog — travelling from Asia to the western United States. Posted. http://www.nature.com/news/emissions-from-asia-put-us-cities-over-the-ozone-limit-1.10161 FUELS Cracks emerge in GOP over hydraulic fracturing. When it comes to the controversial gas drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing, the Republican Party itself appears fractured — especially in the critical swing state of Ohio. Super Tuesday voters are choosing among a field of GOP contenders who all support less regulation of the drilling technique. Yet some Republicans in Ohio are calling for greater oversight and new taxes on companies using it to harvest natural gas. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/03/05/national/a233651S17.DTL&type=printable Gasoline Versus Diesel Oil for Organic Aerosols.The exhaust fumes from gasoline vehicles contribute more to the production of a specific type of air pollution-secondary organic aerosols (SOA)-than those from diesel vehicles, according to a new study by scientists from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES). Secondary organic aerosols, tiny "tar balls" resulting from combustion products of internal combustion engines that can encapsulate gaseous pollutants, have been identified as a danger to health. Posted. http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/44082/print LCFS in Limbo. California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard has been brought to a halt, at least temporarily. How will it affect ethanol producers? The battle over the legality of California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard has been ongoing for more than two years and it probably won’t be fully resolved any time soon. In late December, however, a California district judge handed down the first ruling in the case, delivering a preliminary victory to the plaintiffs…Posted. http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/8618/lcfs-in-limbo VEHICLES Chrysler to sell natural gas-powered truck. Chrysler aims to be the first U.S. automaker to produce a factory-built pickup truck that is powered mainly by natural gas. The privately held company said Tuesday that its new Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG truck will be sold to commercial customers that operate truck fleets. The company expects to deliver the first trucks in July. The truck will have natural gas tanks and an 8-gallon fuel tank for gasoline. Chrysler said a small amount of gasoline is needed to start the truck, but after ignition it runs entirely on natural gas. If the natural gas tanks run out, the engine can switch to gasoline. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/chrysler-to-sell-natural-gas-powered-truck/article_1b981cdd-f3b7-5f24-a724-11cf5c3930df.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/06/2099928/chrysler-to-sell-natural-gas-powered.html http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/NaturalGas/6019931 GREEN ENERGY Concerns over cost of energy efficiency. Energy efficiency is becoming the "way of the future" to reduce business operating expenses, cut fuel import bills and boost jobs and household incomes. While the state and local governments are encouraging households and businesses to adopt this goal, real estate agents want to make sure energy efficiency mandates are not adopted at the expense of home buyers. In a continuing effort to reduce consumer costs associated with purchasing a home, the California Association of Realtors announced in February that it is sponsoring Assembly Bill 1711…Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/saratoga/ci_20108693/concerns-over-cost-energy-efficiency http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20108693/concerns-over-cost-energy-efficiency?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20108693/concerns-over-cost-energy-efficiency?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com MISCELLANEOUS At HLS, head of California air pollution regulatory board discusses states' climate change action (video). On climate issues, look to states. Creative solutions to global warming are rising from below. The head of California’s air pollution regulatory board said Monday (Feb. 27) that with climate change action stalled in Washington, D.C., the states are taking the lead in creating ways to reduce carbon emissions. Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, discussed that state’s air pollution regulations, which include a cap-and-trade policy adopted in 2006…Posted. http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/2012/03/05_future-of-energy-talk-mary-nichols.html OPINIONS REGION: Daunting air cleanup may change residents' lifestyles. Look for a lot more electric cars and hybrid gas-electric vehicles to fill Southern California freeways, and for limits on how and where developers build homes. And don't count on that unpopular wintertime fireplace-burning restriction to go away anytime soon. The chief executive for Southern California's air pollution agency said Monday that it will take those measures, and more, to deliver clean air to the nation's most polluted region…Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/region-daunting-air-cleanup-may-change-residents-lifestyles/article_d3d995fb-c603-554c-99a1-7e18b6ace3e5.html Editorial: Carbon-cutback debate heating up. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is attempting to reshape America's economy by mandating the energy industry reduce its carbon emissions. Despite Congress' refusing to go along, the agency is getting plenty of help from many statehouses. The EPA contends that rising greenhouse gas emissions threaten to dangerously increase global temperatures, which the Obama administration says justifies Draconian controls to drive coal-fired energy plants out of business, and greatly reduce operation of other fossil-fuel electricity generators. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/epa-343221-states-mandates.html Frozen out. Canada's government should free its scientists to speak to the press, as its US counterpart has. Media interactions with government scientists have undergone a reversal across North America during the past six years. In the United States, President Barack Obama's administration has directed federal science agencies to develop integrity policies with clear guidelines for scientists who are approached by journalists. Posted. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v483/n7387/full/483006a.html Five Reasons Gas Price Rise. As I write this, regular gasoline is at 2008 levels, more than $4 a gallon, in California, Hawaii and Alaska, and pretty darn close to that ($3.94) at stations down the street from where I live in Connecticut. Gas prices have risen 29 cents a gallon since December. Pain at the pumps is very real, but can we attribute it to President Obama’s “radical environmentalism,” to use Rick Santorum’s catchy phrase? Nah. As the Washington Post put it, “Readers should immediately discount anything politicians say about gas prices.” Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/eco-nomics/2012/03/05/five-reasons-gas-prices-rise/ Time to Let the Sun Shine on Air Board’s Shady Accounting Practices. There’s an old saying in politics: “Sunshine is the best disinfectant.” Unfortunately, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has been operating under cover of dense fog for several years now when it comes to accounting for millions of dollars in “administrative fees” it spent on managing AB 32, the state’s global warming law. To date, the Legislature has appropriated nearly $100 million to CARB for this purpose, “borrowed” from unrelated special funds (the Recycled Beverage Container Fund and the Motor Vehicle Fund). Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/03/time-to-let-the-sun-shine-on-air-boards-shady-accounting-practices/ BLOGS Volkswagen Cross Coupe TDI Concept: VW Previews a Diesel-Hybrid Crossover. Geneva — An updated Tiguan crossover is coming from Volkswagen in 2014, and although the final details of the production model are not available, the company continues to tease auto show audiences with conceptual hints like the Cross Coupe. The four-door concept, previewed on Monday night before the first of two days of news conferences here, was said to be propelled by a plug-in hybrid diesel-electric powertrain capable of achieving average fuel economy of 1.8 liters per 100 kilometers…Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/volkswagen-cross-coupe-tdi-concept-vw-previews-a-diesel-hybrid-crossover/?src=twrhp Global Warming Can't Be Addressed Without Addressing Carbon Dioxide. Soot from diesel exhausts and the burning of wood, agricultural waste and dung for heating and cooking causes an estimated two million premature deaths a year, particularly in the poorest countries. Scientists say that concerted action on these substances can reduce global temperatures by 0.5 degrees Celsius by 2050 and prevent millions of cases of lung and heart disease by 2030. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/poor-nations-duped-global-warming-and-air-pollutio/ Deutsche Bank: Big Energy Efficiency Push Could Save Americans $1 Trillion, Cut CO2 10%, Create 3 Million Jobs. Scaling up energy efficiency retrofits around the U.S. could save an estimated $1 trillion over the next 10 years while creating 3.3 million job years for a wide range of skilled workers, according to study released this week from Deutsche Bank and the Rockefeller Foundation. The study, “United States Building Energy Efficiency Retrofits,” calculates the massive economic impact a $279 billion investment in energy efficiency would have. Posted. http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2012/03/04/436737/deutsche-bank-big-energy-efficiency-push-could-save-americans-1-trillion-cut-co2-10-create-3-million-jobs/?mobile=nc ====================================================================== 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 Mar 2012 12:19:02 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 7, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 7, 2012. 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 Scientists (and Dr. Oz) Make Clean Air Sense. Scientists are not political big shots, or the rock stars of the environmental movement. They are concerned citizens like you and I who set out to systematically discover and document answers to pressing scientific queries. Doctors, nurses, researchers and professors devote their lives to making the world a better place for our families. More than 2,500 U.S. scientists sent a letter to members of Congress urging them to reject legislation that would gut the EPA of its protective safeguards and ignore the human toll that inaction would take on their citizens. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronnie-citronfink/5-scientists-and-dr-oz-ma_b_1324833.html?view=print&comm_ref=false CLIMATE CHANGE UC Merced Connect: Professor mimics global warming. Climate change is leading to higher temperatures around the world, forcing plants, trees and animals to adapt to new conditions or relocate, often to higher elevations. But the process is gradual, and the effects of climate warming can usually only be observed over the course of years and decades. But UC Merced ecologist Lara Kueppers is experimentally accelerating that process, using infrared heaters to simulate warming in the mountains of Colorado. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/03/07/2258987/uc-merced-connect-professor-mimics.html Carbon control takes new breed of specialists. The business of managing carbon — from carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects in the oil and gas sector to taking carbon dioxide out of the air — is an emerging field that’s opening up job opportunities for engineers. “It’s congruent with a lot of other things that are happening in the oil industry,” says Rob Lavoie, a reservoir engineering specialist with RPS Energy, who at one time operated a company that focused on CCS. Posted. http://business.financialpost.com/2012/03/07/carbon-control-takes-new-breed-of-specialists/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Air board program helps business owners replace older diesel trucks. The California Air Resources Board is offering a lease-to-own financing program that encourages small business owners to replace their older diesel trucks with clean, new equipment. Officials said the objective is to encourage early compliance with ARB's on-road diesel vehicle and tractor-trailer greenhouse gas regulations. "This is a program that benefits small fleets and owner-operators," said ARB Chairwoman Mary Nichols. "It provides them with an additional way to pay for a cleaner truck, even if their credit isn't stellar." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/07/v-print/4318862/air-board-program-helps-business.html http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=20559 California Gives Navistar Green Light To Sell Truck Engines. California is allowing Navistar International Corp. (NAV) to sell new heavy-duty trucks in the state as long as the company has pollution credits to offset its engines' lack of compliance with the federal standard for engine exhaust. The decision last week by the California Air Resources Board, or CARB, replaces the agency's order in January prohibiting the sale of Navistar's heavy-duty engines after the end of February in California and nine other states that have adopted California's air-quality regulations. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120306-712027.html FUELS Natural gas drops to a 10-year low; oil rises. The price of natural gas has dropped to the lowest level in a decade as a mild winter ends with an apparently huge surplus of the fuel on hand. Natural gas supplies typically drop in the winter as homes and business crank up the heat. But relatively warm temperatures, combined with a boom in production, has left storage facilities bloated with more gas than normal. The government said last week that supplies were 45 percent larger than average for this time of year. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/07/2750475/oil-rises-above-105-amid-improving.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20119173/oil-rises-above-105-amid-improving-us-economy?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20119173?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/natural-gas-drops-to-a--year-low-oil-rises/article_005799b2-822e-5a54-9237-3e47bf27fa0c.html#ixzz1oSZTH4kb VEHICLES More natural gas vehicles hitting the market. More natural gas-powered vehicles will hit the market soon, as rising gasoline prices, booming natural gas production and proposed tax credits make them a more attractive option. But they're a long way from being a common sight in U.S. driveways. Chrysler will sell a Ram 2500 Heavy Duty pickup that runs on compressed natural gas starting in July. The truck has both a gasoline tank and a natural gas storage tank, and its engine shifts seamlessly between the two power sources. The truck can run for 255 miles on natural gas and another 367 miles using gasoline. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gKyPscXcQ1f-Rqm8I9aJIsaLZv3w?docId=bf83bc4bba2943d5abc34ea122d0f868 AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/07/2750214/more-natural-gas-vehicles-hitting.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20119165/more-natural-gas-vehicles-hitting-market?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20119165?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46650554# http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/more-natural-gas-vehicles-hitting-the-market/article_f45b3423-946d-53a1-9c7f-307feac8fe1f.html#ixzz1oSXi6TWS http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/07/2101490/more-natural-gas-vehicles-hitting.html A More Circumspect View of Electric Cars. After several years of excitement over electric vehicles, the auto industry is facing a new reality.General Motors’ decision last week to suspend production of its Volt plug-in hybrid sedan because of slow sales has renewed questions about whether customers were willing to pay extra for new technology. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/07/business/global/hype-over-electric-cars-subsides-at-geneva-auto-show.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=diesel%20emissions&st=cse GREEN ENERGY Solar storm headed toward Earth may disrupt power. Washington—The largest solar flare in five years is racing toward Earth, threatening to unleash a torrent of charged particles that could disrupt power grids, GPS and airplane flights. The sun erupted Tuesday evening, and the effects should start smacking Earth around 7 a.m. EST Thursday, according to forecasters at the federal government's Space Weather Prediction Center. They say the flare is growing as it speeds outward from the sun. "It's hitting us right in the nose," said Joe Kunches, a scientist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_20120734 http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_20120754/solar-storm-headed-toward-earth-may-disrupt-power Obama talks energy, jobs in NC a day after primary. President Barack Obama will outline incentives to promote development of more fuel-efficient cars and to make it easier for people to buy and operate next-generation vehicles during an election-year visit to a North Carolina truck plant. The morning after Super Tuesday voting, Obama picked up his schedule of weekly visits to politically important states with his trip to a Daimler truck plant in Mount Holly, N.C. With the price of gasoline at its highest levels for this time of year, Obama once again will promote policies he says will result in less foreign oil dependency over the long term. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/entertainment/tv/obama-talks-energy-jobs-in-nc-a-day-after-primary/article_9702b650-6bdb-538e-92cd-a11b6330dd55.html#ixzz1oSZ6RMDO Rooftop revolution: How to get solar onto 100 million U.S. homes. That’s from a new report by John Farrell at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance called “Rooftop Revolution: Changing Everything with Cost-Effective Local Solar.” It’s about the spread of “solar grid parity” over the next 10 years, where grid parity is defined as “when the cost of solar electricity — without subsidies — is equal to or lower than the residential retail electricity rate.” People often talk about grid parity as if it’s some magic moment, but in fact it will happen in different places at different times, depending on local conditions and electricity prices. Posted. http://grist.org/solar-power/rooftop-revolution-how-to-get-solar-onto-100-million-u-s-homes/ OPINIONS The threat of carbon emissions on the world’s oceans. AS THE REPUBLICAN presidential primary race drags on, the politics of global warming seem ever more divorced from scientific reality. The process of scientific inquiry, meanwhile, offers yet more warnings about what might happen if fractured climate politics stymie long-term action. Emitting massive amounts of carbon dioxide doesn’t just change the chemistry of the atmosphere; it makes the oceans more acidic. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-threat-of-carbon-emissions-on-the-worlds-oceans/2012/03/02/gIQAF7WhvR_story.html SADAR: Slap-shot climate science. Perhaps no climate science icon is more recognizable than the “hockey stick” graph originally produced by Michael E. Mann and his colleagues in the 1990s and first published in the prestigious journal Nature in 1998. This icon quickly became the feature diagram in the 2001 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Third Assessment Report summary document for policymakers. The graph was instrumental in convincing many in government to buy into the idea that human-related emissions of carbon dioxide were causing an unprecedented increase in global temperatures and so drastic action was needed to once again save the planet. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/6/slap-shot-climate-science/ Jack Broadbent: Bad air days in Bay Area send emergency room admissions skyrocketing. It's the end of another Winter Spare the Air season, one that taught us some important lessons about wood-smoke pollution. It was a tough winter for air quality and public health. Dry, cold weather and high pollution levels led the Air District to call 15 Winter Spare the Air Alerts, the most since our wood burning rule was passed. We ended up exceeding the federal air pollution standard on 10 days, and came dangerously close on nine other days. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_20114780/jack-broadbent-bad-air-days-bay-area-send?source=rss BLOGS Meet Jonathan Foley, ‘Climate Pragmatist’. Late in 2010, Jonathan Foley, who directs the Institute of the Environment at the University of Minnesota, wrote “Becoming a Climate Pragmatist,” an essay published online then and the following spring in the institute’s magazine, Momentum. You can get a feel for his work and views in the video above in which he explains 2009 research on “planetary boundaries.” I also encourage you to read his 2011 paper, “Solutions for a Cultivated Planet.” Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/meet-jonathan-foley-climate-pragmatist/ New York Seeks Waste-to-Energy Proposals. New York City is soliciting proposals for trying out new technologies that turn garbage into energy. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Tuesday that the city was looking for a pilot “state of the art facility” that could handle a maximum of 450 tons of trash a day — out of a total of 10,000 tons currently in need of disposal — with plans to double that capacity if successful. The plant, which must be in New York City or no farther than 80 miles away, would be privately built and operated. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/06/new-york-solicits-waste-to-energy-proposals/ Ford, Odyne introduce monster F750 plug-in hybrid work truck. Odyne Systems is known for making big honking hybrid vehicles, things like the Dueco work truck we first saw in 2008. At the 2012 Work Truck Show in Indianapolis this week, Ford is showcasing the biggest plug-in hybrid vehicle with a J1772 connector that we know of: a PHEV F-750. Yes, that's a big one. Odyne adds its plug-in architecture to work vehicles after the fact. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/07/ford-odyne-introduce-monster-f750-plug-in-hybrid-work-truck/ ====================================================================== 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 Mar 2012 12:57:31 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 8, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 8, 2012. 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 NY town gets grant to study industrial pollution. Tonawanda, N.Y. — The Environmental Protection Agency has announced a $100,000 grant to help the town of Tonawanda address the health risks posed by the numerous air-polluting facilities in the area. The community near Buffalo has 53 industrial facilities, including a coke plant, two petroleum distribution terminals, multiple chemical storage terminals, and a coal-burning power plant. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/AP32503bb9b5c8433fbdc1a8a1acb5ff99.html BY SUBSCRIPTION CLIMATE CHANGE California Takes the Lead. With New Climate Initiatives. Long ahead of the rest of the U.S. on environmental policy, California is taking bold steps to tackle climate change — from committing to dramatic reductions in emissions, to establishing a cap-and-trade system, to mandating an increase in zero-emission vehicles. The bottom line, say state officials, is to foster an economy where sustainability is profitable. Posted. http://e360.yale.edu/feature/california_takes_the_lead_with_new_climate_initiatives/2504/ Soot a Culprit in Glacial Melt. New research confirms theories about how so-called black carbon contributes to climate change. Soot from fossil fuels is causing snow packs, glaciers and ice sheets to absorb heat and melt more quickly, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researchers have confirmed. Soot, also called black carbon, is produced when fossil fuels are burned inefficiently. Major sources include coal power plants, cooking stoves and vehicles, particularly those powered by diesel. Forest fires also produce soot. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/climate-change/story/soot-major-suspect-melting-glaciers/ FUELS Oil giant BP sued over dirty gas sales shipped to Martinez. Tens of millions of gallons of gasoline that did not meet California's clean fuel specifications was delivered to Martinez and sold across the state by petroleum giant BP, state regulators said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday. The company submitted documents over a four-month period to regulators that said gasoline refined in Washington and shipped to Contra Costa County contained permissible levels of toxic and cancer-causing compounds, including benzene, when, in fact, the fuel failed to meet state standards, the lawsuit says. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20124820 http://www.pennlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf/story/california-sues-oil-giant-bp-over-shipments/1ac47592e1350f0370d3990213a0cea4 http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/07/2681756/california-sues-oil-giant-bp-over.html http://www.nbcbayarea.com/BP-sued-for-shipping-Dirty-Gas-To-Califonria-141900933.html http://www.kansascity.com/2012/03/07/3475932/california-sues-oil-giant-bp-over.html Virdia Gets Funding to Turn Wood Into Sugars for Biofuel Makers. Virdia Inc., a closely held biotechnology company, is planning its first commercial plant in Mississippi to convert wood into sugars that can used to produce transportation fuel, nutritional products and specialty chemicals. The state agreed to provide a $75 million loan and $155 million in tax incentives, Redwood City, California-based Virdia said today in a statement. The company hasn’t decided on the location for the plant, which is expected to go into production in 2014. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-06/virdia-gets-funding-to-turn-wood-into-sugars-for-biofuel-makers.html EU Carbon Market Has Become ‘Residual’ in Power, IHS CERA Says. The European Union carbon market, the world’s biggest by traded volume, has become “residual” in power generation because of national renewable energy policies in the bloc, said IHS CERA, the energy adviser. “The emissions trading system has become a residual market for carbon abatement in the power sector,” Fabien Roques, director at the unit of Englewood, Colorado-based IHS Inc. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-08/eu-carbon-market-has-become-residual-in-power-ihs-cera-says.html Green car fan Arnie urges stronger push for low emissions. Governments, carmakers and drivers must push for progress in green vehicle technology to help the environment, and global economic woes make it even more important to up the pressure, politician, actor and green car advocate Arnold Schwarzenegger said. But factors including "range-anxiety" for electric cars - the fear of running out of battery far from a charging point - and high price tags mean in some cases they are not yet selling in the high numbers manufacturers hoped for. Posted. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/yourmoney/sns-rt-us-autoshow-schwarzeneggerbre8270vi-20120308,0,4782503.story VEHICLES Honda wants dealers to have natural gas fuel stations. Honda, the only automaker selling compressed natural gas-powered cars in the U.S., wants some of its dealers to also install fueling station pumps to sell CNG. Honda has said it wants to double sales of its Civic Natural Gas sedans this year to 4,000, and greater CNG acceptance is going to require more public fueling stations, Steve Center, U.S. VP for environmental business development, said in an interview. Honda is negotiating with state regulators in California...Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/03/honda-wants-dealers-to-have-natural-gas-fuel-stations/1 City To Add Electric Vehicle Outlets to Local Lots. The Santa Barbara City Council voted Tuesday afternoon to install six modern electric vehicle charging stations in three downtown parking structures for vehicles including the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt. Coulomb Technologies will provide the city with six “ChargePoint” stations located in downtown parking lots Six and Seven and the Helena Avenue Lot. Posted. http://www.dailynexus.com/2012-03-07/city-add-electric-vehicle-outlets-local-lots/ GREEN ENERGY Japan Shutting Down Its Nuclear Power Industry. OHI, Japan — All but two of Japan’s 54 commercial reactors have gone off line since the nuclear disaster a year ago, following the earthquake and tsunami, and it is not clear when they can be restarted. With the last operating reactor scheduled to be idled as soon as next month, Japan — once one of the world’s leaders in atomic energy — will have at least temporarily shut down an industry that once generated a third of its electricity. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/world/asia/japan-shutting-down-its-nuclear-power-industry.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print As gas prices soar, studies tout energy efficiency. As gasoline prices soar, two new studies today highlight the nation's financial and environmental savings from an often overlooked source in the energy sector: efficiency. Current efficiency standards for appliances, lighting and other equipment will save the United States the equivalent of two years of energy use or $1.1. trillion by 2035 and slash greenhouse gas emissions, concludes …Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2012/03/energy-efficiency-saves-us-trillions-cuts-pollution/1 Hello, sunshine: Palo Alto utility to pay locals for solar energy. Green energy may be losing momentum inside the Beltway. But officials in the heart of Silicon Valley are betting on the sun. This week, the Palo Alto City Council approved a plan to buy clean power from local utility customers who install solar panels on their roofs. That’s right. The power company will pay them, not the other way around. The arrangement – known by the clunky name “feed-in tariff” – is still a rarity in the United States. But Palo Alto officials want to help pioneer the effort. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-palo-alto-solar-program-20120307,0,1466033.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MoneyCompany+%28Money+%26+Company%29 MISCELLANEOUS REXPO focuses on business, recycling in Stockton. Improving the regional environment - both in terms of cleaning the air and water as well as strengthening the economy and job market - is the aim of REXPO 8 Unplugged, the annual recycling, conservation and trade show planned for Wednesday in Stockton. There will also be two panel discussions. One will focus on efforts to increase recycled-content manufacturing in California, while the second seeks a balance between improving the environment while also creating new business opportunities. California EPA Secretary Matt Rodriquez will give the keynote luncheon talk, and state Assemblywoman Kristen Olsen, a Modesto Republican, is the day's opening speaker. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120308/A_BIZ/203080320&cid=sitesearch OPINIONS CARB misses the point with Harris solution. When an old, polluting diesel truck is replaced with a newer, cleaner truck, our air quality improves. Period. The California Air Resources Board needs to grasp that fact in its handling of truck replacement funds for a valley business. Instead, the board is refusing to honor an agreement to help replace seven old diesel trucks owned by Harris Ranch, a large-scale cattle operation 100 miles north of Bakersfield. The ranch had plans to replace the big rigs with new ones and get half the cost of each truck covered by a state air quality grant program. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/x2052758237/CARB-misses-the-point-with-Harris-solution Blowing dust prompts health advisory. Why were Bakersfield residents' respiratory issues acting up Tuesday? The answer -- as it has often been during this dry, dusty winter -- was blowing in the wind. Gusty conditions and flying particulate matter throughout the valley, including much of Kern County, prompted officials to issue a health cautionary statement Tuesday, advising people to avoid prolonged exposure to dust. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x1498655306/Blowing-dust-prompts-health-advisory Obama in a Plaid Sportscoat: Have I Got A Deal For You! President Obama is still determined to put more electric cars on the road, even if most American consumers seem reluctant to buy one. So like any good car salesman, he’s putting more money on the hood. Obama wants Congress to increase the tax credit available for electric cars like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf from the current $7,500 to $10,000. And, instead of waiting until tax time to collect, he wants the rebate to kick in at the time of purchase. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/joannmuller/2012/03/08/obama-in-a-plaid-sportscoat-have-i-got-a-deal-for-you/ Is This the Spark Green Vehicles Need? Don’t like electric cars? No problem, the White House plans to pony up big bucks to help you buy the (clean, green) vehicle of your choice. And it doesn’t have to be electric. President Barack Obama on Wednesday unveiled his new “All-of-the-Above Approach to American Energy.” The plan would raise the current $7,500 incentive for buying an electric car to $10,000 and — more important — extend it to any vehicle that runs on alternative fuels. Posted. http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=IVPL&Date=20120308&ID=14872418 BLOGS U.K., Ever Reliant on Gas, May Have Supply Strangled. The U.K. seems to be going down the road of greater dependence on natural gas, just as a key import source of the commodity dries up. This could leave the country, where industry is already struggling to remain competitive and households’ spending power is falling, facing 50% higher natural-gas prices next winter, analysts warned. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2012/03/08/u-k-ever-reliant-on-gas-may-have-supply-strangled/ Why cities can’t tackle global warming on their own. Whenever global warming drops off Congress’s radar, some environmentalists point out the real action is occurring locally, anyway. Some 500 U.S. mayors have signed pledges to reduce carbon emissions. Berkeley, for one, promises an 80 percent cut by 2050. But do these plans actually do anything? Not really, it turns out. Nate Berg points to an intriguing new paper in the Journal of Urban Economics by McGill’s Adam Millard-Ball that finds two things. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/can-americas-cities-tackle-global-warming-on-their-own/2012/03/08/gIQARZK7yR_blog.html What Makes Gasoline Prices Go Up? Energy Information Administration, Petroleum Supply Monthly. The United States exported more petroleum products than it imported last year. On the day after Super Tuesday, the federal Energy Information Administration came out with a striking fact: in 2011, the United States, for the first time since 1949, exported more petroleum products than it imported. On the big primary voting day, the same agency delivered news that might be even more relevant to current campaign oratory:.. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/07/what-makes-gasoline-prices-go-up/ With Energy Department’s Encouragement, Ford, G.M. and Ram Unveil Natural Gas Pickups. Speaking here this week at the Green Truck Summit, an event held in conjunction with the Work Truck Show, Steven Chu, the head of the Energy Department, called on commercial fleet owners to consider converting their vehicles to run on natural gas, which he characterized as a “no-brainer” alternative to gasoline and diesel. “We want to diversify our source of transportation energy,” Mr. Chu said. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/with-energy-departments-encouragement-ford-g-m-and-ram-unveil-natural-gas-pickups/ Postcard from a Solar Rooftop. Billy Parish is a longtime contact from the network of young activists working to build an energy menu for America that works for the long haul. I first encountered him at the climate treaty talks in Montreal in 2005 and included his views in a piece on climate rhetoric and reality in 2006. We disagree on some things, but agree on the unsustainable nature of business as usual. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/postcard-from-a-solar-rooftop/ Electronic Arts to bring SimCity back in 2013. The game franchise that first defined the city-building genre in 1989 will be re-released next year as a multi-player online computer game, developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts Inc. This time, however, SimCity has an environmental theme, a la “An Inconvenient Truth," the 2006 documentary about Al Gore's campaign to educate the public about global warming. In SimCity, a fetish for coal burning plants in one city can spread smog and sickness in adjacent cities run by other players, for example. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2012/03/electronic-arts-to-bring-simcity-back-in-2013.html Seven Teenagers Take the Federal Government to Court to Stop Climate Change. Seven teenagers set a new precedent for environmental action in May 2011 by suing the federal government for not taking measures against climate change. They claim that the government’s policies regarding climate change are squandering natural resources. The young plaintiffs, led by 17-year-old Alec Loorz, filed a total of 10 suits against the federal government and individual states under the public trust… Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/seven-teenagers-take-federal-government-court-stop/ Carbon Motors' $310 million DOE loan for police-car production rejected. Carbon Motors, maker of the purpose-built E7 police car, won't receive the $310 million in U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) loans under the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVM) program that it applied for almost three years ago, and said that it's a victim of politics. "We are outraged by the actions of the DOE and it is clear that this was a political decision in a highly-charged, election year environment," Carbon Motors William Santana Li said in a statement. The company added that it was "actively examining its strategic and financing alternatives." Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/08/carbon-motors-310-million-doe-loan-for-police-car-production-r/ ====================================================================== 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 Mar 2012 12:45:09 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 9, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 9, 2012. 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 Silver Lake, an air of dismay over pipeline project. Neighbors say dust from construction is causing respiratory problems. DWP officials say they are taking steps to control noise and pollution from the $40-million project. Silver Lake residents can't wait for this construction job to bite the dust. More than two dozen residents living along the path of a $40-million water pipe project say they are suffering respiratory problems from particulate matter stirred up by construction trucks and heavy-duty trenching machines. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-pipe-dust-20120309,0,643731.story Cupertino: County prepares for EIR hearing on Lehigh Cement. Santa Clara County is still tentatively set for a March 22 planning commission hearing on the latest environmental impact report regarding Lehigh Southwest Cement. The cement and rock quarry located just outside Cupertino in unincorporated county territory is working on a reclamation plan that will someday see the mined property returned to its natural beauty and a beneficial state, according to county staff. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20134990/cupertino-county-prepares-eir-hearing-lehigh-cement?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20134990/cupertino-county-prepares-eir-hearing-lehigh-cement?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Alert on tub-stripping chemical serves as reminder of dangers of improper use. A recent warning about a chemical stripper often used to refinish bathtubs raises a red flag about using chemical products improperly. Earlier this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert about the dangers of using paint strippers containing methylene chloride in tub refinishing. The risk is to the person doing the work, not to anyone using the tub later. The products were linked to 13 deaths from 2000 to 2011 of people who used them to remove old finishes from bathtubs without adequately protecting themselves from the vapors, which can cause people to pass out and interfere with their breathing. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/08/4321163/alert-on-tub-stripping-chemical.html FUELS East Bay Oil Exports Have Become Huge Business. The Bay Area is known for the Golden Gate Bridge, technology start-ups and California cuisine, among other things. Oil does not usually make the list. But the region’s five oil refineries along San Pablo Bay and the Carquinez Strait were responsible for $7.8 billion in oil exports in 2010, more than any other metro area in the country, according to a report released Thursday by the Brookings Institution. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/us/oil-exports-have-become-huge-business-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area.html?_r=1&scp=8&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Exxon pegs spending at $185B over next 5 years. Exxon said Thursday that it will spend about $150 billion over the next five years to find more oil and natural gas to satisfy the world's growing energy appetite. Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest publicly traded energy company, expects global energy demand to increase 30 percent by 2040, compared with 2010 levels. As demand grows, CEO Rex Tillerson said Exxon will plow more money into a global search for new resources. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/08/2751997/exxon-to-spend-185b-over-5-years.html#storylink=misearch VEHICLES Auto Overcapacity Gives Leaders Another Issue to Ponder. While Europe has been preoccupied with the euro crisis, another storm has been gathering that could also take a grievous toll on jobs and growth. Just as Europe has too much debt, it also has more automobile factories than the economy can support. The overcapacity is not exactly a secret, but judging from the talk at the Geneva auto show this week, a long-postponed reckoning is nigh. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/business/global/the-other-ticking-time-bomb-in-europe-auto-overcapacity.html?scp=8&sq=vehicles&st=cse Japan automakers are back, a year after disaster. Nissan is back, one year after an earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan ground auto production to a halt, left giant cracks at a key factory and killed five employees and 17 family members. It's a story of surprising recovery that's playing out at other Japanese automakers, but particularly at Nissan. Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn called it "miraculous" on Friday ahead of the disaster's anniversary, crediting hard work at his company. The maker of the March subcompact and Infiniti luxury brands had a record sales year of 4.67 million vehicles in 2011. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/japan-automakers-are-back-a-year-after-disaster/article_c3981c1e-a005-522b-a94f-aa1502c326ec.html#ixzz1ode7w28F http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/09/2104824/japan-automakers-are-back-a-year.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20137569/japan-automakers-are-back-year-after-disaster?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20137569/japan-automakers-are-back-year-after-disaster?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com China auto sales fall in first 2 months of year. China's vehicle sales weakened further in the first two months of this year as the economy slowed and higher fuel prices deterred some buyers. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said Friday that car sales in January-February fell 4.4 percent from a year earlier to 2.37 million vehicles. Total sales, including trucks and buses, dropped 6 percent to 2.95 million vehicles. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20137264/china-auto-sales-fall-first-2-months-year?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20137264/china-auto-sales-fall-first-2-months-year?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20137264/china-auto-sales-fall-first-2-months-year?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Electric scooter version of Zipcar hits San Francisco. San Francisco’s hipsters are about to get motorized. Scoot Networks, an electric scooter rental system similar to Zipcar, launched in the Bay Area this week. The system, which is being rolled out to San Francisco-based companies for private fleets, lets users locate nearby scooters with their smartphone and claim the one they want (as with Zipcar, each scooter lives at a certain location). After it’s docked into the scooter, the phone unlocks the vehicle and acts like a virtual dashboard, providing a map as well as information on speed and range. Posted. http://grist.org/list/electric-scooter-version-of-zipcar-hits-san-francisco/ GREEN ENERGY Senate rejects GOP environment, energy proposals. The Senate killed Republican-backed attempts to overturn several of President Barack Obama's environmental and energy policies Thursday as lawmakers worked against a March 31 deadline to keep aid flowing to more than 100,000 transportation construction projects around the country. The two-year, $109 billion transportation bill before the Senate has wide, bipartisan support, but has become a magnet for lawmakers' favorite causes and partisan gamesmanship. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/senate-rejects-gop-environment-energy-proposals/article_df3e2636-5d26-54ca-9d66-4b1a815134d5.html#ixzz1oddbWZar http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/07/2102831/senate-leaders-say-deal-on-transportation.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20136324/senate-rejects-gop-environment-energy-proposals?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20136324/senate-rejects-gop-environment-energy-proposals?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20136324/senate-rejects-gop-environment-energy-proposals?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/08/2753154/senate-rejects-gop-environment.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/senate-leaders-say-deal-clears-way-for-vote-on-109b-overhaul-of-highway-transit-programs/2012/03/07/gIQAP9X7xR_story.html Government-subsidized green light bulb carries costly price tag. The U.S. government last year announced a $10 million award, dubbed the “L Prize,” for any manufacturer that could create a “green” but affordable light bulb. Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the prize would spur industry to offer the costly bulbs, known as LEDs, at prices “affordable for American families.” There was also a “Buy America” component. Portions of the bulb would have to be made in the United States. Now the winning bulb is on the market. The price is $50. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/government-subsidized-green-light-bulb-carries-costly-price-tag/2012/03/07/gIQAFxOD0R_story.html RIVERSIDE: City to receive 2011 Sustainability Showcase Award. The California Sustainability Alliance has announced that the city of Riverside has been chosen to receive its 2011 Sustainability Showcase Award for Local Government. The city has implemented multiple initiatives and programs across all departments to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy, foster alternative-fuel vehicle use, and improve water use efficiency, which are key elements in the alliance’s award criteria. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20120308-riverside-city-to-receive-2011-sustainability-showcase-award.ece MISCELLANEOUS Energy department probes delay of layoff news at Solyndra. The Energy Department's Office of Inspector General is investigating who pushed to delay bad news about federally backed Solyndra LLC until after the November 2010 midterm elections. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, who nearly four months ago pledged to find out if anyone in his department was involved, told a House Committee on Thursday he’s turned the matter over to the department’s Office of Inspector General. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/8/energy-department-probes-delay-of-layoff-news-at-s/ Molycorp, a Rare Earth Mining Firm, Is to Merge With a Processor, Neo Material. One of the West’s two main rare earth metal mining companies announced on Friday that it was buying one of the world’s two main rare earth processing companies for $1.3 billion, the latest in a series of deals that are rapidly consolidating the industry. Molycorp, which operates the big American mine now being reopened and expanded in Mountain Pass, Calif., is buying Neo Material Technologies of Toronto, which makes specialty chemicals from rare earths at factories in China and Thailand. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/business/global/merger-combines-a-rare-earth-mining-firm-with-a-processor.html Plutonium from Japan nuclear disaster not seen as major threat. A study says the levels of radioactive plutonium around the Fukushima nuclear plant are not much higher than residual levels from Cold War-era weapons tests. The levels of radioactive plutonium around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant aren't much higher than the amount of plutonium remaining in the environment from Cold War-era nuclear weapons tests, and it probably poses little threat to humans, a new study indicates. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-fukushima-plutonium-20120309,0,5592554.story Rural Peninsula activists -- and others around Bay Area -- oppose development plans. Citizens in San Mateo County's rural midcoast are pushing back against Plan Bay Area, a state-mandated effort to figure out where the region's growing population will live -- and they're not alone. Organizations and community activists throughout the Bay Area are faulting the plan, which intends to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by creating incentives for transit-oriented development. A number of environmental groups have joined the fray…Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_20132791 3,000 new downtown homes still city's goal. Balancing stark realism with tempered optimism, city leaders recommended Thursday a goal of 3,000 homes built downtown by 2020 - just weeks after slashing that same number by 90 percent. Success isn't likely, they say. Stockton added 13,444 homes over the past decade, just 62 of them in the greater downtown area. But Deputy City Manager Mike Locke told the city's Climate Action Plan Advisory Committee that the goal will be part of a larger …Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120309/A_NEWS/203090319&cid=sitesearch OPINIONS There's no consensus on climate change. I was taught that one of the first rules, in studying history is to remember that there is a minimum of two sides to every story. Regarding the "Move toward One America" article in Friday's paper, the same rule applies. If you saw Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth," did you see Lomborg's movie, "Cool It"? If not, you should. The article further stated that emails from the Heartland Institute implied compliance with the belief in global warming. http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20120309/OPINION03/203090328/There-s-no-consensus-climate-change BLOGS Following Beijing, Hong Kong Releases PM2.5 Pollution Data. Hong Kong has decided to come clean with data on a dangerous form of air pollution, a month and a half after Beijing, a city with smoggier skies and a murkier approach to statistics, did the same. After years of withholding the data, Hong Kong’s environmental protection department on Thursday began publicly releasing hourly measurements of the tiny pollutants known as PM2.5 – so called because they are smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter – that health experts say are especially threatening because they penetrate deeply into the lungs. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/03/09/following-beijing-hong-kong-releases-pm2-5-pollution-data/ With Energy Department’s Encouragement, Ford, G.M. and Ram Unveil Natural Gas Pickups. Speaking here this week at the Green Truck Summit, an event held in conjunction with the Work Truck Show, Steven Chu, the head of the Energy Department, called on commercial fleet owners to consider converting their vehicles to run on natural gas, which he characterized as a “no-brainer” alternative to gasoline and diesel. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/with-energy-departments-encouragement-ford-g-m-and-ram-unveil-natural-gas-pickups/?scp=6&sq=vehicles&st=cse California Team to Tackle the Sands of Baja in a 400-Horsepower E.V. At its essence, the Baja 1000, a long-running off-road race on Mexico’s Baja peninsula, is a wooly, slightly unhinged competition celebrating horsepower and torque. This year, a new vehicle class called Ultra Green will give the race an air, however subtle, of environmental stewardship. Jeffrey Smith, a successful competitor in the 2011 race, has set his sights on winning the class in its inaugural year with a purely electric racer. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/08/california-team-to-tackle-the-sands-of-baja-in-a-400-horsepower-e-v/?scp=2&sq=vehicles&st=cse Volvo Ups the Ante on Emissions Reductions. Volvo Group, the transportation equipment manufacturer, has set a tall order for itself. It wants to reduce its carbon emissions from the construction equipment, buses and trucks it makes by 30 million tons by the end of 2014. To accomplish that, the group has expanded its partnership with the WWF Climate Savers program. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/03/volvo-ups-ante-emissions-reductions/ Nissan will double Tennessee workers for Leaf, battery-pack ramp-up. Nissan will almost double the number of workers at its factory in Smyrna, TN, within the next year in part to ramp up production of both Nissan Leaf electric vehicles and battery packs, HybridCars reports. Nissan will add 1,300 workers specifically for the battery packs and for the Leafs, which will start being built in the U.S. later this year. The Japanese automaker has invested $1.7 billion upgrading the plant, which will include a 1.3-million-square-foot facility dedicated to making battery packs. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/09/nissan-will-double-tennessee-workers-for-leaf-battery-pack-ramp/ ====================================================================== 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 Mar 2012 12:13:35 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 12, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 12, 2012. 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 Lawmaker: Vehicle emission tests no longer needed. Every day, mechanics around the commonwealth check gas caps and look under hoods as part of annual vehicle emissions inspections. But one state lawmaker says residents should no longer have to take their cars in for— and pay for—the annual inspections. State Sen. John Wozniak, D-Westmont, tells the Centre Daily Times (http://bit.ly/AEuK9H ) that he thinks cleaner cars have made the inspections obsolete. "I think the test needs to be tested," said Wozniak, who introduced a resolution earlier this year asking the federal government to end the requirement. "Virtually all cars pass the test, and it's time to re-evaluate whether it's just a waste of money for consumers." Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20151307/lawmaker-vehicle-emission-tests-no-longer-needed?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com ARCO to pay $1 million to EPA at Superfund site. Atlantic Richfield Co. has agreed to pay $1 million to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for managing the Superfund site at the former Black Eagle smelter. "It really allows us to have a special account to do oversight of the responsible party's activities," said EPA spokesman Charlie Coleman. "Right now, with budgets the way they are, our abilities could be limited." Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/10/arco-to-pay-1-million-to-epa-at-superfund-site/ CARB: Regulatory Sell-Through Dates for Composite Panels. In June 2011, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced the delay in enforcement of two sell-through dates that affect distributors, importers, fabricators and retailers of finished goods made with Phase 1 hardwood plywood - veneer core and distributors of Phase 1 particleboard and MDF panels. The extension was granted in recognition of the economic recession and related problems for companies to sell off their inventories. Posted. http://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/articles/red-book-woodworking-tools-best-practices/gluing-equipment-pressing/CARB-Regulatory-Sell-Through-Dates-for-Composite-Panels-142098243.html?ref=243 Study finds automobile tires are a potential source of carcinogenic dibenzopyrenes to the environment. A new study by researchers from Stockholm University concludes that automobile tires may be a potential previously unknown source of carcinogenic dibenzopyrenes—a type of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)—to the environment. Their findings are published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/03/pah-20q2.html Fuel Tech Awarded Air Pollution Control Orders Totaling $2.2M. Warrenville, Ill. Fuel Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: FTEK), a world leader in advanced engineering solutions for combustion and emissions control systems for utility and industrial applications, today announced receipt of multiple air pollution control orders totaling $2.2 million. The larger of these orders, placed by a new domestic utility customer in the Midwest, was for combustion modifications and a Separated Over-Fire Air (SOFA) system for a small tangential coal-fired boiler. Posted. http://green.tmcnet.com/news/2012/03/12/6180396.htm CLIMATE CHANGE GM under a global warming cloud. Washington – General Motors, a company that has made strides to lower the carbon footprint of driving, is taking heat from 10,000 of its customers for a donation its charitable foundation made to an institute that casts doubt on climate science. GM vehicle buyers have posted online comments objecting to the GM Foundation's gifts of $30,000 in the past two years to the Heartland Institute, a free-market advocacy organization that publicizes its disagreement with prevailing scientific views about evidence of climate change. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/11/v-print/4326501/gm-under-a-global-warming-cloud.html Scientists say rising sea level threatens local beaches, Oceanside harbor. Sea-level increases projected by the middle of this century could wipe out sections of San Diego County's beaches, swell flood waters and deluge wetlands, according to maps generated by the Scripps Institution for Oceanography. The maps, prepared for the San Diego Foundation Regional Focus 2050 Study, combined projected sea level increases with wave measurements and high-resolution topographic images of the coastline to estimate high tide marks for 2050. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/region-scientists-say-rising-sea-level-threatens-local-beaches-oceanside/article_69f1178f-ece7-55cf-8433-33463b1138ef.html#ixzz1ov73FbkO DIESEL EMISSIONS Study says diesel emissions can increase risk of cancer three-fold. A landmark government health study released last week provides evidence that the diesel engine exhaust that pervades California highways could be causing cancer at a greater rate than previously known. The study says miners exposed to diesel engine exhaust are three times more likely to contract lung cancer and die, and that a similar increased risk applies to people from smoggy, urban areas such as Southern California who live near freeways or commute to work. Posted. http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/news/ci_20142367/study-says-diesel-emissions-can-increase-risk-cancer FUELS BP accused of selling "dirty gasoline" in California. Californian regulators allege BP sold gasoline between December 2008 and March 2009 that failed to comply with state limits on the amount of benzene and other potentially harmful chemicals it can contain. "BP could have complied with the applicable reported fuel property limits, BP intentionally chose not to do so and did not do so," the California Air Resources Board (CARB) claimed in a lawsuit filed in the Contra Costa Superior Court in California this week. Posted. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/9135145/BP-accused-of-selling-dirty-gasoline-in-California.html The Pentagon is a gas guzzler. The Pentagon spent $17.3 billion on oil in 2011, a 26 percent increase from 2010. This despite the Pentagon's public efforts to "go green." Late last month, Bloomberg reported that British Petroleum continues to experience substantial growth in the amount of money it receives from the Pentagon for its oil services. From 2010 to 2011, Pentagon contracts with BP increased by one-third from about 1 billion to 1.35 billion. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Mises-Economics/2012/0312/The-Pentagon-is-a-gas-guzzler Ethanol Industry Pioneer Wants Higher Blends. The president of one of the world’s largest ethanol plant engineering and construction firms is pleased with the progress made by the industry in the last 30 years, but frustrated by the barriers to higher ethanol blends. At the recent National Ethanol Conference, where ICM, Inc. founder Dave Vander Griend was honored with the Renewable Fuels Association 2012 Membership Award, he talked about how ethanol could replace some of the additives currently found in gasoline – called aromatics – which are used to help boost octane in gas. Posted. http://domesticfuel.com/2012/03/11/ethanol-industry-pioneer-wants-higher-blends/ VEHICLES 6/average-new-vehicle-fuel-economy-rises-to-record-23-7-mpg-study-says. Proof That There’s Fun After 40 Miles Per Gallon. ASK the hipster waiting in line for a new iPad. Buyers and critics alike are easily seduced — sometimes too easily — by the new. It’s no different with cars. Last year, a rare battle of the welterweights broke out. Never before, it seemed, had so many new compact models swaggered into showrooms. The Ford Focus, Honda Civic, Hyundai Elantra, Chevy Cruze and Nissan Versa were all brand-new or completely redesigned. Which one would win the compact crown? Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/automobiles/autoreviews/mazda-3-theres-fun-after-40-miles-per-gallon.html?scp=4&sq=fuels&st=cse New carpool lane opens on Highway 50. A carpool lane on westbound Highway 50 between Rancho Cordova and Sacramento has opened. Caltrans said the project added 7.5 miles of new carpool lane in the westbound direction on Highway 50 between Sunrise Boulevard and Watt Avenue. With the added mileage, a continuous carpool lane of nearly 23 miles exists from on westbound Highway 50 from Watt Avenue in Sacramento County to Bass Lake Road in El Dorado County. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/12/v-print/4330791/new-carpool-lane-opens-on-highway.html Average new-vehicle fuel economy rises to record 23.7 mpg, study says. The average fuel economy for new vehicles purchased in the United States rose to 23.7 mpg in February, a new high, researchers at the University of Michigan said. The university’s Transportation Research Institute in Ann Arbor, Mich., has tracked the average fuel economy of new vehicles sold monthly since October 2007, when average fuel economy was 20.1 mpg. In January, the researchers said they expected average fuel economy for new vehicles purchased to keep rising. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120309/OEM05/120309839/118 Static electricity. Driving her brand-new car down Pacific Avenue, Catherine Kearney turned into a gas station. Only to remember - with a "whoops" and a laugh - that she would never need gas again. Kearney's Nissan Leaf is refueled each day while it sits in a parking spot near her desk at the San Joaquin County Office of Education, which recently installed five charging stations for plug-in electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120312/A_NEWS/203120326&cid=sitesearch VW plans plug-in Golf for U.S. in '13. Volkswagen of America plans to bring a plug-in car to the United States late next year, its first foray into the electric-vehicle market. The 2014 model will be an all-electric version of its Golf, Jonathan Browning, VW of America's president, told Automotive News last week at the Geneva auto show. VW likely will start with a limited rollout targeting specific markets before making the electric Golf available nationwide, he said. The electric Golf also will go on sale in Europe around the same time. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120312/OEM06/303129928/1186/vw-plans-plug-in-golf-for-u-s-in-13 More hybrid, electric cars available to rent. Rental car companies and hotels are making it easier for travelers who want to help save the environment and not spend extra money on high gasoline prices. Major car rental companies are increasingly adding electric cars to their already growing hybrid car fleets. And hotels are installing electric charging stations or giving electric and hybrid car drivers breaks on pricey parking fees. Travelers have never had so many options for more fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly cars. Posted. http://www.azcentral.com/business/consumer/articles/2012/03/12/20120312More-hybrid-electric-cars-available-to-rent.html Electric-vehicle innovation might be game-changer. As part of his plan to get 1 million electric cars on the road by 2015, President Barack Obama wants Congress to give buyers a tax credit of up to $10,000 next year. Currently, the maximum is $7,500, and some Republicans scoff at the credit, calling it a subsidy for the wealthy, noting that the average yearly income of a Chevrolet Volt electric car is $170,000. Posted. http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120310/BIZ/203100303/-1/NEWSMAP 6000 new EV users in first 100 days. Since the launch of car2go in San Diego on 18 November 2011, more than 6,000 people have registered to join North America's first all-electric carsharing programme, and more than 25,000 trips have been taken in the smart fortwo electric drive vehicles. The car2go carsharing service will be available in Washington, D.C. beginning 24 March 2012 and in Portland as of 31 March. Prior to the launch of car2go in November 2011, there were reportedly 800 electric vehicles in San Diego. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/77020120312.php GREEN ENERGY First Solar to build new solar plant for NRG. First Solar Inc will build a 26-megawatt solar power plant for power producer NRG Energy Inc in Arizona under the latest deal between two of the biggest players in the U.S. renewable energy sector. NRG is the majority owner of the 290-megawatt Agua Caliente plant that First Solar is building near Yuma, Arizona, and the two companies previously teamed up on a 21-MW plant in Blythe, California, in 2009 and the 20-MW Road Runner plant in New Mexico last year. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/12/us-nrgenergy-firstsolar-idUSBRE82B0N520120312?feedType=RSS&feedName=scienceNews&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&dlvrit=309301 Solyndra Is Blamed as Clean-Energy Loan Program Stalls. More than $16 billion in loans authorized five years ago by Congress to develop fuel-efficient vehicles has yet to be dispersed, with applicants for the money complaining that the Energy Department is crippling plans for greener cars and trucks at a time of rising gas prices. Some companies contend that the loans, administered by energy officials, have dried up because of a political firestorm that followed the bankruptcy last year of the solar-panel company Solyndra, which had received a federal loan from a related program. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/business/energy-environment/stalled-clean-energy-loan-program-feels-solyndras-chill.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print MISCELLANEOUS Nobel scientist who warned of thinning ozone dies. F. Sherwood Rowland, the Nobel prize-winning chemist who sounded the alarm on the thinning of the Earth's ozone layer and crusaded against the use of man-made chemicals that were harming earth's atmospheric blanket, has died. He was 84. Rowland died Saturday at his home in Corona del Mar of complications from Parkinson's disease, the dean of the University of California, Irvine's physical sciences department said Sunday. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20155129/nobel-scientist-who-warned-thinning-ozone-dies?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20155129/nobel-scientist-who-warned-thinning-ozone-dies?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0312/F.-Sherwood-Rowland-won-Nobel-Prize-for-ozone-destruction-research http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/11/nobel-scientist-who-warned-of-thinning-ozone/ http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/11/2108286/nobel-scientist-who-warned-of.html OPINIONS Analysis: Chevron is gambling with its reputation in South America. Rio de Janeiro -- George Buck, a slim, towering American who runs Chevron's operations in Brazil, is often flanked by lawyers these days. Since November, when the No. 2 U.S. oil company spilled at least 2,400 barrels of oil offshore Brazil, the local attorneys have helped Buck navigate the legal system, sometimes doubling as Portuguese translators and cultural consultants. The soft-spoken engineer, in the country since 2009, has good reason to measure his words. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20155526/analysis-chevron-is-gambling-its-reputation-south-america The Republican Party's gasoline alley. The Republicans are synthesizing a higher-octane blend in their bid to fuel Americans' anxiety about higher gas prices. The Republican National Committee sent out talking points instructing party faithful to take up the issue. House Speaker John Boehner urged his caucus to do the same. And, on Wednesday, the House energy committee obliged: The Republican majority called in a bunch of oilmen for a hearing dedicated largely to blaming President Obama for gas prices. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/x2052758503/The-Republican-Partys-gasoline-alley Just a little breeze of brightness but we'll take it. A couple of updates from the good news (sort of) department. Harris Ranch and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have reached an agreement on the now infamous seven trucks that were torched by criminals two months ago.. The agreement still calls for Harris to buy seven old, pollution belching trucks in order to get grant money to replace the trucks that were burned up. But the beef company won't have to actually operate the beater trucks. Sigh. I shall pause for the head-shaking to settle. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/columnist/henry/x2052758373/Just-a-little-breeze-of-brightness-but-well-take-it Cap and Trade Plan Touches Third Rail. In California, an odd team has hatched a plan. This most unlikely duo will create a polluter’s auction to siphon off $1 billion from state businesses to start construction on one of the state’s most mismanaged projects: high-speed rail. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has authority under California’s landmark 2006 climate law, Assembly Bill 32, to implement a “cap and trade” system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/03/cap-and-trade-plan-touches-third-rail/ GREEN GAZETTE: Long Beach Transit Looks For More Riders, Cuts Down Pollution. There are an average of 76,344 environmentally-friendly acts occurring every day in Long Beach. And those are only the people who are boarding a Long Beach Tranit bus. Long Beach Transit is the publicly-owned nonprofit agency that operates the city’s bus system, including the downtown Passports, Dial-A-Lift service and the water taxis and AquaLink boats that ply the city’s coast. Posted. http://www.gazettes.com/news/environment/green-gazette-long-beach-transit-looks-for-more-riders-cuts/article_da5cdda6-68a8-11e1-8412-0019bb2963f4.html BLOGS If Cutting Carbon Emissions Isn’t Working, What’s Next? What if it is too late to save the climate by cutting greenhouse gas emissions? What if the amount of carbon dioxide already added to the atmosphere by human activity is so great that it is going to produce big temperature changes no matter what, with big shifts in rainfall and in ocean chemistry? Options remain, according to a new book, “Suck It Up,” by Marc Gunther, a journalist, blogger and speaker who specializes in energy and climate issues. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/12/if-cutting-carbon-emissions-isnt-working-whats-next/?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Obama's EV-Everywhere plan sets 2022 goals for U.S.-made electric vehicles. President Barack Obama on Thursday outlined his administration's EV Everywhere plan designed to cut gas-powered vehicle use over the next decade. Speaking at a Daimler truck plant in North Carolina, Obama set a 2022 goal of having the U.S. produce a five-passenger electric vehicle that would provide both a payback time – thanks to lower refueling costs – of less than five years and an ability to be recharged quickly enough to provide enough range for the typical American driver. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/11/obamas-ev-everywhere-plan-sets-2022-goals-for-u-s-made-electri/ Ford Focus Electric qualifies for HOV lane access, extra $2,500 off. Following in the footsteps of the Chevrolet Volt and the Honda Civic Natural Gas, the 105-MPGe 2012 Ford Focus Electric has been granted HOV lane access in California by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). CARB not only gave the upcoming all-electric vehicle the ability to let people drive alone in the "high occupancy" vehicle lane but also qualified it to get an extra $2,500 off through the state's Clean Vehicle Rebate Program (CVRP). Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/12/ford-focus-electric-qualifies-for-hov-lane-access-extra-2-500/ ====================================================================== 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 Mar 2012 12:01:27 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 13, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 13, 2012. 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 $53M air quality fund fuels big plan, regional rift in Palm Springs area. A $53 million pot of funds intended to improve the Coachella Valley's air quality has sparked a high-stakes competition between some of the desert's most notable leaders. This division isn't based on party lines or political ideology. Instead, it's over whether the bulk of the money should be used as a down-payment on a legacy-making proposal…Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120311/NEWS07/203110326/Air-quality-fund-53M-big-plan-regional-rift-Palm-Springs-area Emissions trading not to affect growth, jobs in Japan. Tokyo (Kyodo) -- Environment experts expect that the proposed cap-and-trade emissions program will have little adverse effect on Japan's economic growth or jobs while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 18 percent by 2020, said their report made available to Kyodo News on Monday. The program for firms to cap and trade greenhouse gas emissions for their effective reduction has been promoted…Posted. http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120313p2g00m0dm020000c.html Clean air standards topic of haze plan. Helena residents, including health care professionals, are urging the Environmental Protection Agency to cut emissions as part of its Regional Haze Plan, which is expected to be released this month. Under the Capitol dome Monday, Dr. Robert Shepard, who did a groundbreaking study on the correlation between indoor smoke — mainly from cigarettes — and heart attacks, said new studies show the same is true with outdoor air. “Smoke is smoke, whether it’s diesel, coal or tobacco. Posted. http://helenair.com/news/local/clean-air-standards-topic-of-haze-plan/article_7160129e-6cd3-11e1-a9ed-0019bb2963f4.html Smog-eating tiles could make pollution thing of the past. Homeowners might soon be able to scrub the air around their cities of harmful pollution, and the best part is, they don’t even have to lift a muscle to help out. California-based Boral Roofing is marketing a new smog-eating roofing tile that they hope can help make pollution a thing of the past. The science behind the tiles is simple: "The key ingredient is titanium dioxide," said Kayla Kratz, product manager for Boral Roofing. Posted. http://www.ksbw.com/Smog-eating-tiles-could-make-pollution-thing-of-the-past/-/1824/8918000/-/13pmoetz/-/index.html CLIMATE CHANGE Brazil Special Report: Where Does Stuff Come From? Central to sustainability is a deceptively hard question: Where does stuff come from? Global companies are spending enormous time and effort learning to answer this question with precision. For example, almost three-dozen companies, including Ford Motor Co., IBM Corporation and Ikea Corporation, recently "road tested" a new set of guidelines for calculating and disclosing the emissions associated with their global supply chains. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-13/brazil-special-report-where-does-stuff-come-from-.html Brazil Slowing Forest Destruction Cuts Greenhouse Gas Burden. As world political and business leaders ready for the Rio+20 U.N. sustainability conference in June, Brazil’s leaders are debating policy changes that could jeopardize the leadership it has earned from reducing Amazon deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions. Since hosting the 1992 “Earth Summit,” which produced the first international agreement on forest protection, Brazil has risen from the ninth- to sixth-largest economy, ahead of the U.K. and just behind France. Posted. http://webfarm.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-13/brazil-slowing-forest-destruction-cuts-greenhouse-gas-burden.html ADB warns climate change could spawn mass migrations. MANILA, Philippines — The Asian Development Bank is warning countries to prepare for influxes of people fleeing natural disasters as climate change exacerbates rising sea levels, soil degradation and seasonal flooding. Natural disasters drove 42 million people from their homes in the Asia-Pacific in 2010 and 2011, though it was unclear how many of those were caused by climate change, the bank said in a study released Tuesday. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/adb-warns-climate-change-could-spawn-mass-migrations/2012/03/13/gIQAFrwv8R_story.html http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/13/environmental-migration-climate-change_n_1340868.html?ref=green&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008 http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20161543/adb-climate-change-could-spawn-mass-migrations?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/13/adb-climate-change-could-spawn-mass-migrations/ California ready to cut greenhouse gases. Next, doing it. After five years, California has put in place rules to cut greenhouse-gas emissions statewide back to 1990 levels. But lingering effects of the recession have pushed implementation back a year to 2013. California's historic effort to remake global-warming regulations in the United States is at last starting to take off its training wheels. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2012/0313/California-ready-to-cut-greenhouse-gases.-Next-doing-it FUELS Monsanto tests drought-tolerant biotech corn. Seed giant Monsanto Co. plans large-scale tests this year of the first government-approved biotech crop developed to deal with drought. The new corn is being introduced as much of the U.S. remains abnormally dry and areas in the South and Southwest still face severe drought. Monsanto says the corn won't be a panacea for drought-stricken farmers but when combined with improved agricultural practices could help those in areas …Posted. http://hosted2.ap.org/PAGRE/8b068da42337421092f81e6bcce678fa/Article_2012-03-13-Food%20and%20Farm-Drought-Tolerant%20Corn/id-5a0df29f55a2463dac4b0200c6614c5f Brazil-ethanol-slows. Brazil is struggling to make enough ethanol to satisfy domestic demand just as the U.S. scraps restrictions on imports for the first time since 1980. The U.S., the world’s largest market for the biofuel, on Jan. 1 cut a 45 cent-a-gallon tax credit and a 54 cent-a-gallon tariff that protected local companies from foreign competition. Brazil, the world’s No. 2 producer, is unlikely to be able to take advantage after output dropped 19 percent this season. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-13/brazil-ethanol-slows.html 7 states oppose California low-carbon fuels regulation that’s been held up by federal court. Lincoln, Neb. — Seven states are opposing California’s effort to enforce a state mandate that critics say discriminates against fuels produced outside California. A federal judge ruled in December that California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulation violates the U.S. Constitution’s commerce clause by discriminating against ethanol made in the Midwest. California has appealed and asked to be allowed to enforce the rule while its appeal is pending. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/7-states-oppose-california-low-carbon-fuels-regulation-thats-been-held-up-by-federal-court/2012/03/12/gIQAg7Au7R_story.html API sues EPA over biofuels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is out of touch with its mandates for cellulosic biofuels, the American Petroleum Institute said. The API announced that it filed a lawsuit in Washington Circuit Court challenging what it claims are "unachievable requirements" for use of cellulosic biofuels in 2012 fuel standards. The EPA requires refiners to buy around 8.65 million gallons of biofuels per year in 2012. That's down substantially from the mandate of 250 million gallons imposed when the measure went into force in 2007. Posted. http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/03/13/API-sues-EPA-over-biofuels/UPI-56741331635813/ Appeals Court Asked to Allow Kansas Ethanol Sales to California. Kansas joined Nebraska, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota and Michigan in the filing. Topeka, KS - infoZine - Kansas has asked a federal appeals court in California to keep that state’s motor fuel market open for Kansas-produced ethanol while it considers underlying legal issues on appeal, Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced. Schmidt filed a brief with the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asking the Court to keep the California market open to Kansas ethanol while it considers an appeal about a California law that discriminates against ethanol produced with Midwestern grain. Posted. http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/51114/ Gov. Branstad joins Amicus Brief opposing a California law that discriminates against Iowa corn farmers. Gov. Branstad today joined an Amicus Brief in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals opposing California’s fuel standards law that discriminates against Iowa’s corn farmers. Gov. Branstad, along with other Midwestern states, argues that allowing the California Air Resources Board’s unconstitutional fuel standards to take effect would hurt our corn farmers and ethanol markets. Posted. http://oskynews.org/?p=41805 VEHICLES First all-electric Coda sedan rolls off assembly line in Benicia. BENICIA -- The first all-electric Coda sedan rolled off the assembly line here Monday, marking a big day for the privately held company and the city. Coda, which is based in Los Angeles, manufactures most of the vehicle's battery system and body in China, thanks to a joint venture with Chinese battery maker Lishen. The parts are then shipped to the port city of Benicia for final assembly and safety and quality inspection at the Amports facility here. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_20156808 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/12/BUP01NJNS4.DTL China team outlines 5 key areas of future research to realize Li-air batteries. In an open access paper published in the International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials, researchers from the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences review significant developments and remaining challenges of practical Li–air batteries and the current understanding of their chemistry. The energy density of the lithium–air battery with respect to the anode could reach 13,000 Wh kg−1—quite close to the 13,200 Wh kg−1 of gasoline, they note. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/03/liair-20120312.html Eco-Tourism: the new continent for electric vehicles. Seen the rise in popularity of eco-tourism, more and more EV manufacturers and car rental companies have come to realise the commercial value for electric vehicles in this context. Many cities have started promoting electric vehicles in public transportation as to "green" their image. EV demonstration programmes in tourism resorts are a good advertisement for electric vehicles. Eco-Tourism has become a worldwide fashion in recent years. In many tourism cities, green transportation has become one of the main selling points to attract tourists who wish to spend “green” holidays. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/77120120313.php GREEN ENERGY UK interconnectors to help manage green power. Building more electricity links between Britain and its neighbouring markets could be an answer to managing its growing renewable energy output which is hard to predict and cannot be stored, a manager at National Grid said on Tuesday. Interconnectors to continental Europe and Scandinavia can help balance Britain's electricity system when renewable energy production, such as wind or solar power, exceeds demand levels. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/13/britain-power-interconnector-idUSL5E8ED9YU20120313 Siemens to Tackle Wind-Power Doldrums With Gas Boost Option. Siemens AG (SIE) plans to introduce technology in 2015 that will allow wind-turbine electricity to be converted into gas, giving wind farms an alternative revenue stream when the grid is fully charged. The electrolyser, a soccer-field sized plant that converts power into storable hydrogen, is in the testing phase, said Michael Weinhold, chief technology officer of Siemens’ energy businesses. It promises to overcome the challenge of how to harness fluctuating electricity output from wind farms, especially at night when demand is at its lowest. Posted. http://webfarm.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-13/siemens-to-tackle-wind-power-doldrums-with-gas-boost-option.html Solyndra Is Blamed as Clean-Energy Loan Program Stalls. More than $16 billion in loans authorized five years ago by Congress to develop fuel-efficient vehicles has yet to be disbursed, with applicants for the money complaining that the Energy Department is crippling plans for greener cars and trucks at a time of rising gas prices. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/business/energy-environment/stalled-clean-energy-loan-program-feels-solyndras-chill.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=cse MISCELLANEOUS Twin Creeks promises thinner, cheaper solar cells. A device similar to the giant atom smashers used by physicists may be the key to cheaper solar cells. Twin Creeks Technologies in San Jose has created a machine that uses high-energy protons to carve silicon wafers into thin layers, each of which can then be fashioned into a solar cell. The layers are about one-tenth as thick as the standard silicon solar cell but generate just as much electricity. The same amount of raw silicon, therefore, can yield far more cells, making each one less expensive to produce. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/13/BUHU1NINMA.DTL&type=printable TEMECULA: Fire damages biodiesel business. A fire broke out last night at a Temecula biodiesel business but was contained to a piece of machinery and a 55-gallon drum, fire officials said. The fire was reported about 7:45 p.m. at Promethean Biofuels, 27635 Diaz Road, authorities said. Firefighters arrived to find smoke showing from the building and requested that the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department shut down Diaz Road, a Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department news release said. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/lake-elsinore/lake-elsinore-headlines-index/20120312-temecula-fire-damages-biodiesel-business.ece OPINIONS How to Avoid a Wind and Solar Trade War. Too many energy companies focus on political strategies rather than on business. A new trade agreement could change that. China and the United States are drifting toward a trade war in clean-tech energy. Next Monday the U.S. Department of Commerce is scheduled to rule on levying countervailing duties against Chinese solar-panel manufacturers. Four U.S. companies recently filed a similar Commerce case alleging dumping by Chinese producers of steel towers for wind turbines. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304450004577277620943205982.html?mod=googlenews_wsj BY SUBSCRIPTION Bad air regulations. Mark Grossi (Earth Log, March 7) let the environmental cat out of the bag. After three years of fireplace bans, this winter was one of the "dirtiest, ugliest and most miserable air-quality winters in my memory." So fireplace burning wasn't the problem and the ban should be lifted. I don't know how his memory works, but I remember not so long ago almost everyone used a fireplace. I remember raking leaves and piling them at the curb to burn them. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/13/2757670/bad-air-regulations.html Chinese Government to Clean the Capital's Air -- Everyone Else, Good Luck. One of the most striking social phenomena of industrializing societies is that, when the nation's economy begins to improve, those on the land increasingly move to the cities for greater economic opportunities. To give but one example -- in 1960, the city of Istanbul had an estimated population of 1,738,000. Today? More than 12 million. Between 1960 and 2000, the population of Istanbul surged 443.8 percent. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-ck-daly/china-pollution_b_1332454.html Letter: Ethanol a scam; increase domestic production of oil. Let me start by saying that I think it is a scam: The government is subsidizing ethanol production. The government is subsidizing far production of corn and sugar cane (farm subsidies). Ethanol is much less efficient than gasoline (70 percent or so). That means that you must burn 1.2 to 1.3 gallons of ethanol to get the same BTU as 1 gallon of gasoline. At the pump you pay full gasoline price for the ethanol. At $3.50 a gallon for gasoline, ethanol is worth $2.45. You are actually paying too much. Posted. http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2012/mar/13/letter-ethanol-a-scam-increase-domestic-of-oil/?print=1 BLOGS Combating Climate Change Through Biological Engineering. You’ve read the debates about using taxes on oil or carbon to combat climate change. Perhaps you’ve read about proposals to send rockets into the upper atmosphere to disperse particulates that can shield Earth from some portion of the sun’s rays. But I’m guessing you haven’t heard anyone propose that humans should be bio-engineered to become smaller, so we will consume less of the planet’s resources. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/ideas-market/2012/03/13/combating-climate-change-through-biological-engineering/ Slicing Silicon Thinner to Cut the Price of Solar Cells. A California company has unveiled a radical new way to make the silicon wafers that are the basic ingredient of most solar cells, cutting silicon consumption by 90 percent and eliminating the need to use glass and heavy backing to keep the cells rigid. Twin Creeks Technologies of San Jose says it is ready to ship equipment that can peel off layers of silicon that measure just 20 microns thick. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/slicing-silicon-thinner-to-cut-the-price-of-solar-cells/ The Passing of F. Sherwood Rowland. I was saddened to learn today of the passing on Saturday of F. Sherwood Rowland, a remarkable scientist, engaged citizen and professor best known for sharing the 1995 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for work revealing the impact of synthetic chlorofluorocarbons on the atmosphere’s protective ozone layer. (Here’s the seminal 1974 Nature paper on these consequential chemical reactions in Nature by Mario J. Molina and Rowland.) Rowland, who was 84, died of complications from Parkinson’s disease. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/12/the-passing-of-nobelistf-sherwood-rowland/ Meeting Biofuel Production Targets Could Change Agricultural Landscape. Almost 80 percent of current farmland in the U.S. would have to be devoted to raising corn for ethanol production in order to meet current biofuel production targets with existing technology, a new study has found. An alternative, according to a study in ACS’ journal Environmental Science & Technology, would be to convert 60 percent of existing rangeland to biofuels. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/meeting-biofuel-production-targets-could-change-ag/ Bad Karma: $100K Plug-in Hybrid Dies Before Consumer Reports Can Test It. You know those days that are just so bad you wish you hadn’t even bothered to get out of bed? Well, the folks at Fisker Automotive had one of those recently when their sexy, expensive, award-winning, new sports car died in the parking lot of Consumer Reports before any quality tests could be conducted on it. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/03/bad-karma-100k-plug-hybrid-breaks-down-before-consumer-reports-test/ ====================================================================== 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 Mar 2012 12:32:43 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 14, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 14, 2012. 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 Childhood Asthma On The Rise As Political Battles Threaten EPA's Air Pollution Rules. Asthma was once just an academic concern for Sylvia Brandt, who has spent years studying the chronic lung condition and calculating its tragic toll. Now, the threat is personal. "One night I woke up and my daughter was really struggling to breathe. I thought, 'This was it: This is really the time that I might lose her.' It's an overwhelming feeling -- I can't describe it," said Brandt, a PhD research scientist at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/14/childhood-asthma-air-pollution-epa-regulations_n_1342024.html Coal-Fired Utilities Blowing Smoke. King Coal used to throw around its weight and its money, typically getting friendly legislation enacted and unkindly bills defeated. Not anymore. Everything from a U.S. Supreme Court case to regulatory rulings to the actions taken by the coal-burning utilities themselves is supporting that supposition. Just this week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration released its latest data showing that while coal remains dominant here, its usage in the electricity generation field fell below 40 percent in the last two months of last year. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2012/03/14/coal-fired-utilities-blowing-smoke/ CLIMATE CHANGE New figures: More of US at risk to sea level rise. Nearly 4 million people across the United States, from Los Angeles to much of the East Coast, live in homes more prone to flooding from rising seas fueled by global warming, according to a new method of looking at flood risk published in two scientific papers. The cities that have the most people living within three feet (one meter) of high tide - the projected sea level rise by the year 2100 made by many scientists and computer models - are in Florida, Louisiana, and New York. New York City…Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_SEA_LEVEL_RISE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/science/earth/study-rising-sea-levels-a-risk-to-coastal-states.html?scp=4&sq=climate%20change&st=cse http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/14/10680379-invisible-tsunami-of-rising-sea-levels-puts-us-coasts-at-risk-expert-says Poland out of step with Europe on climate. Frustrations with Poland are growing in the European Union after the coal-powered nation for a second time blocked the EU's long-term plans for cutting carbon emissions. As the lone dissenting voice, Poland last week vetoed the EU's road map for emissions reductions beyond 2020, drawing sharp criticism from environmental groups and EU officials. Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said the EU's executive commission would press ahead with plans for a low-carbon economy despite Poland's objections. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5in1GO9vtPC-5UFwq9AhoHtlZZYHg?docId=e16909dc332a4bb7b4ba06eda04f3db3 AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/14/2760130/poland-out-of-step-with-europe.html#storylink=misearch European Airlines and Airbus Seek to Ease Emissions Rule. Airbus and Europe’s biggest airlines on Monday called on the European Union to find a compromise on aviation carbon curbs, warning that Europe’s emission limits on foreign carriers could lead to retaliation. Airbus, the world’s biggest maker of civil aircraft, and eight airlines including Air France-KLM, Lufthansa and British Airways urged European leaders to “use their influence” and push for a global agreement to tackle emissions …Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/business/global/airbus-and-european-airlines-seek-deal-on-emissions.html?_r=1&scp=10&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse FUELS Sierra Club Spurns $30 Million Gift as Fracking Turns Toxic. Environmental and health groups are calling for tougher U.S. regulation of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, turning on a one-time donor to their causes: Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK) The Sierra Club, the largest U.S. environmental group, is rethinking early support of natural-gas development after activists and scientists linked the drilling to tainted water and increased air emissions, Executive Director Michael Brune said yesterday in an interview. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-14/sierra-club-spurns-30-million-gift-after-fracking-turns-toxic.html VEHICLES Californians Can Now Drive Ford Focus Electric in HOV Lanes. Good news for Californians who own (or will soon own) a Ford Focus Electric, a great electric vehicle we’ve featured here on CleanTechnica a few times: Ford Focus Electric drivers can now drive in California’s high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Resources Board (CARB) approved this decision yesterday. Now, for anyone who has driven in California’s most traffic-congested regions, I think you know this is a pretty nice perk. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/13/californians-can-now-drive-ford-focus-electric-in-hov-lanes/ Future of low-emission cars already here, says Ford engineer. As California gas prices creep toward $5 a gallon and researchers pronounce that just a modest global rise in temperature could melt the Greenland ice sheet, engineers and transportation designers are busy creating a fossil fuel-free future - or at least one in which fossil fuels are used a lot less. As California Watch reported last month, a team of engineers at Stanford University has designed a prototype of a highway system that would allow electric cars to wirelessly charge as they travel the interstate system. Posted. http://www.news10.net/news/local/article/184116/2/The-future-is-here-says-head-of-Fords-electric-division http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/future-low-emission-cars-already-here-says-ford-engineer-15298 http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/the-future-is-here-says-head-of-ford-s-electric/article_8cb7fbda-c268-5026-81da-162d418e5c48.html GREEN ENERGY SOLAR ENERGY: Federal loan guarantee program faces scrutiny. Lawmakers had some tough questions Tuesday about a federal loan guarantee program that brought billions of dollars to solar energy projects in Riverside and San Bernardino counties — and lost hundreds of millions on the now-infamous Solyndra debacle. In a lengthy and sometimes testy Senate hearing on Capitol Hill, one legislator said the program has been mismanaged, and another said the federal government should not be in the energy investment business. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/ben-goad-headlines/20120313-solar-energy-federal-loan-guarantee-program-faces-scrutiny.ece OPINIONS Truck retirement program good for Central Valley air. Regarding the March 8 editorial "CARB misses the point with Harris solution": Cleaning up the air in the San Joaquin Valley is a challenge and requires the widest possible use of every tool the California Air Resources Board has at its disposal. One of the most effective tools is a pioneering program that uses taxpayer money from a bond initiative to help reduce diesel pollution from trucks. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/letters/x1688918852/Truck-retirement-program-good-for-Central-Valley-air Our Voice: Reducing pollution must be the Sentinel fee's goal. The Desert Sun loves the idea of the 54-mile Whitewater River Trail for electric vehicles, bikers, hikers and horses from Desert Hot Springs to Coachella. But we doubt it would be the most effective way to mitigate the pollution that will be generated by the Sentinel natural gas power plant under construction west of Desert Hot Springs. Its eight 90-foot smokestacks are expected to generate 1 million tons of carbon dioxide a year. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120314/OPINION01/203130357/Our-Voice-Reducing-pollution-must-Sentinel-fee-s-goal Biofuels and climate: a simple but troubling view. If biofuels benefit the climate, it's not when they're burned; those CO2 emissions are the same as from the fossil fuels they replace. Any potential benefit is due to the CO2 uptake when plants are grown. Society should maximize that uptake and, once carbon is absorbed, do everything possible to keep it from getting back into the air. This almost certainly means not burning biofuels. Posted. http://theenergycollective.com/john-m-decicco/79320/biofuels-and-climate-simple-troubling-view Ronald Reagan: Father Of The Modern Electric Car? With the Chevrolet Volt having become such a punching bag of certain media outlets lately, we found ourselves musing on a remarkable notion in electric-car history: The father of the modern electric car is none other than conservative icon Ronald Reagan. That idea came a few weeks ago in an article posted on the Daily Caller, an online news outlet launched by Tucker Carlson, the conservative commentator, and Neil Patel, an aide to former vice president Dick Cheney. Posted. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1074042_ronald-reagan-father-of-the-modern-electric-car At the EPA, environmentalism isn’t a ‘spectator sport’. Lisa Jackson’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is at it again. Already having been called out on flawed science for its ground water studies in Wyoming in the fight over the practice of hydraulic fracturing, the agency is now clashing with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, which charges the EPA with meddling, as the agency seeks to increase federal oversight of the Marcellus Shale, a rock formation believed to hold the largest reservoir of natural gas in the U.S. Posted. http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/14/at-the-epa-environmentalism-isnt-a-spectator-sport/ How high do gas prices have to get to trigger behavior change? This week, an average gallon of self-serve regular is going for $3.81. Is that enough to get Americans junking their minivans in favor of cargo bikes, or ditching their exurban McManses for walkable city living? In short: no. Still, two new polls offer a little insight on gas prices and lifestyle changes. A AAA survey conducted at the beginning of the month found 84 percent of respondents saying they have changed their driving habits or lifestyle in some way in response to recent gas-price increases… Posted. http://grist.org/oil/5-is-the-new-4-how-high-do-gas-prices-have-to-go-to-change-behavior/ BLOGS A Reminder That Science Can Override Pressure. The recent death of F. Sherwood Rowland, who, working in 1974 with Mario Molina, discovered that the ozone layer was endangered by a lucrative class of chemicals, is a reminder of the perennial determination of industries to undermine scientific findings that could cost them money or markets. The best-known example is the cigarette industry’s effort to marginalize the science linking tobacco to deadly diseases like lung cancer. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/a-reminder-that-science-can-override-pressure/ New Solar Panels Blossomed Despite a Tough Year for the Industry. Last year seemed like a dark one for the solar industry: stiff competition from China drove American manufacturers to layoffs and even bankruptcy, while the low price of natural gas and the loss of a critical government subsidy weakened incentives for new solar developments. And then there was the long shadow of Solyndra, whose bankruptcy after receiving federal loans cast a pall over other green-energy endeavors. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/new-solar-panels-blossomed-despite-a-tough-year-for-the-industry/ Driving Ram’s Natural Gas Pickup Truck. Chrysler’s Ram division claims to have built the first factory-direct pickup to run on gasoline and compressed natural gas, an alternative fuel that Fred Diaz, Ram’s president and chief executive, described as “a near-term, viable option for lessening this country’s dependence on crude oil.” The three-quarter-ton Ram 2500 Heavy Duty CNG pickup, which will be available to fleet customers for $47,500, starts up on gasoline, then switches over to compressed natural gas. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/driving-rams-natural-gas-pickup-truck/?scp=4&sq=fuels&st=cse America’s Fossil-Fuels Jobs Boom. With gasoline prices spiraling higher and weighing on economic confidence, President Obama called over the weekend for further investment in a “clean-energy future.” But there is a flip side to that increasing pain at the pump: a huge jobs boom in fossil fuels industries. Rising global demand – along with, more recently, concern over the situation in Iran – has driven gasoline prices higher. Posted. http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/12/americas-fossil-fuels-jobs-boom/?scp=1&sq=fuels&st=cse In Africa’s Vanishing Forests, the Benefits of Bamboo. In the district of Asosa, the land is thick with bamboo. People plant it and manage the forests. They rely on its soil-grabbing roots to stabilize steep slopes and riverbanks, cutting erosion. They harvest it to burn for fuel, to make into charcoal sticks to sell to city dwellers and to build furniture. Asosa is not in China, not even in Asia. It is a district in the west of Ethiopia, on the Sudanese border. Posted. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/in-africas-vanishing-forests-the-benefits-of-bamboo/?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: Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:35:55 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 15, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 15, 2012. 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 deaths 'to increase'. Air pollution is set to cause increasing numbers of early deaths in the coming decades, including in rich countries, a "grim" report on the environment warns. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also warned that without changes to government policies, carbon emissions would rise by 50% by 2050, putting the world on course for temperature rises of 3C to 6C by 2100. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5haWtgnnYcKIuOdbkEYjeQvnuxCTg?docId=N1129081331823988592A Study On LAX Air Quality Closer to Completion. The final phase of a landmark study is under way to determine how much air pollution in the region comes from Los Angeles International Airport, officials said today. Two initial phases of the study determined the best techniques and equipment for determining air quality levels and which pollutants can be linked to airport operations. The study was started in 1999, but was suspended for one year because of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Posted. http://brentwood.patch.com/articles/study-on-lax-air-quality-closer-to-completion DEP says Pa. plant's pollution upgrades likely OK. State Department of Environmental Protection officials say they'll likely issue a permit for pollution control equipment that will keep a western Pennsylvania power plant operating—and 265 workers employed. The Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown ( http://bit.ly/xMPqkD) says DEP officials announced those plans at a meeting Wednesday at a school auditorium near the Homer City Generating Station, the state's second-largest coal-fired power plant. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20179728/dep-says-pa-plants-pollution-upgrades-likely-ok?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20179728/dep-says-pa-plants-pollution-upgrades-likely-ok?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB fines DPF maker $103,000 over illegal diesel filters. The California Air Resources Board has fined a diesel particulate filter $103,000 for selling DPF systems the air quality agency says are illegal. Donaldson Co. Inc. of Minneapolis paid the administrative fine recently. CARB says its investigation showed Donaldson sold 103 systems that didn’t include a back pressure monitor. In a news release, CARB officials described the back pressure monitor as “a device essential to the performance of both the filter and the engine of the vehicle.” Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=23365 FUELS Air Products and FuelCell Energy to partner to market tri-generation stationary fuel cell power plants; industrial hydrogen users and vehicle refueling. Air Products and FuelCell Energy, Inc. signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work toward the market development of stationary Direct FuelCell (DFC) power plants that simultaneously produce hydrogen, ultra-clean electricity and usable high quality heat. Target markets for these tri-generation stationary fuel cell power plants include industrial hydrogen users as well as vehicle fueling applications. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/03/ap-fce-20120305.html VEHICLES New, more efficient cars could save you gas money. Gasoline prices are headed for record highs this spring. If that happens, a new, more fuel-efficient car may be worth the investment. Gas has jumped 54 cents to an average of $3.81 per gallon this year. By next month, the price could break the all-time record of $4.11 in July 2008. Four years ago, car companies didn't have enough fuel-sipping small cars to satisfy buyers, and that hurt sales. But they've put far more emphasis on fuel economy since then, and there's now a wide selection of efficient cars and SUVs. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/14/2112452/new-more-efficient-cars-could.html GREEN ENERGY Study: Young people not so 'green' after all. They have a reputation for being environmentally minded do-gooders. But an academic analysis of surveys spanning more than 40 years has found that today's young Americans are less interested in the environment and in conserving resources — and often less civic-minded overall — than their elders were when they were young. The findings go against the widespread belief that environmental issues have hit home with today's young adults, known as Millennials, who have grown up amid climate change discussion and the mantra "reduce, reuse, recycle." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/03/15/national/a021436D45.DTL&type=business More than $16 million in auto clean energy loans stalled. More than $16 billion in loans authorized five years ago by Congress to develop fuel-efficient vehicles has yet to be dispersed, with applicants for the money complaining that the Energy Department is crippling plans for greener cars and trucks at a time of rising gas prices. Some companies contend that the loans, administered by energy officials, have dried up because of a political firestorm that followed the bankruptcy last year of the solar-panel company Solyndra, which had received a federal loan from a related program. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/13/v-print/4332141/auto-clean-energy-loans-stalled.html Solar debate heats up as CA farmland is targeted. In the debate pitting photovoltaic power stations against agriculture, all eyes have been on Fresno County, where the abundance of sunshine that make it the No. 1 agriculture-producing county in the nation also make it ideal for solar arrays. This week Fresno County, with 29 projects on 11,000 acres in the pipeline, approved its plan to balance food security with green energy with a decision that falls short of what both sides wanted. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20174668/solar-debate-heats-up-ca-farmland-is-targeted?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com OPINIONS Editorial: U.S. shouldn't skimp on tsunami warnings. The U.S. coastline is under increasing siege from rising sea levels caused by climate change. California, the rest of the West Coast and Hawaii also face the danger of tsunamis – as we witnessed a year ago when the ripples of the devastating earthquake in Japan deluged harbors in Crescent City and Santa Cruz and caused nearly $60 million in damage across the state. So it is the epitome of penny-wise and pound-foolish for the Obama administration to propose cutting the nation's tsunami warning and preparedness programs. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/15/v-print/4338317/us-shouldnt-skimp-on-tsunami-warnings.html Viewpoints: Hetch Hetchy provides a clean source of energy. In recent months there have been numerous articles, in The Bee and other newspapers, about the water implications of draining Hetch Hetchy reservoir. And in San Francisco, there is a misguided ballot initiative, the Water Sustainability and Environmental Restoration Act, that is asking voters to take the first step toward dismantling the dam and fostering water insecurity in the Bay Area. What hasn't received as much attention is the clean energy implications if Hetch Hetchy is drained. Energy security and reliability are at the core of a sustainable future. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/15/v-print/4338324/hetch-hetchy-provides-a-clean.html EDITORIAL: Global warming greed. It’s only now becoming clear how many people have become rich thanks to the global-warming scare. Politicians from both parties have been so afraid of being labeled a “denier” that they’ll vote for any piece of legislation bearing the trendy green label. The numbers are adding up fast. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) counted a whopping 641 programs in place at 130 federal agencies in 2010 to prop up windmill technology and underwrite solar panel manufacturers. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/14/global-warming-greed/ BLOGS Solar, Wind and Biofuel: A $246B Market in 2011. For those wondering if the clean energy economy will ever really take flight, there’s some renewable light at the end of the tunnel. A report from Clean Edge that’s aptly titled “Clean Energy Trends 2012” says the solar photovoltaic, wind, and biofuel markets grew by 31 percent to $246.1 billion last year. That’s a nice number but still nothing to compare with just the aggregate profits of the fossil fuel guys: over the past decade the top five oil and gas companies alone reported more than $1 trillion in profits and another $71 billion in profits during the first half of 2011. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/03/solar-wind-biofuel-246bn-market-2011/ New Materials Remove Co2 From Smokestacks, Tailpipes and Even The Air. Scientists are reporting discovery of an improved way to remove carbon dioxide — the major greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming — from smokestacks and other sources, including the atmosphere. Their report on the process, which achieves some of the highest carbon dioxide removal capacity ever reported for real-world conditions where the air contains moisture, appears in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/new-materials-remove-co2-smokestacks-tailpipes-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: Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:31:34 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 16, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 16, 2012. 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 COACHELLA: Truck stop settles county, state environmental claims. Owners of a Coachella truck stop agreed to pay $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit by Riverside County and the state over environmental violations, Attorney General Kamala D. Harris and Riverside District Attorney Paul Zellerbach announced Thursday. TravelCenters, an Ohio-based company with 10 locations in California, was sued in 2007 by then-District Attorney Rod Pacheco regarding a number of violations stemming from improper storage and oversight of fuel at the Coachella truck stop. The state joined the lawsuit the following year. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/breaking-news-headlines/20120315-coachella-truck-stop-settles-county-state-environmental-claims.ece http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/16/2115575/truck-stop-paying-1m-to-settle.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20188659/truck-stop-paying-1m-settle-fuel-storage-suit?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20188659/truck-stop-paying-1m-settle-fuel-storage-suit?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/16/2763206/truck-stop-paying-1m-to-settle.html#storylink=misearch DEP says Pa. plant's pollution upgrades likely OK. State Department of Environmental Protection officials say they'll likely issue a permit for pollution control equipment that will keep a western Pennsylvania power plant operating—and 265 workers employed. The Tribune-Democrat of Johnstown ( http://bit.ly/xMPqkD) says DEP officials announced those plans at a meeting Wednesday at a school auditorium near the Homer City Generating Station, the state's second-largest coal-fired power plant. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20179728/dep-says-pa-plants-pollution-upgrades-likely-ok?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20179728/dep-says-pa-plants-pollution-upgrades-likely-ok?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20179728/dep-says-pa-plants-pollution-upgrades-likely-ok?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com CLIMATE CHANGE O.E.C.D. Warns of Ever-Higher Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Global greenhouse gas emissions could rise 50 percent by 2050 without more ambitious climate policies, as fossil fuels continue to dominate the energy mix, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said Thursday. “Unless the global energy mix changes, fossil fuels will supply about 85 percent of energy demand in 2050, implying a 50 percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions and worsening urban air pollution,” the Paris-based O.E.C.D. said in its environment outlook to 2050. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/business/energy-environment/oecd-warns-of-ever-higher-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Cap and trade programs do not provide sufficient incentives for innovation: research. Cap and trade programs to reduce emissions do not inherently provide incentives to induce the private sector to develop innovative technologies to address climate change, according to a new study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In fact, said author Margaret Taylor, a researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) who conducted the study while an assistant professor at the University of California, Posted. http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-03-1057ap-sufficient-incentives.html FUELS EPA regs could hamper oil, natural gas production, report says. Despite rhetoric to the contrary, the Obama administration is poised to deal a major blow to U.S. oil and natural gas, a leading industry group charged Thursday. Domestic production of both fuels could plummet if proposed Environmental Protection Agency regulations, designed to limit emissions from well sites, go into effect later this year, according to an extensive new study commissioned by the American Petroleum Institute. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/15/epa-regulations-hamper-oil-gas-production-report/ Energy, Pain At The Pump. When the President and Prime Minister of Great Britain announced the releasing of strategic oil reserves for this coming summer brings to light the blatant disregard that the oil industry and our own government has for the general public. Ever since the mid 1970's the United States has had numerous opportunities to develop, manufacture and produce affordable automobiles using alternate fuel sources. Hydrogen fuel cells and natural gas are just a few alternatives that could have been incorporated into auto manufacturing…Posted. http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-tampa-bay/energy-pain-at-the-pump VEHICLES San Diego judge tentatively OKs Honda settlement over hybrid vehicles’ fuel economy claims. A judge tentatively approved a settlement to give owners of Honda Civic hybrids up to $200 cash over claims that the cars’ fuel economy was inflated, casting aside arguments that a motorist’s victory in small claims court entitled them to a larger award. Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor said the essence of a settlement is compromise. “No doubt plaintiffs would have loved to have gotten more;…Posted. http://www.toledoblade.com/Automotive/2012/03/16/San-Diego-judge-tentatively-OKs-Honda-settlement-over-hybrid-vehicles-fuel-economy-claims.html Judge to weigh Honda settlement over gas mileage. A Southern California woman who challenged the legal status quo with a victory in small claims court against Honda Motor Co. will be back in court before another judge to address the automaker's inflated claims about fuel economy in its Civic hybrids. This time, Heather Peters wants to derail a class-action settlement between the Japanese company and owners of about 200,000 of its cars, spanning from model years 2003 to 2009. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/16/judge-to-weigh-honda-settlement-over-gas-mileage/ Mexico agrees to cap auto exports to Brazil. Mexico has agreed to cap auto exports to Brazil at $1.45 billion per year to avoid a Brazilian threat to slap import tariffs on Mexican cars. The moves comes after weeks of talks that reflected Brazil's concern over a spike in auto imports in 2011.Mexican Economy Secretary Bruno Ferrari said Thursday his country is satisfied with the deal, even though it represents a cut from the $2 billion in light vehicles Mexico exported to Brazil in 2011. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/15/mexico-agrees-to-cap-auto-exports-to-brazil/ LaSorda: Fisker Karma shut down to protect itself during magazine's test. Fisker Automotive's new CEO said a Karma luxury sedan owned by Consumer Reports shut itself down during testing to protect itself. "The Karma performed exactly as it was designed to," Tom LaSorda said in a letter sent to customers. "The onboard diagnostics detected a fault and entered a protection mode that shut the car down to protect other components. We are sorry for the inconvenience this caused the customer." Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20120315/OEM05/120319927#ixzz1pIbfjBuV GREEN ENERGY Obama Defends Energy Policy, Hitting Back at Presidential Candidates. In what has become a weekly ritual, President Obama on Thursday defended his administration’s energy policy, in the face of relentlessly rising gasoline prices, to an American public that believes he can do more to ease the pain at the pump. Mr. Obama cycled through now-familiar themes, promoting his record of increased domestic oil and gas production; stricter fuel-efficiency standards for cars and trucks; and investments in alternative sources of energy, like biofuels, wind and solar power. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/16/us/politics/obama-defends-energy-policy.html?scp=9&sq=fuels&st=cse#h http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120315/A_NEWS/120319930&cid=sitesearch MISCELLANEOUS First big piece of 'Electric Highway' gets juice. Central Point, Ore. -- Electric car owners riding along Oregon's Interstate 5 don't have to worry about running out of juice on the open road. The first major stretch of what's been dubbed an "Electric Highway" on the West Coast from Canada to Mexico went operational Friday with the opening of a series of fast-charging stations along 160 miles of the interstate. The eight stations stretch from the California border north to the Oregon city of Cottage Grove and are located at gas stations, restaurants and motels just off I-5, the nation's second-busiest interstate. One station is at an inn that was once a stage coach stop. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/16/v-print/4343387/first-big-piece-of-electric-highway.html Officials take second swing at grant money for highway project. Four months after losing out on key federal grant money for widening the Highway 101/Highway 23 interchange, officials from Ventura County are trying again. Thousand Oaks and county transportation officials plan to submit a grant application for $19.5 million by the end of the week, said Jay Spurgin, Thousand Oaks' public works director. Spurgin traveled with others from the city and the Ventura County Transportation Commission to Washington, D.C., last week. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/15/officials-take-second-swing-at-grant-money-for/ It's Time to Reconsider Energy Subsidies. Our country is in the midst of a great debate on how to reduce our national debt. This is an important discussion for all of us to have. As part of this conversation, we should carefully examine the subsidies for different forms of energy production -- fossil fuels and renewables. All of us understand that the subsidy game can be a slippery slope, and it is important to set clear standards for when subsidies make sense and when they do not. As a rule, there are three things we should consider before putting subsidies in place: Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-westly/its-time-to-reconsider-en_b_1340885.html BLOGS What’s going to kill us in 2050? Air pollution — and lots of it. Air pollution tends to get wildly underrated as a public health concern. Everyone knows malaria is deadly. Or that access to clean water is a problem. And yet, in the next few decades, air pollution will kill far more people than both of those things combined, according to a new report. On Wednesday, the OECD released its “Environmental Outlook to 2050,” which contained a few spots of cheery news. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/whats-going-to-kill-us-in-2050-air-pollution--and-lots-of-it/2012/03/15/gIQAgiDgES_blog.html Study finds that environmental impact of corn-ethanol E85 is 23% to 33% higher than that of gasoline; environmental problem-shifting. When 12 different environmental impacts and the regional differences among 19-corn growing states are taken into consideration, E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) blends made with corn ethanol from dry mills show a worse total environmental impact than gasoline, according to a new study by a team from the Universities of Minnesota, Troyes (France), and California, Santa Barbara. In a paper published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology …Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/03/yang-20120316.html AAA adds plug-in vehicle charging stations to TripTik map services. AAA is getting ready for the EV era. After announcing roadside charging assistance for electric vehicles last summer, the company announced today that it is going to add charging station locations to its TripTik services, either online or with an app. It's all part of the brand's history of helping drivers, as the press release helpfully points out. 100 years ago, AAA made sure to note where the gas stations were on customer maps. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/16/aaa-adds-plug-in-vehicle-charging-stations-to-triptik-map-servic/ ====================================================================== 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 Mar 2012 12:13:13 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 19, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 19, 2012. 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 Gas Prices Rising, Smog Rules May Stall. The Obama administration, facing political heat over high gasoline prices, may delay new rules that would cut pollution from cars but also could bring higher prices at the pump, environmental and industry leaders said. The rules would require refiners to make cleaner-burning gasoline and auto makers to build cars that emit fewer smog-forming pollutants. The Environmental Protection Agency was scheduled to roll out the rules before April, but it hasn't yet submitted them for White House review. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303812904577289492012447990.html SUBSCRIPTION Fracking Wells’ Air Emissions Pose Health Risks, Study Finds. Chemicals released into the air when natural-gas producers complete hydraulically fractured wells may pose a health risk to those living nearby, the Colorado School of Public Health said. Researchers found potentially toxic chemicals in the air near wells in Garfield County, Colorado, during three years of monitoring…Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-19/fracking-wells-air-emissions-pose-health-risks-study-finds.html Korea Set to Try Again on Carbon Trading, Climate Head Says. South Korea, the fastest-growing emitter among rich nations, will try again to pass a bill that sets up emissions trading in 2015 and allows lawmakers to work out details later this year, a top climate official said. The country, which delayed a decision on Feb. 27 about legislation to start cap-and-trade, is working to reschedule the vote, with a target of April or May, Nam Kwang Hee, director general of the Presidential Committee on Green Growth, said in an interview. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-19/korea-set-to-fine-tune-co2-trading-after-vote-climate-head-says.html Vt. joins air pollution suit against power plants. Brattelboro, Vt. — Vermont has joined 11 other states in support of a Clean Air Act rule that would reduce air pollution from power plants. The Environmental Protection Agency recently promulgated rules that are meant to reduce toxic air pollution from coal and oil-fired power plants, known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. The rules are meant to curb power plant emissions of mercury and other pollutants that are known to cause cancer, respiratory illness, and other serious health effects. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46784002 LAX air pollution study nears end. REGION: Monitoring of the area impact, the final phase, to be completed by 2013. The final phase of a landmark study is under way to determine how much air pollution in the region comes from Los Angeles International Airport, officials said Wednesday. Two initial phases of the study determined the best techniques and equipment for determining air quality levels and which pollutants can be linked to airport operations. Posted. http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_20174928/lax-air-pollution-study-is-readied?source=rss AIR POLLUTION: Smog elevates stroke risk. Teresa Flores-Lopez has spent more than a decade fighting air pollution and traffic problems in her west San Bernardino neighborhood. She successfully battled an Omitrans bus refueling station where natural gas leaks sent noxious odors into neighborhoods. She took on a railroad to reduce the diesel soot drifting into her community from locomotives, trucks and other machinery. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20120317-air-pollution-smog-elevates-stroke-risk.ece Redding council to revisit pollution board debate; medical pot, industrial lot also on agenda. Eight months ago, Redding resurrected for discussion its participation on an air pollution board as a way to deal with climate-change mandates. The topic returns Tuesday. The City Council is expected to confirm its interest in partnering with Anderson and Shasta Lake to seek city representation on the Shasta County Air Pollution Control Board. The five Shasta County supervisors sit on that board. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2012/mar/17/redding-looking-to-take-its-seat-at-climate/?print=1 CLIMATE CHANGE Study suggests cap and trade programs do not provide sufficient incentives for energy technology innovation; implications for climate policy. Policies incentivizing the private sector to push to develop innovative “clean” technologies are likely to play a key role in achieving climate stabilization. However, cap and trade programs (CTPs) to reduce emissions—currently the world’s most prominent climate policy instrument—do not inherently provide incentives to induce the private sector to develop innovative technologies, according to a new open access paper published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/03/taylor-20120319.html Air play: Could we capture carbon from the atmosphere? What if, in addition to curbing greenhouse gas emissions, we could capture them from the air? That’s the question that prompted Marc Gunther, an author and contributing editor at Fortune magazine, to write the e-book Suck It Up, a Kindle Single. Below is an excerpt from the book on the history of the start-up Kilimanjaro Energy, a private company that is seeking to solve the carbon extraction equation. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/air-play-could-we-capture-carbon-from-the-atmosphere/ DIESEL EMISSIONS State has up to $5 Million to help small businesses clean up their commercial boats. The California Air Resources Board has received $5 million in federal stimulus money to help clean up a variety of boats and vessels that operate in California’s ports and harbors. The funds are designed to reduce emissions from a variety of marine vessels that use diesel engines, such as charter fishing boats, commercial fishing boats, crew and supply vessels, ferry and excursion boats, pilot vessels, tow boats, tug-boats and work boats. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=20639 FUELS Another metric on energy efficiency. It's hardly a surprise that making energy efficiency improvements to buildings saves money and can benefit the environment in terms of reduced fossil fuel burning and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Study after study tells us that, and now here's another one. Environment America recently released a report, "Building a Better America," showing that if the lessons of high-efficiency homes and buildings were applied to all buildings, the nation could reduce energy 24 percent by 2030. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/19/4349129/another-metric-on-energy-efficiency.html As natural gas production grows, questions arise about methane leaks. Washington — As natural gas production in the United States hits an all-time high, a major unanswered question looms: What does growing hydraulic fracturing mean for climate change? The Obama administration lists natural gas as one of the "clean energy sources" it wants to expand. When burned, natural gas emits about half the heat-trapping carbon dioxide as coal. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/18/4347473/as-natural-gas-production-grows.html Startup Converts Plastic To Oil, And Finds A Niche. Only 7 percent of plastic waste in the United States is recycled each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. A startup company in Niagara Falls says it can increase that amount and reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil at the same time. It all starts with a machine known as the Plastic-Eating Monster. Thousands of pounds of shredded milk jugs, water bottles and grocery bags tumble into a large tank, where they're melted together and vaporized. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2012/03/19/147506525/startup-converts-plastic-to-oil-and-finds-a-niche VEHICLES As Cars Are Kept Longer, 200,000 Is New 100,000. HOW far can a modern car really go? Given the increasing age of vehicles on American roads, we may be on the verge of finding out. As a stubborn recession made drivers wary of new purchases for several years, the average age of vehicles on the road in the United States stretched to a record 11.1 years in 2011, according to the research firm R. L. Polk, which tracks vehicle sales and registrations. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/automobiles/as-cars-are-kept-longer-200000-is-new-100000.html?scp=1&sq=vehicles&st=cse GM, Tesla fight politicization of electric cars. Washington -- After a year's success in casting bankrupt Fremont solar maker Solyndra as the prototype for President Obama's energy policies, Republicans now are targeting what they have dubbed "Obamacars." For some GOP members of Congress, the Chevy Volt, made by General Motors, is a fire hazard and a job loser, while Palo Alto's Tesla Motors is a crony capitalist purveyor of toy cars for Silicon Valley millionaires. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/19/MTJA1NL8OD.DTL&type=printable Wilmington auto parts dealer fined over catalytic converters. A Wilmington auto parts dealer was penalized for selling illegal catalytic converters, state air quality regulators said this week. Following an investigation from January 1, 2010 to Sept. 30, 2011 by the Air Resources Board, Mike's Foreign Auto Parts on Anaheim Street was fined $50,000 for selling, offering for sale or advertising catalytic converters not meeting state rules, the agency said. Aftermarket catalytic converters for on- and off-road vehicles must be approved by the Air Resources Board. Posted. http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_20174925/wilmington-business-fined-advertising-selling-illegal-auto-parts?IADID=Search-www.dailybreeze.com-www.dailybreeze.com On Emissions Limits, California Goes its Own Way. Earlier this year, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) completely revamped its passenger vehicle emissions control regulations. The new Advanced Clean Cars program, which covers model years 2017—2025, combines several regulatory schemes into the new program: the Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) program, which governs tailpipe regulations for light duty vehicles; the Clean Fuels Outlet regulation…Posted. http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/44132 http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120319/BIZ/203190319/Calif-mandate-triggers-ethanol-backlash?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CHome%7Cs MISCELLANEOUS West Coast Electric Highway Now Open for EV Bikes and Cars. Oregon is opening the longest stretch of electric highway in the nation with the help of AeroVironment and its electric charging stations. It is part of the West Coast Green Highway initiative. According to the Washington State DOT site called West Coast Green Highway: “The Electric Highways Project will encourage more people and businesses in Washington to buy and use plug-in electric vehicles. Increasing the market demand for electric vehicles will help reduce the transportation sector’s impact upon the environment and dependency on foreign oil. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2012/03/19/west-coast-electric-highway-now-open-for-ev-bikes-and-cars/ OPINIONS Obama Sets Gas Prices? Just Another G.O.P. Myth. Jeff Bingaman, chairman of the Senate energy committee, complained the other day of “widespread misunderstanding” about rising oil prices. He was being senatorially polite.The issue of gas prices has not only been misunderstood but thoroughly distorted by relentless ideological spin from industry and its political allies, mainly Republican. Hardly a day goes by that some industry cheerleader somewhere —…Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/obama-sets-gas-prices-just-another-gop-myth.html?scp=6&sq=fuels&st=cse Transportation bill will get the country moving. With gas prices at record levels, we are once again hearing the chorus of "drill, baby, drill." But we need to broaden our focus. At this time of rising energy costs and increased demand for more transit options, we should be singing: "Build, baby, build." Build, as in lay new track and bore new tunnels for light-rail and subway lines. Build, as in improve highway safety and efficiency. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/19/EDDH1NM8H2.DTL Oakland Tribune editorial: State air board suit against BP should prod oil firm to obey gasoline regulations. There was a time when BP prided itself as a "green" energy company, even adopting the slogan "Beyond Petroleum." After a huge refinery explosion in Texas in 2005 and the Deepwater Horizon explosion and massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, a more appropriate BP moniker would be Big Polluter. With all of the negative news about the Gulf incident, which has cost BP billions of dollars and a tarnished image, one would think the British oil firm would be particularly careful about obeying environmental regulations. Unfortunately, it has not been. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/opinion/ci_20189914/oakland-tribune-editorial-state-air-board-suit-against http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_20184056/contra-costa-times-editorial-state-air-board-suit How an oil-and-gas boom is interrupting greening of America. Anecdotes are no substitute for hard data. But when they start to reach a critical mass and they all tell the same story, you know something big is going on. A longtime car salesman relocates to south Texas to capitalize on the soaring demand for truckers to haul sand to hydraulic fracturing sites across the Eagle Ford shale formation. Nearby, the Corpus Christie School District can’t find bus drivers, who are getting paid a lot more to cart sand. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120317/WIRE/120319638 PD Editorial: Locals want affordable, reliable power. Are Sonoma County residents and businesses ready to have their county government go into the power business? The answer to that question may be in the eye of the beholder. Rather, it depends on how one looks at the results of recent polls that sought to answer that very question. We fear that view may be less rosy than some community leaders contend. Yes, as the county has reported, the surveys show that 79 percent of residents support the idea of having the county's electricity portfolio — i.e. where we get our power from — locally controlled. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120318/OPINION/120319665 The Brilliant Economics of Green Buildings. Say what you will about the benefits of clean energy or the costs of pollution, the jury has returned an ambiguous verdict on the greening of the commercial real-estate market. The niche has become mainstream. Anyone who says green buildings, which are certified by third-party verifiers as demonstrating superior environmental performance and resource efficiency, are “boutique” has not been paying attention. The commercial buildings sector boasts the most explosive growth in green building. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2012/03/18/the-brilliant-economics-of-green-buildings/ When Will Obama Issue Greenhouse-Gas Rules? President Obama is going to issue controversial rules on greenhouse-gas emissions from power plants only after the November presidential election, a narrow plurality of National Journal’s Energy and Environment Insiders predict. The rules, which would limit greenhouse-gas emissions from power plants, have been pending since last November, when the Environmental Protection Agency sent them over to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget for review. Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/obama-issue-greenhouse-gas-rules-120003934.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 Mar 2012 12:34:23 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 20, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov Happy First Day of Spring! ARB Newsclips for March 20, 2012. 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 Airlines Probably Will Get Global CO2 Market, ICAO’s Kobeh Says. The global airline industry will probably need some form of carbon market beyond 2015 to help protect the climate, said the president of the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization. It’s too early to foretell the outcome of a three-year process ending in September next year that is considering greenhouse-gas trading for the industry, Roberto Kobeh, president of the organization since 2006, said yesterday in an phone interview from Montreal. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-20/airlines-probably-will-get-global-co2-market-icao-s-kobeh-says.html DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB urges truckers to report vehicles to meet new March 30 deadline. The Air Resources Board (CARB) is reminding California-bound truck owners that the deadline to report information regarding their fleets has been extended to March 30. CARB provided a two-month extension from the original January 31 reporting deadline to give fleet owners more time to submit their information before widespread enforcement of the regulation begins. Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2012/3/20/CARBurgestruckerstoreportvehiclestomeetnewMarch30deadline.aspx FUELS Appeals court overturns PG&E gas plant approval. A state appeals court has sidetracked Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s plans for a new natural gas power plant in Oakley. The 586-megawatt plant would have provided electricity for PG&E's grid in Northern and Central California. The company initially proposed to complete construction by June 2014, but the California Public Utilities Commission rejected the proposal, saying it exceeded PG&E's demonstrated needs for 2014. Five months later, the commission endorsed an amended proposal to bring the Oakley plant on line in June 2016. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/20/BA8J1NMB75.DTL&type=printable Natural gas industry high on future, despite current low prices. Despite looming federal regulations and rock-bottom market prices, leaders in the natural gas business are confident the shale boom that’s helped revitalize economies from Pennsylvania to Wyoming is only just getting started. Companies from across the sector, from multibillion-dollar outfits such as Chesapeake Energy to small-town hardware stores, have gathered in Pittsburgh this week for the annual Marcellus Midstream Conference, one of the largest industry meetings in the nation. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/19/natural-gas-industry-high-on-future-despite-curren/ Diesel Reaches Highest Price Since Summer 2008. The average diesel price spiked 1.9 cents this week to $4.142 a gallon, its highest price since the summer of 2008, according to the Energy Information Administration's weekly fuel update. The price is the second highest since diesel reached $4.145 on Aug. 25, 2008. California actually saw a very slight decrease of .2 cents, but the state still has the highest diesel prices in the country with an average of $4.481. Gas prices rose 3.8 cents to $3.867. The Gulf Coast was hit the hardest with an increase of 5.1 cents per gallon. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=76386 VEHICLES Hybrid, electric or gas: What’s a car buyer interested in the environment to do? People interested in environmental issues love a good game of this vs. that. Which is better for the environment: Paper towels or hot-air hand dryers? Cash, check or credit? Going to the theater or renting a DVD? While it’s an interesting diversion, such cases are all cocktail party chatter compared with whether, how much and what you choose to drive. One-fifth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions come from transportation, according to the advocacy group Environmental Defense Fund. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/hybrid-electric-or-gas-whats-a-car-buyer-interested-in-the-environment-to-do/2012/03/12/gIQA4ISdNS_story.html Cutting the cord for electric cars. Will the electric car recharger be the next technology to go wireless? That’s the question posed by Evatran, a Morrisville startup that has created a “plugless” charging station to juice up plug-in electric cars. The company’s founders – and funders – are betting that cutting the cord will be the next advance for electric cars, building on the same concept that has untethered telephones and computers from the tyranny of wall jacks. Posted. http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/03/19/1943465/cutting-the-cord-for-electric.html GREEN ENERGY At San Jose solar convention, SolarWorld's trade case against China looms large. The looming trade war with China dominated the conversation Monday at the San Jose Convention Center as thousands of solar professionals gathered for PV America, a solar industry trade show. Many fear that the Obama administration, eager to create American manufacturing jobs, is about to apply additional duties on solar cells and solar panels made in China, possibly driving up solar prices and curtailing solar adoption in the United States just as the industry is taking off. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20208965/solarworld-panel-china-trade-san-jose-solar-convention House Panel to Cite New Flaw in Energy Loans. A Congressional committee that has been investigating the Energy Department’s loan programs is adding to its line of attack on the eve of an appearance by the energy secretary before the panel. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has been seeking with limited success to portray the financial support for a solar company, Solyndra, which eventually went bankrupt, as a politically inspired boon to an Obama campaign fund-raiser who was an investor in the business. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/19/us/politics/house-panel-to-cite-new-flaw-in-energy-loans.html?src=recg MISCELLANEOUS Mower exchange offered by air district. The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District has announced that its annual lawn mower exchange program will begin on April 16. The program allows Yolo and Solano County residents to receive a $100 discount on a new rechargeable lawn mower when they recycle their old gas-powered mower at one of Yolo-Solano AQMD's partner sites. Posted. http://www.dailydemocrat.com/ci_20212297/mower-exchange-offered-by-air-district?source=most_viewed More Recycling: More Jobs. The City of Stockton was home to the 8th annual REXPO, whose theme this year was “Unplugged,” on March 14, 2012 between the hours of 7:00 AM until 2:00 PM at the Hilton Hotel. The event was hosted by Green Team of San Joaquin, a program of the Stockton Chamber of Commerce. Posted. http://bwnews.us/2012/03/19/more-recycling-more-jobs/ OPINIONS Editorial: Stop dithering, pass transportation bill. Just back from a break, the House of Representatives has a short two weeks of work before it takes another recess. The No. 1 priority ought to be passing a bipartisan transportation bill – as the Senate already has done on a 74-22 vote. Lawmakers generally pass a transportation bill lasting five or six years – because states and localities need certainty to plan for multiyear projects. The last transportation bill passed in 2005 and expired in 2009. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/20/4350848/stop-dithering-pass-transportation.html Does cap-and-trade produce technological innovation? Cap-and-trade is dead, but some folks never tire of kicking the corpse. Corpse kickers received a boost last week from a paper published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, which purported to show that cap-and-trade programs “do not provide sufficient incentives for energy technology innovation.” This strikes me as a classic example of a press release overhyping and oversimplifying a paper to get attention. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-policy/does-cap-and-trade-produce-technological-innovation/ BLOGS Slimmer Majority of Americans Champions Renewables, Poll Finds. The partisan battle over the cause of the increase in gasoline prices has escalated as the average price of a gallon has crept closer to $4, with Republicans accusing President Obama for investing too much in alternative sources of energy at the expense of conventional fuels and Democrats blaming geopolitics and instability around the Persian Gulf. Now comes a survey from the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press suggesting that more Americans may be moving toward the Republican way of thinking on conventional energy. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/19/slimmer-majority-of-americans-champions-renewables-poll-finds/?scp=10&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Environmental Groups Sue to Block New Desert Town. Environmental groups have filed suit against a proposed development near the Salton Sea that they say would irreparably harm the environment. The Sierra Club and Center for Biological Diversity allege that Travertine Point, a 40,000 acre development that would include up to 16,655 residential units and 5 million square feet of commercial space in a remote location 16 miles from the nearest established town, would dramatically increase vehicle pollution and further damage the already-imperiled Salton Sea. Posted. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/news-ticker/2012/mar/20/environmental-groups-sue-to-block-new-desert-town/ What If Rest Of U.S. Did What California Has Done On Climate? California, a state that’s historically been at the cutting edge of environmental and climate policies, continues to take bold steps in order to address climate change. Climate studies and projections indicate that California will be hit hard by climate change, losing a great deal of its snow pack (a vital source of freshwater), and experiencing at least one meter of sea level rise by 2100. With the most advanced climate plan of any state, California is taking these threats very seriously…Posted. http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2012/03/20/447429/what-if-rest-of-the-us-did-what-california-has-done-on-climate/?mobile=nc MiEV Power BOX turns your electric Mitsubishi into a mini power station. As anyone who's suffered through an extended blackout can tell you, electric power can be a precious commodity. With the advent of electric cars comes the ability to borrow back some of the energy stored in traction batteries to help deal with emergencies or other situations. Mitsubishi's MiEV power BOX - soon become available as a dealer option – does just that, at least for Japanese customers. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/19/miev-power-box-turns-your-electric-mitsubishi-into-a-mini-power/ 2013 Nissan Leaf update will add new heater, up to 25 miles of range in the cold. From what we know today, pretty much everything about the all-electric Nissan Leaf is getting bigger and/or better in 2012. From availability in Europe to 50-state availability and production in the States, it's clear Nissan is planning big things for its EV this year. Now, Nissan's Mark Perry has told the The Detroit News that the 2013 Leaf will get serious improvements when it launches later this year, including a better heater, a darker interior option and leather seats. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/20/nissan-leaf-update-will-add-new-heater-25-miles-of-range/ ====================================================================== 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 Mar 2012 12:39:22 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 21, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 21, 2012. 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: 'Fracking' may increase air pollution health risks. Air pollution caused by hydraulic fracturing, a controversial oil and gas drilling method, may contribute to “acute and chronic health problems for those living near natural gas drilling sites,” according to a new study from the Colorado School of Public Health. The study, based on three years of monitoring at Colorado sites, found a number of “potentially toxic petroleum hydrocarbons in the air near the wells including benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and xylene.” The Environmental Protection Agency has identified benzene as a known carcinogen. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-fracking-increases-air-pollution-health-risks-to-residents-20120320,0,7159850.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/03/19/bloomberg_articlesM14RQV6JTSEC01-M153F.DTL Officials: Pittsburgh air quality improving. Allegheny County officials say local air quality is better than it's been for over 100 years. A release issued Tuesday says air quality improved at every monitoring site in the county in 2011, and is now in compliance with levels for fine particulate matter, which can cause asthma and other health problems. Jim Thompson, an Air Quality Program Manager, says the improvements are due to recent pollution controls put in at nearby and out-of-state industrial plants. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20213585/officials-pittsburgh-air-quality-improving?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Controversial strawberry pesticide pulled from US. A controversial strawberry pesticide is being pulled from the U.S. market by its Tokyo manufacturer. Arysta LifeScience Inc. announced late Tuesday that it's immediately suspending the sale of all formulations of the fumigant Midas, or methyl iodide. It says the decision is based on its economic viability in the United States. The fumigant is used by growers of strawberries, tomatoes, peppers and other crops. Methyl iodide was seen as a replacement for another fumigant, methyl bromide, which is being phased out under international treaty because it depletes the Earth's ozone. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/21/4355024/manufacturer-pulling-fumigant.html DIESEL EMISSIONS March 30 deadline approaching for CARB on-road registry. Truck owners whose trucks drive in California are up against a pressing deadline if they want more compliance time for CARB’s most expensive truck rule. The Truck and Bus Rule registry is a database used by the California Air Resources Board to keep track of the hundreds of thousands of commercial vehicles that operate in California annually. The Truck and Bus Rule, also known as the “Retrofit Rule,” will require trucking fleets to either install diesel particulate filters or upgrade their trucks. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=23384 FUELS As natural gas production grows, questions arise about methane leaks. As natural gas production in the United States hits an all-time high, a major unanswered question looms: What does growing hydraulic fracturing mean for climate change? The Obama administration lists natural gas as one of the "clean energy sources" it wants to expand. When burned, natural gas emits about half the heat-trapping carbon dioxide as coal. Yet natural gas production can result in releases of methane into the atmosphere. Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/21/2769402/as-natural-gas-production-grows.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/21/4354837/as-natural-gas-production-grows.html#storylink=misearch Obama's day: Heading west over gas prices. Good morning from The Oval, on a day when President Obama turns his attention to what may be his biggest current political problem: Gas prices. Obama starts a two-day, four-state trip designed to promote his "all-of-the-above" energy strategy, as reported by USA TODAY's Aamer Madhani, The president plans to promote production of a variety of energy sources to help stabilize prices at the pump. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/03/obamas-day-heading-west-over-gas-prices/1#.T2sTDtlkiso Biofuels get a bounce. Community Fuels' biodiesel plant at the Port of Stockton served as the centerpiece Tuesday for U.S. Department of Agricultural officials highlighting gains in rural and farm-related energy projects under the 2008 Farm Bill. "We wanted to bring some attention to this particular program, because everything about it is just phenomenal," said Phil Brown, energy coordinator for the USDA's Rural Development office in California. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120321/A_BIZ/203210313&cid=sitesearch 7 states join opposition to Calif. low-carbon fuel rule. Seven Midwestern states are joining ethanol and petroleum producers in opposing enforcement of California's low-carbon fuel standard. Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning (R) filed a brief March 12 in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals against California's request to continue enforcing its regulation. It was co-signed by the attorneys general of Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota and South Dakota. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/03/21/6 VEHICLES Electric vehicles: Higher gas prices won't charge sales. Will higher gas prices help lift sales of electric vehicles? Lacey Plache, the chief economist for Edmunds.com, says the hurdles are still too high for widespread adoption of electric vehicles. In an analysis for automotive research firm R.L. Polk & Co., Plache notes that one problem is that there still isn’t a lot of choice when it comes to electrics and plug-in hybrids. While at least nine electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are expected to become available in 2012, only the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt are widely available. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-electric-vehicles-20120321,0,5459128.story Nissan bringing back the Datsun. Nissan is bringing back the Datsun three decades after shelving the brand that helped build its U.S. business. This time, Nissan hopes the name synonymous with affordable and reliable small cars will power its growth in emerging markets. Nissan Motor Co. Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn made the announcement Tuesday while in Indonesia, one of three markets, besides India and Russia, where the Datsun will go on sale in 2014. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20120320-nissan-bringing-back-the-datsun.ece http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120321/WIRE/203211032 Nissan not planning Datsun for developed markets. Nissan's revival of the Datsun won't include developed markets, Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn said Wednesday, outlining a strategy to target the revamped brand at emerging nations where the biggest growth is expected for affordable stylish vehicles. The offerings will be tailored for each market, including price and engine size, targeting the burgeoning market of first-time car buyers in countries such as India, Indonesia and Russia, where Datsun will be introduced from 2014, he said. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/20/2122444/nissan-not-planning-datsun-for.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DOE to award up to $10M to promote zero emission cargo transport (ZECT) vehicles. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced up to $10 million is available (DE-FOA-0000669) this year to demonstrate and deploy electric transportation technologies for cargo vehicles, such as trucks, locomotives and forklifts. DOE is seeking applicants for this funding to demonstrate cost-effective zero emission cargo transport (ZECT) systems and collect detailed performance and cost data to analyze the benefits and viability of this approach to freight transportation. The funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is focused on accelerating the introduction and penetration of ZECT technologies. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/03/zect-20120321.html GREEN ENERGY A Measured Rebuttal to China Over Solar Panels. The Commerce Department said on Tuesday that it would impose tariffs on solar panels imported from China after concluding that the Chinese government provided illegal export subsidies to manufacturers there. The tariffs were smaller, at 2.9 to 4.73 percent, than some American industry executives had expected. At that size, their effect on the market could be limited. But additional tariffs could be imposed in May, when the Commerce Department is scheduled to decide whether China is “dumping” solar panels into the United States at prices below their actual cost. A finding of dumping would result in additional tariffs that could be far larger than these. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/business/energy-environment/us-to-place-tariffs-on-chinese-solar-panels.html?ref=global-home U.S. to impose tariffs on solar panels from China. Ratcheting up the battle over a vital energy industry, the U.S. Commerce Department decided to impose tariffs on solar panels imported from China after concluding that manufacturers there received illegal government subsidies. The Commerce Department, in its preliminary finding over illegal subsidies, said solar panels imported from China — now dominating the U.S. market — would face a duty of 2.9% to 4.73%. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-china-solar-tariffs-20120321,0,2176573.story http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20215000/us-govt-sets-new-tariffs-china-solar-panels?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/03/20/bloomberg_articlesM171A66S972D01-M179U.DTL http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012203200354 NYC has solar, wind power plans for old dump site. A New York City site once known for the size of its garbage heaps would be home to alternative energy sources that could generate 20 megawatts of renewable power, now that the city is soliciting bids to build and operate a wind farm and solar power plant there. City officials put out a request for proposals on Tuesday to build solar and wind power facilities at Staten Island's Fresh Kills landfill. With 75 acres available for lease, city officials say the project at the closed landfill could generate enough energy to power 6,000 homes and would double the city's renewable energy capacity. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/nyc-has-solar-wind-power-plans-for-old-dump-site/article_cd201e4a-9bf9-5c82-8447-d6bce147e411.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/20/2121783/nyc-has-solar-wind-power-plans.html Can the tensions between trade policy and the emerging 'green' economy be resolved? As governments and consumers begin to grapple with the costs of carbon emissions and tightening resource margins, markets all over the world are moving toward cleaner, more sustainable business models. As they do, the webs of international trade laws that connect the world's markets are evolving, as well. Managed correctly, these laws could play a prominent role in encouraging green growth and fostering new innovation, according to a panel of experts hosted by the Brookings Institution yesterday. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/03/21/5 BLOGS New York Maps Viable Offshore Wind Power. A new study mapping out habitats in and around the waters off New York was released on Tuesday, bringing the state a step closer to determining the potential for wind energy projects offshore. The study is the product of a two-year joint effort by New York’s Department of State and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to identify critical bird and fish habitats to ensure that they are not harmed by future wind farms. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/20/for-new-york-a-map-of-viable-offshore-wind-power/ P.Wm. climate change case takes center stage. Now that Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s investigation into climate research has been tossed out of court, a similar case in Prince William County targeting the same ex-University of Virginia scientist moves into the spotlight. And this case, seeking some 12,000 emails sent and received by scientist Michael E. Mann, using the Freedom of Information Act, appears to have a far greater chance of success. That’s because U.Va. apparently has already given the 12,000 e-mails to Mann himself, though he left Charlottesville years ago. The American Tradition Institute, the conservative group hoping to show that climate change scientists like Mann manipulated their data, argues that U.Va. can’t give the e-mails to one person and not another. By giving the emails to Mann, the university has waived any exemptions they’re claiming to the state Freedom of Information Act, ATI says. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-state-of-nova/post/pwm-climate-change-case-takes-center-stage/2012/03/19/gIQA1vLGQS_blog.html Who benefits from a solar trade war with China? U.S. solar-panel makers have long complained that their Chinese rivals are unfairly subsidized by the government. On Tuesday, the Commerce Department said it would impose modest tariffs on Chinese solar cells. Further penalties could be on the way. So who benefits from a solar trade war? It’s a mixed bag, really. There’s little question that some U.S. manufacturers like SolarWorld have been trampled by China’s rhino-style charge into the world solar market. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/the-ups-and-downs-of-a-solar-trade-war-with-china/2012/03/21/gIQAJyrmRS_blog.html Class-action settlement over Honda Civic Hybrid mileage claims approved. A class-action lawsuit between American Honda Motor Co. and plaintiffs who claimed the Japanese automaker overstated fuel-economy figures on Honda Civic Hybrids has been approved by a San Diego Superior Court Judge. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the lawsuit involves about 460,000 people who either owned or leased 2003 to 2009 Civic Hybrids. The settlement grants the plaintiffs $100 in cash and a credit towards a new Honda of between $500 and $1,000. Honda may end up paying out more than $460 million, including legal fees of more than $8.1 million, the newspaper said. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/21/class-action-settlement-over-honda-civic-hybrid-mileage-claims-a/ Indonesia: From fuel subsidies to electric cars? As the Indonesian government rolls out its plans for cutting fuel subsidies for private cars and the demand for vehicles is set to rise steeply, the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises, Dahlan Iskan sees electric vehicles (EVs) as one of the best solutions to problems associated with increasing fuel prices. “Let’s have a war against fuel,” said Dahlan Iskan, Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises during his talk to an audience of around 500 students of the Bandung Institute of Technology in Indonesia. “There are no alternatives, [the increasing prices] are inevitable,” he added. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/77720120321.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, 22 Mar 2012 16:29:19 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips March 22, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 22, 2012. 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 Breathing Smog in Pregnancy Linked to Child's Behavior Problems. Women exposed to higher levels of certain air pollutants while pregnant are more likely to have children with anxiety, depression and attention problems by ages 6 and 7, new research suggests. "This study provides new evidence that prenatal exposure to air pollution at levels encountered in New York City can adversely affect child behavior," said Frederica Perera…Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/breathing-smog-pregnancy-linked-childs-behavior-problems-160408224.html Illinois village sues oil firms over pollution. An Illinois village has sued Shell, ConocoPhillips and a local refinery, accusing them of releasing millions of pounds of cancer-causing pollutants and failing to repair broken pipelines and other problems at the refinery. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/21/ill-village-sues-oil-firms-over-pollution-claims/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20222320/ill-village-sues-oil-firms-over-pollution-claims?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20222320/ill-village-sues-oil-firms-over-pollution-claims?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Plan Could Pay Off for Airlines. Emirates, an airline based in wealthy Dubai, has been among the outspoken opponents of a system making airlines account for their pollution on all flights using E.U. airports. Yet Emirates could make a modest profit of €1.5 million, or $2 million, from a small surplus of permits, each representing a ton of carbon dioxide, that airlines can trade as part of the system. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/business/energy-environment/carbon-plan-could-pay-off-for-airlines.html?scp=5&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Warmest March ever drives farmers to plant early. Ethan Cox is sowing corn on his 5,000-acre Illinois farm earlier than ever this year, betting that the premium he may collect for delivering an early crop is worth the risk of a damaging late-spring frost. Lured into the fields by what is so far the warmest March since records began in 1871, Cox is toiling alongside dozens of farmers across the Midwest who have begun seeding what may be a record crop weeks earlier than usual, according to agronomists, farm managers and analysts who keep close tabs on farm activity. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/22/us-usa-corn-planting-idUSBRE82L0IW20120322 FUELS Unhappy public not sure who to blame for high gas. Families canceling vacations. Fishermen watching their profits burn up along with their boats' gasoline. Drivers buying only a few gallons of gas at a time because they can't afford to fill the tank. From all corners of the country, Americans are irritated these days by record-high fuel prices that have soared above $4 a gallon in some states and could top $5 by summer. And the cost is becoming a political issue just as the presidential campaign kicks into high gear. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/03/22/national/a005956D01.DTL U.S. drilling won't lower gas prices, study shows. Washington -- It's the political cure-all for high gas prices: Drill here, drill now. But more U.S. drilling has not changed how deeply the gas pump drills into your wallet, according to an Associated Press statistical analysis of 36 years of data. Political rhetoric about the blame over gas prices and the power to change them - whether Republican claims now or Democrats' charges four years ago - is not supported by cold, hard figures. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/22/MNE51NO6PT.DTL Obama putting Oklahoma pipeline on fast track. Deep in Republican oil country, President Barack Obama is fending off criticism of his energy policies, pointing to plans to fast-track an oil pipeline that emerged after he delayed the larger Keystone XL project earlier this year. Obama was directing federal agencies Thursday to expedite a 485-mile line from Oklahoma to refineries on Texas' Gulf Coast that would remove a critical bottleneck in the country's oil transportation system. The directive would also apply to other pipelines that alleviate choke points. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/22/obama-putting-oklahoma-pipeline-on-fast-track/ http://www.nctimes.com/entertainment/tv/obama-putting-oklahoma-pipeline-on-fast-track/article_9702b650-6bdb-538e-92cd-a11b6330dd55.html www.dailynews.com/ci_20230328/science-care-preserve-dcs-original-cherry-trees?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/obama-putting-oil-pipeline-on-fast-track-as-he-promotes-energy-record-in-oklahoma/2012/03/22/gIQAxQQ3SS_story.html Drivers feeling pain at the gas pump are unsure who is to blame but want a government solution. Families canceling vacations. Fishermen watching their profits burn up along with their boats’ gasoline. Drivers buying only a few gallons of gas at a time because they can’t afford to fill the tank. From all corners of the country, Americans are irritated these days by record-high fuel prices that have soared above $4 a gallon in some states and could top $5 by summer. And the cost is becoming a political issue just as the presidential campaign kicks into high gear. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/americans-feeling-pain-at-the-gas-pump-unsure-who-to-blame-but-want-a-government-solution/2012/03/22/gIQANjrBTS_story.html VEHICLES L.A. Mayor Villaraigosa urges Congress to pass transportation bill. Saying it would create thousands of desperately needed jobs, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa urged Congress on Wednesday to pass a transportation bill that would speed up the construction of several Los Angeles County highway and rail projects. "This is a shot in the arm, make no mistake," Villaraigosa said during a news conference in Chatsworth, against the backdrop of construction workers building the Orange Line busway extension. The current federal law that funds transportation projects will expire March 31. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20227040/l-mayor-villaraigosa-urges-congress-pass-transportation-bill?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com Electric trucks sold to Frito-Lay. Electric Vehicles International announced Wednesday a pilot program with Frito-Lay North America in which the snack company will purchase five EVI all-electric, medium-duty trucks for use in Northern California. The design offers a 90-mile range between charges, a top speed of 65 mph and is intended for used in fleets where vehicles follow regular routes and return to base at the end of their rounds. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120322/A_BIZ/203220314&cid=sitesearch GREEN ENERGY Obama Tours Four States to Defend Energy Policy. Against the desert backdrop of the nation’s largest solar energy installation, President Obama on Wednesday assailed Republican critics of his clean energy policies as “the flat earth society” even as he sought to demonstrate his own support for domestic oil and gas production. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/us/politics/obama-to-promote-energy-policy-on-4-state-trip.html?ref=jackiecalmes Obama, GOP vie for upper hand on energy. Wooing a nation of increasingly angry motorists, President Barack Obama and his Republican rivals are all plunging into gas-pump politics, seeking the upper hand as energy becomes a driving issue in the election campaign. The president is defending his energy agenda this week, traveling Wednesday to a solar panel plant in Nevada and later to oil and gas fields in New Mexico and the site of a future oil pipeline in Oklahoma. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120321/A_NEWS/120329974&cid=sitesearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/21/obama-gop-vie-for-upper-hand-on-energy/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/obama-gop-vie-for-upper-hand-on-energy/article_585567bc-bcfa-537b-a474-ad0f4c293a38.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/21/2122931/obama-gop-vie-for-upper-hand-on.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20222414/obama-gop-vie-upper-hand-energy?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/confronted-by-rising-gas-prices-obama-and-gop-foes-seek-upper-hand-on-energy/2012/03/21/gIQAjD9eSS_story.html The White House’s secret plan to make American households more energy-efficient. In the spirit of keeping a positive, bright outlook on life and politics (ha), we’re going to ignore for the moment the Obama administration’s embrace of the Cushing-to-Texas branch of Keystone XL. Instead, let’s talk about another announcement the White House made today, this one about how they’re going to convince Americans to use less energy. Posted. http://grist.org/list/the-white-houses-secret-plan-to-make-american-households-more-energy-efficient/ MISCELLANEOUS Methyl iodide pulled from market. A controversial pesticide intended for California's strawberry fields has been pulled from the market by its manufacturer, much to the applause of environmental groups that waged a long battle against the toxic fumigant. Makers of methyl iodide, a bacteria-fighting agent that was approved for use in California in 2010, said in a statement they had suspended sales of the product in the United States due to "economic viability." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/22/BAJ21NO9GA.DTL&type=printable Caltrain upgrades a step toward high-speed rail. Bay Area transportation officials have agreed on a $1.5 billion plan to work with the High-Speed Rail Authority to electrify Caltrain and install advanced train-control systems to build a hybrid rail system accommodating both commuter and high-speed trains. Under the proposal, released late Wednesday, the Bay Area would receive $706 million in state high-speed rail bond money, with the rest of the funds coming from local sales taxes, other state and federal funds, bridge tolls and air district money. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/22/BAPS1NOFAV.DTL http://www.mercurynews.com/california-high-speed-rail/ci_20227441/high-speed-rail-bay-area-plan-split-1?source=rss OPINIONS Viewpoints: Embrace the opportunities presented by 'cap and trade' California has always been on the leading edge of technological innovation, and now our groundbreaking environmental policies are launching a new wave of investment and economic growth. As speaker of the state Assembly, I authored and fought for the passage of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, because I knew we were on the cusp of an extraordinary opportunity. We could limit pollution, protect public health and spur a clean energy revolution at the same time. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/21/v-print/4353752/embrace-the-opportunities-presented.html This diesel Chevy doesn’t poke along, so why does GM? La Chaux-De-Fonds, Switzerland — Louis-Joseph Chevrolet, founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Co., now the largest division of the world’s largest automobile manufacturer, General Motors, was a local boy. That is a point of celebration in this proud industrial town, located high in the Jura Mountains along the western border of France…GM and Chevrolet already have something in play that could do an even better job of connecting Europe and the United States while saving fuel and reducing tailpipe pollution in the process. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/cars/this-diesel-chevy-doesnt-poke-along-so-why-does-gm/2012/03/08/gIQAdmrb1R_story.html TONELSON: Obama ‘all-of-the-above’ plan lacking in energy. As gasoline prices drift higher, threatening economic growth, the White House excoriates Republicans for having no comprehensive energy plan while claiming to have an “all-of-the-above” plan of its own. But the White House plan is nothing more than a full court press to regulate carbon dioxide in direct rejection of comprehensive 2007 legislation by a Republican Congress to reduce vulnerability to international oil prices. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/20/tonelson-obama-all-of-the-above-plan-lacking-in-en/ Green Party insists time for change is now. Survival in the early frontier meant taming the wilderness by cutting down trees and tilling the fields; however, climate scientists now say that the continued cutting down of trees will affect the quality of life and possibly the survival of our progeny. A cooler planet depends on saving the trees. University of California research examining the effects of California’s temperature increases on Blue and Valley Oaks…Posted. http://napavalleyregister.com/news/opinion/mailbag/green-party-insists-time-for-change-is-now/article_98caea0a-73e7-11e1-8eea-001871e3ce6c.html BLOGS Biofuels About More Than Climate. Biofuels have been heavily promoted in the European Union as the most straightforward way to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from transport. Other ways of doing it are a more distant prospect. Electric cars are making a push, but are still some way from taking off, as are other innovative technologies. Biofuels, meanwhile, are perfectly compatible with combustion engines used today and are–more or less–readily available. They are considered greener than gasoline and diesel based on fossil fuels because their carbon dioxide emissions Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/brussels/2012/03/21/biofuels-about-more-than-climate/ Imagining Carbon Emissions in Underground Exile. In a perfect world, greenhouse gas emissions would be on the decline in the near future, with fossil fuels replaced by clean sources of energy like wind and solar. But current emissions are so daunting that the chances of the planet cleaning up its act in a timely manner are slim. “It’s such a big number that it’s sort of hard to grasp what it means,” said Ruben Juanes, a geoscientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/21/imagining-emissions-in-underground-exile/ How Much Carbon Do California’s Forests Hold? a tough number to nail down, but a federal program is zeroing in on it. Trees, grasses and freshwater aquatic systems all play a part in the carbon cycle. The U.S. Geological Survey is developing a series of reports on how much carbon and other greenhouse gases the nation’s ecosystems hold. Trees and plants, soils and rivers, farms and wetlands all sequester carbon to greater or lesser extents. But how much? And how might that number change in the future? Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/03/21/how-much-carbon-do-californias-forests-hold/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 Air district offers commercial gardeners free electric equipment. Any gardeners out there looking for a quieter, air-friendly leaf blower? The local air-quality police are offering you quite a freebie. And it's not just for leaf blowers. Commercial gardeners can get electric tools, such as blowers, mowers and trimmers, from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District this year. It's a $500,000, one-year experiment to see how the tools stand up in daily use. It may not sound like a major campaign, but the district's experiment is a response to a big hassle in many neighborhoods. Posted. http://fresnobeehive.com/news/2012/03/air_district_offers_commercial.html#storylink=misearch ====================================================================== 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 Mar 2012 12:44:38 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 23, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 23, 2012. 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 CalRecycle unveils Commercial Climate Calculator for businesses' energy costs. The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) has unveiled its Commercial Climate Calculator to help businesses evaluate the benefits of reducing waste, including cost savings. CalRecycle’s online calculator complements Air Resources Board and Department of Toxic Substances Control tools developed for use by businesses, industry, and the general public to gauge their carbon footprint and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a news release. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/03/22/2279656/calrecycle-unveils-commercial.html FUELS U.S. Inches Toward Goal of Energy Independence. The desolate stretch of West Texas desert known as the Permian Basin is still the lonely domain of scurrying roadrunners by day and howling coyotes by night. But the roar of scores of new oil rigs and the distinctive acrid fumes of drilling equipment are unmistakable signs that crude is gushing again. And not just here. Across the country, the oil and gas industry is vastly increasing production, reversing two decades of decline. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/business/energy-environment/inching-toward-energy-independence-in-america.html?scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/23/2772005/electric-cars-risk-losing-green.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20235244/inching-toward-energy-independence-america?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20235244/inching-toward-energy-independence-america?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com VEHICLES Electric cars risk losing green sheen in Japan. Electric car owners who prided themselves on being green now find themselves in a bind as Japan's government maneuvers to restart dozens of nuclear power plants idled after last year's meltdowns. For decades, nuclear generation has been a crucial source of power here, but the tsunami-triggered meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant have spurred a debate over how to supply Japan's electricity in the future. Long touted as a clean, zero-emission alternative to vehicles powered by dirty fossil fuels, electric cars are now at risk of being tainted by their association with nuclear. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/23/4360364/electric-cars-risk-losing-green.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20238152/electric-cars-risk-losing-green-sheen-japan?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/electric-cars-risk-losing-green-sheen-in-japan-after-meltdowns-highlight-nuclear-power-risks/2012/03/23/gIQA5Gz6US_story.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20238152/electric-cars-risk-losing-green-sheen-japan?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/23/electric-cars-risk-losing-green-sheen-in-japan/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/electric-cars-risk-losing-green-sheen-in-japan/article_39a92f46-83f0-5b2c-b472-a87c3342bdac.html Wireless charging and Catalonia’s EV ambitions presented at EV Forums. EV Forums, held 21-22 March 2012 in Barcelona, Spain brought together experts to discuss latest updates on EV batteries and EV charging. Technical solutions and applications were presented by the likes of SEAT, Renault-Nissan, Peugeot, Endesa to name but a few. A strong theme on the first day was how to better integrate EVs in urban environment with smarter ways to charge them. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/78020120323.php GREEN ENERGY Labor Department identifies 3.1 million green jobs. Washington -- At least 3.1 million Americans are employed in green jobs, a sector that now accounts for about 2.4 percent of the nation's total employment, the Labor Department said Thursday. The report represents the first time the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics has come up with an official count of environmentally friendly jobs, an emerging part of the economy and a centerpiece of President Obama's stimulus plan. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/23/BUOI1NOR31.DTL&type=printable http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/labor-dept-green-jobs-account-for-24percent-of-employment-in-2010/2012/03/22/gIQAExURUS_story.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/22/2124846/labor-dept-americans-hold-31-million.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Green features attract both tenants and developers. The 22-story apartment tower in Portland, Ore., has a roof garden that funnels rainwater to its public toilets. Because the water isn't treated, state law requires "Do Not Drink" warning signs."Just in case your dog can read," said Dennis Wilde, chief sustainability officer for Gerding Edlen, the Portland builder of the development, called Indigo @ Twelve|West. Green features, such as reusing rainwater and generating about 1 percent of the tower's electricity with four rooftop windmills…Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/23/BU6T1NO9MC.DTL&type=green New wind power guidelines are for the birds. Washington -- The Obama administration is offering advice on the best places to put wind farms to reduce the number of birds that die by flying into turbines. A bird advocacy group that lobbied for mandatory standards says the new guidelines will do little to protect hundreds of thousands of birds killed each year by the turbines. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/23/4361221/new-wind-power-guidelines-are.html Startups pitch 'green' products to potential investors. If you were a venture capitalist or angel investor with an eye for "green" technology or services, which of these companies would you bet on? That was the question posed to the audience Thursday at a session of The Wall Street Journal's ECO:nomics conference in Santa Barbara. The audience watched as five hungry CEOs of companies that make some sort of green products or services pitched their ideas, sustainability and future profitability in short-fire summaries. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/22/startups-pitch-green-products-to-potential/ MISCELLANEOUS Stuck with high gas prices, drivers just pump less. Americans have pumped less gas every week for the past year. During those 52 weeks, gasoline consumption dropped by 4.2 billion gallons, or 3 percent, according to MasterCard SpendingPulse. The decline is the longest since a 51-week period during the recession. The main reason: higher gas prices. The national average for a gallon of gas is $3.88, the highest ever for this time of year…Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20239190/stuck-high-gas-prices-drivers-just-pump-less?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/23/2772237/stuck-with-high-gas-prices-drivers.html#storylink=misearch OPINIONS Dan Walters: Lawmakers ready to green-light California high-speed rail. Its popularity has declined sharply, many of its details have yet to emerge, and independent authorities have questioned its financial and operational viability, but California's bullet train project is very likely to get the green light from the Legislature soon. That's the consensus of those who have been counting votes among the Legislature's dominant Democrats, who can give the California High-Speed Rail Authority authorization to sell bonds and begin construction of an initial segment in the San Joaquin Valley. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/23/4359961/dan-walters-lawmakers-ready-to.html#mi_rss=Dan%20Walters John Kass: Price of gas will fuel debate during presidential campaign. Mitt Romney has won the Illinois primary, and with it a sizable advantage in the Republican presidential race. If he can close the deal - or even if Rick Santorum somehow finds a way to come back - one thing seems certain. The price of gas will loom large in the fall campaign, with the Republicans taking full advantage and the Democrats trying to duck the blame. Whether it's fair to blame a president for the price of gas can be debated. What's not being debated is what a driver thinks when it costs so much to fill up the soccer van. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/22/4360331/john-kass-price-of-gas-will-fuel.html SPIN METER: GOP claims about Obama puzzle enviros. Mitt Romney says President Barack Obama blocked construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline as a gift to environmentalists. Newt Gingrich calls Obama "President Algae" for supporting research on biofuels. And Rick Santorum says Obama's environmental views constitute a "phony theology" that prioritizes the earth over people. The leading Republican presidential hopefuls have cast Obama as environmental extremist whose policies have put him out of touch with the needs of ordinary Americans. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/spin-meter-gop-claims-about-obama-puzzle-enviros/article_34c91695-1dc3-53ad-aa01-a1a20c682072.html#ixzz1pxhA0t7Q BLOGS Apps, Anyone? Managing Your Energy Consumption. Amid the debate in Washington over federal energy policy, at least one of the administration’s ideas seems to be gaining widespread support. On President Obama’s four-state tour to promote his “all of the above” energy agenda, nine of the country’s largest utility companies pledged to support the White House’s Green Button program by making information on energy usage available to their customers. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/apps-anyone-managing-your-energy-consumption/ A Tally of Green Jobs. For the first time, the federal government on Thursday released an estimate of the number of so-called green jobs in the United States economy, saying that 3.1 million people are employed in the production of goods and services that benefit the environment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, a unit of the Labor Department, spent more than a year compiling its report, which found that green goods and services accounted for 2.4 percent of total United States employment in 2010. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/22/a-tally-of-green-jobs/ California lags nation in green jobs. The latest monthly employment report, released Friday, was not particularly good news for California, whose jobless rate was unchanged in February at 10.9 percent with more than two million workers unemployed. That’s a bit better that it was during the depths of the recession, but not much, the data from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistic indicate. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/03/california-lags-nation-in-green-jobs.html GM "loans" Volts in Southern California to spur sales. Think of it as an extended test drive. General Motors is looking to spur sales of its Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in hybrid in California by loaning hundreds of Southern California drivers Volts for as long as a week, Green Car Reports said, citing GM representative Shad Balch. Under GM's "Cars to People" program, the automaker has loaned almost 300 people Volts over the past few months, and will likely loan the cars to a few hundred more by the end of the year, according to the website. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/23/gm-loans-volts-in-southern-california-to-spur-sales/ GM starts testing electric Chevrolet Spark. General Motors is literally changing its stripes with its battery-electric powered Chevrolet Spark. The automaker is testing battery-electric versions of its Chevrolet Spark compact and is suggesting that production versions may have a single-charge range of more than 100 miles.GM posted on Tuesday on its The Future Is Electric blog that engineers are testing a handful of electric-powered sparks. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/22/gm-starts-testing-electric-chevrolet-spark/ ====================================================================== 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, 26 Mar 2012 15:08:22 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 26, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 26, 2012. 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 Heat Waves, Rains Probably Linked to Warming, Scientists Say. Heat waves and extreme rainfall in the past decade are probably linked to global warming, according to a study by scientists at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. “For some types of extreme, notably heat waves but also precipitation extremes, there is now strong evidence linking specific events or an increase in their number to the human influence on climate,” the scientists wrote in a study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. Posted. http://webfarm.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-26/heat-waves-rains-probably-linked-to-warming-scientists-say.html Ventura County ozone levels continue to decline. The major air-quality issue facing Ventura County is ozone, commonly referred to as smog. In the upper atmosphere (stratosphere), ozone provides a protective layer shielding life from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. Ground-level ozone in the troposphere (the layer of air up to about 6 miles above Earth), however, can trigger a variety of health problems. The health problems include chest pain, coughing and throat irritation. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/24/ventura-county-ozone-levels-continue-to-decline/ DIESEL EMISSIONS New Diesel Emissions Rules To Be Enforced. California will start enforcing new diesel emissions rules for some trucks and buses this week (March 30). The regulations are intended to reduce smog and to decrease the amount of cancer-causing soot emitted by burning diesel fuel. Trucks and buses with engines from model years 1996-1999 are currently affected. Most are required to install new filters. But Bruce Tuter with the Air Resources Board says some owners - for example those with small fleets - may qualify for an extension: Posted. http://www.capradio.org/articles/2012/03/26/new-diesel-emissions-rules-to-be-enforced VEHICLES After failing to reach goals, California attempts to jump-start its 'Hydrogen Highway'. Eight years ago, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger drove a hydrogen-powered Toyota Highlander to UC Davis and, with TV cameras running, promised to build a "hydrogen highway" to help usher in a green revolution in California. Schwarzenegger signed a plan to build 50 to 100 hydrogen fueling stations by 2010 with state funds and money from oil companies. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_20255219/after-failing-reach-goals-california-attempts-jump-start?source=rss http://www.contracostatimes.com/science/ci_20255219/after-failing-reach-goals-california-attempts-jump-start?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20255219/after-failing-reach-goals-california-attempts-jump-start?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Electric car makers looking to seize opportunity. To drivers, the high price of gasoline is a scourge. To the electric car industry, it could be a game-changer. Nissan's electric Leaf and the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid both hit dealer showrooms in late 2010, riding a wave of carefully cultivated hype. But first-year sales were lackluster at best, as consumers balked at the high sticker prices and unfamiliar engineering. This year's gas-price spike could change that. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/25/BU771NOQ0U.DTL&type=tech NRG settlement to fund car-charging stations. A company accused of gouging California during the energy crisis has agreed to a $120 million settlement that will fund a statewide network of electric car charging stations, putting the state at the forefront of a growing clean emissions movement. Gov. Jerry Brown said Friday that NRG Energy Inc. will pay for 200 public fast-charging stations and an additional 10,000 plug-in units at 1,000 locations in the Bay Area, the San Joaquin Valley, the Los Angeles Basin and San Diego County. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/24/BALP1NPILK.DTL&type=science http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20242510/l-san-diego-get-thousands-electric-car-charging AP Enterprise: Vegas rail: a gamble or good thing? On a dusty, rock-strewn expanse at the edge of the Mojave Desert, a company linked to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants to build a bullet train that would rocket tourists from the middle of nowhere to the gambling palaces of Las Vegas. Privately held DesertXpress is on the verge of landing a $4.9 billion loan from the Obama administration to build the 150 mph train, which could be a lifeline for a region devastated by the housing crash or a crap shoot for taxpayers weary of Washington spending. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/03/25/national/a094636D22.DTL&type=printable http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/26/desertxpress-las-vegas-train_n_1379822.html $1.5 billion Caltrain deal packs some big extras. That just-announced pact to plow $1.5 billion in high-speed rail money into electrifying Caltrain comes with some mighty major side deals - including a pledge by Bay Area leaders to build a 1.2-mile tunnel through downtown San Francisco to connect the line to the new Transbay Terminal. In the spirit of providing something for everybody, local transportation officials also agreed to go after another $1 billion in federal funds to complete the BART extension to San Jose. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/03/26/BAVG1NPJFJ.DTL Nuclear power undermines electric cars' green image. Electric car owners, who wear their environmental consciousness as a badge of honor, are running into a new image problem in Japan: the country's dependence on nuclear plants for power. The government is trying to restart dozens of nuclear power plants for the first time since the Fukushimi disaster last year that resulted from the March earthquake and tsunami. Nuclear power now has a terrible image problem because of the fire and radiation leaks at the plant. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/03/nissan-leaf-japan-electric-cars-nuclear-power-nukes/1 OPINIONS Electric Cars Do Reduce Oil Demand. As an electric-car owner, I was disappointed to see William T. McCormick Jr.'s letter (March 16) suggesting that electricity cannot reduce oil consumption. Almost all electrical utilities have long since gotten off oil, switching to cheaper, more rational fuels such as natural gas. Electric cars also allow our nation to switch off oil. My per-mile fuel costs are literally 10 times cheaper than for the driver of a gas car and 20 times cheaper than running a large SUV. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304459804577285911883763748.html BY SUBSCRIPTION The Electric Car, Unplugged. THE future would appear bright for the electric car. Gasoline prices are high. The government is spending billions on battery technology. Auto companies are preparing to roll out a dozen new electrified models. Concern is growing about the climate impacts of burning oil. And tough new fuel economy standards are looming. Yet the state of the electric car is dismal, the victim of hyped expectations, technological flops, high costs and a hostile political climate. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/25/sunday-review/the-electric-car-unplugged.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Rising concern on climate change. RISING SEA levels threaten to inundate low-lying roads in Louisiana, costing billions in port activity, The Post’s Juliet Eilperin reports. Northrop Grumman sees potential damage to billions in shoreline defense infrastructure, such as the imperiled drydock in Hampton Roads built to construct the next generation of aircraft carriers. Other factors are also at work in these examples of rapid coastline loss. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/rising-concern-on-climate-change/2012/03/20/gIQAC73UYS_story.html New State Energy Tax is Illegal and Unwise. Billions of dollars in new taxes may soon flow into California state government to be spent on new programs. The taxes are harmful to the economy, they’re probably illegal, and they’re not even needed for the program’s success. And don’t even imagine that they’re getting Legislative or voter approval. I’m not talking about new income taxes or sales taxes for education. Not new taxes to balance the state’s budget. Not new taxes to sew up the tattered safety net or rescue California’s once-vaunted higher education system. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/03/new-state-energy-tax-is-illegal-and-unwise/ Editorial: Natural gas production boom alters energy outlook. Thanks to new technologies, most notably horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (aka "fracking"), the United States finds itself in a position unimaginable a few years ago: swimming in new domestic energy supplies. The most noticeable impact has been an increase of nearly 1 million barrels per day in domestic oil production since 2007. That's a 20% surge in just five years, with projections that growth will continue. Even more far reaching are prospects for natural gas. Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/story/2012-03-25/natural-gas-cheap-energy/53775968/1 Can This Upstart Car Company Upend The Electric Vehicle Market? It’s become a ritual for startup electric car companies: The ritual exchange of keys, as the very first customer takes possession. For Coda Automotive, it happened March 16 in Los Angeles, and the new owners are an eco-conscious advertising executive named Carmen and one of the company’s investors, Daniel Weiss. In northern California, Randy, a Redwood City pilot with a technology jones, drove off in a Coda. Three cars. It’s a start. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/eco-nomics/2012/03/26/can-this-upstart-car-company-upend-the-electric-vehicle-market/ Are record weather events caused by global warming? Researchers from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany concluded that weather extremes are not necessarily caused by global warming but in the sum of the events the link to climate change becomes clear in an article published in Nature Climate Change on March 25, 2012. Basic physics, statistical analysis and computer simulations form the arsenal of weapons scientists presently have at their disposal to make judgments and predictions about extreme weather events and a relationship to global warming. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/paeleontology-in-national/are-record-weather-events-caused-by-global-warming BLOGS Can polar bears put climate change back on the agenda? For various reasons, the climate crisis has disappeared from the political dialogue. This is unlikely to change in 2012, unless polar bears put it back on the agenda. Polar bears are running out of places to live due to climate change, which is warming their habitat in the Arctic — as it is in the other cold region where they don't live: the Antarctic. In fact, this warming is occurring even more dramatically than even some of the most dire projections, and now there is a discussion about whether we can even preserve the species. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-insiders/post/can-polar-bears-put-climate-change-back-on-the-agenda/2012/03/25/gIQAc8GkbS_blog.html VIDEO: Dan Walters Daily: Green jobs aren’t California’s salvation. “The latest data from the Federal Government shows that California’s recovery from recession is going to be a long hard slog.” Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/03/dan-walters-daily-green-jobs-arent-californias-salvation.html Jerry Brown pushes zero-emissions cars, defends oil policy. Goleta Jerry Brown said today that he will push the state to put zero-emission vehicles on the road by 2025 reducing transportation-related greenhouse emissions by 80 percent over 1990s levels. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/03/jerry-brown-pushes-zero-emission-cars-defends-oil-policy.html Feds will provide $14.2 million for lightweighting efforts. Volumes have been written about how much obesity costs the U.S. in terms of healthcare costs. Now, the government is looking for ways for cars to shed some pounds as well. The U.S. Department of Energy will provide $14.2 million in funding towards projects that develop materials to cut vehicle weight, which can help boost overall fuel economy and cut greenhouse-gas emissions. President Barack Obama said Thursday that the government is looking to speed up the development of materials such as carbon-fiber composites…Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/25/feds-will-provide-14-2-million-for-lightweighting-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: Tue, 27 Mar 2012 11:31:14 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 27, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 27, 2012. 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 UPDATE 2-US proposes first carbon limits on power plants. The Obama administration proposed on Tuesday the first ever standards to cut carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants, a move likely to be hotly contested by Republicans and industry in an election year. The Environmental Protection Agency proposed the long-delayed rules that limit emissions from all new U.S. power stations, which would effectively bar the building of any new coal plants. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/27/usa-climate-power-idUSL2E8ERKP620120327 http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-to-impose-first-greenhouse-gas-limits-on-power-plants/2012/03/27/gIQAKdaJeS_story.html http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/27/us/new-rules-will-limit-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html?_r=1&ref=felicitybarringer http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/26/2776555/epa-to-reduce-new-power-plants.html#storylink=misearch http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=149432591 http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-03-27/epa-issues-first-greenhouse-gas-limit-for-u-dot-s-dot-power-plants http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74527.html http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/27/10886373-end-of-coal-power-plants-epa-proposes-new-rules California Moving Forward on Greenhouse Gas Reduction Law. Some concerned over delays from poor economy, legal battles. Through vigorous regulations on fuel standards, vehicles, and communities, California’s sweeping Global Warming Solutions Act is seen as a broad solution that will attempt to significantly reduce emissions and improve air-quality levels over the next decade and beyond. Posted. http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/united-states/california-moving-forward-on-greenhouse-gas-reduction-law-211282.html FUELS For Pennsylvania’s doctors, a gag order on fracking chemicals. Under a new law, doctors in Pennsylvania can access information about chemicals used in natural gas extraction—but they won’t be able to share it with their patients. A provision buried in a law passed last month is drawing scrutiny from the public health and environmental community, who argue that it will “gag” doctors who want to raise concerns related to oil and gas extraction with the people they treat and the general public. Pennsylvania is at the forefront in the debate over “fracking,” the process by which a high-pressure mixture of chemicals, sand, and water are blasted into rock to tap into the gas. Posted. http://grist.org/natural-gas/for-pennsylvanias-doctors-a-gag-order-on-fracking-chemicals/ GREEN ENERGY San Mateo-based SolarCity to offer a 'Home Energy Loan' SolarCity. a leading installer of residential solar systems and a pioneer of solar leases, on Wednesday will unveil a financing program aimed at reducing or eliminating the upfront costs of energy-efficiency upgrades. Many homeowners waste electricity -- and money -- on homes with inadequate insulation, poor air sealing and outdated and uneven heating and cooling systems. Under its new Home Energy Loan program, the San Mateo-based company hopes to do for energy efficiency what it did for solar installation: make it accessible and affordable. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20260913/san-mateo-based-solarcity-offer-home-energy-loan MISCELLANEOUS More green measures planned for new Sutter hospital. The list of environmental requirements that Sutter Health must meet to open its $284 million hospital north of Santa Rosa is set to grow longer — again. The additions are to include a free shuttle linking the 82-bed hospital, under construction next to the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, to the nearest SMART train station. Sutter also will be required to provide incentives to employees who carpool or use alternative transportation. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120327/ARTICLES/120329606 OPINIONS Intemperate climate-change skeptics. Irvine, Chuck Feeney: I guess the Register felt that it was important to have a noted climate scientist, Michael Mann, discounted by several unscientific readers with strong opinions against global warming [“Temperatures rise over Mann-made data,” Letters, March 25]. It was obvious when reading the backlash that these letter-writers made no attempt to do independent checking into the real issues of climate change through Wikipedia, factcheck.org or scientific journals. Posted. http://letters.ocregister.com/2012/03/27/intemperate-climate-change-skeptics/ BLOGS Why EPA’s new carbon rules may not have much impact — for now. On Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Agency unveiled its first-ever rules on carbon-dioxide emissions from new power plants. These rules are part of the EPA’s program to tackle global-warming pollution. But what sort of impact will they actually have? Not a whole lot — at least for the foreseeable future. Don’t expect any more of these. First, a quick refresher: Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/how-much-carbon-will-the-epas-new-power-plant-rules-actually-cut/2012/03/27/gIQAuaTDeS_blog.html New Limits on Carbon Pollution Will Help Usher in a Clean, Healthier Future. The Environmental Protection Agency has just proposed the first-ever national standards to limit dangerous carbon pollution from new power plants. These historic safeguards are critical to ensuring a cleaner future for American communities: no longer will new electric plants be able to endanger our health with unchecked carbon pollution and the climate change it causes. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frances-beinecke/new-limits-on-carbon-poll_b_1382293.html?ref=politics A Smaller Route to Solar Success. There are at least a dozen major ways to turn sunlight into electricity, but one of the more interesting is using a field of mirrors to focus the sun’s energy on a “power tower” where the heat is captured and used later to spin a turbine and turn a generator. As I have previously written, two companies are now planning to build such systems in the desert Southwest with hardware that will store the heat for a rainy day or for the period right after sunset when power demand is still high. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/a-smaller-route-to-solar-success/?src=me&ref=science Treasure Department: traffic jams waste 1.9 billion gallons of gas in U.S. each year. A car that is sitting still with the engine running is getting zero miles per gallon, no matter how efficient the aerodynamics or how great the hybrid powertrain is. Spread out over the entire U.S., all those zero mile per gallon situations – i.e. traffic jams – means Americans are wasting 1.9 billion gallons of gasoline a year, according to a new Treasury Department report. Another way to look at that is that congested roads cost Americans over $100 billion a year (calculated both as wasted fuel and time). Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/26/treasure-department-traffic-jams-waste-1-9-billion-gallons-of-g/ ====================================================================== 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 Mar 2012 11:53:10 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 28, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 28, 2012. 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 wins latest round with EPA in federal court. A federal appeals court scolded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday for rejecting a series of state pollution control projects in Texas that federal regulators said failed to satisfy requirements of the Clean Air Act. The ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stopped short of ordering the EPA to accept the previously rejected Texas measures. Yet the three-judge panel directed the agency to take another look at the state's regulations and issue a quick decision. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20267917/texas-wins-latest-round-epa-federal-court?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20267917/texas-wins-latest-round-epa-federal-court?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Map shows the worst air in America. The EPA is issuing new regulations for emissions from power plants, and the American Lung Association knows why. This map shows U.S. deaths caused by toxic power plant emissions. If you live in a state with a big red circle, you should be very glad about the new rule — Texas in particular should be jumping for joy, if they can manage to stop coughing for five minutes. The new rule will only apply to new power plants, so this is what the map of toxic emissions looks like for the near future. Eventually we’ll also get laws governing emissions from old coal plants, at which point maybe we’ll see those circles shrink. Posted. http://grist.org/list/map-shows-the-worst-air-in-america/ CLIMATE CHANGE Mumbai, Miami on list for big weather disasters. Global warming is leading to such severe storms, droughts and heat waves that nations should prepare for an unprecedented onslaught of deadly and costly weather disasters, an international panel of climate scientists says in a report issued Wednesday. The greatest danger from extreme weather is in highly populated, poor regions of the world, the report warns, but no corner of the globe — from Mumbai to Miami — is immune. The document by a Nobel Prize-winning panel of climate scientists forecasts stronger tropical cyclones and more frequent heat waves, deluges and droughts. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jYrXYY-yYjFxeib2uuhxAt33qj6A?docId=5206c263f8774bc49877d308500b2bd4 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/climate-panel-forecasts-unprecedented-weather-disasters-lists-shanghai-bangkok-miami/2012/03/28/gIQA9dbTgS_story.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/mumbai-miami-on-list-for-big-weather-disasters/article_0d89013e-c58e-5261-90e1-b60dba954cab.html Plan now for climate-related disasters: U.N. report. A future on Earth of more extreme weather and rising seas will require better planning for natural disasters to save lives and limit deepening economic losses, the United Nations said on Wednesday in a major report on the effects of climate change. The U.N. climate panel said all nations will be vulnerable to the expected increase in heat waves, more intense rains and floods and a probable rise in the intensity of droughts. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/28/us-climate-adaptation-idUSBRE82R0X320120328 http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/reports-link-heat-waves-deluges-to-climate-change/2012/03/27/gIQA16wVgS_story.html http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/story/2012-03-28/climate-change-global-warming-weather-disasters-floods-droughts-storms/53826590/1 Sprawling cities pressure environment, planning. Expanding cities threaten to eat up a swath of land the size of France, Germany and Spain combined in less than 20 years, putting the world under even more environmental pressure, experts said at a climate conference on Tuesday. Cities are growing to accommodate a rising global population and as countries like China, India and Brazil pursue fast economic growth. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USBRE82Q0K120120327 U.S. Airlines Seek Action on EU Carbon Tax. The trade group representing the largest U.S. airlines has called on the Obama administration to take action against the European Union in a bid to end the bloc's carbon-trading market. The Airlines for America lobbying group dropped its own lawsuit against the EU and called on the administration to bring a case through the International Civil Aviation Organization, a branch of the United Nations. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304177104577307980838597906.html BY SUBSCRIPTION Obama Power-Plant Rule Signals Demise of ‘Old King Coal’ President Barack Obama’s proposed emission rules for power plants effectively prohibit new coal- fired power plants, buttressing the nation’s shift away from a power source that fueled the Industrial Revolution to cheap natural gas. Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency proposed the first limits on greenhouse-gas emissions from U.S. power plants yesterday, setting a standard natural-gas facilities can meet. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-03-28/obama-power-plant-rule-signals-demise-of-old-king-coal California crudes to receive no favored status in state's new carbon limits. As the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard heads toward a possible legal resolution later this year, one of the many changes from its earlier version is that crudes produced in the state won't have the same sort of special status under the new rules that they did in the regulation's formative years. That is one of the key changes in amendments approved late last year, according to various state and industry officials in California interviewed recently by Platts. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/Oil/8113322 EPA’s New Carbon Rule Doesn’t Do Much in CA. California enacted similar limits to pollution from power plants in 2006. The EPA's new rule limits carbon emissions from new power plants nationwide. The US Environmental Protection Agency will, for the first time, begin restricting greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel-fired power plants. The EPA’s new standard limits how many pounds of carbon can be emitted per megawatt-hour of electricity generated. Posted. http://www.npr.org/local/stories/KQED/149482520 VEHICLES Electric vehicles: It's about more than cars. In the United States, the phrase "electric vehicles" usually means cars like the Nissan Leaf or Tesla's forthcoming Model S sedan. But the global market for electric vehicles includes not just cars but also aircraft, bicycles, buses, taxis, industrial and commercial vehicles, marine craft, golf carts and motorcycles. The entire spectrum of electric vehicles is being highlighted this week at Electric Vehicles Land, Sea & Air, an industry conference that opened Tuesday in San Jose and continues through Thursday. http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_20267654/electric-vehicles-its-about-more-than-cars?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_20267654/electric-vehicles-its-about-more-than-cars?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Infiniti has fast first hybrid. Here's an intriguing fact: The Infiniti M luxury sedan that's listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for its acceleration prowess is the same M that has the best fuel economy rating of the lineup. It's because the Guinness record holder is the new-for-2012 M35 Hybrid, which pairs a gasoline V-6 to an electric motor and lithium ion battery pack and manages the power through a seven-speed automatic transmission. There's no continuously variable transmission (CVT) here. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/infiniti-has-fast-first-hybrid/article_9b67282d-4180-5602-a21b-9e15ae244699.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/28/2133177/infiniti-has-fast-first-hybrid.html BY SUBSCRIPTION MISCELLANEOUS Is a nontoxic home possible for children? Laura MacCleery was four months pregnant when she parked herself on the couch and started an inventory of the chemicals in her Alexandria, Va., town house. First, MacCleery, 40, a lawyer and women's health advocate, collected 70 products in a pile: things such as makeup, shampoo, detergents and sink cleaners. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/27/4367986/is-a-nontoxic-home-possible-for.html#storylink=misearch OPINIONS COLUMN-EPA emission regulations shut door on coal: John Kemp. Proposed emission rules for new power plants unveiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 27 spell the gradual demise of coal-fired power generation and entrench the current cost advantage for natural gas. The agency's proposed rule, signed yesterday, would set a standard well within the capability of modern gas-fired plants but impossible for coal-fired units to meet unless they employ (unproven) carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/28/column-epa-coal-fired-power-idUSL6E8ES90R20120328 Elephants Down Under. I’ve learned three things visiting New Zealand and Australia: There is a place in the world where rugby is front-page news. There is a place in the world — the Auckland airport — where the restrooms have digital clocks in the entryway telling you hourly when they were last cleaned and when they will be cleaned again. And there is a place in the world where moderate Republicans still exist — unfortunately, you have to take a 13-hour flight from Los Angeles to get there. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/28/opinion/friedman-elephants-down-under.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Editorial: Bumps in solar road obscure its success. What was once touted as the world's biggest solar project – a $5 billion, 1,000-megawatt project in Blythe – has stalled. That follows the demise of Fremont-based Solyndra, a solar-panel manufacturer that filed for bankruptcy protection last year after securing a half-billion dollars in federal loan guarantees. In addition, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District spent $500,000 of ratepayer funds and another $1.6 million more in federal and state grants before it finally pulled the plug on a project to install solar panels along Highway 50. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/28/v-print/4371272/bumps-in-solar-road-obscure-its.html Stop and sniff the marigolds and brassica. Healthy communities are essential for viable economies, not methyl iodide. On March 20, Arysta Life Science, the largest producer of pesticides and fumigants in the world, announced that it would pull methyl iodide (a.k.a. iodomethane, and MIDAS) from the U.S. market. Sales of methyl iodide have not been good in the U.S., especially in California. This is in part because of overwhelming public concern about health and environmental safety. Posted. http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20120328/OPINION04/203280304 Former Speaker Ignores his own Intent on CARB Fees. The reasoning and intent behind a law is of upmost importance especially when courts attempt to interpret legislative actions. Yet, the Air Resources Board and even the bill’s author, Former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, are ignoring the clear intent of “fee” revenue raised under the provisions of AB 32, the 2006 bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/03/former-speaker-ignores-his-own-intent-on-carb-fees/ Dirty Crude Spells Dirty Air in California. California’s long-running campaign to reduce air pollution has indirectly helped create a new problem: its oil refineries now produce more greenhouse gas emissions than refineries anywhere else in the country. On average, California refineries emit 19 to 33 percent more greenhouse gases per barrel of crude oil when stacked up against comparable gas-producing regions in the United States, according to a recent study commissioned by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Posted. http://junkscience.com/2012/03/28/dirty-crude-spells-dirty-air-in-california/ BLOGS Why does the EPA have such an odd way of regulating pollution? One of the strangest aspects of the EPA’s newest rules on carbon-dioxide emissions is that they only apply to future power plants. Existing facilities — the ones that are actually producing all the pollution — get to carry on as they were. That seems perverse. So why does the EPA do things this way? Regulating where the pollution isn’t (Susan Montoya Bryan/AP) As it happens, this is how a lot of environmental regulation gets done in the United States. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/why-does-the-epa-have-such-an-odd-way-of-regulating-pollution/2012/03/28/gIQAFioNgS_blog.html When the World Tackled an Environmental Threat, and Won. In 1974, Dr. Sherwood Rowland, a young research scientist, warned the world that chlorofluorocarbons, man-made chemicals found in aerosol sprays and refrigerators, were damaging the earth’s ozone layer. It took 13 years of bitter debate among governments, business leaders, scientists and concerned citizens before the world accepted his findings and moved to ban these chemicals through an international treaty, the Montreal Protocol, in 1987. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/28/when-the-world-tackled-an-environmental-threat-and-won/ New Carbon Pollution Safeguards Will Protect Our Health, Our Children's Future. Today, our nation is taking a historic step for our health and our children's future. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Obama administration have just announced new carbon pollution safeguards that will protect clean air and the planet, while also spurring innovation and creating jobs in the clean energy economy. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-anne-hitt/pollution-laws_b_1382624.html Sacramento and SoCal: How to do sustainable communities right. Last Thursday, the implementation of SB 375 hit another milestone with the Air Resources Board's (ARB) review of two more Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) -- from Southern California and Sacramento. ARB members heard staff presentations on the two plans, asked questions of the regional agency directors, and heard stakeholder reactions. Posted. http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2012/03/28/sacramento-and-socal-show-how-do-sustainable-communities-right Time to Tighten Up Oil & Gas Industry Methane Leaks to Curb Global Warming. Everyone is talking about methane leaks; it’s time to do something about them. OK, really it’s mostly only policy wonks, but there is an important link to the weird weather everyone really is talking about. Last week I posted on the connection between heat-trapping pollution in our atmosphere and the record-breaking warmth we’ve seen this spring. It turns out that a significant amount of this global warming pollution is methane that leaks from oil and gas industry operations. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dlashof/time_to_tighten_up_oil_gas_ind.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 Mar 2012 13:02:26 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 29, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 29, 2012. 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 Local air pollution board OKs limits on greenhouse gases. One-year program sets thresholds requiring largest developments to cut back emissions. A sharply divided air pollution control board Wednesday narrowly approved limits on greenhouse-gas emissions from new development in San Luis Obispo County. In a 6 to 5 vote, the county Air Pollution Control District board established a one-year test program that sets thresholds requiring large developments to reduce their emissions. Posted. http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/03/28/2009062/air-pollution-board-greenhouse.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Korea researchers propose energy-efficient oxidative desulfurization process for ultra-low sulfur diesel. A team from the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) has developed a new three-step continuous separation process to produce ultra-low sulfur diesel using an energy-efficient oxidative desulfurization (ODS) technology. A report on their work is published in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels. Governments worldwide are mandating lower caps on sulfur content in fuels for environmental reasons. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/03/korea-researchers-propose-energy-efficient-oxidative-desulfurization-process-for-ultra-low-sulfur-di.html FUELS Is it cheaper to switch to lower-grade gas? With fuel prices on the rise, some drivers are pumping less-expensive regular-grade gasoline into cars for which premium fuel is recommended. Although that might save money initially, auto experts are divided on the wisdom of such a strategy, which some say could end up costing you more. What you save at the pump can be lost on the road as the electronics in the engine ratchet down performance to deal with the lower-grade fuel, experts say. Using the cheaper gas might also damage the vehicle over a long period. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-gas-grade-20120329,0,6475433.story http://investing.businessweek.com/research/markets/news/article.asp?docKey=600-201203290941KRTRIB__BUSNEWS_50872_52434-1¶ms=timestamp||03/29/2012%209:41%20AM%20ET||headline||Is%20it%20cheaper%20to%20switch%20to%20lower-grade%20gas%3F%20%5BLos%20Angeles%20Times%5D||docSource||Knight%20Ridder/Tribune||provider||ACQUIREMEDIA Activists worry over North Sea platform gas leak. Environmental groups warned Thursday they fear an oil spill could be triggered at a North Sea offshore platform that has been leaking highly pressurized gas since the weekend. A flame is still burning in the stack above the Elgin platform, which stands about 150 miles (240 kilometers) off the coast of Aberdeen, eastern Scotland, after a leak of flammable gas Sunday_ prompting all 238 staff to be evacuated on Monday. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/activists-worry-over-north-sea-platform-gas-leak/article_797fd396-5104-51e6-8fb6-f9f4cc411812.html VEHICLES Brown administration, bullet train board seek to ease environmental reviews of the project. Environmental groups that have joined discussions on relaxing reviews say they'll support small-scale concessions but not wholesale exemptions. California's bullet train authority and representatives of the Brown administration are exploring ways to relax environmental review procedures on the massive project to help meet a tight construction schedule, The Times has learned. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0328-bullet-exemption-20120329,0,882981.story EVs make sense in cities already today. Electric cars and electric bikes have a great potential to make cities cleaner, with B2B fleets having the crucial role of leading their market adoption in the short to medium term. This was among the main messages emerging from EV Forums, which brought more than 200 experts together on 21-22 March 2012 in Barcelona. cars21.com, as lead media partner, reports on the event. EVs make sense in cities already today. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/78320120329.php GREEN ENERGY San Onofre nuclear power plant prohibited from restarting. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission lays out steps that Southern California Edison must take before the troubled San Onofre plant will be allowed to come back on line. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, citing serious concerns about equipment failures at the San Onofre nuclear power plant, has prohibited Southern California Edison from restarting the plant until the problems are thoroughly understood and fixed. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0328-san-onofre-20120328,0,1692312.story MISCELLANEOUS L.A. can't explain $7 million in fuel bills. Controller's audit finds that millions of gallons of taxpayer-funded city fuel was pumped in recent years with no record of where it went. Despite a concerted effort at Los Angeles City Hall to track the use of taxpayer-purchased fuel, more than $7 million in gasoline and other fuel has gone missing in recent years, according to an audit to be released Thursday. At dozens of city fueling sites, millions of gallons of fuel was pumped without any record of where it went, the audit showed. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0329-missing-fuel-20120329,0,3862066,print.story OPINIONS New Rules for New Power Plants. Power plants account for about 40 percent of America’s global warming emissions — with the bulk of that coming from coal-fired plants. On Tuesday, the Obama administration took another important step for public health and the environment, proposing the first nationwide limits on carbon dioxide from new power plants. If approved, the new limits will accelerate the shift from coal to natural gas and cleaner alternative fuels. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/29/opinion/new-rules-for-new-power-plants.html?scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse A small step forward for Earth. In an election year, any progress on environmental regulation is cause for celebration. So when the Obama administration on Tuesday released its long-delayed proposal to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, there was reason for anyone concerned about public health or the looming climate menace to cheer — even though it won't shut down a single existing coal-fired plant. Power plants are the nation's biggest single source of greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-epa-emissions-power-plants-20120328,0,2045399.story http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/29/4375212/a-small-step-forward-for-earth.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/29/2779902/a-small-step-forward-for-earth.html#storylink=misearch REGION: Scary link between smog and women’s strokes. Did you see the story last week by my colleague David Danelski about two recent studies showing that older women in areas with high air pollution levels have a greater risk of suffering a stroke? If you are a woman of a certain age in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, you had to be dismayed by more bad news about what smog is doing to our health. You can’t help but wonder, “Why am I living here?” Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/columns/cassie-macduff-headlines/20120328-region-scary-link-between-smog-and-womens-strokes.ece BLOGS Coastal California Fog Carries Toxic Mercury, Study Finds. Fog blankets the coast of central California each summer, hydrating the region’s majestic redwood trees and chilling beachgoers. New research out of the University of California, Santa Cruz shows that the moist air also carries methylmercury, an especially toxic form of the heavy metal mercury. “Is it dangerous to breathe the fog? Of course not — we’re talking very low levels,” said Peter Weiss-Penzias, a chemist and the lead author of the study, published in the latest issue of the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/28/coastal-california-fog-carries-toxic-mercury-study-finds/ Zipcar launches Chevy Volt-sharing service in Chicago. Longtime Saturday Night Live fans will fondly recall a number of skits in which a group of Chicago sports fans referred to their hometown football team as "Da Bears." Now, they'll have "Da Volt." U.S. car-sharing leader Zipcar will start making Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in hybrids available to Windy City customers as part of a program with the city of Chicago that will involve the installment of "hundreds" of electric-vehicle chargers throughout the city. Zipcar, which will charge $10 an hour for the cars… Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/zipcar-launches-chevy-volt-sharing-service-in-chicago/ EPA Takes a Key Step towards a Cleaner, Healthier Future. The Obama Administration and EPA announcement that it will establish the first national limits on carbon pollution from new power plants is great news for anyone that cares about clean air. No longer will new power plants be able to endanger our health with unchecked carbon pollution and the climate change it causes. It's also good news for Latinos. Carbon pollution fuels global warming which causes more severe heat waves and worsens smog pollution …Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adrianna-quintero/epa-takes-a-key-step-towa_b_1386119.html ‘Absolute Black’ Solar Panels Absorb Almost All Sunlight. Solar power is one of those technologies that have been promised to be just a few years from profitability for 30 years. Solar panels are an environmentalist’s dream — limitless electricity from the sun with no air pollution or carbon dioxide emissions — but they’ve had a hard time competing with coal, natural gas, oil and other sources of energy. Posted. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/03/absolute-black-solar-panels-absorb-almost-all-sunlight/ ====================================================================== 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 Mar 2012 16:15:19 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for March 30, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for March 30, 2012 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 Bay Area Air District offers $10 million to reduce marine engine pollution. Bay Area commercial boat owners may qualify for state-funded grants and loans to help them replace their older, polluting diesel engines. According to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the district is offering $10 million in grants for commercial marine engine replacements. Grants to cover up to 80 percent of the replacement costs are available. Posted. http://www.timesheraldonline.com/news/ci_20288858/bay-area-air-district-offers-10-million-reduce Appeals board upholds Navajo permitting authority. An environmental appeals board has upheld the Navajo Nation's authority to regulate major sources of air pollution on the reservation. The Navajo Nation was the first tribe to be delegated authority by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to administer an air permits program that covers 14 sources on the reservation, including power plants. The tribe issued a permit in 2009 that set limits for particulate emissions for Peabody Western Coal Company's operations. But the company objected to citations of tribal law in the initial permit and a revised one, saying the permit essentially was identical to one issued by the EPA. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20282805/appeals-board-upholds-navajo-permitting-authority?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com NY landowners plan to frack using liquid propane. An upstate New York landowners group may partner with a Canadian company that uses liquid propane instead of controversial water-based hydraulic fracturing to get natural gas flowing into wells. Chris Denton, the attorney representing the 2,000-member Tioga County Landowners Association, said Thursday that leaders of the group have reached a deal with Calgary-based GasFrac, which has used liquefied propane gas to frack wells in Canada, Texas and Colorado. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20281807/ny-landowners-plan-frack-using-liquid-propane?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Students sickened after pesticide drifts over bus. A day after a school bus was hit with pesticide drift, classes were back to normal Friday with only two of the 30 students who were aboard the bus missing from school. But Rio Bravo-Greeley Union School District Superintendent Ernie Unruh said it's his understanding that their absence had nothing to do with Thursday's incident. Hall paramedic Shane Courtis checks on one of many Rio Bravo-Greeley students who were impacted by an early morning pesticide drift that hit their school bus Thursday. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x1282766286/Students-sickened-after-school-bus-sprayed-with-pesticide CLIMATE CHANGE IETA comments on citizens climate lobby suit against offsets in California. Henry Derwent, President and CEO of the International Emissions Trading Association, today commented on the lawsuit filed by Citizens Climate Lobby and Our Children's Earth against the California Air Resource Board's regulations allowing companies to use offsets to meet up to 8% of their compliance needs. "Offsets are a proven method for protecting the environment while at the same time keeping costs down," said Henry Derwent. "In these difficult economic times, when concern about energy costs is already high, it's difficult to understand why anyone would want to make it more difficult--and more expensive--to combat climate change, but that's exactly what this lawsuit would do…Posted. http://www.ieta.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=505:ieta-comments-on-citizens-climate-lobby-suit-against-offsets-in-california&catid=20:press-releases&Itemid=88 Scientists: 'No silver bullet' to declining Delta. There is no single cause for the deterioration of the Delta, a team of independent scientists said Thursday in a long-awaited report that fails to resolve one of the largest areas of controversy. The report by a committee of the National Academy of Sciences marks the end of a two-year investigation launched during the state's most recent drought. Congress and the federal government asked the influential academy - a kind of "Supreme Court" of science, although its findings are not legally enforceable - to study the Delta and California water as a whole. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120330/A_NEWS14/203300314&cid=sitesearch VEHICLES Obama signs stop-gap transportation bill. President Barack Obama has signed a three-month extension of a transportation bill to keep federal highway and transit aid flowing. The move prevents a widespread shutdown of construction projects. The White House says Obama signed the 90-day extension before departing for Vermont Friday. The government's authority to spend money on transportation programs and levy federal fuel taxes was set to expire on Saturday. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/03/30/2781630/obama-signs-stop-gap-transportation.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/obama-signs-three-month-extension-of-transportation-bill/2012/03/30/gIQADdpMlS_story.html EVI launches 500 electric medium-duty truck deployment initiative in California. Electric Vehicles International is launching a new initiative to deploy 500 fully electric return-to-base medium-duty delivery trucks in California. With the partnership and support of agencies such as the California Energy Commission, the California Air Resources Board, South Coast Air Quality Management District, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, and the Sacramento Air Quality Management District, EVI and UPS will jumpstart implementation of California Governor Brown’s EV Executive early this summer by deploying 100 medium-duty electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/03/evi-20120329.html GREEN ENERGY Germany Cuts Solar Aid to Curb Prices, Panel Installations. Germany’s parliament approved record cuts in aid for solar power, aiming to reduce the annual pace of installations by half in the world’s biggest market for the industry. Subsidies will be cut by as much as 29 percent starting April 1, depending on the size of the solar plant, according to the legislation posted on the parliament’s website. The measure passed by 305 votes to 235 on the strength of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s coalition majority. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-03-29/germany-cuts-solar-aid-to-curb-prices-panel-installations Offshore wind supporters to discuss benefits of developing turbines. Supporters of offshore wind will be highlighting its benefits as the House of Delegates nears a vote on a measure to develop it in Maryland. A coalition of supporters is scheduled to talk on Friday about how the measure could help minority-owned businesses in the state. They also will be discussing health benefits they say will result from reducing air pollution.The House of Delegates could vote on the bill as soon as Friday. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/offshore-wind-supporters-to-discuss-benefits-of-developing-turbines/2012/03/30/gIQABlFNkS_story.html OPINIONS Old Power Plants Need New Rules. THE Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal earlier this week to reduce greenhouse gases from new power plants was hailed by many environmentalists, but unless steps are taken quickly to bring existing plants under the rule, it will create a perverse incentive for companies to keep running older, more heavily polluting power plants. That’s bad economics that could lead to dirtier air. The proposal would regulate carbon emissions from future power plants but leave existing sources untouched. This is yet another instance in a more than 40-year pattern under the Clean Air Act in which old and outdated technology has avoided new environmental standards. The result is continuing unhealthy levels of pollution. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/29/opinion/old-power-plants-need-new-rules.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse 2nd revolution of oil waiting in our back yard. The world was reinvented in the 1970s by soaring oil prices and massive transfers of national wealth. It could be again if the price of petroleum crashes — a real possibility given the amazing estimates about the new gas and oil reserves on the North American continent. The Canadian tar sands, deepwater exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, horizontal drilling off the eastern and western American coastlines, fracking in once-untapped sites in North Dakota, and new pipelines from Alaska and Canada could within a decade double North American gas and oil production. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/29/2135548/2nd-revolution-of-oil-waiting.html Southern California leaders get things done. The about-to-be-adopted 25-year Regional Transportation Plan for Southern California is a departure from convention with its emphasis on transit, walking and biking, and on multifamily housing instead of single-family homes. This could be good news for the Inland Empire, where reliance on the automobile has made residents especially vulnerable to traffic congestion, air pollution and rising gas prices, and where almost half the homes carrying mortgages were underwater last year - meaning that homeowners who sold them would not be able to pay off their loans. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_20290671/southern-california-leaders-get-things-done?IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com PATTERSON: Obama kills coal - as promised. Well, we can’t say we weren’t warned. This week, the unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats at the Environmental Protection Agency released a set of proposed rules designed to target greenhouse gas emissions. If enacted, these rules would virtually destroy the coal industry - just as President Obama once promised he would do. Under the proposed rules, new power plants will be required to emit no more than 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt hour of electricity; coal plants average 1,768 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/mar/29/obama-kills-coal-as-promised/ BLOGS Making Sense of the Wacky Weather. Like many people, I’ve been struggling to understand what is going on with the weather. As I flipped on my air conditioner one day in the middle of March to cool down an unbearably hot apartment, I thought, this is just weird. In recent years, we have lived through one weather extreme after another, sometimes whipsawing between them rather quickly. So, for my recent article on this topic, reported with Joanna Foster, I tried an interesting little exercise. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/03/30/making-sense-of-the-wacky-weather/?pagemode=print Oil war: the ad battle between ‘Big Oil’ and DNC, Part 1. The pro-oil American Energy Alliance and the Democratic National Committee exchanged barbs this week over the president’s energy policies, providing a preview of the hard-hitting rhetorical campaigns and rapid-response reactions that will take place as the general election nears. AEA claimed that it will spend $3.6 million airing the 30-second advertisement in eight states “in the largest effort of its kind in AEA’s history.” We’ll examine these ads in the order they were released, looking at the American Energy Alliance commercial first and moving to the DNC video in a later column. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/oil-war-the-ad-battle-between-big-oil-and-dnc-part-1/2012/03/30/gIQA9yQZlS_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: Mon, 2 Apr 2012 12:28:04 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 2, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for April 2, 2012 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 Fires cost Forward Landfill $4M. The operators of privately owned Forward Landfill east of Stockton have agreed to pay $4 million after multiple fires smoldered in recent years, officials announced this week. Most of that money will be used to improve the landfill's methane-gas collection system and to replace diesel trucks with cleaner vehicles. But the legal settlement also includes a $200,000 civil penalty, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120331/A_NEWS/203310315&cid=sitesearch UC Riverside creates portable pollution gauge. UC Riverside engineers showcased new technology that allows researchers, regulators and vehicle designers to obtain real-time data on how much pollution a vehicle emits while on the road. Called PEMS, for portable emissions measurement systems, the technology allows researchers to install an onboard computer to essentially any vehicle, vessel or aircraft and measure how much pollution ends up in the air. Unlike existing technology that requires vehicles and engines to be tested in laboratory simulations, PEMS make it possible for testers to obtain pollution data that accounts for road grades, weather and other real- world factors, such as how aggressive a driver can be while on the road. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_20293434/uc-riverside-demonstrates-new-tech-monitor-air-pollution?IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com CLIMATE CHANGE REGION: Build communities that require exercise. If doctors were in charge of planning our cities, our cities would look different. Why? The answer is simple: The epidemic of air pollution and chronic disease in the Inland Empire is fundamentally linked to our built environment and dependence on vehicles. As doctors in Riverside County, we spend most of our time treating illnesses such as asthma, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. These are illnesses that are caused in part by the double whammy of air pollution and a lack of physical activity. We see too many children struggling to breathe from asthma and too many patients die prematurely from these chronic illnesses. Changing the way we plan our cities can help reduce this burden of disease. Posted. http://www.pe.com/opinion/local-views-headlines/20120401-region-build-communities-that-require-exercise.ece World landmarks dimmed for Earth Hour. Hundreds of world landmarks from Berlin's Brandenburg Gate to the Great Wall of China went dark Saturday, part of a global effort to highlight climate change. Earth Hour, held on the last Saturday of March every year, began as a Sydney-only event in 2007. The city's iconic Harbor Bridge and Opera House were dimmed again this year. Australia is among the first countries to flick off the light switches each year; in New Zealand, Sky Tower in Auckland and the parliament buildings in Wellington switched off two hours earlier; Tokyo Tower was also dimmed and in Hong Kong, buildings along Victoria Harbour also went dark. All the events take place at 8:30 p.m. local time. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/AP0d93b89d2dfb46478506c32d37c94a01.html?KEYWORDS=climate+change http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/31/sydney-opera-house-in-the-dark-over-earth-hour/ http://www.modbee.com/2012/03/31/2137458/sydney-opera-house-in-the-dark.html Feds: 'Meterological March madness' mostly random. Freak chance was mostly to blame for the record warm March weather that gripped two-thirds of the country, with man-made global warming getting only a tiny assist, a quick federal analysis shows. For much of March, record temperatures hit as high as 35 degrees above normal and averaged about 18 degrees warmer than usual. The United States broke or tied at least 7,733 daily high temperature records in March, which is far more than the number of records broken in last summer's heat wave or in a blistering July 1995 heat wave, according to federal records. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_20307735/feds-meterological-march-madness-mostly-random?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/02/2784967/feds-meterological-march-madness.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/2/noaa-meteorological-march-madness-mostly-random/ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/04/02/national/w093509D03.DTL FUELS Health impact assessments gain a foothold in oil, gas, mining permit process; with challenges. While New York regulators have spent four years mulling the environmental impacts of shale gas development, the potential human health impacts have been given short shrift, according to health advocates. Whether gas drilling impacts health has led to heated debates. Environmentalists and people living near drilling sites say the risks include contaminated water wells and air pollution. The industry says those fears are exaggerated and that the process been used safely on tens of thousands of wells. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/health-impact-assessments-gain-a-foothold-in-oil-gas-mining-permit-process-with-challenges/2012/03/31/gIQANKrNnS_story.html Obama, Calderon, Harper talk trade, energy. President Barack Obama began a summit with leaders from Mexico and Canada on Monday that aims to boost a fragile recovery and grapple with thorny energy issues against a backdrop of painfully high gas prices. The session at the White House is a make-good for a planned meeting last November in Hawaii on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific summit. Obama ended up meeting just with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper when Mexican President Felipe Calderon's top deputy was killed in a helicopter crash. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303816504577319521338466132.html?KEYWORDS=climate+change http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/02/2784495/obama-calderon-harper-talk-trade.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/2/obama-mexicos-calderon-and-canadas-harper-talk-tra/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS VEHICLES Brighter Skies and a Flying Car, Too. THE New York auto show opens for press previews on Wednesday with spring in the air — and not just because of the weather. The North American automobile market is experiencing a springlike rebirth this year, with sales up significantly in the first quarter at Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan and Toyota. The renewed optimism will be evident at the show: more high-profile vehicles will be introduced in New York than in recent memory. These include important sedans like the 2014 Chevrolet Impala, the upgraded 2013 Lincoln MKZ, a redesigned Nissan Altima, an all-new Toyota Avalon and a revamped Lexus ES. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/automobiles/autoshow/auto-show-brighter-skies-and-a-flying-car-too.html?scp=8&sq=vehicles&st=cse GM says sales of fuel-efficient cars jumped in March. Look to General Motors' March sales numbers to see how Americans are adjusting to higher gas prices. The once truck-centric Detroit automaker says that combined sales of its 12 vehicles that achieve an Environmental Protection Agency estimated 30 mpg or better on the highway topped 100,000 last month, the highest total in company history. That would represent about 40% of GM’s sales for the month, according to auto price information company TrueCar.com. GM will release more data Tuesday. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-gm-fuel-economy-20120402,0,5333758.story India's March Auto Sales Rise. India's top car makers posted higher March auto sales as customers bought in anticipation of this month's price increases and as demand for diesel vehicles continued to grow. Several auto makers have recently increased vehicle prices after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on March 16 raised the base excise tax on most Indian-made goods, including automobiles, to 12% from 10%. Sales at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. gained for a third straight month, touching 125,952 vehicles, up 3% from a year earlier. Local sales for India's biggest car maker by sales increased 2% to 112,724 units and exports jumped 15% to 13,228 vehicles. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303816504577319152950129124.html?KEYWORDS=vehicles GM adds week to Volt plant's usual summer closure. General Motors Co. will suspend production of the Chevrolet Volt for an extra week this summer as it tries to control the electric car's inventory. But the company says sales picked up in March to a record of more than 2,000, and it may cancel the extra week if sales stay strong. Most auto factories close for two weeks starting in early July to get updated for the new model year. GM added a third week at the Volt factory that straddles the border between Detroit and the small enclave of Hamtramck. The plant was already closed from March 19 through April 23, as the supply of Volts grew on dealer lots. About 1,300 workers at the factory have been idled. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/02/2784902/gm-adds-week-to-volt-plants-usual.html#storylink=misearch Green subsidies boost Japan car sales in March. New vehicle sales surged 78 percent in Japan in March, supported by government subsidies for energy efficient cars, the Japan Automobile Dealers Association said Monday. Sales of new autos totaled 497,959 vehicles in March, up from 279,389 vehicles in the same month a year earlier, the industry group said. The increase was exaggerated by the sharp drop in sales after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck on March 11, 2011, devastating much of coastal northeastern Japan and killing about 19,000 people. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/02/japan-auto-sales-jump-78-pct-in-march/ GREEN ENERGY Word on the Street: Lawn-care company goes green. Doug Ambrose's new lawn-care company prides itself on being good for the environment. And he isn't just talking about getting rid of the weeds in your yard. Ambrose created Healthy Air Lawn Care, a company that uses only battery-powered equipment. Nothing Ambrose operates to mow a lawn or blow leaves spews harmful pollutants such as carbon monoxide. Although Ambrose knows he is competing against a legion of gardeners, he hopes to attract customers who are concerned about the Valley's poor air quality. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/01/2784452/word-on-the-street-lawn-care-company.html#storylink=misearch Wind turnine to be dedicated in Rancho Cucamonga. The Inland Empire Utilities Agency this morning dedicated the wind turbine on Sixth Street in Rancho Cucamonga. After the dedication ceremony, officials gave a tour of wind turbine generator. The towering wind turbine, measured approximately 265 feet from base to tip of the blade, will generate 20 percent of the energy needed to run the wastewater treatment plant on Sixth Street. The Regional Water Recycling Plant #4 uses a significant amount of energy to treat an average flow of 5 million gallons every day. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_20307634/wind-turnine-be-dedicated-rancho-cucamonga?IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com&IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com Santander Proves Greenest as No. 2 Bank of America Becomes Solar. A $1 billion plan to put solar panels on 160,000 U.S. military-base homes was collapsing in September after a $344 million U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantee fell through. Bank of America Corp. stepped up to finance the effort headed by SolarCity Corp. of San Mateo, California. Now, the SolarStrong project is en route to becoming the country's largest residential solar-energy installation. SolarStrong was Bank of America's second big bet on sun power in 2011. The Charlotte, North Carolina-based lender in June provided a $1.4 billion loan to San Francisco's Prologis Inc. for solar systems on warehouse roofs. The Energy Department guaranteed 80 percent of the loan. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/03/30/bloomberg_articlesM1K3W00D9L3801-M1NH6.DTL#ixzz1quNIoEXi OPINIONS Why Gas Prices Are Out of Any President’s Control. EVERYONE knows it’s dangerous to ingest gasoline or to inhale its fumes. But I am starting to believe that merely thinking about the price of gasoline can damage cognitive processing. Thus I may be risking some of my precious few remaining brain cells by writing about that topic. Here is a one-item test to see whether you are guilty of cloudy thinking about gas prices: Do you believe that they are something a president can control? Many Americans believe that the answer is yes, but any respectable economist will tell you that the answer is no. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/01/business/gas-prices-are-out-of-any-presidents-control.html?scp=2&sq=fuels&st=cse Obama still favored in states with high gas prices. There is a curious relationship between a state's gas prices and presidential politics: The higher the price of gasoline, the higher President Obama's prospects of winning that state. Obama's electoral map to victory bares a remarkable resemblance to a map of the country's highest gas prices. California, Illinois, Washington, D.C., and New York -- all solidly Democratic -- are among the costliest for gas. Wyoming, Montana, Oklahoma and Utah -- where Lyndon Johnson was the last Democrat to win the presidential vote -- are among the cheapest. An analysis by the California News Service shows that 20 of the 22 states that voted against Obama in 2008 have gas prices that fall below the national average. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/politics/local/x1538235123/Obama-still-favored-in-states-with-high-gas-prices?utm_campaign=Feed%3A+tbc619+%28The+Bakersfield+Californian+--+Latest+News%29&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 12:34:54 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for April 3, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for April 3, 2012. 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 EPA Proposes Historic Industrial Carbon Pollution Standards. Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed historic new clean air standards to reduce industrial carbon pollution from power plants that will improve public health, promote innovation and create jobs. This is a historic step by the Obama administration towards cleaning up our air and cutting dangerous global warming pollution. Power plants are the nation's single largest source of climate change-causing pollution. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gene-karpinski/epa-pollution_b_1397802.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Mendocino County companies say new truck regs will put them out of business. The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors heard last week from truckers and construction workers from throughout the county who are concerned that state air quality regulations that became effective in January would put them out of business. The California Air Resources Board adopted a diesel retrofit program in 2008, also known as the "Truck and Bus Regulation." Posted. http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_20313470/mendocino-county-companies-say-new-truck-regs-will FUELS Animal fat-to-biofuel plant proposed in Calif. A 65,000-gallon-per-day plant that converts animal fat into biofuel has been proposed along the California coast. Railcars would bring tallow from a Washington rendering plant and it would be processed in a 20,000-square-foot building behind a Watsonville cold storage warehouse. Most biofuels are currently made with vegetable oils. Fuels made from animal waste are harder to produce. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20314463/animal-fat-biofuel-plant-proposed-calif Opponent of Clean Fuels Standard Fires Warning Shot at Attorneys General. Group says NE low-carbon fuel law 'unlikely to survive judicial scrutiny.' One AG tells InsideClimate News the warning won't change state's course. One of the country's biggest opponents of low-carbon fuel standards has fired a warning shot at attorneys general of Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, cautioning that a mandate requiring cleaner fuels would bury their states in costly lawsuits—as it has in California. Posted. http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20120403/low-carbon-fuels-standard-northeast-consumer-energy-alliance-american-petroleum-institute-oil-sands-pipelines VEHICLES California Trims Rail-System Cost. Planners of California's hotly contested high-speed rail network lowered the system's estimated cost by reducing its need for expensive new track as they try to regain public support for the project. The California High-Speed Rail Authority, in an updated business plan Monday, said it expected the cost of the system linking San Francisco with Southern California to be $68.4 billion, compared with its previous estimate of $98.5 billion. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304750404577320020227209022.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5 BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.ocregister.com/news/speed-347346-high-rail.html GREEN ENERGY Oakland-based Solar Millennium files for bankruptcy in collapse of Bay Area firm. Oakland-based Solar Millennium, Solar Trust of America and a group of affiliates filed for bankruptcy on Monday to reorganize their finances, in another meltdown of a Bay Area solar company. Solar Millennium is building one of the largest solar projects in the world, a 7,000-acre complex near the Riverside County community of Blythe. The plants in the Blythe project are capable of delivering 1,000 megawatts of electricity…Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_20308678/solar-millennium-files-bankruptcy-collapse-bay-area-firm?source=rss MISCELLANEOUS Napa native named Woman of the Year. DeeDee D’Adamo Moosekian was selected as 2012 Woman of the Year for the 17th Assembly District by Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani. She received the honor on March 26 at the state Capitol. D’Adamo Moosekian graduated from Napa High in 1978, and then went to UC Davis and Pacific McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento. Her parents are Joe and Iris D’Adamo of Napa. http://napavalleyregister.com/business/napa-native-named-woman-of-the-year/article_3983cd34-7d59-11e1-90af-001a4bcf887a.html OPINIONS Killing the "Job-Killing Regulation" Meme. The phrase "job-killing regulation" has become a standard part of the political lexicon this campaign season, most often used to disparage President Barack Obama's energy and environmental policies. But a new report suggests we ought to take claims of regulatory-related unemployment with a grain of salt. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-03/killing-the-job-killing-regulation-meme.html In science, words matter. Terms such as 'red tide' and 'global warming' are catchy but lead to misconceptions. Words matter. Take the term "red tide," which is the popularized way of talking about blooms of harmful marine algae. This common terminology is a misnomer because the blooms are not always red and their movement is largely unrelated to tides. Also, many species of algae that cause red discoloration are not harmful. I am a biological oceanographer, so naturally I focus on my own discipline. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-tobin-environment-words-20120402,0,3072188.story DAVID VALADAO: California's most significant renewable resource should count. For years, special interests in Sacramento have pushed our state to adopt energy standards that are "environmentally friendly" and limit human contributions to climate change. In many ways, they have been successful in their efforts, with the governor last year signing into law a new Renewables Portfolio Standard that requires utility companies and agencies to get 33 percent of their energy from a defined group of renewable resources by 2020. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/politics/local/x1322081881/DAVID-VALADAO-Californias-most-significant-renewable-resource-should-count BLOGS New report tries to clear up debate over EPA and jobs. In the past three years, the Environmental Protection Agency has been proposing an array of new rules on air pollution in the United States. In return, Congress has typically focused on what impact those regulations will have on jobs. In the first month of 2011, House Republicans held nearly two dozen hearings on the links between government regulations and unemployment. That’s understandable, given that the recovery’s still stumbling. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/new-report-tries-to-clear-up-debate-over-epa-and-jobs/2012/04/03/gIQAZLsFtS_blog.html EPA gives E15 go-ahead despite objections, approves production applications. As predicted and expected, the Environmental Protection Agency today approved the first applications to make E15, a blend of gasoline with 15 percent ethanol in it. This means that E15 is now a "significant step" closer to production and sale in America. For decades, gasoline in the U.S. has had up to 10 percent ethanol in it, but the extra five points were enough to generate resistance. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/02/epa-gives-e15-go-ahead-despite-objections-approves-production-a/ March sees record-high Chevy Volt sales with 2,289; Nissan Leaf holds the course with 579. The plug-in vehicle sales situation is heating up, and Chevrolet is looking especially good now that its plug-in hybrid Volt has had it best sales month ever. Looks like Bob Lutz knew what he was talking about. Chevy sold 2,289 Volts in March, up from 1,023 last month and 608 in March 2011. This beats the previous high-sales mark by almost 800 units. In December 2011, Chevy sold 1,529 Volts. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/03/march-record-high-chevy-volt-sales-nissan-leaf/ ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 13:12:24 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 4, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for April 4, 2012. 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 Gov. Brown looks to global warming fees to pay for high-speed rail. With a lower price tag and speedier plan to start zipping bullet trains up and down California, Gov. Jerry Brown's ambitious new high-speed rail proposal is still wobbly on one vital ingredient: billions and billions of dollars. The state still has no guarantee on where it will come up with about 80 percent of the funding needed for a project that high-speed rail leaders announced Monday will cost at least $68 billion. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_20308577/gov-jerry-brown-unveils-scaled-back-high-speed http://www.cnbc.com/id/46952655/Cap_and_trade_fees_become_key_source_for_rail_plan Poll: Many conservatives doubt global warming. The U.S. is not alone in its skepticism that man contributes to global warming – a 2009 Gallup survey found Denmark, the United Kingdom, Norway and the Netherlands were other countries where less than half of respondents blamed global warming on human activity. But there’s a stark difference when you look at who in the U.S. – and Orange County – is responsible for that skepticism. It’s not a difference resulting from education level but by political party affiliation. Posted. http://totalbuzz.ocregister.com/2012/04/03/poll-many-conservatives-doubt-global-warming/84049/ California Lawsuit Challenges Foundation of Next-Stage Carbon Offsets. Last week, two new challenges came into view for the carbon offsets program that underlies the United States’ first economy-wide GHG cap-and-trade program. Shortly after the California Air Resources Board announced it would delay the program’s first allowance auction, another first emerged – the first of perhaps many legal challenges to the ARB’s offset program design, and a challenge with implications for emerging offset programs around the world. Posted. http://www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/pages/dynamic/article.page.php?page_id=9000§ion=news_articles&eod=1 Architects' answer to rising seas: Floating homes. A floating mosque and golf course for the submerging Maldives islands. Amphibious homes in the Netherlands lifted to safety as waters surge beneath them. A hospital perched on 400 stilts to protect patients from Thailand's devastating floods and the encroaching sea nearby. Around the world architects and city planners are exploring ways mankind and water may be able to coexist as oceans rise and other phenomenon induced by climate change, including extreme, erratic floods, threaten land-rooted living. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/architects-answer-to-rising-seas-floating-homes/article_d4d622b2-6156-5ec3-8dca-16d6f7ccc36b.html#ixzz1r5OkS9EZ DIESEL EMISSIONS Mendocino County companies say new truck regs will put them out of business. The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors heard last week from truckers and construction workers from throughout the county who are concerned that state air quality regulations that became effective in January would put them out of business. The California Air Resources Board adopted a diesel retrofit program in 2008, also known as the "Truck and Bus Regulation." Posted. http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_20313470/mendocino-county-companies-say-new-truck-regs-will FUELS Biofuel maker proposes Watsonville plant. New process transforms animal waste to biodiesel. Watsonville -- A company with a new process for turning animal fat into biodiesel wants to open its first production plant here. The city Planning Commission will review the proposal for 860 W. Beach St. on Tuesday. "Our technology is what could be leading the industry into the next decade," said Jim Levine, chief executive officer of North Star Biofuels, a joint venture of R. Power Fuels LLC of Emeryville and Agri Beef Co. of Boise, Idaho. Posted. http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20120403/BUSINESS/120403017/Biofuel-maker-proposes-Watsonville-plant Journal article explores hybridized life cycle analysis method. A recently published article in the peer-reviewed Journal of the Royal Society Interface suggests that in order for life cycle analyses (LCA) of biomass-based products such as biofuels to be most accurately calculated, modelers should develop a hybridized methodology that considers both direct and indirect effects, to measure the carbon intensity of production. Posted. http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/8689/journal-article-explores-hybridized-life-cycle-analysis-method VEHICLES U.S. Car Sales Keep Up Their Firm Growth. Automakers on Tuesday reported strong sales across the board in March, pushing the industry to its best quarter since before the recession, even though gasoline prices climbed to more than $4 a gallon in many states. Nissan, Hyundai and Kia each posted record sales last month, while Chrysler and Volkswagen had gains of more than 30 percent compared with a year earlier. The Ford Motor Company had its best month in five years. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/business/car-sales-keep-up-their-firm-growth.html?scp=1&sq=vehicles&st=cse Car Charging Group expands presence in California, US. Car Charging Group (CCGI), a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging services, has opened a new office in San Jose, California, US, to expand its operations in the region. The new California office will be led by the company's chief operating officer (COO) Ted Fagenson, who will oversee operations, which will include staff focused on local and regional sales, marketing and web and mobile development. Car Charging Group chief executive officer Michael Farkas said California…Posted. http://www.automotive-business-review.com/news/car-charging-group-expands-presence-in-california-us-040412 Japanese develop prototype EV that can travel 350 km on a single charge. The latest Edition of Electric Japan Weekly describes how 34 organisations collaborate to develop the next prototype EV that will be able to travel over 300km on single charge and SIM-Drive engages in infrastructure deployment, teaming up with home building companies. Meanwhile, the Japanese Ministry of Economy…Posted. http://www.cars21.com/content/articles/78620120404.php Half-bike, half-car Velomobile goes 80 miles on 6 cents of electricity. Velomobiles are reclining bicycles with fiberglass shells on top, to make you super aerodynamic, weatherproof and sort of whimsical. The only thing better than a Velomobile is an electric Velomobile, which is the exact same thing, but with the addition of a kit to electrify the bike. We bought an electric bike in lieu of a second car, and I am telling you now, until you’ve gone 20 MPH uphill on a brushless 750-watt motor, the wind in your hair, your fuel and insurance cost reduced to zero, you are living a poor simulacrum of the life you could have. Posted. http://grist.org/list/half-bike-half-car-velomobile-goes-80-miles-on-6-cents-of-electricity/ MISCELLANEOUS A Satellite System That Could End Circling Above the Airport. Capt. Mike Adams demonstrated what the future will look like at the nation’s airports as he pulled back on the throttles of his Boeing 737 flight simulator, setting the engines on idle to glide smoothly from his cruising altitude all the way down to the runway. Starting in June, that’s exactly what actual Alaska Airlines flights will be doing when the airline begins testing the use of satellite technology to land at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport — all in the hope of saving fuel and reducing delays. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/business/a-satellite-system-that-could-end-circling-above-the-airport.html?scp=2&sq=fuels&st=cse OPINIONS Earth Log: Is California's cap-and-trade actually pay-to-pollute? Raise your hand if you have strong feelings about cap-and-trade for climate-warming carbon emissions. Now, raise your hand if you really don't understand what it is. My hand went up both times. I have strong feelings -- mostly anxiety about explaining cap-and-trade in stories. Bee reporter Tim Sheehan explained it on Sunday in a story about funding for high-speed rail. State authorities say cap-and-trade is a possible source of money for high-speed rail. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/03/2787171/earth-log-is-californias-cap-and.html Brown steals from most Californians to give to wealthy electric car owners. There was applause from environmentalists when Gov. Jerry Brown and the state Public Utilities Commission late last month accepted a $120 million settlement from NRG Energy Inc. for the part it and the bankrupt former electric generator Dynegy Inc. played in the power crisis that afflicted California 11 years ago. To be paid over four years, that settlement will see NRG spend 80 percent of the money on a network of electric-car charging stations along major highways and in the state's biggest cities. Only 20 percent will go to consumers in the form of very small rate reductions. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_20321742/brown-steals-from-most-californians-give-wealthy-electric Could - and Should - Cap and Trade Revenues Pay for High-Speed Rail? If the federal money never shows up, the project's budget could have a multi-billion dollar hole to fill each year starting in 2015 (see Exhibit 7-10 in Chapter 7, Page 15 of the California High-Speed Rail Authority's newly-revised business plan). But by then, says Tiffany Roberts with the non-partisan Legislative Analyst's Office, auctioning off greenhouse gas emissions could raise between $3 billion and $14 billion a year (see page 13 of this LAO report). Posted. http://www.capradio.org/articles/2012/04/03/could---and-should---cap-and-trade-revenues-pay-for-high-speed-rail Editorial: New train promised to be cheaper, sooner, longer, slower. High-speed rail devotees issue fresh set of promises; reality remains that project should die. Desperate to spend billions rather than allow taxpayers to keep their money, the California High-Speed Rail Authority boasted Monday that it has cut costs, scaled back and speeded up the construction schedule of a train that should never be built. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/train-347559-voters-billion.html BLOGS Chevy Hunts Generation Y, With Help From MTV. Chevrolet is out for young blood. The brand set up shop at the Classic Car Club in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon to detail its efforts to capture behavior patterns of so-called millennials, those young Americans who came of age with the Internet. As previously reported by The Times, the automaker hired consultants from MTV Scratch, a unit of Viacom that consults with brands about connecting with consumers. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/with-help-from-mtv-chevy-hunts-generation-y/?scp=4&sq=vehicles&st=cse California Charges Forward on EVs. As you may have seen, California Governor Jerry Brown announced a $120 million settlement last week with utility company NRG. The funds will be used to develop a large scale infrastructure effort for electric vehicles. This statewide charging network will include at least 200 fast-charging stations and another 10,000 plug-in units at 1,000 locations across the state. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/04/california-charges-forward-evs/ ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 14:24:32 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 5, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for April 5, 2012. 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 Natural Disasters Tied to Unnatural Causes. Air pollution does more than make the skies hazy, with a new study suggesting the industrial ick is linked to drought, flooding and even hurricanes. The research, detailed this week in the journal Nature, suggests human activity can, and already has, driven large-scale regional climate changes. The "dirty pollution," it seems, can cause changes in the temperature of the Atlantic Ocean, which in turn drives the stormy activity, say the researchers from the Met Office, the U.K.'s National Weather Service. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46966009 House plants help make the air cleaner. We hear a lot about air pollution outdoors in Kern County. But, what about inside your home? Dust and particles sitting on your floor and furniture can affect your quality of life too. Some house plants can actually help remove harmful dirt and chemicals from indoor air. Air pollution in Kern County is something those who call this place home, know all too well. "Sometimes my allergies keep me inside the house. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46959831 Pollution Playing A Major Role In Sea Temperatures. The Atlantic Ocean, especially the North Atlantic, is peculiar: Every few decades, the average temperature of surface water there changes dramatically. Scientists want to know why that is, especially because these temperature shifts affect the weather. New research suggests that human activity is part of the cause. Scientists originally thought that maybe some mysterious pattern in deep-ocean currents, such as an invisible hand stirring a giant bathtub, created this temperature see-saw. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2012/04/04/150005074/pollution-playing-a-major-role-in-sea-temperatures CLIMATE CHANGE El Nino possible after summer, CPC says. The U.S. Climate Prediction Center raised the prospect that El Nino conditions could return after the Northern Hemisphere summer, causing adverse weather that could potentially disrupt the harvest of vital crops such as cotton, corn and soybeans. A return in the fall of La Nina's more infamous counterpart could increase rainfall, although farmers typically prefer it to the La Nina phenomenon. La Nina has been blamed for a bad dry spell in South America. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/05/us-weather-elnino-idUSBRE8340V920120405 VEHICLES Payoff for Efficient Cars Takes Years. Ed Moran’s new Toyota Prius was programmed by the dealer to make him feel good about his gas savings. A dashboard display compares the fuel consumption of the Prius and his 2001 Ford pickup truck. “Every time I go to the store it will tell me how much money I saved,” said Mr. Moran, a horticulturist in Ames, Iowa. Like more and more Americans, Mr. Moran is looking to a fuel-efficient car to help soften the financial blow of ever higher gas prices. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/business/energy-environment/for-hybrid-and-electric-cars-to-pay-off-owners-must-wait.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=fuels&st=cse GREEN ENERGY Folsom solar firm's projects approved in Imperial County. The Imperial County Board of Supervisors has approved a series of large solar power projects being developed by Folsom-based 8minutenergy Renewables LLC. The solar generation plant in the Imperial Valley will be built in three phases and eventually generate up to 600 megawatts for more than 200,000 households. The solar farm is being billed as the largest in the world. The project received support from the Sierra Club, Audubon California, Defenders of Wildlife and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/05/4393754/folsom-solar-firms-projects-approved.html Watchdog finds Solyndra loan was 'rushed'. Federal financial experts weren't consulted on a $528 million federal loan to Solyndra until the last minute, and only then had "about a day" to complete their review, an internal watchdog concluded Wednesday. The report from the Treasury Department's inspector general found that the department's review was "rushed" and began only after the Energy Department was poised to sign off on the terms of the loan to the Fremont solar company. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_20328947/watchdog-finds-solar-energy-loan-was-rushed http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_20328947/watchdog-finds-solar-energy-loan-was-rushed?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20328947/watchdog-finds-solar-energy-loan-was-rushed http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/04/2143813/watchdog-finds-solar-energy-loan.html Utility uses waste to produce power. A Northern California utility is using a new turbine and truckloads of chicken blood, food scraps and other waste to produce more electricity that it uses. The Contra Costa Times ( http://bit.ly/HnRgv6) says Oakland's East Bay Municipal Utility District has been generating electricity from sewage gas and other waste since the 1980s. The $32 million power plant expansion unveiled this week makes use of aggressive waste collection. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20331698/utility-uses-waste-produce-power?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/05/utility-uses-waste-to-produce-power/ OPINIONS Cleaner Fuels, Cleaner Cars. In late December, the Environmental Protection Agency drafted a set of rules that would force petroleum refiners to reduce the amount of sulfur in gasoline by two-thirds. That change would enhance the effectiveness of catalytic converters in both old and new cars, resulting in substantial cuts in soot and smog-forming pollutants from automobile tailpipes. The proposal resembles a similar measure adopted by California for cars sold inside that state. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/05/opinion/cleaner-fuels-cleaner-cars.html?_r=1 BLOGS California Cap and Trade Fraud Concerns. California’s cap and trade program allows permitted greenhouse gas emitters to receive allowances from the Air Resources Board (ARB) through auction or sale in an allowances marketplace for specific amounts of emissions, and many critics argue the system is easily susceptible to fraud. The problem is that although the ARB has its own anti-fraud rule, legal oversight committees agree that without direct action from Congress the ARB has no authority to enforce penalties or even monitor secondary markets in carbon trading, making both the marketplace and the anti-fraud rule moot. Posted. http://www.nuwireinvestor.com/articles/california-cap-and-trade-fraud-concerns-59015.aspx Chicago Leads the Way in Urban Sustainable Agriculture. The City of Chicago has been making some major leaps into sustainability. They have worked on increasing their urban green areas as well as re-purposing abandoned land into useful projects. The city also boasts more than 300 miles of bikeways, 7 million square feet of green roofs and currently has more green hotels than any city in the U.S. It is also one of the most ‘climate ready’ cities of the United States. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/04/chicago-leads-urban-sustainable-agriculture/ ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 11:57:59 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for April 6, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for April 6, 2012. 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 Marathon agrees to cap flared gas volumes-EPA. Marathon Petroleum Co has agreed to cap the flaring of excess natural gas and implement efficiency controls on combustion devices to settle an emissions dispute with the Obama administration. The Ohio-based company reached an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice in response to allegations that Marathon had violated the Clean Air Act, according to an EPA statement on Thursday. Some oil companies burn off excess gas that cannot be reused or transported. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/05/usa-marathon-epa-idUSL2E8F56D520120405 CLIMATE CHANGE California at top in climate-change preparedness. Scarce water supplies and coastal flooding may be part of California's future, but the Golden State is as ready as any state to tackle those and other problems caused by climate change, according to a national study released Thursday. California is one of only nine states that have developed comprehensive strategies and implemented policies to deal with water shortages, droughts, a shrinking snowpack and other water-related problems that are expected to occur if global temperatures increase this century as predicted by scientists, the Natural Resources Defense Council report said. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/06/MN9U1NV5FK.DTL&type=printable Climate change vs. Easter bunnies. Easter is still a great day for worship, candy in baskets, pagan equinox rituals and running around the yard finding eggs, but every year it gets quite a bit worse for bunnies. And no, not because the kids like to pull their ears. The culprit is climate change, and the folks at Climate Nexus found that rising temperatures are having adverse effects on at least five species of rabbit in the U.S. Take the Lower Keys Marsh rabbit, for instance. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-climate-change-vs-easter-bunnies-20120405,0,2110592.story?track=rss Hilton awards film about fight against climate change. Hilton Worldwide has awarded its first ever LightStay Sustainability feature film award to The Island President, a film about ousted Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed's crusade to save his nation and get the world to rally against climate change. The Island Nation, which received the award at the Sundance Film Festival in January, opened in New York theaters last week and is scheduled to open in Washington, D.C., on April 20. Posted. http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2012/04/hilton-rewards-film-about-fight-against-climate-change/666427/1 FUELS Ford researchers suggest using higher ethanol blends to boost the minimum octane number of regular-grade gasoline. Using higher volume blends of ethanol to leverage the alcohol’s inherent high octane rating to produce ethanol-gasoline blends with higher octane numbers could yield “substantial societal benefits”, according to a team of researchers from Ford Motor Company. Currently, ethanol is blended into a gasoline blendstock formulated with lower octane rating such that the net octane rating of the resulting final blend is unchanged from historical levels. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/04/jea-20120406.html Algae Biofuel Thrives in the Heart of Oil Country. As the U.S. transitions out of a petroleum economy, oil-rich Texas is emerging as something of a surprise leader in biofuel research. If the country’s quintessential oil state sees promise in biofuels, that stands as a powerful indicator that the national market is ready, too, even in the case of algae biofuel, which has been greeted with derision in some circles. One main driver of Texas’s vanguard position in the biofuel field has been Texas A&M University, the premier public education and research institution. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/04/texas-algae-biofuel-thrives-heart-oil-country/ VEHICLES Clean coal nonsense: New industry ad claims ‘real environmental progress’. “The clock is ticking, America. It’s time we focused on reality instead of rhetoric.” Finally, a national ad about the threat of climate change? Nope. It’s another piece of spin from the coal industry. Under threat from cheap natural gas, savvy activist groups working overtime to shut down plants, and the declining cost of renewable energy, the coal industry has rolled out a new ad trying desperately to paint itself as “clean.” Posted. http://grist.org/coal/clean-coal-nonsense-new-industry-ad-claims-real-environmental-progress/ GREEN ENERGY Environmentalists feeling burned by rush to build solar projects. Local activists say national groups, focused on renewable energy, ignore projects' threat to the Mojave. Amargosa Valley, Calif. — April Sall gazed out at the Mojave Desert flashing past the car window and unreeled a story of frustration and backroom dealings. Her small California group, the Wildlands Conservancy, wanted to preserve 600,000 acres of the Mojave. The group raised $45 million, bought the land and deeded it to the federal government. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-green-20120406,0,6552376.story Reducing Waste: Reusable bags save resources, protect environment. The state of California estimates that retailers in our state distribute more than 20 billion disposable plastic and paper bags each year. That's a lot of resources that are being used once or twice and then tossed out. Disposable plastic grocery bags are made from oil, a nonrenewable resource. Billions of plastic bags become litter and find their way into creeks, rivers and oceans where they can strangle and starve wildlife and degrade water quality. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20333265/reducing-waste-reusable-bags-save-resources-protect-environment?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20333265/reducing-waste-reusable-bags-save-resources-protect-environment?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com New round of U.S. green energy loans? The U.S. Energy Department said it is preparing to approve more federal loan guarantees for green energy projects. The development comes amid controversy over the Obama administration's clean energy investments, after California solar-panel firm Solyndra, recipient of a $535 million U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantee, went bankrupt last year. Posted. http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/04/06/New-round-of-US-green-energy-loans/UPI-88471333713716/ MISCELLANEOUS APCD Hearing Board meeting next week, businesses seeking relief from air laws. The Southern Region Hearing Board of the San Joaquin Valley APCD will meet next week to determine whether eight local businesses should be given permission to violate air pollution regulations. The hearing will be held at the APCD's offices in Bakersfield on Wednesday, April 11 at 10 AM. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/environmental-news-in-bakersfield/apcd-hearing-board-meeting-next-week-businesses-seeking-relief-from-air-laws 2 new ethanol blender pumps operating in Nebraska. Two new gas pumps in Broken Bow and Aurora will make it easier for Nebraska drivers to find fuels with more than 10 percent ethanol. The Nebraska Ethanol Board says the new pumps will offer several different fuel blends up to E85, which is 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gas. Drivers need to have a flex fuel vehicle in order to use E85. Nebraska now has about 60 of these so-called blender pumps that allow gas station owners to choose what blend of fuel to sell. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/06/2-new-ethanol-blender-pumps-operating-in/ Black With Asthma. You know how sometimes a talking head can make you so agitated that you want to yell at the screen? I felt that way listening to the recent testimony of Harry C. Alford, the President and CEO of the National Black Chamber of Commerce, during a Senate committee hearing. "Stop playing politics with our children!" Mr. Alford was testifying on the new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards; he is against them. His position is that ending mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants will harm black businesses. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dominique-browning/black-with-asthma_b_1382602.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, 9 Apr 2012 11:32:18 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 9, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for April 9, 2012. 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 Field to families: Tehama County neighbors worry about chemical drift. Pesticide drift from a commercial strawberry field in the Bend area has a group of residents actively concerned about how the chemicals used will affect their health. When Sam Sleezer, 37, and his father-in-law Manuel Silveira, 65, installed new scientific devices to measure air quality on their neighboring properties in the Bend area, they hoped that they would find their concerns were unwarranted. I'm not against farming, Silveira said. However, results came back that levels of a toxic chemical found were far above safe levels beyond the time frame that it was supposed to be in the air. Posted. http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_20347244/field-families-tehama-county-neighbors-worry-about-chemical Houseplants can help clean the air in your home. Indoor air can be hazardous to your health. But you can breathe easier with the help of your green friends: houseplants. Common houseplants such as philodendron, peace lily, corn plant, Gerbera daisy, spider plant, golden pothos, English ivy, Marginata and others can pull chemicals from the air and break them down through their leaves, roots and soil. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/houseplants-can-help-clean-the-air-in-your-home/article_4afe8513-64e1-552d-bf8f-f1b37fd2b9fa.html CLIMATE CHANGE California Climate Change Study: Golden State Most Likely To Survive Global Warming. As if we needed another reason to love California, the Golden State has been named most likely to survive the tolls of climate change. A recent study done by the Natural Resources and Defense Council highlights the best and worst states equipped with plans to combat water shortage and other problems expected to occur from globally increasing temperatures due to climate change. One of only nine, California was given top awards for an integrated and comprehensive preparedness plan that addresses all relevant water sectors and state agencies. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/08/california-climate-change-study_n_1409312.html Windfall of cash could hit state treasury from global warming program. For the past 10 years, California has struggled with huge budget deficits and wrenching cuts. Suddenly, however, the state is poised to raise billions from an unusual new source: the proceeds from its landmark global warming law. The windfall could come as soon as this fall, when state officials are set to begin auctioning off pollution credits to oil refineries, power plants and other major polluters as part of a new "cap-and-trade" system. The amounts are potentially enormous: from $1 billion to $3 billion a year in 2012 and 2013, jumping to as high as $14 billion a year by 2015, according to the nonpartisan state Legislative Analyst's Office. By comparison, the state's current budget deficit is $9 billion. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20348097/windfall-cash-could-hit-state-treasury-from-global?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20348097/windfall-cash-could-hit-state-treasury-from-global?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com It's already been a very record-breaking hot year. It's been so warm in the United States this year, especially in March, that national records weren't just broken, they were deep-fried. Temperatures in the lower 48 states were 8.6 degrees above normal for March and 6 degrees higher than average for the first three months of the year, according to calculations by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. That far exceeds the old records. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/09/2149830/its-already-been-a-very-record.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Berkeley researchers tackle California’s carbon footprint. A newly launched UC Berkeley-powered state program aims to shrink California’s bulging carbon footprint at the grassroots level by helping individuals make better energy-related choices in the home, on the road and at the store. Sponsored by the California Air Resources Board, the Cool California Challenge, which kicked off April 1, brings together 10 cities in a yearlong community-based competition to cut carbon emissions — with the winner crowned California’s Coolest City. “Most Californians believe that climate change is a problem and that we should take action to reduce our carbon impact,” says Christopher Jones, head researcher at Cool Climate Network, an applied-research consortium at Berkeley’s Renewable and Appropriate Energy Lab, or RAEL. Posted. http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2012/04/06/cool-california-challenge-launches/ FUELS Shale gas exploration raises hope, fear in Poland. A slender shale gas rig rising from the midst of plowed fields and farm houses in Poland has inspired both hope for a local community's prosperity and fears it will ruin bucolic and peaceful village life. The rig in the central Polish village of Szymkowo belongs to Canadian-based Talisman Energy Inc., one among some two dozen international companies across Poland exploring thousands of meters (yards) underground for hidden deposits of natural gas hailed as a vast new source of fuel. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hgsYXl3ctpY9u4vE4a49sf29Uikg?docId=56afeef34cf34fe5937962a92782a830 AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/09/2793124/shale-gas-exploration-raises-hope.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/09/4400183/shale-gas-exploration-raises-hope.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/09/shale-gas-exploration-raises-hope-fear-in-poland/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/shale-gas-exploration-raises-hope-fear-in-poland/article_82cdf222-d18d-54d7-b1c6-419dc35d3ca3.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/09/2149880/shale-gas-exploration-raises-hope.html Biofuel firms face uncertainty over future government help. As one of the Bay Area's hottest biofuel businesses, Solazyme exemplifies to many everything that is right -- or wrong -- with the federal government's efforts to wean the nation off foreign oil. The South San Francisco firm has deals with the likes of Chevron and Honeywell. Its algae-based fuel was used in October for an unprecedented commercial airline flight. And in December it won a piece of a $12 million contract to supply biofuel for the Navy. But critics contend the fuel costs the Navy too much, arguing that the contract amounts to at least three times what the military typically pays. And despite the subsidies Solazyme and other biofuel companies have received from the federal government, they argue, the nation appears nowhere close to meeting a congressional mandate to produce 36 billion gallons of biofuel by 2022. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20342896/biofuel-firms-face-uncertainty-over-future-government-help?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com OPINION SHANNON GROVE: California legislature should keep an open mind on climate change policy. A few weeks ago I had the great privilege of hosting the Honorable Christopher Monckton, one of the world's leading man-made climate change skeptics, at a legislative hearing at the state Capitol as well as at community events in Sacramento and Bakersfield. Monckton is a former advisor to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and was among the first to advise her about the issue of global warming caused by fossil-fuel related emissions. While Thatcher was originally outspoken in warning of the dangers of global warming, she eventually saw the flaws in climate change research and orthodoxy and came to question its main scientific assumptions due in part to Monckton's influence. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/politics/local/x1322082433/SHANNON-GROVE-California-legislature-should-keep-an-open-mind-on-climate-change-policy SKELTON: First, find the bucks for bullet train. The bullet train boondoggle is looking more like a bullet bull's-eye. But one big question lingers: Where are the bucks? And even if the state can find the bucks, should it spend them on building a high-speed rail line, a cool choo-choo? Especially when higher education in California is such a train wreck? Education — kindergarten through college — should be our No. 1 priority, for both moral and economic reasons. Producing an educated, skilled workforce for the increasingly competitive global economy is even more important than creating temporary track-laying jobs. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120408/WIRE/120409655 Contra Costa Times Your Turn: Hydrogen highway is a long way from reality. Your March 26 front-page story, "Hydrogen highway gets back on track" suggests that the only impediment to a brave new world of hydrogen-powered vehicles is a lack of refueling stations. To the contrary, the problem is in the production of hydrogen. There are basically two ways to produce hydrogen. One is a process called steam reforming of natural gas in which steam reacts with natural gas (methane) at an elevated temperature to produce hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The other is by electrolysis of water. Only the second method of production will accomplish the California Air Resources Board's goal of reducing or eliminating carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_20343492/contra-costa-times-your-turn-hydrogen-highway-is Thomas Elias: California consumers stiffed. There was applause from environmentalists when Gov. Jerry Brown and the state Public Utilities Commission late last month accepted a $120 million settlement from NRG Energy Inc. for the part it and the bankrupt former electric generator Dynegy Inc. played in the power crisis that afflicted California 11 years ago. To be paid over four years, that settlement will see NRG spend 80 percent of the money on a network of electric car charging stations along major highways and in the state's biggest cities. Only 20 percent will go to consumers in the form of very small rate reductions. Posted. http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/dynegy-115190-energy-electric.html BLOGS A Fresh Look at How Humans Are Loading Climate ‘Dice’. James E. Hansen, the longtime climate scientist who has turned increasingly to activism in recent years, has updated his analysis of how the buildup of human-generated greenhouse gases is loading the climate “dice” so that hotter extremes are ever more likely. I talked with him in 2008 about his use of this apt metaphor. Here’s the video of our chat, followed by the abstract of his latest draft paper, “Public Perception of Climate Change and the New Climate Dice”. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/a-fresh-look-at-how-humans-are-loading-climate-dice/?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse What happens to America’s coal if we don’t burn it? Coal is slowly receding as America’s top power source. Thanks to a flurry of new air-pollution rules and cheap natural gas, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that U.S. coal consumption will fall this year to its lowest level since 1996. But if the United States isn’t going to use its own coal, what’s going to happen to the stuff? Since coal-burning is a major contributor to global warming, this is a crucial question. One possibility is that the United States will simply export coal abroad, for other countries to consume. There are signs this is starting to happen: Gregor McDonald flags a chart from the EIA, noting that U.S. coal exports soared last year to their highest levels in two decades…Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/what-happens-to-us-coal-if-we-dont-burn-it/2012/04/09/gIQAEuxw5S_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, 10 Apr 2012 11:43:56 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 10, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for April 10, 2012. 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 Toxic products in California nail salons under renewed scrutiny. As the manager of a nail salon in Brea, Phuoc Dam tries to buy toxic-free nail polish. He makes sure the salon has fresh air and that his workers wear gloves when necessary. Despite his efforts, Dam said he still worries about the long-term effects of the nail products on his staff. His wife, one of the salon's manicurists, has recurring headaches and dizziness. "I am really concerned about the health of all the people who work in the salon, and my wife especially," said Dam, 58, a Vietnamese immigrant who has been in the business for 25 years. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/health/la-me-health-nail-salons-20120410,0,3115837.story Roadshow: How Air Resources Board helped clear things up. Q How did the California Air Resources Board get so much power over the economy, and what scientific evidence or analysis is there that a 75 percent reduction in smog-forming emissions by 2025 is justified? The last few times I've been to Los Angeles, the air has been amazingly clean compared with what it was like when I was a kid. How far does the air board want to go before it declares victory? Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadshow/ci_20356577/roadshow-how-air-resources-board-helped-clear-things?source=rss http://www.insidebayarea.com/traffic/ci_20356578/roadshow-how-air-resources-board-helped-clear-things?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20356577/roadshow-how-air-resources-board-helped-clear-things Lush Walls Rise to Fight a Blanket of Pollution. “We must cultivate our garden,” Voltaire famously wrote at the end of “Candide,” but even he could not have imagined this: a towering arch of 50,000 plants rising over a traffic-clogged avenue in a metropolis once called “Mexsicko City” because of its pollution. The vertical garden aims to scrub away both the filth and the image. One of three eco-sculptures installed across the city by a nonprofit called VerdMX, the arch is both art and oxygenator. It catches the eye. And it also helps clean the air. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/world/americas/vertical-gardens-in-mexico-a-symbol-of-progress.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse CLIMATE CHANGE New science reveals agriculture’s true climate impact. When I examined the reasons agriculture often gets a pass in climate negotiations recently, I pointed to the fact that precise measurement of the climate impact of many industrial farming practices remains difficult and controversial. This is especially true when it comes to synthetic nitrogen fertilizer. The effect of excess fertilizer on our waterways gets much more attention than it does when it enters the air. And for good reason. It’s toxic to consume nitrates in your drinking water. We’re learning that agricultural overuse of fertilizer has contaminated the drinking water of whole regions of California. Meanwhile, nitrogen that runs into the ocean causes oxygen-depleted “dead zones” around the world. The dead zone in our own Gulf Of Mexico (measured every summer) keeps getting larger — last year’s was the size of New Jersey. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-change/new-science-reveals-agricultures-true-climate-impact/ Q. Will climate change affect the incidence of diseases and medical conditions? A. Health experts say that global warming is already causing more deaths in many regions of the world. There is increasing evidence of lives being lost both directly, to causes like heart and respiratory ills, and indirectly, as the animal vectors of disease spread to newly warmer areas, according to a review article in the journal Nature in 2005. While no specific weather event can be directly linked to warming caused by greenhouse gases, the authors cited a two-week heat spell in Europe in the summer of 2003 that led to 22,000 to 45,000 heat-related deaths. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/science/is-climate-change-resulting-in-higher-rates-of-illness.html?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Some plants in S.J. not so green. Power plants and landfills are the largest single sources of greenhouse gas emissions in San Joaquin County, recently released data shows. The new information allows the public to learn, for the first time, which local facilities are having the greatest impact on global climate change. For years, the Environmental Protection Agency has publicly identified facilities that create traditional pollution in cities across the nation. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120410/A_NEWS/204100316&cid=sitesearch DIESEL EMISSIONS Truckers are delivering better fuel efficiency. Diesel prices are at their highest level in nearly four years, topping $4 a gallon, but trucking company executive Fred Johring is taking it in stride. Johring's Golden State Express has bought low-emission, fuel-efficient diesel and natural gas rigs to comply with a clean-truck mandate at Southern California's twin ports — with the fortunate side effect of easing the pain of high-priced diesel. "We went from having one of the oldest local fleets to one of the newest," said Johring, whose Rancho Dominguez company sends trucks mainly on short-haul trips to and from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. "We have been somewhat insulated from the changing diesel prices." Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-diesel-trucking-20120410,0,1026758.story FUELS Coal exports surge to highest level since 1991. Government data show U.S. coal exports reached their highest level in two decades last year as strong overseas demand offered an outlet for a fuel that's falling from favor at home. U.S. Department of Energy data analyzed by The Associated Press reveal that coal exports topped 107 million tons of fuel worth almost $16 billion in 2011. That's the highest level since 1991, and more than double the export volume from 2006. Much of the increase went to slake the thirst of power-hungry markets in Asia, where rapid development has sparked what mining company Peabody Energy calls a "global coal super cycle" that heralds renewed interest in the fuel. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gEPo52y3iAhPhyDU_Ir5N3pz6QZA?docId=b1e41839ca5f47e5a39e44aec019c633 AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/10/2794519/coal-exports-surge-to-highest.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/10/2151484/coal-exports-surge-to-highest.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/04/10/national/a075647D83.DTL Study Questions Natural Gas's Environmental Benefits. As U.S. lawmakers promote natural gas as a way to reduce air pollution, a scientific study published this week questions the benefits of the fuel when used to power vehicles and generate electricity. The study authors said methane leaks from the production and transportation of natural gas should be studied in greater detail before the U.S. adopts any major policy shifts. The study, co-written by scientists at several universities and the environmental group Environmental Defense Fund, wades into an increasingly murky area of energy research. In it, scientists said the production of natural gas results in methane leaking into the atmosphere, which contributes to climate change and limits the environmental benefits of natural gas. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303815404577334013970875438.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution GREEN ENERGY Salazar speaks on energy, water, conservation. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is in Colorado to discuss energy, water and conservation in the West. Salazar is scheduled to speak Monday evening at Colorado College, where students have been studying how to preserve the health of the Colorado River Basin. Salazar is a graduate of Colorado College. The Colorado River system provides municipal water for more than 30 million people in Arizona, California, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico, and it also benefits about 6 million Mexicans. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/04/09/state/n131544D71.DTL http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/09/salazar-speaks-on-energy-water-conservation/ OPINION The Right Flames the Volt. It was Thursday morning and several dozen owners of the new Chevrolet Volt had gathered at a restaurant overlooking the East River. Across town, the New York International Auto Show was in full swing. The Volt, of course, is the innovative electric car from General Motors, and G.M. was using the occasion of the auto show to meet with Volt owners. Outside, a row of sporty Volts gleamed in the bright sun. On the market for a little more than a year, the Volt is a different kind of hybrid, containing both a 400-pound battery and a 9.3 gallon gas tank. The battery gets around 40 miles per charge, but “range anxiety” isn’t the problem that it is for owners of a purely electric car. When the Volt’s battery runs out of juice, the car shifts to gasoline. It is really quite ingenious. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/07/opinion/nocera-the-right-flames-the-volt.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=volt&st=cse SHANNON GROVE: California legislature should keep an open mind on climate change policy. A few weeks ago I had the great privilege of hosting the Honorable Christopher Monckton, one of the world's leading man-made climate change skeptics, at a legislative hearing at the state Capitol as well as at community events in Sacramento and Bakersfield. Monckton is a former advisor to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and was among the first to advise her about the issue of global warming caused by fossil-fuel related emissions. While Thatcher was originally outspoken in warning of the dangers of global warming, she eventually saw the flaws in climate change research and orthodoxy and came to question its main scientific assumptions due in part to Monckton's influence. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/politics/local/x1322082433/SHANNON-GROVE-California-legislature-should-keep-an-open-mind-on-climate-change-policy Climate change threatens all of civilization. Isn't it interesting that the Arab awakening began in Tunisia with a fruit vendor who was harassed by police for not having a permit to sell food — just as world food prices hit record highs? And that it began in Syria with farmers who were demanding the right to buy and sell land near the border, without having to get permission from corrupt security officials? And that it was spurred on in Yemen — the first country in the world expected to run out of water — by a list of grievances including that top officials were digging water wells in their own back yards just as the government was supposed to be preventing such wildcatting? Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/09/2150787/climate-change-threatens-all-of.html BLOGS On Our Radar: Gas, Gas and More Gas. With a mild winter in much of the country having tamped down gas demand and with production of natural gas thriving due to the success of hydraulic fracturing technology, a.k.a. “fracking,” the country is running out of storage space and as a result some producers are slowing down, the Associated Press reports. But just as the market seems saturated, and the Energy Department reports that prices are extremely low, the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management has issued new rules that will allow for another 3,600 wells in eastern Utah, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/09/on-our-radar-gas-gas-and-more-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: Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:53:07 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 11, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 11, 2012 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 Owner pleads not guilty to Sierra mine charges. The co-owner of a gold mine in the Sierra foothills pleaded not guilty Tuesday to operating the mine illegally and causing environmental damage. Joseph Hardesty entered the plea during his arraignment, said El Dorado County Deputy District Attorney Mike Pizzuti. Hardesty, 55, is charged with grading the Gold Rush-era mine near Placerville, which is about 45 miles east of Sacramento. He also is charged with operating heavy equipment without permits, causing air pollution and allowing hazardous fluids to reach a nearby creek. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/10/owner-pleads-not-guilty-to-sierra-mine-charges/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/owner-pleads-not-guilty-to-sierra-mine-charges/article_32e45b3f-7c61-531d-80b4-1abec8d6f1d6.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/10/2152148/owner-pleads-not-guilty-to-sierra.html CLIMATE CHANGE Tennessee enacts evolution, climate change law. Tennessee enacted a law Tuesday that critics contend allows public school teachers to challenge climate change and evolution in their classrooms without fear of sanction. Republican Gov. Bill Haslam allowed the controversial measure to become law without his signature and, in a statement, expressed misgivings about it. Nevertheless, he ignored pleas from educators, parents and civil libertarians to veto the bill. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-tennessee-climate-law-20120411,0,665705.story 110 in the Shade. Q. Will climate change affect the incidence of diseases and medical conditions? A. Health experts say that global warming is already causing more deaths in many regions of the world. There is increasing evidence of lives being lost both directly, to causes like heart and respiratory ills, and indirectly, as the animal vectors of disease spread to newly warmer areas, according to a review article in the journal Nature in 2005. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/science/is-climate-change-resulting-in-higher-rates-of-illness.html?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=cse FUELS Out of Africa (and Elsewhere): More Fossil Fuels. THE world’s largest energy companies have big plans for Mozambique. Until recently, the East African country was better known for its long civil war, and had few energy resources compared with regional heavy-hitters like Nigeria and Angola. But in the last 10 years, companies like Exxon Mobil, the BG Group of Britain and Eni of Italy have used the latest technologies, including advances in deep-sea drilling, to find new natural gas resources that are turning Mozambique into the center of an energy boom. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/11/business/energy-environment/quest-for-new-fossil-fuels-goes-to-africa-and-beyond.html?scp=4&sq=green%20energy&st=cse VEHICLES March new-car purchases set new record for average mpg, study says. The average fuel economy for new vehicles purchased in the United States rose to a record 24.1 mpg in March, from 23.9 the previous month, researchers at the University of Michigan said. The university’s Transportation Research Institute in Ann Arbor, Mich., has tracked the average fuel economy of new vehicles sold each month since October 2007, when average fuel economy was 20.1 mpg. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20120410/RETAIL01/120419996#ixzz1rktzpKb5 Electric vehicle charging station agreement raises hackles. A proposed $100 million settlement with the California Public Utilities Commission that requires NRG Energy to build a network of electric vehicle charging stations has caused an uproar within the electric vehicle community over concerns that NRG will become the default provider of charging stations throughout the state. In late March, California Gov. Jerry Brown announced a landmark agreement, which is part of a legal settlement stemming from the state's energy crisis in 2001. NRG will invest $100 million of its money to build a network of electric vehicle charging stations, mainly in the Bay Area, Los Angeles and San Diego. Posted. http://business-news.thestreet.com/mercury-news/story/electric-vehicle-charging-station-agreement-raises-hackles/1 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20366926/electric-vehicle-charging-station-agreement-raises-hackles?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20366926/electric-vehicle-charging-station-agreement-raises-hackles?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com GREEN ENERGY Renewable Sources of Power Survive, but in a Patchwork. JUST a few years ago, the future of renewable energy looked as bright and shiny as a white turbine blade coming out of the mold. The federal government was handing out money under the stimulus package, states were approving clean energy mandates, young companies were racing ahead with promising new technologies and big global developers were planting stakes for ambitious, utility-scale projects. Now that picture has dimmed. The low price of natural gas has made renewable power less appealing to utilities and energy companies. The high price of gasoline — which has become an issue in the presidential campaign, as Republican candidates seek to use it against President Obama, has renewed calls to increase oil exploration and production at the expense of alternatives. State lawmakers are reconsidering requirements for utilities to buy green power. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/11/business/energy-environment/renewable-energy-advances-in-the-us-despite-obstacles.html?scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=cse Meccas of Shopping Try Hand at Being Misers of Energy. FOR most people, talking about commercial air filters is a great way to end a conversation. To Charlie Brantl and Bob Devine, it is an invitation to an hourlong discussion. They are engineers, in charge of finding ways to conserve energy and reduce waste at the Mall of America south of Minneapolis, the country’s largest shopping and entertainment complex. And they talk excitedly about everything related to saving energy, including skylights, low-flush toilets and, yes, commercial air filters. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/11/business/energy-environment/retailers-seek-to-conserve-energy-to-cut-costs.html?scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse Army lab to develop energy-saving technology. A new Army laboratory will develop technology such as fuel cells and hybrid systems for combat vehicles as the Pentagon steps up its push for cleaner and more reliable energy, federal officials said Wednesday. The complex near Detroit was opening as the Obama administration prepared to announce a series of initiatives to create a greener U.S. military, which officials said is intended not to just benefit the environment but also to improve fighting capabilities. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/11/army-lab-to-develop-energy-saving-technology/ http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/11/2152726/army-lab-to-develop-energy-saving.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20370634/army-lab-develop-energy-saving-technology?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20370634/army-lab-develop-energy-saving-technology?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Your new offshore energy source: floating algae farms. Forget offshore oil drilling. NASA’s working on a project that would generate clean, renewable offshore energy, by growing algae in floating plastic bags. These floating algae farms would take in wastewater from treatment plants. For algae, wastewater is like the nectar of the gods: the ammonia and phosphates act as a fertilizer. So the algae would float happily contained in the baggies, getting fat with lipid oil, and cleaning up the wastewater in the process. Eventually, the algae farmers would harvest the oil, recycle the plastic and start all over again. Posted. http://grist.org/list/your-new-offshore-energy-source-floating-algae-farms/ MISCELLANEOUS Sonoma County takes another step toward public power agency. The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to push forward toward formation of a countywide public power agency. The 4-0 vote marked the most significant move yet on the proposal, which has been under review since last year. At least an additional 18 months of work is envisioned before a final decision to launch the effort. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120411/COMMUNITY/120419923 OPINION Pulling Back From the Exurbs. The view from a helicopter over the outer edges of Las Vegas in about 2004, at the height of the housing bubble, was of sprawl overtaking desert as fast as builders could throw up framing and lay on the stucco and roofing tiles. People were flooding in. The Clark County School District was hiring 2,000 teachers a year. Came the recession, and down went the boom. Las Vegas was the third-fastest-growing metro area in the country between 2000 and 2010. Between 2010 and 2011, it fell to 151st place. When the housing market collapsed, so did growth, particularly where growth had been fastest, in the outer suburbs, or exurbs. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/opinion/pulling-back-from-the-exurbs.html?scp=9&sq=fuels&st=cse The Other Arab Spring. ISN’T it interesting that the Arab awakening began in Tunisia with a fruit vendor who was harassed by police for not having a permit to sell food — just at the moment when world food prices hit record highs? And that it began in Syria with farmers in the southern village of Dara’a, who were demanding the right to buy and sell land near the border, without having to get permission from corrupt security officials? And that it was spurred on in Yemen — the first country in the world expected to run out of water — by a list of grievances against an incompetent government, among the biggest of which was that top officials were digging water wells in their own backyards at a time when the government was supposed to be preventing such water wildcatting? Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/opinion/sunday/friedman-the-other-arab-spring.html?ref=thomaslfriedman Cutting our contribution to warming. Based on computer models the Environmental Protection Agency ruled that atmospheric carbon dioxide is a pollutant that contributes to global warming. The most common source of the pollutant is carbon- based fuels. In addition, with every breath people, worldwide, add about another 10 percent to the 30 billion tons of carbon dioxide produced yearly by fossil fuels. An emissions control system such as cap-and-trade can be applied to control the currently untapped activities of people. For example, the more people exercise and breathe more air, the more carbon dioxide they emit. Therefore, exercise enthusiasts need to find ways to offset their extra emissions above an average baseline for normal activity. Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/ci_20367247/cutting-our-contribution-warming?IADID=Search-www.sbsun.com-www.sbsun.com#ixzz1rkegCeXH BLOGS In California, a Fast-Charging First. A Los Angeles-based firm claims to have installed California’s first public fast-charging station, which opened for business last week. The unit, which can recharge the battery pack of a Nissan Leaf in about 30 minutes, is located at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, adjacent to Stanford University and about 30 miles south of San Francisco. Roughly 2,000 public charge stations dot the state, according to Obrie Hostetter, the regional director of 350Green, the firm that installed and manages the Palo Alto station. None of those, however, offered fast-charging capabilities on a self-serve basis. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/10/in-california-a-fast-charging-first/?scp=5&sq=vehicles&st=cse Is Your Town California’s “Coolest?” We must’ve missed the opening ceremonies with the parade of flag-bearing competitors and giant torch-lighting — or maybe it was canceled to save energy. Either way, ten California cities are competing over the next year to reduce their carbon emissions. Individuals, local governments and businesses will all be involved in the project, called the Cool California Challenge. The Cool California website has a carbon calculator, tips on reducing your footprint and links to rebates. Plus there’s a social media element, so you can envy, goad or cooperate with your neighbors as you see fit. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/04/10/is-your-town-californias-coolest/ Is Your State Prepared for Climate Change? A new report from the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that 29 states, almost 60 percent, are not prepared for water threats caused by climate change. Only six of the 36 states facing possible water supply challenges have comprehensive adaptation plans, and only 22 states have formally adopted or established greenhouse (GHG) emissions reduction targets or goals. The report, titled Ready or Not: An Evaluation of State Climate and Water Preparedness Planning categorizes all 50 states into one of four categories. Category 1 represents states that have the best and most prepared plans, while Category 4 includes the most unprepared states. California, the most populated state in the nation, is one of the nine most prepared states. California stands out even among the group of nine states in Category 1 with a comprehensive climate change preparedness plan, as an NRDC blog post points out. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/04/california-prepared-state-when-comes-climate-change/ ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 10:51:54 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 12, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 12, 2012. 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 takes lead as states, EPA head to court over air pollution rule. Texas will take aim in a federal appeals court Friday at a controversial rule that requires aging power plants to sharply reduce emissions that cause smog and soot in neighboring states. The latest round in the state's fight with the Environmental Protection Agency will be heard by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, often considered the nation's most influential after the Supreme Court. In the case, industry groups and 14 states, led by Texas, are challenging the legality of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which imposes caps on nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide from coal-fired power plants in eastern states. Posted. http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Texas-takes-lead-as-states-EPA-head-to-court-3475916.php CLIMATE CHANGE Nichols Brushes Aside Doubts About California's Cap and Trade System. The chair of the California Air Resources Board, yesterday brushed away concerns that the state's cap and trade program had failed to give the energy industry enough market certainty. Mary Nichols told delegates at the Navigating the American Carbon World conference in San Francisco yesterday said she saw no problem with traders in the US power markets adopting a "wait and see mode" on whether the pioneering scheme would begin next year. "I'm not sure what they're waiting for since there's nothing for them to do at this moment but I would encourage them to look at the trajectory and see that we have been marching forward at a steady pace. Posted. http://energy.aol.com/2012/04/12/nichols-brushes-aside-doubts-about-californias-cap-and-trade-sy/ California Braces for the Complex World of Carbon Markets. As chair of the California Air Resources Board, Mary Nichols is presiding over the nation's first comprehensive cap-and-trade program. When its nascent cap-and-trade program ramps up later this year, California will be the first state in the nation to reduce greenhouse gases by making a broad spectrum of big polluters buy permits to exceed their allotted emissions. Other governments, industry and scientists will be watching, but there’s still a lot to sort out. That much has been evident at this week’s carbon market and policy conference in San Francisco, “Navigating the American Carbon World.” Posted. http://www.npr.org/local/stories/KQED/150460246 VEHICLES California Energy Commission awards more than $2.6M for natural gas vehicles. The California Energy Commission approved funding of $2,604,000 to help bring more buses and trucks powered by natural gas to the state’s highways. The awards are expected to support the purchase of more than 125 new natural gas vehicles; funding comes from the Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. The Energy Commission previously awarded approximately $29 million to help buyers afford new, alternative-fueled passenger vehicles, buses, and trucks. These awards help to pay the difference between the cost of conventional gas- or diesel-powered vehicles and new ones that use propane or natural gas. Eligible vehicles meet all the emission requirements of the Air Resources Board and are fully warranted by their manufacturers. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/04/cec-20120412.html GREEN ENERGY States seek to ease financing for energy-efficient upgrades. Millions of New Yorkers are stuck on an energy-finance treadmill. They manage to meet their monthly expenses, but they can't afford home upgrades that would save energy and lower costs. For those living in New York's poorest 450,000 households - those that earn below half of the federal poverty level - energy payments have in recent years eaten up more than 40 percent of income, according to a 2011 report commissioned by the state. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/12/4408619/states-seek-to-ease-financing.html#storylink=misearch People power: Crowdfunding fires up local solar projects. Here’s a not-terribly-novel idea: Get a bunch of people together, pool your money, and invest it in a project or a business that will make enough money to pay you back — hopefully with interest. Banks do it, right? And it seems like a decent way to fund promising green technology like solar power. Or you’d think so, anyway. Banks will fund huge commercial solar projects, but when it comes to community-level solar installation, they won’t touch it, says Billy Parish, president of Solar Mosaic, a Berkeley, Calif.-based company that seeds local solar projects. “When we were first getting started, we went looking for funding from banks,” he says. “Wells Fargo told us, ‘Come back to us when you have a book of $50 to $100 million worth of projects.’” Posted. http://grist.org/business-technology/people-power-crowdfunding-fires-up-local-solar-projects/ MISCELLANEOUS Approval for California high-speed rail plan? High-speed rail officials are expected today to approve a business plan that details how they hope to pay for a proposed passenger train line between San Francisco and Los Angeles. The California High-Speed Rail Authority board will meet in San Francisco to hear testimony about the 212-page plan — a revised blueprint of expected costs for construction and operation, as well as anticipated revenue and ridership. The business plan will be closely scrutinized by California legislators, who are being asked to OK about $2.7 billion in bonds to help pay for the initial construction in the San Joaquin Valley. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/11/2154126/approval-for-high-speed-rail-plan.html Sacramento listed No. 12 on green buildings. Sacramento ranks 12th on a federal Environmental Protection Agency list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the largest number of energy-efficient buildings. The agency said the Sacramento area had 151 buildings with the EPA's Energy Star designation in 2011. Sacramento ranked ahead of numerous large metro areas, including Phoenix, Philadelphia, Miami and San Diego. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/12/2154524/sacramento-listed-no-12-on-green.html OPINION Why Trees Matter. TREES are on the front lines of our changing climate. And when the oldest trees in the world suddenly start dying, it’s time to pay attention. North America’s ancient alpine bristlecone forests are falling victim to a voracious beetle and an Asian fungus. In Texas, a prolonged drought killed more than five million urban shade trees last year and an additional half-billion trees in parks and forests. In the Amazon, two severe droughts have killed billions more. The common factor has been hotter, drier weather. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/opinion/why-trees-matter.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse HuffPo science editor asks readers: Is climate science true? Hey, Huffington Post: I’m not one to tell you how to do your business — your budget for the time it takes me to write this sentence is bigger than Grist’s budget for the year, so you must be doing something right — but maybe it would be a good idea to hire a science editor who’s familiar with, like, science? By way of background: One of the favorite games of evolution and climate deniers is to round up a group of scientists (or “scientists”) or members of some important-sounding organization who agree with their denialism, have them all sign on to a letter or document, and release it with great fanfare to show that “the science isn’t settled.” Posted. http://grist.org/media/huffpo-science-editor-asks-readers-is-climate-science-true/ Airing grievances. Back in 2011, the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) Board raised the fees it charges businesses and farmers by 5.2 percent for permits and inspections. It justified the increase on the basis that the money was needed to cover its employees’ increased salary and pension costs. Apparently the agency had enough funding (not withstanding its pleas for more revenue) to develop a whole new regulatory scheme that will suppress economic recovery. The same regulatory muggers who are promulgating the dunes dust ATV riding ban in Oceano and who levy fees on wineries based upon the amount of gases generated by fermentation (and we thought the aroma was part of the allure) voted six to five to adopt so-called “greenhouse gas threshold” requirements for new construction. Posted. http://www.newtimesslo.com/commentary/7611/airing-grievances/ BLOGS Study Links Raised Carbon Dioxide Levels to Oyster Die-Offs. Oyster hatcheries along the Washington and Oregon coastlines began experiencing calamitous die-offs beginning in 2006. Scientists suspected they were due to increased carbon dioxide levels in the air that were causing ocean acidification. That theory has now proved out, according to a study just published by the journal Limnology and Oceanography. Researchers studied oysters at Oregon’s Whiskey Creek Hatchery in 2009 after the hatchery reported that oyster production had declined by as much as 80 percent in recent years. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/study-links-raised-carbon-dioxide-levels-to-oyster-die-offs/ Signs Europe Bending on Airline Carbon Fee. The European Union, heading for a trade war over a new toll on the greenhouse gas emissions of international airlines using European airspace, has been warned that the measure could wreck the prospects for global action on climate change. In the latest assault on a measure that came into force on Jan. 1, Jayanthi Natarajan, India’s environment minister, said Wednesday that the E.U.’s Emissions Trading System, which requires airlines to buy carbon permits to cover excess emissions, was a “deal-breaker” in the context of international efforts to curb global warming. Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/signs-europe-bending-on-making-airlines-pay-carbon-charge/ Global warming alarmism becoming much less alarming. We’ve noticed a growing trend: global warming alarmism is becoming much less alarming. Maybe it’s the Cry Wolf syndrome. Maybe it’s just taking notice of reality. Maybe it’s only a fad that’s run its course. Nevertheless, there’s more evidence every day: From the Oregonian newsapaper: “For people who want more action on global warming, an inconvenient truth has arisen over the last decade: Annual average temperatures stayed relatively flat globally — and dropped in the United States and Oregon — despite mankind’s growing release of greenhouse gases…” Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2012/04/11/global-warming-alarmism-becoming-much-less-alarming/69067/ N2O Analyzer Gives Scientists New Insight into Agriculture, Ecosystems & Climate Change. Carbon dioxide (CO2) garners the lion’s share of attention when it comes to humanity’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and rightly so. The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased about 35 percent since the beginning of the Industrial Age, to about 390 parts per million by volume. At around 27 billion metric tons per year, man-made, or anthropogenic, CO2 emissions are some 130 times greater than than that emitted by volcanoes, the largest natural source. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/04/nitrous-oxide-n2o-analyzer-gives-scientists-new-insight-agriculture-ecosystems-climate-change/ Algae-based Biofuel: Pros And Cons. Algae–based biofuel is a new energy source that has been getting a lot of attention lately. Certain types of algae contain natural oils that can be readily distilled into a vegetable oil or a number of petroleum-like products that could serve as drop-in replacements for gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. But because it’s a bio-fuel, it is essentially carbon-neutral because the carbon emitted when it is burned had just recently been absorbed as food, which means that the net CO2 emission is essentially the same as if the algae had never been grown. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/04/algae-based-biofuel-pros-cons/ ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 12:39:44 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 13, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 13, 2012. 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 E.P.A. Weighs Texas Plan to Cut Haze in National Parks. Last year, as wildfires raged in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, visitors to Guadalupe Mountains National Park had to settle for a more limited view when hiking up Guadalupe Peak, Texas’ highest point. “All summer, there was a haze here,” said Jonena Hearst, the park’s geologist. Even before the fires, she said, visibility had been decreasing slightly over time. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/13/us/epa-weighs-texas-plan-to-cut-haze-in-national-parks.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=cse CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Traders Ask California to Add Offset Projects to Curb Projected Rise in Compliance Costs. Carbon traders and regulated entities have urged California to boost the supply of offset projects available under its greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-trade program to avoid skyrocketing compliance costs during the second phase of the program. Their plea came April 11 at the Climate Action Registry's 10th annual conference, which focused largely on California's economywide emissions trading program and efforts to link it with the cap-and-trade program adopted by the Canadian province of Quebec (see related story; 69 WCCR, 4/10/12). Posted. http://www.bna.com/carbon-traders-ask-n12884908910/ DIESEL EMISSIONS New Health Effects Study Highlights Advancement in Clean Diesel Technology. A new study released today by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) provides important new insights on the advancements in clean diesel technology and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, according to Allen Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.The peer-reviewed study entitled "HEI Research Report 166: Advanced Collaborative Emissions Study (ACES) Subchronic Exposure Results: Biological Responses in Rats and Mice and Assessment of Genotoxicity," was conducted by the Health Effects Institute (HEI) in collaboration with the Coordinating Research Council. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/12/4409686/new-health-effects-study-highlights.html#storylink=misearch’ Awards given for reducing emissions in Northeast. The Northeast Diesel Collaborative has given four organizations from Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Vermont "Breathe Easy" awards for outstanding leadership in reducing diesel emissions. The collaborative works to improve public health and promote clean diesel technology. Its "Breathe Easy Leadership Awards" are given to agencies and organizations that reduce air pollution by retrofitting and replacing older diesel engines, reducing idling from diesel engines, developing outreach programs and promoting cleaner fuels. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/AP5f31309fc43a46cea41c3f382ef90dad.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution FUELS Obama to create working group on gas drilling. The Obama administration said Friday it is creating a multi-agency working group to coordinate federal oversight of hydraulic fracturing and other natural gas drilling techniques. The working group, headed by White House energy adviser Heather Zichal, includes representatives of about a dozen agencies that oversee various aspects of drilling. Natural gas production has boomed in recent years as drillers use new techniques to gain access to wells that were hard to reach in the past. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/04/13/national/w082313D99.DTL http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/13/4411609/obama-to-create-working-group.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20389237/obama-create-working-group-gas-drilling?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/obama-administration-creates-working-group-to-coordinate-federal-rules-on-gas-drilling/2012/04/13/gIQAmO89ET_story.html VEHICLES Energy Commission Grant Prepares LA Region for Electric Vehicles. A grant of $200,000 will help Southern California develop a plan to prepare for the influx of plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) across the region. The grant approved unanimously today by the California Energy Commission, will help the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) develop two sub-regional plans under a regional PEV Readiness Plan to determine where best to add PEV charging stations in one of the largest metropolitan areas in the nation. The SCAG is a planning organization representing the region's six counties, 191 cities and more than 18 million residents. Posted. http://www.energy.ca.gov/releases/2012_releases/2012-04-11_los_angeles_region_electric_vehicle_nr.html OPINION Cap-and-Price-Fix. When the European Union launched its Emissions Trading System seven years ago, it was sold as a market-based solution to the supposed problem of climate change. The EU would set a cap on the total emissions of CO2 permitted in Europe, and businesses that emitted carbon would buy and sell these permits, thereby setting their price. This would allow firms that figured out ways to reduce their emissions to profit, by selling excess permits, and allow those for whom that wasn't practical to buy up permits to stay in business. Over time, the cap would be lowered, raising the cost of carbon and making alternatives such as wind and solar power more attractive. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303772904577333531487110266.html?KEYWORDS=climate+change Risk, fear and nuclear power. California's initiative process can be both a wonderfully democratic and perilously dumb way to make law. On no issue could that be more true than the proposed initiative to shut down nuclear power in the state. The initiative would shut down the Diablo Canyon and San Onofre nuclear plants until the federal government approves a permanent disposal site for nuclear waste. The issue is scientifically, environmentally and economically complex, and tangled with powerful emotions. Between the facts and those feelings, guess which will have more influence on the choice people make? Is that a wise way to make policy on something with such huge implications for human and environmental health? Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-ropeik-california-nuclear-risk-20120413,0,5248411.story 2012 Nissan Leaf SL needs to turn over a better new Leaf. Dear Carlos Ghosn, You are a patient man, putting up with all of those questions about why your Nissan Leaf car “isn’t selling.” It seems everywhere you go, some blogger or content provider is pushing a variation of the theme: “Is the Nissan Leaf, a mass-market all-electric car launched a year ago, a flop?” Some even try to stick it to you with numbers: “You have a U.S. sales target of 20,000 to 25,000 Leaf cars in 2012. Yet, it’s mid-April, dude, and you’ve only sold 1,733. What’s up with that?” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/cars/nissan-needs-to-turn-over-a-better-new-leaf/2012/04/13/gIQAL8DHFT_story.html Is the First Offer the Best? Energy policy development over the last decade has shown one thing for certain, governments the world over are persistent in their desire to alter the energy mix and/or at least begin to manage emissions. Whether this is purely for environmental reasons or for concerns about energy security or perhaps for long term fiscal security almost doesn't seem to matter, energy policy development and emissions management continues to be a high priority. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/david-hone/is-the-first-offer-the-be_b_1421752.html BLOGS On Astronauts, NASA, and Climate Concerns. The folks whose mission or job is to amplify doubt about the significance of greenhouse gases have made much of a recent letter from 49 former NASA astronauts, engineers, scientists and others to the agency’s administrator, Charles Bolden, Jr. The letter, widely cast as signifying a “rebellion,” complains about the agency’s “unbridled advocacy of CO2 being the major cause of climate change.” A clear focus is the research center run by the agency’s star climatologist, James E. Hansen, who has variously been hailed and attacked for becoming a prominent campaigner against coal and oil use. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/12/on-astronauts-nasa-and-climate-concerns/?scp=4&sq=climate%20change&st=cse Weaning Investors Off Italy’s Green-Energy Drug. Renewable-energy returns in Italy had become so high they were “the envy of drug pushers,” in the words of Environment Minister Corrado Clini. The technocrat government of Prime Minister Mario Monti, appointed to tame the country’s towering debt pile with austerity measures and budget cuts, changed all that this week. To nobody’s surprise, the government has slashed aid to green energy. Incentives for solar-power generation will be cut by about 35% on average later this year, while those for the non-solar energy sector will be reduced by around 10% to 15% from 2013. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2012/04/13/weaning-italy-off-the-green-energy-drug/?KEYWORDS=green+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: Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:57:57 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 16, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board News Clips for April 16, 2012. 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 Prenatal exposure to air pollution linked to childhood obesity. Overall, 17% of children in the United States are obese, and in inner-city neighborhoods, the prevalence is as high as 25%. While poor diets and physical inactivity are the main culprits, there is new evidence that air pollution can play a role. A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health finds that pregnant women in New York City exposed to higher concentrations of chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAH, were more than twice as likely to have children who were obese by age 7 compared with women with lower levels of exposure. PAH, a common urban pollutant, are released into the air from the burning of coal, diesel, oil and gas, or other organic substances such as tobacco. Posted. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-04/cums-pet041612.php CLIMATE CHANGE As ice cap melts, militaries vie for Arctic edge. To the world's military leaders, the debate over climate change is long over. They are preparing for a new kind of Cold War in the Arctic, anticipating that rising temperatures there will open up a treasure trove of resources, long-dreamed-of sea lanes and a slew of potential conflicts. By Arctic standards, the region is already buzzing with military activity, and experts believe that will increase significantly in the years ahead. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hHahS23wLPy4fhU-vLwWGFHfwrDQ?docId=cea62528aa6a4ac6ba8846e0e37b42fe AP Newsbreak: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20406005/ice-cap-melts-militaries-vie-arctic-edge?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/16/2801606/as-ice-cap-melts-militaries-vie.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/04/16/international/i002336D37.DTL http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/16/2159548/as-ice-cap-melts-militaries-vie.html Climate change scientists look back -- 3 million years -- to look to future. To figure out what is likely to happen to Earth's climate this century, scientists are looking 3 million years into the past. They have concluded that the most revealing slice of time is the Pliocene Epoch, a warm, wet period between 3.15 million and 2.85 million years ago, when the world probably looked and felt much as it does now. Global temperatures and the amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere were similar to today's climate, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Posted. http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/15/11209341-climate-change-scientists-look-back-3-million-years-to-look-to-future?lite FUELS Solar powered hydrogen fueling AC Transit fuel cell buses. San Francisco Bay area transit agency, AC Transit, recently inaugurated on-site solar-powered hydrogen generation for fueling for the agency's fuel cell buses, using electrolysis equipment from Proton and a large 500 kilowatt solar power array. For years hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and the hydrogen economy were to be the way to clean up the transportation system, because the only exhaust from a fuel cell vehicle is plain old steam. Posted. http://www.torquenews.com/1075/solar-powered-hydrogen-fueling-ac-transit-fuel-cell-buses VEHICLES How Green Are Electric Cars? Depends on Where You Plug In. IT’S a lot like one of those math problems that gave you fits in sixth grade: a salesman leaves home in Denver and drives his electric car to a meeting in Boulder. At the same time, a physicist driving the same model electric car sets out from her loft in Los Angeles, heading to an appointment near Anaheim. For both, the traffic is light, and the cars consume an identical amount of battery power while traveling the same number of miles. Being purely electric, they emit zero tailpipe pollutants during their trips. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/automobiles/how-green-are-electric-cars-depends-on-where-you-plug-in.html?scp=1&sq=vehicles&st=cse Homegrown Power for Auto Plants. ACKNOWLEDGING that it makes little sense to spend billions to develop electric cars if charging their batteries produces roughly the same amount of carbon dioxide as the most efficient gasoline models, some European automakers are investing directly in renewable energy. Wind farms, solar installations, hydroelectric power and so-called e-gas plants are among the experiments intended to demonstrate that zero-carbon transportation can be a viable alternative. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/automobiles/in-europe-homegrown-power-for-auto-plants.html?scp=2&sq=vehicles&st=cse Hybrid and electric cars see record sales in March. Americans are buying record numbers of hybrid and electric cars as gas prices climb and new models arrive in showrooms, giving the vehicles their greatest share yet of the U.S. auto market. Consumers bought a record 52,000 gas-electric hybrids and all-electric cars in March, up from 34,000 during the same month last year. The two categories combined made up 3.64 percent of total U.S. sales, their highest monthly market share ever, according to Ward's AutoInfoBank. The previous high was 3.56 percent in July 2009, when the Cash for Clunkers program encouraged people to trade in old gas guzzlers for more fuel-efficient cars. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/13/hybrid-and-electric-cars-see-record-sales-in/ Car-sharing program takes off. It's a Catch-22 for the carless college student. No parents, no rules - and yet, no wheels. Now University of the Pacific students can better enjoy their newfound independence. What has been described as the world's largest car-share program has parked itself at Pacific, where a Ford Focus named "Fickle" and a Toyota Prius named "Portie" are available for hourly or daily use by students, faculty and staff. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120416/A_NEWS/204160307&cid=sitesearch Green cars take top prize in U.S. racing series. The checkered flag dropped at the Le Mans Series Toyota Grand Prix this weekend, and the most efficient, least carbon-emitting cars dominated the standings for the fourth year in a row. The Muscle Milk Pickett Racing team won the race with its High Performance Development Honda prototype and won the Michelin Green X Challenge, an award given to one team at the end of every American Le Mans Series (ALMS) race based on its vehicle's environmental performance. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/04/16/3 GREEN ENERGY S.J. County's green efforts are paying off. If you've got a recycling bin someplace in your home or office, chances are you're not moving as much paper as San Joaquin County government did in 2011. The $1.2 billion agency shredded 302 tons' worth of confidential documents among more than 500 tons of paper products recycled in 2011, according to an annual report from the county's "green" committee. It reports results from the county's policy promoting the purchasing of environmentally sustainable products and the collaboration of participating county departments in efforts to develop environmental programs and practices. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120414/A_NEWS/204140331&cid=sitesearch RIVERSIDE: Loveridge receives energy award. The Southern California Gas Co. recently recognized Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge for his leadership in promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy in the Inland area. The “Energy-Efficiency Champion” award was presented at the gas company’s Business Expo in Pomona in front of 300 business representatives and community leaders who gathered to learn about ways to save money and energy through the latest green technologies and utility programs. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20120413-riverside-loveridge-receives-energy-award.ece Solar rooftops sought in poor communities. San Diego is home to more than 2,600 solar residential rooftops – more than any other California city – but in the neighboring lower-income community of National City, there are only about a dozen. A bill [PDF] before the California Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce this month seeks to equalize renewable energy installation in the state by promoting small-scale solar rooftops in the disadvantaged communities. The bill targets neighborhoods with high unemployment rates and those that “bear a disproportionate burden from air pollution, disease, and other impacts from the generation of electricity from the burning of fossil fuels,” the bill said. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/solar-rooftops-sought-poor-communities-15746 OPINION New High-Speed Rail Biz Plan Crashes into Reality. What a train wreck. Barreling down the tracks in one direction, on April 9 a congressional committee launched a probe California’s high-speed rail project over charges of conflicts of interest and questionable spending of federal dollars. Barreling head-on toward it from the other direction, on April 12 the California High-Speed Rail Authority voted to approve its own revised business plan. The state action leaves only an up-or-down vote from the state Legislature to break ground on a project the CHSRA now pegs at costing $68.4 billion. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/04/new-high-speed-rail-biz-plan-crashes-into-reality/ Another view: ARB twisted cap-and-trade into a job killer. The line is now forming for those who want a say in how to spend billions of dollars from the Assembly Bill 32 cap-and-trade program. But first, how is this revenue "created"? For the answer, look in the mirror. Every consumer, public agency, manufacturer and small business will be paying higher prices for electricity, natural gas, gasoline and other products to fill the coffers of cap-and-trade as designed by the California Air Resources Board. This isn't what legislators intended when they voted for AB 32. The Air Resources Board has turned what could have been an effective and reasonable environmental program into an energy tax machine that will threaten the California economy for years to come. How we came to this dangerous point deserves a closer look. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/15/4413070/arb-twisted-cap-and-trade-into.html The ex-radical who heads air board's key panel. Change may be the only constant in the real world but that doesn't seem to include the Scientific Review Panel. Don't fret if you've never heard of it. It's one of those obscure governmental "no-see-ums" that do their business in relative anonymity and by the time you figure out you've been stung, you're left swatting at empty air. It was the Scientific Review Panel that first declared PM2.5 (tiny particulate matter made up of dust and soot) in diesel exhaust a dangerous air contaminant in 1998. Next thing you know -- ZAP! -- the California Air Resources Board cooked up the truck and bus rules that are costing operators hundreds of thousands of dollars as they're forced to buy expensive filtration equipment or replace their fleets entirely in the next few years. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/columnist/henry/x1322083219/The-ex-radical-who-heads-air-boards-key-panel BLOGS More on the Link Between Earthquakes and Fracking. Scientists from the United States Geological Survey have cautiously weighed in on a subject that has sparked public concern in some parts of the country: spates of small earthquakes in oil- and gas-producing areas. In a report to be presented next week at a meeting of seismologists in San Diego, the scientists say that increases in the number of quakes in Arkansas and Oklahoma in the last few years are “almost certainly” related to oil and gas production. But in a summary of the report, they say they do not know if seismic activity is increasing because companies are taking more oil and gas from underground or because of “changes in extraction methodologies.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/more-on-the-link-between-earthquakes-and-fracking/ Philadelphia Inks Historic Green Agreement with EPA. Taking a cue from the growing green branding trend, the city of Philadelphia seems intent on establishing itself as the East Coast’s preeminent sustainable city. Last week, Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter joined in an unprecedented 25-year agreement with the U.S. EPA that will pump $2 billion into the city for new investment in green infrastructure. While it won’t exactly remake Philadelphia into an east-of-the-Mississippi Portlandia, the new Green City, Clean Waters agreement will transform the city into a massive laboratory and national model for innovative, low cost methods of dealing with stormwater runoff and restoring urban waterways to good health. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/04/philadelphia-and-epa-partner-for-green-branding/ Hyundai will make 'limited' number of fuel-cell vehicles this year, 'thousands' by 2014. Hyundai has confirmed that it will make a "limited" number of hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) this year for testing purposes, with a goal of making as many as 10,000 FCEVs annually by 2015. The South Korean automaker is testing an FCEV based on the Tucson crossover which will be part of test fleets around the world during the next couple of years. Hyundai wasn't specific about how many units of the Tucson ix Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle it will make this year. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/hyundai-will-make-limited-number-of-fuel-cell-vehicles-this-ye/ ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 13:25:33 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 17, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov California Air Resources Board Newsclips for April 17, 2012. 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 air pollution from fracking rises, EPA to set rules. The rush to capture natural gas from hydraulic fracturing has led to giant compressor stations alongside backyard swing sets, drilling rigs in sight of front porches, and huge flares at gas wells alongside country roads. Air pollution from fracking includes the fumes breathed in by people nearby, as well as smog spread over a wide region and emissions of the greenhouse gas methane. Posted. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/16/2160421/as-air-pollution-from-fracking.html ‘Clean cookstoves’ draw support, but they may not improve indoor air quality. One of the most talked-about public-health initiatives is improving indoor air quality in the rural developing world. Traditional cookstoves — mud basins in which villagers burn wood, charcoal or dung — are the main obstacle. The fire releases particulate matter that contributes to pneumonia, lung cancer and heart disease, among many other maladies. The problems disproportionately affect women, who do most of the cooking in this population, and the children who are often nearby. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/clean-cookstoves-draw-support-but-they-may-not-improve-indoor-air-quality/2012/04/16/gIQAnjCvLT_story.html CLIMATE CHANGE Mexico Emulates Neighbor California With 35% Clean Climate Law. Joining world leaders in climate laws, Mexico just passed new legislation that catapults the poor neighbor to the south of the U.S. to a leadership role on a par with its northern neighbor, California. Mexico’s General Law on Climate Change was just passed by an 128-10 overwhelming vote in its 500 member Chamber of Deputies, and moves to the Senate. Since that body passed a preliminary version already, its chances of becoming law look excellent. Just as investment in clean energy soared in California following passage of its clean climate laws starting in 2006 with the first Renewable Energy Standard and following up with AB32, its climate law. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/15/mexico-emulates-neighbor-california-with-35-clean-climate-law/ Data centers in Va. and elsewhere have major carbon footprint, report says. To most consumers, the cloud is an abstract warehouse in the sky where we store our photos, documents and other key bits of information with a click of a button. But the technology that keeps the cloud running — data centers and mobile telecommunications networks, operating 24 hours a day — requires electricity, making it a target for environmentalists hoping to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/data-centers-in-va-and-elsewhere-have-major-carbon-footprint-report-says/2012/04/17/gIQAd4t3NT_story.html Palo Alto on track to meet greenhouse gas emission goals. Palo Alto is on its way to exceeding self-imposed greenhouse gas reduction goals, but council members made it clear Monday night that the city's Climate Protection Plan is in need of recalibrating. By the end of the year, emissions from city operations could fall to 27 percent below 2005 levels, said Debra van Duynhoven, assistant to the city manager. The plan calls for a 20 percent reduction by 2012. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20413520/palo-alto-track-meet-greenhouse-gas-emission-goals?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20413520/palo-alto-track-meet-greenhouse-gas-emission-goals?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Calif. Bill Would Amend 'Check and Inflate' Law. A California Senate Environmental Quality Committee hearing this week could result in a change in the state's "check and inflate" law to remove tire age as a reason for auto repairers to refuse to check the pressure on a vehicle's tires. The law stems from a 2010 ruling in which California's Air Resources Board (CARB) established a requirement that all auto repair and service establishments in the state must check and…Posted. http://www.tirereview.com/Article/99471/calif_bill_would_amend_check_and_inflate_law.aspx FUELS Ethanol Slumps to Two-Week Low as Corn and Gasoline Decline. Ethanol futures slumped to a two- week low in Chicago as corn and gasoline declined. Futures sank as the motor fuel declined after international talks with Iran over its nuclear program led to an agreement to reconvene in May, easing concern that crude supplies will be disrupted. Separately, corn, the primary ingredient used to make the biofuel in the U.S., fell on speculation favorable weather will boost crops. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-16/ethanol-slumps-to-two-week-low-as-corn-and-gasoline-decline.html Report to UK government backs fracking. Exploratory work to extract gas by hydraulic fracturing in England should be allowed to resume even though the technique has caused earth tremors, a report commissioned by the government said Tuesday. Cuadrilla Resources is using the technique, commonly called fracking, at a prospecting site in northwestern England. The consultants' report, which reviewed earlier reports by the company, recommends that fracking should be halted temporarily if there is a tremor greater than magnitude 0.5 on the Richter scale. Cuadrilla has said that is acceptable. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/17/2802919/report-to-uk-government-backs.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20413733/report-uk-government-backs-fracking?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20413733/report-uk-government-backs-fracking?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Oil Scare Turns FedEx On To Energy Efficiency. The rising cost of oil isn't just a hit to the family budget. Businesses are hurt, too. Few are more affected than firms like FedEx. It deploys nearly 700 planes and tens of thousands of trucks and vans every day to deliver packages around the world. And few business leaders are more focused on finding alternatives to petroleum-based fuels than FedEx CEO Fred Smith. Shortly after Smith founded Federal Express, the 1973 Arab oil embargo almost killed it. The experience imprinted Smith with a keen interest in the price and availability of oil. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2012/04/02/149703488/oil-scare-turns-fedex-onto-energy-efficiency?sc=emaf Resin shortage threatens to shut U.S. auto plants. After selling lots of cars, reveling in higher prices and profits, the U.S. auto industry faces a real threat this morning: a potential shortage of resin, a key component used to make fuel lines and brake lines that could shut down factories. Actually, it's not just a U.S. problem, but one that could reverberate around the world. The Associated Press says automakers are meeting today to discuss the problem in Detroit. As tense meetings go, we expect this one to be right up there. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/04/resin-shortage-threatens-to-shut-us-auto-plants-/1 EPA moves closer to approval of 15 pct ethanol gas. EPA allows ethanol makers to register E15, moving closer to approval of 15 percent ethanol gas. The federal government announced Monday it has taken a step toward wide distribution of gasoline mixed with 15 percent ethanol by allowing manufacturers to register as suppliers. While the EPA is moving the process forward by allowing the registration, E15 still must clear another set of federal tests and become a registered fuel in individual states. Ethanol makers then must convince petroleum marketers to sell it at gas stations. Posted. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/epa-moves-closer-approval-15-211835896.html BLOGS U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Headed Up Again. After dropping for two years during the recession, emissions of the gases blamed for global warming rose in 2010 as the economy heated up, the Environmental Protection Agency reports. Output of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gasses were up 3.2 percent from 2009 as the nation climbed slowly out of the deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression, the E.P.A. said. “The increase from 2009 to 2010 was primarily due to an increase in economic output resulting in an increase in energy consumption across all sectors…Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/16/u-s-greenhouse-gas-emissions-headed-up-again/ UCS: no matter where you live, driving electric can save money, emissions. It's easy to understand that, if you power your vehicle with electricity, you don't need to use as much gasoline. But, how much do you actually save, in terms of fuel costs and greenhouse gas emissions if you plug in instead of gas up? A new report, released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists, called "State of Charge: Electric Vehicles' Global Warming Emissions and Fuel-Cost Savings across the United States," gives us a set of answers. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/16/ucs-no-matter-where-you-live-driving-electric-saves-money-emi/ What Is The Cost of Waiting for LED? There’s no denying Solid State LED technology for commercial lighting purposes will be very useful, providing big energy and cost savings as well as great environmental paybacks. However, this is not the case for every application. At least, not yet. If you’re familiar with Haitz’s law, you know it states that LED lighting will improve in efficiency and decrease in cost over time. The law predicts that Solid State Lighting will soon become the most energy-efficient light source out there. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/04/cost-waiting-led/ ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 12:23:02 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for April 18, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for April 18, 2012. 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. HIGH-SPEED RAIL Halt California funds for high-speed rail: budget watchdog. California lawmakers should not approve Governor Jerry Brown's budget proposals to provide additional funds for the state's pricey planned high-speed rail system, the state's budget watchdog agency said in a report on Tuesday. The report by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office said the California High-Speed Rail Authority has "not made a strong enough case for going forward with the project at this time." Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/18/economy-california-high-speed-rail-idUSL2E8FI06L20120418 Analyst: Calif. high-speed rail plan still vague. Sacramento, Calif. -- The legislative analyst's office said Tuesday that the latest plan to build a $68.4 billion high-speed rail system linking Northern and Southern California still relies on highly speculative financing, and it urged the state Legislature to reject funding until more details are ironed out. The California High-Speed Rail Authority "has not provided sufficient detail and justification to the Legislature regarding its plan to build a high-speed rail system," the LAO said. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/17/4421751/committee-defers-re-vote-on-high.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/17/committee-defers-re-vote-on-high-speed-rail-plan/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/analyst-calif-high-speed-rail-plan-still-vague/article_f180ad51-c850-53c9-aa88-287ab02f7053.html Stop California bullet train, state's top analyst urges. The state's top analyst on Tuesday urged lawmakers to slam the brakes on California's $68 billion bullet train, cautioning that the newly overhauled plan simply isn't "strong enough" and relies on "highly speculative" funding sources. The report from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office is especially significant as the state Senate and Assembly on Wednesday begin a debate on whether to start building the high-speed rail line, a decision officials revealed Tuesday will likely be delayed into the summer. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20418168/stop-california-bullet-train-states-top-analyst-urges?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/17/2161967/committee-defers-re-vote-on-high.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20418168/stop-california-bullet-train-states-top-analyst-urges?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com AIR POLLUTION AP Newsbreak: EPA issues first-ever rules to control air pollution from fractured gas wells. The Obama administration is issuing the first-ever standards to control air pollution from gas wells that are drilled using a method called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, but not without making concessions to the oil and gas industry. The regulation is expected to be officially announced later Wednesday. President Barack Obama in his State of the Union address strongly backed natural gas drilling as a clean energy source, and recently announced an executive order calling for coordination of federal regulation to ease burdens on producers. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/ap-newsbreak-epa-issues-first-ever-rules-to-control-air-pollution-from-fractured-gas-wells/2012/04/18/gIQA7EpmQT_story.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20424126/ap-newsbreak-epa-reduce-gas-drilling-pollution?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Oakbio aims to make plastic from plant's pollution. At a sprawling cement plant near Cupertino, researchers are trying a kind of eco-friendly alchemy, turning carbon dioxide into biodegradable plastic. The researchers, from startup company Oakbio Inc., take carbon dioxide from the plant's exhaust and feed it to specially selected microbes, along with some hydrogen. The microbes create a kind of plastic from the gas. They also make compounds that can be used in cosmetics, food, perfume and industrial lubricants. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/18/BUFM1O4PF5.DTL Santa Rosa's drive-thru dilemma. Drive-thru windows may be a popular convenience for those on the move, but Santa Rosa's rejection of a Chick-fil-A on Mendocino Avenue shows they remain a hot topic for those worried about global warming. The city has struggled for years with how to handle requests for businesses with drive-thrus given the county's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 75 percent of 1990 levels by 2015. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120418/ARTICLES/204181096 CLIMATE CHANGE Majority believe role of warming in weather. Scientists may hesitate to link some of the weather extremes of recent years to global warming -- but the public, it seems, is already there. A poll due for release Wednesday shows that a large majority of Americans believe that this year's unusually warm winter, last year's blistering summer, and some other weather disasters were likely made worse by global warming. And by a 2-1 margin, the public says the weather has been getting worse, rather than better, in recent years. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/science/ci_20419475/majority-believe-role-warming-weather?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20419475/majority-believe-role-warming-weather?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Obama and Romney on energy, environmental issues. A look at where President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney stand on energy and environmental issues: OBAMA: Ordered temporary moratorium on deep-water drilling after the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico but has pushed for more oil and gas drilling overall. Approved drilling plan in Arctic Ocean opposed by environmentalists. Now proposes that Congress give oil market regulators more power to control price manipulation by speculators and stiffer fines for doing so. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/17/2161670/obama-and-romney-on-energy-environmental.html VEHICLES Benefit of electric cars found to vary by location. Electric cars are only as green as the power plants that fuel them. As a result, they are far greener in some parts of the country than in others, according to a report issued Monday by the Union of Concerned Scientists. In California - which derives most of its electricity from natural gas plants, nuclear reactors, renewable power sources and hydroelectric dams - an electric car produces the same amount of global warming emissions as a gasoline-burning car that gets 79 miles to the gallon. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/16/BU5L1O44PP.DTL GREEN ENERGY Cleaner 'clouds' needed at tech giants, Greenpeace says. San Jose, Calif. - In their race for the cloud, tech companies are leaving a trail of pollution from dirty energy sources, Greenpeace said Tuesday in a report that accused some of the world's biggest tech companies of failing to make clean energy a priority. Cloud computing allows users to store and access data, programs and more on remote servers, preserving computing power. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/17/4421232/cleaner-clouds-needed-at-tech.html Geothermal heating system draws on limitless fuel: sewage. Philadelphia -- Among the many renewable energy sources - wind, solar, hydroelectric, biofuels - there is one to which we all contribute that has not yet managed to attract the romantic advocates who have embraced other forms of green energy. We're speaking about the gray river of warmth flowing right beneath our feet: sewage. A Philadelphia company, NovaThermal Energy LLC, wants to heat and cool buildings by tapping into the constant, guaranteed heat contained in wastewater. The process is called sewage geothermal. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/18/4422921/geothermal-heating-system-draws.html Solar Company to Cut 2,000 Jobs and Close a German Factory. Five months ago, First Solar was celebrating making the millionth solar module at a plant it had built in Frankfurt, to double its production in Germany, the world’s largest market for solar power. The party did not last long. On Tuesday, the company, which is based in Arizona, announced that it would stop all of its German production as part of a broad restructuring plan that will cut its global work force by 30 percent, or 2,000 workers, and sharply reduce its global production capacity. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/business/energy-environment/first-solar-to-cut-2000-jobs-and-close-a-german-factory.html?ref=energy-environment OPINIONS Dan Walters: California bullet train still lacks valid data. The Maloof family, which owns the Sacramento Kings, is being excoriated by fans and local politicians for pulling out of a tentative deal to build a new basketball arena. It's at least possible, however, that the Maloofs are doing Sacramento a favor by killing a project that could have been a financial albatross for taxpayers in the long run. Christopher Thornberg, a well-known economist hired by the Maloofs to evaluate the complex deal, concluded that the ticket sales and other underlying revenue assumptions of the deal were unrealistically optimistic and in the end, it didn't pencil out. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/18/4422150/dan-walters-california-bullet.html BLOGS Clean Technology on the Brink. Clean energy technology has grown robustly and come down in price in recent years, driven by hefty government stimulus spending, expectations of future regulation and substantial private investment. But that technology is going to fall off a cliff unless government steps in quickly to revitalize the solar, wind, nuclear, battery and clean vehicle sectors with new spending and federal policy, according to a new study from three research groups. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/clean-technology-on-the-brink/ Frito-Lay Pledges a Major Shift Toward Natural-Gas Trucking. On Tuesday, Frito-Lay announced it would add 67 trucks that would run on compressed natural gas, known as C.N.G., to its fleet. Eventually, the company said, a majority of its longer-range vehicles would run on C.N.G., as well as liquefied natural gas for longer-distance hauls. The C.N.G.-powered trucks would save the equivalent of $2.50 a gallon compared with diesel at current prices, as well as reduce greenhouse emissions by 23 percent when compared with diesel rigs, the company said. Currently, 18 trucks burning natural gas in 8.9-liter Cummins Westport engines are undergoing a pilot test. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/17/frito-lay-pledges-a-major-shift-toward-natural-gas-trucking/ GM battery lab explosion cost could reach $5M. Last week, a fire broke out at the General Motors Technical Center battery research lab in Warren, Michigan. General Motors has since said the fire was caused by a battery that was being tested under "extreme stress." Engineers were trying to get the pack to fail, which it did, but not to ignite, which it also did when gases leaked out and somehow caught fire. There's one detail we have not heard yet, and that's how much the fire could end up costing GM: up to $5 million, the The Detroit News reports, based on information that the automaker's representatives submitted in a police report. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/18/gm-battery-lab-explosion-cost-could-reach-5m/ Legislative Analyst: High-speed rail funding “speculative”. Despite of lowering the proposed cost of California’s high-speed rail project to $68 billion, the Brown administration still relies on “highly speculative” funding for the project, the Legislative Analyst’s Office said in a report today recommending that constructing funding not be approved. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/04/legislative-analyst-california-high-speed-rail-funding-speculative.html Clean-energy subsidies are vanishing. What should replace them? Clean tech has enjoyed quite the party these past few years. Solar, wind, plug-in vehicles — they’ve all benefited from billions of dollars in subsidies from Congress, through various energy and stimulus bills. As a result, many industries, like solar, have taken lengthy strides. But that party’s about to shut down. As an extensive new report (pdf) out Wednesday details, clean-energy subsidies are disappearing fast, as the stimulus winds down and various laws and tax credits expire. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/clean-energy-subsidies-are-vanishing-what-should-replace-them/2012/04/18/gIQApCUYQT_blog.html Advanced vehicle battery costs dropped 14% in the past year; down 30% since 2009. Electric-vehicle lithium-ion battery-pack costs fell 14 percent during the past year and are down 30 percent from three years ago because of technological improvements and increased production capacity, Bloomberg News reports, citing a study from its sister entity Bloomberg New Energy Finance. EV battery costs fell to $689 per kilowatt hour (kWh) during the first quarter, down from $800 per kWh a year earlier. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/17/advanced-vehicle-battery-costs-drop-14-in-the-past-year-down-3/ STUDY: Climate Coverage Plummets On Broadcast Networks. A Media Matters analysis finds that news coverage of climate change on ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX has dropped significantly since 2009. In 2011, these networks spent more than twice as much time discussing Donald Trump as climate change. Time Devoted To Climate Change Has Fallen Sharply Since 2009. Despite Ongoing Climate News, Broadcast Coverage Has Dropped Significantly. Since 2009, when the U.S. House of Representatives passed a climate bill and a major climate conference …Posted. http://mediamatters.org/print/research/201204160010 ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 13:49:00 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for April 19, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for April 19, 2012. 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. HIGH-SPEED RAIL California lawmakers scrutinize rail plan. A day after a highly critical report on a $68.4 billion high-speed rail proposal in California, Democrats who control the Legislature said they remained committed to the project while the chairman of the authority that would oversee construction said it's still a risk worth taking. On Wednesday, lawmakers began evaluating the latest proposal from the California High-Speed Rail Authority in Senate and Assembly hearings. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47099994 California lawmakers in no rush on high-speed rail bonds. California lawmakers said on Wednesday they won't rush a decision on whether to approve a bond sale to begin building a high-speed rail system, adding they could sideline the issue until after they conclude state budget talks. The Democrat-led Legislature faces a mid-June deadline to approve a budget for the fiscal year beginning in July while Governor Jerry Brown has urged lawmakers to give the nod to a bond sale for the planned rail system quickly. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/18/economy-california-high-speed-rail-idUSL2E8FIL2Z20120418 Uncertainty is part of transportation funding, California high-speed rail chief says. California High-Speed Rail Authority Chairman Dan Richard defended his $68 billion program Wednesday by noting that major transportation projects often face the financial uncertainty for which the rail program faces criticism. In two Capitol hearings, Richard urged lawmakers to approve $2.6 billion in state bond funds along with $3.3 billion in federal money to start construction in the Central Valley this year. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/19/4425279/uncertainty-is-part-of-transportation.html Correction: High-Speed Rail story. Sacramento, Calif.—In a story April 17 about California's high-speed rail proposal, The Associated Press reported erroneously that a 520-mile system would link San Francisco and Burbank. The 520-mile segment would link San Francisco and Anaheim. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_20428002/correction-high-speed-rail-story AIR POLLUTION And the lasers' red lights lit up holiday nights. Air group, citing pollution, seeks fireworks substitute. There could be no rockets' red glare, nor bombs bursting in air, in some San Joaquin Valley communities if air-quality officials approve a plan today to reduce dramatic spikes in pollution each Fourth of July. The regulators want to offer up a quarter of a million dollars this summer to encourage communities to switch from fireworks displays to high-tech, zero-emission laser shows. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120419/A_NEWS/204190325&cid=sitesearch CLIMATE CHANGE Locus Verifiers Accredited Under New California GHG Reporting Rule. Locus Technologies (Locus), the industry leader in web-based environmental compliance and information management software, has been accredited by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to provide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions verification services. Locus is one of a select few companies to obtain this accreditation. Locus has provided verification services since 2010 for dozens of reporting entities. Recent amendments to the CARB regulation have prompted the regulators to retest and recertify all verifiers to ensure thorough understanding of the new regulations. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47097907 Do Emissions Cause Tornadoes? Climate Service Would Know. Last weekend, more than 100 tornadoes tore across the Plains states, smashing homes, tossing cars and killing six people. This might have counted as a rousing start to the spring tornado season, except for the dozen or more twisters that struck Dallas and Fort Worth earlier this month and the 223 that hit the U.S. in March -- almost three times the average for that month since 1990. Tornadoes have been blamed for 63 deaths this year in the Midwest and South. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-18/do-emissions-cause-tornadoes-climate-service-would-know.html U.S. Caps Emissions in Drilling for Fuel. Washington — Oil and gas companies will have to capture toxic and climate-altering gases from wells, storage sites and pipelines under new air quality standards issued on Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency. The rule is the first federal effort to address serious air pollution associated with the natural gas drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which releases toxic and cancer-causing chemicals like benzene and hexane, as well as methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/19/science/earth/epa-caps-emissions-at-gas-and-oil-wells.html?_r=1 California leads green tech funding, reduces greenhouse emissions. California has had remarkable success in extending its national lead in clean technology, using it to help fuel the state’s economic rebound and drive its effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions, even as its population continues to grow. Those are some of the findings of the 2012 California Green Innovation Index, released by the nonpartisan nonprofit group Next 10 and compiled by Collaborative Economics. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-green-tech-funding-20120419,0,6332921.story FUELS Solar Will Dominate Clean-Energy Mergers, Jefferies Says. Solar manufacturers will lead consolidation in the clean-energy sector this year because of overcapacity and declining government incentives, according to a survey conducted by Jefferies Group Inc. (JEF) Mergers and acquisitions of solar companies will top those of wind-turbine makers, biofuels, energy-storage and smart-grid companies, according to 71 percent of respondents in a survey of about 90 investors the investment bank conducted at its conference in New York on Feb. 23. “Solar needs to be rationalized,” Amy Smith, co-head of cleantech investment banking at Jefferies in San Francisco, said yesterday in an interview. “It’s become somewhat of a commodity industry.” Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-19/solar-will-dominate-clean-energy-mergers-jefferies-says.html New EPA rules target pollution at fracking sites. Environmentalists applaud the new rules but are disappointed that natural gas producers were given three years to install methane-capturing technology. The industry says the regulations are onerous. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued regulations that for the first time will curtail air pollution from natural gas wells that use a controversial production technique known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-epa-drilling-20120419,0,3783768.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/19/MNG41O5DN6.DTL&type=green http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/19/4425229/epa-rules-target-air-pollution.html VEHICLES Fuel-efficiency records raise questions. The Obama administration focused on winning support of Detroit's Big Three automakers to double fuel-efficiency standards by 2025 before it sought approval of foreign automakers, new documents show. Emails obtained by The Detroit News also show federal regulators wanted to complete fuel-efficiency talks by June 30 — a month earlier than the actual deal — and that senior White House aide Ron Bloom directly conferred with Ford Motor Co. CEO Alan Mulally during last summer's talks. Posted. http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120419/AUTO01/204190355/1148/AUTO01/Fuel-efficiency-records-raise-questions Electric vehicles are the cheapest of all alternative fuels. Although the authors hesitate to declare any alternative fuel the cheapest option, the chart below clearly shows the “BEV-100″ (Battery-Electric with 100-mile range, i.e. the Nissan Leaf) to be the least expensive option even at high electricity prices ($0.14/kWh, €0,107/kWh) and low gas prices ($3,5/gallon, €0,70/L). However, the Leaf only has a clear lead when the $7500 (€5710) tax credit is taken into account. Posted. http://beta.cars21.com/news/view/4569 GREEN ENERGY California May Credit Big Hydro Power to Green Energy Goal. California, the second-largest U.S. hydroelectric producer, would count large water projects toward its goal of having renewable resources supply a third of its power under a bill approved by an Assembly committee. The measure would remove a limitation that now counts only smaller hydropower projects, capable of producing 30 megawatts or less, to qualify toward California’s renewable portfolio standard. The biggest U.S. state by population, which consumed 8.5 percent of the nation’s energy in 2009…Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-17/california-may-credit-big-hydro-power-to-green-energy-goal-1-.html India Struggles to Deliver Enough Electricity for Growth. India has long struggled to provide enough electricity to light its homes and power its industry around the clock. In recent years, the government and private sector sought to change that by building scores of new power plants. But that campaign is now running into difficulties because the country cannot get enough fuel — principally coal — to run the plants. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/20/business/global/india-struggles-to-deliver-enough-electricity-for-growth.html?ref=business# Study touts California's clean-tech industry. California's clean-technology industry is growing and supporting economic recovery in the state, according to a report released today by Next 10, a San Francisco nonprofit that promotes growth of California's clean economy. Published for the fourth time since 2008 by Next 10 and compiled by Collaborative Economics Inc. in San Mateo, the 2012 California Green Innovation Index measures various economic and environmental factors, including clean-tech venture capital investment levels, clean-tech patent activity, energy productivity and renewable energy-generation levels. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/19/4425173/study-touts-californias-clean.html California clean-tech industry a VC darling. Despite Solyndra's spectacular collapse, a report issued Tuesday suggests that California's clean-tech industry continues to thrive, soaking up more venture capital in 2011 than it did before the recession. The annual California Green Innovation Index from public policy group Next 10 tracks the green economy's health, pulling together data on employment, patents and the rising use of renewable power. It tries to show real-world benefits of the state's global warming policies, which have helped make California a magnet for green businesses. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/18/BUS51O57OE.DTL Bay Area workers get training for green jobs, and placement. SolarTech, an initiative of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, has partnered with NOVA, a local job training organization, on a pioneering program that trains people for highly sought after "green jobs" in the region's fast-growing solar and energy efficiency industries. Called the SolarTech Workforce Innovations Collaborative, or SWIC, the program goes a step beyond many other job training programs. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20427734/local-workers-get-training-green-jobs-and-placement?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20427734/local-workers-get-training-green-jobs-and-placement?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com MISCELLANEOUS Bunge Seeks CO2 Credits for California, China After Drop. Bunge Ltd. (BG) is seeking to buy carbon credits for new markets from California to China after prices plunged to a record and it bought London-based Climate Change Capital Ltd. “We don’t think environmental markets are going away,” Alfred Evans, chief executive officer of Climate Change Capital, said on April 16 in a phone interview from Geneva. Bunge, the food and agriculture company, is betting there will still be markets for credits in some North American states and Australia, even in the absence of a global market, Evans said. Posted. http://webfarm.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-18/bunge-seeks-co2-credits-for-california-china-after-price-drop.html South Lake Tahoe controlled burns sending smoke over the region. U.S. Forest Service crews are conducting prescribed fires in South Lake Tahoe. The controlled burns began Monday and are expected to continue through Friday in the Andria Drive area of Kingsbury Grade. Residents and visitors can expect to see smoke from the fires, said Lisa Herron, public affairs specialist for the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/19/4425641/south-lake-tahoe-controlled-burns.html OPINIONS Speculators and the Gas Pump. No matter what Mitt Romney and other Republicans say, there are no easy fixes for rising gas prices. With the national average price hovering near $4 a gallon, Americans are understandably concerned, and President Obama was right to call for more scrutiny of the oil markets. Mr. Obama made clear that not even the president of the United States can repeal the law of supply and demand. But what federal officials can do is ensure that market manipulation and speculation do not drive gas prices higher than is warranted by economic fundamentals. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/19/opinion/speculators-and-the-gas-pump.html?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print On this 42nd Earth Day, it's still not easy being green. If only being green were always black and white. Instead it's often way too gray in the glut of opinions and advertising claims. And it's even more murky when products or actions proven beneficial to our dear Mother Earth present potential side effects themselves -- unintended consequences of our growing green goals. Biodegradable trash bags? Sounds great, but if they're made from corn which is an overproduced crop, is that OK? Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20428290/this-42nd-earth-day-its-still-not-easy?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20428290/this-42nd-earth-day-its-still-not-easy?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Teens: Let me ride my bicycle in peace. Gas prices have been steadily rising, but what do I care? I get around by bicycle. My main mode of transportation may be old-fashioned, but it's free, it's healthy and it's eco-friendly. Much to my disappointment, it's also socially unacceptable in the "Danville bubble," where I live. When people find out I bike to school, the usual response is: "Wow, that sucks! Why? Don't you have your license?" Yes, I do have a driver's license. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20428259/teens-let-me-ride-my-bicycle-peace?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com The EPA's Faulty Science Can Be Stopped. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-sponsored and funded "human health effects science" research is unreliable and makes irresponsible and outrageous claims about how air pollution causes thousands of deaths. Then the EPA claims that it can prevent those deaths with its latest set of regulations of emissions. This junk science can be challenged effectively, legally, and politically, as described below. Posted. http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/04/the_epas_faulty_science_can_be_stopped.html You Can’t Build High Speed Rail with No Money. Analyst’s “concern” that funding is not available for the High Speed Rail (HSR) comes at the same time that the federal government – a source counted on for HSR funds — appears to be turning against the High Speed Rail. Yesterday, the subcommittee on Transportation under the Appropriations Committee of the United States Senate put a hold on HSR federal funds for the 2013 fiscal year. Ken Orski, editor and publisher of Innovation News Briefs, which follows transportation issues on Capitol Hill, says the full committee usually follows the sub committee’s recommendations. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/04/you-cant-build-high-speed-rail-with-no-money/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=you-cant-build-high-speed-rail-with-no-money BLOGS Americans connect dots between global warming and extreme weather. Most Americans get it: global warming is intensifying heat waves and extreme precipitation to some degree. That’s the take away from a new public opinion survey from the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication. The survey, which queried more than 1,000 adults across the country about global warming and extreme weather…Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/americans-connect-dots-between-global-warming-and-extreme-weather/2012/04/18/gIQAyQBORT_blog.html Of Pretzels, Space Heaters and the Fate of the Planet. A reader in New Mexico, John Mihelich, raises an interesting question about my recent article about a climate change poll. The poll showed that a large majority of the public believes that global warming is influencing the weather in the United States and that it probably made some recent weather disasters worse. Mr. Mihelich pointed out that the poll was taken during several weeks in March when the United States was unseasonably warm. “I wonder what the results would have been of a similar poll conducted in the depth of the bitter winters of 2010 or 2011,” he wrote. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/of-pretzels-space-heaters-and-the-fate-of-the-planet/?ref=earth More on Global Warming from a Republican Meteorologist. The meteorologist and energy entrepreneur Paul Douglas is keeping up his valuable effort to depoliticize the science pointing to a growing human influence on the climate. Last month, I noted a post in which he described the scientific case posed by the unabated emissions of greenhouse gases. He described himself as a “Republican deeply concerned about the environmental sacrifices some are asking us to make to keep our economy powered-up, long-term.” Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/19/more-on-global-warming-from-a-republican-meteorologist/ California fracking bill would protect industry ‘trade secrets’. A California lawmaker working to pass the Golden State's first hydraulic fracturing rules has watered down his landmark legislation, hoping to overcome industry opposition to a measure that would force energy companies to disclose the mysterious mix of chemicals they inject into the ground to tap oil deposits. The legislation stalled last year after objections by industry that full disclosure of "fracking" chemicals would reveal proprietary "recipes." Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/04/california-fracking-bill-would-protect-industry-trade-secrets.html California high-speed rail chief: Projects often lack sure funding. After the state's fiscal analyst criticized California high-speed rail for facing "highly speculative" financial prospects, California High-Speed Rail Authority Chairman Dan Richard defended the $68 billion program this morning by suggesting major transportation projects often lack funding certainty. Richard urged Assembly members to approve $2.6 billion in state bond funds along with $3.3 billion in federal money to start construction in the Central Valley by the end of the year. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/04/california-high-speed-rail-chief-dan-richard-projects-often-lack-funding-certainty.html New Report Suggests Best Approach to Invest Cap and Trade Revenue. California’s safest option for guarding against lawsuits over how it spends the billions anticipated from its landmark cap-and-trade program is to channel the auction revenue toward reducing greenhouse gas pollution and furthering the goals of its Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32), according to a recent analysis. The conclusion by the UCLA School of Law’s Emmett Center on Climate Change and Environment may put the brakes on some of the wide-ranging suggestions for using the state’s fee revenue. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kgrenfell/new_report_suggest_best_approa.html Taking the Sting Out of Climate Change Displacement. Now that global warming, aka climate change, has joined the ranks of indisputable occurrences, the British government has announced itself ready to stand behind 21st century technology that can help mediate climate disasters and climate change displacement. The UK, whose record on climate is best described as “schizophrenic ” – a term most applicable to the Conservative Party’s inability to fixate on specific green goals – is currently in an ongoing imbroglio with even less environmentally committed nations over an airlines emissions…Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/taking-sting-out-climate-change-displacement/ ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 14:26:26 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for April 20, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for April 20, 2012. 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 Asbestos probe: No conspiracy. Activists convinced that the Hunters Point Shipyard development is a threat to the health of its neighbors have lost another battle with the government. An investigation by the FBI and the inspector general of the federal Environmental Protection Agency found "no evidence that an EPA employee conspired with the (San Francisco Department of Public Health) and Lennar Corp. to conceal asbestos exposure at the ... site," a summary of the report, released earlier this month, states. The inspector general "recommended no further action and now considers this matter closed." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/20/BAS11O6E04.DTL&type=printable California Air Pollution: Report Shows Decrease In 'Unhealthy Air'. California air pollution reached unhealthy levels less often in 2011 than a decade ago, according to a report released this week by a state association of regional air district officers. Compared with 2000, there were about 74 percent fewer days of "unhealthy air" statewide last year, data from the report [PDF] showed. Air quality can range from "good" to "very unhealthy," and it is calculated based on local monitoring of four air pollutants regulated by the federal Clean Air Act. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/20/california-air-pollution-_n_1440705.html?ref=los-angeles Air officials scale back offer to replace fireworks with lasers. San Joaquin Valley air quality officials on Thursday approved a scaled-back version of a plan to coax communities to drop fireworks displays in favor of nonpolluting laser-light shows this Fourth of July. The original plan was to offer $250,000 to communities willing to make the change. But Valley Air Pollution Control District board members felt there wasn't enough information yet on how well the program would be received and what the health benefits would be from reducing fireworks pollution. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120420/A_NEWS/204200305/-1/A_NEWS14 CLIMATE CHANGE California carbon soars 14 pct as new buyer enters-Point Carbon. California carbon allowances (CCAs) for delivery in 2013 hit their highest price this year, gaining $1.85/tonne from the previous week to close at $15.50/t on Thursday, on the back of new buying, market sources said. A total of 245,000 CCAs changed hands this week on the IntercontinentalExchange (ICE), making it the busiest week for allowance trading so far this year. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/20/california-pointcarbon-idUSL2E8FK03L20120420 Showing Polar Ice Melting, TV Program Is Silent on Why. “Frozen Planet,” the seven-hour series that has attracted millions of viewers to the Discovery Channel in recent weeks, shows Earth in extremis. On this planet, the poles are violently cold, yet are also atypically vulnerable to the warming trends that are endangering polar bear populations and causing huge chunks of ice to break off Greenland and Antarctica. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/21/business/media/discoverys-frozen-planet-is-silent-on-causes-of-climate-change.html GREEN ENERGY NASA's Greenest Building Unveiled at Moffett Field. NASA's newest building at the Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, has won the distinction of being certified as the nation's "greenest" federal building. Known as "Sustainability Base," the 50,000-square-foot, two-story office building is visually stunning: Sunlight streams through skylights, windows actually open, and the office floor plan has scrapped private offices in favor of open spaces that encourage teamwork and collaboration. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_20435327/nasas-sustainability-base-at-moffett-field-is-nations http://business-news.thestreet.com/mercury-news/story/nasas-greenest-building-unveiled-moffett-field/1 VENTURE FUNDING RISES IN SAN DIEGO. Investments in clean-tech firm, life sciences lead way. San Diego startup companies hauled in more venture capital in the first quarter than the prior year, bucking the national trend of declining funding for young firms. Two reports released today showed that San Diego’s good first quarter was led by a large investment in clean-tech firm Sapphire Energy, as well as continued funding for life sciences companies. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/apr/20/tp-venture-funding-rises-in-san-diego/ OPINIONS Clean Air and Natural Gas. The Obama administration’s new rules aimed at cutting harmful emissions from natural gas wells are a win for the environment, for the public and for industry. And despite what Republican politicians claim, the rules will not impose major new costs or slow what has been a remarkable boom in natural gas production. The rules, announced on Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency, are the first federal effort to address air pollution problems associated with hydraulic fracturing. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/20/opinion/clean-air-and-natural-gas.html Editorial: SACOG sets high bar on transportation plan. Quality of life in the Sacramento region is inexorably linked to how we build communities and link them with transportation. If we do it right, we can reduce pollution, protect farmland, create a vibrant urban fabric and give people alternatives to congested freeways and highways. This region has a long history in making bad choices in this realm, but that is starting to change. One big step forward came Thursday when the Sacramento Area Council of Governments approved a 2035 Sustainable Communities Strategy/Regional Transportation Plan. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/20/4428212/sacog-sets-high-bar-on-transportation.html Viewpoints: High-speed rail for a more sustainable state. We are all strong supporters of building the California High-Speed Rail system, and our state has arrived at a critical juncture. In the weeks ahead, state legislators will be asked to release $2.7 billion in previously approved state bond funds to begin construction of the first section of high-speed rail in the United States. Our long-term economic and environmental future requires an alternative to simply adding more highways and airport runways. We need a sustainable, modern way of moving people up and down the state that doesn't rely on gasoline and concrete. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/20/4428222/high-speed-rail-for-a-more-sustainable.html A boon to California's electric vehicle economy. California leads the nation when it comes to hybrid and electric vehicles and, with record electric and hybrid vehicle sales across the country last month, advanced vehicles are set to break into the mainstream. That breakthrough so far has been held back by the relatively limited number of electric vehicle charging stations available to California drivers. That's about to change. The electric vehicle industry got a huge shot in the arm last month when Gov. Jerry Brown announced the largest-ever investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/19/EDAK1O4RCA.DTL Marin Voice: Sustainability is a commitment we can all make. JOHN F. KENNEDY famously posited: "Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country." In this age of global warming, his message has taken on an even stronger resonance. In Marin, one need not look far for simple ways to better our planet and better our lives in the process. The city of San Rafael established a Climate Change Action Plan in 2009, a culmination of several months of community outreach, citizen engagement, lively discourse and democracy in action. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_20427851/marin-voice-sustainability-is-commitment-we-can-all?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com ‘Stay the course’ a (rail) road to ruin. The Legislative Analyst Office’s evaluation of the latest version of the California High-Speed Rail Authority’s business plan is a serious document that deserves a serious response. The report praised rail authority officials for coming up with a cheaper ($68 billion) and more practical alternative. It also, however, pointed out that the state had less than a fifth of the money in hand for the bullet train project and no realistic expectations that any of the $55 billion or more that is still needed could be obtained from any source. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/apr/19/stay-the-course-a-rail-road-to-ruin/ Letter: Meat threatens the environment. Just in time for next Sunday's Earth Day observance, a study in the Environmental Research Letters warns that animal manure and fertilizers used in growing animal feed emit large amounts of nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas. An op-ed piece in The New York Times warns that the devastating environmental impacts of a meat-based diet are actually magnified when raising animals on the range because this involves more land and more greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120420/OPINION02/204200329/Letter-Meat-threatens-environment Letter: Are windmills a wise investment? Why have we not seen any figures on the 2,000 bird-killing wind turbines in the valley? It would be interesting to know the cost to date and how many kilowatt hours of power were generated over the 8,760 hours a year available. How much income was generated and how much of that income was subsidized by we taxpayers because of the failed “green energy” mantra. And if we ever get this information, we'll look at solar power next. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120420/OPINION02/204200330/Letter-windmills-wise-investment- Don't sell bonds for high-speed rail. Once again, we wonder how many experts must deliver a single message before the California Legislature will heed it. In the case of the state's high-speed rail boondoggle, it seems the answer is simple: As many as it takes to get the answer it wants. On Tuesday, the state's nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office once again echoed the chorus of every serious analysis of the plan. The LAO's message was clear: The plan - even the revised one - is just not "strong enough" and relies on "highly speculative" funding sources. Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/editorial/ci_20434335/dont-sell-bonds-high-speed-rail Green industries play vital role. As stewards of the environment, "green" industries like the water service sector understand their vital role, not only for the environment, but for the workforce as well. With Earth Day 2012 right around the corner, there is growing evidence of that: A report released this month by the Green Job Bank, a Baltimore-based green job search engine, showed a dramatic increase in the number of green job postings during the first quarter of 2012. For two years running, a study by CNN, Fortune and Money magazines ranks environmental engineering among the 10 best "fast-growth" career fields in the United States. Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/pointofview/ci_20434494/green-industries-play-vital-role Methane in the Twilight Zone (First Episode). Last month saw methane emissions entering the twilight zone for the first time. By an odd quirk of timing, two incongruous things happened virtually at once. At this year's annual American Geophysical Union (AGU) conference in San Francisco, leading experts dealing with a source for potentially significant Arctic methane emissions, in an area known as the Eastern Siberian Arctic Shelf (or ESAS), gave a disturbing presentation in which they reported having recently found large plumes of escaping methane there bubbling from the sea floor, up to a hundred times larger than any they had found in the area before. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nathan-currier/methane-in-the-twilight-z_b_1198239.html New Report Suggests Best Approach to Invest Cap and Trade Revenue. California’s safest option for guarding against lawsuits over how it spends the billions anticipated from its landmark cap-and-trade program is to channel the auction revenue toward reducing greenhouse gas pollution and furthering the goals of its Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32), according to a recent analysis. The conclusion by the UCLA School of Law’s Emmett Center on Climate Change and Environment may put the brakes on some of the wide-ranging suggestions for using the state’s fee revenue. Posted. http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/site/comment/reply/10053 New EPA Rules Help Communities of Color Breathe Easier. New Standards Will Reduce Health and Economic Costs. On this Earth Day all Americans can celebrate the Environmental Protection Agency’s commitment to ensure everyone can breathe clean air. But this commitment particularly benefits communities of color. Currently, African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans are especially vulnerable to air pollution’s health effects. Within the last year, however, the EPA instituted new mercury and air toxics standards and restrictions on cross-state air pollution. Posted. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2012/04/epa_communities_of_color.html Environmental Standards Give the United States an Edge Over China. Chinese Citizens Still Facing Health Threats We Addressed Decades Ago. This Sunday, April 22, is Earth Day, a great opportunity to take stock of the progress we are making around the world on environmental protection. Here in the United States, much can be learned by comparing our environmental progress to China, where they are just now starting down a path we took back in 1970.Taking stock of our environmental progress is particularly important in an election year…Posted. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2012/04/china_earthday.html BLOGS Bringing science back to the Keystone Pipeline decision. When years of lobbying, protests, and debate all come down to a pushing the pause button, it’s frustrating. That’s the situation we’re in now that the Obama Administration has put off deciding about the about the Keystone XL Pipeline — which would send Canada’s oil sands to refineries on the American Gulf Coast — until 2013. The Administration says the decision to punt had nothing to do with politics. But let’s face it: Right now, the Keystone Pipeline — like every other key energy-policy decision — is bogged down in politics. Posted. http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-a-environment/222589-bringing-science-back-to-the-keystone-pipeline-decision ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 12:54:13 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for April 23, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for April 23, 2012. 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 Ventura County air is cleanest it's been in almost four decades, officials say. Ventura County's efforts to clean up its air have paid off, according to a report released this week by the California Air Pollution Control Officers Association. The county's air is cleaner than it has been in almost four decades, partly because of new emissions-reduction programs and controls, a mild summer, high gas prices and a weak economy, officials said. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/20/ventura-county-air-is-cleanest-its-been-in-four/#ixzz1ssbBVzRD ARB, APCD to hold PM2.5 air modeling symposium this week. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) and the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (APCD) will hold a technical symposium this Friday, April 27. The topic is the scientific modeling being done to support the 2012 San Joaquin Valley PM2.5 Plan. (The new plan itself will be discussed at a separate workshop on Monday, April 30.) PM2.5 refers to particulate matter air pollution whose diameter is 2.5 microns or smaller. A micron, or micrometer, is equal to one millionth of a meter. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/arb-apcd-to-hold-pm2-5-air-modeling-symposium-this-week Health scare worsening in Kettleman. Just as the birth-defect scare appears to have calmed down, activists say a new kind of health scare is now haunting this small town — cancer. A 17-month-old baby has been diagnosed with leukemia, and a 6-year-old boy and two teenage girls have been diagnosed with brain tumors. Three people between the ages of 40 and 50 have also died of cancer. Posted. http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/health-scare-worsening-in-kettleman/article_d53f923c-8b17-11e1-ac02-0019bb2963f4.html CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Change to Affect Corn Prices, Study Says. Researchers have found that climate change is likely to have far greater influence on the volatility of corn prices over the next three decades than factors that recently have been blamed for price swings — like oil prices, trade policies and government biofuel mandates. The new study, published on Sunday in the journal Nature Climate Change, suggests that unless farmers develop more heat-tolerant corn varieties or gradually move corn production from the United States into Canada, frequent heat waves will cause sharp price spikes. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/business/climate-change-effect-seen-for-corn-prices.html U.S. suggests no emissions limits to protect polar bears. Polar bears are skating on thin ice in Alaska these days: Warming temperatures have resulted in dramatic shrinkage of sea ice, leaving the bears with fewer ice floes on which to rest and hunt seals. But at least for the moment, the Endangered Species Act won’t be used to control the greenhouse gas emissions that conservationists say are contributing to climate change and posing one of the biggest threats to the bears’ survival. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-polar-bears-greenhouse-gases-20120417,0,794274.story FUELS EU delays vote on labeling oil sands oil dirty. The European Commission will delay asking members to approve a measure that would label oil from oil sands as worse for climate change than crude oil - a temporary victory for Canada, where such oil is produced. The Commission will ask the EU's 27 environment ministers to vote on the measure early in 2013 rather than this June, Isaac Valero-Ladron, a spokesman for EU Commissioner for Climate Action Connie Hedegaard, said Friday. In the interim, the Commission, the EU's executive arm, will study the proposed fuel quality law's impact on business and markets, as some EU countries had requested. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/20/v-print/2166454/eu-delays-vote-on-labeling-oil.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Cool news about 'hot fuel'. The fight over "hot fuel" has gone on for years, but now there's welcome news: Three major gasoline retailers have agreed to settle lawsuits accusing them of selling fuel that hasn't been adjusted for temperature. As Judy Dugan of Consumer Watchdog in California put it, "The wall of resistance is crumbling." Adjusting fuel for temperature is important because fuel expands as it gets warm, while the volume of a standard gallon stays the same. Hence, a standard gallon of warmer fuel has less energy, even though you pay the same price. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/23/v-print/2169742/cool-news-about-hot-fuel.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY U.S. tariffs on Chinese solar cells fuel debate about green jobs. Some domestic solar manufacturers praised the recent import levy as a victory for job creation, but an analysis of the industry suggests the duty may actually be a job killer. A simmering trade dispute is highlighting a debate about the kinds of jobs America can sustain in a greening economy. The Obama administration's recent decision to slap import tariffs on Chinese solar cells was hailed by some domestic solar manufacturers as a victory for job creation…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-solar-jobs-20120423,0,3951568.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fbusiness+%28L.A.+Times+-+Business%29 Solar power producers hesitate to embrace new DWP program. A DWP pilot program will let solar power producers reduce their bills and sell excess energy, but some say they're worried the new system will be plagued by the same problems as an older system. Storm clouds hovered over the San Fernando Valley, but businessman Jack Engel was smiling as he pointed to a row of solar inverters at one of two commercial warehouses he owns in Sun Valley. Power was being generated despite the weather, no problem. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-dwp-solar-20120423,0,7332999.story Sierra Club targets Puget Sound Energy in Beyond Coal campaign. The Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign, working in concert with a number of environmental and energy activists and researchers in Washington and Montana, announced Thursday a new push to get Puget Sound Energy to stop buying power from coal-fired Colstrip Generating Station in Montana. According to EPA rankings, the facility is the eighth most egregious emitter of greenhouse gases among power plants in the U.S. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-another-west-coast-utility-asked-to-dump-coal-20120420,0,1758047.story?track=rss Lawsuit says wind energy industry hurts condors. Environmentalists are hoping a court will curb Southern California's growing wind energy industry, which they believe poses a threat to the endangered condor. Three environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit this month against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to stop the proposed 100-turbine North Sky River wind project in Kern County's Tehachapi region, the Ventura County Star reported Saturday. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20457235/lawsuit-says-wind-energy-industry-hurts-condors?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/science/ci_20457235/lawsuit-says-wind-energy-industry-hurts-condors?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Farmers turn to alternative energy despite money, time, risks and obstacles. Farmers, the self-described new green pioneers, are increasingly turning to alternative energy to lower costs, solve problems, boost efficiency and shrink their environmental footprint. Fuel cells, biogas, cogeneration and solar arrays are some of the newer energy generators growers are using, despite the risk and significant time and money commitments. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/21/farmers-turn-to-alternative-energy-despite-money/#ixzz1ssbkZ8kM MISCELLANEOUS Stocktonians get down to Earth. The 24th annual Earth Day Festival at Victory Park combined old ecological favorites like solar power with new green products such as ... Tupperware? "We have a lot of different products that protect the environment," Tupperware manager Rene Acosta said. The Tupperware water pitcher replaces disposable water bottles, she said. Reusable containers substitute for disposable plastic lunch baggies. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120423/A_NEWS/204230307&cid=sitesearch Eye on the environment: Earth awareness doesn't end with Earth Day. Today, on the 42nd annual Earth Day, people worldwide are reminded of how much we depend on the Earth for resources, and how it depends on us for protection. One event scheduled to coincide with today's celebration is the grand opening of Habitat for Humanity's new ReStore in Simi Valley. Like Habitat's ReStore in Oxnard, it will sell mostly used and surplus home improvement items, saving resources and preventing waste. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/21/earth-awareness-doesnt-end-with-earth-day/#ixzz1sscBikMw OPINIONS Voters deserve a do-over on bullet train vote. Republican lawmakers, citing changes to the deal, want to put the brakes on the project. Sacramento — The car salesman offers you a sleek new luxury model for $33,000. Go for it, you think. Time for an upgrade. Sold. Oops, the sales guy says later. Those numbers won't pencil. We'll need $98,000. You're stunned and outraged. Tell you what, the dealer counters. We'll let ya have it for $68,000 and take off some options. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cap-train-20120423,0,5820140,print.column Decas: Greening of the Port of Hueneme. The Port of Hueneme joins the world today in celebrating the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day. Connecting international businesses with local communities, the port sits in a unique position as a global partner to advance vital environmental policies and practices. The port is uniting with the community, businesses and government to map out and implement sound environmental strategy that also keeps churning the economic engine of trade, commerce and progress. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/21/dacas-greening-of-the-port-of-hueneme/ OP-ED: Agriculture’s climate protection solutions. When we think about ways to slow down climate change and avert the worst impacts of rising temperatures, what usually comes to mind are things like electric cars, weatherizing homes and putting up solar panels. But there are other significant climate solutions to be realized from one of the most important economic sectors in California — agriculture. Farms and ranches offer unique opportunities to store, or “sequester” carbon dioxide in soil, trees and other woody plants. Posted. http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=232860&title=OP-ED:%20Agriculture%E2%80%99s%20climate%20protection%20solutions BLOGS My home demolition: Building it green. While I wait for an estimate from DeConstruction Services to do the tear-down of the house in an environmentally sensitive way, my architect, Peter VanderPoel, suggested we spend a Tuesday afternoon at Amicus Green, a building supply center dedicated to green products, in Kensington. I thought we were going to a mall for eco-friendly supplies. I had no idea. On the way to Kensington, Peter began to tell me about LEED certification. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/where-we-live/post/my-home-demolition-building-it-green/2012/04/22/gIQAftNvbT_blog.html The Cookstove Conundrum. Cooking the family meal can be a dangerous business for poor people in developing countries. According to a study by the World Health Organization, indoor air pollution from “primitive household cooking fires” is the leading environmental cause of death in the world. In most rural homes, which lack electricity, a stove can be an open fire and the fuel as basic as wood, dried animal dung or agricultural residue, together known as “biomass” fuels. Posted. http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/23/the-cookstove-conundrum/?ref=world Climate Change ‘Swing Voters’ Affected by Weather, Not Denialists, Says Analyst. Just a quick note on an engaging video that can give you a glimpse of the new science on the jet stream… following a brief thought on public opinion and the worsening wild weather around the planet. Recent reports say public opinion is beginning to swing back up to a larger majority who “believe in global warming.” A New York Times headline says, “In Poll, Many Link Weather Extremes to Climate Change.” Actually, that link appears to be old news. Posted. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/04/climate-change-swing-voters-affected-by-weather-not-denialists-says-analyst/ ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 13:29:58 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 24, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for April 24, 2012. 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. LOW CARBON FUEL STANDARDS California Wins Temporary Reinstatement of Carbon Fuel Standard. California won temporary reinstatement of its low-carbon fuel standard, which was blocked last year by a federal judge. The U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco yesterday granted a request by California officials to put on hold the Dec. 29 ruling that the standard is unconstitutional while the case is on appeal. The rule was to have taken effect Jan. 1, 2012. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-04-24/california-s-carbon-fuel-standard-reinstated-during-appeal-1-.html http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL2E8FNIF220120423 http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/23/4436884/court-blocks-injunction-on-ca.html http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_20464826/court-blocks-injunction-ca-green-fuel-standard http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20464826/court-blocks-injunction-ca-green-fuel-standard?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/23/2170793/court-blocks-injunction-on-ca.html http://www.capitalpress.com/content/AP-CA-Low-carbon-fuel-042412 http://www.kmph.com/story/17665013/court-blocks-injunction-on-ca-green-fuel-standard VEHICLES GE CEO says electric car disappointment must fade. General Electric Co Chief Executive Jeff Immelt said people "may be disappointed in the adoption of the electric vehicle" but his company will continue investing in battery technology in hopes of an eventual uptick. Speaking during an automotive conference in Detroit on Tuesday, Immelt -- whose company is a key supplier to automakers producing electric cars -- said GE is "committed to long term development" of alternative-fuel vehicles. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/24/ge-ev-idUSL2E8FO4F520120424 China's dream of electric car leadership elusive. Beijing — China's leaders are finding it's a lot tougher to create a world-beating electric car industry than they hoped. In 2009, they announced bold plans to cash in on demand for clean vehicles by making China a global power in electric car manufacturing. They pledged billions of dollars for research and called for annual sales of 500,000 cars by 2015. Today, Beijing is scaling back its ambitions, chastened by technological hurdles and lack of buyer interest. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47161602 GREEN ENERGY Discovery of Indian artifacts complicates Genesis solar project. After human remains were unearthed near the $1-billion Genesis project 200 miles east of L.A., the Colorado River Indian Tribes are demanding that the Obama administration slow down on solar plants in the Mojave Desert. The Feb. 27 letter from the chairman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes was pleading and tough. It asked President Obama to slow the federal government's "frantic pursuit" of massive solar energy projects in the Mojave Desert because of possible damage to Native American cultural resources. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-bones-20120424,0,1894725.story San Onofre not expected to close for good, Edison says. The nuclear power plant has been shuttered for nearly three months due to unexpected wear in tubes that carry radioactive water. But a Southern California Edison official says a return to service is expected. The extended closure of the San Onofre nuclear plant due to safety concerns has led some to speculate — or hope — that the plant will be shuttered for good, but the chief nuclear officer for plant operator Southern California Edison said he doesn't believe the problems signal the plant's demise. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-san-onofre-20120424,0,2589141.story Edison: San Onofre could restart in ‘next few months’ The operators of the idled San Onofre nuclear plant could restart at least one of its troubled reactor units “in the next few months,” the plant’s chief nuclear officer said Monday. And while the precise cause of premature wear seen in steam generator tubes in both units is not yet known, it appears to be related to vibrations induced by the heat exchange process inside the steam generators, said Southern California Edison Chief Nuclear Officer Pete Dietrich. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2012/04/23/edison-san-onofre-could-restart-in-next-few-months/170761/ MISCELLANEOUS Placer Co. air pollution district awards $931K in grants. The Placer County Air Pollution Control District is awarding $931,000 in grants to 10 projects aimed at reducing air pollution in the county, the district has announced. “It’s important that we support proactive approaches to reduce harmful emissions in the county,” said Placer County Air Pollution Control Officer Tom Christofk. The projects are expected to collectively reduce pollutant emissions by an estimated 30 tons over the next several years. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2012/04/24/placer-co-air-pollution-district-equipme.html New group to study fumigant-free strawberry growing. Ways to commercially grow strawberries in California without the use of fumigants will be explored by a new group of scientists and others form by the state Department of Pesticide Regulation. The group is tasked with coming up with a five-year action plan to accelerate the development of management tools and practices to control soil-borne pests in strawberry fields without fumigants, says DPR Director Brian Leahy. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=20904 Old computers and cellphones piling up? Recycle your e-waste. When technological devices' relatively short lives end, either because New Version 7.02 beckons or replacement is cheaper than repair, they become electronic waste, aka e-waste. Dumping e-waste in landfills is illegal in California — offenders face up to $25,000 in civil fines or criminal charges — so figuring out what to do with digital detritus has become an environmental mission for consumers, businesses and governments. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/23/old-computers-and-cellphones-piling-up-recycle-e/?print=1 OPINIONS DOUG GREENER: Protect your family -- install carbon monoxide monitoring devices. Last year, several key pieces of fire service related state legislation were passed as new laws and codes designed to have a direct impact on the safety of the residents of California and Bakersfield. As Bakersfield's fire chief, I'm compelled to provide a gentle reminder of one of those changes, which is the new requirement for the installation of carbon monoxide monitoring devices in all residential structures. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x731249712/DOUG-GREENER-Protect-your-family-install-carbon-monoxide-monitoring-devices Role of methane in new oil and gas air pollution rule questioned. The new federal rules limiting air pollution from oil and gas operations are aimed at smog precursors and air toxics — but it's the role of methane in the rules that bothers industry and environmentalists alike. And as the effective date for the rules approaches, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency faces possible challenge from both sides. The April 17 rules mandate the use of "green completion" technology on fractured wells. The technology controls releases of smog-forming volatile organic compounds…Posted. http://www.statejournal.com/story/17673584/role-of-methane-in-new-oil-and-gas-air-pollution-rules-questioned There Is No Away. Feeling a little bullish and full of questions about Earth Day. Do we still need Earth Day? I remember the first Earth Day. We were told, "Make every day Earth Day." Did we? At the time, our cars slurped leaded gas, power plants belched out smoke and smog without recourse, and our rivers were on fire. With even cleaner ways to power our vehicles, have we embraced cleaner cars? With mercury pollution poisoning our children and asthma on the rise, is our air clean enough? Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronnie-citronfink/there-is-no-away_b_1446526.html?ref=green BLOGS A Good Day for All Families: California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard Moves Forward. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked an injunction today against California's low carbon fuel standard (LCFS). The original injunction was issued by the trial court (U.S. District Court, Fresno) in late 2011. As David Pettit, our senior attorney stated here: Rather than invest to improve their products by providing cleaner transportation fuels and better production practices, Big Oil and Big Ethanol went to court...Today, the trial court's order was put on ice by the appellate court while the appeal is going on. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/smui/a_good_day_for_all_families_ca.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 Apr 2012 13:42:54 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips 25, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for April 25, 2012. 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 Hess to Spend $46 Million to Settle Refinery Pollution Case. Hess Corp. agreed to spend $45 million on pollution controls at its petroleum refinery in Port Reading, New Jersey, and pay $850,000 in penalties to resolve a government lawsuit over harmful emissions. A consent decree, entered today in federal court in Newark, New Jersey, settled a lawsuit filed last week by the U.S. and state governments. Under the agreement, emissions of nitrogen oxides will decline by 181 tons a year and volatile organic compounds also will decrease. Both contribute to smog and asthma. Posted. http://sfgate.bdc.bloomberg.wallst.com/SFChronicle/Story?docId=1376-M31FWB6VDKIC01-006HQF5Q982CUV1R3B5P2GFT7P http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120425-713970.html http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/25/hess-refinery-idUSL2E8FPAZ920120425 Healthier buildings for healthier occupants. It is estimated that people spend at least 90 percent of their lives indoors. Much of this indoor time may be spent working inside of an airtight office building without operable windows, where exposure to air pollutants is significantly greater as compared to being outdoors. Over the past several decades, office buildings have become increasingly airtight in order to maximize comfort and improve energy efficiency through central heating and cooling systems. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20474367/healthier-buildings-healthier-occupants?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Bakersfield area near top for bad air rankings -- again. In a conference call detailing the American Lung Association's latest air quality report card, one city's name came up again and again: Bakersfield. Bakersfield-Delano ranked worst in the nation for short-term particle pollution as well as annual particle pollution. The region ranked third worst for ozone pollution, behind the Los Angeles and Visalia areas. That's actually a slight improvement from last year, when Bakersfield held the No. 2 spot for ozone. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x1537704538/Bakersfield-area-near-top-for-bad-air-rankings-again http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/24/2812768/valleys-air-quality-news-good.html http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/04/25/2321330/merced-makes-top-ten-list-for.html Air Quality Improving in Many U.S. Cities: Report. Air quality in America's most polluted cities has improved significantly over the past decade, according to a new report from the American Lung Association. Even Los Angeles, famous for its morning smog, is the cleanest it's been in 13 years, the association noted. Santa Fe, N.M. leads the pack, having been ranked as the cleanest city in the nation. Despite progress in reducing the level of smog and soot in the air, the "State of the Air" report warned that unhealthy levels of air pollution still persist around the country. Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/air-quality-improving-many-u-cities-report-160404765.html http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/25/real_estate/pollution-cities/ State Of The Air 2012: American Lung Association Reports Improvements, Challenges. More than 127 million Americans -- about 41 percent of the country -- still suffer from pollution levels that can make breathing dangerous, according to a new report. The American Lung Association State of the Air 2012, released Wednesday, shows signs of air-quality improvement, but also indicates struggles in many regions nationwide. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/25/state-of-the-air-2012-american-lung-association_n_1446786.html DIESEL EMISSIONS YUCAIPA: City to purchase new firetruck. Yucaipa will purchase a new $485,992 firetruck from an Ontario company. The City Council voted 5-0 Tuesday night to buy the truck as a replacement for a 30-year-old American La France that has logged nearly 151,000 miles. Fire Chief Steven Shaw, who supervises 26 firefighters under a contract with Cal Fire, told the council it would have cost more money to refurbish the La France than to buy a new firetruck. Even selling it for scrap, he said, would only net the city about $2,000. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/san-bernardino-county/san-bernardino-county-headlines-index/20120424-yucaipa-city-to-purchase-new-firetruck.ece CARB: Companies that report on-road info will be listed online. Trucking companies that register their truck information with the California Air Resources Board know they may be eligible for additional compliance time. They may not know, however, that CARB is posting their company’s names online. In an apparent attempt to reward early compliers, CARB announced Friday, April 20, that its Truck and Bus regulation registry will feature a search function that “allows anyone to look up the company name of fleets that have reported to the ARB to comply” with the regulation. “Brokers and motor carriers can use the search feature to confirm whether the truck owners they hire have reported to the ARB.” Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=23558 EPA making $20M available for clean diesel projects. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a Request for Proposals (EPA-OAR-OTAQ-12-05) with up to $20 million in FY 2012 grant funding to establish clean diesel projects aimed at reducing pollution from the existing fleet of diesel engines. In addition to these grants, approximately $9 million will be available through direct state allocations. Eligible diesel vehicles, engines and equipment may include buses; medium-duty or heavy-duty trucks; Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/04/epa-20120425.html VEHICLES 4 auto parts makers downplay resin shortage. Executives from four auto parts companies said Tuesday that they don't expect widespread fallout from a shortage of a key ingredient in plastic resin following a factory explosion. Officials with Delphi Automotive, Illinois Tool Works, AK Steel and Parker Hannifin said during conference calls to discuss their companies' earnings that a shortage of PA-12 shouldn't disrupt their operations. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/04/24/v-print/2172060/4-auto-parts-makers-downplay-resin.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Solar panels cause clashes with homeowner groups. The government wants you to install solar panels at your house, and will even give you a tax break to do it. But your neighbors? Maybe not. It's a lesson Angel and David Dobs discovered when their homeowners association north of Atlanta denied their request to install solar panels on their roof. Neighborhood officials said the panels would look out of place and might lower home values in a community that regulates details as fine as the coloring of roof tiles, the planting of trees and the storage of trash cans. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/25/2812885/solar-panels-cause-clashes-with.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/as-solar-panels-proliferate-so-do-clashes-between-neighbors-over-aesthetics-solar-rights/2012/04/25/gIQAZl6HgT_story.html Donald Trump demands Scotland nix wind turbines. He came, he saw, he blustered. Donald Trump on Wednesday swept into Scotland's parliament to demand the country end plans for an offshore wind farm he fears will spoil the view at his exclusive new $750-million-pound ($1.2-billion) golf resort. In a typically blunt display, the New York property tycoon told an inquiry into renewable energy to stop the wind power efforts in the country's north. "Scotland, if you pursue this policy of these monstrous turbines, Scotland will go broke," he said. "They are ugly, they are noisy and they are dangerous. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/entertainment/donald-trump-demands-scotland-nix-wind-turbines/article_87f0ddc0-6172-5ab3-97ff-0776fa3ca367.html OPINIONS Viewpoints: Potential of low carbon fuel will drive California forward. For the first time since the 1950s the United States is exporting more gasoline and diesel than it imports. To become energy secure, we need to invest in homegrown fuels, but also develop fuel-efficient vehicles that go farther on a gallon of gas, while producing as little pollution as possible. That's where California's low carbon fuel standard comes in. The low carbon fuel standard, the first of its kind in the world, was enacted in 2009 and incentivizes all producers of motor fuels, including gasoline and corn ethanol, to reduce by 10 percent the carbon content of motor fuels sold in California. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/25/4439739/potential-of-low-carbon-fuel-will.html A Model for the Nation. LEARNING FROM EUROPE’S MISTAKES. JANUARY 1 WILL MARK THE START of a dramatically different new year in California, for it also marks the launch of California's greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program established by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state legislature in 2006. California has moved deliberately to ensure that our program will effectively reduce GHG emissions while avoiding any serious pitfalls. California is not the first state to implement a GHG cap-and-trade program. Posted. http://www.energybiz.com/magazine/article/265685/model-nation BLOGS Why we pay too little for energy. There are two ways to think about the cost of energy. There’s the dollar amount that shows up on our utility bills or at the pump. And then there’s the “social cost” — all the adverse consequences that various energy sources, from coal to nuclear power, end up foisting on the public. Economists have been working to quantify these social costs for some time: from the premature deaths due to air pollution to the damage wrought by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf Coast. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/why-we-pay-too-little-for-energy/2012/04/25/gIQAMyqqgT_blog.html Discovery’s Soggy Logic on ‘Frozen Planet’. Here’s a question to ponder after reviewing the video of melting penguin ice sculptures above shot at the glitzy New York City celebration of the American production of “Frozen Planet.” How can Discovery Communications, the same giant media company that has brought the world the one-sided, and popular, “Whale Wars,” say it excluded any substantial mention of human-driven climate change in its wildly popular “Frozen Planet” series on the basis of objectivity? Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/24/discoverys-soggy-logic-on-frozen-planet/?partner=rss&emc=rss U.S. drivers to save $68 billion in 2030 with new CAFE standards. What an extra few hundred bucks a year or so in everyone's pocket will buy almost two decades from now is anyone's guess, but for us, that's beside the point. U.S. drivers will save about $68 billion in refueling expenses in 2030 if the more stringent fuel-economy and greenhouse-gas-emissions standards proposed by the Obama Administration go into effect as planned in 2025, according to one report. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/24/u-s-drivers-to-save-68-billion-in-2030-with-new-cafe-standards/ General Electric CEO says electric vehicles will reach 'tipping point'. True belief or wishful thinking? That's the question some may ask about General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt and his statement that electric vehicles will become more than a just niche market in the U.S. Immelt, speaking at a Detroit automotive conference on Tuesday, said GE will continue to invest in battery-electric vehicle technology with the belief that lower costs and improved performance will allow EVs to reach "a tipping point," Reuters reportedPosted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/25/general-electric-ceo-says-electric-vehicles-will-reach-tipping/ ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 13:59:10 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 26, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for April 26, 2012. 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 Bay Area no longer among 25 most-polluted regions. The San Francisco metropolitan area has dropped off the list of the top 25 most polluted regions in the nation, the American Lung Association said in a report Wednesday. The State of the Air report ranked regions across the United States on particle and ozone pollution, finding that three of the nine least smoggy counties in California are located in the Bay Area and that, with a few exceptions, the air in Northern California is safe to inhale. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/26/MNPC1O906Q.DTL&type=printable http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/04/san-francisco-drops-off-top-25-list-for-worst-smog-pollution/1 Study: Inland Empire air quality improving; High Desert healthier. An air quality report released for the first time as a companion to the American Lung Association's annual report shows the same steady decline in pollution, but more accurately reflects differences between regions, say those in charge of regulating air quality locally. The report by the California Air Pollution Control Officers' Association, released last week, compares fine particulate matter and ozone pollution among the state's 35 air quality management districts. Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_20481971?source=rss CLIMATE CHANGE Study: Antarctic ice melting from warm water below. WASHINGTON -- Antarctica's massive ice shelves are shrinking because they are being eaten away from below by warm water, a new study finds. That suggests that future sea levels could rise faster than many scientists have been predicting. The western chunk of Antarctica is losing 23 feet of its floating ice sheet each year. Until now, scientists weren't exactly sure how it was happening and whether or how man-made global warming might be a factor. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/25/4442124/study-antarctic-ice-melting-from.html http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/26/MNHO1O90UK.DTL Activists urge Discovery to acknowledge climate change science. Forecast the Facts, the activist group that first confronted GM about its support of climate change doubters the Heartland Institute, now plans to muster a public campaign targeting the Discovery Channel. The purpose: to get Discovery to acknowledge the scientific consensus on man-made climate change in its programming. The flap follows the recent airing of the final episode of Discovery’s lush exploration of the polar regions, “Frozen Planet.” http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-activist-pressure-discovery-to-acknowledge-climate-change-science-20120425,0,5096515.story?track=rss Lawmakers To Wrangle Over How To Spend California's Cap-and-Trade Billions. Barring last-minute lawsuits or administrative delays, California’s cap-and-trade program launches on January 1, 2013. The state’s carbon market will be the world’s second largest, after the European Emissions Trading System, and is tasked with supplying 20% of the emissions reductions mandated under the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, or AB 32. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/justingerdes/2012/04/25/lawmakers-to-wrangle-over-how-to-spend-californias-cap-and-trade-billions/ DIESEL EMISSIONS "California-Only" Diesel Will Come at High Cost for State, Study Says. Significant job losses will be directly attributable to California Air Resources Board's fuel policies, says a new study by the California Trucking Association. Goods movement and agriculture sectors will be especially hard hit if the policies are allowed to go into effect as currently designed. The report, titled "The Impact of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and Cap-and-Trade Programs on California Retail Diesel Prices" demonstrates the effect that CARB's regulatory actions will have on the state's retail diesel future leading to a $6.69 per gallon price tag. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=76750 San Joaquin Railroad getting four low-emission locomotives. Progress Rail Services Corporation, of Albertville, Ala., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT), has reached an agreement with the San Joaquin Valley Railroad, a RailAmerica subsidiary in the Centrl Valley, to supply four repowered, low-emissions PR30B locomotives. Progress Rail will repower the 4-axle, GP-type locomotives with Caterpillar 3516C-HD engines rated at 2,995 bhp and equipped with exhaust aftertreatment technology verified by the California Air Resources Board to achieve the equivalent of U.S. EPA Tier 4 line-haul emissions levels. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=20921 VEHICLES Automotive Technology Programs Changing With the Times: Build Electric Cars. The EV (electric vehicle) Challenge is a program for high school students to replace traditional automotive technology programs with a new idea: Take a donated (or even abandoned) gasoline-powered car or truck and convert it into an all-electric vehicle. Students learn about design, engineering, electronics, math, and science. They make hard decisions and learn about tradeoffs (larger voltage batteries have higher acceleration capability, but won’t last as long in endurance runs, for example). Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/tjmccue/2012/04/24/automotive-technology-programs-changing-with-the-times-build-electric-cars/ GREEN ENERGY Sacramento Catholic girls' school completes huge installation of solar panels. A Sacramento Catholic girls' school has completed the installation of a huge array of solar panels. Next week the students of St. Francis High School in east Sacramento will wear flip flops and sunglasses during the dedication of the new photovoltaic system. Solar power generation from 1,316 panels on the rooftops of 7 campus buildings is expected to produce about 30 percent of the school's current electrical demands - and save the school $1 million over the next 25 years. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/26/4444726/sacramento-catholic-girls-school.html Dixon firm will make PG&E 'green' trucks. Birmingham, Ala.-based Altec Industries plans to begin production of about 300 environmentally friendly Pacific Gas and Electric Co. service trucks at its new facility in Dixon in May. Ribbon-cutting ceremonies were held Tuesday, and production is expected to last through 2014. The project is expected to produce more than 150 jobs. The Dixon facility, which exceeds Title 24 energy/lighting codes, was built through an Altec-PG&E partnership. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/26/4443634/dixon-firm-will-make-pge-green.html Public split over elimination of U.S. energy subsidies, poll finds. The American public is divided about whether to eliminate federal subsidies for any form of energy and is giving less support to nuclear power and U.S. funding of renewable energy, a new poll has found. Fifty-four percent of respondents opposed doing away with subsidies for oil, gas, coal, nuclear or renewable energy, while 47 percent favored the idea. Support for building more nuclear power plants has fallen dramatically, to 42 percent from 61 percent in 2008. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/26/4443503/public-split-over-elimination.html http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-enviro-poll-20120426,0,5490023.story DOE to award up to $2.5M to deploy fuel-cell-powered baggage tow tractors at commercial airports. The US Department of Energy (DOE) will award up to $2.5 million this year to demonstrate and to deploy fuel-cell-electric baggage tow tractors (BTT) at major US commercial airports. DOE plans to select up to three projects under the terms of a new Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0000701), which will also leverage more than $2.5 million in additional funding from private and other sources. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/04/btt-20120426.html OPINIONS Viewpoints: Potential of low carbon fuel will drive California forward. For the first time since the 1950s the United States is exporting more gasoline and diesel than it imports. To become energy secure, we need to invest in homegrown fuels, but also develop fuel-efficient vehicles that go farther on a gallon of gas, while producing as little pollution as possible. That's where California's low carbon fuel standard comes in. The low carbon fuel standard, the first of its kind in the world, was enacted in 2009 and incentivizes all producers of motor fuels, including gasoline and corn ethanol, to reduce by 10 percent the carbon content of motor fuels sold in California. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/25/4439739/potential-of-low-carbon-fuel-will.html Op-Ed: The Truth about SB375 and the One Bay Area Plan. The stated goal of Senate Bill 375, which was signed into law in 2008, is “to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) 15 percent by 2035.” Its premise is that building high density development with an affordable component, close to public transportation, will decrease GHGs and thereby have a positive effect on global warming. The rationale is as follows: Section 1(a) of SB375 states: “The transportation sector contributes over 40 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in California. Automobiles and light trucks alone contribute almost 30 percent. Posted. http://larkspurcortemadera.patch.com/articles/op-ed-the-truth-about-sb375-and-the-one-bay-area-plan-c3aafac9 Well, Duh: L.A. Has Some of the Dirtiest Air in America. For yet another year, Los Angeles has been named by the American Lung Association as one of the cities with some of the dirtiest air in America. The just-released annual State of the Air report indicates that Californians are still waiting to exhale: More than 90 percent of Californians still live in counties plagued with unhealthy air, particularly in the Central Valley, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, Sacramento, and San Diego. That means more people are at risk for asthma attacks, heart attacks, and premature death. Posted. http://laist.com/2012/04/26/los_angeles_has_some_of_the_dirties.php BLOGS Low Prices a Problem? Making Sense of Misleading Talk about Cap-and-Trade in Europe and the United States. Some press accounts and various advocates have labeled the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) as near “the brink of failure” because of the recent trend of very low auction prices. Likewise, commentators have recently characterized the European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) as possibly “sinking into oblivion” because of low allowance prices. Since when are low prices (which in this case reflect low marginal abatement costs) considered to be a problem? Posted. http://www.robertstavinsblog.org/2012/04/25/low-prices-a-problem-making-sense-of-misleading-talk-about-cap-and-trade-in-europe-and-the-usa/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Belfer%2FAnEconomicViewOfTheEnvironment+%28Harvard+University+-+Belfer+Center+for+Science+and+International+Affairs+-+An+Economic+View+of+the+Environment%29 California's Lungs Need a Passing Grade. The American Lung Association released its annual State of the Air report today. Not surprisingly, California continues to dominate the list of most polluted cities for both particulate and ozone pollution with many counties in the State receiving an “F” grade. Most of the poorest grades on air quality were focused in areas like Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and many portions of the San Joaquin Valley. Overall, the report reflects a continued need for robust and strong advocacy to curb harmful air pollution that makes it unhealthy for millions of Californians. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/amartinez/californias_lungs_need_a_passi.html 10 Green Lessons from the Sustainable Operations Summit. Last week I attended the Sustainable Operations Summit in New York, where I had the chance to hear many interesting and smart people, from President Bill Clinton to Amory Lovins, talk about the green economy. The summit, which got some attention due to its refusal to let Dogwood Alliance participate because the organizers were afraid it will lead to a confrontation with YUM! Brands’ representative, provided some very interesting insights about business and sustainability. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/04/10-green-lessons-bill-clinton-amory-lovins-other-participants-sustainable-operations-summit/ ====================================================================== 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 Apr 2012 13:08:33 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for April 27, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for April 27, 2012. 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 Price Needed to Halt Warming, NASA Chief Says. Putting a price on carbon is the world’s best hope at staving off runaway global warming, said James Hansen, the top climate-change scientist at the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Carbon emitted from cars and factories will have to be reduced by an average of 6 percent a year to stabilize Earth’s climate by the end of the century, Hansen said late yesterday in Vienna. Government subsidies to oil, gas and coal companies, worth up to $500 billion worldwide each year, have impeded the transition to alternative technologies, he said. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-04-27/carbon-price-needed-to-halt-warming-nasa-chief-says.html Sacramento drops a spot in smog ranking. It’s no secret that that the air can be smoggy and unhealthy in Sacramento, so a new ranking from the American Lung Association shouldn’t come as a surprise. The region ranks No. 6 in the nation for ozone pollution or smog. The Lung Association’s annual “State of the Air” report lists the cleanest and most polluted areas in the country, and nine out of the top 10 are in California for ozone. Six out of 10 are on the list for short-term particle pollution and 5 out of 10 are top for annual particle pollution. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2012/04/27/sacramento-drops-a-spot-in-smog-ranking.html CLIMATE CHANGE Countries Losing Steam On Climate Change Initiatives. Energy ministers from around the world met in London this week and got a scolding. The International Energy Agency warned the ministers that they are falling way behind in their efforts to wean the world from dirty sources of energy. Nations are nowhere near being on track to avert significant climate change in the coming decades. It turns out that right now, just about everything is conspiring to make it harder to clean up the world's energy supply. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2012/04/26/151456840/countries-losing-steam-on-climate-change-initiatives 'Warming hole' delayed climate change over eastern United States: study. Climate scientists at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have discovered that particulate pollution in the late 20th century created a "warming hole" over the eastern United States—that is, a cold patch where the effects of global warming were temporarily obscured. While greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane warm the Earth's surface, tiny particles in the air can have the reverse effect on regional scales. Posted. http://phys.org/news/2012-04-hole-climate-eastern-states.html Support for AB 32 Does Not Mean Support for Higher Energy Costs! Folks at the California Air Resources Board (CARB) are fond of saying that with the defeat of Prop. 23 a few years ago voters made it clear they supported the agency’s plan for implementation of AB 32, the state’s global warming law. Under that presumption, CARB has charged full speed ahead with the development of an astonishing array of regulations designed to re-invent California’s energy platform and reduce global warming, with an equally astonishing price tag. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/04/support-for-ab-32-does-not-mean-support-for-higher-energy-costs/ VEHICLES Assembly OKs bill allowing clean-air autos in car-pool lanes. A bill that would prevent local transit agencies from tossing solo drivers in zero- and low-emission vehicles out of some car-pool lanes cleared the California Assembly on Thursday. The legislation, authored by Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield (D-Woodland Hills), would allow cars with a Clean Air Vehicle Sticker free access to carpool lanes that are converted to High Occupancy Toll lanes. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-car-pool-permits-20120426,0,127701.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MoneyCompany+%28Money+%26+Company%29 http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-carpool-lanes-solo-20120427,0,4342710.story eBay unveils website on green vehicles. San Jose-based eBay has launched a website targeting motorists interested in environmentally friendly vehicles. The eBay Green Driving site – green.ebay.com/green-driving – offers information on numerous hybrids, electric and alternative-fueled vehicles and their environmental impact. Site features include federal fuel mileage-comparison data on various models, fuel-saving driving practices and links to green vehicles on the eBay Motors auto sales site. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/04/27/v-print/4446479/ebay-unveils-website-on-green.html OPINIONS Effects of Climate Change. To the Editor: “In Poll, Many Link Weather Extremes to Climate Change” (news article, April 18) drives home the important point that people increasingly understand the link between climate change and extreme weather. This is good news, as public perceptions are now moving closer to the scientific consensus about climate change. The recently released report on extreme weather by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reaffirms our understanding that carbon pollution is likely responsible for heat waves and record-high temperatures. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/opinion/effects-of-climate-change.html?scp=1&sq=climate%20change&st=Search&pagewanted=print Collective, individual efforts needed to improve air quality. Based on the grades the county has received from the American Lung Association’s annual State of the Air report, there would seem to be yet another reason to stay indoors this summer. The county received a failing grade for its ozone, a “D” for its 24-hour particulate matter levels and a passing grade for its annual particulate matter, according to the association’s report. While the county’s rankings appear to paint a dismal picture of the local air quality, one local official states much has been done to improve the situation over the years. Posted. http://www.ivpressonline.com/opinion/ivp-collective-individual-efforts-needed-to-improve-air-quality-20120427,0,1455738,print.story Cupertino: Lehigh Cement teams with bio-tech company. Could greenhouse gas emissions from the Lehigh Southwest Cement facility be converted into usable products? It's possible, according to a Sunnyvale-based biotech company. Lehigh Cement and Oakbio Inc. of Sunnyvale are conducting research that both parties hope can lead to a green partnership. Oakbio plans to capture carbon dioxide from cement manufacturing and feed it to handpicked microbes that researches say will produce byproducts that can be sold commercially. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/cupertino/ci_20492119/cupertino-lehigh-cement-teams-bio-tech-company As We See It: Search for alternative to methyl bromide continues unabated. It's a sad irony that for years growing a healthy strawberry conventionally has required methyl bromide, a chemical so harmful it has been banned by international treaty because it is destroying the Earth's ozone layer. Another dose of irony: The soil fumigant at first favored to replace methyl bromide, methyl iodide, is perhaps even more despised, with studies linking it to cancer, birth defects and other maladies, and now it has been yanked from the U.S. market. Posted. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/opinion/ci_20493143/we-see-it-search-alternative-methyl-bromide-continues BLOGS The EPA’s most important decision this year could be over... vegetable oil? Okay, quick quiz: Which country is the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after the United States and China? The answer, at least in some recent years, has been Indonesia. That’s surprising. It’s not the world’s third-largest economy. It’s not an industrial powerhouse. But Indonesia has been clearing its vast rain forests and burning through its peatlands of late, releasing huge stores of carbon into the air. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/the-epas-most-important-decision-this-year-might-be-over-palm-oil/2012/04/27/gIQAn77LlT_blog.html Ministers Wrap Up Clean Energy Meeting. Their work is not sexy and generates little controversy or media coverage, but a group of energy and environment ministers from 22 countries and the European Union is claiming substantial progress in spreading energy efficiency and more affordable energy around the globe. The third session of the so-called Clean Energy Ministerial concluded on Thursday in London with agreements to share technology on energy-efficient appliances, to map the potential for solar and wind energy…Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/ministers-wrap-up-clean-energy-powwow/?ref=science Natural Gas Is on a Roll, Executive Declares. A “perfect storm” of economic and regulatory factors is driving major United States utilities to rapidly switch from coal to natural gas as an electric power source, the top executive of one of the nation’s largest utilities said on Thursday. Bloomberg News Nicholas K. Akins, chief executive of the Ohio-based utility AEP. Nicholas K. Akins, chief executive of Ohio-based AEP, said the company plans to retire 5 of its 25 coal-burning plants and shut down coal-powered units at other plants it owns in a shift that collectively means the elimination of about 5,000 megawatts of capacity. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/26/natural-gas-is-on-a-roll-executive-says/?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: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:31:26 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for April 30, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for April 30, 2012. 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 Combating Allergy with Air Purifier. Due to the rising cases of air pollution in urban cities, many families are now taking steps to purify air inside their home. Dirty air can enter a home if the atmosphere gets too polluted outside. A Hepa Air purifier can help families breathe in clean air that won’t damage their health. Your body can be attacked by free radicals that are brought about by pollution. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/combating-allergy-with-air-purifier AEP disputes study linking plants to 3,200 deaths. Energy giant American Electric Power is disputing an environmental group's study that finds air pollution from the company's 26 coal-fired plants caused as many as 3,200 deaths and more than 20,000 asthma attacks last year. The analysis done for the New York-based Natural Resources Defense Council also estimates that the pollution emitted by AEP plants, two of which are in Oklahoma, led to more than 1 million lost work days and lists the economic toll as high as $24 billion in 2011. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/28/aep-disputes-study-linking-plants-to-3200-deaths/ Company plugs blown Wyoming oil well leaking gas. Workers at a blown oil well in eastern Wyoming took advantage of changing winds Friday to plug the well with mud and end a powerful, three-day eruption of potentially explosive natural gas. The operation to stem the air pollution - not to mention the risk of an explosion at a multimillion-dollar drilling rig - began at about 9:30 a.m. By 11 a.m. the flow of gas had stopped, according to Tom Doll, supervisor of the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/27/company-plugs-blown-wyoming-oil-well-leaking-gas/ DIESEL EMISSIONS EPA faces crucial climate decision on diesel made from palm oil. Quick quiz: Which country is the world’s third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, after the United States and China? The answer, at least in recent years, has been Indonesia. That’s surprising. It’s not the world’s third-largest economy. It’s not an industrial powerhouse. But Indonesia has been clearing its vast rain forests of late, releasing huge stores of carbon into the air. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/epa-faces-crucial-climate-decision-on-diesel-made-from-palm-oil/2012/04/27/gIQAD1THmT_story.html FUELS Cheap natural gas drives down coal industry. Is coal doomed? The dirty yet abundant energy source has had some rough patches before, but nothing like this. In 1985, coal accounted for 57 percent of all power generated in the United States. Last year, it was 42 percent. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates it will fall to 40 percent this year. Prices for Appalachian coal are down 24 percent over the past 12 months; for coal from the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming, they're down 45 percent. "With the prices you're looking at now, no one can make money," says Lucas Pipes, an analyst at Brean Murray, Carret. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/30/BUTO1O9PM3.DTL US DOE to award up to $3M for coal-biomass-to-liquid projects. The US Department of Energy (DOE) will award up to a total of $3 million to projects (1) to develop and to test novel technologies for the economical and environmentally-sustainable conversion of coal-biomass feedstocks to liquid transportation fuels (CBTL) and (2) to assess concepts and evaluate the feasibility of building and operating a commercial scale CBTL production facility. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/04/cbtl-20120429.html VEHICLES Green side of Bay Area car buying. Sonoma County and the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area are No. 1 in the nation when shopping for cars that get more than 40 mpg, according to Cars.com, the vehicle shopping website. Five of the top 10 most "eco-friendly" car shopping areas are in California, based on searches for vehicles getting 40-plus mpg. In the SF-Oakland-Santa Rosa area, 12.36 percent of searches used the high-fuel efficiency criteria, the website said. Monterey-Salinas was third on the list at 11.74 percent, followed by San Diego (5th at 11.09 percent), Santa Barbara-San Luis Obispo (7th at 11.04 percent), Sacramento-Stockton-Modesto (8th at 10.97 percent) and Chico-Redding (9th at 10.93 percent). Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120430/ARTICLES/204301026 GREEN ENERGY SolarCity makes IPO plans. SolarCity Corp., a Bay Area solar panel developer and installer whose chairman heads Tesla Motors Inc., is planning an IPO. The San Mateo company’s intention to go public come as other alternative energy firms are backing away from similar growth plans, even after the industry reported record growth last year. First Solar Inc. said this month that it would close down some of its factories and trim 2,000 positions. Oakland’s BrightSource Energy Inc. scrapped its IPO plans a few weeks ago. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-solarcity-ipo-20120430,0,1016443.story Protests over Valley solar projects called a ploy. A statewide labor group accused of fighting power plants on environmental grounds just to win job contracts has set its sights on the Valley's young solar industry. California Unions for Reliable Energy is scrutinizing dozens of solar-project proposals between Bakersfield and Fresno and, in partnership with a handful of local residents, recently submitted challenges to three ventures in Fresno County. The group claims that the Fresno County projects don't live up to state environmental standards, potentially ruining wildlife habitat and bringing traffic and air pollution. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/04/29/2818166/protests-over-valley-solar-projects.html#storylink=misearch Smart Meter options. How odd it was that this “Amazing Smart Meter News” was not announced in our Ventura County Star Newspaper. On April 19, 2012, a historic decision was voted on by the California Public Utilities Commission. You are now able to permanently opt out of having any Smart Meter. The decision also was made that you can even have a Smart Meter replaced with the old reliable noninvasive analog meter. This is great news and it should now - while Smart Meters are being installed all over Ventura County - be broadcast loud and clear by word of mouth. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/apr/27/smart-meter-options/ MISCELLANEOUS Why green-certified products may not always be the best choice. If you want to build a really green house, how much time should you spend looking for products that carry a green certification? Not a lot, advised builders and architects known for their “greenness.” Though green attributes such as recycled content were very important and might lead them to consider a particular product, the presence or absence of a green certification rarely influenced their selections. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/why-green-certified-products-may-not-always-be-the-best-choice/2012/04/26/gIQAwATgrT_story.html Protesters call for shutdown of San Onofre nuclear plant. "Shut down San Onofre!" was the rallying cry of about 200 protesters at San Onofre State Park on Sunday. They listened to a dozen speakers, marched and carried anti-nuclear-power signs to raise awareness of perceived safety issues at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. The protesters also called for the permanent decommissioning of the plant that sits just south of San Clemente. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/nuclear-351601-plant-san.html OPINIONS Arbor Day and the history of living green. The early adopters of green living lived earth love rather than proclaimed it. In the Louisiana parish that was home to generations of my family, people lived hard lives as field hands or sharecroppers, laboring from "can see in the morning" to "can't see at night." They hoed and picked cotton, corn, peas and other crops; they understood the planting cycle; they ate locally grown fruits and vegetables without ever visiting a supermarket. Long before the terms "eco-friendly" and "environmentalism" came into vogue, generations of Americans embraced the principles of recycle, reuse, reduce without ever naming them. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-stewart-arbor-day-trees-20120427,0,5499189,print.story Lois Henry: FAIL: the Lung Association's air quality ratings. To all you people out there with your hair on fire because the American Lung Association ahhhgain gave our air an "F," please, douse yourselves and think for a minute. The truth is the nation's air quality overall has improved vastly in the years since the ALA began looking at air pollution data more than 13 years ago. So if Bakersfield has the worst air in the nation, yet we've all improved dramatically, what does this grade really mean? On it's face -- nothing. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/health/x1088758653/Lois-Henry-FAIL-the-Lung-Associations-air-quality-ratings Opinion: The prescription for better breathing is cleaner air. As a doctor and allergist, I deal primarily with respiratory illness in children and adults. I see firsthand the direct correlation between air pollution and increased sickness, particularly with those suffering from asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) – the two most common lung diseases. Higher pollution means more symptoms and more hospitalizations. Our clean air standards need to be tightened and modernized to reflect our population’s increased vulnerability to escalating pollutants in the air we breathe. Posted. http://www.nj.com/times-opinion/index.ssf/2012/04/opinion_the_prescription_for_b.html BLOGS No Easy Scapegoat for Hong Kong Pollution. Hong Kong has long preferred to blame its smoggy skies on polluting factories just over the border in mainland China. But new analysis suggests that the blame for much of the city’s pollution rests squarely on Hong Kong’s shoulders. According to just-released data from a regional government report, air quality in the Pearl River Delta area has continuously improved over the past year, thanks to initiatives to encourage better energy efficiency and cleaner industrial production. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/04/30/no-easy-scapegoat-for-hong-kong-pollution/ Will Oil Extraction Harm Western Parks? As the public comment period ends this week on a proposal to develop oil shale and oil sands in vast areas of the Rocky Mountain West, conservationists are making a stand on behalf of the area’s national parks. The National Parks Conservation Association, a 90-year-old organization, is concerned that eight national parks and monuments are at risk from energy development of this type and scale. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/30/will-oil-extraction-imperil-western-parks/?ref=science China getting ready for 5m plug-in vehicles by 2020. Imagine all of the cars and light-duty trucks in Washington and Oregon combined. Then imagine them all being either battery-electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids. That's what Chinese leaders have in mind by the end of the decade. The China State Council is pushing for a combination of automotive industry production and public acceptance to allow for as many as five million plug-in vehicles to be on the roads in China by 2020, Green Car Congress reports. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/04/27/china-getting-ready-for-five-million-plug-in-vehicles-by-2020/ ====================================================================== 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 May 2012 12:49:47 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 1, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 1, 2012. 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 Wood Makes Comeback as a Fuel. A century ago, rural homes in the United States and Europe commonly relied on wood for heating. Now wood is making a comeback, thanks largely to pellet technology. The energy-dense pellets, which resemble dry dog kibble and are mostly made from mill residue like sawdust and wood shavings, can be used to generate heat or electricity — or both at the same time. Demand is strong in Europe, where high prices for heating oil and clean-energy requirements have fostered interest in alternatives, but analysts say that over the long term, markets in Asia and North America could grow rapidly, too. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/02/business/global/wood-makes-comeback-as-a-fuel.html?_r=1 GREEN ENERGY Solar policy can advance (or delay) grid parity by a decade. n their interactive graphic, Bloomberg Energy Finance calls solar grid parity (when electricity from solar costs less than grid power) the “golden goal.” It’s an excellent illustration of how the right energy policy can help a nation go gold on solar or wallow in metallurgical obscurity. In the case of the U.S., it may mean delaying grid parity by eight years. In the screenshot below, countries in purple have reached the golden goal in 2012 based on the quality of their solar resource and the cost of grid electricity, as well as a 6 percent expected return on investment for solar developers. Posted. http://grist.org/energy-policy/solar-policy-can-advance-or-delay-grid-parity-by-a-decade/ MISCELLANEOUS EPA official who compared enforcement to crucifixion resigns. A senior Environmental Protection Agency official resigned Sunday in an effort to end the furor over his remarks two years ago that the EPA should make examples of polluters the way Romans crucified people to quash rebellions. But it appeared unlikely that the departure of Alfredo Juan “Al” Armendariz — who had served as EPA administrator for Region VI, encompassing Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oklahoma — would quell Republican attacks targeting the EPA during an election year. GOP lawmakers have seized upon his comments, made during a May 2010 speech in Dish, Tex., and captured on video, as an example of what they say are administration efforts to curtail U.S. energy development. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-official-who-compared-enforcement-to-crucifixion-resigns/2012/04/30/gIQAucsisT_story.html Exposures to Pesticide in Utero Linked to Brain Abnormalities. Babies exposed in the womb to a commonly used insecticide have brain abnormalities after birth, according to a study that looked at children born before the U.S. limited the chemical's use. Magnetic resonance imaging of elementary school-aged children with the highest exposure to chlorpyrifos, used mostly in agricultural settings now, showed structural changes in the brain compared with those who had the lowest exposure…Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/04/30/bloomberg_articlesM3AQOG6S972801-M3AZD.DTL BLOGS No, wind farms are not causing global warming. Scientific studies are misrepresented all the time. But now and again the distortions get particularly bad. That was the case Monday, when Fox News ran the headline, “New Research Shows Wind Farms Cause Global Warming.” A number of other media outlets did the same thing. And it’s... not true at all. The frenzy started after Liming Zhou, a scientist at the University of Albany, published a short study in Nature Climate Change. Zhou’s team analyzed satellite data for a handful of large wind farms in west-central Texas. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/no-wind-farms-are-not-causing-global-warming/2012/04/30/gIQAMl2GsT_blog.html Clouds and Climate Change: Taking Readers’ Questions. In the latest installment of his Temperature Rising series in The Times, Justin Gillis reports at length on an area of research in which climate skeptics’ arguments cannot be readily dismissed: clouds. Their theory is that clouds will counter much of the anticipated rise in global temperatures and preserve the climate on which humanity depends. Scientists are doubtful. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/clouds-and-climate-change-taking-readers-questions/ EPA Offers Free Solar & Wind Tools to Tap into Gigawatts of Energy. There are more than 490,000 potentially contaminated properties covering some 15 million acres of land across the US. Aiming to help local communities and landowners make good use of them, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Renewable Energy (NREL) launched a set of tools that enable communities and landowners to evaluate contaminated and underutilized properties’ renewable energy potential. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/05/epa-offers-free-solar-wind-tools-tap-gigawatts-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, 2 May 2012 14:32:50 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 2, 2012 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. AIR POLLUTION Spare the Air smog season starts Tuesday in the Bay Area. The Bay Area's Spare the Air smog season begins Wednesday, opening the weather window for hot smoggy days when the public may be asked to drive less and avoid strenuous outdoor exercise. The Bay Area Air Quality Management issues the Spare the Air advisories when it forecasts that smog will violate federal public health standards somewhere in the nine-county region. The district issued an average of 11 smog advisories annually the last four years. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20524576/spare-air-smog-season-starts-tuesday-bay-area?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20524576/spare-air-smog-season-starts-tuesday-bay-area?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://blog.sfgate.com/incontracosta/2012/05/01/summer-%E2%80%9Cspare-the-air%E2%80%9D-season-starts-on-wednesday-may-2nd-tomorrow/ Group's lawsuit targets coal-fired power plant. An environmental group has filed a federal lawsuit claiming a Texas coal-fired power plant violates the Clean Air Act. The suit filed Tuesday in Waco federal court claims Luminant's Big Brown coal-fired plant exposes the public to harmful air pollution. The suit says the company's own data shows the power plant near Fairfield violated its particulate matter limits at least 370 times in the past 3 1-2 years. Asthma and other respiratory ailments are associated with particulate matter, commonly known as dirt and soot. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/01/groups-lawsuit-targets-coal-fired-power-plant/#ixzz1tj97rQTE CLIMATE CHANGE Clouds’ Effect on Climate Change Is Last Bastion for Dissenters. For decades, a small group of scientific dissenters has been trying to shoot holes in the prevailing science of climate change, offering one reason after another why the outlook simply must be wrong. Over time, nearly every one of their arguments has been knocked down by accumulating evidence, and polls say 97 percent of working climate scientists now see global warming as a serious risk. Yet in recent years, the climate change skeptics have seized on one last argument that cannot be so readily dismissed. Their theory is that clouds will save us. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/science/earth/clouds-effect-on-climate-change-is-last-bastion-for-dissenters.html?_r=1 An Underground Fossil Forest Offers Clues on Climate Change. In the clammy depths of a southern Illinois coal mine lies the largest fossil forest ever discovered, at least 50 times as extensive as the previous contender. Scientists are exploring dripping passages by the light of headlamps, mapping out an ecosystem from 307 million years ago, just before the world’s first great forests were wiped out by global warming. This vast prehistoric landscape may shed new light on climate change today. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/science/underground-fossil-forest-in-illinois-offers-clues-on-climate-change.html South Korea approves carbon trading scheme. South Korea's lawmakers approved a national emissions trading scheme on Wednesday to tackle its growing greenhouse gas emissions, overcoming strong industry opposition and joining a growing number of nations to put a price on carbon. Of the 151 lawmakers who voted, 148 approved the scheme, underscoring bipartisan support for a cap on carbon emissions, in stark contrast with the United States and Australia where emissions trading has been deeply divisive. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/02/us-carbon-korea-idUSBRE8410TN20120502 Critics say Discovery Channel’s ‘Frozen Planet’ sidesteps climate change issue. The Discovery Channel’s popular “Frozen Planet” series states that global warming is harming arctic habitats. But it doesn’t mention what the majority of the world’s scientists believe: Accelerated warming is caused by carbon pollution from humans. On Tuesday, a group devoted to spreading the news on climate change complained about the network’s decision to omit that information. Calling it “dangerous self-censorship” that only satisfies climate deniers, Forecast the Facts delivered an online petition with what it said were 10,000 signatures to the network’s Silver Spring headquarters. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/critics-say-discovery-channels-frozen-planet-sidesteps-climate-change-issue/2012/05/01/gIQAGBfXvT_story.html FUELS Fracking 'Health Challenges' to Be Examined by U.S. Advisers. The Institute of Medicine will examine whether the process of hydraulic fracturing to extract natural gas from rock "poses potential health challenges," a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official said. Health concerns related to fracking, in which millions of gallons of chemically treated water are forced underground to break up rock and free gas, include the potential for water contamination and air pollution, Christopher Portier, director of CDC's National Center for Environmental Health, said at a workshop in Washington today. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/04/30/bloomberg_articlesM3AM0B6S972901-M3B99.DTL Biogas Takes a Hit. Many environmentalists hope that biogas will help California meet its renewable-energy goals. Also called biomethane, it's sourced from landfills, dairies, and machines known as digesters that turn decomposing organic material into combustible-fuel sources for power plants. But in a little-noticed decision that could impact the future of some types of biogas statewide, the California Energy Commission on March 28 suspended the certification of new pipeline biogas suppliers. The suspension targets methane gas that is injected into regional pipeline systems and mixed with other gas sources intended to fuel power plants that supply the state's electricity grid. Posted. http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/biogas-takes-a-hit/Content?oid=3192006 Cruise-ship industry fights cleaner-fuel rule. The heavy fuel that oceangoing vessels burn adds so much to air pollution hundreds of miles inland that the United States joined with Canada during President George W. Bush's administration to ask the International Maritime Organization to create an emissions-control area along the coasts. Large ships would be required to reduce pollution dramatically in a zone 200 miles out to sea along all the coasts of North America, mainly by using cleaner fuel. The cargo-shipping industry supported the stringent emission reductions. The cruise-ship industry, however, wants an emissions-averaging plan that would allow it to burn the same heavy fuel it always has used in some areas, and it's lobbying Congress for help. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/05/01/2181792/cruise-ship-industry-fights-cleaner.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Fighting coal export terminals: It matters. As I wrote in my last post — and have been writing for years — coal is on the decline in the U.S. The biggest driver of this trend is the current low cost of natural gas from fracking, but it also has to do with increasing competition from renewables, the aging of the U.S. coal fleet, organized grassroots opposition, new EPA regulations, and slowing demand for electricity [PDF]. The rapid move away from coal is hitting U.S. coal-mining companies where it hurts. Posted. http://grist.org/coal/fighting-coal-export-terminals-it-matters/ VEHICLES Auto sales stay strong in April. Americans bought 1.18 million cars and trucks in April, up 2.3 percent from a year earlier. Sales were still strong, but growth slowed a bit from earlier in the year. Analysts said there's no sign that the auto sales recovery is faltering. Toyota made a comeback while General Motors and Ford stumbled. WHAT THEY BOUGHT: There were bright spots and lows in just about every corner of the market. Fuel-efficient cars were still hot sellers. Sales of Toyota's Prius gas-electric hybrids more than doubled, and the Camry midsize car was up 21 percent. Ford, Chrysler and General Motors all sold more pickups during the month. Ford's F-Series sales rose 4.4 percent. WHAT'S NEXT: Automakers and analysts are optimistic for the rest of the year as consumer confidence continues to rise. General Motors raised its full-year forecast for the whole U.S. market by 500,000 cars and trucks, to a range of 14 million to 14.5 million. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/05/01/2181876/summary-box-auto-sales-stay-strong.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Incentives: EV and PHEV sales projected to take off in Israel next month. Given that the purchase tax on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in Israel is one of the highest in the world reaching the rate of 83%, the lowered purchase tax on electric, plug-in hybrid and other hybrid cars introduced within the Tax Authority’s green taxation policy will be a huge financial incentive for potential EV buyers. The Finance Ministry said in a statement that it hopes to strike a long-term balance in the way it taxes different technologies, allocating tax credits to vehicles according to how much they pollute. The officials say the benefits for Israeli car buyers who take advantage of the incentives are collectively worth NIS 130 million (around € 26 million) over the next several years. Posted. http://beta.cars21.com/news/view/4618 GREEN ENERGY Supercomputing Power Could Pave the Way to Energy-Efficient Engines. Neon lines and dots of aqua, violet, crimson, and pink dissolve into smoky swirls—that's what the burning of fuel looks like when it is simulated on one of the world's most powerful supercomputers. These psychedelic snapshots could pave the way for the development of cars that use 25 percent to 50 percent less fuel than the autos of today. But the problem of improving upon the 150-year-old internal combustion engine is so complex that the scientists who work on it are eager for a major development in the supercomputing world to occur later this year. Posted. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/04/120430-titan-supercomputing-for-energy-efficiency/ Santa Rosa readies its electric vehicle charging stations. Santa Rosa finally is ready to start charging people to charge their electric vehicles. For $1 an hour, eco-conscious drivers of Nissan Leafs, Chevy Volts and similar vehicles soon will be able to plug in to some of the 13 charging stations the city installed in 2010. The stations are a key component of the Sonoma County’s growing “Electric Trail,” which aims to create a regional network of public and private chargers that will encourage wider adoption of all-electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120501/ARTICLES/120509937/1350?Title=Santa-Rosa-readies-its-electric-vehicle-charging-stations OPINION Air-pollution studies important for health. Steve Milloy’s recent Op-Ed (“Did Obama’s EPA relaunch Tuskegee experiments?” Commentary, April 25) makes allegations about critical scientific research into how air pollution might contribute to abnormal heart rhythms. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) research into the health impacts of air pollution has helped to build healthier communities, provide new technology and develop new solutions to protect and manage air quality. In the case of research into fine-particle pollution, more than 50 clinical studies over the past decade involving human volunteers have been published by scientists from the EPA, many U.S. universities and medical centers. These describe cardiac effects in humans exposed to this harmful pollution. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/1/air-pollution-studies-important-for-health/ FEULNER: Behind ‘Fakegate’. What could be more American than encouraging a robust debate on one of the most controversial issues of the day? The answer - for some on the left, anyway - is: Lie about your opponents, and make a pathetic effort to discredit them. That, at least, is what an activist named Peter Gleick decided to do in a backward attempt to promote his view that global warming is unquestionably and primarily a man-made phenomenon - one that will cause calamitous changes in the environment. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/30/behind-fakegate/ Jose Solorio: Don't let CARB pick our cars. What if your favorite place to buy a coffee was expected by the state, without being compensated, to sell a new product that may provide a more effective caffeine-fueled energy boost than their specially grown and brewed, traditional coffee beverages. Or, worse yet, what if your favorite coffee place had to carve out shelf space for a product not on the market yet, but will be – maybe, someday? Outrageous, unfair, right? Government can't make a store sell something – or can it? The California Air Resources Board thinks the answer to that question is yes. It is on a mission to finalize a rule that would require certain gasoline producers/importers to build and operate as many as 500 hydrogen fuel stations, at a cost to them of over $1 billion. It is called the Clean Fuel Outlets Program and could move forward despite the fact that there are no publicly available, reliable figures as to how many of those vehicles will be on the road in the foreseeable future. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/hydrogen-352135-fuel-cars.html July Fourth laser show? Sounds like fun. Here's an idea whose time seems to have come: Enjoy Fourth of July "fireworks" with something other than fireworks. Celebrate the color and spectacle of a dramatic showcase in the night sky without the sulfuric aftertaste and cascading ash. That's the plan for at least three San Joaquin Valley cities this summer, thanks to a planned experiment by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Traditional Independence Day fireworks displays fill the air with smoke and metals like magnesium, copper and barium, which can lead to skin irritations and muscle weakness. Between 9 a.m. and 11 p.m. each July 4, particulate readings often soar many times beyond federal standards. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/our-view/x1942474098/July-Fourth-laser-show-Sounds-like-fun BLOGS Climate Change and the Body Politic. The latest installment in our Temperature Rising series, just published, is about an argument between mainstream climate researchers and contrarians over how clouds will change on a warming planet. As their many other objections to climate science have been undermined by the growing evidence, the contrarians have settled on clouds as a kind of last-resort reason that the scientific majority just has to be wrong. In the course of reporting the article, I had some intriguing conversations with scientists who had thought hard about how to frame the problem of climate change in the public mind. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/climate-change-and-the-body-politic/ A Grim Portrait of Palm Oil Emissions. Indonesia ranks right behind the United States and China in the lineup of the world’s top 10 greenhouse gas emitters. It’s not because of smokestacks or freeways, but massive deforestation starting in the 1990s — driven In large part by the expansion of plantations for palm oil, an edible vegetable oil used in cookies, crackers, soap and European diesel fuel. In January, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed finding that biofuels derived from palm oil feedstocks failed to meet the standards set by the agency’s 2007 renewable fuels mandate. While they were found to have lower life-cycle emissions than conventional gasoline and diesel, palm oil came up short of the 20 percent reduction in related emissions that is required for inclusion in the new biofuel blends. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/01/a-grim-portrait-of-palm-oil-emissions/ Chevy Volt sales drop to 1,462 in April, Nissan Leaf sales fall to 370 *UPDATE. For anyone playing close attention to the month-to-month sales results from the two leading plug-in vehicles in the U.S., the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan Leaf, April had some depressing news. After selling a record number of Volts in March – 2,289 – Chevrolet managed to move just 1,462 in April. This is more inline with previous recent months (1,023 sales in February, 603 sold in January, 1,529 in December) and is almost three times the 493 sold in April 2011. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/01/chevy-volt-sales-drop-to-1-462-nissan-leaf-sales-fall-to-370/ America's obesity problem equals a billion gallons of gas per year. Newsflash: Americans are fat. And no, we're not just big boned. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions over the past couple decades, and as a result diabetes, heart disease and just about every other health issue are on the rise. The Atlantic reports that the amount of fuel we're using is on the rise as well, as heavy occupants need more fuel to get from Point A to *insert drive-thru joke here*. A 2006 study shows that Americans weigh so much more than they did in 1960 that we're using up almost an additional billion gallons of petrol every year. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/01/americas-obesity-problem-equals-a-billion-gallons-of-gas-per-ye/ Are e-Readers Really Green? The Millions has a great write-up of the real impact of e-readers. Despite the notion that if you read enough books on them, they'll have a lighter footprint than printed books, the reality is something less appealing altogether. "Necessarily, the increased consumption of print and digital books has led to an ever-increasing demand for the materials required to create, transport, and store them. In the case of eBooks, though, vast amounts of materials are also necessary for the eReaders themselves, and this is something typically overlooked by proponents of digitization: the material costs are either ignored, or, more misleadingly, they’re classified as the byproduct of the tech industry instead of the book industry... In other words: the carbon footprint of the digital book industry is mostly growing in addition to, not to the detriment of, the growing carbon footprint of the print book industry." Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/gadgets/are-e-readers-really-green.html NADA Should Be Smiling: Auto Dealer Profits Are Up as Fuel-Efficient Models Grow. Consumers shopping for a new car have more fuel-efficient options and auto dealers are seeing a “renaissance” at their stores. The model year 2012 cars in showrooms today are the first to meet fuel efficiency and carbon pollution standards first announced in 2009. Since then, the number of fuel-efficient models has more than doubled. Auto dealers are among the winners of the focus on efficiency. AutoNation, the largest dealer group in the U.S., posted a 5 percent jump in first quarter profit compared to last year. Mike Jackson, the CEO of AutoNation, recently told the Washington Post, “The renaissance in auto retail is well under way.” Jackson continued, “The American consumer has more choices than ever with improved fuel efficiency, better technology, and accelerated product offerings.” Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ltonachel/nada_should_be_smiling_auto_de.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 May 2012 12:32:47 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 3, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 3, 2012. 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 South Korean Parliament Approves Carbon Trading System. South Korea approved a cap-and-trade system to cut greenhouse gases as President Lee Myung Bak seeks support for new restrictions on factories and power plants in the fastest-growing emitter among industrialized democracies. The National Assembly passed a bill to establish cap-and- trade, a market-based program that requires companies exceeding their emission quotas to buy permits from those that discharge less, with the backing of ruling and opposition parties, according to the assembly’s webcast of yesterday’s session. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-05-03/south-korean-parliament-approves-carbon-trading-system.html Korea legislates for emissions trading by 2015. The Republic of Korea, the world's 15th largest economy and one of Australia's top trading partners, passed legislation last night for a national emissions trading scheme (ETS). The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, welcomed the move. "I congratulate the South Korean Government and National Assembly for taking this important step to drive sustainable growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Mr Combet said. Posted. http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/minister/greg-combet/2012/media-releases/May/MR-69-12.aspx FUELS Uncertainty still clouds future of EU biodiesel. Senior European Union officials failed on Wednesday to agree on how to measure the full climate impact of biofuels, prolonging uncertainty in a debate that threatens to wipe out large parts of Europe's biodiesel industry. The talks followed warnings from scientists that using biodiesel made from European rapeseed and imported palm oil and soybeans does nothing to prevent climate change and could actually accelerate it. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/02/us-eu-biofuels-idUSBRE8410RA20120502 Plant-based biofuels expand with tech advances. Amid the push to develop clean energy, new research suggests plant-based biofuels could meet 30% of global demand for transportation fuel and slash the greenhouse gas emissions that come from burning fossil fuels. Recent scientific advances raise the possibility that biofuels can be made from non-edible plants engineered to grow on land abandoned for agricultural use and thus not compromise food production, according to an article this week in F1000 Biology Reports. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2012/05/plant-based-biofuels-could-power-nearly-a-third-of-vehicles/1?csp=34news HIGH-SPEED RAIL Expert warnings on rail costs flawed by 'wrong numbers,' official says. A report that warned of huge operating deficits for California’s bullet train was based on “the wrong numbers,” an official of the state High-Speed Rail Authority claims. Rail board member Mike Rossi told a legislative hearing this week that incorrect data undergirds a downbeat analysis of the bullet train’s finances published recently by four Peninsula-based financial experts. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/expert-warnings-rail-costs-flawed-wrong-numbers-official-says-16015 VEHICLES U.S., German Automakers Push EV Charging Nissan Bypasses. Ford Motor Co. (F), General Motors Co. (GM), Volkswagen AG (VOW) and five other carmakers are promoting a standard for rapidly charging electric cars that’s at odds with a method used by Nissan Motor Co., the top seller of battery vehicles. Chrysler Group LLC is the latest to join Ford, GM and Germany’s VW and its Audi luxury brand, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW), Daimler AG and Porsche AG in adopting direct current fast- charging with a single standard plug, said Mike Tinskey, Ford’s associate director of vehicle electrification. The system can re-power vehicles in as little as 15 minutes, he said. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-03/u-s-german-automakers-push-ev-charging-nissan-bypasses.html GREEN ENERGY EU green goals depend on CO2 market-Acciona. The European Union could fail to hit its green goals unless it manages to drive carbon prices on its Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to around three times current levels, Spain's Acciona Energy said. Acciona is among a group of businesses - including Royal Dutch Shell, Unilever, Philips, Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone - whose leaders on Thursday met European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and other senior officials from the EU executive. They reiterated demands for ambitious future targets on renewable energy and carbon emissions reduction, as well as to back urgent action to bolster carbon prices. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/03/us-eu-carbon-acciona-idUSBRE8420W020120503 Wind farm adds 55 turbines. A stretch of 55 new wind turbines that will supply energy for 44,000 customers of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District are up and spinning in Solano County. The new turbines are the latest expansion of SMUD's 5,400-acre wind farm in Rio Vista. Altogether, the 107 new and existing wind turbines in SMUD's Solano Wind Project are expected to churn out 230 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 79,000 homes, SMUD said. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/02/4458284/wind-farm-adds-55-turbines.html Crisis-hit Japan mulls shift to renewable energy. Another long, stupefyingly hot summer is looming for Japan just as it shuts down its last operating nuclear power reactor, worsening a squeeze on electricity and adding urgency to calls for a green energy revolution. On Saturday, the last of the country's 50 usable nuclear reactors will be switched off, completely idling a power source that once supplied a third of Japan's electricity. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/03/financial/f005030D59.DTL&type=printable OPINIONS Fighting greenhouse gases: Demise of small business is greatly exaggerated. The demise of small businesses due to AB 32 has been greatly exaggerated. I should know – I founded a small business and clean energy laws like AB 32 are a big part of the reason we are still here. Not because I am a clean tech investor or venture capitalist but because our company, which partners with businesses and communities to convert organic waste to renewable energy, is leading the wave of clean energy job creation that is sweeping across the state. Posted. http://capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=10jgvttj1kth435&xid=10jgnatbve6lsas&done# With gas prices rising, is premium worth the cost? With fuel prices on the rise, some drivers are pumping less-expensive regular-grade gasoline into cars for which premium fuel is recommended. Although that might save money initially, auto experts are divided on the wisdom of such a strategy, which some say could end up costing more. What you save at the pump can be lost on the road as the electronics in the engine ratchet down performance to deal with the lower-grade fuel, experts say. Using the cheaper gas might also damage the vehicle over a long period. Posted. http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/autos/with-gas-prices-rising-is-premium-worth-the-cost/1228033 Editorial, other views: Strawberry growers still without effective fumigant. It's a sad irony that for years growing a healthy strawberry conventionally has required methyl bromide, a chemical so harmful it has been banned by international treaty because it is destroying the Earth's ozone layer. Another dose of irony: The soil fumigant at first favored to replace methyl bromide, methyl iodide, is perhaps even more despised, with studies linking it to cancer, birth defects and other maladies, and now it has been yanked from the U.S. market. Posted. http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20120503/OPINION01/205030303/Editorial-other-views-Strawberry-growers-still-without-effective-fumigant BLOGS Repair bill for San Onofre nuclear plant could hit $65 million. Edison International officials estimate that the company's cost for inspections and repairs at the closed San Onofre nuclear plant will be between $55 million and $65 million, but said that the costs may be recovered under a manufacturer's warranty. The company, which revealed the figures during a conference call about its first-quarter earnings, also incurred costs of $30 million for replacement power through March 31, Edison reported. Officials did not give an estimate of what total replacement power costs will be. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/san-onofre-outage-costs.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lanowblog+%28L.A.+Now%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, 4 May 2012 12:09:00 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 4, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 4, 2012. 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 Nevada tribe fights coal plant in pollution battle. Kami Miller's heart flutters irregularly, she needs an inhaler to breathe and she's been diagnosed with thyroid problems. Even more troubling, her 12-year-old son already has the same health woes. For the Miller family, there is little doubt why they and their fellow tribe members living on the tiny Moapa Band of Paiutes reservation outside Las Vegas are struggling with a litany of medical problems. Posted. http://hosted2.ap.org/azmes/788acee4e023427bbfc19d9278ac9378/article_2012-05-03-coal%20plant-moapa%20paiutes/id-d913b53bed76472a8d59e50561943098 CLIMATE CHANGE Climate activists seek to highlight flood risk in Sacramento region. Activists plan to stage two demonstrations Saturday to highlight the potential for climate change to increase flood risk in the Sacramento region. In Sacramento, participants are being asked to meet at 10 a.m. on the Guy West Bridge over the American River near California State University, Sacramento, and wear blue-colored swim, snorkeling or dive gear. And in Davis, organizers plan to converge with umbrellas on the levee at 9 a.m. on the west edge of the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, alongside Interstate 80. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/04/v-print/4465235/climate-activists-seek-to-highlight.html Scientists drill into Clear Lake to see future. Drilling deeply into ancient sediments beneath Clear Lake, UC Berkeley scientists are seeking vital clues to the future of plant and animal life by investigating how changing climates have altered life in the distant past. The drilling will end next week, and then the 17 scientists on the project will begin analyzing thousands of tiny pollen grains brought up in drill cores from far beneath the lakebed to learn how plant species large and small met the challenge of survival during past periods of climate change. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/04/MNAQ1OBS11.DTL As Japan shuts down nuclear power, emissions rise. The Fukushima crisis is eroding years of Japanese efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming, as power plants running on oil and natural gas fill the electricity gap left by now-shuttered nuclear reactors. Before last year's devastating tsunami triggered meltdowns at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, Japan had planned to meet its carbon emissions reduction targets on the assumption that it would rely on nuclear power, long considered a steady, low-emissions source of energy. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/03/international/i234558D07.DTL http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/as-japan-swings-away-from-nuclear-power-higher-oil-dependency-erases-greenhouse-gas-gains/2012/05/04/gIQA90Cc0T_story.html Federal coal sales in Powder River Basin draw suit. Environmentalists have filed a lawsuit seeking to derail efforts by the federal government to lease an estimated 2 billion tons of coal near two major Wyoming mines. The lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., targets four recent and proposed coal lease sales in the Powder River Basin. That's an area of Montana and Wyoming that produces more coal than any other region of the country. The Sierra Club and Wild Earth Guardians say mining and burning coal from the federal leases would release huge amounts of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, exacerbating climate change. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/03/financial/f143638D82.DTL FUELS U.S. Announces Compromise on Fracking Disclosure. Washington — The Obama administration on Friday issued a proposed rule governing hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas on public lands that will for the first time require disclosure of the chemicals used in the process. But in a significant concession to the oil industry, companies would have to reveal the composition of fluids only after the drilling of a well is completed, not before, a sharp change from the government’s original proposal, which would have required disclosure of the chemicals 30 days before a well could be started. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/05/us/new-fracking-rule-is-issued-by-obama-administration.html?_r=1&ref=science&pagewanted=print VEHICLES EV confab this weekend is about more than cars. The electric car might not be enjoying a good moment as the Electric Vehicle Symposium, EVS26, powers up for its run this weekend at the Los Angeles Convention Center. GM stopped production for five weeks on the Chevy Volt, and sales of new all-electric cars such as the Volt or the Nissan Leaf are dismal. It's further evidence that transitioning American drivers to electric vehicles (EV) is simply a hard sell. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-electric-vehicle-symposium-cars-public-transit-20120503,0,2383543.story?track=rss GREEN ENERGY San Onofre nuclear plant may resume partial service in June. Southern California Edison says the plant may have to run at a reduced capacity forever. The plant was shut down three months ago because steam generator tubes began leaking radioactive steam. The problems at the San Onofre nuclear power plant are serious enough that the facility will not be able to operate at full capacity when it reopens, perhaps as early as June. The announcement comes as officials continue to investigate problems in the reactors that have forced the plant to remain shut for three months, the longest closure in San Onofre's history. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0503-san-onofre-20120504,0,2811016.story San Onofre technology outmoded, Rep. Rohrabacher says. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Costa Mesa, tours the troubled nuclear plant and says a new generation of nuclear plant is achievable that could address critics’ concerns. San Onofre's shut-down nuclear power plant should not be relicensed in its current state but should be replaced by a new generation of nuclear plants that remove the objections cited by critics, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher said Thursday. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/onofre-352566-san-new.html MISCELLANEOUS Rio de Janeiro stripping away 'visual pollution' Officials in Rio de Janeiro are trying to make one of the globe's most beautiful cities even more stunning. Some 50 workers began tearing down billboards in front of iconic Guanabara Bay on Thursday, launching a campaign to remove distractions from the view of the emerald green Atlantic rain forest on the mountainsides and the white-sand beaches where visitors from around the world will be tanning during the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/03/international/i082934D84.DTL OPINIONS Another View: California cap-and-trade will be costly. Allan Zaremberg, president and CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce, is responding to the April 29 Viewpoints article, "Cap and trade has lessons for California." That commentary argued that a cap-and-trade system for utilities in the Northeast "has boosted the economy of every state that has participated." Reducing carbon emissions in California will cost consumers and businesses money, but that can be mitigated by a well-designed market mechanism, also called cap-and-trade. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/04/4464809/california-cap-and-trade-will.html Viewpoints: Don't let utilities undermine solar economy. A radiant bright spot is shining through the sea of gloomy economic news in California. The clean energy industry is supplying the state with more than 35,000 high-paying jobs and positioning California at the front of the line for private investment dollars. California's trademark sunshine and spirit of innovation are sparking a solar power explosion within the clean energy sector, and forward-thinking state policies are making our state's solar industry a global leader. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/04/4464816/dont-let-utilities-undermine-solar.html BLOGS A Fresh Look at Clouds, and Heat, in the Greenhouse. Here’s a deeper look at some of the points explored by Justin Gillis in his article earlier this week on the persistent questions, and hints of answers, surrounding how clouds will respond as concentrations of greenhouse gases continue to rise. Much of the heated discussion of the article on the Web focuses on its treatment of the skeptical stance of Richard Lindzen, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology climate scientist who has long been a hero of those fighting efforts to restrict greenhouse gases. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/03/a-fresh-look-at-clouds-and-heat-in-the-greenhouse/ A Student’s Conversation With Michael Mann on Climate Science and Climate Wars. Casey Doyle, a student at Warren Wilson College who writes for the Swannanoa Journal, the publication of the school’s Environmental Leadership Center, had the opportunity to speak with the climate scientist Michael Mann when he visited the campus to speak about his book, “The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars.” Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/03/a-students-conversation-with-michael-mann-on-climate-science-and-climate-wars/ New Clues to California’s Climate Future From the State’s Oldest Lake. Clear Lake is one of the largest lakes in the state, and one of the oldest in North America. For half a million years or more, pollen and dead bugs have been collecting on the bottom. That gives scientists a unique opportunity to look deep into California’s past to learn what’s grown here through ice ages and warmer “interglacial” periods. Dr. Cindy Looy, an assistant professor in Berkeley’s Department of Integrative Biology, is leading a project to core Clear Lake, unearthing sediment that’s been collecting on the lake bed for up to 200,000 years. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/ ====================================================================== 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 May 2012 12:29:38 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 7, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 7, 2012. 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 Recycled soil at Cabazon site found not to pose serious health threat. However, California regulators find that the operator did not meet state hazardous waste standards 'in a number of significant areas.' Odors at the site had been blamed for sickening children and teachers at a nearby school. State regulators found inadequate environmental safeguards at a Coachella Valley soil recycling company blamed for noxious odors that sickened children at a nearby school but said the mountains of contaminated soil do not pose a serious health threat. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cabazon-odors-20120503,0,7925249.story Group's lawsuit targets coal-fired power plant. An environmental group has filed a federal lawsuit claiming a Texas coal-fired power plant violates the Clean Air Act. The suit filed Tuesday in Waco federal court claims Luminant's Big Brown coal-fired plant exposes the public to harmful air pollution. The suit says the company's own data shows the power plant near Fairfield violated its particulate matter limits at least 370 times in the past 3 1-2 years. Asthma and other respiratory ailments are associated with particulate matter, commonly known as dirt and soot. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/01/groups-lawsuit-targets-coal-fired-power-plant/#ixzz1tj97rQTE CLIMATE CHANGE Flooding, climate concerns spur demonstrations in Sacramento area. Concerns that area rivers will flow high in winter and that extreme weather events will result in floods were on the minds of 50 people who gathered Saturday morning at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area levee as part of a worldwide demonstration. That event dovetailed with the recent release of a report that predicts that, locally, climate change will result in more rainfall earlier in the winter and less snowpack runoff later in the season, causing rivers to remain fuller for a longer period of time. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/05/06/2188398/flooding-climate-concerns-spur.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Aspen Ski Area rallies to highlight climate change. Aspen Ski Area hosted a ski race without snow Saturday to highlight the effect climate change has on the outdoor recreation industry. Auden Schendler, Aspen Skiing Company's vice president of sustainability, says "climate change is already pounding businesses and communities, whether you're a ski resort, an insurance agency or a raft business." Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/05/aspen-ski-area-rallies-to-highlight-climate/ FUELS Coal Fights Obama with NASCAR, YouTube Campaigns. From NASCAR and YouTube to campaign donations and Washington lobbyists, coal supporters are embracing an all-of-the-above strategy to defend the industry against what they consider regulatory overreach in Washington. While President Barack Obama has said he supports energy development of all kinds, he didn’t mention coal during his State of the Union address or during a four-state, two-day tour promoting his policies, an omission the industry took as a slight. Worse still in the eyes of coal backers are a series of regulations related to air pollution and mountaintop mining. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-05-07/coal-fights-obama-with-nascar-youtube-campaigns.html Refinery closures end streak of gas price declines in California. California's streak of seven straight weeks of gasoline price declines has ended, victimized by widespread refinery maintenance shutdowns that have reduced fuel supplies by nearly a third compared with a year ago, according to state statistics. Four of the 13 refineries in California that produce the state's expensive blend of gasoline have been in temporary shutdown, mostly for maintenance, according to state petroleum statistics. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-california-gas-rise-20120507,0,921026.story VEHICLES Pointing the Way to Where E.V. Drivers Can Plug In. IN the effort to establish standards that will encourage the acceptance of electric vehicles, there has been much wrangling over the development of a universal design for the plugs that connect battery chargers to cars. That is not the only E.V. debate under way, however. A less contentious, but still important, issue — the look of the road signs that tell drivers where they can top off a waning battery — has yet to be resolved. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/automobiles/pointing-the-way-to-where-ev-drivers-can-plug-in.html GREEN ENERGY Remote Solar Plants Come with Added Costs. New transmission lines will be needed to carry power from the desert to the Bay Area. On a desolate stretch of the Mojave Desert, twenty miles northeast of Barstow, construction workers recently began laying the foundation for a 2.8 square mile solar power plant. By 2014, electricity will flow from the facility into nearby power lines to homes and businesses throughout Northern California. The plant will help PG&E meet a state mandate requiring utilities to provide 33 percent of their power from renewable resources by 2020. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/energy/story/desert-solar-projects-costs/ Sacramento firm provides power in south state. Sacramento-based Greenleaf Power, which owns and operates green energy facilities, has begun delivering power to the Imperial Irrigation District in Southern California. Greenleaf's Desert View Power plant, in the northern end of the IID's service area, agreed to provide 45 megawatts of power over the next decade – enough to meet the needs of 45,000 households. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/05/04/2188871/sacramento-firm-provides-power.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Space weather expert has ominous forecast. Mike Hapgood, who studies solar events, says the world isn't prepared for a truly damaging storm. And one could happen soon. A stream of highly charged particles from the sun is headed straight toward Earth, threatening to plunge cities around the world into darkness and bring the global economy screeching to a halt. This isn't the premise of the latest doomsday thriller. Massive solar storms have happened before —…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-solar-storms-20120505,0,6214500.story San Jose Mercury News, Calif., Mr. Roadshow column. Q I am about to buy a new Prius plug-in. I spoke to DMV to find out if they still have plenty of carpool stickers left, and they said they couldn't release that information. The state Air Resources Board said they didn't know. Why is this secret? Should I buy the car? A If getting stickers to drive solo in the carpool lane is one of your main reasons to purchase the plug-in Prius, you're in luck. This Prius and models of the Chevy Volt (with E, F, G or H in the fifth position of the vehicle identification number) qualify for green stickers that will allow solo drivers in carpool lanes through 2014. Posted. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-mct-san-jose-mercury-news-calif.-mr.-roadshow-column-20120503,0,1116077.story OPINIONS Dan Morain: Big tobacco's unlikeliest ally. Wearing a lab coat and speaking from an exam room, La Donna Porter looks every bit the wise physician, even as she does the bidding of the tobacco industry, which contributes to the deaths of 443,000 Americans every year. Porter is the star of tobacco-funded radio and television commercials intended to snuff out Proposition 29, the initiative on the June 5 ballot that would raise taxes by $1 per pack on cigarettes. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/06/4467266/big-tobaccos-unlikeliest-allyphysician.html Malzacher: New technologies making oil, gas and coal environmentally safe. President Barack Obama is the loudest social engineer politician. Let's give him some help. Green steel technology is a process that mixes plastic and rubber waste. This process reduces the reliance on coke, which is a refined version of fossil fuel. This process reduces carbon emissions, uses less electricity and greatly reduces rubber and plastics in landfills. The renewable green job success story is met by skeptical Americans. Renewable energy does not and will not meet our energy needs. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/05/malzacher-new-technologies-making-oil-gas-and/#ixzz1uCS9aeDL BLOGS SAE Congress: GE charges up Nissan's EV plans. Nissan and GE shared a booth at the SAE World Congress in Detroit recently to emphasize the way the two companies want to connects your car and various appliances to the emerging smart grid. The common piece of equipment is the new WattStation, which is an electric vehicle charging station that – along with the companion piece of software called WattStation Connect – gives plug-in vehicle drivers "the ability to manage and set customer pricing for EV charging, provide access control at their facilities, generate valuable reports and engage with customers in new ways." Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/06/sae-congress-ge-charges-up-nissans-ev-plans/ The Short Hot Life of Heartland’s Hateful Climate Billboard. The online spin cycle on global warming has become so fast and toxic that an electronic billboard in Chicago can flash an ultra-offensive message designed to draw attention to a conference of climate contrarians, then generate a global burst of Web traffic and then be withdrawn 24 hours later as “a necessary price to make an emotional appeal to people who otherwise aren’t following the climate change debate” (the statement this afternoon from the Heartland Institute, the group that paid for the messages). Hopefully that necessary price will include Heartland losing a few more of its shrinking pool of corporate contributors. (The group issued a longer statement tonight on its “realist” message.) Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/04/the-short-hot-life-of-heartlands-hateful-climate-billboard/ ====================================================================== 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 May 2012 14:25:33 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 8, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 8, 2012. 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 spars with EPA on air quality standards. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is not protecting public health and has violated federal law by failing to review air quality standards, according to a lawsuit filed by the American Lung Association, the state air board and a consortium of states. A brief filed late last week by the EPA in federal court in Washington, D.C., states that it does not plan to complete the mandatory review until Aug. 15, 2013 – about 22 months after the legal deadline. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/may/08/state-spars-with-epa-on-air-quality-standards/?ap http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/state-spars-epa-air-quality-standards-16053 Court rules asbestos victims can sue machine maker. A state appeals court Monday reinstated San Francisco lawsuits by asbestos victims against a manufacturer of brake shoe grinding machines that released the lethal fibers from brake linings. The suits were filed by a former mechanic who suffers from asbestosis and by families of three people who died of cancer in 2007 and 2008 after years of exposure to asbestos. All said the asbestos was emitted from brake shoe linings by grinding machines made by Hennessy Industries. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/08/BU7K1OEL8M.DTL&type=printable Air quality regulators OK new Calpine power plants. Calpine has won permits from air quality regulators to build two new geothermal power plants at The Geysers in Sonoma County, a $700 million project that will generate nearly 100 megawatts of electricity. The first plant could start production in 2014 if Calpine can negotiate contracts to sell the renewable energy. The independent power wholesaler currently sells electricity from The Geysers to utility companies including PG&E, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120507/BUSINESS/120509658/-1/jobs?Title=Air-quality-regulators-OK-new-Calpine-power-plants- http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/05/08/29 BU SUBSCRIPTION ONLY EPA delays soot standard again, plans to act by August 2013. U.S. EPA is further delaying stricter standards for airborne soot that comes from power plants, auto tailpipes and smokestacks until August next year, angering advocacy groups that sued the agency to force it to act swiftly. At issue is EPA's efforts to update 2006 national ambient air quality standards for fine particles that a federal court overturned in early 2009 for failing to do enough to protect public health. The standards determine when airborne dust and soot exceed healthy limits. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/08/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY NRDC Petitions EPA to Ban Sale of Refrigerants to Consumers. On April 27, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed a petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to restrict the sales of all refrigerants to anyone other than certified technicians. In calling for the sales restrictions, the NRDC points to the upcoming transition from R-134a now used in most vehicle air conditioners to R-1234yf. R-1234yf is a new refrigerant recently approved by EPA for use on new vehicle air conditioners and which many car companies are looking to use based on its reduced impact on global warming. Posted. http://www.aftermarketnews.com/Item/100136/nrdc_petitions_epa_to_ban_sale_of_refrigerants_to_consumers.aspx CLIMATE CHANGE Dinosaur Gas Emissions May Have Warmed Air. Gassy dinosaurs may have spewed so much methane into the air that it could have helped warm the climate tens of millions of years ago, when temperatures were much higher than today, a team of U.K. scientists reported Monday. The stomach gas released each year by a group of long-necked, plant-eating dinosaurs, which included the world's largest known land animals, may have equaled the total amount of methane produced every year today from all natural, agricultural and industrial sources, the researchers said Monday in the journal Current Biology. Methane, a greenhouse gas, is 23 times as effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303630404577390042359268690.html BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-dinosaur-methane-20120508,0,5712036.story http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0508/Scientists-Dinosaur-flatulence-may-have-warmed-Earth-video Reaction roundup: Climate steps support poll. On average, the poll report finds public support for a host of steps, from tax breaks for electric vehicles to cutting power-plant emissions of greenhouse gasses, has dropped but still retains majority support (aside from tax-breaks for nuclear power plants, supported by only about 43% of poll respondents.) We've asked outside experts to comment on the poll report, which ties the decline most strongly to distrust of scientists among some Republican voters, about 41%, driven by politician's statements ('elite cues' in sociological parlance), ones which have been dismissive of climate research. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2012/05/reaction-roundup-climate-steps-support-poll/1 Climate change could trigger 110-degree heat waves in Calif. Deadly heat waves in California could happen more frequently within the next decade and could occur regularly by the end of the century because of climate change, a researcher has told the state's Energy Commission. Those heat waves will feature three days or more when temperatures hit at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and temperatures as high as 110 degrees are probable if the world stays on its current path of high greenhouse gas emissions, said David Pierce, a climate researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/07/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS European slump leads utilities to burn more coal. Europe's economic slump is allowing utilities in some countries to burn increasing amounts of cheap, highly polluting coal for electricity generation and still meet legally binding targets to cut carbon dioxide emissions, Reuters research shows. The EU's carbon scheme, its main tool to fight global warming, caps CO2 emissions on around 12,000 industrial and power plants in 30 countries and requires them to purchase permits to exceed those caps. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/08/us-energy-power-co-idUSBRE8470JZ20120508 EU Energy Chief: Need Flexibility In Solving CO2 Market Problem. Any measure that can be used to solve the problem of low prices on the European Union's carbon market should be flexible enough to account for an evolving economic situation, the EU's energy chief said Tuesday. He said that he will support measures that would boost the price of permits to emit greenhouse gases to EUR10 or higher, from around EUR7 currently. "I am willing to support...to come to a price signal of EUR10 or more, which is good for investment in clean energy," Oettinger, who is the commissioner for energy, said. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120508-706461.html BY SUBSCRIPTION Teacher starting biodiesel fuel plant in Michigan. A teacher in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula is starting a biodiesel fuel plant after roughly eight years of planning, experimenting and regulatory work. Bill Koucky's Northwest Michigan Biodiesel LLC plant is expected to be in full production within weeks, the Traverse City Record-Eagle reported (http://bit.ly/IUKu3q ) Tuesday. The upper elementary teacher at Grand Traverse Academy said the aim is for it to be "100 percent sustainable." "The concept incorporates bringing a sustainable energy source to the community by utilizing recycled materials right from the area," he said. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/08/teacher-starting-biodiesel-fuel-plant-in/ Enviros say CBO overstated impact of new standards on highway fund. Environmentalists are accusing the Congressional Budget Office of using "shell game" tactics in a report last week that warned of a $57 billion hit to the highway trust fund under new fuel economy standards. A pair of blog posts from environmentalists yesterday say that the report by the nonpartisan CBO lays out a hypothetical situation and that the headline numbers in the report are overstated by 10 to 20 times. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/08/23 BY SUBSCRIPTON ONLY VEHICLES Toyota to sell electric RAV4 with Tesla motor. Toyota Motor Corp., the biggest maker of hybrid autos, said its electric RAV4 sport utility vehicle with batteries and motor from Tesla Motors Inc. will cost more than twice as much as the gasoline version of the compact crossover. Toyota will sell the RAV4 EV for $49,800 this year in California, and plans to deliver 2,600 units over the next three years, the company said Monday at the Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles. The base price of a 2012 RAV4 with a 2.5-liter gasoline engine is $22,650, according to Toyota's website. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/08/BUBJ1OEID3.DTL GREEN ENERGY PUC commissioner opposes Sacramento natural gas storage. Citing potential catastrophic impacts, a California Public Utilities commissioner is urging that a local company be blocked from storing natural gas 3,800 feet beneath Sacramento's Avondale Glen Elder neighborhood. Commissioner Michel Peter Florio issued the proposed decision Friday on the request from Sacramento Natural Gas Storage LLC for a $70 million project to store the gas in a sandstone formation under the neighborhood. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/08/v-print/4473288/puc-commissioner-opposes-sacramento.html MISCELLANEOUS Bisphenol A study hints at breast-cancer link. A new study of fetal exposure to BPA, a plastic additive found in some food packaging, shows that the chemical altered mammary gland development in monkeys. The researchers reported that the changes they observed in the monkeys reinforce concerns that BPA - bisphenol A - could contribute to breast cancer in women. The research was published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/08/MNLG1OELT1.DTL Solid-green bike lanes spreading across Bay Area. As thousands of bicyclists hit Bay Area streets for Thursday's 18th annual Bike to Work Day, an increasing number will ride in a bike lane sure to grab the eye of even the most distracted driver. Bright green bike lanes -- really bright green -- are spreading throughout the region to make bicyclists more visible and to ensure safety where cyclists are most likely to mix with heavy auto traffic. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/traffic/ci_20567909/green-bike-lanes-spreading-across-bay-area?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/traffic/ci_20567909/green-bike-lanes-spreading-across-bay-area?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Air Pollution Experts Win Tyler Environmental Prize. John Seinfeld researches air pollution from the top down. The Louis E. Nohl Professor and professor of chemical engineering at the California Institute of Technology studies the tiny particles in the atmosphere for a broader sense of air quality. Kirk Smith examines air pollution from the ground up. The professor of global environmental health at the University of California, Berkeley, examines the health consequences of household air pollution from simple biomass fuels, such as wood used to heat stoves in rural kitchens. Posted. http://news.usc.edu/#!/article/34479/air-pollution-experts-win-tyler-environmental-prize/ OPINIONS Lung Association ratings really mean something. Lois Henry's April 29 column, "Fail: the Lung Association's air quality ratings," fails to mention the serious health emergencies caused by the Central Valley's dirty air. Polluted air sends children and adults to hospitals and emergency rooms, triggers asthma attacks, and leads to early deaths. Even short-term exposures to elevated levels of particle pollution can cause difficulty breathing and lead to heart attacks and strokes. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/letters/x1088759266/Lung-Association-ratings-really-mean-something Our Voice: Toxic treatment site must meet the state standards. If the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians continues to allow Western Environmental Inc. to treat tainted soil in Mecca, it should insist the plant meets the high standards set by the state of California. Tribal Chairman David Roosevelt made that commitment in March. The Desert Sun hopes he will demand the plant follow the 19 recommendations made last week by the California EPA's Department of Toxic Substances Control. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120508/OPINION01/205070319/Our-Voice-Toxic-treatment-site-must-meet-state-standards?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFrontpage%7Cp Why Anti-Fracking Groups Are Shifting Their Story From Water To Air Quality. Mark Twain said “never let the truth stand in the way of a good story.” A common hydraulic fracturing narrative is that the technology pollutes water supplies. The story goes that fracturing is a mysterious and untested practice, that fracturing fluids are a secret, “chemical cocktail,” that there are innumerable incidents of aquifer and drinking water contamination, resulting even in tap water catching fire, and that “Big Oil” has pressured Congress into exempting the technology from any environmental laws. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/energysource/2012/05/08/why-anti-fracking-groups-are-shifting-their-story-from-water-to-air-quality/ BLOGS Biofuels to the People. The bespectacled Andrew Pannell is sitting behind the counter at Dogpatch Biofuels when I arrive on a Saturday afternoon. He’s been helping out at this filling station Tuesdays through Saturdays since May 2011. He’s an assistant manager, but also a mechanical mentor, gearhead and ardent evangelist of the alternative oil known as biodiesel. Pannell is what one might call a born-again motorist. Before his conversion to bio a few years ago, he drove a 1996 Acura Integra GS-R. It had an AEM cold air snorkel intake with K&N high-flow cone filter. Posted. http://missionlocal.org/2012/05/biofuels-to-the-people/ Lithium ion battery 'overcapacity' could arrive by 2015, would push prices way down. Too many lithium-ion batteries? That's not something battery makers want to hear, but it's music to our ears. It's also the prediction of Munich-based Roland Berger Strategy Consultants. Over the next few years, as battery makers like AESC, LG Chem and A123 Systems ramp up for what's expected to be a surge in electric-drive vehicle purchases, we could be awash in li-ion batteries. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/07/lithium-ion-battery-overcapacity-could-arrive-by-2015-would-p/ ====================================================================== 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 May 2012 12:13:12 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 9, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 9, 2012. 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 Canada's effort to meet emission targets goes up in smoke – report. Canada is falling far short of its goals to cut greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the decade and has no plan in place to change the dynamic, a new government audit warns. The report from Canadian Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Scott Vaughan -- who acts as Parliament's watchdog -- is not surprising considering prior forecasts but lays out in more detail statistically how far the country needs to go to slash emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/09/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Are thunderstorms producing a greenhouse gas? Next week scientists will begin sending airplanes into thunderstorms over Colorado, Oklahoma and Alabama, where they will gather data to determine whether these weather events are helping to produce ozone -- a heat-trapping greenhouse gas. "When thunderstorms form, air near the ground has nowhere to go but up. Suddenly, you have an air mass at high altitude that's full of chemicals that can produce ozone," said Mary Barth, a principal investigator on the project, led by the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/05/09/10 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Analysis declares 'twilight of coal-fired power' in U.S. The era of U.S. coal-fired electric power generation will effectively end as new federal regulations limiting carbon dioxide emissions from fossil plants take effect, a new analysis from Bloomberg Government concludes. The report, from energy analyst Rob Barnett, posits that the new U.S. EPA rule, rolled out last month and open for public comment until June 12, will effectively ban the construction of new coal-fired power plants because the CO2 emission rates required of fossil plants are so strenuous that no conventional coal plant could meet them. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/09/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Coast Guard steps up inspections of towboats. A new round of inspections of towboats and tugs is starting in July as part of a nationwide push by the Coast Guard to improve the safety of the nation's rivers and harbors. Since a 2008 collision and oil spill near New Orleans involving an improperly licensed towboat captain, the Coast Guard has begun inspecting work boats across the nation. So far, the Coast Guard says it has inspected 2,887 towing vessels that volunteered to be inspected in the 26 states that fall under the Coast Guard's Eighth District, which is headquartered in New Orleans. Posted. http://www.wwltv.com/news/Coast-Guard-steps-up-inspections-of-towboats-150761915.html VEHICLES Electric motorcycle has Hollywood debut. Manufacturer Brammo says its Empulse, designed to be the first motorcycle to perform like a traditional sport bike, can go at least 100 mph and as far as 121 miles per charge in city riding. The first electric motorcycle that promises to deliver near the performance of traditional sport bikes was unveiled in Hollywood. The Brammo Empulse is designed to be "the first viable motorcycle that just happens to be electric," said Brammo Chief Executive Craig Bramscher, whose team started working on the bike in 2010. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-motorcycles-brammo-20120509,0,3789718.story MISCELLANEOUS Eco-homes and green scenery in sustainable community; includes HGTV 'Green Home'. As a day trip, Serenbe is bliss, a fresh grass-redolent, shockingly restful sojourn to the country only 30 minutes from Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. But what was once just a chance to feed a horse a sugar cube and shop the local farmers market, has recently transformed into a research odyssey. Spending the day at the sustainable community of Serenbe has morphed from a mere country idyll into an occasion for intensive green research. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/05/09/2830682/eco-homes-and-green-scenery-in.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/05/09/2192861/eco-homes-and-green-scenery-in.html 1,300 Onofre tubes plugged; no restart date. Operators of the troubled San Onofre nuclear plant now say more than 1,300 steam generator tubes have been plugged in the plant’s two idled reactor units. And despite statements Thursday from an executive with the operator, Southern California Edison, suggesting a possible restart of the reactors next month, the utility company said Tuesday that no date has been set. The earlier statement was an estimate, Edison said, and any startup plans must have prior approval from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2012/05/08/1300-onofre-tubes-plugged-no-restart-date/171428/ San Lorenzo Valley air district to offer funds to replace wood stoves. For San Lorenzo Valley residents who suffered "bad air" days last winter due to smoke, there's good news on the horizon. The Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District plans to repeat last November's popular giveaway to help people replace wood stoves generating smoke. "We gave away $75,000" said Richard Stedman, the district's air pollution control director. Posted. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/rss/ci_20576646?source=rss OPINIONS PUGLIARESI: Ethanol’s hidden gasoline tax. With regular gasoline prices still averaging more than $3.50 a gallon nationwide, the last thing drivers need is car troubles. Yet a new scheme from Washington to boost the ethanol content of gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent could gum up many motorists' travel plans - literally as well as figuratively. Ethanol has enjoyed a trifecta of government largesse for many years: tariff protection from imports, direct subsidies to encourage its use, and a federal mandate requiring refiners and importers to blend it into the gasoline pool. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/7/ethanols-hidden-gasoline-tax/print/ BLOGS BL On Our Radar: A Dry Year So Far. A map prepared by NOAA indicates that much of the nation has gotten off to a dry start this year. [NOAA Climate Services] Vermont is set to become the first state to impose an outright ban on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The move is largely symbolic given that Vermont is thought to have relatively meager shale gas reserves, but a bill awaits the governor’s signature. [care2.com] Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/on-our-radar-a-dry-year-so-far/ Canada Is Slow to Act on Emissions, Audit Warns. Canada will probably not meet its already-diminished greenhouse gas reduction targets, the country’s environment commissioner warned on Tuesday in a report to Parliament. The commissioner, Scott Vaughan, blamed a lack of government oversight, particularly for the oil and natural gas industry, which is Canada’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gas related emissions. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/08/report-upbraids-canadian-government-on-emissions/ The Current State of Clean Energy. The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an organization that works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 28 member countries and beyond. They are probably some of the most informed people on the planet on the subject of energy. This is what Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven recently had to say on our current energy outlook in a recent report entitled Tracking Clean Energy Progress. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/05/current-state-clean-energy/ Microsoft Commits to Carbon Neutrality. Microsoft has committed to become carbon neutral beginning on July 1, the start of the company’s new fiscal year. The shift results from three years of internal discussions within the company to improve Microsoft’s carbon footprint and environmental performance. The company will roll out the new changes, including a new accounting system, across its operations in over 100 countries. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/05/microsoft-carbon-neutral/OGS ====================================================================== 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 May 2012 11:37:20 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 10, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 10, 2012. 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. CALIFORNIA-QUEBEC LINKAGE California takes step toward linking CO2 market to Quebec. California on Wednesday released an updated draft of its cap-and-trade regulations that for the first time includes language that would link its carbon market to a similar scheme in the Canadian province of Quebec. The draft language called for the mutual acceptance of compliance instruments like allowances and offset credits between the two jurisdictions. It also called for a common allowance registry and auction, and included provisions for tracking allowances which are designed to enhance market security. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/10/us-california-quebec-idUSBRE8490DP20120510 California and Quebec Near an Agreement for Trading of Carbon Permits. San Francisco — California and Quebec moved to knit together their fledgling carbon markets on Wednesday as California proposed a new regulation allowing cross-border trading of the permits that industries must acquire to cover their emissions of greenhouse gases. It is the first cross-border carbon trading system created since 2005, when the European Union introduced such a trading network to help it meet emissions limits set by the Kyoto Protocol, a treaty that went into effect that year. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/business/energy-environment/california-and-quebec-to-allow-cross-border-trading-of-emissions-permits.html?_r=2&partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=print Quebec joins California in cap and trade market. California may not have to go it alone on cap-and-trade after all. Under rules proposed Wednesday by state regulators, the Canadian province of Quebec will link its cap-and-trade system to California's in November. The joint market will allow businesses in both California and Quebec to trade permits to emit the greenhouse gases behind global warming. California officials who have spent years developing a carbon market have always hoped to include other states and provinces. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/10/MNEE1OFVRL.DTL&type=printable Quebec Joins California Cap-and-Trade Program. California finally has some company in its bid to cap greenhouse gas emissions. Climate Watch Senior Editor Craig Miller says it’s been a long haul. CRAIG MILLER: For years, California regulators have been shopping for partners for the state’s fledgling cap-and-trade program, and now they have one: Quebec. It’s the first of four Canadian provinces that could eventually combine their carbon-trading markets with California’s. MARY NICHOLS: It's a demonstration that you can work out all the technical details and difficulties of linking two very different economies with each other. Posted. http://www.kqed.org/news/story/2012/05/09/93541/quebec_joins_california_capandtrade_program?category=science California's air board releases rules linking carbon market with Quebec. California's air-quality regulator released draft regulations Wednesday to link its cap-and-trade program with Quebec, bringing them a step closer to a joint carbon dioxide allowance trading market. The draft regulations would make CO2 allowances interchangeable, according to a California Air Resources Board statement. A California CO2 allowance could be used for compliance in Quebec, and vice versa. The first linked auction is scheduled for November 14, CARB said. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/6285920 Calif. prepares to link its market with Quebec's. California is proposing next month to cement its link to Quebec as the first North American jurisdictions to cap greenhouse gas emissions economywide, a move that the Golden State hopes will send a "strong message" to both Canada and the United States. With the release yesterday of documents to formally merge markets with Quebec, the chief architect of California's system reiterated the importance of having another trading partner in the landmark venture. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/10/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY California eyes cap-and-trade link with Quebec. An update on California's carbon trading plans includes the possibility of linking the cap-and-trade scheme with a similar mechanism in Quebec. The draft proposals, released yesterday, outline the US state and Canadian province could share allowances and offset credits, while also establishing a common allowance registry and auction mechanism, as well as provisions for tracking allowances to ensure the security of the market. Posted. http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2173748/california-eyes-cap-trade-link-quebec California Air Resources Board releases draft regulations for cap-and-trade program linkage with Québec. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) released proposed regulations to link its cap-and-trade program to Québec’s to form a joint carbon market to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (Earlier post.) The draft linkage regulations provide guidelines to ensure that California and Québec carbon allowances are interchangeable at auction and can be used for compliance purposes in one another’s programs. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/05/arb-20120510.html AIR POLLUTION Revised hydrogen plant would emit less pollution. A fertilizer factory and part-time hydrogen power plant proposed outside Tupman would produce less air pollution than had been anticipated under an earlier, electricity-only version of the project, according to paperwork filed this month with the state. Although it still does not sit well with farmers and other neighbors, the $4 billion Hydrogen Energy California project is expected to produce 164 tons a year of nitrogen oxide -- 16 percent less of the smog contributing gas than state officials said would have been produced under the project's earlier plans. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/economy/x796275637/Revised-hydrogen-plant-would-emit-less-pollution Smog, smog, go away. California’s cities among the most ozone-polluted nationwide. Nine of the 10 most ozone-polluted cities in the nation are in California, an American Lung Association report finds. The top-five worst regions for ozone pollution are Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, Visalia-Porterville, Bakersfield-Delano, Fresno-Madera and Hanford-Corcoran, according to California Healthline. According to the report, 90 percent of Californians live in counties that received a failing grade for ozone or particle pollution, and no city in California was among the 25 cleanest cities in the nation. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/chico/smog-smog-go-away/content?oid=5955286 CLIMATE CHANGE Argentina slows climate action amid energy supply crisis. While its Latin American neighbors move forward with national climate laws, Argentina is backsliding on actions to tackle its greenhouse gas emissions as the country struggles to meet energy demand from a fast-growing middle class. Argentina's GDP grew 7.3 percent last year, driving demand for energy that is overwhelmingly derived from fossil fuels. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/10/us-argentina-climate-idUSBRE8490DN20120510 Oil-Sands Emissions Low Enough for Europe, Alberta Says. Carbon-dioxide emissions from Canada’s oil sands are low enough to allow the crude to be sold in Europe, the government of Alberta said, challenging a European Union study on the issue. Emissions from oil-sands output are as much as 12 percent higher than conventional methods of production and refining used in Europe, according to a report paid for by the government of Alberta, where most of Canada’s oil-sands deposits are located. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-09/oil-sands-emissions-low-enough-for-europe-alberta-says.html Alberta study claims E.U. has 'overstated' carbon intensity of Canadian oil. In a challenge to Europe, the Albertan government is arguing via a new report that the Canadian oil sands are not as bad for climate change as they have been portrayed to be. The analysis is aimed squarely at Europe's fuel quality directive, which would label the Canadian oil sands as 22 percent more carbon-intensive than conventional fuels. Instead, the number is closer to 12 percent, states the report, commissioned by the Albertan government and released by the Jacob Consultancy, an arm of a California-based engineering firm. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/10/7 Giant SoCal water agency says global warming law will cost it $10 million to $50 million a year. Southern California's biggest water wholesaler says it faces an extra $10 million to $50 million in annual expenses to comply with California's global warming law. Those costs will flow down to ratepayers already stressed by steeply rising bills, said the giant Metropolitan Water District, importer of most of the water used in Southern California. To forestall this increase, Metropolitan is asking for an exemption from the "cap-and-trade" greenhouse emissions requirements of Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, said Jeff Kightlinger, Metropolitan's general manager. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/giant-socal-water-agency-says-global-warming-law-will-cost/article_0c8d24ff-15ef-5b55-b641-a1ab2bb03f60.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Study Warns of $7 A Gallon Diesel in California By 2020. State's Cap-and-Trade Plan, Low Carbon Fuel Requirements Concern Trucking Industry. A study commissioned by the California Trucking Association claims the combined effect of a proposed cap-and-trade carbon emissions program and a pending 2020 low-carbon fuel standard by the California Air Resources Board could potentially drive diesel fuel prices up to $6.69 a gallon. Posted. http://www.trucktrend.com/features/news/2012/163_news120508_study_warns_7_dollar_gallon_diesel_in_california_by_2020/index.html Tractor-trailer owners urged to register early to take advantage of CARB rule options. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is encouraging small fleet owners of 2010 and older model year 53-foot or longer box-type trailers that operate on California highways to report vehicle information now to gain additional time to comply with the Tractor-Trailer Greenhouse Gas regulation. Small fleets consist of 20 or fewer box-type trailers and can include both dry- and refrigerated-van trailers. Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2012/5/10/Tractor-trailerownersurgedtoregisterearlytotakeadvantageofCARBruleoptions.aspx FUELS Sugar Cane Grows on Oil as $71 Billion Bet Outspends D.C.. BP Plc (BP/) has invested $7 billion in alternative energy since 2005. Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) is spending $600 million on a 10-year effort to turn algae into oil. And Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSA) has been buying up sugar cane mills, plantations and refineries to make ethanol in Brazil. In the U.S., Shell already produces small lots of so-called drop-in biofuels--engine-ready products that can replace gasoline from a plant in Houston that uses sugar beets and crop waste. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-10/sugar-cane-grows-on-big-oil-as-71-billion-bet-outspends-d-c-.html California Energy Commission adopts $100M investment plan update for 2012-2013 to increase use of green vehicles and alt fuels. The California Energy Commission unanimously adopted a 2012-2013 Investment Plan Update to increase the use of green vehicles and alternative fuels. The update sets funding priorities for the approximately $100 million in annual state funds under the Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (AB 118 program). The investment plan update was developed with the input of the ARFVT Program Advisory Committee, stakeholders and the public. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/05/cec-20120510.html USDA predicts record corn production. Corn farmers will produce a record 14.79 billion bushels in the 2012-2013 season, the Agriculture Department predicted today in its first forecasts for the coming year's crop production. The amount is 11 percent higher than the previous record of 13.09 billion bushels in 2009, and 65 percent higher than what corn farmers were producing a decade ago. The prediction by USDA drew cheers from the ethanol industry, which said it showed that the department was confident in the ability of corn farmers to provide enough corn for both food and renewable fuel. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/10/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Solar beats wind and gas combined as Europe's top new electricity source. Solar power was the top source of new electricity generation capacity in Europe last year, beating natural gas and wind combined, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association said yesterday in a new report. Europe connected 21.9 gigawatts of solar power to the grid in 2011, up from 13.4 GW in 2010 and compared with just below 10 GW each for wind and gas. Europe remained the main market for photovoltaic technology, as 75 percent of the new global capacity was installed there. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/10/9 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Tyler Environmental Prize Winners: Pollution's Effects Far-Reaching. Two California scientists have been honored for their research into air pollution, outdoor and indoor. This year’s winners of the $200,000 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, John Seinfeld and Kirk Smith, have shown the far-reaching nature of the problem. Nearly half of the world’s people use biomass fuels such as wood or dried dung to cook their food, and many cook indoors. Posted. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/environment/Tyler-Environmental-Prize-Winners-Pollutions-Effects-Far-Reaching-150840835.html OPINIONS Parlez-vous Francais? California joins Quebec in new climate change initiative. Changement climatique, pac et commerce, huh? Industrial and commercial polluters in Bakersfield and Kern County may want to invest in some French/Engish dictionaries soon with the announcement yesterday that California and Québec will be forming a joint carbon market as part of their efforts to address climate change. The announcement coincided with the release by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) of proposed regulations to link its cap-and-trade program to Québec’s. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/parlez-vous-francais-california-joins-quebec-new-climate-change-initiative Bay Area’s air is cleaner, but we can still do more. The Bay Area may not be the first place in California that comes to mind when talking about smog. Certainly Los Angeles and the Central Valley evoke pictures of hazy skylines laden with particulate matter. Fighting traffic congestion, and its attendant smog and emissions problems, however, has long been one of the Bay Area’s most intractable problems. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/2012/05/bay-area-s-air-cleaner-we-can-still-do-more ‘Green energy’s dirty little secret. Just when you think that things could not get worse, they usually do. We all witnessed the criminal misappropriation of over a half-billion taxpayer dollars by the Obama administration to the solar company Solyndra, an expensive offering to the cause of radical environmentalism. The company went bankrupt last August and over 1,000 workers lost their jobs. Then I read this week that Solyndra appears to have abandoned toxic and hazardous waste at its facilities, mainly heavy metals and contaminated machinery used to make solar panels. Posted. http://www.wpcva.com/opinion/article_fecd663a-9ab5-11e1-8a31-001a4bcf887a.html Green Energy Won't be Soiled. Public backing of green energy in some corners has a red mark on its back. But the White House has no problem putting those projects right in the bull’s eye, noting that its policies have untangled important wind and solar ventures. It’s been a multi-tiered strategy that includes streamlining the permitting processes and placing green facilities on land that is now contaminated. And while the administration’s critics will say that renewable energy is not viable without lucrative tax breaks, the president’s team is plowing forth. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2012/05/10/green-energy-wont-be-soiled/ BLOGS Assessing Whether Solar Panels Make Sense for You. As I report in The Times, legions of companies will offer to install a system at no upfront cost and promise customers cheaper, cleaner electricity over the course of 20 years. Some are small and local, while others, including SolarCity, Sunrun, Sungevity and SunEdison, are larger, with national or even international reach. Some large manufacturers, like SolarWorld, even offer financing plans for home installations. For residential customers, the deals can seem attractive. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/09/how-to-assess-whether-solar-panels-make-sense-for-you/?ref=science First Real Partner for California’s Cap & Trade Program. Quebec has emerged as California’s first full-blown partner in the carbon trading program that ramps up later this year. That means that, pending final approval next month, when the two governments issue their first round of greenhouse gas pollution permits in November, industrial buyers will be able to use them both interchangeably. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/05/09/first-real-partner-for-californias-cap-trade-program/ LA and Long Beach Ports adopt Clean Ship Programs in Hopes to Reduce Air Pollution. Last week the Port of Los Angeles and the neighboring Port of Long Beach each adopted programs to provide financial incentives to shipping companies to reduce their air pollution. The gargantuan cargo ships that dock at the ports emit similarly gargantuan amounts of air pollution, including diesel particulate matter and nitrogen oxides (“NOx”). The new clean ship programs are a welcome step in the right direction to clean up this mess. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/mwyenn/la_and_long_beach_ports_adopt.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, 11 May 2012 11:52:27 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 11, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 10, 2012. 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 Bill to Ban Sustainability and Climate Change Action Fails in Arizona. This Week in Clean Economy: Five states fail to pass similar laws this year, with Arizona being the most high profile. Bills remain alive in three states. A high-profile bill in Arizona to abolish sustainability efforts died last week, yet its defeat isn't deterring lawmakers in three other states from still trying to pass related policies into law. The legislation seeks to outlaw states and their cities from endorsing or implementing the United Nations Agenda 21 principles of sustainable development. Posted. http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20120511/bill-ban-united-nations-agenda-21-sustainability-climate-change-global-warming-iclei-john-birch-society-kansas Global cap-and-trade plan for aviation CO2 moves closer: EC. The International Civil Aviation Organization is forming a plan for a global aviation CO2 emissions trading system, which the EU can work into its current Emissions Trading System, the European Commission's director general for climate action Jos Delbeke said Thursday evening. "ICAO is working on a market-based system...if ICAO can bring this forward for adoption, we are willing to adapt our legislation," Delbeke said in an interview in Florence. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/8279252 DIESEL EMISSIONS Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results. Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. /quotes/zigman/622786/quotes/nls/cdti CDTI -2.86% ("Clean Diesel"), a cleantech emissions reduction company, announced today its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. The highlights are as follows: First quarter revenue of $17.0 million, up 23.3% year over year First quarter net loss of $0.39 per share (diluted) First quarter net loss includes $0.6 million pre-tax inventory write-down; $0.5 million after-tax. Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/clean-diesel-technologies-inc-reports-first-quarter-2012-financial-results-2012-05-10 FUELS US WCoast Products - Gasoline spikes as BP restart falters. Gasoline spiked in the Los Angeles spot market on Thursday as BP Plc halted the restart of the central crude distillation unit at its 225,000 barrel per day (bpd) Cherry Point, Washington, refinery, traders said. May CARBOB gasoline jumped 23 cents in L.A. to trade at a high of 70 cents a gallon over the June NYMEX RBOB gasoline contract before falling back to finish at a premium of 55 cents, a gain of 8 cents. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/10/markets-products-westcoast-idUSL1E8GAHOB20120510 Obama website adds ‘clean coal’ after GOP complaints. The Obama campaign changed its website Thursday night to include a reference to “clean coal” in the president’s “all-of-the-above” energy plan after Republicans lawmakers criticized the omission. Under the heading “President’ Obama’s approach to energy independence,” an entire section on the campaign website was altered from “fuel efficiency” to “clean coal.” The sections now appear as: oil, natural gas, clean coal, biofuels, wind, solar and nuclear. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/11/obama-website-adds-clean-coal-after-gop-complaints/ Cheaper gas drives U.S. wholesale price index lower. A big decline in gas and energy costs drove a measure of U.S. wholesale prices lower in April. But outside that drop, inflation was tame. The Labor Department said Friday that the producer price index, which measures price changes before they reach the consumer, dropped 0.2 percent last month. It was the first decline since December and the biggest drop since October. Wholesale gas prices tumbled 1.7 percent. That accounted for half the drop in energy costs, which was the only major category to decline last month. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wholesale-prices-20120511,0,7326292.story Koch Brothers' Activism Protects Their 50-Year Stake in Canadian Heavy Oils. Long involvement in Canada's tar sands has been central to Koch Industries' evolution and positions the billionaire brothers for a new oil boom. Over the last decade, Charles and David Koch have emerged into public view as billionaire philanthropists pushing a libertarian brand of political activism that presses a large footprint on energy and climate issues. Posted. http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20120510/koch-industries-brothers-tar-sands-bitumen-heavy-oil-flint-pipelines-refinery-alberta-canada Green energy plan would turn sugar beets into biofuels. The vacant Spreckels sugar beet factory in Mendota may receive a green energy overhaul, as a group of former sugar beet farmers pursues a plan to transform the site into an advanced biorefinery using several high-tech processes to convert sugar beets into ethanol and other forms of energy. The plant would convert San Joaquin Valley sugar beets into about 40 million gallons of ethanol annually, and be the first operation of its kind in the United States. Posted. http://www.dailydemocrat.com/business/ci_20600276/green-energy-plan-would-turn-sugar-beets-into Alternative Fuels — Cars That Run on Natural Gas. In the world of alternative fuels, electric, hydrogen and even hybrid vehicles get most of the attention. Not many people are aware of another alternative automotive fuel that burns cleaner than gasoline, is found abundantly in the United States and is already in heavy use around the world: natural gas. Natural gas is by no means a new fuel; it’s been used to heat homes and cook food in gas stoves for more than a century. Posted. http://www.enn.com/top_stories/spotlight/44386 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Obama admin warns Calif. to act soon on bullet train. The Obama administration yesterday warned California to accelerate action on its high-speed rail project, which has collected more than $3 billion in federal money but hasn't moved forward. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood pressed Senate and Assembly leaders and Gov. Jerry Brown (D) for a vote on the state's planned $68.4 billion bullet train during a visit to Sacramento. The Legislature needs to include money for high-speed rail when it approves the state budget in June, LaHood said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/11/2 BY SUBCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Solar project in desert gets boost from California Legislature. The legislation to enable the developer to bypass local agencies in seeking approval was fast-tracked in the Assembly. Environmentalists say the proposed Calico Solar facility would be ecologically damaging. Despite strong opposition from environmentalists, the state Assembly on Thursday approved controversial legislation that allows a solar energy developer to bypass local agencies in seeking to build a large-scale power plant in a valley that is home to desert tortoises, golden eagles and bighorn sheep. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-calico-20120511,0,3232115,print.story http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/11/4482576/california-legislature-oks-disputed.html http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/05/11/15 BY SUBSCRIPTION OPINIONS MURDOCK: Spacemen to NASA: Cool it on global warming. Astronauts, rocket scientists rebuke agency for climate alarmism. To the long list of right-wing, knuckle-dragging know nothings who dare question “global warming,” environmentalists can add six Apollo astronauts, two rocket men who flew aboard Skylab and a pair of former directors of the Johnson Space Center (JSC). These veterans of America’s space program are among the 49 retired NASA employees who recently asked the agency to halt what they consider its unscientific advocacy of climate alarmism. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/10/spacemen-to-nasa-cool-it-on-global-warming/ BLOGS Varied Views on Extreme Weather in a Warming Climate. Through decades of work, James E. Hansen of NASA has earned his plaudits as a climate scientist. But his intensifying personal push for aggressive cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases has come with a framing of climate science that is being criticized by some respected researchers for stepping beyond what peer-reviewed studies have concluded. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/another-view-on-extreme-weather-in-a-warming-climate/ ====================================================================== 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 May 2012 11:58:34 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- *AMENDED ARB Newsclips for May 11, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov AMENDED ARB Newsclips for May 11, 2012. My apologies. the ARB Newsclips are for May 11, 2012. 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 Bill to Ban Sustainability and Climate Change Action Fails in Arizona. This Week in Clean Economy: Five states fail to pass similar laws this year, with Arizona being the most high profile. Bills remain alive in three states. A high-profile bill in Arizona to abolish sustainability efforts died last week, yet its defeat isn't deterring lawmakers in three other states from still trying to pass related policies into law. The legislation seeks to outlaw states and their cities from endorsing or implementing the United Nations Agenda 21 principles of sustainable development. Posted. http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20120511/bill-ban-united-nations-agenda-21-sustainability-climate-change-global-warming-iclei-john-birch-society-kansas Global cap-and-trade plan for aviation CO2 moves closer: EC. The International Civil Aviation Organization is forming a plan for a global aviation CO2 emissions trading system, which the EU can work into its current Emissions Trading System, the European Commission's director general for climate action Jos Delbeke said Thursday evening. "ICAO is working on a market-based system...if ICAO can bring this forward for adoption, we are willing to adapt our legislation," Delbeke said in an interview in Florence. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/8279252 DIESEL EMISSIONS Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2012 Financial Results. Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. /quotes/zigman/622786/quotes/nls/cdti CDTI -2.86% ("Clean Diesel"), a cleantech emissions reduction company, announced today its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012. The highlights are as follows: First quarter revenue of $17.0 million, up 23.3% year over year First quarter net loss of $0.39 per share (diluted) First quarter net loss includes $0.6 million pre-tax inventory write-down; $0.5 million after-tax. Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/clean-diesel-technologies-inc-reports-first-quarter-2012-financial-results-2012-05-10 FUELS US WCoast Products - Gasoline spikes as BP restart falters. Gasoline spiked in the Los Angeles spot market on Thursday as BP Plc halted the restart of the central crude distillation unit at its 225,000 barrel per day (bpd) Cherry Point, Washington, refinery, traders said. May CARBOB gasoline jumped 23 cents in L.A. to trade at a high of 70 cents a gallon over the June NYMEX RBOB gasoline contract before falling back to finish at a premium of 55 cents, a gain of 8 cents. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/10/markets-products-westcoast-idUSL1E8GAHOB20120510 Obama website adds ‘clean coal’ after GOP complaints. The Obama campaign changed its website Thursday night to include a reference to “clean coal” in the president’s “all-of-the-above” energy plan after Republicans lawmakers criticized the omission. Under the heading “President’ Obama’s approach to energy independence,” an entire section on the campaign website was altered from “fuel efficiency” to “clean coal.” The sections now appear as: oil, natural gas, clean coal, biofuels, wind, solar and nuclear. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/11/obama-website-adds-clean-coal-after-gop-complaints/ Cheaper gas drives U.S. wholesale price index lower. A big decline in gas and energy costs drove a measure of U.S. wholesale prices lower in April. But outside that drop, inflation was tame. The Labor Department said Friday that the producer price index, which measures price changes before they reach the consumer, dropped 0.2 percent last month. It was the first decline since December and the biggest drop since October. Wholesale gas prices tumbled 1.7 percent. That accounted for half the drop in energy costs, which was the only major category to decline last month. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wholesale-prices-20120511,0,7326292.story Koch Brothers' Activism Protects Their 50-Year Stake in Canadian Heavy Oils. Long involvement in Canada's tar sands has been central to Koch Industries' evolution and positions the billionaire brothers for a new oil boom. Over the last decade, Charles and David Koch have emerged into public view as billionaire philanthropists pushing a libertarian brand of political activism that presses a large footprint on energy and climate issues. Posted. http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20120510/koch-industries-brothers-tar-sands-bitumen-heavy-oil-flint-pipelines-refinery-alberta-canada Green energy plan would turn sugar beets into biofuels. The vacant Spreckels sugar beet factory in Mendota may receive a green energy overhaul, as a group of former sugar beet farmers pursues a plan to transform the site into an advanced biorefinery using several high-tech processes to convert sugar beets into ethanol and other forms of energy. The plant would convert San Joaquin Valley sugar beets into about 40 million gallons of ethanol annually, and be the first operation of its kind in the United States. Posted. http://www.dailydemocrat.com/business/ci_20600276/green-energy-plan-would-turn-sugar-beets-into Alternative Fuels — Cars That Run on Natural Gas. In the world of alternative fuels, electric, hydrogen and even hybrid vehicles get most of the attention. Not many people are aware of another alternative automotive fuel that burns cleaner than gasoline, is found abundantly in the United States and is already in heavy use around the world: natural gas. Natural gas is by no means a new fuel; it’s been used to heat homes and cook food in gas stoves for more than a century. Posted. http://www.enn.com/top_stories/spotlight/44386 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Obama admin warns Calif. to act soon on bullet train. The Obama administration yesterday warned California to accelerate action on its high-speed rail project, which has collected more than $3 billion in federal money but hasn't moved forward. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood pressed Senate and Assembly leaders and Gov. Jerry Brown (D) for a vote on the state's planned $68.4 billion bullet train during a visit to Sacramento. The Legislature needs to include money for high-speed rail when it approves the state budget in June, LaHood said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/11/2 BY SUBCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Solar project in desert gets boost from California Legislature. The legislation to enable the developer to bypass local agencies in seeking approval was fast-tracked in the Assembly. Environmentalists say the proposed Calico Solar facility would be ecologically damaging. Despite strong opposition from environmentalists, the state Assembly on Thursday approved controversial legislation that allows a solar energy developer to bypass local agencies in seeking to build a large-scale power plant in a valley that is home to desert tortoises, golden eagles and bighorn sheep. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-calico-20120511,0,3232115,print.story http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/11/4482576/california-legislature-oks-disputed.html http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/05/11/15 BY SUBSCRIPTION OPINIONS MURDOCK: Spacemen to NASA: Cool it on global warming. Astronauts, rocket scientists rebuke agency for climate alarmism. To the long list of right-wing, knuckle-dragging know nothings who dare question “global warming,” environmentalists can add six Apollo astronauts, two rocket men who flew aboard Skylab and a pair of former directors of the Johnson Space Center (JSC). These veterans of America’s space program are among the 49 retired NASA employees who recently asked the agency to halt what they consider its unscientific advocacy of climate alarmism. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/10/spacemen-to-nasa-cool-it-on-global-warming/ BLOGS Varied Views on Extreme Weather in a Warming Climate. Through decades of work, James E. Hansen of NASA has earned his plaudits as a climate scientist. But his intensifying personal push for aggressive cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases has come with a framing of climate science that is being criticized by some respected researchers for stepping beyond what peer-reviewed studies have concluded. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/another-view-on-extreme-weather-in-a-warming-climate/ ====================================================================== 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 May 2012 12:54:14 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 14, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 14, 2012. 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 is asked to spur EPA on soot standard. Environmental and public health groups asked a court Friday to force a significant acceleration in U.S. EPA's schedule for curbing airborne soot from motor vehicles, power plants and factories. The American Lung Association and National Parks Conservation Association argued that EPA should adopt a new and final national ambient air quality standard for fine particles by Dec. 14, they said in a brief filed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia as part of their ongoing litigation to force the agency to act. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/14/14 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE UK wants EU focus on new CO2 cuts, not renewables. Europe should focus on cutting carbon emissions, rather than just repeating an existing range of EU green policy targets that expire at the end of the decade, Britain's energy and climate chief said on Monday. Business, which needs investment certainty, has been heaping pressure on the European Commission to come up with policy to replace goals that expire in 2020. "We should be moving towards outcome targets," Edward Davey, Britain's secretary of state for energy and climate change…Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/14/us-energy-summit-renewables-idUSBRE84D0NO20120514 Global warming threatens pine forests, forcing federal officials to shift strategy. A few modest features distinguish the trunk of the limber pine standing among the trees near abandoned beaver ponds: a white, plastic pouch attached by a removable staple, a numerical metal tag secured with an aluminum nail and a printed warning: “Pouches on trees to repel mountain pine beetles. Pouches contain chemicals. Do Not Touch-Do Not Remove.” The conifer, with its accoutrements, represents a small salvo in the battle against a beetle infestation, fueled partly by warmer temperatures. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/global-warming-threatens-pine-forests-forcing-federal-officials-to-shift-strategy/2012/05/13/gIQAEHVXNU_story.html UN cap-and-trade system: Good for China and India, but who else? The United Nations-administered cap and trade system to reduce planetary greenhouse gases through investment in “green” projects in developing countries has directed most of its billions of dollars in investments to China and India, two of the world’s most notorious polluters. Indeed, China and India together have gotten more than 70 percent of the more than 4,100 projects so far registered for the system, while most developing nations, aside from a handful, have gotten hardly any at all, according to the system’s own accounts. Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/05/14/un-cap-and-trade-system-good-for-china-and-india-but-who-else/ New DOE carbon capture process could save $275M over advanced coal plants' life span. The Department of Energy says it has developed a new process for making carbon capture cheaper on advanced coal plants. Last week, the department announced new research that it said could generate more than $275 million in cost savings over the 30-year life span of a type of coal plant known as an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plant. Those savings could equal about 10 percent of the price tag for a large IGCC power plant. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/14/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Sacramento gas prices jump because of western refinery problems. Lagging refinery production is being blamed for a 13-cent spike in Sacramento-area gas prices over the past week. Following a seven-week run of decreasing gas prices, area at-the-pump costs rose for a second consecutive week, coming in at an average of $4.24 a gallon, according to today's report by SactoGasPrices.com, a GasBuddy.com website. Sacramento-area gas prices are now 8.3 cents per gallon higher than they were one year ago and 14.1 cents higher than last month. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/14/4488888/sacramento-gas-prices-jump-because.html Total says gas leak stopped at Nigeria field. French oil company Total SA said Sunday it stopped a natural gas leak at one of its plants in Nigeria's crude-rich southern delta after 54 days, an emergency that forced the firm to shut down the field and evacuate the area. Total said it used heavy fluids and cement plugs to stop the gas flow from its Obite natural gas field in Rivers state, in the heart of the country's Niger Delta. Workers will put a cement seal on the well to permanently staunch the flow from the well, Total said in a statement. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/13/total-says-gas-leak-stopped-at-nigeria-field/#ixzz1urUJY7hg VEHICLES $100 Million for Electric Car Charging in California from NRG Energy. This is what the $100 million that NRG Energy is obligated by a legal settlement to invest in battery electric vehicle (BEV) charging infrastructure in California will buy for plug-in car owners: A $50.5 million investment in 200 eVgo Freedom Station sites installed at carefully chosen commercial and retail locations, each with a level-three DC fast charger as well as a level-two medium-speed charger; …Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/14/100-million-for-electric-car-charging-in-california-from-nrg-energy/ http://www.hybridcars.com/news/california-approves-100-million-alternative-energy-investment-plan-2013-45865.html HIGH-SPEED RAIL High-speed spending: Bullet train may need $3.5 million a day. California would have to pay $6 billion to complete a 130-mile segment by September 2017, a plan that requires 120 permits and buying 1,100 parcels of land. If California starts building a 130-mile segment of high-speed rail late this year as planned, it will enter into a risky race against a deadline set up under federal law. The bullet train track through the Central Valley would cost $6 billion and have to be completed by September 2017, or else potentially lose some of its federal funding. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bullet-risks-20120514,0,3139016,print.story GREEN ENERGY Mexican wind energy boom plays out on gusty shores. On an arid plain where sudden gusts of wind can rip roofs off buildings and knock over tractor trailers, Mexico is building a new engine for its energy future. Surrounded by towering turbines in every direction, the town of La Ventosa - which means "the windy place" in Spanish - is at the heart of a wind power boom in the country. Mexico, the world's 14th biggest economy, still punches well below its weight in terms of wind energy, ranking 24th on the planet in installed capacity last year, according to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/14/us-mexico-wind-idUSBRE84D05P20120514 http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/05/14/19 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Retired generators at California plant back online. Two retired generators at a Southern California power plant are back online, to help take up the slack from the shuttered San Onofre nuclear plant this summer. The pair of natural-gas-powered units at the AES Huntington Beach plant will provide about 440 megawatts to the Los Angeles Basin, while giving voltage support to allow power to be imported into the San Diego area, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday (http://lat.ms/KdSV7D). Posted. http://hosted2.ap.org/CARIE/7f780b0f92634e54be4b48f9179deaa4/Article_2012-05-13-SoCal%20Power/id-f21e94f0235f433b994aea40ceaef4b1 http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-adv-energy-plants-20120513,0,4281762.story http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/13/4486827/retired-generators-at-california.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20615243/retired-generators-at-california-plant-back-online http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20607371/retired-power-generators-put-back-into-service http://www.mantecabulletin.com/section/140/article/42525/ RIVERSIDE: UCR team wins international environmental design competition. A team of students from UC Riverside's Bourns College of Engineering won the top prize at an international environmental design competition this month for a reusable storm drain oil filter they designed out of 100 percent recycled materials. The team, which calls itself “Sustain-a-Drain,” won the open task competition and the 2012 Intel Environmental Innovation Award, the top award at the WERC: …Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20120511-riverside-ucr-team-wins-international-environmental-design-competition.ece Vt. utilities see growing 'smart meter' opposition. Worries about health effects, privacy and cost are fueling growing opposition to wireless, digital "smart meters" that utilities around the country are installing at homes and businesses and touting as key energy conservation and grid reliability tools. Vermont appears poised to take an unusually aggressive stance. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/13/utilities-see-growing-smart-meter-opposition/#ixzz1urV1pDiT http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120514/WIRE/120519777 Study says solar energy not oversubsidized. A study by the University of Tennessee’s Baker Center for Public Policy says that solar energy is subsidized at about the same rate as other energy sources. The industry “is consistent with the less-than-smooth paths that many American industries have traveled as they entered the mainstream of commerce,” the study said. It added that solar power was in a stage “where government incentives can be most critical in helping new energy technologies become significant sources of energy production.” Posted. http://www.desertdispatch.com/news/study-12903-solar-tennessee.html Wood energy struggles to gain traction in Ore. Oregon's Renewable Energy Action Plan calls for more of the state's energy to come from renewable sources, which include a biofuel that many people don't typically consider: wood. Some people associate wood heat with smoke, particulates, inefficient fireplaces and destructive logging, said Marcus Kauffman, a biomass specialist with the Oregon Department of Forestry. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/14/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Calif. proposal may lower electric bills for more solar customers. A new proposal to change California's "net metering" system would allow more solar customers to receive discounts on their electric bills. The president of the California Public Utilities Commission, Michael Peevey, drafted the proposal, which is scheduled for a vote May 24. Currently, solar customers can receive credits for the renewable energy they generate and feed back into the grid, enabling them to significantly lower their electricity bills during sunny months. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/14/10 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY In Calif., questions swirl around new voluntary renewable energy program. Despite pitfalls and naysayers, California's largest and most troubled power company is plugging its latest "green" efforts. Northern California's Pacific Gas and Electric Co. unveiled a new "green option" last month that would allow customers to pay extra to have their electricity usage covered by renewable energy certificates, or RECs, which represent the environmental attributes of renewable energy, but not the energy itself. They are intended to generate more revenue for clean power production. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/14/16 BY SUBSRIPTION ONLY Obama admin to offer export help for environmental firms. The Obama administration is preparing a new program to offer environmentally minded companies access to information on foreign laws and regulations, financing and market conditions in a push to boost American exports and highlight a growing segment of an otherwise sluggish U.S. economy. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Commerce Secretary John Bryson announced plans for the online service, which will be launched this fall, during a conference this morning at American University in Washington, D.C. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/14/21 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS City Unveils Locations of Bike-Share Stations. The bike-share stations will be pliable, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has said — their assembly so simple that, if problems arise, docks can be removed without leaving a trace. And yet, with the program’s first 420 proposed locations unveiled on Friday, proponents say New York has taken a step toward a watershed moment in the transportation history of the city: Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/12/nyregion/city-unveils-locations-of-bike-share-stations.html?_r=1 Boulder Electric Vehicle to open Chatsworth assembly plant. A Colorado electric vehicle manufacturer has leased an industrial building in Chatsworth where it will assemble delivery trucks and utility vehicles. Boulder Electric Vehicle will occupy a 27,714-square-foot manufacturing building at 9655 Irondale Ave. in Chatsworth, real estate brokerage Jones Lang LaSalle said. Boulder Electric’s new facility represents an expansion from its manufacturing facility in Boulder, Colo., the company said. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-electric-vehicle-plant-20120513,0,362269.story?track=rss City of Pleasanton in the Running to Become the “Coolest” City in California. The city of Pleasanton is in the Top Ten cities in the CoolCalifornia Challenge, an innovative competition between California cities to reduce their community-wide carbon footprints and build more vibrant and sustainable communities. Hosted by the California Air Resources Board, the year-long program began on April 1 and includes the cities of Chula Vista, Citrus Heights, Davis, Gonzales, Pittsburg, Pleasanton, Sacramento, San Jose, Santa Cruz, and Tracy.Posted. http://pleasanton.patch.com/articles/city-of-pleasanton-in-the-running-to-become-the-coolest-city-in-california ROUSH CleanTech Drives Economic and Environmental Sustainability in Southern California. ROUSH CleanTech vehicles fueled by clean, affordable, domestically produced propane autogas on display at 2012 Alternative Clean Transportation Expo in Long Beach, Calif. ROUSH CleanTech is speaking, exhibiting and sponsoring at the 2012 Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo to show how domestically produced, clean and cost-efficient propane autogas is a proven alternative fuel solution. Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/roush-cleantech-drives-economic-environmental-sustainability-southern-california-130349406.html OPINIONS Summer break at the pump. That summer vacation may cost less than you thought. The Energy Department this week said gasoline prices should average $3.79 per gallon through September thanks to a drop in crude oil prices. Oil has fallen every day since May 1. The price of benchmark U.S. crude has dropped by 6.7 percent in that time, while Brent crude has declined 5.4 percent. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120511/A_OPINION01/205110306&cid=sitesearch LOIS HENRY: UC President's visit didn't exactly clear the air. I feel snubbed. I know he said it was just bad timing. But I can't help feeling it was me. Perhaps something I said? University of California President Mark Yudof made a quick swing through the valley and stopped at Bakersfield High School last Tuesday…All I wanted to know was why Yudof keeps nominating the same guy -- John Froines -- to the Scientific Review Panel despite Froines' 28-year run on the panel. Not to mention that Froines and several others were booted off the panel in 2010 after a lawsuit pointed out they hadn't been properly reappointed in decades. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/lifestyle/health-beat/x531643678/LOIS-HENRY-UC-Presidents-visit-didnt-exactly-clear-the-air Eye on the Environment: Leave your car at home during Bike to Work Week. Park your car and get pedaling during Bike to Work Week. The Ventura County Transportation Commission and Ventura County Air Pollution Control District are again sponsoring Bike to Work Week, May 14-18, in conjunction with National Bike Month. There are some good reasons for you to participate, including a chance to win an iPad and bike gear. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/12/leave-your-car-at-home-during-bike-to-work-week/#ixzz1urTv8UvB Go plant a garden. As this weekend’s 350 Home and Garden Challenge nears, we encourage all Petalumans to consider planting a garden. Sponsored by igrowsonoma.org and Petaluma-based Daily Acts, the third annual event encourages people to grow food, conserve water and save energy. In the process, it’s hoped that by becoming more food and energy independent, we will build a stronger, healthier and more sustainable community. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120514/COMMUNITY/120519891 Least Polluted Cities In The U.S. Ranked In State Of The Air 2012. Are you and your neighbors breathing healthy air? American Lung Association has released their State Of The Air 2012 report, detailing cities with the least and most air pollution in America. Each city is ranked by ozone pollution, short-term particle pollution, and year-long particle pollution. Below are the report's "Top 25 Least Polluted Cities By Year-Round Particle Pollution. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/13/state-of-the-air-2012_n_1475411.html U.S. power companies could use 14 percent less coal this year. Here is a bit of energy-use news to feel good about: Americans are using a lot less coal. In the first quarter of this year, the portion of the country’s electricity that came from coal was almost 20 percent less than in the same period last year. And overall, the Energy Information Administration predicts, coal consumption in the electric sector will decrease by 14 percent this year. Of course, there’s a reason for this, as Stephen Lacey explains at Climate Progress, and the reason is natural gas. Natural gas is cheap, cheap, cheap, so now we’re burning that instead of coal. Posted. http://grist.org/list/u-s-power-companies-could-use-14-percent-less-coal-this-year/ BLOGS Cracking the Smart Energy Market. American homes are getting smarter, at least when it comes to using energy, a consumer research firm reports. By 2020, some 60 percent of homes in the United States will have some type of smart energy management system, according to estimates from the firm, Parks Associates. Still, adoption has been slower than some companies had hoped. Smart energy management systems consist of products and services that enable you to watch how you consume energy and help you use less. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/cracking-the-smart-energy-market/ Willing to Pay (a Little) More for Clean Energy. The perception that the American public is adamantly opposed to higher energy costs is at the root of most political opposition to policies favoring the adoption of renewable energy. But a new study of public opinion finds that people are in fact willing to pay to move to cleaner energy. That willingness is fairly modest, to be sure. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/14/willing-to-pay-a-little-for-clean-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: Tue, 15 May 2012 12:26:32 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 15, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 15, 2012. 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 critic seeks investigation of human testing on soot exposure. A vocal climate change skeptic has asked U.S. EPA's internal watchdog to study whether the agency broke rules against testing on human subjects when it exposed people to elevated levels of the fine particles found in soot and smoke. Steve Milloy, author of the blog Junk Science, wrote a letter yesterday to EPA Inspector General Arthur Elkins accusing the agency of violating federal law with a series of tests conducted at the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory in North Carolina from January 2010 until June 2011. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/15/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE World living beyond its resources, summit off-track: WWF. Biodiversity has decreased by an average of 28 percent globally since 1970 and the world would have to be 50 percent bigger to have enough land and forests to provide for current levels of consumption and carbon emissions, conservation group WWF said on Tuesday. Unless the world addresses the problem, by 2030 even two planet Earths would not be enough to sustain human activity, WWF said, launching its "Living Planet Report 2012", a biennial audit of the world's environment and biodiversity - the number of plant and animal species. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/15/us-rio20-wwf-idUSBRE84E00320120515 Running from climate change may trip up some species, study says. Seattle -- As climate change transforms their habitat, some animals are already on the move. But a new analysis from the University of Washington warns that many species won't be able to run fast enough to survive a warming world. On average, about 9 percent of the Western Hemisphere's mammals migrate too slowly to keep pace with the rapid climate shifts expected over the next century, says the study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/15/4490039/running-from-climate-change-may.html How Wood Is Used Largely Determines Emissions From Logging – Study. The degree to which deforestation contributes to greenhouse gas emissions depends on how the cut wood is used and where it comes from, according to a new study from researchers at the University of California, Davis. The researchers analyzed how 169 countries used cut timber and how those uses would release carbon over a 30-year period. Their model showed that if the wood is made into products like framing boards for housing -- as much of the timber in the United States…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/15/11 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=10252 FUELS US WCoast Products -Gasoline weakens on BP restart. Gasoline weakened in West Coast spot markets on Monday as BP Plc was restarting its 225,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) Cherry Point, Washington, refinery, traders said. May-delivery CARBOB gasoline was down 3.5 cents in the Los Angeles spot market at 51.5 cents a gallon over June NYMEX RBOB gasoline. June CARBOB, mandated by California's Air Resources Board, fell 4 cents to sell at 30 cents a gallon over July NYMEX RBOB. In the Portland, Oregon, market, May gasoline was down 4 cents at 68 cents over June NYMEX RBOB. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/14/markets-products-westcoast-idUSL1E8GEI6T20120514 Alternate fuel expo gets rolling with emphasis on electrification. North America's largest alternative transportation exposition is plugging into a growing trend and paying special attention to the electrification of transportation at this year's conference. "There's a tremendous amount of electric transportation momentum building in the market, with almost all of the light-duty manufacturers offering a product, whether it's a plug-in extended range or a hybrid," said Erik Neandross, CEO of consulting firm Gladstein, Neandross and Associates, which holds the annual Alternative Clean Transportation Expo. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/15/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Next round of CAFE standards due this summer -- Obama adviser. The next round of fuel economy rules for passenger vehicles will be released this summer, a senior White House adviser said today. The standards, which would set a fleetwide target of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, were proposed in November, and U.S. EPA and the Department of Transportation have been reviewing comments submitted in February. That process should wrap up within the next two to three months, at which time a final rule would be published, said Heather Zichal, deputy assistant to the president for energy and climate change. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/15/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Study says EPA mercury rule may strain coal-fired plants and power grid. Electric utilities will struggle to meet new U.S. EPA regulations governing mercury emissions from coal-fired plants, a new study has found, noting that surging demand for the equipment needed to retrofit or replace old boilers will lead to project backlogs and drive up compliance costs. The assessment was done by the Brattle Group for the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO), which monitors the nation's high-voltage transmission system throughout the Midwest. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/15/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Wind Power in Mexico Could Double in Three Years. Mexico’s wind energy is surging. In 2005, it had just three megawatts (MW), but by the end of this year that total will have increased to two gigawatts (2,000 MW). In three years, it will double. And, from that total of 4 GW, it will triple by 2020. The planned ramp-up will make Mexico the fastest growing wind power nation this year, of the top 20 economic national powers. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/14/wind-power-in-mexico-could-double-in-three-years/ Lots of solar power may reduce, not increase, electricity prices. Whether German feed-in tariffs or U.S. tax incentives, opponents of solar rail at its perceived high cost. But a story making rounds this week, “why power generators are terrified of solar,” presents a powerful image that may flip this conventional wisdom on its head. Building lots of solar power can actually reduce electricity prices, to the dismay of utilities. Posted. http://grist.org/renewable-energy/lots-of-solar-power-may-reduce-not-increase-electricity-prices/ OPINIONS High-speed rail authority takes criticism seriously. Re "Bullet-train conflicts need study” (Dan Walters, May 13): Though Dan Walters admits that the authors of a recent report on the High-Speed Rail Authority's operations and maintenance cost projections are determined to end the project, he also accuses members of the authority board of dismissing criticisms out-of-hand. This is simply not true. In fact, we have met with virtually all of our critics, including the authors of the referenced study, the Legislative Analyst’s Office, supervisors in Kings County and many others. Often times, their criticisms have led us to revise our plans. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/14/4489609/high-speed-rail-authority-takes.html BLOGS U.S. Consulate in Shanghai Starts Monitoring The Air. Unhealthy, unhealthy, unhealthy. That’s the unfortunate message gleaned from the first hours of air quality monitoring by the U.S. Consulate in Shanghai, now broadcast hourly via Twitter. And so far, like a four-year-old air-quality monitoring program in Beijing and one in Guangzhou, the U.S.’s Shanghai reading of the situation is worse than what is reported by local authorities. In an online statement that also links to updates of the air quality report, the consulate explained its reasoning and methodology: Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/05/14/u-s-consulate-in-shanghai-starts-monitoring-the-air/ Pondering That Green Label. When it comes to labels assuring consumers that they’re buying green products, buyer beware. In theory such labels are intended to help shoppers make responsible choices. But many of these labeling and certification programs are overseen by the industry they are supposedly policing. That is the case made against the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, which has been in the cross hairs of the environmental group ForestEthics for two years. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/pondering-that-green-label/ Climate change and the redistribution of carbon-sourced wealth. For a multitude of reasons – climate change, air quality, national security, etc. – a large reduction in the burning of carbon-based fuels is a good idea. Since higher prices are known to reduce consumption, one way to achieve this is to simply put a tax on fuel at the pump. It's been proposed by GM's Dan Akerson, Bill Ford and others, but the idea can be difficult politically and economically. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/15/climate-change-and-the-redistribution-of-carbon-sourced-wealth/ Scientists: more Calif. heat waves by 2020. Strings of days when temperatures spike over 100 degrees should become more frequent in California by 2020, and commonplace 50 years after that, according to recent computer modeling results from scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Several computer models, including some with finer-grained climate data than in years past, show that global warming expected in coming decades will translate into a greater chance of potentially deadly heat waves — not unlike a 2006 California heat wave that killed an estimated 400 to 600 people. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2012/05/14/scientists-more-calif-heat-waves-by-2020/171637/ Clean energy as culture war. Not that long ago, some folks were arguing that clean energy — unlike climate change, which had been irredeemably stained by partisanship (eww!) — would bring people together across ideological lines. Persuaded by the irrefutable wisdom of wonks, we would join hands across the aisle to promote common-sense solutions. It wouldn’t be partisan, it would be … post-partisan. Some day, I will stop mocking the people who said that. But not today. The error is an important one and it is still made regularly, especially by hyper-educated U.S. elites. They think clean energy is different from climate change, that it won’t get sucked into the same culture war. They are wrong. Posted. http://grist.org/politics/clean-energy-as-culture-war/ ====================================================================== 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 May 2012 12:28:44 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 16, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 16, 2012. 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 judge: Coal permit won't stand up in court. State environmental regulators did not follow federal guidelines when they issued an air permit for a proposed coal-fired power plant on the Gulf Coast, and a Texas judge indicated the paperwork is too flawed for construction to begin. District Court Judge Stephen Yelenosky sent the letter Monday in response to a lawsuit filed by environmental groups, who challenged the air permit issued for Las Brisas Energy Center last May by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/15/texas-judge-coal-permit-wont-stand-up-in-court/ 'Shocking' twist in quarry hearing. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday to affirm its denial of Granite Construction's Liberty Quarry project, a rock mine that had been proposed for land on the city of Temecula's southern border. But in a twist that was described as "shocking," "a surprise" and "bizarre" by foes of the project, the board during the same meeting voted 3-2 to certify the quarry's environmental impact report. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/region-shocking-twist-in-quarry-hearing/article_09491fa0-097a-5cde-acd6-820ce8db2987.html Your Heart on Air Pollution: An Olympic Case Study. In 2008, the Chinese government conducted one of the largest real-time environmental experiments ever undertaken: In order to get air quality up to par for the summer Olympics in Beijing--in of the world's most polluted metropolis--the government halved the number of cars allowed to drive the city's roads, shut down coal-burning factories in the area, and halted construction projects, among other efforts. And it worked. Posted. http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/05/your-heart-on-air-pollution-an-olympic-case-study/257236/ Time to mow down air pollution. County residents can replace old gas-powered lawn mowers with new, zero-emission models for less than $100 as part of the 13th annual “Mowing Down Pollution” trade-in event on Saturday. The Black & Decker mowers, which typically sell for about $400 plus tax, will cost $99.99. The mowers are subsidized using fines paid to the San Diego Air Pollution Control District. Organizers said about 650 of the 36-volt cordless mowers will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the County Administration Center, 1600 Pacific Highway, San Diego. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/may/15/ron-roberts-time-mow-down-pollution/ CLIMATE CHANGE 5th warmest April on record worldwide. Washington -- Unseasonable weather pushed last month to the fifth warmest April on record worldwide, federal weather statistics show. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Climatic Data Center calculated that April's average temperature of 57.9 degrees was nearly 1.2 degrees above the 20th century normal. Two years ago was the hottest April since record keeping started in 1880. Last month was the third hottest April in the United States and unusually warm in Russia, but cooler than normal in parts of Western Europe. This is despite a now-ended La Niña, which generally lowers global temperatures. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/MNFT1OI91R.DTL&type=printable Rising temperatures could eliminate two-thirds of Calif. Snowpack. The snowpack that helps provide water for California cities and farms could shrink by two-thirds because of climate change, according to new research submitted to the state's Energy Commission. Higher temperatures appear likely to wipe out a third of the Golden State's snowpack by 2050 and two-thirds by the end of the century, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography found. The conclusions are the latest to declare that California's snowpack will be hard hit by higher temperatures. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/16/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Oil industry says it will report California 'fracking' information. On the eve of a series of public hearings on hydraulic fracturing, a controversial but little-regulated method of oil extraction in California, an industry group said Tuesday that its members will voluntarily post information about their "fracking" operations on a disclosure website, Frac Focus, likely by the end of June. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/16/4492835/oil-industry-says-it-will-report.html ND becomes nation's second-leading oil producer. North Dakota has passed Alaska to become the second-leading oil-producing state in the nation, trailing only Texas, state officials said Tuesday. North Dakota oil drillers pumped 17.8 million barrels in March, with a daily average of 575,490 barrels, Assistant State Mineral Resources Director Bruce Hicks said. That compares with 17.5 million barrels in Alaska, though still far behind Texas. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/15/nd-becomes-nations-second-leading-oil-producer/ Interest groups, agencies battle over study linking E15 to engine damage. A new study showing that E15 damaged car engines in two popular models provides "material evidence" that U.S. EPA moved too hastily in approving the fuel for the market, the oil and auto industries said today. The industries released the engine study today after circulating preliminary findings last month. They said the findings by the industry-backed Coordinating Research Council provide reason to worry about fuel made of gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/16/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Fight Over Auto Emissions Is Measured in Grams. The battle to control carbon dioxide from automobile tailpipes in the European Union is fought by the gram — a measure roughly equivalent to the weight of a paperclip. Greenhouse gases in these amounts may sound tiny, but they could affect millions of jobs in the Union and help determine Europe’s future as a major manufacturer. Four years ago, France, where Renault and PSA Peugeot-Citroën produce small and fuel-efficient cars…Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/17/business/energy-environment/fight-over-auto-emissions-is-measured-in-grams.html?_r=1 China shifting development priority to hybrids. The Chinese government has recognized that it may take longer than initially expected to build a Chinese electric car industry. Therefore, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology released a “Three Steps Strategy” for the development of electric vehicle technology in the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015). According to this strategy, China will first strive for the commercialization of gasoline-electric hybrid technologies by 2015. Secondly, China will increase its efforts in the development of all-electric and plug-in hybrid technology between 2015-2020. Posted. http://beta.cars21.com/news/view/4653 HIGH-SPEED RAIL California bullet train chief seeks environmental exemptions. The chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority says in a state Senate hearing that he hopes the initial phase of the construction project through the Central Valley can avoid legal delays. The chief of the state bullet train authority said Tuesday that he hopes to obtain some type of relief from environmental laws that would eliminate a risk that the 130-mile initial construction project could be stopped by an injunction, a potentially growing prospect as agriculture interests in the Central Valley gear up for a legal fight. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bullet-hearing-20120516,0,4938405,print.story GREEN ENERGY Solar power proposed for more Irvine public schools. Irvine Unified School District is considering plans to install solar-paneled parking canopies at 11 campuses after it saved $220,000 in electricity costs in its first year using mostly rooftop solar panels at 15 sites. The parking canopies, to be installed by SunEdison, are expected to save the district $380,000 in energy costs in the first year, public records show. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/district-354215-irvine-canopies.html Power in numbers: Crowd purchasing brings clean energy within reach. We join together with our fellow humans for the sake of saving a buck all the time. That’s why public transportation exists — it’s cheaper for 20 people to get on one bus than it is for 20 people to drive their own cars. (Oh right, and buses are also super cool.) Or think of roommates — sure, they never wash their dishes, but living with them saves us hundreds of dollars in rent. Posted. http://grist.org/renewable-energy/power-in-numbers-crowd-purchasing-brings-clean-energy-within-reach/ MISCELLANEOUS U.S. asthma rates at all-time high, CDC says. The proportion of Americans with asthma increased from 7.3% in 2001 to 8.4% in 2010, marking the highest level ever, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday. In 2010, an estimated 18.7 million adults and 7 million children had the disease -- one in every 12 Americans. Overall, about 29.1 million adults have been diagnosed with asthma at some point in their lives, but many of those were misdiagnosed or have apparently recovered, leading to the current figure of 18.7 million. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-asthma-prevalence-20120515,0,1261319,print.story OPINIONS Editorial: Craft a clean transportation bill by June 30. Republicans and Democrats in Congress have failed for three years to reach common ground on a multiyear transportation bill to replace the 2005-09 bill. We're now on our ninth short-term extension, which expires June 30. This is no way to build the transportation networks of the future or to boost economic recovery. Worse, the Highway Trust Fund that pays for road, bridge and transit projects is set to run out of money in the next year Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/16/4492894/craft-a-clean-transportation-bill.html BLOGS New York Leads on E.V. Issues, but E.V.’s Have Yet to Follow. A new study places New York among the world’s most proactive cities trying to ease the way of electric vehicles, but leadership has its pitfalls. The study (PDF) was produced by the Rocky Mountain Institute, an energy research group and think tank, along with partners including the International Energy Agency and the Clean Energy Ministerial’s Electric Vehicles Initiative. The study examined 16 cities and regions to gauge their readiness to absorb E.V.’s. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/new-york-leads-on-e-v-issues-but-e-v-s-have-yet-to-follow/ A New Skirmish in the Ethanol Wars. The auto and oil industries plan to release a report on Wednesday indicating that some cars running on E15, the 15 percent ethanol blend that was recently authorized by the Environmental Protection Agency, suffered engine damage. But officials at the Energy Department counter that the study is flawed and that the department’s own research, which the E.P.A. relied on in approving E15, demonstrates that cars now running on the standard blend, called E10, will do just fine on E15. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/16/a-new-skirmish-in-the-ethanol-wars/ Is climate change research holding back advances in weather forecasting? We’ve discussed, to some extent, the question of whether large expenditures in NOAA’s budget on satellites (relative to funding of the National Weather Service) has slowed progress in numerical weather prediction. University of Washington’s Cliff Mass, who has addressed that issue as well, posed another critical question today in a thoughtful, provocative blog post: “Why is the U.S. government providing hugely more computer resources for climate prediction than weather prediction?” …Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/is-climate-change-research-holding-back-advances-in-weather-forecasting/2012/05/16/gIQAMVymTU_blog.html Carbon Pricing & Trading News from Australia, California, China, South Korea, & More. Consideration of carbon pricing and trading, a market-based (not regulation-based) approach to addressing global warming, may still be outlawed by GOP leadership in Congress, but countries around the world (and even several US states) keep moving forward with planned or existing carbon pricing and trading programs. Below is some of the latest news from this arena. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/16/carbon-pricing-trading-news-from-australia-california-china-south-korea-more/ California high-speed rail project given conditional blessing. The latest plan for building a California bullet train system got a very conditional blessing Tuesday from a "peer review committee" of transportation experts. Will Kempton, the veteran transportation official who heads the committee, told a Senate hearing that the latest revision is “measurably improved” from previous versions. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/05/california-bullet-train-project-given-conditional-blessing.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 May 2012 12:21:49 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARBNewsclips for May 17, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 17, 2012. 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. PROPEL STATION New alternative fuels station opens in Fullerton. The Propel Clean Mobility Center on Chapman Avenue offers gasoline as well as E85 ethanol and biodiesel. A gas station that also offers E85 ethanol and biodiesel fuels has opened in Fullerton, becoming the first of more than 200 so-called clean mobility centers slated for the state. The Propel Clean Mobility Center at 1124 E. Chapman Ave., which opened Wednesday, was partially funded by grants from the California Energy Commission and the U.S. Energy Department. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-flex-fuel-20120517,0,2328289.story http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-me-gs-clean-mobility-center-opens-with-alternative-fuels-in-la-20120516,0,5108769.story http://www.ocbj.com/news/2012/may/16/alternative-fuel-station-opens-fullerton/ http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2012/05/16/energy-station-of-the-future-propel-launches-first-clean-mobility-center/ http://www.csnews.com/top-story-propel_fuels_debuts_new_fueling_station-61131.html http://www.arb.ca.gov/videos/propel_opening_mn.htm http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Rethinking-Americas-Gas-Station-Propel-Fuels-Launches-New-Vision-1658033.htm http://www.pr-inside.com/rethinking-america-s-gas-station-propel-r3185450.htm http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/05/propel-20120517.html http://www.hybridcars.com/news/propel-launches-clean-mobility-center-46000.html AIR POLLUTION Bay Area plan to guide growth up for regional vote. Competitors in the Bay Area's perennial tug of war over where and how to grow will square off Thursday night in Oakland when regional leaders choose how best to cut air pollution by redirecting new housing, shops and jobs into transit corridors. Called the Bay Area Plan, the process is inciting suspicion among suburbanites who fear the initiative will usurp local control and force dense, urban-style development into their communities. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20639976/bay-area-plan-guide-growth-up-regional-vote State to brief public on Mecca odor. Regulators today will discuss soil studies, continuing probe of recycling facility. Mecca residents can weigh in today on two new state reports that might help decide the fate of Western Environmental Inc., the nearby soil recycling plant blamed for noxious and widespread odor outbreaks in 2010-2011. In a meeting that's open to the public, state hazardous waste regulators will brief the community on their soil samples taken from the Western site back in December. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120517/NEWS07/205170313/State-brief-public-Mecca-odor CLIMATE CHANGE Cap-and-trade to generate billions, tough choices. Starting later this year, California's cap-and-trade system to fight global warming will generate billions of dollars in revenue, as companies buy and sell permits to produce greenhouse gases. How should the money be used? With the first permit auction scheduled for November, that question still hasn't been answered by Sacramento - not fully, at least. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/16/BUPQ1OIGTI.DTL Carbon fund aims to reduce biological greenhouse gases. An industry-supported carbon fund in Alberta is planning to attack the biological side of greenhouse gas emissions. The Climate Change and Emissions Management Corp. (CCEMC) will spend three years on an $8.4 million project to decrease emissions from sources such as livestock and forest waste. "There are no firm decisions yet," said Susan Wood-Bohm, executive director of Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions, which leads science and innovation for the province's agriculture, food and forestry sectors. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/17/11 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS IID fined for truck fleet air violations. The California Air Resources Board fined the Imperial Irrigation District $45,375 for operating its truck fleet and other diesel equipment in conflict with air quality regulations. Air resources board investigators found that the Imperial Irrigation District neglected to install particulate filters on its trucks, and to record smoke emissions, as required by California law, according to a press release from the state board. The district also failed to report its diesel equipment being used in off-road activities. Posted. http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-news-imperial-irrigation-district-iid-fined-for-truck-fleet-air-violations-20120517,0,197309.story FUELS Fracking's Methane Trail: A Detective Story. There are a lot of cheerleaders for the nation's natural gas boom — in part because they believe it's a lot cleaner than dirty coal. It's pretty well-known that power plants that burn coal pump out far more greenhouse gases than power plants that run on natural gas. But there's a hitch: We don't really know how much air pollution is created when companies drill for natural gas. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2012/05/17/151545578/frackings-methane-trail-a-detective-story VEHICLES Fuel cells, sidelined but not forgotten at electric vehicle show. As the spotlight has shifted to battery-powered cars, other promising alternative fuels have been left in the dark. That's especially true for yesterday's transportation stars, fuel-cell vehicles. But that doesn't mean progress has stopped. California is still planning to get 20,000 fuel-cell vehicles on the road, starting in 2015. Part of the state's zero-emissions vehicle mandate requires oil companies to install 68 hydrogen-refueling stations in five cities and along highways between those cities by 2015. The hydrogen would most likely be produced on site from natural gas, although some would use renewable sources. Posted. http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2012/05/fuel-cells-sidelined-but-not-forgotten-at-electric-vehicle-show.html Exploring the life and death of a lithium-ion battery. DOWNERS GROVE TOWNSHIP, Ill. -- With current battery systems reaching their performance limits, researchers are scrutinizing every component of lithium-ion cells in order to develop energy storage mechanisms that can make electric vehicles better competitors to fossil-fueled engines. Lithium-ion systems have made tremendous strides since they were invented in the 1970s. The cells have matured beyond expensive, fire-prone energy systems, becoming the go-to chemistry to power new mobile devices and electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/17/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY HIGH-SPEED RAIL Calif. Senate president asks Obama admin to promise more money for bullet train. A leader in California's Senate wants the Obama administration to promise more federal money for the state's beleaguered high-speed rail project. California Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D) said yesterday he is working to get a July vote on state bond funding for the bullet train, a push that comes after Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood last week urged faster action toward the project (Greenwire, May 11). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/17/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Reports: Funding energy efficiency programs makes economic sense. As California policymakers discuss how to spend revenue generated by the state’s soon-to-be-launched carbon market, four related studies providing legal and economic analysis of different investment scenarios were released late Wednesday. How the money is spent will have implications for the state’s economy and future, said F. Noel Perry, businessman and founder of Next 10, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization which commissioned the four studies. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2012/05/17/next-10-energy-efficiency-report-econ-be.html?page=all MISCELLANEOUS San Onofre's future hinges on finding cause of abnormal tube wear. The root of the problem at the nuclear plant is still a mystery. A key issue is whether Edison or ratepayers will have to cover the cost of replacement power. On Jan. 31, alarms alerted the control room at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station that a radiation leak was occurring in one of the nearly 39,000 tubes that carry radioactive water in the steam generators. That failure led to an unparalleled shutdown of one of California's two nuclear power plants …Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-adv-san-onofre-tubes-20120517,0,5463800,print.story Bicycle advocates chalk up successes of Bike Month. In the eight years since the "May Is Bike Month" campaign began, area cyclists have ridden millions of miles while demonstrating that bikes are, among other things, an easy solution to complex problems. The organized effort has inspired many others to give it a try, and, no doubt, stirred up a little hostility as bicycles became a larger part of the transportation equation. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/17/4494840/bicycle-advocates-chalk-up-successes.html OPINIONS Stephen L. Johnson: Methane: Energy for California without all the flare. As former administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for many years I have been concerned with methane gas, both as an environmental pollutant and a renewable resource that is largely wasted. Though methane has long been known as a harmful greenhouse gas -- according to the EPA, it's 20 to 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide -- it also holds an abundance of energy. However, much of the power potential had previously been thought of as unusable, and other environmental issues have persisted. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_20639515/stephen-l-johnson-methane-energy-california-without-all California Is Leading: Will the Nation Follow? What do the iPhone, the silicone breast implant and the solar panel have in common? Each has the most users in California. The companies that designed and marketed them are here, too. California is the state of cutting edge, of firsts. We're Hollywood, Silicon Valley, gay rights, the first female Speaker of the House and the first Sierra Club. It's why I moved here from the Midwest. The sense of excitement, that anything is possible. Now California is going first on climate change. There's a lot hanging in the balance. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/claire-tomkins/california-green-economy_b_1521893.html Coal Use Drops to Record Lows While Clean Energy Soars. It's amazing how much can change in a year. At this time in 2011, we were testing our hair for mercury as a way to encourage the EPA to adopt strong mercury pollution protections -- which the agency did. I was also celebrating generating my first clean kilowatt of energy from brand new solar panels on my home. A mere one year later, some jaw-dropping numbers have just come in: In the first quarter of 2012…Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-anne-hitt/coal-use-drops_b_1522687.html?ref=green Solar Panels Trade Case Mocks Washington's Ways. Later today the U.S. Department of Commerce is expected to announce preliminary antidumping duties on solar panels from China. This case might normally be met with an exasperated sigh and chalked up as just another example of myopic, self-flagellating, capricious U.S. antidumping policy toward China. But in this instance the absurdity is magnified by the fact that Washington has already devoted billions of dollars in production subsidies and consumption tax credits in an effort to invent a non-trivial market for solar energy in the United States. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/danikenson/2012/05/17/solar-panels-trade-case-mocks-washingtons-ways/ Don’t believe the hype: Five things you should know about clean energy investments. In an attempt to keep the political war against renewable energy in the headlines, Republicans held another hearing to question the value of government investments in the sector. Looks like 10 political sideshows on Solyndra weren’t enough. If the hearing were being used as a chance to objectively assess where the industry stands, that would be one thing. Posted. http://grist.org/energy-policy/dont-believe-the-hype-five-things-you-should-know-about-clean-energy-investments/ BLOGS Viewpoint: pitting climate change research against weather research is unproductive. Yesterday, I discussed a blog post from University of Washington’s Cliff Mass which argued computer resources for models of climate change are unjustifiably far greater than for weather forecasting. But some feel what Mass, a professor of meteorology, wrote may not be helpful in advancing atmospheric science goals and could create unnecessary conflict in the community. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/viewpoint-pitting-climate-change-research-against-weather-research-is-unproductive/2012/05/17/gIQALHdFWU_blog.html Clouds and Climate, Redux. “Cloud feedbacks are infamous,” David Randall writes in a new book. Indeed they are, as readers of my recent article on the subject may recall. Judging from the feedback I received, many people would like to know more about the role of clouds in climate. Readers ready for a book-length treatment of the topic may find the right level of detail in “Atmosphere, Clouds, and Climate,” a new book by Dr. Randall published by the Princeton University Press. Dr. Randall, a professor at Colorado State University, is a leading climate scientist. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/17/clouds-and-climate-redux/?pagemode=print Cap-and-Trade and Your Electric Bill. Forcing utilities to pay for their carbon emissions, as California plans to do, will mean more costly megawatts. Six months before formal compliance with the state’s new cap & trade system begins, regulators are still sorting out what to do about that. One of them is to provide rebates to offset hikes in electric bills. A new report from the clean-economy advocates, Next 10 attempts to sort out the options and put some concrete numbers on them. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/05/16/cap-and-trade-and-your-electric-bill/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 Coffee Growers Turn to Carbon Credits For Much Needed Help. The devastating impact of climate change on coffee production globally could be significantly off-set by reforestation programmes funded by carbon trading, using carbon credits earned by newly planted trees. That's the core proposition of a report titled 'Coffee Climate Crisis' which is published today by the ethical hot drinks brand, Cafédirect. Their argument is supported by evidence from a Peruvian project in which they're working with smallholder coffee growers to combat climate change impacts, such as floods and landslides, largely caused by deforestation. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/coffee-growers-turn-carbon-credits-much-needed-hel/ ====================================================================== 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 May 2012 15:08:13 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 18, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 18, 2012. 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 Residents slam state's Mecca report. Despite soil OK, many believe recycler poses a health threat. MECCA — Despite soil samples the state took recently coming back as nonhazardous, some Mecca residents remain deeply skeptical about a recycling plant blamed for the noxious smells that permeated their community. “We, the residents, the way we measure it, is with our health,” Mecca resident Daniel Guerrero told about 50 people gathered for a Department of Toxic Substances Control public meeting Thursday about Western Environmental Inc. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120518/NEWS01/205180306/Residents-slam-state-s-Mecca-report?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage http://www.kmir6.com/news/toprotator/151996715.html EPA sends boiler rules to White House. U.S. EPA yesterday sent reconsidered air standards for industrial boilers and commercial incinerators to the White House for final review. The so-called Boiler MACT rule was submitted to the Office of Management and Budget, according to a federal website that tracks rulemaking. The move signals that EPA intends to follow through on plans to issue the final rule this spring or summer. OMB typically has 90 days to review proposals and can ask for a 30-day extension. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/18/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Is New Green Law Creating More Green for Logging Companies? NBC Bay Area Investigates California's new Cap and Trade Law. California's new Cap and Trade program has been hailed as the gold standard in environmental law for the entire world. Not only are other states looking to the law but other countries, too, are watching to judge its effects on the global economy and environment. Now, NBC Bay Area's Investigative Unit has learned of questions surrounding fundamental issues about how the new law is applied and who benefits from it that could undermine the entire program's credibility. Posted. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/investigations/Legal-Critics-of-Californias-New-Cap-and-Trade--151916605.html Saskatchewan uses emissions from ethanol plant to stimulate oil production. A Canadian energy company announced yesterday it has begun capturing carbon dioxide at an ethanol plant in Saskatchewan. The captured greenhouse gas from the plant run by Husky Energy will be piped to nearby oil fields for permanent storage and use in enhanced oil recovery. The overall cost of the project initially is estimated to be roughly $23 million, with the Canadian government contributing $14.5 million. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/18/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS US WCoast Products - Gasoline continues drop. Gasoline differentials fell further on Thursday as BP Plc's 225,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) Cherry Point, Washington, refinery continued its return to production after being shut for three months. May-delivery CARBOB gasoline slid 2 cents to a 23-cent premium per gallon over June NYMEX RBOB gasoline in the Los Angeles spot market. CARBOB gasoline in the San Francisco Bay market sold at an 8-cent discount to L.A. on the return of Tesoro Corp's 166,000 bpd Martinez, California, refinery to full production following an overhaul. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/17/markets-products-westcoast-idUSL1E8GHK2P20120517 VEHICLES Five Electric Cars That Will Stretch Your Mileage. Cars With Superior Gas Mileage. Car technology has come a long way. In the fight to decrease dependency on oil and avoid high gas prices, more electric-powered cars are starting to make their way onto the scene. It's now possible to get what's referred to as an mpg equivalent of more than 100. That's mostly due to drastic improvements in lithium-ion battery technology. Lithium-ion batteries are able to produce more power in a smaller area than their nickel-metal-hydride counterparts, which are used in some hybrids such as the Prius. Posted. http://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/2012/05/17/five-electric-cars-that-will-stretch-your-mileage/ HIGH-SPEED RAIL Ballot measure to derail bullet train advances. An initiative aimed at derailing California's bullet train is clear to collect signatures in a quest for November's ballot. The measure -- pushed by a state senator and a former U.S. House member -- would halt the sale of bonds to finance construction of the train and officially terminate the venture. It aims to thwart any restart effort as well, prohibiting California from taking on any new debt or spending any federal, state or local funds for the high-speed rail project. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/18/9 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY China rejects US ruling in solar dumping case. China's government on Friday rejected a U.S. antidumping ruling against its makers of solar power equipment and Chinese manufacturers warned possible higher tariffs might hurt efforts to promote clean energy. The conflict has worsened U.S.-Chinese trade tensions. The two governments have pledged to cooperate in developing renewable energy but accuse each other of violating free-trade pledges by subsidizing their own manufacturers. "The U.S. ruling is unfair, and the Chinese side expresses its extreme dissatisfaction," said a Commerce Ministry spokesman, Shen Danyang, in a statement. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/china-rejects-us-ruling-in-solar-dumping-case/article_b7aa347d-62cd-5fcb-8f79-ca5bc45e0e53.html Biotech industry scales up to meet demand for renewable products. Technological advancements and growing market demand are allowing biotechnology companies to scale up, said a panel of industry experts at a clean technology workshop in Washington, D.C., yesterday. There's "a tremendous amount of interest in green materials" by large consumer companies interested in reducing their carbon footprints, said Tony Lent, senior managing director for the investment firm Wolfensohn & Co. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/18/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Cities look to wind for streetlight power source. As municipal budgets continue to be cut, some cities around the world are looking to harness wind to power their streetlights. While other cities have opted to use technologies such as light-emitting diodes and smart lighting, wind power -- through distributed energy -- has been an option that allows municipalities to cut down on fossil fuel usage and get off the traditional grid. The distributed renewable energy market was estimated to be about $70 billion globally last year and is expected to top $150 billion by 2015. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/18/21 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY BLOGS Swapping Out Charcoal With Ethanol. Africa used to boast nearly three million square miles of forest, only about one-third of which remain today. The principal culprit is charcoal production for cookstove fuel, which emits soot that leads to endemic health problems. The World Health Organization says the health consequences of cooking with charcoal parallel the effects of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. Just imagine firing up a charcoal barbecue indoors every time you cooked. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/swapping-biofuels-for-charcoal/?ref=science New Classroom Science Standards Up for Review. The first substantial update to national science teaching standards in roughly 15 years — and the first including the science of human-driven climate change — is open for public comment through this month. Here’s a short video description: Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/new-classroom-science-standards-up-for-review/ ====================================================================== 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 May 2012 11:57:05 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 21, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 21, 2012. 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 Prenatal Pollution Exposure Dangerous for Children With Asthma. The link between prenatal exposure to air pollution and childhood lung growth and respiratory ailments has been established by several studies in recent years, and now a new study suggests that these prenatal exposures can be especially serious for children with asthma. The study will be presented at the ATS 2012 International Conference in San Francisco. "In this study, we found that prenatal exposures to airborne particles and the pollutant nitrogen dioxide …Posted. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120520133616.htm Older power plants produce lion's share of U.S. emissions – GAO. Older power plants account for a disproportionate amount of U.S. air pollution, a government watchdog said today. The Government Accountability Office found that power plants built before 1979 provided 45 percent of electricity from fossil fuels in 2010. But those units produced three-quarters of the sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, more than 60 percent of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and more than half of the carbon emissions from all fossil fuel units. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/print/2012/05/18/9 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE G-8 to Eliminate Fossil Fuel Subsidies, Curb Climate Pollutants. Leaders of the world's most developed economies, the Group of Eight, have agreed to phase out government subsidies for coal, oil and gas and pursue sustainable energy and low carbon policies "in order to tackle the global challenge of climate change." Hosted by President Barack Obama at the presidential retreat Camp David in the Maryland woods near Washington, DC, the leaders of Canada, France, Germany…Posted. http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/may2012/2012-05-21-01.html Climate action reserve becomes first registry to begin accepting compliance offset projects for California’s cap-and-trade program. The Climate Action Reserve, the nation’s premier carbon offset registry, has become the first registry to accept submissions for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction projects under California’s cap-and-trade protocols while it undergoes the application process to become a California Air Resources Board (ARB) accredited offset project registry. Posted. http://www.environmental-expert.com/news/climate-action-reserve-becomes-first-registry-to-begin-accepting-compliance-offset-projects-for-californias-cap-and-trade-program-295419 Palm Beach County creating job to tackle climate change. Palm Beach County is in the market for a climate change czar. While the actual job title and day-to-day duties for this new county post remain in flux, the far-reaching goal is to get a county with more than one million people ready for climate change. That includes promoting "environmental sustainability" efforts such as recycling and energy efficiency. Posted. http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-05-20/news/fl-climate-change-czar-20120520_1_climate-change-climate-action-plan-dioxide-and-other-greenhouse DIESEL EMISSIONS ‘Gravy days' over for truck drivers, owners. Over the past five decades, the significant tax advantages that Nevada had over more onerous tax rules in California spawned a thriving warehouse and distribution industry, creating supply chain centers throughout Northern Nevada. It also led to an explosion in the number of trucking companies because of the ability to move manufactured and distributed goods to as many as seven western states overnight. This also produced a thriving construction industry for not only commercial and industrial structures, but residential subdivisions, as well. Posted. http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/20120520/NEWS/120529995/1070&ParentProfile=1058 FUELS Corrected: Analysis: New facilities spotlight next-generation biofuels. After a decade of promise, advanced biofuels makers are entering a crucial make-or-break period with the first of a new generation of production facilities about to come on line. The new facilities are designed to take biofuels beyond corn-based ethanol and begin to shift the industry to "advanced" fuels made with a lower carbon footprint derived from products that will not compete with demand for food. Many of the companies are turning to cellulosic plant materials, animal waste and plant oils to churn out millions of gallons of ethanol, diesel, jet fuel or components for gasoline. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/21/us-biofuels-plants-idUSBRE84H18W20120521 VEHICLES A Million Carb-Light Miles Makes Frito-Lay Crave More. That bag of salty snacks in the pantry that blows your daily carb budget is helping Frito-Lay stick to a low-carbon diet. The company's fleet of electric delivery trucks surpassed one million miles this month, part of a drive to cut greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption 50 percent by 2020. The 176 Smith electric trucks have saved the largest snack food maker 200,000 gallons of diesel fuel over the past two years, and Frito-Lay on May 10 ordered 100 more to replace their noisier, polluting cousins. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-05-21/a-million-carb-light-miles-makes-frito-lay-crave-more.html Electric car network gets first test in Israel. Israeli entrepreneur Shai Agassi has begun rolling out the world's first nationwide electric car network. Now, will the drivers come? After more than $400 million in outlays and months behind schedule, dozens of electric cars have hit the road in Israel, the test site Agassi chose for his Better Place venture. Four stations where the cars can get a new dose of juice when their batteries run out are operating, and the plan is to ramp that number up within months. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/19/electric-car-network-gets-first-test-in-israel/#ixzz1vWD8SCP4 GREEN ENERGY Pa. health care company seeks gas drilling facts. Some people are absolutely sure gas drilling threatens public health, while others are absolutely sure it doesn't. Geisinger Health Systems is looking for more facts on the debate. "Our concern is getting reliable data so we know what to do for our patients," said David Carey, director of Geisinger's Weis Center for Research in Danville, Pa. Geisinger serves many patients who live in areas that have seen a recent boom in Marcellus Shale gas drilling. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5grKmOQ0jjLZWv2gtnuaqA03Y1PAw?docId=bab46263f974470490dd99fb4f5da934 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/pa-health-care-co-has-trove-of-data-on-residents-health-to-help-assess-gas-drilling-effects/2012/05/20/gIQAGzkadU_story.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20667858/pa-health-care-company-seeks-gas-drilling-facts?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20667858/pa-health-care-company-seeks-gas-drilling-facts?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/pa-health-care-company-seeks-gas-drilling-facts/article_d49ea4ac-9e9e-5fe6-9cec-e8f1e75fdde3.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/05/20/2207923/pa-health-care-company-seeks-gas.html Q+A-Where next for EU renewable energy policy? An energy policy vacuum is looming in the European Union after a firm set of policy goals for renewable energy, carbon cutting and energy saving expires in 2020. To open up the debate on policy direction for renewable energy, the Commission has put together a communication, expected to be published officially next month. A draft seen by Reuters early this month showed a concern with the economics and with the need to achieve free access to emerging renewable energy markets, if the EU is to retain its technological lead in green energy. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/21/energy-renewables-idUSL5E8GK0UD20120521 Eye on the Environment: County transportation department works to improve environment. This week, May 20-26, is National Public Works Week, with a theme of "Creating a Lasting Impression." The theme not only refers to the longevity of our roads, bridges and other infrastructure, but also to the long-term compatibility with our environment (also called "sustainability"). In the past, construction and maintenance of public works structures was sometimes at odds with maintaining the environment, but no longer. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/19/county-transportation-department-works-to/ China looks to avoid solar tariffs. Chinese solar panel manufacturers are preparing to source components from Taiwan and South Korea in order to avoid anti-dumping tariffs imposed last week by the Commerce Department. The United States slapped the duties on Chinese polysilicon solar cells Thursday, following a trade complaint from SolarWorld AG and six other U.S. solar manufacturing companies (Greenwire, May 17). The Chinese Ministry of Commerce has attacked the duties as "unfair." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/21/17 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Senate panel to scrutinize government's role in advancing clean power. With many clean energy tax breaks headed toward a day of reckoning and Congress more divided than ever on the best way to meet America's future energy needs, members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will gather this week to get some advice from the business world on the government's proper role in bringing new technologies to market. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/EEDaily/print/2012/05/21/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS Dan Walters: Shouldn't hydro count against the carbon reduction mandate? A major component of California's crusade against global warming, one started by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and embraced by successor Jerry Brown, is the legal mandate to have 33 percent of electric power sales from "renewable sources" by 2020. The latest version of the mandate, signed by Brown last year, defines biomass, thermal, photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, fuel cells with renewable fuels, small hydroelectric projects…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/21/4504286/dan-walters-shouldnt-hydro-count.html#mi_rss=Top%20Stories http://www.modbee.com/2012/05/20/2208129/rigid-ideology-keeps-hydro-out.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY California missing out on 'green' manufacturing jobs. When solar technology company SMA America was looking for a place to put its headquarters, Rocklin was a logical choice. California, after all, represents more than 40 percent of the national market for solar installations. When it came to choosing a place to manufacture its solar and wind inverters, however, the firm went to Denver. "Denver offered a good mix of affordable buildings, access to skilled labor, a convenient distribution infrastructure and an overall attractive and supportive business climate," said Jurgen Krehnke, president and general manager of SMA America. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/20/4500710/california-missing-out-on-green.html Prop. 29 will reduce smoking, spare non-smokers. Re "Big tobacco" (Editorial cartoon, May 18): Seeing that Big Tobacco is spending $39 million in attempts to defeat Proposition 29's cigarette tax, it makes us who oppose smoking really demand to get a "yes" from everyone who is eligible to vote. Frankly I am also among the non-smokers who are utterly disgusted at being assaulted with toxic second-hand cigarette smoke every time I step outside a public building to get some "fresh air." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/18/4500025/vote-yes-on-prop-29.html ON THE 'NET METERING' PROPOSAL. Keep solar power shining. After setting the national standard on solar energy, California is at a new frontier. How far should it push the rules credited with spreading the power-producing panels across roofs on homes, offices and schools? A 15-year old program has proved astonishingly successful. In Pacific Gas & Electric's Northern California turf, some 65,000 customers have put up solar panels, a third of the nation's rooftop installations, the utility says. But one of the prime selling points - the ability to sell back unused power - is in dispute. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/21/ED451OJ6F6.DTL&type=printable The Many Moving Pieces of California’s Cap and Trade Program. The calendar says May 2012, so what does that mean for California’s attempts to implement a first-in-the-nation, economy-wide Cap and Trade Program? Actually quite a bit. There are many moving parts in this complex regulatory puzzle being assembled by the California Air Resources Board (Board or CARB). CARB has control over many of these moving parts, but there are a few that they do not. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/05/21/the-many-moving-pieces-of-californias-cap-and-trade-program/ Will Cap and Trade cure California’s deficit? California voters may soon ask themselves: “Why vote for an $8.5 billion sales and income tax increase in November 2012 if Cap and Trade is going to raise $50 billion to $100 billion for state discretionary spending? That’s $6.25 billion to $12.5 billion per year from 2012 to 2020. But will Cap and Trade generate enough revenues, and can those revenues be used to bailout the state general fund deficit? That is the proverbial $16 billion deficit question. Posted. http://www.calwatchdog.com/2012/05/18/will-cap-and-trade-cure-californias-deficit/ BLOGS Popping the Cap on Arctic Methane. Methane held underground by caps of Arctic ice is bubbling out as a warming climate causes those caps to melt, researchers report in the journal Nature Geoscience. The paper offers some of the strongest field evidence yet that a melt-back of land ice can release methane. Removing an ice cap seems to work a bit like popping the cap on a bottle of soda, allowing pent-up gas to escape. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/21/popping-the-cap-on-arctic-methane/ GM says the Volt has saved a supertanker of gas. That's one small step for man, and one less really big barge full of fuel for mankind. That's basically what General Motors' Chevrolet division is saying in its latest effort to pitch the Volt extended-range plug-in as a way for prospective drivers to save both money and the earth. Chevrolet estimates that Volt drivers have saved more than 2.1 million gallons of gas – or one supertanker – by driving their vehicles in electric mode. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/19/gm-says-the-volt-has-saved-a-supertanker-of-gas/ The Week Ahead: EPA to Hold Hearings on Carbon Dioxide Limits for Power Plants. The Environmental Protection Agency will hold two public hearings May 24 in Washington, D.C., and Chicago on Clean Air Act new source performance standards that would limit carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants. As detailed in a World Climate Change Report article, the proposed NSPS, issued April 12, would limit emissions from new fossil fuel-fired power plants with a generating capacity greater than 25 megawatts to 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour. Posted. http://www.bna.com/blogs_post.aspx?id=12884909489&blogid=12884902256 Breakthrough Institute gets it wrong on climate economics — again. Why do those at the Breakthrough Institute insist that everyone else besides them who cares about the environment is wrong, wrong, wrong? Their latest, called “The Creative Destruction of Climate Economics,” is a swipe at those misguided souls who think putting a price on carbon emissions would help combat climate change. Breakthrough, according to its website, aims “to modernize liberal-progressive-green politics” and to accelerate the transition to an “ecologically vibrant” future. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-policy/breakthrough-institute-gets-it-wrong-on-climate-economics-again/ ====================================================================== 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 May 2012 12:35:36 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 22, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 22, 2012. 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 Emissions cut hiatus slows work to limit warming. Reluctance to raise ambitions to cut greenhouse gas emissions due to economic constraints is threatening progress towards limiting global warming, delegates at United Nations' climate talks in Germany warned on Monday. The talks in Bonn, which end on May 25, are partly to discuss ways of raising the level of ambition on cuts but the worsening eurozone crisis and battered global economy have increased reluctance to commit to more financially onerous cuts by the end of the decade, delegates told Reuters. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/21/us-un-climate-idUSBRE84K0WZ20120521 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/21/un-bonn-climate-conference-delegates_n_1533539.html California bill would use some Cap and Trade profits for school energy upgrades. OAKLAND -- Assemblymember Nancy Skinner is expected to introduce a bill on Tuesday that would use a portion of the money that businesses generate from trading carbon emissions permits to make schools more energy efficient. "Funding schools shouldn't be a question of paying teachers or paying power companies," Skinner stated in a news release. "Efficiency upgrades can put money back in the classroom to the tune of $60,000 annually -- enough for one additional teacher for every retrofitted school." Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics-government/ci_20676160/skinner-bill-would-use-some-cap-and-trade?source=rss FUELS More than 150,000 methane seeps appear as Arctic ice retreats. Scientists have found more than 150,000 sites in the Arctic where methane is seeping into the atmosphere, according to a report published Sunday in the journal Nature Geoscience. Aerial and ground surveys in Alaska and Greenland revealed that many of the methane seeps are located in areas where glaciers are receding or permafrost is thawing as the climate warms, removing ice that has trapped the potent greenhouse gas in the ground. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/22/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Tesla to start deliveries of Model S electric cars next month. Tesla Motors Inc. said it will begin delivering its first mass production electric car -– the high-end Model S to customers starting June 22, about a month ahead of the expected schedule. The Palo Alto-based company says it has more than 10,000 orders for the battery-powered car but that not all will be delivered this year. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-tesla-model-s-20120522,0,3950552.story?track=rss Lotus Shows Carmakers How To Shed The Pounds, CARB Agrees. There's a phrase oft-quoted in the automotive world when the topic of lighter cars is discussed. The phrase, "add lightness", originated from Colin Chapman, founder of Lotus Cars and builder of some of the best sports cars and racing vehicles ever made. And the influence has remained--Lotus still builds light cars, to the benefit of performance, handling, and of course--efficiency. Posted. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1076389_lotus-shows-carmakers-how-to-shed-the-pounds-carb-agrees 'For first time in 30 years EU, Japan, China and US work on common EV standards', says European Commission. Part of ENEVATE is working on the market drivers for electric vehicles such as incentives. Incentive effectiveness is currently being evaluated and some feedbacks are already collected via a survey conducted in ENEVATE partner regions. “Incentives effectiveness depends a lot on where you implement them. In the 70 surveys completed so far, with responses from the UK, France, Ireland and Germany, non-financial incentives such as parking or access to priority lanes does not seem to be a major factor” said Godfried Puts, Project Leader. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4665 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Bullet-train backers seek bypass around environmental lawsuits. The people behind California's beleaguered high-speed rail project want the Legislature to ensure lawsuits don't derail the bullet train. The state's High-Speed Rail Authority is talking to lawmakers about finding a way to bar judges from temporarily halting construction. Agency board of directors Chairman Dan Richard said he'd prefer courts be limited to ordering fixes. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/22/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY 2ND UPDATE: UK Draft Energy Bill Seeks To Secure GBP110B Investment. The U.K. government Tuesday published its long-awaited draft energy bill, which contains mechanisms and incentives designed to encourage around GBP110 billion investment in low-carbon energy such as offshore wind farms and new nuclear power stations. With around one-fifth of the U.K.'s power generating capacity closing over the next decade as aging nuclear and old coal plants are shuttered, the proposed legislation is part of government plans to keep the lights on while meeting binding climate change targets at cheapest cost to the consumer. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120522-711908.html BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/22/britain-power-reform-idUSL5E8GLD1D20120522 Developer offers 'no-electric bill' homes in East Bay retirement communities. Retired PG&E worker Spencer Brown was at first a bit skeptical about SheaXero, the "no-electric bill" homes now under construction by Shea Homes at the Trilogy retirement resort communities in Brentwood and Rio Vista. Brown and his wife, Effie, live in a Trilogy home in Rio Vista and recently decided to upgrade to a Shea solar-powered home that promises to produce as much electricity as it uses. Brown said that some SheaXero homeowners whom he has talked with pay a few cents annually for their electric bills. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_20676699/developer-offers-no-electric-bill-homes-brentwood-and http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20676697/developer-offers-no-electric-bill-homes-brentwood-and?source=rss Folsom-based ISO moves to foster small solar projects. Commercial rooftop solar arrays and other small-scale generators are expected to gain easier connection to local electricity grids under a measure approved recently by the California Independent System Operator Corp., based in Folsom. Under the new measure, ISO will produce an annual list of locations where small solar providers could supply the grid. The report will be used in negotiating renewable energy contracts and developing projects. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/22/4506890/folsom-based-iso-moves-to-foster.html#mi_rss=Business Energy frugality born in recession is here to stay – survey. The unsteady economy may have a silver lining: Recession-induced energy thriftiness will persist when jobs and industries recover, according to the results of a survey released yesterday. The report, produced by the Deloitte Center for Energy Solutions and Harrison Group, showed 93 percent of queried consumers will continue to use the same amount of energy they do now or even less. This year, 83 percent of individuals said they will take steps to reduce their power bills, compared with 63 percent the year before. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/22/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS WWII Chemical Exposure Spurs Obesity, Autism, Researcher Says. The World War II generation may have passed down to their grandchildren the effects of chemical exposure in the 1940s, possibly explaining current rates of obesity, autism and mental illness, according to one researcher. David Crews, professor of psychology and zoology at the University of Texas at Austin, theorized that the rise in these diseases may be linked to environmental effects passed on through generations. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/05/21/bloomberg_articlesM4DRCL6KLVR401-M4E16.DTL Cap and trade is struggling but spreading, new chief of trade group says. Veteran carbon market advocate Dirk Forrister yesterday was officially named the new head of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA). Forrister comes to the Geneva-based carbon trade lobby group from Washington, D.C.-based Natsource LLC, one of the world's largest providers of asset management services. He replaces Henry Derwent, who announced his retirement in March. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/22/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS Our cooling love affair with driving. Good news for Memorial Day weekend: Since peaking at a national average of $3.93 on April 5, the price of regular gasoline has fallen almost 25 cents per gallon. That’s like a $25 billion tax cut for consumers. In fact, gasoline is cheaper now than it was a year ago at this time. Futures markets are signaling further possible declines. All hail President Obama! Clearly his brilliant energy policy has gotten results, and fast. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-cooling-love-affair-with-driving-our-cars/2012/05/21/gIQA4taYgU_story.html?wpisrc=nl_opinions How Big Oil Benefits From Global Warming Alarmism. I find it somewhat comical when scientists and others who publicly express skepticism about a looming man-made global warming catastrophe are accused of being in the pocket of Big Oil. Here we are referring to oil and gas… master resource trade commodities that the entire world urgently depends upon. Can you imagine they are losing sleep over market competition from non-fossil “renewable alternatives” such as ethanol, windmills and sunbeams? Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2012/05/22/how-big-oil-benefits-from-global-warming-alarmism/ Let’s end polluter welfare. At a time when we have more than $15 trillion in national debt, American taxpayers are set to give away over $110 billion to the oil, gas, and coal industries over the next decade. Clearly, we cannot afford it. The five largest oil companies made over $1 trillion in profits in the last decade, with some paying no federal income taxes for part of that time, so they certainly do not need it. It is time we end this corporate welfare in the form of massive subsidies and tax breaks [PDF] to hugely profitable fossil-fuel corporations. Posted. http://grist.org/politics/lets-end-polluter-welfare/ Take a stand for clean air. The Lung Association couldn't agree more strongly with the recent letter titled "Boehner's bogus bills" (Monitor, May 15) stating that bills being championed by House Speaker John Boehner would not be in the public's best interest. Several bills mentioned in the letter would roll back important protections offered by the Clean Air Act. If enacted, these bills would result in dirtier air and more people being burdened by lung disease. Posted. http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/331098/take-stand-for-clean-air?SESSa7112aeb8b086e58ce106533696e0c9c=google BLOGS An Olympic Respite From Air Pollution. Chinese officials clamped down on air pollution during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, giving researchers an unusual opportunity to assess the effects of polluted air on the risks for cardiovascular disease. Researchers examined 125 healthy young doctors, average age 24, before, during and after the Games, measuring their heart rates and blood pressure and testing their blood for various biomarkers associated with cardiovascular disease and death. Posted. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/21/an-olympic-respite-from-air-pollution/ What lies ahead for international action on global warming for the rest of 2012? (Part 2). When countries meet in Rio+20 they have a choice – they can talk about the actions that should be taken to reduce global warming or they can outline new actions that they’ll personally implement. We are way past the point of needing more countries talking – we need them to act. After all, the U.N. Climate Convention was agreed at the first Rio Summit in 1992, so 20 years after leaders met in Rio we need more than just mere words from world leaders. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jschmidt/what_lies_ahead_for_internatio_1.html National security and climate change. As we continue to fill our atmosphere with greenhouse gases, it isn't the natural world that is under attack. We are also making the world less secure for ourselves and everyone else on the planet. Over four years ago the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) released a report on Climate Change and National Security, An Agenda for Action. Posted. http://blogs.redding.com/dcraig/archives/2012/05/national-securi.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 May 2012 12:39:45 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 23, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 23, 2012. 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 EU appeals to China to join global emissions talks. A European envoy held out a possible compromise in a fight with China over carbon emissions charges on airlines, saying Wednesday that Europe might alter its system if Beijing helps negotiate global regulations. China, India, the United States and Russia oppose the European Union charges that took effect Jan. 1. Beijing has barred its carriers from cooperating and has suspended purchases of European aircraft. Talks on a global system have begun in the International Civil Aviation Organization, a U.N. body, said Matthew Baldwin, director of aviation for the 27-nation EU. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/23/eu-appeals-to-china-to-join-global-emissions/#ixzz1vi0zcU4Y http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20687596/eu-appeals-china-join-global-emissions-talks?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20687596/eu-appeals-china-join-global-emissions-talks?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com FUELS BLM announces its intent to regulate mine methane releases. The Bureau of Land Management has notified the White House of its intention to regulate methane emissions from coal mines on public land. A pre-rule notice to the White House Office of Management and Budget said BLM is considering proposing rules "concerning the capture, sale or destruction of waste mine methane." The agency said its goal is to comply with executive and secretarial orders requiring the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/23/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES INDUSTRY: Low-emission vehicles in use at landfill. Houston-based Waste Management Inc. has introduced eight natural gas-fueled transfer trailers at its El Sobrante Landfill in Corona. Transfer trailers are used to move trash from surrounding communities to the landfill. The trailers are the first of their kind at the landfill, with better fuel efficiency and near-zero emissions, according to a news release. The trucks and trailers are part of the company’s goal of reducing fleet emissions by 15 percent by 2020. Earlier this year the Corona landfill invested in a diesel-and-electric hybrid bulldozer. About 80 percent of Waste Management collection trucks serving Western Riverside County run on compressed or liquid natural gas, the company said. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20120521-industry-low-emission-vehicles-in-use-at-landfill.ece GREEN ENERGY Britain Says It Will Add Reactors for Energy. Britain announced plans Tuesday to finance a new generation of nuclear power plants and renewable energy facilities, in a move that illustrates the differences in energy policies among European Union countries as the bloc grapples with the challenge of reconciling economic and environmental objectives. While Germany intends to phase out nuclear power, and France’s new president, François Hollande, says he hopes to reduce his country’s reliance on it, the British government appears to be moving in the opposite direction with its proposals, which are intended to attract $175 billion in investment to build new reactors and renewable energy plants. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/world/europe/british-energy-plan-would-add-nuclear-plants.html After 2 years, SF's solar projects still on hold. Critics question city's commitment to renewable energy. Despite promising to install solar panels on as many municipal buildings as possible, including City Hall and Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco has not awarded contracts for solar projects in nearly three years. The city has attributed much of the delay to a labor issue that has taken two years to resolve. But some critics argue that the city has allowed bids for such projects to languish, at the expense of both green jobs and climate change initiatives. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/energy/story/sfs-solar-projects-still-hold/ MISCELLANEOUS Group that backed downtown stadium criticizes environmental report. The Natural Resources Defense Council says the document on the proposed football stadium failed to fully analyze traffic-related health risks. An environmental group that has supported a proposed downtown Los Angeles football stadium and helped the developer secure special treatment in the courts issued a sharply worded critique Tuesday of environmental documents prepared for the project. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0523-me-nfl-stadium-20120523,0,3843572.story Stiffer pavement can drive up fuel efficiency – study. Getting better fuel economy isn't just about the type of car and how it's driven; it's also about what the car is driven on, according to a new study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Research produced by MIT's Concrete Sustainability Hub found that using stiffer pavement on roads across the United States could reduce fuel consumption by up to 3 percent. Those savings could amount to using 273 million fewer barrels of crude oil per year, valued at $15.6 billion at today's oil prices, and decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 46.5 million metric tons. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/23/9 BY SUBCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS Has blazing a trail in solar energy cost California too much? California leads the nation in solar power, but the proliferation of home installations has been fueled by electric rate incentives. A battle over how much longer they will be available is being waged. That ray of light you see peeking through all the clouds darkening California's future? That's the sun. More specifically, solar power, in which California is the hands-down national leader. The state's installed solar generating capacity of about 1.2 gigawatts…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20120523,0,1359952.column?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fbusiness+%28L.A.+Times+-+Business%29 Hydroelectric definition as non-renewable is just fine. Re "Exclusion of hydro is foolish" (Dan Walters, May 21): The Renewable Portfolio Standard is not "foolish" because it excludes large hydroelectric facilities. This definition of renewables has been used since passage of the Private Power Producers Act in 1976 where large hydroelectric is defined as "conventional generation." Since then, California's policy has been to encourage a diverse portfolio of renewable energy resources. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/22/4506570/hydroelectric-definition-is-just.html Keep clean energy accounting clean, minus hydropower. Re "Shouldn't hydro count against the carbon reduction mandate?" (Dan Walters, May 21): Excluding large hydroelectric dams from California’s renewable energy goals is good public policy. For example, allowing Hoover Dam, which was built in the 1930s, to count toward the renewable energy goals of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power would prevent hundreds of new jobs from being created and it would dilute the overall effectiveness of a policy that is designed to spur the development of technologies, like solar and wind, that have a real future in our state. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/22/4506096/keep-clean-energy-clean.html Cap-and-trade will encourage move to clean energy. It is discouraging to see our state's landmark law on climate and clean energy, the 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32), under attack again. The investment and innovation unleashed by AB32 is creating jobs and is spurring transformation of our buildings, vehicles, lighting and energy generation systems to run cleaner, smarter and more efficiently. While the law continues to enjoy broad public support, you would not know that if you listened to those who would keep our state addicted to the dirty ways of the past. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/22/ED2N1OKERH.DTL BLOGS Green Roofs in Big Cities Bring Relief From Above. It’s spring — time to plant your roof. Roofs, like coffee, used to be black tar. Now both have gone gourmet: for roofs, the choices are white, green, blue and solar-panel black. All are green in one sense. In different ways, each helps to solve serious environmental problems. One issue is air pollution, which needs no introduction. The second is the urban heat island. Because cities have lots of dark surfaces that absorb heat and relatively little green cover, they tend to be hotter than surrounding areas — the average summer temperature in NewYork City is more than 7 degrees hotter than in the Westchester suburbs. Posted. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/23/in-urban-jungles-green-roofs-bring-relief-from-above/ Trendspotting: Shrinking the Carbon Footprint of the Cloud. Did the Greenpeace “Clean our Cloud” campaign nudge Apple toward a stronger environmental stance? Since April, the environmental organization Greenpeace has had a bull’s-eye on Apple in its campaign to clean up the Internet “Cloud” that stores our music, apps, and photos. It’s accused Apple of using high-carbon “dirty fuels” like coal to power its new data center in North Carolina and has used dramatic pranks and slick videos to get consumers involved. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/05/22/trendspotting-a-greener-apple-vows-to-clean-up-the-icloud/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29 Obama administration rethinking support for hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. This is one political flip-flop scenario that could actually please some constituents. The Obama Administration might reverse its policy of cutting support for hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle development (FCEV) in favor of battery-electric vehicles by putting more resources towards FCEV advancement, Slate reports. U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently spoke at a private event and supported expansion of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, Slate said, citing ex-Shell USA President John Hofmeister. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/obama-administration-rethinking-support-for-hydrogen-fuel-cell-v/ Toyota sells over four million hybrids worldwide. A million here, a million there. Sooner or later, those numbers add up. Toyota announced today it has sold over four million hybrids around the world since introducing the first Prius in Japan all the way back in 1997. Sales were slow, at first, but the pace is now picking up. For example, it was around 14 months ago that Toyota announced it had sold three million hybrids around the world. With the sales success of the newly introduced V, C and Plug-In models and Toyota looking for hybrid production capacity in the U.S…Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/22/toyota-sells-over-four-million-hybrids-worldwide/#continued ====================================================================== 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 May 2012 12:55:09 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 24, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 24, 2012. 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 agrees to cut air pollution at refinery, pay $8-million fine. The Obama administration announced that BP North America Inc. has agreed to pay an $8-million fine and install more than $400 million in equipment to cut air pollution from an oil refinery in Whiting, Ind., as part of a settlement over alleged violations of the Clean Air Act. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department said in a statement that the pollution reduction plan, when fully implemented…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-bp-refinery-clean-air-fine-20120523,0,5179489.story http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20691824/us-reaches-pollution-agreement-at-bp-indiana-plant?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Dusty wind prompts San Joaquin Valley air alert. Gusty winds have prompted air officials in the San Joaquin Valley to warn of a potential health hazard from blowing dust. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District issued the warning on Wednesday for San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings and Tulare counties and parts of Kern County. Winds there may produce areas of localized blowing dust that could trigger asthma attacks and acute bronchitis, aggravate lung disease and increase the risk of respiratory infections. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20690967/dusty-wind-prompts-san-joaquin-valley-air-alert?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com CLIMATE CHANGE Rich-poor divide reopens at UN climate talks. The advances made in U.N. climate talks last year appeared at risk Thursday as a rift between rich and poor countries reopened in negotiations aimed at crafting a global pact to stop the planet from overheating. The session in Bonn was meant to build on a deal struck in Durban, South Africa, in December, but the talks were faltering heading into the penultimate day amid disputes over what, exactly, was agreed on last year. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hr9p5dm_KF0H5t8LWHD9PbFWqfHQ?docId=e7f6ff0aa485418190eaf0beabbb8fe6 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/un-climate-talks-deadlocked-in-bonn-as-divisions-between-rich-and-poor-reopen/2012/05/24/gJQACbEhmU_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/05/24/2848742/rich-poor-divide-reopens-at-un.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/rich-poor-divide-reopens-at-un-climate-talks/article_adb75990-cfc6-5fd0-8f9d-fd7a72e3d382.html Greenhouse Gas Gap Grows as Climate Pledges Fall Short. The gap between the emissions cuts needed to contain global warming and actual reductions by 2020 is at risk of widening as countries including the U.S., Brazil and Mexico fail to meet pledges, Climate Action Tracker said. At best, commitments would lead to emissions 9 gigatons (9 billion tons) higher than the 44 gigatons needed in 2020 to stop the planet warming more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) since industrialization, the project said in Bonn, where two weeks of United Nations talks end tomorrow. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-24/greenhouse-gas-emissions-gap-grows-as-climate-pledges-founder.html Analysis: U.N. Doha climate talks risk sinking "like Titanic". Hopes are fading that climate talks in Qatar late this year will make even modest progress towards getting a new globally binding climate deal signed by 2015, as preliminary negotiations in Germany this week have left much work to be done. The fear is that if work plans and agendas are not set by the end of this year at the latest it could have a knock-on effect, holding up the entire effort to avert potentially devastating global warming. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/24/us-un-climate-idUSBRE84N1AQ20120524 Calif. subpanel blocks linking cap-and-trade plans, funding high-speed rail. A California budget subcommittee yesterday voted to bar California from linking its cap-and-trade market to Quebec's, with the panel's chairman saying he wants more legislative scrutiny of the state's greenhouse gas activities. The same panel also voted to delay until 2014 the use of the cap-and-trade market's auction revenue to build the state's high-speed rail system. Gov. Jerry Brown (D) has proposed using that money to fill funding gaps for the bullet train. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/24/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Report: 150,000 U.S. heat deaths possible by 2099 as climate change continues. Ahead of National Heat Awareness Day, a new report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) on Wednesday says tens of thousands could die from increasing heat as a result of climate change by 2099 in the United States. The New York-based advocacy group projects more than 150,000 Americans will be stressed to the point of death as carbon pollution continues to rise, resulting in a steady increase in dangerously hot summer days with global temperatures rising some four to 11 degrees Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/report-150-000-u-s-heat-deaths-possible-by-2099-as-climate-change-continues The carbon consequences of Northwest coal exports. There are at present six proposals to export coal from Northwest ports. If all of these proposals are built, and if all of them operate at full capacity, the Northwest would be shipping 145 million tons of per coal year. When burned, that coal will produce roughly 262 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. It’s such a staggering figure that it’s a little hard to grasp. So here’s some context…Posted. http://grist.org/coal/the-carbon-consequences-of-northwest-coal-exports/ FUELS E15 attack renews PR feud between fuel industry's 'Hatfields and McCoys' .The biofuels industry promised a swift response yesterday to petroleum producers' attack on E15. Tom Buis, CEO of ethanol trade group Growth Energy, said his industry would not let the debate over E15 to get away from it as the "food versus fuel" argument did a few years ago. The final straw on E15, he said, was the oil industry's promotion of a report showing E15 -- gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol -- damaged car engines. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/24/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Are biomass accounting problems beyond simple solutions? Uncertainty and complexity in how to account for carbon emissions from power plant-based energy have some worried they will hurt chances for the industry and undermine climate goals, interest groups and scientists say. For the next two years, U.S. EPA will mull over how to account for carbon emissions from burning biomass for energy. Its Scientific Advisory Board on Biogenic Carbon Emissions, a panel of 18 experts from universities, the federal government and private research groups, will help it wrestle with this complex issue. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/24/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Calif. desert project gets big assist from governor. California Gov. Jerry Brown yesterday signed legislation clearing major obstacles in the path of a controversial project slated for the desert home of rare animals. The Democrat endorsed A.B. 1073, which allows K Road Power to go directly to the California Energy Commission (CEC) for clearance to build its 663-megawatt Calico Solar plant. The company will no longer need to obtain permits from local agencies. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/24/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS Tell the EPA You Support Carbon Pollution Protections. At public hearings in Chicago and Washington, D.C. yesterday, supporters, public health officials, and scientists are testifying in favor of the Environmental Protection Agency's Carbon Pollution Standard, the first-ever limit on life-threatening carbon pollution from power plants. Thousands of Americans have already spoken out via email in support of these standards to protect our health and clean our air, and now hundreds more have done it in person at these hearings. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-anne-hitt/tell-epa-you-support-carb_b_1542379.html?ref=green BLOGS Protesters ask Edison to decommission San Onofre nuclear plant. Environmental and anti-nuclear activists gathered at Southern California Edison headquarters in Irvine on Wednesday calling for the San Onofre nuclear plant to be decommissioned and for the utility to implement more extensive conservation programs. The plant has been shut down for nearly four months due to safety concerns over excessive wear on tubes in the plant's newly installed steam generators. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/05/san-onofre-edison-protest-irvine.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lanowblog+%28L.A.+Now%29 Parlez-Vous Cap-and-Trade? To some observers, Arnold Schwarzenegger only became an action hero on July 31, 2006. On that day, with Tony Blair by his side, then-Governor Schwarzenegger declared, "California is a great part of the United States, but we happen to be a leading state with a huge economy, and we are, like I say, a nation state." Two weeks ago California moved one step closer to this "nation state" status, as the California Air Resources Board, or CARB…Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/douglas-a-kysar/parlezvous-capandtrade_b_1540799.html California leads nation in climate change preparation. With climate change continuing to create a myriad of new and uncertain weather and water-related issues, no state in America is better at getting ready for our environmental future than California. As reported by the Hermosa Beach Patch, a recent study by the National Resources Defense Council found that California is one of only nine states (including Alaska and Wisconsin) that has created strategies to deal with the host of predicted situations like water shortages and droughts. Posted. http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/2012/05/23/6281/california-leads-nation-climate-change-preparation/ How a Cookstove Becomes a Carbon Credit. To make a cookstove into a carbon credit is one serious abstraction, isn’t it? Take a region where charcoal is the cooking fuel of choice, switch it out for a cleaner burning fuel that doesn’t contribute to global warming quite so dramatically, then, somehow, track the whole thing accurately enough that it’s possible to measure the tons of emissions the switch represents. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/05/cookstove-becomes-carbon-credit/ Americans Save $4.6 Billion Every Year Just By Biking. There are obvious environmental and health benefits to cycling, however the financial rewards of cycling are coming to light with a new report from the League of American Bicyclists, Sierra Club, and National Council of La Raza (NCLR). According to them, cyclists in the U.S. save a whopping $4.6 billion every year on gas and transportation costs. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/05/americans-save-46-billion-every-year-biking/ Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rose 3.6%, Hit New High in 2011. The International Energy Agency has released some preliminary data on global greenhouse gas emissions for 2011 and the news isn't good. IEA says emissions rose 3.2% last year, with a 9.3% increase in China offsetting declines in the US and EU (Reuters). The news comes as Climate Action Tracker reports that current emissions cut pledges are well short of what is needed to keep temperature rise below the critical 2°C threshold. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/climate-change/global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-hit-new-high-2011.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 May 2012 12:35:50 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for May 25, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 25, 2012. This is a service of the California Air Resources Board’s Office of Communications. You may need to sign in or register with individual websites to view some of the following news articles. CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Deadlock Breaks as Slow UN Talks Frustrate U.S., EU. Climate change envoys broke a deadlock at United Nations talks in Germany, with European, U.S. and island nations warning the slow pace of negotiations threatens the chance of reaching a deal at the end of the year. After a week of wrangling about the structure of the agenda that will guide talks leading to a new climate deal in 2015, delegates at the discussions in Bonn today bridged a divide that pitted about 36 nations including China and India against the European Union, U.S. and blocs of island and developing nations. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-25/climate-deadlock-breaks-as-slow-un-talks-frustrate-u-s-eu.html Global CO2 Price of $50 May Avert Climate Catastrophe, MIT Says. A global carbon price of $50 a metric ton may be enough to limit catastrophic climate change, according to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. China, the world’s biggest emitter, is crucial to curbing emissions to limit temperature rises to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), according to a study published in the Energy Economics journal. Emissions reductions elsewhere will be more expensive without having China’s participation in a global climate treaty, according to the research. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-25/global-co2-price-of-50-may-avert-climate-catastrophe-mit-says.html Climate change: Carbon dioxide emissions reach record high. Emissions of heat-trapping carbon dioxide reached an all-time high last year, further reducing the chances that the world could avoid a dangerous rise in global average temperature by 2020, according to the International Energy Agency, the energy analysis group for the world’s most industrialized states. Global emissions of carbon-dioxide, or CO2, from fossil-fuel combustion hit a record high of 31.6 gigatonnes in 2011, according to the IEA’s preliminary estimates, an increase of 1 Gt, or 3.2% from 2010. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-carbon-dioxide-20120524,0,7337834.story Butterfly Species Expands Range With Climate Change. A butterfly species in England is expanding its range, thanks to climate change. In the current issue of Science, researchers at the University of York report that the brown argus butterfly has spread its reach in England northward by about 50 miles over 20 years as a warmer climate allow its caterpillars to feed off wild geranium plants, which are widespread in the countryside. “There was something unusual about the degree to which it was spreading its range,” said an author of the study, Jane K. Hill, a biologist at York. “It was turning up in places that were unexpected.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/science/butterfly-species-expands-range-with-climate-change.html?ref=science http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_20705840/global-warming-winner-once-rare-butterfly-thrives Climate Analytics Global Warming Report: Governments Not Meeting Emissions Reductions Pledges. Greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 could rise to nine billion tonnes above what is needed to limit global warming as some countries look set to miss their emissions cut targets, a report by three climate research groups said on Wednesday. Countries have agreed that deep emissions cuts are needed to limit an increase in global average temperature to less than 2 degrees Celsius this century above pre-industrial levels… Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/24/climate-change-report-global-warming_n_1541839.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003 CARB Targets “Short-lived” Greenhouse Gases. Sacramento - California's top air quality regulator is trying to reduce so-called "short-lived" greenhouse gas emissions.T he California Air Resources Board claims methane, black carbon soot, and hydrofluoro carbons are more harmful to the environment than carbon dioxide. Unlike carbon dioxide, which stays in the atmosphere for about one hundred years, these short lived gases have a relatively short atmospheric lifetime, ranging from a few days to a few decades. Posted. http://www.kcoy.com/story/18621605/carb-targets-short-lived-greenhouse-gases State ponders how to spend cap-and-trade billions. As California readies its first-in-the-nation economywide cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases, all eyes are on the billions of dollars in revenue that the auctions are expected to generate. While the money won't start coming in until at least November, lawmakers, industry and environmental groups are already jockeying for a piece of the pie. The state estimates the quarterly auction of emissions allowances will bring in $1 billion through 2013, with billions more through 2020 as prices and the size of the market increase. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/25/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Spectrum of interest groups comment on EPA carbon proposal. More than 200 speakers representing environmentalists, ethnic organizations, religious groups, public health advocates, electric utilities, coal mining companies and ordinary citizens met in Washington, D.C., and Chicago yesterday to offer comments and suggestions on U.S. EPA's first-ever proposal to limit carbon dioxide emissions from newly built power plants. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/25/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Obama urges Congress to extend clean-energy tax credits. The president says continuing the production tax credit and an investment tax credit would save 37,000 jobs that otherwise would be at risk. From a wind-power factory in this battleground state, President Obama urged Congress to extend tax credits he said would save jobs in the field of clean-energy production. Obama said continuing the production tax credit would save 37,000 jobs that would otherwise be at risk, an estimate his aides based on reports from industry officials. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-obama-tax-credits-20120525,0,5703974.story California PUC ruling boosts solar industry. The solar industry scored a major win Thursday when California regulators more than doubled the number of homeowners and businesses who will get full financial credit for the surplus electricity that their rooftop panels produce. The California Public Utilities Commission unanimously approved changes to a policy known as "net energy metering," which allows solar system owners to cut their utility bills by receiving credit for any excess electricity they send to the state's power grid. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/25/BUAF1ON5RC.DTL http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120525/BUSINESS06/205250312/Rooftop-solar-given-boost?odyssey=nav%7Chead http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/05/25/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY BLM nearing approval of Calif. project that would be world's largest. The Bureau of Land Management is advancing what could become the world's largest solar power project in a region of the Southern California desert where environmental groups and American Indian tribes have filed multiple federal lawsuits to stop already approved, large-scale renewables projects. BLM announced today in a Federal Register notice that it has completed a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the McCoy Solar Energy Project, which would sit on 7,700 acres of public land in the Colorado Desert, about 13 miles northwest of Blythe, Calif. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/05/25/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS California sport fish survey: mercury, PCBs higher. A sweeping state survey of contaminants in sport fish that were hooked, netted or speared in 68 spots on the California coast underscores a lesson for seafood lovers: Choose well your next fillet. In general, mercury levels in the fish - caught during 2009 and 2010 - were of "high concern," particularly along the North and Central coasts, said a report released Thursday by the State Water Resources Control Board. But while San Francisco Bay and other urban spots showed higher mercury pollution, the key driver of the contamination wasn't location but type of fish. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/25/MNG81ON96B.DTL&tsp=1 OPINIONS Another View: My agenda for a new term is to move Sacramento forward. Kevin Johnson, the mayor of Sacramento, is responding to the Monday editorial "Mayor Johnson needs to offer a clear agenda," which stated, "If he wants the June 5 election to be more than a popularity contest – if he wants to claim a mandate for action – he needs to tell voters specifically what his to-do list is. A campaign is about more than just winning; it's about laying the groundwork for governing." Earlier this week, I visited a cavernous warehouse at McClellan Park and met with the owners of a small business that has developed a new generation of energy-efficient air conditioners. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/24/4512607/my-agenda-for-a-new-term-is-to.html A green future starts at home for Californians. To its great credit, the California Energy Commission has enlisted the support of major stakeholders who are often at odds - builders, utilities, environmental groups - for its proposed building efficiency standards. Now, if the commission could only persuade our teenagers to take shorter showers, unplug their chargers and turn off the lights when they leave the house ... then this state would truly redefine the cutting edge of resource conservation. On May 31, the commission is expected to approve the nation's most stringent energy efficiency standards for residential and commercial buildings. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/24/EDSR1OMF8R.DTL San Diego embracing renewable energy. San Diego is emerging as one of the nation’s leading clean-tech hubs by embracing renewable energy and clean vehicles as drivers of economic growth. At the Union of Concerned Scientists, where we have a plan to cut America’s projected oil use in half in 20 years, we are looking to San Diego as a model for what communities across the country can do to employ advanced technologies that clean our air, reduce global warming emissions and drive economic growth. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/may/24/embracing-renewable-energy/ BLOGS Getting Serious About the “Other” Greenhouse Gases. Are we too focused on CO2? While carbon dioxide reductions are at the heart of efforts in California to curb greenhouse gas emissions, state air regulators were reminded in a hearing on Thursday not to overlook a number of other “short-lived” greenhouse pollutants in meeting targets outlined under AB 32, the state’s Global Warming Solution’s Act. A panel of noted scientists was on hand, several from California universities and research labs, to discuss the effects of black carbon, methane and hydrofluourocarbons on regional and global climate. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/05/25/getting-serious-about-the-other-greenhouse-gases/ NASCAR working with EPA to conserve energy while burning lots of fuel. Think of it as a "do as we say, not as we do" scenario. Stock-car racing organization NASCAR and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are going to work together to help the environment by using NASCAR's marketing punch to push more environmentally sustainable behavior. Not addressed? Running a bunch of cars at full speed around an oval for a few hundred miles. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/nascar-working-with-epa-to-conserve-energy-while-burning-lots-of/ Driving an EV is like paying a buck a gallon, eternally. For those nostalgic for mullets, the Cosby Show and Oakland A's dominance, the Nissan Leaf may be for you. Those late 1980s hallmarks harken back to the days of $1-a-gallon gas, and that's what you're in for – forever – if you drive a battery electric vehicle, says Green Car Reports, citing a study from Natural Resources Defense Council staff member Max Baumhefner. Baumhefner found that, while oil and gas prices fluctuate because of various supply shocks and political shenanigans, electricity prices stay relatively constant, meaning that the cost of juicing up an EV isn't going to change much. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/driving-an-ev-is-like-paying-a-buck-a-gallon-eternally/ Alt-fuel cars unsustainable without government assistance. According to the 2012 U.S. Automotive Industry Survey and Confidence Index by Booz & Co., alternative vehicle powertrains may take up as much as 10 percent of the total market by 2020, but only if the federal government continues to support development. Without a helping hand from Uncle Sam, only 30 percent of the researchers, executives and consumers who participated in the survey believe alternative-fuel machines will be able to carve out that small slice of the market. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/alt-fuel-cars-unsustainable-without-government-assistance/ Who's ready now? Nissan deploys first of 400 planned DC fast chargers in Europe. Nissan has installed the first of 400 quick-charging electric-vehicle chargers in Europe that it's planning to deploy during the next few years, the Detroit News reports. The Japanese automaker, which along with alliance partner Renault is said to be investing more than $5 billion (U.S.) in electric-vehicle and infrastructure development, will install 40 quick chargers each in France and the Netherlands. Once the Dutch chargers are deployed, all of the country's drivers will be within 20 miles of a Nissan quick charger. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/25/nissan-deploys-first-400-planned-dc-fast-chargers/ The lure of the plug: two-thirds of Chevy Volt buyers trade in non-GM vehicle. Whaddya think, that Volt buyers were trading in a Cadillac for their new plug-ins? Nope. Most buyers of Chevrolet Volt extended-range plug-in vehicles are coming in from outside of the General Motors family, the automaker says. About two-thirds of Volt buyers are trading in non-GM cars, and more than 90 percent of recently surveyed Volt drivers said they'd buy another one. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/05/24/chevy-volt-buyers-trade-in-non-gm-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, 29 May 2012 11:58:51 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 29, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 29, 2012. 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 Sequoia National Park: Worst air pollution. On a clear day, the view from Beetle Rock in Sequoia National Park extends west for 105 miles across the patchwork of crops in California’s agricultural heartland to the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean beyond. The problem is there are few clear days, even at 6,200 feet. The Sierra Nevada forest that is home to the biggest and among the oldest living things on earth — the giant Sequoia redwoods — also suffers a dubious distinction. It has the worst air pollution of any national park in the country. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/29/MNC61OOM6M.DTL http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/29/sequoia-smog-damaging-pines-redwood-seedlings/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/sequoia-national-park-is-home-to-giant-redwoods-_-and-the-worst-air-quality-in-us-park-system/2012/05/29/gJQAG90DyU_story.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/28/smog-a-daunting-hazard-at-sequoia-national-park/ http://www.modbee.com/2012/05/28/2218266/sequoia-smog-damaging-pines-redwood.html http://www.mercurynews.com/green-living/ci_20730064/sequoia-smog-damaging-pines-redwood-seedlings?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com PERC leaves toxic legacy state must pay for. A dangerous chemical used in dry cleaning is being phased out in California, but state regulators say we may still have to live with a toxic legacy for years to come. In this Assignment 7 report we take a closer look at the problem leaching into soil and drinking water around the state. At Crystal Cleaning Center in San Mateo, owner Lynnette Waterson uses a chemical called perchloroethylene, or PERC, to clean the toughest stains. "It is the favorite solvent because of how well it cleans," said Watterson. Posted. http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/assignment_7&id=8679666 CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Deadlock Breaks as Slow UN Talks Frustrate U.S., EU. Climate change envoys broke a deadlock at United Nations talks in Germany, with European, U.S. and island nations warning the slow pace of negotiations threatens the chance of reaching a deal at the end of the year. After a week of wrangling about the structure of the agenda that will guide talks leading to a new climate deal in 2015, delegates at the discussions in Bonn today bridged a divide that pitted about 36 nations including China and India against the European Union, U.S. and blocs of island and developing nations. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-05-25/climate-deadlock-breaks-as-slow-un-talks-frustrate-u-dot-s-dot-eu Effort tracks carbon footprints. Knowing how much energy you use and how much methane and exhaust you produce is the first step to living greener. That's the theory behind Green Communities, a public-private effort to nudge cities and counties to act friendlier toward Mother Nature. College interns dispatched by the Modesto-based Great Valley Center have inventoried the carbon footprints of Stanislaus County and its cities and are reaching out to other agencies. Analyses in free reports serve as a starting point for figuring out how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/05/28/2218985/effort-tracks-carbon-footprints.html MIT report finds China’s actions on climate change crucial; argues for global economy-wide greenhouse gas tax. A new report from the MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change shows the importance of all major nations taking part in global efforts to reduce emissions—and in particular, finds China’s role to be crucial. The report—titled “The Role of China in Mitigating Climate Change” and published in the journal Energy Economics, compares the impact of a stringent emissions reduction policy with and without China’s participation. Specifically, the study finds that with China’s help the global community may be—under the most optimistic scenario—able to limit warming to 2 °C, relative to pre-industrial levels. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/05/mitchina-20120529.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Study finds diesel oxidation catalyst eliminates mutagenicity of diesel exhaust in gas phase. A team of researchers in Germany has found that the mutagenicity of diesel engine exhaust (DEE) is eliminated in the gas phase by a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), but only slightly reduced in the particle phase. In a study published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, they investigated the influence of different diesel fuels and the exhaust after-treatment with a DOC on the genotoxicity of DEE using the bacterial reverse mutation assay (Ames test) and a detailed characterization of the emitted particles. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/05/westphal-20120527.html VEHICLES Some after-market motorcycle parts don’t meet safety or environmental standards, experts say. The first dollar Rick Doyle ever earned as a $3 million-a-year dealer of after-market motorcycle parts is tacked to the wall of a dusty barn in rural Ohio, where two custom-built bikes have been pushed to the corner, forgotten. There is nothing here now except a 10-year-old tractor. The biker calendar above the desk still reads February 2006. That’s about when Doyle made an unsettling discovery about an industry that for decades catered to motorcyclists who pride themselves on customizing bikes with unique features and high-powered parts. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/some-after-market-motorcycle-parts-dont-meet-safety-or-environmental-standards-experts-say/2012/05/26/gJQAgQezsU_story.html GREEN ENERGY ENERGY: The latest in green construction: Recycled Styrofoam walls. Here's the latest in the all green home: 85 percent recycled Styrofoam walls. California's building codes are among the toughest in the nation when it comes to energy efficiency, and they will only get tougher over the next eight years. New houses in the future may be able to get ahead of the game using sturdy insulation, and homebuilders looking to take their greenness up a notch could consider Perform Wall, an insulating panel made mostly from old Styrofoam. "We liked Perform Wall because it's an environmentally responsible product," said Mary Krebill, who is building her dream house in Elfin Forest, near Escondido. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/business/energy/energy-the-latest-in-green-construction-recycled-styrofoam-walls/article_d5b75d45-a3fa-5aad-ad43-aa84ccdbd07e.html The truth about renewable energy: Inexpensive, reliable, and inexhaustible. We’ve all heard the common myths about renewable energy: It’s expensive; it can’t be relied upon; there just isn’t enough of it to meet our energy needs. But as technological advances and plummeting costs drive explosive growth — U.S. installed wind capacity has grown sevenfold to nearly 47 gigawatts in the last seven years — real-world experience is shattering long-held assumptions every day. Even ardent supporters of renewables may be surprised by what we’re learning. Posted. http://grist.org/renewable-energy/the-truth-about-renewable-energy-inexpensive-reliable-and-inexhaustible/ OPINION Regulated Class in California seeks reparations from CARB. California Air Resources Board (CARB) met on Thursday, May 24. On the agenda was discussion toward deciding where and how to spend the billions raised from cap-and-trade carbon trading in the state. At the public meeting was Betty Plowman, who attended the meeting to present a letter on behalf of the industries that CARB calls polluters. The letter describes CARB’s threats to these industries, induced by the Board’s regulations that are, in turn, based on junk science. The letter’s signatories indicate intention to seek reparations for the regulated class under CARB’s repression in California. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/regulated-class-california-seeks-reparations-from-carb A good start on the way to a coherent energy policy. The following editorial appeared in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Friday, May 25: There's been a sighting this spring of that rarest of birds in Washington: a national energy bill. The bill by Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., has fluttered around a bit, will probably appear at a Senate committee hearing and then is expected to go the way of all good energy bills: into extinction. Which is too bad. At the very least, the bill deserves better than to go quietly into that good night. It deserves a fuller national discussion and eventual passage in some form. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/05/29/2853570/a-good-start-on-the-way-to-a-coherent.html#storylink=misearch Dan Morain: Can market for clean-air credits resist profiteers? A promise of big money has a way of quieting nagging questions. So it is with California's cap and trade program. The Air Resources Board is pressing ahead with the creation of a market to begin reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Answering doubters, the ARB estimates the state will receive $1 billion a year in revenue. In this cash-strapped state, many interests have their hands out. Environmentalists see ways to fund their projects, legislators hope to use it to pay for their favored programs, and Gov. Jerry Brown envisions using the money to help to build high-speed rail. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/27/4517606/can-market-for-clean-air-credits.html BLOGS How Americans use energy, in three simple charts. Donald Marron passes along a very handy chart from the Congressional Budget Office looking at what sources of energy the United States relies on — and for what purpose…Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/how-americans-use-energy-in-three-simple-charts/2012/05/27/gJQAMYlQuU_blog.html Getting Serious About the “Other” Greenhouse Gases. While carbon dioxide reductions are at the heart of efforts in California to curb greenhouse gas emissions, state air regulators were reminded in a hearing on Thursday not to overlook a number of other “short-lived” greenhouse pollutants in meeting targets outlined under AB 32, the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act. A panel of noted scientists was on hand, several from California universities and research labs, to discuss the effects of black carbon, methane and hydrofluourocarbons on regional and global climate. Short-lived pollutants such as these are estimated to comprise more than a third of overall global climate warming emissions. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/05/25/getting-serious-about-the-other-greenhouse-gases/ Germany Has Almost As Much Installed Solar Power Generation as The Rest of the World. Following Fukushima there was massive pressure on the German government to abandon nuclear power. They closed eight plants immediately andare shutting down the remaining nine by 2022. The drive to replace nuclear with renewables intensified.And this has happened. Norbert Allnoch, director of the Institute of the Renewable Energy Industry (IWR) in Muenster, said the 22 gigawatts of solar power per hour fed into the national grid on Saturday met nearly 50 percent of the nation's midday electricity needs. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/germany-has-almost-much-installed-solar-power-gene/ ====================================================================== 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, 31 May 2012 10:59:48 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for May 31, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for May 31, 2012. 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 Minority children affected by disparities in asthma health care. Asthma affects nearly 26 million Americans, including 7 million children. While advancements in treatment and interventions have improved health outcomes for many suffering from this respiratory disease, that progress has not yet reached everyone. Poor and minority children bear the greatest burden of the disease, suffering from asthma at higher rates, experiencing greater exposure to environmental triggers and receiving less access to quality care. On Thursday, the Obama administration launches a new approach to closing that gap: the Coordinated Federal Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Asthma Disparities. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/minority-children-affected-by-disparities-in-asthma-health-care/2012/05/31/gJQADHQN4U_blog.html CLIMATE CHANGE Warming gas levels hit 'troubling milestone'. The world's air has reached what scientists call a troubling new milestone for carbon dioxide, the main global warming pollutant. Monitoring stations across the Arctic this spring are measuring more than 400 parts per million of the heat-trapping gas in the atmosphere. The number isn't quite a surprise, because it's been rising at an accelerating pace. Years ago, it passed the 350 ppm mark that many scientists say is the highest safe level for carbon dioxide. It now stands globally at 395. So far, only the Arctic has reached that 400 level, but the rest of the world will follow soon. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20748827/warming-gas-levels-hit-troubling-milestone?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/when-hitting-400-is-not-good-levels-of-key-greenhouse-gas-pass-milestone-trouble-scientists/2012/05/31/gJQAVvwP3U_story.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20748018/face-chewing-victim-face-surgery-long-recovery?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/05/30/2855896/warming-gas-levels-hit-troubling.html#storylink=misearch Study accuses corporations of hypocrisy on climate change. Some major U.S. corporations that support climate science in their public relations materials actively work to derail regulations and laws addressing global warming through lobbying, campaign donations and support of various advocacy groups, according to a new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists, an environmental and scientific integrity group. The multinational oil giant, ConocoPhillips, for instance, said on its website in 2011 that it “recognizes” that human activity is leading to climate change, the view supported by the overwhelming majority of scientific research. Yet in 2009, ConocoPhillips argued against the Environmental Protection Agency’s determination that heat-trapping greenhouse gases were pollutants endangering public welfare. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-coproate-climate-control-20120530,0,2592843.story G8 Takes On Short-Lived Climate Pollutants. The unfolding drama surrounding the fate of the troubled eurozone and cratering Greek economy was surely higher on their agenda, but the world leaders who gathered at Camp David for the G8 summit earlier this month also managed to open a new front in the fight against climate change. As noted a few days after the summit, first by The Telegraph’s Geoffrey Lean and later by James Murray of BusinessGreen, buried in the final communiqué was an announcement that the G8 had agreed to join the U.S.-led Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-lived Climate Pollutants (CCAC). Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/justingerdes/2012/05/30/g8-takes-on-short-lived-climate-pollutants/ FUELS California Senate rejects 'fracking' legislation. The California Senate on Wednesday rejected a bill that would have required energy firms to notify property owners before using hydraulic fracturing to tap oil deposits on or near their land. The legislation, SB 1054, was pushed by state Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) as the first step toward collecting information and increasing awareness about a controversial extraction technique that state regulators are only now beginning to tackle. Currently, California does not require oil companies to disclose where they use the procedure or what chemicals they inject into the ground. Other states have imposed moratoriums and drawn up rules after toxic chemicals were discovered in drinking water near "fracking" operations. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/05/california-senate-rejects-fracking-legislation.html International Energy Agency: ‘Safe’ fracking cheap, but would destroy a livable climate. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has a new report out, “Golden Rules for a Golden Age of Gas” [PDF]. Unfortunately, the IEA buried the lede — the Golden Age of Gas scenario destroys a livable climate — so the coverage of the report was off target. For instance, The New York Times opines, “Energy Agency Finds Safe Gas Drilling is Cheap.” And the Council on Foreign Relations headline is similar: “Safe Fracking Looks Cheap.” That’s true only if a ruined climate, widespread Dust Bowlification, an acidified ocean, and rapidly rising sea levels constitute your idea of “safe.” Posted. http://grist.org/natural-gas/international-energy-agency-safe-fracking-cheap-but-would-destroy-a-livable-climate/ VEHICLES China released new incentives to promote electric vehicles. According to the Chinese Ministry of Finance, China will allocate an annual fund from RMB 100 million (EUR 12.6 million) to RMB 200 million (EUR 25.2 million) to promote alternative energy vehicles starting in 2012. The government encourages government departments, companies, service agencies such as logistics operators and private car-rental companies to use alternative energy vehicles in China’s 25 new energy vehicle pilot cities. In the public transportation sector, China will engage in promoting buses with hybrid engines in middle and large cities. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4682 GREEN ENERGY UN study foresees job gains with greener policies. Some 15 million to 60 million jobs could be created worldwide over the next two decades if nations took better care of the planet, according to a U.N. study released Thursday ahead of an international summit on sustainable development. The study acknowledges that some jobs would inevitably be lost by switching to a "greener" economy as older technologies give way to the new. But the heads of the U.N.'s International Labor Organization and the U.N. Environment Program emphasized that net gains of 0.5 percent to 2 percent in total global employment are possible, mainly through more renewable and efficient energy use. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/05/31/2856160/un-study-foresees-job-gains-with.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20749722/un-study-foresees-job-gains-greener-policies?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com California poised to require 'solar ready roofs' on new homes and buildings. State regulators with the California Energy Commission are expected to approve stringent energy efficiency standards for new residential and commercial buildings Thursday. The new standards, which would take effect Jan. 1, 2014, include a host of common-sense standards designed to save energy, from insulating hot-water pipes to making sure that air conditioner installations are inspected for sufficient air flow. But the proposed standards also require new homes and commercial buildings to have "solar ready roofs" -- a mandatory requirement that will be a boon for the state's growing rooftop solar industry. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20744057/california-poised-require-solar-ready-roofs-new-homes?source=rss OPINION EDITORIAL: A climate of hypocrisy. There’s nothing so profitable as being among the concerned climate experts who preach austerity. These enlightened few hector ordinary Americans into sacrificing their functional light bulbs, toilets and sport utility vehicles so the planet can be preserved. According to them, failure to give up these luxuries will overheat the globe and provoke devastating floods and hurricanes. The peddlers of such apocalyptic tales rarely practice austerity themselves. Earlier this month, Rep. Darrell E. Issa, California Republican, asked Michael J. Ahearn, chairman of the board for First Solar Inc., to come and testify before a congressional oversight panel about his solar-panel business. Sun power is hailed by the left as the solution to the world’s energy needs. That’s why the Obama administration showered First Solar with $1.5 billion in taxpayer-backed gifts, recognizing the firm’s unquestioned eco-correctness. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/may/30/a-climate-of-hypocrisy/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS The Many Moving Pieces of California’s Cap and Trade Program. The calendar says May 2012, so what does that mean for California’s attempts to implement a first-in-the-nation, economy-wide Cap and Trade Program? Actually quite a bit. There are many moving parts in this complex regulatory puzzle being assembled by the California Air Resources Board (Board or CARB). CARB has control over many of these moving parts, but there are a few that they do not. How these all come together over the next six to eight months (three if you count the practice auction in August), will determine how successful the program will be moving forward. Posted. http://cennatek.ca/news/the-many-moving-pieces-of-californias-cap-and-trade-program/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-many-moving-pieces-of-californias-cap-and-trade-program BLOGS A.E.P. Backs Down on Coal Plant Retrofit. American Electric Power conceded defeat on Wednesday, at least temporarily, in its push to save Big Sandy, its 49-year-old coal-burning plant in eastern Kentucky, surprising state officials there by withdrawing its $1 billion plan to retrofit the power plant so that it can meet tough new federal environmental regulations. A.E.P., as the Ohio-based company is known, did not formally declare that it was retiring Big Sandy. But it will now need to at least temporarily shut it down because it will not have enough time to install the required pollution controls before the first deadline it faces in 2015, a company official acknowledged. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/aep-backs-down-on-coal-plant-retrofit/ Air Pollution Fuels Hospital Visits in Hong Kong. Deteriorating air quality in Hong Kong is sending more people to hospital, says a new survey. According to a pair of researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who examined day-to-day pollution levels and hospital visits over a six-year period, a rise in airborne pollutants in Hong Kong was associated with a rise in emergency hospital visits. Published in Environmental Health Perspectives, the study, led by professor Yu Tak Sun Ignatius and Ph.D candidate Hong Qiu, comes as residents report increasing levels of frustration with the city’s pollution. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/05/31/air-pollution-fuels-hospital-visits-in-hong-kong/?KEYWORDS=air+pollution In Italy, Electric Buses Wirelessly Pick Up Their Power. Battery-powered buses that do not require frequent stops at charging depots might seem a maybe-someday proposition. But Conductix-Wampfler, a wireless-charging engineering company based in Weil am Rhein, Germany, claims the bus of the future is fully operational on the streets of Turin and Genoa, Italy, and has been for 10 years. The Conductix-Wampfler IPT Charge system, which powers about 30 buses in the northern Italian cities, relies on primary coil charging units in the road surface at bus stops, terminals and hubs. The secondary coil, which receives the charge, is in the bus chassis. When a bus stops at a charging station, the coils are positioned within 40 millimeters, or roughly 1½ inches, of each other. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/in-italy-electric-buses-wirelessly-pick-up-their-power/ Who’s afraid of a low carbon price? A big point of discussion at the Africa Carbon Forum was around what today’s very low carbon prices mean for market participants. Since 2008, the price of European Union Allowances has dropped precipitously, from a high of €28 to less than €8 today. Critics claim the collapse in prices means the market has failed, that it is not delivering emission reductions, and that it should therefore be scrapped. Those critics are wrong, but the reasons differ depending on which carbon market you wish to examine. This post will explore the issues facing the compliance market (in the voluntary carbon market, prices have held up better – read more here). Posted. http://cdkn.org/2012/05/whos-afraid-of-a-low-carbon-price/ Seagrasses Can Store as Much Carbon as Forests. Researchers at The University of Western Australia. have contributed to the first global analysis of carbon stored in seagrasses which shows they can hold as much carbon as the world's temperate and tropical forests. The study 'Seagrass Ecosystems as a Globally Significant Carbon Stock,' published in the journal Nature Geoscience provides further evidence of the important role the world's declining seagrass meadows have to play in mitigating climate change. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/seagrasses-can-store-much-carbon-forests/ ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 14:00:06 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 1, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 1, 2012 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 Cap-and-trade getting to nuts and bolts, but Sacramento still seeing climate skeptics, AB 32 opponents. A discussion about how state lawmakers should dole out cap-and-trade auction proceeds under AB 32, the state's landmark greenhouse gas reduction law, is proceeding in Sacramento. What's interesting is that it's doing so with considerable and continuing opposition to the premise of capping or, for that matter, trading greenhouse gas emissions in the first place. The bill is AB 1532. By its language at the moment, it provides that proceeds of an auction "shall be used to facilitate the achievement of feasible and cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in this state" Posted. http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/2012/05/30/6378/cap-and-trade-getting-nuts-and-bolts-sacramento-st/ UN report predicts increase in world's displaced. The number of people fleeing their homes and becoming refugees or displaced in their own countries will increase in the next 10 years as a result of a host of intertwined causes ranging from conflict and climate change to population growth and food shortages, according to a report Thursday by the U.N. refugee agency. "The State of the World's Refugees," covering the period 2006-2011, said a key change and dominant challenge is the increasing number of internally displaced people - some 26 million globally compared to around 15-16 million refugees who have crossed borders to another country and a further one million asylum seekers. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/05/31/2223259/un-report-predicts-increase-in.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/05/31/2857142/un-report-predicts-increase-in.html#storylink=misearch China stresses economic needs ahead of UN summit. Chinese officials promised Friday to play a positive role in this month's U.N. environment summit but stressed the needs of their country's poor, apparently trying to dampen hopes for major concessions. The comments added to signs that the June 20-22 meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, might face political obstacles to any significant agreements. President Barack Obama, in the midst of a re-election campaign, and European leaders have withdrawn from the meeting. "China still is a developing country," said Du Ying, a deputy chairman of China's planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/31/china-stresses-economic-needs-ahead-of-un-summit/#ixzz1wZLYFMNO Let's turn carbon emissions into something useful. The average coal-fired power plant spews out more than a million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. Wouldn't it be great if that greenhouse gas could be put to good use? On this month's edition of The Digital Future, Strategic News Service Publisher Mark Anderson tells KPLU's Dave Meyer that all that carbon could be used to make fuel, chemicals and other products. Last week, Mark held his Future in Review (FiRe) technology conference in Laguna Beach, California. The annual event is a brainstorming session for some of the brightest minds on the planet. Posted. http://kplu.org/post/lets-turn-carbon-emissions-something-useful DIESEL EMISSIONS Cummins Thrives on New Air Regulations. Cummins Inc. is a rarity among top U.S. manufacturers: the maker of engines for trucks, buses and off-road machinery is thriving in good measure because of tough, new government regulations around the world. In the last few years, the $18 billion-a-year-in-sales company has become the go-to partner for overseas vehicle manufacturers in Asia and Latin America looking to avoid years of costly engineering work to bring their own engines into compliance with the new standards. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303624004577337973701572022.html?KEYWORDS=diesel+emissions FUELS Groups square off over plans to reopen coal plant. Four environmental groups that are contesting a permit to restart the Healy Clean Coal Plant are getting heat from supporters who say the project means jobs and more affordable energy. More than 100 people showed up Wednesday at the headquarters of the Northern Alaska Environmental Center in Fairbanks to show their support for restarting the plant has been idled since 2000. They carried signs reading "Support Working People" and "No to Environment Wackos," according to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (http://is.gd/MDYFUV ). Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/31/groups-square-off-over-plans-to-reopen-coal/#ixzz1wZLIEzNU VEHICLES GM CEO Dan Akerson: 'We're dancing as fast as we can.' Dan Akerson's first job in the auto industry is his current one, CEO of General Motors (GM). A telecom executive who had run Nextel, XO Communications, and General Instrument, he had joined Carlyle Group, the giant private equity firm based in Washington, D.C. His career took an unexpected turn when the federal government bailed out GM in 2009 and asked him to join the board -- then swerved again in 2010 when CEO Ed Whitacre decided on short notice to step down. Akerson, now 63, got the job. He talked recently with Fortune's Geoff Colvin about how he's driven 3,000 miles on one gallon of gas in his Chevy Volt, making GM more customer-centric, career lessons, and much else. Posted. http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/05/31/leadership-gm-akerson/ Consumer Reports: Special 'eco' car models don't pay. The special “eco” versions of small cars such as the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus and Honda Civic don’t improve fuel economy enough to be worth the extra money, according to an analysis by Consumer Reports. The magazine said it could take as long as 38 years for the extra cost to be worthwhile, depending on the vehicle. The cars, which come equipped with special low rolling resistance tires and aerodynamic features, generally cost $500 to $800 more than fuel-efficient siblings that don’t carry the “eco” label. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-green-cars-20120531,0,5326867.story Japanese automakers' U.S. sales jump as they recover from tsunami. Monthly U.S. sales from Toyota shot up 87% year-over-year as the company rebounded from the earthquake and tsunami that hammered Japanese factories and slowed production last year. U.S. sales by Toyota in May totaled 202,973 units in May. This was in part because of last year's slowdown in production because of the disasters that hit Japan. “Last year, the earthquakes hit in March, and May is when everything started to tank,” said Jessica Caldwell, an analyst at Edmunds, an automotive information company in Santa Monica. Toyota sold 21,477 Prius hybrids last month, compared to 6,924 in May 2011. Its Camry sales increased 94% to 39,571. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-toyota-nissan-auto-sales-20120530,0,5674056.story U.S. Auto Makers Post Solid May Sales Gains. Auto makers on Friday reported healthy gains in new car and truck sales for May and shrugged off worries about the U.S. economy, despite further signs suggesting the recovery is slowing. General Motors Co. GM -1.64% and Ford Motor Co. F -4.36% each reported sales rose by more than 10%, while Chrysler Group LLC saw a 30% jump. Toyota Motor Corp., TM -2.63% whose sales plunged a year ago after the earthquake that devastated Japan, reported an 87% increase in its sales of new cars and light trucks. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303552104577440072804683342.html?KEYWORDS=vehicles http://www.nctimes.com/business/auto-sales-remain-bright-spot-in-darkening-economy/article_4bdddeaa-f587-580a-a455-b5c642bfe4f2.html Nissan Poised to Sell Green-Vehicle Credits Tesla Started. A new front is opening in the emerging market for electric vehicles -- not for selling cars, but for credits required to meet clean-air rules. Starting this year, California is requiring the biggest automakers to sell increasing numbers of “zero-emission vehicles,” or ZEVs, such as pure-electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen-powered autos. Companies that fail to meet their quotas have the option of buying ZEV credits from rivals that exceed their targets. Nissan Motor Co. (7201) says it may sell credits earned in the past two years from its battery-powered Leaf, the best-selling all-electric car in the U.S. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-05-29/nissan-poised-to-sell-green-vehicle-credits-tesla-started Zipcar names Gilligan as a board member. Zipcar Inc. has named American Express Vice Chairman Ed Gilligan as a board member, the car sharing company said Friday. Gilligan replaced Jill Preotle, who decided not to stand for re-election at Zipcar's annual shareholders meeting on Thursday. Preotle had served on the Cambridge, Mass., company's board since December 2002. "Ed's expertise in global expansion, member-based product and service offerings and digital commerce will benefit us greatly as we look to continue to expand our international footprint and further innovate Zipcar service offerings for our members," Zipcar Chairman and CEO Scott Griffith said in a statement. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/01/zipcar-names-gilligan-as-a-board-member/#ixzz1wZMTha7R Hydrogen-Powered Mercedes-Benz F-CELL Goes Hollywood. With strict vehicle-emissions standards and the nation's first cap-and-trade program to reduce pollution, California has been at the forefront of the United States' renewable-energy push during the past decade. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Mercedes-Benz would select The Golden State for an early rollout of its new hydrogen-powered B-Class F-CELL model. More than three dozen Mercedes-Benz F-CELL electric vehicles are currently being leased to early adopters in Southern California, and availability will open up in Northern California this month. Among the first to take home the new eco-friendly Mercedes-Benz was actress Diane Kruger of the films "Inglourious Basterds" and "National Treasure." Posted. http://readme.readmedia.com/Hydrogen-Powered-Mercedes-Benz-F-CELL-Goes-Hollywood/4103556 GREEN ENERGY California passes tougher energy code for new construction. The California Energy Commission on Thursday approved what it called nation-leading efficiency standards for new homes and commercial buildings. Approved by a 4-0 vote, the upgraded standards include improved windows, insulation, lighting, air-conditioning systems and other features to reduce energy consumption in California homes and businesses by a projected 25 percent or more, compared with previous standards approved in 2008. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/01/4529992/california-passes-tougher-energy.html http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-california-energy-efficiency-20120601,0,3168852.story Romney Makes Surprise Visit to Solyndra. Mitt Romney denounced Solyndra as a symbol of “gross waste” and a “serious conflict of interest,” in a secretively planned news conference across the street from the failed solar panel-maker. “Free enterprise to the president means taking money from the taxpayers and giving it freely to his friends,” Mr. Romney said Thursday. “It’s heads and his cronies win, and tails and the taxpayers lose.” As the Obama campaign put the focus on Mr. Romney’s economic record as governor of Massachusetts, the presumptive GOP nominee turned the tables on the president with a visit Solyndra. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/05/31/romney-makes-surprise-visit-to-solyndra/?KEYWORDS=green+energy A day of energy savings will dawn soon at Pacifica High. Pacifica High School's electric bill is about to shrink. The school's solar panel project, located on the roof of the gym and in the parking lot, is expected to go on line in the middle of the month. Pacifica is the third school in the Oxnard Union High School District to introduce solar panels on campus. Oxnard and Rio Mesa high schools came on board late last year. Channel Islands, Hueneme and Camarillo high schools will get the green technology by the end of the year. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/31/a-day-of-energy-savings-will-dawn-soon-at-high/#ixzz1wZN2W7QC OPINION Tariff on Chinese panels would hurt solar industry. A tariff is always a double-edged weapon in international trade. Countries apply them to protect domestic producers but risk retaliation and penalize their own consumers, who must pay higher prices. That's how things are shaping up with the 31 percent tariff the Commerce Department wants to slap on Chinese solar panels later this year. That would undercut one goal of President Barack Obama's administration - the promotion of green energy. This dispute began with a complaint from the U.S. unit of a German company, Solar World AG, which was joined by other firms. Commerce officials later concluded the Chinese were "dumping" government-subsidized products, or selling below cost. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/01/2223698/tariff-on-chinese-panels-would.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/01/2857463/tariff-on-chinese-panels-would.html#storylink=misearch Debate begins on fracking regulations. The email caught Zoe Shenker's attention. Have your voice heard, it said. Protect your water supply. Shenker wanted to do both, so Wednesday night she went to the Ventura County Government Center for a workshop on hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," as it's commonly called. What the Thousand Oaks resident heard left her speechless. Not only did she learn that fracturing rocks to extract oil and natural gas has been practiced for decades, but she also found out that regulators and the public don't know exactly what is being pumped into the ground to bring the raw materials to the surface. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/31/debate-begins-on-what-fracking-regulations-look/#ixzz1wZLzy9Fn BLOGS Roger Revelle’s 1980 Discussion of CO2 and Climate Risks. Roger Revelle, one of the pioneering researchers in the study of the human influence on the atmosphere, carbon cycle and climate, gave a prescient lecture on carbon dioxide, climate and the oceans in 1980 that was recorded by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and now surfaces via the Web site Climate Science TV. Revelle is best known for the comment he added late in the drafting of a seminal 1957 climate paper co-authored with Hans Suess: “Human beings are now carrying out a large scale geophysical experiment of a kind that could not have happened in the past nor be reproduced in the future.” Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/31/roger-revelles-1980-discussion-of-co2-and-climate-risks/ When Cleaning Up Power Plants, Time is Money. New rules on pollution from coal plants will cost the American economy $175 billion to $275 billion between now and 2035, according to a new analysis from the Electric Power Research Institute, a nonprofit utility consortium. But the price can be be closer to the lower figure if the government shows flexibility in how the rules are phased in, the researchers said. Power sector expenditures will range from $140 billion to $220 billion, according to the institute, which used computer modeling to predict effects across the economy. Those are big numbers. But the electricity industry is vast, so the estimated impact on the retail price of electricity is expected to be just 4.5 to 8 percent in 2015, the group said. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/when-cleaning-up-power-plants-time-is-money/ Turn Waste Into Energy, Group Urges New York. New York City should embrace waste-to-energy plants to reduce the $300 million it spends annually disposing of its garbage, a government watchdog group suggested in a report released on Thursday.The group, the Citizens Budget Commission, noted that the city’s trash is transported to out-of-state landfills by tractor-trailer trucks that travel hundreds of miles while emitting greenhouse gases. If one-third of the garbage going to landfills were to be turned into energy instead, the city would save $119 million a year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35 percent, said the group, which monitors state and city spending. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/31/turn-waste-into-energy-group-urges-new-york/ A libertarian approach to global warming. Jonathan Adler, a law professor at Case Western University, has been writing a very interesting series of posts at The Atlantic on conservative approaches to various environmental problems. Here he lays out the libertarian case for tackling climate change:It is a well established principle in the Anglo-American legal tradition that one does not have the right to use one's own property in a manner that causes harm to one's neighbor. There are common law cases gong back 400 years establishing this principle and international law has long embraced a similar norm. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/a-libertarian-approach-to-global-warming/2012/06/01/gJQAYDCL7U_blog.html Europe solves its “green” quota, declares gas to be green enough. This is our favorite news item this week, hands down. The Europeans, so enamored by things green that they have implemented subsidies, mandates and regulations that have nearly strangled their economy, have found a way out of their dilemma. “Energy from gas power stations has been rebranded as a green, low-carbon source of power by a €80bn European Union programme, in a triumph of the deep-pocketed fossil fuel industry lobby over renewable forms of power,” reports the Guardian in Great Britain. There you have it. To make the green quota, simply reclassify a fossil fuel as green enough. Voila! It harkens back to the solution suggested for the U.S. during the Vietnam War. Declare victory and go home. Posted. http://orangepunch.ocregister.com/2012/06/01/europe-solves-its-green-quota-declares-gas-to-be-green-enough/70162/ ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 15:12:57 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 4, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 4, 2012. 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’s EPA Overstates Pollution From Gas Fracking, Groups Say. The Obama administration overstated the greenhouse-gas emissions from unconventional natural-gas production, the American Petroleum Institute and the America’s Natural Gas Alliance said today in a study. The two industry groups, which oppose U.S. regulation of hydraulic fracturing to extract gas from shale formations, found in the study that total-gas emissions during the process are about half the level estimated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-04/obama-s-epa-overstates-pollution-from-gas-fracking-groups-say.html North Richmond in shadow of poverty and pollution. North Richmond -- From the house where he was born, Henry Clark can stand in his back yard and see plumes pouring out of one of the biggest oil refineries in the United States. As a child, he was fascinated by the factory on the hill, all lit up at night like the hellish twin of a fairy tale city. In the morning, he'd go out to play and find the leaves on the trees burned to a crisp. "Sometimes I'd find the air so foul, I'd have to grab my nose and run back into the house until it cleared up." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/04/BA361ORLKM.DTL&type=printable A smoggy month of May spurs group's call for tougher emission controls. The country's air contained higher concentrations of smog last month than it has during May the past five years, an environmental group said today. Clean Air Watch found that smog levels exceeded the 2008 U.S. EPA smog standard more often last month, based on a survey of state air websites and EPA's online air monitoring. In fact, the group found that the number of smog, or ozone, "exceedances" last month, 854, was more than double what was monitored in May 2011, 323. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/04/24 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY RIVERSIDE: Study shows open-fire smoke harms young brains. Spending too much time around a smoky fire is not only harmful physically, but mentally as well, according to a new study by two Inland professors. UC Riverside psychology professor Mary Gauvain conducted the research with Robert “Lee” Munroe, an emeritus professor of anthropology at Pomona’s Pitzer College. They determined that memory, problem solving and socialization in young children was hampered by prolonged exposure to the smoke from cooking fires fueled by wood, dung or straw. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20120603-riverside-study-shows-open-fire-smoke-harms-young-brains.ece HOME: This endless dust-up has clear winner, loser. Once a week, Diane Foernssler takes arms against the dust that invades her Darien, Ill., home, using everything from the vacuum cleaner to a special mop for blinds and baseboards. On those other six days, however, the dust wins. "It's everywhere and it never goes away," said Foernssler, a fitness trainer and mother of two. "It's a losing battle." Unfortunately, she's right. Experts said dust's constant accumulation on all those books, clothes and knickknacks has nothing to do with poor housekeeping. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/home-this-endless-dust-up-has-clear-winner-loser/article_e0903465-7c6a-576c-a6a7-f09ce31b39c6.html CLIMATE CHANGE Canadian government overhauling environmental rules to aid oil extraction. For years, Canada has been seen as an environmental leader on the world stage, pushing other nations to tackle acid rain, save the ozone layer and sign global treaties to protect biodiversity. Those were the old days. The government of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is rewriting the nation’s environmental laws to speed the extraction and export of oil, minerals and other materials to a global market clamoring for Canada’s natural resources. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/canadian-government-overhauling-environmental-rules-to-aid-oil-extraction/2012/06/03/gJQAyxx2BV_print.html Fourteen Programs Show CO2 Trade Taking Off: World Bank. New carbon programs in at least 14 emerging nations from China to Costa Rica show emissions trading may take off even as U.S. lawmakers focus on non-market-based regulations for climate protection, a World Bank official said. Seven countries including Mexico and Indonesia are considering emissions-crediting systems, five mull domestic carbon markets while India and South Africa are studying their own plans, Xueman Wang, team leader for the bank’s Partnership for Market Readiness program, said in an interview. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/printer/articles/89198?type=bloomberg Climate change causes nuclear, coal power plant shutdowns. Climate change, by warming water and reducing river flows, has caused production losses at several nuclear and coal-fired power plants in the United States and Europe in recent years and will lead to more power disruptions in the future, researchers report. The Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Alabama, for example, had to shut down more than once last summer because the Tennessee River's water was too warm to use it for cooling. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2012/06/climate-change-makes-nuclear-coal-power-plants-vulnerable/1?csp=34news Climate and Clean Air Coalition Event. Remarks: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Swedish Climate Ambassador Anna Lindstedt, Swedish Minister for the Environment Lena Ek Stockholm, Sweden June 3, 2012. Posted. http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2012/06/191694.htm FUELS Biox to Build Second Biodiesel Plant at New York Harbor. Biox Corp. (BX), a Canadian biofuels company, plans to build a 100-million liter (26-million gallon) biodiesel plant in Bayonne, New Jersey, at New York Harbor. The plant’s annual production capacity will be about 50 percent larger than the company’s existing facility in Ontario, according to a statement today. Demand for biodiesel in North American will grow because U.S. oil companies are mandated to blend 36 billion gallons of biofuels with their fuel products by 2022, Biox said. “Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-04/biox-agrees-to-build-biodiesel-plant-at-new-york-harbor.html Burning wood for energy will hasten climate change – study. The best strategy for using forests to curb climate change is to leave them alone, a new study asserts. While this may seem intuitive to many, the best way to manage forests -- especially for the collection of biomass to be used for energy -- has been an elusive one. Although burning wood to produce electricity does emit the same carbon dioxide as burning fossil fuels, biomass energy proponents asserts that their power is carbon-neutral, as the growth of trees to maintain a steady supply of biomass will sequester an equivalent amount of CO2 that is burned. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/04/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY HIGH-SPEED RAIL California High-Speed Rail Losing Support, Poll Shows. A majority of voters no longer support building a $68 billion high-speed passenger rail system connecting California’s population centers, a new poll shows, even as Governor Jerry Brown is pushing the project forward. While 53 percent of voters approved a bond issue for the project in 2008, a USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll published in yesterday’s edition of the newspaper, found that 59 percent would oppose it if given another chance to vote. Brown, a 74-year-old Democrat, allocated some of the $9.95 billion of bonds for the system in his budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1, even though a deficit in the spending plan has ballooned to $15.7 billion. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-06-03/california-high-speed-rail-losing-support-poll-shows.html http://articles.latimes.com/2012/jun/02/local/la-me-0603-bullet-poll-20120604 Jerry Brown moves to protect high-speed rail project from environmental lawsuits. The Brown administration, laboring to start building California's high-speed rail project by early next year, is preparing a proposal to insulate the project from environmental lawsuits, limiting circumstances in which a court may block construction of the line. The proposal, criticized by environmentalists as it emerged on Friday, would protect the $68 billion project from court-ordered injunctions that might otherwise be issued under the California Environmental Quality Act. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/02/4532775/jerry-brown-moves-to-protect-high.html What is PZEV anyway? It doesn't have anything to do with peace or electric vehicles. We'll dissect a Subaru Impreza Premium PZEV for answers to this conundrum of marketing, science, and politics. Mostly politics. It's likely you've seen the term "PZEV" on a vehicle recently. You might have even assumed it was some kind of hybrid or green vehicle. If you guessed the latter, you'd be close. The "EV" in the term PZEV doesn't stand for "electric vehicle" as we've come to know the acronym. Instead, PZEV stands for Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle. It's a sort of mashup category of cars created almost entirely through politics. Posted. http://www.torquenews.com/1080/what-pzev-anyway Chevy Volt Outsells Other Leading Plug-in Cars in May. ay was the second-highest sales month for the Chevrolet Volt since its launch in December 2010, with 1,680 units delivered, and exceeding numbers posted by ostensible rivals. The Volt’s all-time record was set in March this year, when Chevrolet sold 2,289 of the extended-range electric plug-in cars, topping a previous high watermark set in December of 1,529 Volts sold. Posted. http://www.hybridcars.com/news/chevy-volt-outsells-other-leading-plug-cars-may-46707.html Audi RS5 Convertible on its Way to the US. A roofless version of the Audi RS5 is heading to the US. This information has been revealed in images the German car company filed last fall at the European design patent office. Car and Driver obtained the pictures from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The pictures reveal the model is heading to the US. The CARB organization certifies vehicles as being compliant with the state’s emissions standards, and is required for any vehicles that will be sold there. Posted. http://www.gtspirit.com/2012/06/03/audi-rs5-convertible-on-its-way-to-the-us/ Calif. governor seeks help steering bullet train around CEQA. The California governor's office is negotiating with green groups and legislative aides to shield high-speed rail from the state's tough environmental law. Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown's senior policy adviser Ken Alex this week is expected to show green organizations a draft bill that would limit how much the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) applies to the bullet train, those involved in talks said. Although the exact language remained in flux late last week, some environmental groups said they feared the $68.4 billion train development was seeking to circumvent resource protections. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/04/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Sacramento scales back solar project at Sutter's Landing Park. When Sacramento officials proposed putting solar panels on an old city landfill two years ago, they did so with the intention of providing clean energy to thousands of homes. However, in a twist that surprised many at City Hall, the people who might be expected to celebrate such a green venture ended up being the plan's loudest critics. Environmentalists and wildlife advocates argued that the field in Sutter's Landing Park – sitting atop a mound of buried trash that boasts majestic views of the downtown skyline – is a key feeding ground for the threatened Swainson's hawk. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/04/4535725/sacramento-scales-back-solar-project.html#mi_rss=Top%20Stories Hewlett-Packard develops 'net-zero' data center. Computer giant Hewlett-Packard Co. last week joined the ranks of energy-conserving information technology firms by rolling out the architecture for its new Net-Zero Energy Data Center. The new architecture, built around energy efficiency measures and the incorporation of on-site renewable power supplies, could allow the data centers to run virtually off the grid much of the time, said officials with the company's research division in Palo Alto, Calif. The efficiency steps alone should allow data centers to reduce their energy consumption by 30 percent, according to company officials. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/04/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Sun-powered 'boosters' to increase output at fossil-fueled power plants. Intermittent sources of renewable energy are sometimes coupled with burning fossil fuels to regulate power output, but Areva Solar is turning that relationship around and using renewable energy to augment electricity generation at fossil fuel plants. The Silicon Valley-based company, part of the French multinational conglomerate Areva SA, is promoting its solar booster technology as an affordable way to increase renewable energy production at existing coal- and gas-powered facilities. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/04/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINION An eco-stadium? Promises, promises. The Natural Resources Defense Council had backed streamlining the environmental review for a downtown football venue, gathering pledges from Anschutz Entertainment Group to 'green' the stadium. Let the disputes begin. Feelings of betrayal dividing friends, lovers, and political allies have provided grist for Shakespeare and Verdi, among other great scrutinizers of the human condition. It's intriguing to ponder what they would have made of the breakup between the Natural Resources Defense Council and Anschutz Entertainment Group, the would-be developer of a downtown Los Angeles football stadium. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20120603,0,1294415.column Editorial: PUC should say no to gas project. The California Public Utilities Commission is set to decide Thursday whether to authorize Sacramento Natural Gas Storage to store approximately 8 billion cubic feet of repressurized natural gas under a residential neighborhood at the southeastern corner of Sacramento. One commissioner has issued a proposed decision to grant the permit. Another commissioner recommends denial. This decision should not be even a close call. The PUC should deny the permit. The gas storage project is simply too dangerous and there is no urgent need for it. Posted. . http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/03/4532475/puc-should-say-no-to-gas-project.html STATE: To prosper, California should cut tax rates. Revenue for California’s government appears to have dried up. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office recently announced that personal income tax receipts are now $3 billion behind schedule. By the end of the fiscal year, on June 30, the tax take may fall even further. Dwindling tax revenues are a product of Californians’ declining incomes. And with unemployment at 11 percent, incomes probably won’t head north soon. But if history is any guide, California may be on the cusp of another economic boom. Posted. http://www.pe.com/opinion/local-views-headlines/20120603-state-to-prosper-california-should-cut-tax-rates.ece California as a model for climate policy. California, long America's environmental trendsetter, is once again pushing the envelope. This month, the state required large insurance companies to provide detailed information about the financial risks that climate change poses, not only to the companies themselves but also to their customers and investors. The insurance industry is the biggest in the world; globally, its companies control an estimated US $16 trillion worth of assets, a sum greater than the gross domestic product of the United States. Posted. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/05/2012528134259936541.html BLOGS Even our power plants are vulnerable to climate change. Most modern power plants have a hidden weakness. They need water to stay cool. Lots of water. In the United States, coal, gas and nuclear plants account for roughly 40 percent of the nation’s freshwater use, drawing from rivers and lakes to prevent their turbines from overheating. Sweet, sweet cooling water. (Susan Montoya Bryan - Associated Press) Yet this water could prove increasingly hard to come by. Over the next 50 years, if global warming proceeds apace, many rivers will get warmer or reduce their flow. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/even-coal-and-nuclear-plants-are-vulnerable-to-global-warming/2012/06/04/gJQAQOH0DV_blog.html Climate Change Threatens Power Output, Study Says. As the climate gets warmer, so do the rivers and lakes that power plants draw their cooling water from. And that is going to make it harder to generate electricity in decades to come, researchers report. In an article in the journal Nature Climate Change, scientists measured temperatures now and projected what they would be at midcentury. The temperatures vary according to the time of year, and, even if the extremes remain similar, they will be more frequent — meaning that the water will be too warm to allow full power production, they predict. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/04/climate-change-threatens-power-output-study-says/ The new new hydropower: Small-scale turbines have big potential. Canals are ecologically barren channels built for the utilitarian purpose of draining rainwater and snowmelt away from rivers and delivering it to farmers, factories, and homes. But something unusual has been lurking in an irrigation canal in rural Washington that promises to turn these concrete water conveyors into climate-friendly power plants. Posted. http://grist.org/renewable-energy/the-new-new-hydropower-small-scale-turbines-have-big-potential/ Global Temperatures Rising on a Trajectory That is Devastating. Many governments do not appear to be implementing policies to meet their 2020 emission reduction pledges, and could increase – not shrink, the gap between real emissions and what’s needed to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 or 2 degC, according to the Climate Action Tracker , a joint project of Climate Analytics, Ecofys and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/global-temperatures-rising-trajectory-devastating/ How Cheap Will Algae Biofuel Really Get? A bit energy wonky but interesting: The Oil Drum has a breakdown of a recent Department of Energy presentation on current cost of various renewable fuels and how inexpensive DoE thinks those analyzed might get over the next five years. What caught my attention most is the state of algae biofuels (mostly because I've been thinking about how we're ever going to be able to keep flying without fossil fuels and algae is one of the few biofuels still in the running without serious land use and/or human rights and/or yield issues). Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/how-cheap-will-algae-biofuel-get.html Energy Efficient LEDs Displace Conventional Technology and Costs Shrink Overall. Improving lighting efficiency is an investment in the future. Yet costs have been prohibiting many people from becoming early adaptors of energy efficient commercial lighting such as LED lighting. This is finally starting to change as we now have research that shows the costs of LED lighting is finally coming down, according to a recent report from Pike Research, LEDs will displace more than 52 percent of the global market for lamps in commercial buildings by 2021. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/06/energy-efficient-leds-displace-conventional-technology-value-shrinks/ ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 12:44:15 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newclips for June 5, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 5, 2012. 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 tells US to stop tweets on Beijing's bad air. China told foreign embassies Tuesday to stop publishing their own reports on air quality in the country, escalating its objections to a popular U.S. Embassy Twitter feed that tracks pollution in smoggy Beijing. Only the Chinese government is authorized to monitor and publish air quality information and data from other sources may not be standardized or rigorous, Wu Xiaoqing, a vice environmental minister, told reporters. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jXMzziKdVjIp0Hbrxa4LPLhq_upw?docId=4a9a59608c7446219969def81fccc576 AP Newsbreak: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/05/us-china-environment-idUSBRE85408S20120605 http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/china-says-foreign-embassies-not-allowed-to-report-on-air-quality-in-beijing-other-cities/2012/06/05/gJQABHT4EV_story.html http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/04/4538544/china-tells-us-to-stop-reporting.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20784052/china-tells-us-stop-reporting-beijings-bad-air?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/04/2861607/china-tells-us-to-stop-reporting.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/05/china-tells-us-to-stop-reporting-beijings-02/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/nation-world/ci_20786148/china-u-s-stop-tweeting-about-beijings-bad?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com SJ Valley residents warned about unhealthy air. San Joaquin Valley officials are warning residents that gusty winds have created unhealthy levels of air pollution. The valley's Air Pollution Control District issued a health advisory Monday because of high concentrations of blowing dust in parts of Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern counties. Officials say the gusty winds could produce unhealthy levels of particle pollution that can cause serious respiratory and heart problems. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/04/2861375/sj-valley-residents-warned-about.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/04/4538031/sj-valley-residents-warned-about.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20781342/sj-valley-residents-warned-about-unhealthy-air?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com CLIMATE CHANGE Utilities More Concerned About Carbon Emissions: Survey. Concern about carbon emissions increased last year among U.S. utility executives, who also expressed apprehension that customers won’t tolerate higher rates for power generated from renewable sources, according to a report. Carbon emissions increased to third from sixth among the top environmental concerns of 543 managers and engineers, said Black & Veatch Corp. The Overland Park, Kansas-based engineering and consulting firm conducted the survey from Feb. 22 through March 23 and posted the results on its website today. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-04/utilities-more-concerned-about-carbon-emissions-survey.html http://grist.org/climate-energy/energy-companies-seeing-a-greener-future-are-losing-their-faith-in-coal/ Government of Québec unveils $2.7B climate change action plan; 63% of spending targeting transport. The Premier of Québec, Jean Charest; the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Pierre Arcand; and the Minister of Transport Pierre Moreau unveiled the Canadian province’s 2013-2020 Action Plan on Climate Change (PACC 2020). The action plan and strategy adaptation represent a total investment of nearly C$2.7 billion (US$2.6 billion). The PACC 2020 is self-financed from the carbon market and the extension until 2014 of the fuel levy and fossil fuels. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/06/quebec-20120605.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Westport and Caterpillar to co-develop natural gas technology for off-road equipment. Westport Innovations Inc. has signed agreements with Caterpillar Inc. to co-develop natural gas technology for off-road equipment, including mining trucks and locomotives. Caterpillar and Westport will combine technologies and expertise, including Westport High Pressure Direct Injection (HPDI) technology and Caterpillar’s off-road engine and machine product technology, to develop the natural gas fuel system. Caterpillar will fund the development program. When the products go to market, Westport expects to participate in the supply of key components. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/06/westcat-20120605.html FUELS February gas use up in California for first time in a year. For the first time in 12 months, year-over-year gasoline consumption in California rose 2.1 percent in February, despite a 12.5 average increase in gas costs during that time. The California Board of Equalization said in-state gas use in February totaled 1.154 billion gallons, up from 1.131 billion in February 2011. The average price of gas in California in February was a hefty $4.03 a gallon. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/05/4538445/february-gas-use-up-in-california.html VEHICLES Solar-powered plane leaves Spain for Morocco. An experimental solar-powered plane has taken off from Madrid en route to Morocco in a bid to complete its first transcontinental flight. The single-seat aircraft fitted with 12,000 solar cells is the size of a jumbo jet. Organizers said in a statement it is due to arrive in the Moroccan capital Rabat late Tuesday night after leaving Spain before dawn. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/06/05/international/i010110D50.DTL GREEN ENERGY Clean energy subsidies unlikely to create jobs -- or stem climate change. Giving clean energy subsidies to American companies is akin to throwing money "down a rat hole." Mostly, it's just a "bad idea." Those assertions are not taken from Mitt Romney's latest attack ad about Solyndra but are rather the views conveyed in a new paper by a left-leaning think tank that charges this White House, and its predecessors, with taking a wrong turn on the economy. Fear about threats from abroad and impulses to help favored energy sources have given rise to another "industrial policy," say Brookings Institution economists. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/05/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Costco settles hazmat lawsuit for $3.6 million. Costco has agreed to pay $3.6 million to settle a lawsuit filed by 29 district attorneys accusing the big-box retailer of failing to properly store and dispose of hazardous materials at dozens of its outlets in California. Over a five-year period, Costco employees didn't label or sort hazardous materials that had sat unsold on shelves or that customers had returned, such as oven cleaner, bleach, pool chlorine, nicotine patches and batteries, according to the lawsuit. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/05/BAME1OSHED.DTL&type=green REGION: Air quality district offers exchange of lawn mowers. Registration is open for the South Coast Air Quality Managements District’s popular lawn mower exchange program. The campaign allows residents to improve air quality and save money by replacing gasoline-powered mowers with zero-emission battery electric models. This year marks the 10th anniversary of AQMD’s “Mow Down Air Pollution” program. Residents have exchanged 43,438 mowers during the annual exchange events. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20120604-region-air-quality-district-offers-exchange-of-lawn-mowers.ece OPINIONS Reader Rebuttal (James Enstrom): Air pollution in L.A. region. The April 25, 2012, Register article "Smog report: L.A. region still among the nation's worst" is highly misleading because it uncritically relies upon two reports that exaggerate the air pollution problem in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The air pollution problem is also exaggerated by the California Air Resources Board, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the two agencies that have responsibility for air quality in Southern California. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/air-357230-california-pollution.html Chevrolet Volt (and EV) Hater Johan de Nysschen Takes Top Job at Infiniti. Wait, What? Over the years, Nissan has done a lot of things for advancement of the electric vehicle, but yesterday’s decision to lure Johan de Nysschen away from Audi to become the senior vice president in charge of the Infiniti luxury brand worldwide is a real head scratcher, especially considering Nissan (and by extension Infiniti) has staked their whole future on the electrification of the automobile. If you were to look up all time gaffs when it comes to not being environmentally friendly…Posted. http://insideevs.com/chevrolet-volt-and-ev-hater-johan-de-nysschen-takes-top-job-at-infiniti-wait-what/ BLOGS Even coal and nuclear plants are vulnerable to climate change. Many modern power plants have a hidden weakness. They need water to stay cool. Lots of water. In the United States, coal, gas and nuclear plants account for roughly 40 percent of the nation’s freshwater use, drawing from rivers and lakes to prevent their turbines from overheating. Yet this water could prove increasingly hard to come by. Over the next 50 years, if global warming proceeds apace, many rivers will get warmer or reduce their flow. That, in turn, could lead to shortages of cooling water, forcing many plants to shut down. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/even-coal-and-nuclear-plants-are-vulnerable-to-global-warming/2012/06/04/gJQAQOH0DV_blog.html Emissions Fell Under Cap and Trade Program, Report Says. The cap and trade system known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative announced on Monday that carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in the nine participating states on the East Coast fell by an average of 23 percent during the first three years of the program. The pioneering program, known as RGGI (pronounced reggie), sets a ceiling on carbon dioxide emissions from electric power providers and requires the companies to pay for their emissions by buying allowances in auctions held four times a year. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/04/emissions-fell-under-cap-and-trade-program-report-says/ China to U.S.: Stop Monitoring Our Air. It’s well-known that China’s government isn’t pleased with the U.S. diplomatic mission’s trio of Twitter feeds dedicated to publicizing independent air quality measurements in major Chinese cities. But is the highly popular initiative a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations? The answer, according to one top Chinese environmental official, is yes. And not only that, they may be violation of Chinese law as well. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2012/06/05/u-s-air-monitoring-in-china-vienna-violation/ Another big ozone violation last Friday. Remember the $29 million annual dirty-air fine -- $12 a year in your vehicle registration fees? It's back in the news and stirring debate between a local activist and the air district's leader. Last Friday, an intense ozone episode triggered a one-hour violation at Parlier. Another one of these peak violations at that monitor this summer would extend the annual fine at least through 2014. Violations at the Fresno and Clovis monitors also might extend the fine. Posted. http://fresnobeehive.com/news/2012/06/another_big_ozone_violation_la.html#storylink=misearch May 2012 alt-fuel sales led by Prius sales jump, Volt gains. Any hypermiler will tell you that a fierce tailwind will do wonders for fuel economy. The same could probably apply for U.S. sales of advanced-powertrain vehicles. Continuing high gas prices, a broadening array of hybrid and electric-drive vehicles and figures from a year earlier that were constrained by supply issues stemming from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan pushed May U.S. alt-fuel vehicle sales far above numbers from last year, though they were slightly lower than April sales. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/05/may-2012-alt-fuel-sales-led-by-prius-sales-jump-volt-gains/ ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 11:51:05 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 6, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for June 6, 2012. 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 Earth Log: Air pollution control district defends bad-air alert system. Remember all the fuss last year about the $29 million annual dirty-air fine -- $12 a year in your vehicle registration fees? A local activist and the Valley air district's leaders again are debating the dirty air part of the equation. Last Friday, an intense ozone episode triggered a one-hour violation in Parlier. One more of these peak violations in Parlier this summer would extend the annual fine through 2014. Violations at the Fresno and Clovis monitors also would do the same thing, so it will be a nervous summer. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/05/2862997/earth-log-air-pollution-control.html#storylink=misearch EPA, enviros strike deal on soot; final standard due in December. U.S. EPA will issue final air standards for soot that comes from automobiles, smokestacks and various industrial sources by mid-December, according to a legal settlement reached between the agency and environmental groups last night. The settlement is a victory for public health advocacy groups such as the American Lung Association, which sued the agency for dragging its feet on new national ambient air quality standards for fine particles. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/06/1 By SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE U.S. cities trail Latin America in climate change efforts. Major U.S. cities are among the world's wealthiest and technologically advanced, but they lag behind their counterparts in Latin America in preparing for climate change, a survey finds. Nearly all, or 95%, of major cities in Latin America are making plans to deal with the adverse impact of climate change, compared to 59% of such cities in the United States. According to a survey of 468 cities worldwide released this week by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2012/06/us-cities-trail-latin-america-in-climate-change-preps/1 http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/06/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Climate change will create severe power and food shortages for Latin America and the Caribbean. Disappearing glaciers, rising sea levels, crop losses and hydropower plant problems brought about by climate change will cost the Latin American and Caribbean region $100 billion by 2050, a new Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) study finds. Hardest hit will be the region's agricultural sector, which stands to lose between $26 billion and $44 billion annually in yields of staple crops like wheat and soy. A close second is the hydropower industry, which faces $18 billion in losses as precipitation cycles intensify and rainfall exceeds hydropower's storage capacity. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/06/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Quebec announces $2.6B climate change plan. Quebec has announced the first part of a two-phase plan to lower greenhouse gas emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by the end of the decade. The C$2.7 billion ($2.6 billion) plan was presented by Premier Jean Charest on Sunday, and it will primarily focus on the transportation sector -- which accounts for nearly half the province's emissions -- by improving public transit, carpooling, taxi sharing, walking and bicycling. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/06/9 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Regional cap-and-trade system announces first-period results. Carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in nine East Coast states fell by almost a quarter during the first three years of a pioneering cap-and-trade system called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the program announced this week. The program sets a ceiling on carbon dioxide emissions from electric power providers and requires the companies to pay for their emissions by buying allowances in four annual auctions. As an incentive to cut emissions, companies that pollute less can sell their unused allowances to other companies during the auctioning events. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/06/10 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Pollution, Poverty, People of Color: The factory on the hill. >From the house where he was born, Henry Clark can stand in his back yard and see plumes pouring out of one of the biggest oil refineries in the United States. As a child, he was fascinated by the factory on the hill, all lit up at night. In the morning, he'd go out to play and find the leaves on the trees burned to a crisp. "Sometimes I'd find the air so foul, I'd have to grab my nose and run back into the house until it cleared up," he said. During World War II, Posted. http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/pollution-poverty-and-people-of-color-richmond-day-1 http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/pollution-poverty-and-people-of-color-richmond-day-2 http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/pollution-poverty-people-of-color-series-summary FUELS Greener US Navy dealt a setback. Milwaukee -- The U.S. Navy's energy security plan for a greener fleet that relies less on imported oil and more on domestic renewable biofuels has been dealt a setback in Congress, as Republican senators voiced concern about the price of biofuels not being competitive with petroleum. The move doesn't stall the program completely but could delay efforts to speed development of commercial-scale biorefineries. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/05/4539339/greener-us-navy-dealt-a-setback.html VEHICLES Honda Fit EV gets highest EPA fuel economy rating. Honda says its 2013 Fit EV has received the highest fuel efficiency rating ever from the Environmental Protection Agency. The Japanese automaker says the subcompact electric car received a combined adjusted mile-per-gallon-equivalency rating of 118 mpg. The Fit consumes 29 kilowatt hours of electricity per 100 miles and has an EPA rated annual fuel cost of $500. Honda says the EPA estimates its combined city and highway driving range rating at 82 miles on a single charge. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iB5OaYESE7wucWOEnOhyQScyuWtg?docId=3554c68bd9194d91857a6ec25578a73d AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/hondas-fit-ev-receives-fuel-economy-rating-equating-to-118-mpg-highest-rating-ever/2012/06/06/gJQASWOMIV_story.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20794215/honda-fit-ev-gets-highest-epa-fuel-economy?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20794215/honda-fit-ev-gets-highest-epa-fuel-economy?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/06/2230224/honda-fit-ev-gets-highest-epa.html http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/06/21 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY HIGH-SPEED RAIL Calif. governor floats plan for letting bullet train roar past enviro lawsuits. Environmental lawsuits should not halt California's high-speed rail line unless it's proved to cause far more harm than good, the governor's office proposed yesterday. Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) administration floated draft legislation that would curb the state's environmental law as it applies to initial construction of the train. The language, circulated among green groups, would require judges before they stop development to weigh the project's impact on the state. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/06/4 BY SUBSCRIPTON ONLY GREEN ENERGY Morocco promotes solar energy with plane landing. It was no coincidence that Morocco was chosen as the destination for the first intercontinental flight by a solar-powered aircraft, the pilot said early Wednesday after stepping out of the fragile craft following a 20-hour flight from Madrid. Bertrand Piccard told reporters and government officials who came to meet him at the runway of the Rabat airport in the middle of the night that it was Morocco’s ambitious solar energy plans that brought him here. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/6/morocco-promotes-solar-energy-with-plane-landing/ Solar Panel Payments Set Off a Fairness Debate. In California’s sun-scorched Central Valley, the monthly electric bill can easily top $200. But that’s just about what George Burman spent on electricity for all of last year. When the sun is shining, the solar panels on his Fresno condominium produce more than enough power for his needs, and the local utility is required to buy the excess power from him at full retail prices. Those credits mostly offset his purchases from the electric company during cloudy days and at night. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/business/solar-payments-set-off-a-fairness-debate.html?_r=1&src=rechp&pagewanted=print OPINIONS PULLMANN: Teaching global warming in kindergarten. The Public Broadcast Service recently reported that increasing numbers of educators are teaching about the controversy over climate change. This has the scientific establishment doubling down on efforts to feed children their mantra: There is no debate. There is no man behind the curtain, Dorothy. The “consensus” has spoken. Except not among the hoi polloi. Eighty-two percent of science teachers report they have faced skepticism about climate change from students, according to the most recent poll from the National Science Teachers Association. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/5/teaching-global-warming-in-kindergarten/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS BLOGS Indian steel companies are getting away with causing grave damage to the environment. They are not even adhering to the country’s already lax environmental laws – despite using large amounts of minerals, water and electricity. This was revealed in a report recently released by the Centre for Science and Environment, a New Delhi-based research and advocacy group. CSE, which has in the past assessed how environmentally-friendly sectors including auto, cement and chemicals are, for the first time took a closer look at the steel industry. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/06/06/indian-steelmakers-breach-green-rules-report/ Tesla sells out top-of-the-line Model S Signature series. Tesla Motors has sold out of the top-of-the-line version of its Model S battery-electric luxury sedan and is taking deposits on its Model X crossover vehicle, Edmunds.com's Inside Line reports. The Model S Signature version, which starts at $92,400 and tops out at $105,400, is no longer available for pre-order on Tesla's website, Inside Line says. The company continues to take deposits on the base Model S – starting price is $57,400 – and has started taking orders for the Model X, which is set to arrive by the end of next year. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/06/teslas-sells-out-top-of-the-line-model-s-signature-series/ Conflict in the Air: U.S. Will Keep Reporting on Pollution in China. Since 2008, the U.S. Embassy in Beijing has issued hourly pollution readings of small airborne particles known as PM 2.5 on the Twitter feed @beijingair, a service has since spread to U.S. consulates in Guangzhou and Shanghai. Now, after years of private complaints, China has publicly demanded the U.S. stop the practice. Vice Minister of Environmental Protection Wu Xiaoqing told a press conference Tuesday that foreign embassies posting information about Chinese air quality was a violation of Chinese law and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Posted. http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2012/06/06/conflict-in-the-air-u-s-will-keep-reporting-on-pollution-in-china/#ixzz1x2ArGaVR ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 12:00:54 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 7, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for June 7, 2012. 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 report warns environment is at tipping point. The earth's environmental systems "are being pushed towards their biophysical limits," beyond which loom sudden, irreversible and potentially catastrophic changes, the United Nations Environment Program warned Wednesday. In a 525-page report on the health of the planet, the agency paints a grim picture: The melting of the polar ice caps, desertification in Africa, deforestation of tropical jungles, spiraling use of chemicals and the emptying out of the world's seas are just some of myriad environmental catastrophes posing a threat to life as we know it. Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/story/2012-06-06/un-environment-report/55431404/1?csp=34news http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/06/06/international/i153040D68.DTL http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/un-report-warns-global-environment-is-near-tipping-point-calls-for-urgent-action/2012/06/06/gJQAO0m7IV_story.html Climate change message needs to be closer to home to hit home, say researchers. In a project that aimed to analyse public perceptions of global warming, the researchers focused on ‘psychological distance’ in prompting people to go greener and the significance of uncertainty as justification for inaction. The study, led by Dr Alexa Spence, found that in general the closer people felt to the problem, the more concerned about climate change they were. It also recommends that more needs to be done to communicate the global impacts of climate change and highlight the severity of the problem. Posted. http://phys.org/news/2012-06-climate-message-closer-home.html China's ambitious carbon trading proposals may be shelved. China will continue to keep electricity prices stable depite the effect on the country’s efforts to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, Reuters reported, citing an official from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s state planning agency. Speaking at the release of an International Energy Agency study on power sector participation in emissions trading, Sun Cuihua, vice-head of the climate change department of the NDRC, on Wednesday said China's power sector will be excluded from a proposed national carbon trading scheme. Posted. http://morningwhistle.21cbh.com/html/2012/PoliticsSociety_0607/212555.html FUELS Airline group says biofuels need govt support. Airlines need government support to lower the cost of biofuels that could help to reduce pollution and carbon emissions, the head of the global aviation industry group said Thursday. Airlines have flown some 1,500 commercial flights using fuel made from plants, but supplies are limited and costly, said Tony Tyler, chief executive of the International Air Transport Association. "We need governments to adopt policies to help support commercialization of biofuels to bring up the volume and bring down the price," Tyler said. He was in Beijing for IATA's annual general meeting, due to be held next week. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jGXU-kDdvgd3S_PrTWXfBKMKIC2Q?docId=d8180f284c5749c787b1e93726b23a94 AP Newsbreak: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-06/D9V857280.htm http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/airline-group-says-biofuels-for-aviation-need-government-support-to/2012/06/07/gJQAosmBKV_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/07/2864529/airline-group-says-biofuels-need.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20802079/airline-group-says-biofuels-need-govt-support?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Companies turn to bioplastics to eliminate oil from operations. After months of crude prices above $90 a barrel, many companies are trying to wring the oil out of their operations. Ford Motor is using soybean foam in its upholstery. McDonald's is testing paper cups for hot drinks in place of polystyrene containers, which start out as petroleum. Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are becoming bioplastic bottlers. And a California cleaning products manufacturer has set out to eliminate diesel from its fleet. "When oil was cheap, it became pervasive throughout our economy in hundreds and hundreds of invisible ways, as a raw material," said Daniel Yergin, an energy consultant who wrote a Pulitzer Prize-winning history of the oil industry. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_20798461/companies-turn-bioplastics-eliminate-oil-from-operations?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com VEHICLES Electric car fuel savings at a glance. A car that gets 118 miles per gallon sure sounds nice, but to figure out how much money you will save, you have to look a little closer.The Environmental Protection Agency has come up with a measurement called "miles per gallon-equivalent." It measures how much energy it takes to move an electric car. But that energy — electricity — is priced very differently than gasoline. At a national average retail price of electricity of 11.6 cents per kilowatt hour, and a national average retail price of gasoline of $3.57 per gallon, electric vehicles can save about $1,000 in fuel costs per year. The higher price of the electric vehicle, though, means it can take more than 10 years of fuel savings to make up the difference. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/06/06/financial/f155240D74.DTL Car manufacturers to get new targets that will cut driving costs. The European Commission is next month to propose tighter carbon emissions standards for new European cars with a 2020 target of 95gm CO2 per kilometre, that will cut costs for motorists by 25%. But the Commission has not decided whether to make the target binding, and there are calls for the target to be even stiffer in order to save drivers even more on fuel costs. Currently, manufacturers have to reach a binding target of 130gm CO2/km by 2015, which they are on target to attain. Fines for failure are presently €95 for every gram over the target per vehicle and these would be kept at the same level in the future. Posted. http://www.eaem.co.uk/news/car-manufacturers-get-new-targets-will-cut-driving-costs Driving a PHV will not always make sound environmental sense. In January 2012, Toyota started selling its latest next generation vehicle, the Plug-In Hybrid (PHV) Prius. Response’s editor-in-chief Kazuya Miura put the car through its paces during a 3-month field test. During this period the vehicle drove a total of 3756 km and consumed 117 ltrs of gasoline and 220 kWh of electricity, averaging a respectable 3.1 ltrs of fuel for 100km. Based on the Japanese fuel consumption database “eNenpi”, the previous model of Prius would for the same distance use 172.77 ltrs of gasoline or use 4,6 ltrs of fuel for 100 km. Using this information, Response calculated corresponding equivalent CO2 emissions to compare the two Prius models from ecological perspective. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4692 Waste Management launches compressed natural gas fleet. Waste Management GI Industries is operating cleaner and greener with the addition of 23 new Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) waste collection vehicles to its fleet in Ventura County. These next generation CNG waste collection vehicles boasts several benefits: The CNG engines are 50% quieter than comparable diesel engines and emit 95% less particulate matter (PM) also known as soot and 90% less carbon monoxide (CO) than their diesel counterparts. They are also cleaner burning than "low sulfur" diesel engines. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/06/waste-management-launches-compressed-natural-gas-f/ GREEN ENERGY Americans rank saving energy ahead of vacations. As summer beckons, it seems Americans are thinking more about the stifling cost of energy than about making tracks to the beach. Cutting energy bills and use is a bigger deal to them than taking a vacation or scoring the latest smartphone or tablet, according to a survey by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research that asked people to choose priorities. Not even 1 in 5 ranked a summer trip or the latest gadget as a priority, while majorities said reducing electricity use and making homes energy-efficient are important. But in typical American fashion, by far the highest priority was having a reliable set of wheels. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hvFpd5iiNTvxhJ0wavzCd6mGGFcQ?docId=9dc8febe0cc342d5998a95900123346d AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/07/2864534/americans-put-saving-energy-ahead.html#storylink=misearch http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20798461/companies-turn-bioplastics-eliminate-oil-from-operations?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com Europe Calls for Green Goals Beyond 2020. As if Europe’s member states did not have enough pressure from above these days, yesterday saw European Commission Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger push for greater cooperation and immediate action to carry the region beyond the EU’s 2020 goals. Adopted in 2009, the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive includes a binding agreement for 20 percent dependence on renewable energy sources, a 20 percent reduction in carbon emissions and a non-binding 20 percent decrease in energy consumption, all appropriately by 2020. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/christophercoats/2012/06/07/europe-calls-for-green-goals-beyond-2020/ Fish Heads Turned Into Electricity Cut Wal-Mart's Bills: Energy. Fish heads and chicken fat are being turned into electricity by the U.K.'s largest retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. that ship food waste to power plants to reduce garbage-removal fees. Tesco Plc, Britain's biggest supermarket chain, along with Marks & Spencer Group Plc, John Lewis Partnership Plc's Waitrose, William Morrison Supermarkets Plc and J Sainsbury Plc are testing how meat and fish, cooking oils and leftover sandwiches can lower energy bills and landfill costs when they're transported to plants for converting into power. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/06/06/bloomberg_articlesM46DDO07SXKX01-M56ZX.DTL MISCELLANEOUS Walnut Creek School Notes: Buena Vista Elementary wins national green award. A team of students from Buena Vista Elementary School were among the winners of the "Siemens We Can Change the World Challenge" a nationwide sustainability challenge. The Buena Vista team dubbed "What a Waste!" and its mentor Kari Stewart won third place in the grades 3-5 elementary school division of this year's challenge for their project on food waste. Students were tasked with identifying an environmental issue at their school and creating a green solution. More than 27,000 students participated nationwide. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20796268/walnut-creek-school-notes-buena-vista-elementary-wins?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Urban wasteland: World Bank sees global garbage crisis. The world's city dwellers are fast producing more and more trash in a "looming crisis" that will pose huge financial and environmental burdens, the World Bank is warning. Urban specialists said the growing pile of trash from urban dwellers is as daunting as global warming and the costs will be especially high in poor countries, mainly in Africa. In a report on "a relatively silent problem that is growing daily," released on Wednesday, the World Bank estimated city dwellers will generate a waste pile of 2.2 billion tonnes a year by 2025, up 70 percent from today's level of 1.3 billion tonnes. Posted. http://www.france24.com/en/20120607-urban-wasteland-world-bank-sees-global-garbage-crisis OPINION Champagne: Alberta is a leader on climate change policy. Simon Dyer from the Pembina Institute states that on climate change policy, “Alberta is not a leader.” This follows a recent David Suzuki Foundation report ranking the provinces for their leadership efforts on climate action. Ontario, Quebec and B.C. were ranked as “very good,” while Alberta was rated “worst.” While I have tremendous respect for Pembina and the David Suzuki Foundation — and believe B.C. and Quebec should be lauded for their respective initiatives, here are five reasons that if there is any leader on climate action in North America, it is Alberta. Posted. http://www.calgaryherald.com/opinion/op-ed/Champagne+Alberta+leader+climate+change+policy/6741474/story.html DRIESSEN: Wind down wind subsidies. A growing national coalition opposed to perpetuating industrial wind giveaways and mythical wind-power benefits has inspired thousands of Americans to call their senators and representatives - and defeat four different subsidy bills. A shocked American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) began aggressively recruiting well-connected political operatives and co-sponsors, Republican and Democrat alike, who introduced more proposals to extend the production tax credit (PTC). It also launched parallel efforts in many state legislatures. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/6/wind-down-wind-subsidies// Climate Change: Brand or Be Branded. It is very difficult to understand the climate change denial platform on a purely philosophical and scientific level. Climate change is a rather obvious aspect of the history of the Earth and clearly man interacts with climate in an increasingly dynamic manner. That this is even debated appears on the surface to be not a little ridiculous—somewhere on the level of discussing whether the Earth is round or flat. It is the semantics of it all, which, when combined with politics and the necessary religio-political elements, muddies the waters. Posted. http://oilprice.com/The-Environment/Global-Warming/Climate-Change-Brand-or-Be-Branded.html Climate change’s worst enemy is its first victim: The city. This is a gorgeous infographic. Go look at it. Scroll through. Savor. Appreciate the design — but pay attention to the point. The presentation is by C40, a group of 58 cities that work together to share information and best practices about addressing climate change. (Here’s previous Grist coverage of the group.) Key points from the presentation, quoted directly…Posted. http://grist.org/news/climate-changes-worst-enemy-is-its-first-victim-the-city/ BLOGS Around the world, cap-and-trade is still alive and kicking. When the climate bill died in the U.S. Senate in 2010, most observers assumed that was the last dying gasp for “cap-and-trade” as a policy for tackling global warming. Around Washington D.C., it’s hard to find an environmentalist or Democrat who will even whisper the phrase anymore. Yet cap-and-trade is very far from dead. Across the globe, dozens of countries are either enacting or studying cap-and-trade programs for their heat-trapping greenhouse gases, according to the World Bank’s 2012 Carbon Market Report. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/around-the-world-cap-and-trade-is-still-alive-and-kicking/2012/06/05/gJQACSKVGV_blog.html U.S. completes warmest 12-month period again, record repeat. The period from June 2011 to May 2012 was the warmest 12-months since records began (in 1895) in the continental United States. This unprecedented stretch of warmth bests the previous 12-month record, established just one month ago. NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center also reports today that: the year-to-date period (January-May) has been the warmest on record, 5 degrees above average, the spring period (March-May) was warmest on record in the U.S., crushing the previous warmest spring (1910) by 2 full degrees and an impressive 5.2 degrees above the 1901-2000 average. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/us-completes-warmest-12-month-period-again-record-repeat/2012/06/07/gJQAOC1CLV_blog.html EU considering lowering CO2 emissions targets. One of the reasons that automakers are working so diligently on making more fuel efficient vehicles is because we're forcing them to. We, through our elected officials, have set certain standards that they have to meet in order to sell their wares. One of the strongest is the CO2 emissions limits set by the European Commission in 2008: 130 grams of CO2 per kilometer by 2015. The bad news? The EC might be backpedaling. According to Reuters, the EC might allow the rules to expand a bit to take things other than a car's simple emissions number into account. Those things include "infrastructure, driver behaviour and other measures," and the idea comes from documents written up by policy group CARS 21. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/07/eu-lower-co2-emissions-targets/ Imagine a Pollution Monitor That Checks Your Vital Signs. A bus just passed by. I think I have a headache. This is the sort of inane information that the most tweet-happy among us rush to share with the rest of the indifferent world. But when collected in a detailed, systematic manner and compiled in a central database, it’s also the sort of information that the Environmental Protection Agency desperately needs to get a handle on to fully understand the links between air pollution and public health. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/07/a-pollution-monitor-that-checks-your-vital-signs/ Are We Nearing a Planetary Boundary? The earth could be nearing a point at which sweeping environmental changes, possibly including mass extinctions, would undermine human welfare, 22 prominent biologists and ecologists warned on Wednesday. Acknowledging in a new paper that both the likelihood and timing of such a planetary “state shift” were uncertain, the scientists nonetheless described warning signs that it could arrive within a few human generations, if not sooner. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/are-we-nearing-a-planetary-boundary/ Waffling on climate change? Consult friends, not science. Ever since climate scientist James Hansen first testified before Congress about global warming in 1988, the scientists, advocates, academics and former vice-presidents who work to stop climate change have presumed that the science matters. Hansen began his testimony by telling the assembled senators: “The earth is warmer in 1988 than at any time in the history of instrumental measurements,” in full confidence that instrumental measurements would matter more than the weather outside the politicians’ front doors. Like Al Gore in An Inconvenient Truth, Hansen depended on graphs (he called them “viewgraphs”) and numbers to help make his case. Posted. http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2012/06/07/waffling-on-climate-change-consult-friends-not-science/ 2013 Chevy Volt increases range to 38 electric miles, 98 MPGe. And thus the mid-cycle product refresh – so common to computers and cellphones – comes around again to GM's plug-in hybrid. The new EPA sticker for the 2013 Chevrolet Volt has been released, and with it comes a fresh set of numbers. The highlights are an improved all-electric range and miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) rating: 38 miles and 98 MPGe – that's three miles of additional electric range and five more MPGe than last year. GM said in a statement today that "minor changes to the material composition of the battery cell chemistry" and a boost in overall battery capacity from 16 kWh to 16.5 are responsible for the increase. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/07/2013-chevy-volt-increases-range-to-38-electric-miles-98-mpge/ Honda finds that $5-plus gas is 'tipping point'. Do $6-a-gallon gas and electric vehicles go hand in hand? Well, it may be a stretch to conclude that from a two-minute fifty-second man-on-the-street video posted by Honda, but it may not be far off. Honda said it polled 1,000 Americans about their attitudes towards both buying more fuel-efficient vehicles and potential advanced powertrains and interviewed a handful of men and women to see if their views were consistent with the larger poll. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/06/honda-finds-that-5-plus-gas-is-tipping-point/ Honda Fit EV: Most Fuel-Efficient Car Ever? If EPA electric equivalency ratings are any guideline, the little Honda is tops. At the risk of sounding like a marketing flack, we'll just say it: The Honda Fit EV is the most fuel-efficient vehicle ever rated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The electric Fit, set to debut this summer in California and Oregon before heading to the East Coast in 2013, set 118 combined electric miles per "gallon," or MPGe. MPGe is the EPA's way of rating electric cars in the same fashion as gasoline models, by converting electricity's equivalent energy, in kilowatts, to a gallon of gasoline. Posted. http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=f0e6a2f3-c47a-42c8-bf59-54cd6a0737aa ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 14:28:57 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 8, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for June 8, 2012. 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 proposes approving Texas' clean air plan. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suggested Thursday it would approve parts of Texas' clean air plan, a move that could help ease some of the strains between the state and the federal agency. The EPA said in a statement that it supported revisions submitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality giving operating flexibility to some of the biggest air polluters, including the state's many refineries. The EPA indicated it would approve the plan once a 30-day public comment period ends. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EPA_TEXAS_CLEAN_AIR?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT CLIMATE CHANGE Weather center: 50 percent chance of El Nino later this year. There is a 50 percent chance the feared El Nino weather pattern which can trigger droughts in Southeast Asia and Australia and floods in South America may strike later this year, the U.S. Climate Prediction Center warned on Thursday. In its strongest prediction so far that El Nino could emerge, the CPC said conditions are still expected to be neutral between June and August, but there is a 50 percent likelihood that El Nino will develop in the remainder of the year. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/08/us-weather-elnino-cpc-idUSBRE85703E20120608 Warmest U.S. spring on record – NOAA. So far, 2012 has been the warmest year the United States has ever seen, with the warmest spring and the second-warmest May since record-keeping began in 1895, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported on Thursday. Temperatures for the past 12 months and the year-to-date have been the warmest on record for the contiguous United States, NOAA said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/07/climate-warmth-usa-idUSL1E8H7DLH20120607 Japan May Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Up to 15%, Panel Says. Japan’s greenhouse gas emissions may drop as much as 15 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels if the country increases the use of energy saving measures and clean energy, an environment ministry taskforce said. The taskforce debating Japan’s low-carbon policies and measures after 2013 plans to propose six different scenarios for emission cuts to the government, according to a draft report released today. Japan’s existing pledge is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels in 2020. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-08/japan-may-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions-by-up-to-15-panel-says.html Earth may be near tipping point, scientists warn. A group of scientists warns that population growth, climate change and environmental damage are pushing Earth toward calamitous and irreversible changes. A group of international scientists is sounding a global alarm, warning that population growth, climate change and environmental destruction are pushing Earth toward calamitous — and irreversible — biological changes. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0607-global-tipping-20120607,0,4125302.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/07/MN1T1OT26G.DTL&type=science Mexico's president enacts climate change legislation. Mexican President Felipe Calderon has signed a law introducing binding targets on climate change. Mr Calderon said on Twitter that the law would make Mexico the "first developing country with integral legislation against climate change". The law, which sets targets on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the use of renewable energy, is only the second of its kind in the world. The measures had been passed by the Senate in April by 78 votes to nil. Posted. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-18345079 FUELS News Summary: Airlines want govt biofuels support. NEED A LIFT: Airlines need government support to lower the cost of biofuels that could help to reduce pollution and carbon emissions, the head of the global aviation industry group said Thursday. COSTLY FLIGHTS: Airlines have flown some 1,500 commercial flights using fuel made from plants, but supplies are limited and costly, said Tony Tyler, chief executive of the International Air Transport Association. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AIRLINES_BIOFUELS_SUMMARY_BOX?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Shell Buys Jet Fuel in Europe; Diesel Barges Drop: Oil Products. Royal Dutch Shell Plc bought a cargo of jet fuel in northwest for the first time this month. Diesel barges fell as BP Plc sold six lots. Gasoil on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London fell for a second day, trading at the lowest in 16 months after Brent crude plunged to less than $98 a barrel on concern that an economic slowdown in the U.S. and Europe will worsen, curbing fuel demand. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-08/shell-buys-jet-fuel-in-europe-diesel-barges-drop-oil-products.html China to Cut Fuel Prices by the Most Since 2008, C1 Says. China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (600028) and PetroChina Co. (857), the nation’s biggest refiners, face more losses from processing crude after the government cut fuel prices by the most since 2008 as global crude costs tumbled. State-controlled retail gasoline prices fall by 530 yuan ($83) a metric ton and diesel by 510 yuan starting today, the National Development and Reform Commission, the nation’s top economic planner, said on its website yesterday. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-08/china-to-cut-fuel-prices-by-the-most-since-2008-c1-says.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/china-cuts-state-set-fuel-price-for-second-time-in-a-month-amid-effort-to-stimulate-economy/2012/06/08/gJQAk6h9MV_story.html Ethanol Advances on Concern China Rate Cuts to Lift Corn Demand. Ethanol futures advanced in Chicago on concern that interest rate cuts in China will boost demand for commodities such as corn. The biofuel gained 1 percent after the People’s Bank of China said the one-year lending rate will drop a quarter- percentage point to 6.31 percent starting tomorrow, stoking speculation that the country will boost corn imports. The grain is the primary ingredient in ethanol in the U.S. “Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-07/ethanol-advances-on-concern-china-rate-cuts-to-lift-corn-demand.html VEHICLES GM Boosts 2013 Volt Mileage Rating, Beating Toyota Prius. General Motors Co. (GM)’s changes to the battery of the Chevrolet Volt will extend the 2013 model’s range beyond Toyota Motor Corp. (7203)’s plug-in Prius in miles-per-gallon equivalent. GM said the all-electric range of the 2013 Chevrolet Volt will be 38 miles (61 kilometers) on a single charge after the company increased battery storage capacity and changed the cell’s chemistry. That’s an increase of three miles. The model’s mpg-equivalent will rise to 98 miles from 94, the company said in a statement on its website. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-07/gm-boosts-2013-volt-mileage-rating-beating-toyota-prius.html Exclusive: Europe set to regulate for greener cars. The European Commission is set to propose tighter carbon emissions standards for new EU cars, according to a draft proposal that is likely to divide the auto industry. The proposal, expected to be made public next month, would make binding a 2020 goal to lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to an average of 95 grams per kilometer (g/km). So far it is only a provisional, non-binding goal and compares with an existing, binding target of 130 g/km. Some industry representatives have said tougher binding standards would be extremely challenging. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/06/us-eu-cars-law-idUSBRE85511220120606 Cap-and-Trade for Electric Cars Gets Going in California. What a terrific idea! California's zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) law requires automakers to sell an increasing number of zero emission vehicles in the state - and those that can't meet their targets can buy "credits" from automakers who can. Automakers that can't meet their targets or don't buy enough credits face thousands of dollars in fines for each missed credit. The state can also ban the automaker from selling cars there. That sets up a nice incentive for producing ZEVs - an additional revenue stream. Posted. http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/23772 Cities learn the art of putting more cars on existing roads. Cars, highways and intersections across the United States are developing minds of their own. Indeed, the entire transportation network is getting smarter and learning to communicate so that people in increasingly congested cities can get where they need to go faster. These expanding "intelligent transportation systems" (ITS) encompass a new variety of technologies that boost safety, productivity and environmental protection by marrying communications-based hardware and software with transportation infrastructure and vehicles. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/08/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY China-U.S. Trade Tensions Rise as Renewable Energy Sags. When solar-panel maker Solyndra LLC collapsed in September after winning a $535 million U.S. loan guarantee, President Barack Obama’s administration blamed China’s even bigger aid for its renewable-energy industry. The China Development Bank Corp. in 2010 provided Solyndra’s Chinese competitors more than $30 billion in credit, dwarfing U.S. support for solar manufacturers as the price of polysilicon, the main material in solar cells, plummeted, Jonathan Silver, the Energy Department’s loan-guarantee chief at the time, told a House committee. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-07/china-u-s-trade-tensions-rise-as-renewable-energy-sags.html MISCELLANEOUS California Nuclear Plant to Stay Closed Through August. The San Onofre nuclear plant will remain shut down at least through August, Southern California Edison said, putting a big crimp in electricity supplies in the San Diego area this summer. The plant's two reactors remain idled while inspection teams investigate the reasons for premature aging of vital plant equipment. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has sent extra inspectors to the plant but they haven't released their findings. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303665904577453340514701950.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5 BY SUBSCRIPTION Scientist Is Reinstated After Deceit. A scientist who posed as a board member of a conservative organization to gain access to its confidential information has been reinstated as president of the Pacific Institute, the environmental research organization that he founded in California. The institute said Wednesday in a statement that an independent inquiry had confirmed the account offered by the scientist, Peter Gleick, of the false pretenses under which he obtained documents of the Heartland Institute in February. The documents contained details about the budget, strategy and donors to the institute, which disputes that global warming is under way. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/08/science/earth/scientist-peter-gleick-is-reinstated-after-deceit.html?_r=1 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/08/BAK51OUH3V.DTL&type=printable South Sacramento County to get aerial spraying in West Nile virus fight. Spells of warm weather in April and May coupled with late-spring rains are blamed for the early arrival of West Nile virus in Sacramento and Yolo counties this year. Citing high infection rates of birds and mosquitoes, the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District announced that it will conduct aerial spraying of 30,000 acres in south Sacramento County over two nights next week. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/08/4547107/south-sacramento-county-to-get.html Calif. blackouts possible with nuke plant offline. Los Angeles -- Southern California utility officials are warning that blackouts in the region are possible this summer as a result of the sidelined San Onofre nuclear power plant. The damaged plant is likely to remain sidelined until at least the end of August while investigators probe excessive wear in tubing that carries radioactive water, the plant's operator said Thursday. The officials say that if a heat wave hits while the twin-reactor plant is offline, rotating blackouts are a possibility. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/07/4546555/troubled-san-onofre-nuke-plant.html OPINIONS Drill for income with energy stocks. Whenever the threat of an economic slowdown starts hulking around like a cranky bear, I look to essentials that are important to me as a long-term investor, like energy. Then I consider what investors need most while they watch share prices dip, and that is steady dividends. Although I have severe reservations about energy companies' role in global warming - they can be doing much more to promote clean/alternative energy - energy companies that pay healthy, consistent dividends still make sense. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/08/us-column-wasik-energy-idUSBRE8570UJ20120608 Editorial: California also land of pricey energy. Government shares blame for costly gasoline and electric power. California, as just about everyone already knows, is among the nation's highest-taxed, most-regulated and most-expensive states to live in. Now, a report from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, a Washington, D.C., advocacy group, shows California also has the sixth-highest energy costs among the states in 2012.Energy costs, like taxes, regulations and the cost of living, are direct consequences of meddlesome, overbearing government intrusion. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/energy-357885-cost-business.html If you remove traffic jams, will people drive more? Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) are designed to relieve congestion and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that come with it. But there are doubts circulating as to just how effectively ITS can mitigate climate change. One of the problems with ITS is that by alleviating traffic and lowering the cost of travel, transportation technologies can actually attract more drivers to the road. This "induced demand" phenomenon can undo any environmental gains and force city planners to repair expensive, crumbling roads even sooner. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/08/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY BLOGS Romney’s conflicting remarks on Solyndra-like investments. Mitt Romney campaign adviser Eric Fehrnstrom squared off Sunday with President Obama’s deputy campaign manager, Stephanie Cutter, on ABC’s “This Week,” with the two operatives defending their candidates’ records on clean-energy investments. Earlier in the week, Romney held a news conference at Solyndra, describing the collapse of that federally backed solar-panel maker as proof that the Obama administration was misguided in trying to create jobs with targeted government investments — something the president’s critics have described as crony capitalism. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/romneys-conflicting-remarks-on-solyndra-like-investments/2012/06/07/gJQABn0vLV_blog.html Peter Gleick Reinstated at Pacific Institute. The water and climate expert Peter Gleick, a scientist who masqueraded as a board member of a conservative organization to gain access to its confidential financial information, has been reinstated as president of the Pacific Institute, the environmentally minded think tank that he founded. The institute posted a notice at its Web site on Wednesday saying that an independent investigation had confirmed Dr. Gleick’s account of the false pretenses under which he gained access to internal documents of the Chicago-based Heartland Institute in February. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/07/peter-gleick-reinstated-at-pacific-institute/ Are We Overestimating Biofuels' Benefits by Double Counting Emission Reductions? Enter here all who be wonks. Others, you've been warned. The popular argument goes that when calculating the emissions from biofuel powered vehicles you can ignore the emissions created by the vehicles burning them because the plants used to create biofuels already had sucked carbon out of the air and anything emitted by the car is just releasing it back into the atmosphere. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/are-we-overestimating-biofuels-benefits-double-counting-emission-reductions.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, 11 Jun 2012 16:00:44 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 11, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 11, 2012. 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 Water war reignites as L.A. resists fixing some Owens Lake dust. The L.A. DWP, which agreed in 1997 to fight dust pollution from part of the dry Owens Lake bed, wants to rework the deal and balks at an order to take responsibility for more territory. LONE PINE, Calif. — Los Angeles and the Owens Valley are at war over water again, with the city trying to rework a historic agreement aimed at stopping massive dust storms that have besieged the eastern Sierra Nevada since L.A. opened an aqueduct 99 years ago that drained Owens Lake. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-owens-dust-20120610,0,6961679.story http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_20826949/la-utility-fights-owens-lake-dust-control-order http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20826949/la-utility-fights-owens-lake-dust-control-order?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20826949/la-utility-fights-owens-lake-dust-control-order?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/10/2868377/la-utility-fights-owens-lake-dust.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/10/la-utility-fights-owens-lake-dust-control-order/#ixzz1xV5Vbm56 http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/la-utility-fights-owens-lake-dust-control-order/article_95079fbd-e5c1-571d-bf97-ee67d0f9776f.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/10/2235907/la-utility-fights-owens-lake-dust.html Group says Calif. air regulations discriminate. Fresno, Calif. - A coalition of environmental groups is alleging that California's Cap and Trade program violates the 1964 Civil Rights act. The groups filed a complaint Friday against the California Air Resources Board charging that minority groups will be disproportionately harmed by the program that allows polluters to discharge more emissions by buying credits from other less-polluting industries. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/10/4551905/group-says-calif-air-regulations.html http://www.cnbc.com/id/47765409/Group_says_Calif_air_regulations_discriminate http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20827320/group-says-calif-air-regulations-discriminate http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20827320/group-says-calif-air-regulations-discriminate?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20827320/group-says-calif-air-regulations-discriminate?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/10/2868449/group-says-calif-air-regulations.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/10/group-says-calif-air-regulations-discriminate/#ixzz1xV5o258h http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/10/2236011/group-says-calif-air-regulations.html Aging power plants in Ohio face uncertain futures. Eight aging electric generating plants powered by coal in Ohio are facing uncertain futures. They could be demolished or sold as utilities try to meet clear air standards. The coal-fired generators lacking sufficient pollution equipment are run by American Electric Power, Duke Energy and FirstEnergy. There are 22 coal-fired power plants in Ohio, including the eight headed for retirement. According to The Columbus Dispatch (bit.ly/LqcWrs) the shutdowns will eliminate toxic compounds, including mercury, along with pollutants that cause smog and soot. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/10/aging-power-plants-in-ohio-face-uncertain/#ixzz1xV5D0lHQ CLIMATE CHANGE China’s Top Planner Sets Up Climate-Change Center, Xinhua Says. The National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic planning agency, will set up a research center aimed at facilitating efforts to cope with climate change, Xinhua News Agency reported. The National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation will research strategic planning, laws and regulations, international policy, carbon markets and informating consulting, Xinhua said, citing Xie Zhenhua, deputy director of the NDRC. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-11/china-s-top-planner-sets-up-climate-change-center-xinhua-says.html green energy uk Applauds Efforts of Alternative Energy Awareness Days. London, England — green energy uk, a leading provider of eco-friendly electricity, has highlighted the importance of awareness campaigns to educate people about cleaner, greener energy - coinciding with Global Wind Day. Taking place on 15th June, Global Wind Day is an annual event worldwide that raises the profile of wind power and the possibilities it has to change the world. The campaign, says green energy uk, is an effective way to educate people about alternative ways of creating sustainable energy, and the pioneering work in this arena. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47767524 Group: Europe airlines could lose $1.1B this year. The global aviation trade group nearly doubled its forecast of European airlines' losses this year to $1.1 billion and said Monday the worldwide industry will scrape by with wafer thin profit margins due to high fuel prices. U.S. and Asian carriers should make money this year, but more airlines in Europe might follow Hungary's Malev into bankruptcy if the European financial crisis worsens, the International Air Transport Association said. The group called for governments to resolve a dispute over European carbon charges on airlines and to avoid tax and regulatory changes it said might hamper industry growth. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/10/2236318/group-global-airline-profits-thin.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Santa Rosa adopts compromise greenhouse gas emission plan. The Santa Rosa City Council has adopted a sweeping plan that tries to strike a balance between meeting aggressive greenhouse gas emission goals and minimizing the burdens on local businesses. The Climate Action Plan, a dense 231-page document, is meant to serve as a road map for how the city can meet its state-mandated goals and local emission reduction targets by 2020 and beyond. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120608/ARTICLES/120609497 Medical issues given short shrift in climate talks, say researchers. Aside from its impact on sea levels, weather and the economy, researchers say climate change is also an urgent public health concern, a matter that has been largely left out of the global climate conversation until recently. Rising average temperatures and more frequent weather extremes place a tremendous burden on human health, a fact officials need to include in developing a climate policy at regional and international scales. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/06/11/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Ethanol won’t hurt your car engine. No, it will not. Today’s passenger vehicle engines are developed around fuel that contain ethanol. However, there is no question the federal requirement that gasoline sold in Canada contain 5 per cent ethanol has caused difficulties for small engines such as those used in lawn mowers, weed whackers, etc. The Canadian requirement is lower than the 10 per cent in the U.S., which is moving to 15 per cent. At the 5 per cent level I doubt it is creating the problems your neighbour reports, but at 15 per cent there might be issues, particularly with engines left unused for lengthy periods of time since ethanol contains more moisture…Posted. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-drive/car-tips/ethanol-wont-hurt-your-car-engine/article4237046/ China team optimizes catalytic hydrogenation process to convert coal tar to gasoline and diesel. Researchers in China report the production of gasoline and diesel from coal tar via an optimized catalytic hydrogenation using two serial fixed beds, the first with a hydrofining catalyst of MoNi/γ-Al2O3 and the second with a hydrocracking catalyst of WNiP/γ-Al2O3-USY. Their paper was published in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels. Coal tars—highly viscous liquids—are byproduct of the carbonization of coal to produce metallurgical coke and/or natural gas. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/06/kan-20120609.html VEHICLES Can gas savings make up for a hybrid's higher sticker price? When deciding between a hybrid such as the Toyota Prius and a gas-only vehicle, how much city driving you do and how long you plan to keep the vehicle are just two of the factors to consider. Once a rarity in the showroom, fuel-sipping hybrids are becoming an increasingly common option at dealerships. Need a big luxury sedan with all the bells and whistles that still gets 29 miles to the gallon in everyday driving? Check out the Buick LaCrosse with the eAssist mileage boosting system. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-hybrid-20120610,0,5062460.story Are hybrids worth it? (VIDEO) Autos reporter Jerry Hirsch compares the Toyota Prius V and Volkswagen Jetta diesel wagons. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/videogallery/70362924/Business/Are-hybrids-worth-it Mileage increased in gasoline-powered vehicles, pollution reduced in diesel vehicles, startup says. Hydrogen Power Systems, a startup developing a mileage-raising and pollution-lowering device, says recent preliminary tests have demonstrated up to a 30 percent increase in mileage in gas-powered vehicles with its hydrogen injection system. The findings follow those of last fall, when the privately held company said its tests indicated the device can reduce tailpipe emissions from an 11-year-old diesel truck by more than 50 percent. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/mileage-increased-in-gasoline-powered-vehicles-pollution-reduced-in-diesel/article_05951e6a-416e-54ab-aab6-dbb23188462e.html Green-Car Credits: Automakers' New Way to Cash In. As the market for electric cars heats up—in 2011, about 18,000 electric vehicles were sold in the U.S., up from just under 500 in 2010—a new opportunity is emerging for carmakers: selling “credits” required to meet clean-air rules. This year, California begins stepping up the number of zero-emission vehicles, such as electric and hydrogen-powered cars, automakers must sell in the state. Companies that can’t meet their quotas can buy credits from rivals that exceed their targets. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-07/green-car-credits-automakers-new-way-to-cash-in Nissan establishes Zero Emission Fund; CO2 offset credits for LEAF owners in Japan. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. launched the Nissan Zero Emission Fund, a new fund for individual Nissan electric vehicle (EV) owners in Japan which converts the amount of CO2 emissions that are offset by driving the 100% electric Nissan LEAF to generate credits. Through participation in this fund program, Nissan LEAF owners will be able to generate CO2 emissions credits certified by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and sold to the Green Investment Promotion Organization, an organization that promotes investment in low carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/06/nissan-20120611.html HIGH-SPEED RAIL Environmental objections in path of bullet train. Rail construction could create more emissions in an area that already has dirty air and high asthma rates. Resolving the issues could delay the project and boost costs. The California bullet train is promoted as an important environmental investment for the future, but over the next decade the heavy construction project would potentially harm air quality, aquatic life and endangered species across the Central Valley. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bullet-green-20120611,0,7566489.story GREEN ENERGY $257 billion invested in renewable energy in 2011. Global investment in renewable energy reached a record of $257 billion last year, with solar attracting more than half the total spending, according to a U.N. report released Monday. Investment in solar energy surged to $147 billion in 2011, a year-on-year increase of 52 percent thanks to strong demand for rooftop photovoltaic installations in Germany, Italy, China and Britain. Large-scale solar thermal installations in Spain and the United States also contributed to growth during a fiercely competitive year for the solar industry. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jIMbjPsDJxU3W6hUUoGJQdKqd9cA?docId=dd8345923fba443da263dcfa164a33f1 AP Newsbreak: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20830871/record-investment-renewable-energy-2011?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20830871/record-investment-renewable-energy-2011?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Mandates keep green power growing through economic downturns – report. United Nations -- Renewable energy is inching ahead worldwide, despite head winds from the economy and governments mulling big budget cuts, new research says. Renewables accounted for almost half of the new power capacity added in 2011, led by wind and solar sources, according to a report issued today by REN21, an international group of researchers sponsored by the United Nations. The researchers estimated that modern renewable energy sources accounted for 8.2 percent of final energy consumption worldwide. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/11/14 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS New Wyoming supercomputer expected to boost atmospheric science. The National Center for Atmospheric Research's machine is one of the fastest computers ever built, its sheer speed designed to burst through the limits of chaos theory. Cheyenne, Wyo. — Here in the shortgrass prairie, where being stuck in the ways of the Old West is a point of civic pride, scientists are building a machine that will, in effect, look into the future. This month, on a barren Wyoming landscape dotted with gopher holes and hay bales, the federal government is assembling a supercomputer 10 years in the making, one of the fastest computers ever built and the largest ever devoted to the study of atmospheric science. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-supercomputer-wyoming-20120610,0,2368639.story For rocket fans, JPL's open house is the right space. An estimated 20,000 people swarm the leafy campus in La Cañada Flintridge, descending on the exhibits and activities as if they were amusement park rides. The Westminster man took four months off his warehouse job last year to visit every NASA site in the United States. On Saturday, he joined an estimated 20,000 people who swarmed the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's leafy campus for its annual open house weekend. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-jpl-open-house-20120610,0,2460466.story OPINIONS America’s New Energy Reality. AMERICA needs a new political discourse on energy. This would recognize the emerging reality that the United States has turned around as an energy producer and is on a major upswing. And the impact will be measured not just in energy security and the balance of payments. Energy development also turns out to be an engine for job creation and economic growth — something that would hardly have been considered the last time we were electing a president. In 2008, the rise in oil prices was accompanied — and partly fueled — by a belief that an era of permanent scarcity was at hand. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/10/opinion/sunday/the-new-politics-of-energy.html?_r=1&src=recg Daniel Borenstein: In his quest to be like his father, Gov. Brown risks his own legacy on high-speed rail. As Gov. Jerry Brown barrels ahead with high-speed trains, he could find that his quest for a legacy derails the November tax measure he desperately needs to repair the state budget. For his entire political career, Brown has lived in the shadows of his visionary father, Pat, the governor from 1959-67 who brought us the State Water Project and the master plan for California higher education. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_20817309/daniel-borenstein-his-quest-be-like-his-father http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_20816288/oped-governors-high-risk-high-speed-rail-gambit http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_20822902/editorial-despite-warning-signs-high-speed-rail-project ELIAS: Commission pulls plugs on dubious hydrogen grant policy. Less than two weeks after this column exposed a situation where tens of millions of state tax dollars were given to billion-dollar corporations ---- but only with approval from other billion-dollar corporations ---- the California Energy Commission suddenly ended that practice. In a message sent late May 25, the commission said it "is canceling its grant solicitation for hydrogen fueling stations in order to revise solicitation protocols. The commission will issue a new solicitation at a future date.” Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/elias/elias-commission-pulls-plugs-on-dubious-hydrogen-grant-policy/article_01d4a19b-cd1d-5044-81ce-7a57168bd740.html The Choice Is Ours. The "Future We Want" is the title of the negotiating text we have come here to complete. Since it was first made public in January, the draft has swollen to over 200 pages. Challenges to be considered have been identified: over a billion people live in poverty, food and water are becoming increasingly scarce, and two-thirds of the earth's ecosystems are in decline, to name a few. Governments, civil society, and other stakeholders have weighed in. Text has been proposed, debated, amended, accepted, and struck. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ambassador-marlene-moses/the-choice-is-ours_b_1586540.html?ref=climate-change 'Cap and Trade' For CO2 Needs a Stake through the Heart. Cap and trade (C&T) is in the news again: Global Carbon Market trading (practically all EU) climbed to $176 billion in 2011 according to the The World Bank, which has just released its annual State and Trends of The Carbon Market in 2012. That makes it about the same value as total global wheat production -- which supplies about 20% of the calories consumed by the 7 billion people on planet Earth. Meanwhile in Sacramento, CA, passage of Assembly Bill 1532 on May 29, signals a shift from regulation of air pollution to an outright war on business and industry in California. Posted. http://www.americanthinker.com/printpage/?url=http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/../2012/06/cap_and_trade_for_co2_needs_a_stake_through_the_heart.html BLOGS On Not Reaching Carbon Goals. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions by enough to prevent global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) is “still within reach,’’ the International Energy Agency reported Monday, but at the moment, trends in energy usage are running in the wrong direction. In the latest version of Energy Technology Perspectives, a report issued biennially by the agency, it said the technology to achieve that goal is available. But as Maria van der Hoeven, executive director of the agency, put it, “we’re not using it.’’ Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/on-not-reaching-carbon-goals/ Q. and A.: A Panoramic View of Energy Innovation. It’s been a busy two and a half years for Arun Majumdar, who is stepping down from his post as director of the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy. As the founding director, voice and face of the agency, better known as ARPA-E, Dr. Majumdar has been on the front lines of the Obama administration’s investments in experimental energy projects, many of which focus on improving efficiency, reducing pollution or devising plant-based alternatives to fossil fuels. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/q-and-a-a-panoramic-view-of-energy-innovation/?smid=tw-nytimesgreen&seid=auto Hey America, here's how to use 'half the oil' by 2035. It's going to take a concerted effort to make a big dent in the oil use in the U.S. Everyone's pretty much in agreement about that. But how big and how do we get there? The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has an idea on how to make the dent as big as half of all the oil we use. It'll take a while, but it's a target to shoot for. Called "Half The Oil: A realistic plan to cut the United States' projected oil use in half over 20 years" (PDF), the UCS says there is a way to save a total of nearly eight million barrels per day by 2035 using efficiency strategies and another four million through innovation. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/11/hey-america-heres-how-to-use-half-the-oil-by-2035/ ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 13:06:50 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 12, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for June 12, 2012. 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 Idling limits the 'Rodney Dangerfield' of laws. Jodi Miller likes her coffee as much as anyone, but she admits to feeling guilty idling her car with a half-dozen others at a coffee shack on a residential street corner. Miller knows Salt Lake City recently passed a law that limits "unnecessary" idling to no more than two minutes. She's pushing the limit at Java Jo's in the Avenues neighborhood. "I usually turn my car off. I try to remember that but sometimes I just space it," said Miller, waiting for a carhop to deliver coffee. "It's hard at a drive-thru when you have to start, stop, start. When I saw this line, I thought, is it really worth coffee today?" Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jfq-4IvG5WbG9p_9H7_ZSI-RvXfg?docId=308235fe8f6848cbbbd8083b0031b7ec AP Newsbreak: http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20837413/idling-limits-rodney-dangerfield-laws?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20837413/idling-limits-rodney-dangerfield-laws?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/12/2869932/idling-limits-the-rodney-dangerfield.html#storylink=misearch http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47776685#.T9drIdVeSW8 China’s smog city: What Wuhan looks like with 20 times the U.S. dust limit. This is what residents of the Chinese province of Wuhan woke up to yesterday. At about 2 a.m. local time Monday morning, a dense smog began to cover the province. By early afternoon, it reached its peak density in the land-locked city of Wuhan itself. People posted numerous photos of the haze on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter. One blogger described her friends in the city darkly joking about being turned into Incredible Hulks. Posted. http://grist.org/news/chinas-smog-city-what-wuhan-looks-like-with-20-times-the-u-s-dust-limit/ Moderates float alternative to Inhofe mercury resolution. Sen. James Inhofe has long said that his resolution to strike down a U.S. EPA mercury and air toxics rule will put his colleagues on record as either supporting the coal industry or siding with the Obama administration's "war" on fossil fuels. The Oklahoma Republican's Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution, which is expected to come to the floor by Monday, would bar EPA from writing a substantially similar rule in the future. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/12/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Group warns of trade war over Europe carbon charge. The global aviation industry group warned Tuesday that governments might be moving toward a trade war over Europe's carbon charges on airlines and appealed for a negotiated settlement. China, India, Russia and 26 other governments that oppose the charges issued a joint declaration in February that cited possible retaliatory steps such as imposing charges on European airlines. "The last thing that we want as an industry is a trade war," said Paul Steele, director of environmental issues for the International Air Transport Association, at an industry conference in Beijing. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gcmp0STtrzIpC8IsEDTIp7zO5thg?docId=7d7ea1c0e13144d6aa9b4044b9923cc0 AP Newsbreak: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20837642/group-warns-trade-war-over-europe-carbon-charge?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20837642/group-warns-trade-war-over-europe-carbon-charge?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/12/2870040/group-warns-of-trade-war-over.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/12/group-warns-of-trade-war-over-europe-carbon/ IEA Calls for More Funds to Support Carbon Capture Technology. Governments must increase funds to support carbon capture and storage technology and ramp up efforts to improve energy efficiency or risk missing climate change targets, the International Energy Agency warned. Progress in deploying nine out of 10 technologies that curb carbon emissions and reduce energy use is stalling, the Paris- based agency, which advises 28 nations, said today in a report. Greater use of electric vehicles and pollution-trapping CCS equipment are needed to cut energy-related CO2 emissions by half by 2050, according to the IEA. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-11/iea-calls-for-more-funds-to-support-carbon-capture-technology.html http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/12/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY As the Earth warms, forest floors add greenhouse gases to the air. Huge amounts of carbon trapped in the soils of U.S. forests will be released into the air as the planet heats up, contributing to a “vicious cycle” that could accelerate climate change, a new study concluded. “As the Earth warms, there will be more carbon released from soils, and that will make the Earth warm even faster,” said Eric Davidson, who studies soil carbon at the Woods Hole Research Center in Massachusetts but was not involved in the new study. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/as-the-earth-warms-forest-floors-add-greenhouse-gases-to-the-air/2012/06/11/gJQATcIOVV_story.html EPA complaint says cap and trade racially biased. A coalition of environmental justice and civil rights activists has filed a complaint alleging that cap-and-trade provisions in California's pioneering program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions discriminate against people of color. The groups, which represent minority communities, accused the California Air Resources Board of violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when it agreed to allow polluters in low-income areas to use carbon offsets to buy their way out of pollution reduction under the state's global warming reduction plan. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/12/BAQI1P08C6.DTL&type=green UCI: Heating soil could worsen warming. Warming forest soil in mid to high latitudes could speed the release of its carbon, worsening global warming and creating a “vicious cycle,” according to newly published research by scientists at UC Irvine. The discovery solves a longstanding problem: whether the heating of carbon that has lain in soil for decades causes the same release seen in younger soil carbon. The answer is yes, the research shows — in fact, the scientists found a strong response to warming in most of the soils they tested. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2012/06/11/uci-heating-soil-could-worsen-warming/172695/ Humans play a 'dominant role' in warming of the seas – study. Human activities that produce greenhouse gases, like the burning of fossil fuels, have driven warming in the upper ocean over the past 50 years, a new study finds. Prior research had suggested that natural factors alone could not account for ocean warming during that period. But the latest research, published Sunday in the journal Nature Climate Change, takes a more detailed view. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/12/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Which must come first for China, curbing CO2 or reforming energy prices? China's goal of expanding the use of non-fossil fuel won't happen until the government reforms energy price controls, experts say. It poses a chicken-or-egg problem that policymakers, outside analysts and private investors have just started to wrestle with. China has become the world's biggest carbon dioxide emitter largely because 70 percent of its electricity comes from coal. China's 12th five-year plan aims to cut carbon dioxide emission by 17 percent and enlarge the proportion of alternative energy from about 9 percent to 15 percent by 2020. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/12/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Carbon tax might re-emerge as reform measure in nonelection year – economist. The prognosis on getting a climate-related policy pushed through this year does not look good, but after the election, a market-driven climate policy could make its way into broader fiscal reform, experts at the Brookings Institution said in a panel discussion yesterday. Regardless of which political party controls the next administration, a renewed push for a comprehensive climate policy looks doubtful, due in large part to a persistently high unemployment rate, said Ted Gayer, co-director of the economic studies program at Brookings. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/12/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Climate change requires a change in strategy from South African winegrowers. Higher temperatures, changing soil salinity and other consequences of a changing climate will mean South African winegrowers will need to embrace a diversity of grapes and growing methods, rather than specializing in one. Luckily, said Nick Vink, a professor of agricultural economics at Stellenbosch University in South Africa and co-author of a working paper on the topic, the South African wine already defines itself by its diversity. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/12/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Oil hits 8-month low as Spain optimism fades. The price of oil hovered above $82 a barrel Tuesday after touching an eight-month low near $81 earlier in the session amid concern Spain's bank bailout won't be enough to stem Europe's debt crisis and suggestions OPEC could boost production targets. By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for July delivery was down 24 cents to $82.46 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Earlier on Tuesday, oil dropped to $81.07, the lowest since October, having dropped $1.40 on Monday. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/06/11/financial/f220418D63.DTL Oil industry groups sue EPA over cellulosic requirements. Two oil industry groups sued U.S. EPA yesterday over its requirements for cellulosic biofuel production. In the lawsuit filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and Western States Petroleum Association say EPA should have waived the requirements because the United States produced no cellulosic biofuel last year. EPA had set a target of 6.6 million gallons of production for last year under the renewable fuel standard, the nation's biofuel mandate. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/12/19 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Daimler Starts Production of Electric-Powered Smart Beating BMW. Daimler AG (DAI), the third-biggest maker of luxury vehicles, started sales and production of its first mass-market electric car today, beating Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW) with the introduction of an emission-free model. Daimler began assembly of the Smart Fortwo electric drive at a factory in Hambach, France, which is being upgraded for more than 200 million euros ($251 million), the Stuttgart, Germany-based company said in an emailed statement. Deliveries will start later this year. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-11/daimler-starts-production-of-electric-powered-smart-beating-bmw.html GREEN ENERGY Renewable energy use grows by 275% in a decade – study. In the decade since the last U.N. Earth Summit, the percentage of renewable energy produced in the world's leading economies has spiked 274 percent, a new Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) study finds. But on the eve of the next U.N. Conference on Sustainable Development, in Rio de Janeiro, activists and energy economists say the goal of increasing the amount of renewable power to 15 percent of total electricity production, while in reach, will require a serious commitment by world leaders. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/12/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Shaky Battery Maker Claims a Breakthrough. Detroit — Lauded during a visit by President Obama, A123 Systems was supposed to be a centerpiece of his administration’s effort to use $2 billion in government subsidies to jump-start production of sophisticated electric batteries in the United States. Instead, the company, which makes lithium-ion batteries for electric cars, has stumbled along with the rest of the nascent industry and now threatens to give more ammunition to critics of the president’s heavy spending on new energy technologies. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/business/energy-environment/a123-us-backed-battery-maker-claims-breakthrough.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all&pagewanted=print The Towbes Group Inc. Bans Smoking In 2,000 Rental Apartments. One California real estate group has decided to ban smoking in all of its apartments, but the aim of the ban isn't to make residents healthier. Under a recently enacted California law that allows landlords to prohibit smoking, The Towbes Group Inc. of Santa Barbara has decided to ban smoking in almost 2,000 apartments across 13 of its complexes, the Los Angeles Times reports. The smoking ban is primarily intended to cut costs, since cleaning apartments previously rented by smokers is generally twice as expensive as that of non-smokers. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/11/towbes-group-smoking-ban_n_1586909.html?utm_hp_ref=los-angeles&ir=Los%20Angeles OPINIONS Dan Walters: California's highways, roads run into trouble. California Gov. Jerry Brown wants to fast track an initial section of a bullet train system, perhaps by partially exempting it from environmental impact laws, even though there's no financing on the horizon to complete the project, and even though a new poll shows that most Californians don't want to build it. While the bullet train debate rages in the state's capital and in the media, everyone is ignoring a far more pressing transportation issue: the deterioration of highways and roads that most Californians use every day and that were once considered to be the finest such network in the world. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/transportation-358370-california-state.html Come Clean, Dirty Thirty. Most people are familiar with the slogan "What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas." Well, this may come as a surprise to you, but it seems that this mantra is also taking a hold on some of the senators you send to Washington. NRDC Action Fund is here to shed a bright light under the cloak of secrecy on the latest group of elected officials, who we've dubbed the "Dirty Thirty." They may think what happens in Washington, stays in Washington, Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/heather-taylormiesle/clean-air-congress_b_1588492.html BLOGS Toward a Greener Soda Can. Of all the materials that are commonly dropped in recycling bins, aluminum is by far the most valuable. New aluminum sells for almost $2,000 a metric ton, so recycling old cans would seem to be profitable. It takes about 75,000 cans to make a metric ton, so each one should be worth about 2.5 cents. But recycling the cans turns out to be harder than it looks, because the basic soft drink or beer can is actually made of two kinds of aluminum. The bottom and sides are made from an aluminum sheet that is strong enough to be stamped into a round shape without tearing. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/toward-a-greener-soda-can/?ref=science Warming Will Unlock Carbon in Forests, Study Warns. Climate scientists have long been concerned about the possibility that warming temperatures will speed changes on the earth’s surface that will in turn accelerate global warming. The best illustration of such a feedback loop involves the melting of sea ice in the Arctic. The ice reflects solar radiation back into space rather than absorbing it. When it melts, it leaves open water that absorbs the heat rather than reflecting it. The more warm water there is, the more ice melts, and so on. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/warming-will-unlock-carbon-in-forests-study-warns/ E.P.A. Soot Rules Expected This Week. he federal Environmental Protection Agency plans to propose new air quality standards for soot by Thursday and issue final standards by Dec. 14 under a tentative agreement with 11 states that sued the agency earlier this year. The states, including New York and California, blame fine particulate matter from diesel trucks, buses, power plants and other sources for respiratory illnesses and other public health problems. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/11/e-p-a-soot-rules-expected-this-week/ Fire and Warming – Different Forecasts for Tropics and Temperate Zones. Researchers using a decade of satellite data on fires and a suite of climate models have produced the first thorough global estimate of changes in the frequency of fires in the world’s forests under greenhouse-driven global warming. There’s ample uncertainty but the study, published today in the peer-reviewed online journal Ecosphere, points to a variety of outcomes, with fires likely becoming more frequent in zones you might expect — like temperate North America and particularly the western United States — but rarer in the tropics. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/fire-and-warming-different-forecasts-for-tropics-and-temperate-zones/ The Water That Fuels California’s Power Grid. How many gallons to run that microwave? We hear a lot about how green our energy is in California. Instead of using coal, the state runs on natural gas and increasingly, renewable power. But there’s a hidden cost to our energy supply: water use. In fact, every time you turn on a light, it’s like turning on your faucet. It’s been calculated that it takes 1.5 gallons of water to run a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours. The way water and power work together is a lot like a tea kettle. Steam drives the power industry. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/06/12/the-water-that-fuels-californias-power-grid/ ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 16:34:16 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 13, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 13, 2012. 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 Dispute centers on dust pollution. Los Angeles and the Owens Valley are at war over water, with the city trying to rework a historic agreement aimed at stopping massive dust storms that have besieged the eastern Sierra Nevada since L.A. opened an aqueduct 99 years ago that drained Owens Lake. The L.A. Department of Water and Power has spent $1.2 billion in accordance with a 1997 agreement to combat the powder-fine dust from a 40-square-mile area of the dry Owens Lake bed. By introducing vegetation, gravel and flooding, the DWP has reduced particle air pollution by 90 percent. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/13/2871698/dispute-centers-on-dust-pollution.html#storylink=misearch CLIMATE CHANGE Mitt Romney worked to combat climate change as governor. His gubernatorial record on the environment has little in common with his positions in the presidential race, those who knew him in Massachusetts say. Washington — During his first 18 months as governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney spent considerable time hammering out a sweeping climate change plan to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions. As staff briefed him on possible measures and environmentalists pressed him to act, Romney frequently repeated a central thought, people at those meetings said: That climate change is occurring…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-romney-energy-20120613,0,1068265.story Climate Change Will Boost Wildfires Across North America And Europe, Scientists Report. Climate change will make U.S. western wildfires, like those now raging in parts of Colorado and New Mexico, more frequent over the next 30 years, researchers reported on Tuesday. More broadly, almost all of North America and most of Europe will see wildfires more often by the year 2100, the scientists wrote in the journal Ecosphere, a publication of the Ecological Society of America. Using satellite-based fire records and 16 different climate change models…Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/12/climate-change-wildfires_n_1588741.html Measuring the 'Other' Greenhouse Gases: New Method for Evaluating Short-Lived Pollutants. New research from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has found that levels of methane—a potent greenhouse gas emitted from many man-made sources, such as coal mines, landfills and livestock ranches—are at least one-and-a-half times higher in California than previously estimated. Posted. http://eponline.com/articles/2012/06/13/measuring-the-other-greenhouse-gases-new-method-for-evaluating-short-lived-pollutants.aspx DIESEL EMISSIONS WHO's cancer agency: Diesel fumes cause cancer. Diesel fumes cause cancer, the World Health Organization's cancer agency declared Tuesday, a ruling it said could make exhaust as important a public health threat as secondhand smoke. The risk of getting cancer from diesel fumes is small, but since so many people breathe in the fumes in some way, the science panel said raising the status of diesel exhaust to carcinogen from "probable carcinogen" was an important shift. "It's on the same order of magnitude as passive smoking," said Kurt Straif, director of the IARC department that evaluates cancer risks. "This could be another big push for countries to clean up exhaust from diesel engines." Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gceB6aX6tJwU2J13jhSoFkkVuwyw?docId=832650ee86054088bd5563f3ef8056cf AP Newsbreak: http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-diesel-engine-exhaust-linked-with-risk-of-lung-cancer-20120612,0,7726895.story http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/12/whos-cancer-agency-diesel-fumes-cause-cancer/ Diesel engine exhaust linked to increased risk of lung cancer. The world’s most prestigious cancer research group on Tuesday classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to humans and concluded that exposure is associated with increased risk of lung cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer — part of the World Health Organization — made the announcement at a meeting in France, finding, in part, “that diesel exhaust is a cause of lung cancer, and also noted a positive association with an increased risk of bladder cancer. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-diesel-engine-exhaust-linked-with-risk-of-lung-cancer-20120612,0,7726895.story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/06/12/international/i090357D02.DTL Court Rules for Navistar Competitors in Clean Air Case. In a victory for Navistar's competitors, a federal court said that the Environmental Protection Agency should not have allowed Navistar to pay penalties on engines that don't meet clean air standards. Yesterday's ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit means that Navistar can no longer use nonconformance penalties as a way to keep selling engines. The immediate impact of the ruling is not clear. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=77221 FUELS Cuomo Plan Would Limit Gas Drilling to a Few Counties in New York. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration is pursuing a plan to limit the controversial drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing to portions of several struggling New York counties along the border with Pennsylvania, and to permit it only in communities that express support for the technology. The plan, described by a senior official at the State Department of Environmental Conservation and others with knowledge of the administration’s strategy, would limit drilling to the deepest areas of the Marcellus Shale rock formation, at least for the next several years, in an effort to reduce the risk of groundwater contamination. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/nyregion/hydrofracking-under-cuomo-plan-would-be-restricted-to-a-few-counties.html?_r=2 US coal use falling fast; utilities switch to gas. America is shoveling coal to the sidelines. The fuel that powered the U.S. from the industrial revolution into the iPhone era is being pushed aside as utilities switch to cleaner and cheaper alternatives. The share of U.S. electricity that comes from coal is forecast to fall below 40 percent for the year — the lowest level since the government began collecting this data in 1949. Four years ago, it was 50 percent. By the end of this decade, it is likely to be near 30 percent. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/06/12/national/a130620D53.DTL&type=printable VEHICLES EV sales in Central and Eastern Europe to exceed 60,000 - assuming incentives are fully in place. The study focuses on market forecasts for sales of electric vehicles (EVs) as well as charging station installations in 2012-2017 in ten countries of the Central and Eastern European region, including Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. With a population of more than 100 million people, this region is believed to witness even stronger growth in e-mobility after 2017 as costs of EVs are anticipated to decrease. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4716 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Brown admin tried to add CEQA measure to Calif. budget bill – sources. The California governor's office yesterday sought unsuccessfully to add to the state's budget bill language protecting high-speed rail from the full force of environmental law, green groups and others said. Leaders in both chambers objected to the provision from Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown's administration, observers said. The California Senate opposed including in the spending legislation any language on high-speed rail. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/13/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Dirty soil and diabetes: Anniston's toxic legacy. Rev. Thomas Long doesn't have any neighbors on Montrose Avenue in Anniston, Alabama. Everyone is gone, abandoning the neighborhood after widespread chemical contamination was discovered there in the 1990s. Long didn't want to move; he had lived in the same house for all but one of his 64 years. Now he is stuck. Stuck on a street with no neighbors. Stuck with a property he's convinced is unclean. Stuck with an extraordinary load of chemicals in his body. And stuck with diabetes. As the EPA's cleanup of Anniston stretches into its eighth year, new research has linked the residents' PCBs exposure to diabetes. Posted. http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/pollution-poverty-people-of-color-day-6-diabetes OPINIONS EDITORIAL: EPA’s scary-air sniffers. Americans on their way to work or school may soon be reaching for a new high-tech device as they head out the door - a personal air-quality monitor. That’s the vision of bureaucrats at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who are trying to develop a portable sniffer that measures the body’s reactions to pollution in the air. It’s bound to take fear-mongering to a new level. On June 6, the EPA announced “My Air, My Health Challenge” in a call for inventors to compete for cash prizes in building the best air monitors. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/12/epas-scary-air-sniffers/ Are women greener than men? Women rank values linked to environmental concern as more important than men do and see environmentalism as important to protecting themselves and their families. When it comes to caring for the environment, is there a gender difference between men and women? A growing body of social science research suggests yes. Women consistently rank values strongly linked to environmental concern — things such as altruism, personal responsibility and empathy — as more important than men do. They also say they see environmentalism as important to protecting themselves and their families. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-polakovic-gender-and-the-environment-20120613,0,2816430.story BLOGS A State-by-State Climate Map. The Heat Is On. U.S. Temperature Trends. If those New England seasons feel far warmer these days than they were 20 years ago, it’s because they are. So are Florida’s, Arizona’s, and Washington State’s. A new interactive map released by the group Climate Central summarizes the average temperatures of each of the 48 contiguous United States for the past 100 years. By clicking across the country (try it on the map above), you can see that lately, temperatures are trending up no matter where you live. But if you look closely, the story is more complicated than a general upswing in temperatures. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/13/a-state-by-state-climate-map/ ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 13:14:48 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 14, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 14, 2012. 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 clean is your air? Nine of the 10 U.S. cities with the worst air pollution are in California, including the most polluted area in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Riverside, ranked No. 1 for poor ozone quality. Six of the 10 cities with the worst short term particle pollution are also in the state, with Bakersfield-Delano ranked as No. 1. The numbers come from a recent report by the American Lung Association, which publishes the rankings to highlight the connection between air quality and health. “We are trying to remind the public that this remains a serious problem,” said Bonnie Holmes-Gen, executive director for Air Quality for the Lung Association. Posted. http://www.healthycal.org/archives/8992 New study backs up EPA assertions on low cost of tailpipe standards. U.S. EPA's forthcoming new standards for the amount of sulfur in gasoline will not boost the price at the pump for consumers as industry has claimed, according to an economic study to be released today. At issue are so-called Tier 3 air pollution standards for tailpipes that the agency is expected to propose this year and finalize in 2013 at the earliest. The agency is expected to lower the sulfur limit in gasoline from 30 parts per million to 10 ppm, a move that will bring it in line with Japan and the European Union and, the agency says, lead to significant health benefits. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/14/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Americans prefer climate regulations over market-based measures. Economists commonly favor market-based methods of curbing greenhouse gas emissions, such as taxes and emissions trading schemes, but a new survey shows that the American public does not. Rather than putting a price on carbon, Americans tend to support regulatory programs on clean energy development, industrial emission controls and vehicle mileage standards, according to the spring 2012 National Survey of American Public Opinion on Climate Change (NSAPOCC). Posted. http://eenews.net/climatewire/2012/06/13/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY In California, No Taboos Over Coastal Climate Threats. California's coastal resource managers are including sea-level science in their planning, but lawmakers in N. Carolina and Virginia forbid open debate. In California, officials in coastal cities are becoming increasingly aware of the potential impacts of climate change, and they're preparing to deal with them. Not so in Virginia, where even the words "sea level rise" and "climate change" are verboten. Posted. http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20120613/nuclear-power-plants-united-states-climate-change-global-warming-water-scarcity?page=show FUELS Cuomo Plan Would Limit Gas Drilling to a Few Counties in New York. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration is pursuing a plan to limit the controversial drilling method known as hydraulic fracturing to portions of several struggling New York counties along the border with Pennsylvania, and to permit it only in communities that express support for the technology. The plan, described by a senior official at the State Department of Environmental Conservation and others with knowledge of the administration’s strategy…Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/nyregion/hydrofracking-under-cuomo-plan-would-be-restricted-to-a-few-counties.html?_r=2 Idea of limited NY fracking divides energy camps. Landowners along New York's southern border who support natural gas drilling are cheered by reports that the Cuomo administration is considering allowing hydraulic fracturing on a limited basis in towns that want it, though opponents call the idea "shameful." The administration is pursuing a plan to limit the controversial shale gas drilling technology to portions of Broome, Chenango, Steuben and Tioga counties, The New York Times quoted a senior official at the state Department of Environmental Conservation as saying, along with others with knowledge of the situation. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/13/idea-of-limited-ny-fracking-divides-energy-camps/#ixzz1xmfhW2Ca VEHICLES American drivers turn to smaller, better engines. Back when gas was cheap, Americans bought cars with V-8 engines like the Big Block, Cobra Jet and Ramcharger. Acceleration was all that mattered, even in family cars that never made it to full throttle. The 427-cubic inch Chevrolet Tri-Power was the siren song of the gearhead, sending Corvettes roaring down the highway at about 140 mph. But now, thanks to government regulation and gas-price gyrations, the motors that move the nation's cars and trucks are shrinking. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5im5tlpNdAuQrAihjPR0TqYOiXZtQ?docId=46c30492445943c9917b243ec72860a7 AP Newsbreak: http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20856453/american-drivers-turn-smaller-better-engines?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20856456/news-summary-car-and-trucks-have-smaller-engines?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.nctimes.com/business/american-drivers-turn-to-smaller-better-engines/article_b06674e7-8b5a-5951-a1cd-197ddca78662.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/14/2241487/american-drivers-turn-to-smaller.html GREEN ENERGY Jerry Brown administration to support disputed trash-burning plant. Gov. Jerry Brown's administration says it will support a Canadian company's effort to vaporize garbage and turn it into electricity in Monterey County, despite concerns raised by environmentalists. Plasco Energy Group's $175 million project is at the center of a regulatory dispute over gasification, an emerging technology in which garbage, under intense heat, is converted into a synthetic fuel used to generate electricity. At issue is whether the Plasco project qualifies as a renewable energy project under state law. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/14/v-print/4560750/jerry-brown-administration-to.html Crowdsourced solar gets a nod — and a check — from the Department of Energy. I was once in a meeting with a guy who sold and installed solar panels. When he asked a woman sitting next to him if she’d thought about putting solar panels on her house, she replied that she’d love to, but she couldn’t afford it. His response came with the casual immediacy of the salesman: “That’s what you think.” The challenge to broad adoption of solar used to be a lack of awareness. Posted. http://grist.org/news/crowdsourced-solar-gets-a-stamp-of-approval-and-a-check-from-the-department-of-energy/ State's biggest power user to cut ties to coal, use renewables. The biggest electricity consumer in California will stop buying power from a coal-fired plant and use more green energy in order to shrink its impact on the climate. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) said yesterday that it is taking these steps and several others as it aims to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent below 1990 levels within the next seven years. The move comes as the state's climate law, A.B. 32, rolls out a number of rules affecting most energy users. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/14/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY China promises money, manufacturing help for clean cookstove alliance. China is expected to make a "significant financial commitment" to the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, the partnership's executive director said yesterday. Radha Muthiah said China, which agreed last month to join the alliance, also will be offering a range of technical and manufacturing assistance to the program. Having spearheaded the world's largest clean cookstove efforts in the 1980s and '90s, she and an official from the Chinese embassy said yesterday, the country is well-positioned to offer a range of expertise. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/06/14/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DOE announces new competition to make solar competitive with fossil fuels. Energy Secretary Steven Chu yesterday announced a new competition for distributed solar energy and plans to fund nine startups in solar power systems. Speaking yesterday at the SunShot Grand Challenge Summit in Denver, Colo., Chu explained that the "America's Most Affordable Rooftop Solar" contest pits American companies against each other to install 5,000 rooftop photovoltaic systems at an average cost of $2 per watt. The top three teams will share $10 million. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/14/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS US wildfires fuel urgency for forest restoration. As firefighters battle blazes in New Mexico and Colorado that have forced evacuations and destroyed hundreds of structures, the U.S. Forest Service chief is renewing his call to restore forests to a more natural state, where fire was a part of the landscape. Experts say a combination of decades of vigorous fire suppression and the waning of the timber industry over environmental concerns has left many forests a tangled, overgrown mess…Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/us-wildfires-fuel-urgency-for-forest-restoration/article_adf7654a-03aa-55ce-b328-4681f0814cb9.html MORENO VALLEY: Residents question consultant’s objectivity. Moreno Valley residents say the consultant selected to review the environmental impact report for a proposed 41.6-million-square-foot distribution center has publicly embraced the project, further indication that city officials already have decided to approve the project. Timothy Krantz, a University of Redlands environmental studies professor with 35 years of land use experience…Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/moreno-valley/moreno-valley-headlines-index/20120611-moreno-valley-residents-question-consultants-objectivity.ece ACLJ Files Suit Against UCLA After Professor Is Fired For Blowing Whistle On Junk Science. The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) has filed suit on behalf of Dr. James E. Enstrom, a UCLA research professor who was terminated after he blew the whistle on junk environmental science and scientific misconduct at the University of California (UC). "The facts of this case are astounding," said David French, Senior Counsel of the ACLJ. " Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/aclj-files-suit-against-ucla-after-professor-is-fired-for-blowing-whistle-on-junk-science-2012-06-14 OPINIONS Drilling in New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s preliminary blueprint for hydraulic fracturing in New York State strikes a sensible balance between the need for economic development and the need to protect the environment and human health. Many important issues must still be addressed — and tough, detailed regulations issued — before Mr. Cuomo can think of greenlighting drilling. But he appears to be on the right track. As reported in The Times on Wednesday, the plan would restrict hydraulic fracturing to economically depressed counties along the Pennsylvania border…Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/14/opinion/drilling-in-new-york.html?_r=1 BLOGS La Nina exits, global temperature spikes: May second warmest on record. La Nina - the pattern associated with cool waters in the tropical Pacific that lowers the global temperature - has died. The Earth’s temperature is now strongly rebounding in response. Today, NOAA reports May was second warmest on record globally. The May temperature was 1.19°F above the 20th century average. It marked the 36th consecutive May and 327th consecutive month with above average global temperatures. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/la-nina-exits-global-temperature-spikes-may-second-warmest-on-record/2012/06/14/gJQAYzTccV_blog.html N.Y. Finances a Switch to Cleaner Heating Oils. Building owners in New York City that use the dirtiest heating oils and are now required by law to phase it out will have access to more than $100 million in special financing to help cover their upfront costs, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced on Wednesday. The financial incentives are meant to prod buildings to convert to less polluting heating oil or to natural gas as soon as possible and help the city meet its goal of reducing soot pollution by 50 percent over the next two years. About 10,000 buildings are affected by the phase-out. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/13/new-york-offers-financing-for-a-switch-from-dirty-heating-oils/ Los Angeles City Council members push fracking ban. The fight over fracking has come to Los Angeles. On Wednesday, three members of the Los Angeles City Council introduced a resolution that urges Gov. Jerry Brown and California regulators to impose a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing until the state determines that the controversial oil extraction procedure is "safe for public health, for the Los Angeles water supply and for the environment." The measure, authored by councilmen Paul Koretz…Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/06/los-angeles-city-council-members-push-california-fracking-ban.html Intel Reduces GHG Emissions by 60% Under 2007 Baseline. Intel, a world leader in computing innovation, has provided public reports on its environmental, health and safety performance since 1994 and produced an annual Corporate Responsibility Report since 2001. 2012 is no exception. This year’s report focuses on three main factors – environmental, governance and social – and records the company’s success in achieving goals set in previous years. “At Intel, corporate responsibility is a crucial component to the overall growth of our business,” said Michael Jacobson, Intel’s director of corporate responsibility. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/06/intel-inside-intel-publishes-2012-corporate-responsibility-report/ Toyota Prius Plug-in in vehicle-to-home tests in Japan. Pull electricity from a Toyota Prius Plug-in to a McMansion, and the lights may go out within a matter of a couple of hours. For a typical Japanese house, though, you'd be taken care of for the better part of a week. Toyota said it will start testing a vehicle-to-home (V2H) system with the Prius Plug-in in Japan by the end of the year. The trial will involve a two-way power-supply system in which the car could supply the home with power in the event of a black-out. About 10 Toyota City homes will be involved in the testing. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/13/toyota-prius-plug-in-in-vehicle-to-home-tests-in-japan/ State Supreme Court tosses anti-RGGI lawsuit. Acting State Supreme Court Justice Thomas McNamera has dismissed a lawsuit brought against the state last summer seeking to yank New York out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the multi-state cap and trade program that auctions off carbon credits to polluters. The suit’s lead plaintiff Lisa Thrun, a Buffalo leader of Americans for Prosperity, a conservative political action group supported by oilmen David and Charles Koch that is linked to the tea party movement. Posted. http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/135511/state-supreme-court-tosses-anti-rggi-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: Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:16:37 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 18, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 18, 2012. 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 Fracking's risk of causing quake small, panel says. Pumping high-pressure water and sand underground to break up shale rocks and harvest natural gas or oil - the practice known as fracking - poses little risk of triggering significant earthquakes, a government-sponsored scientific committee reported Friday. But the method of disposing the wastewater from fracking by injecting it permanently underground could cause an increased risk of earthquakes strong enough for people to feel, the scientists said. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/16/MNS11P2P5E.DTL&type=printable Budget amendment changes how state can spend cap-and-trade money. .A California budget bill slated for a vote tomorrow would shift how some revenues from the state's upcoming cap-and-trade auctions are spent, directing them away from consumers and into energy efficiency. The measure also proposes to give part of the money to electricity customers in the form of rebate checks. That would dash the hopes of the state's biggest utilities, which have argued that the funds should be used to help reduce monthly power bills once cap and trade kicks in. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/18/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY The warming Arctic: The longer we wait, the higher the cost. Now that summer is here, the Arctic is crowded with life. Phytoplankton are blooming in its chilly seas. Fish, birds and whales are gorging on them. Millions of migratory geese are in their northern breeding grounds. And the area is teeming with scientists, performing a new Arctic ritual. Between now and early September, when the polar pack ice shrivels to its summer minimum, they will pore over the daily sea-ice reports of America’s National Snow and Ice Data Center. Its satellite data will show that the ice has shrunk far below the long-term average. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120617/WIRE/120619635 Kaiser Permanente: Climate Change ‘Will Impact Our Ability To Provide Quality Health Care’. One of America’s largest health care companies is warning that climate change will worsen public health problems and make it more difficult to provide services. Kaiser Permanente is the biggest non-profit health care company in the U.S., serving more than 9 million people with an operating revenue of $44 billion. Speaking to Andrew Winston of the Harvard Business Review, a Kaiser spokeswoman explained why the health care giant is concerned about a warming planet . . . Posted. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/06/15/500290/kaiser-permanente-climate-change-impact-ability-to-provide-quality-health-care/?mobile=nc FUELS Underground carbon dioxide storage likely would cause earthquakes. The notion of mitigating harmful carbon dioxide emissions by storing the gas underground is not practical because the process is likely to cause earthquakes that would release the gas anyway, according to a commentary published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. While the scientists do not expect that the approach would cause any large and dangerous seismic activity, they say it is likely that the earthquakes would be severe enough to jeopardize the ability to store the gas underground over the long term. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-carbon-storage-may-cause-earthquakes-20120618,0,5073255.story?track=rss Twitterstorm rising: On Rio eve, sharing a call to end fossil fuel subsidies. The forecast calls for a “twitterstorm” Monday, thanks to a couple dozen environmental activist groups, including 350.org, Greenpeace International, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. A “twitterstorm” isn’t something out of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds; it’s a global campaign to raise a ruckus on Twitter by deliberately spreading a message — in this case, the call to end fossil fuel subsidies, or #endfossilfuelsubsidies, as the hashtag call will go out. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/twitterstorm-rising-on-rio-eve-sharing-a-call-to-end-fossil-fuel-subsidies/ VEHICLES REGION: Local officials rolling out electric-car charging stations. Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone drives a Honda hybrid from his Temecula home to the County Administration Center in Riverside. Eventually, he intends to tool up and down Interstate 215 in a plug-in electric car ---- once automakers extend the range of such vehicles. It's a 90-mile round trip to Riverside, and most plug-ins go less than 100 miles on a charge now. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/region-local-officials-rolling-out-electric-car-charging-stations/article_12279f18-a860-5735-9d7a-07f170dc88ff.html GREEN ENERGY Accounting for natural wealth gains world traction. What is a sip of clean water worth? Is there economic value in the shade of a tree? And how much would you pay for a breath of fresh air? Putting a price on a natural bounty long taken for granted as free may sound impossible, even ridiculous. But after three decades on the fringes of serious policymaking, the idea is gaining traction, from the vividly clear waters of the Maldives to the sober, suited reaches of the World Bank. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jN8bmsebxhNWvMb0hTOEEeVq_hXA?docId=cb749988ee334a16ad9ab80c3229f0d5 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/green-accounting-movement-to-recognize-costs-of-using-natural-resources-gains-global-traction/2012/06/17/gJQA7hsDkV_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/17/accounting-for-natural-wealth-gains-world/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/accounting-for-natural-wealth-gains-world-traction/article_2e261619-3dc9-5091-a08b-857cb10990e4.html Md. man accused of selling bogus energy credits. A Maryland man faces trial in a $9.1 million fraud case that is shedding light on problems in a renewable energy credits program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Federal prosecutors accuse Rodney Hailey of Perry Hall of selling renewable fuel credits even though his company, Clean Green Fuel LLC, did not produce any renewable fuel. Instead, prosecutors say he pocketed the money and bought Ferraris and other luxury cars, as well as tractor-trailers, homes, jewelry and computers. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5igsLbSslINhdWJud3iFAxk97_HBA?docId=865c25690e9346d0b7d6e07f4e4f0cd9 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/authorities-md-man-sold-9m-in-energy-credits-even-though-company-didnt-make-renewable-fuel/2012/06/17/gJQARTX2iV_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/17/2876754/md-man-accused-of-selling-bogus.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/md-man-accused-of-selling-bogus-energy-credits/article_845f0b8a-9b62-52eb-8cd0-82d36b17c721.html Hot dam: Hydropower continues to grow. World hydroelectric power generation has risen steadily by an average 3 percent annually over the past four decades. In 2011, at 3,500 billion kilowatt-hours, hydroelectricity accounted for roughly 16 percent of global electricity generation, almost all produced by the world’s 45,000-plus large dams. Today hydropower is generated in over 160 countries. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/hydropower-continues-steady-growth/ MISCELLANEOUS UC Davis to host 'green' campus seminar this week. Representatives from more than 70 universities will gather at the UC Davis campus this week to discuss the latest practices in "greening" college campuses. The 11th annual California Higher Education Sustainability Conference, to be held Monday through Friday, will bring together individuals from California Community Colleges, California State Universities, the University of California, and several out-of-state universities. Through presentations and workshops, institutions will share experiences, examples and suggestions for increasing environmental sustainability on college campuses. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/17/4567879/uc-davis-to-host-green-campus.html OPINIONS Another View: Market approach to clean air worked in East. Gary Lambert, a Republican state senator in New Hampshire, is responding to Dan Morain's May 27 column "Can market for clean-air credits resist profiteers?" In his column about California's cap and trade program, Morain wrote: "California has an alliance with Quebec to create a market in which emission credits will be bought and sold, overseen by a nonprofit headquartered in Delaware. Goldman Sachs will be involved. What could possibly go wrong?" Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/17/4565851/market-approach-to-clean-air-worked.html Climate change is simple: We do something or we’re screwed [my TEDx video] Back in April, The Evergreen State College invited me to speak at a TEDx event called “Hello Climate Change: Rethinking the Unthinkable.” Videos from the event are now online. My talk was called “Climate change is simple.” I’m proud to say that I used only 17 of my allotted 15 minutes. I’ve put an annotated version of my slideshow beneath the video, linking to sources and adding thoughts. The only thing I’ll say about the video itself is that I’ve always thought these things would be better with a soundtrack. If anybody out there on the web wants to make a mashup with it, add some good beats, be my guest. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-change/climate-change-is-simple-we-do-something-or-were-screwed/ BLOGS Why $775 billion in fossil-fuel subsidies are so hard to scrap. Environmentalists have rallied around a new, simple goal. As the Earth Summit gets underway in Rio de Janeiro, they’re asking the world’s nations to scrap the $775 billion spent each year subsidizing oil, gas, and coal. They’re even urging Justin Bieber to (yes) tweet about it. On the surface, it’s an alluringly elegant idea. Getting rid of government subsidies that artificially lower the price of oil or coal would reduce fuel use and produce nearly half the emissions cuts necessary to avoid 2°C of global warming. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/why-775-billion-in-fossil-fuel-subsidies-are-hard-to-scrap/2012/06/18/gJQABaQUlV_blog.html Arrested Development. Don’t expect too many developments on development at the Rio+20 summit this week. Touted as an opportunity for developing countries to show their new strength in the global economy, the meeting is shaping up to be an exercise in putting off important decisions. The 1992 Earth Summit, also held in Rio, jolted the world into taking environmental problems more seriously. But looking at many countries’ current political programs, it’s evident “the issue of sustainable development is not a priority at all,” writes Philippe Roch, a member of the Swiss delegation to the 1992 summit, in Switzerland’s Le Temps (as translated by Worldcrunch). Posted. http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/18/at-rio20-expect-little-progress-on-sustainable-development/ NRDC and WSPA, CMTA and Chamber of Commerce Jointly Support Bill that Establishes Review Process for New AB 32 Offset Protocols. Conventional wisdom is that politics these days is nothing more than a bunch of polarized special-interests that can’t agree on anything. Well it simply ain’t true. The Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) have joined forces with the Western States Petroleum Association, California Manufacturers and Technology Association, the California Chamber of Commerce, and the California League of Food Processors in support of AB 2563, which will be heard by the Assembly Natural Resources Committee next Monday afternoon. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/pmiller/nrdc_and_wspa_cmta_and_chamber.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 Jun 2012 16:48:00 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 19, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 19, 2012. 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 Cities Lead Effort to Curb Climate Change as Nations Lag. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is leading an effort by 58 of the world’s largest cities to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions while federal governments struggle to meet global targets following two decades of discussions. The member-cities of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group produce about 14 percent of the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions. Their actions to improve energy efficiency and invest in renewable power will reduce emissions by 248 million metric tons in 2020, Bloomberg said on a conference call. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-06-19/cities-lead-effort-to-curb-climate-change-as-nations-lag.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/major-cities-tackle-climate-change-while-rio-summits-outcome-remains-uncertain/2012/06/18/gJQAzSzrmV_story.html EPA Won’t Curb Greenhouse Gases From Ships, Off-Road Trucks. The Environmental Protection Agency turned down a demand from U.S. environmental groups that it curb greenhouse-gas emissions from aircraft, ships or off-highway vehicles such as trucks used in mining operations. The agency sent a court-ordered response today to the Center for Biological Diversity and other groups, saying that it wouldn’t issue regulations for those sources of carbon dioxide anytime soon. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-06-18/epa-won-t-curb-greenhouse-gases-from-ships-off-road-trucks-1-.html California Climate Rules Could Cause Fuel Supply Shortages by 2015 –Study. San Francisco--California could see gasoline shortages as early as 2015 as new state rules aimed at cutting greenhouse-gas emissions could shutter more than half the state's refining capacity in less than eight years, according to a new study commissioned by an industry group. The state's Low Carbon Fuel Standard regulation could cause up to seven refineries to shut, which could eliminate up to 65% of California's refining capacity by 2020, according to the study. Posted. http://www.firstenercastfinancial.com/news/story/48994-california-climate-rules-could-cause-fuel-supply-shortages-2015-study DOW JONES WIRE – BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY WSPA Releases New Study: Market Impacts of California Fuels Policies. California's multiple climate change regulations will have serious unintended consequences for the state's transportation fuel markets, including significant job losses, disruptions to fuel supplies, and higher costs for businesses and consumers, according to an unprecedented independent study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and released today. Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wspa-releases-new-study-market-impacts-of-california-fuels-policies-2012-06-19 Amgen cuts funding to the Heartland Institute. Amgen has stopped making political contributions to the Heartland Institute, a conservative Chicago-based nonprofit that disputes global warming. The Thousand Oaks-based biotech company most recently contributed $25,000 to the organization, according to a news release issued Monday by Forecast the Facts, a campaign group launched to oppose those who deny climate change. Amgen issued a statement Monday saying it has cut funding. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/18/amgen-cuts-funding-to-the-heartland-institute/#ixzz1yG3soUpU Bill to clarify process for obtaining carbon offsets advances. Under California's market-based approach for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, businesses will have two methods for buying ways to produce more emissions than they have been allotted. They can buy additional credits at a cap-and-trade auction that will debut this year or buy carbon offsets from a third party that will do such things as plant trees in forests. With the rules still emerging on which offset practices will qualify, environmental organizations such as …Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/18/bill-to-clarify-process-for-obtaining-carbon/ Scientists call for careful use of time scales, reference dates and statistical approaches in analyzing climate change trends to avoid distortion and hampering of response. Demonstrating that the use of different time scales, reference dates, and statistical approaches can generate highly disparate results in climate reports, scientists at the University of Alaska Anchorage argue that careful use of these tools is critical for correctly interpreting and reporting climatic trends in Alaska and other polar regions. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/06/alaska-20120619.html Offsets bill eases through Calif. Legislature. A bill to regulate approval of offset project types is on the move in the California Legislature, backed by a coalition of environmental and industry groups. A.B. 2563, sponsored by Rep. Cameron Smyth (R), would require the state Air Resources Board to create a process to decide which new project types to add to the list of technologies and industries that are allowed to create carbon offsets under state law. The Assembly Natural Resources Committee passed it yesterday with no opposition. It could go to the Assembly floor by August, legislative staff said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/19/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Renewables no fix for U.S. military fuel woes: study. Renewable fuels for U.S. military ships and jets are likely to remain "far more expensive" than petroleum products absent a technological breakthrough, a study for the U.S. Air Force found on Tuesday, questioning a Pentagon push for alternative energy. The study by the RAND Corporation think tank said that while the U.S. Defense Department is a huge consumer of fuel at about 340,000 barrels per day, that figure is a tiny fraction of the 87 million barrels per day of global demand, too small to influence price significantly. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/19/us-usa-defense-energy-idUSBRE85I06120120619 Environmentalists Say UN Sustainability Pact Lacks Teeth. United Nations envoys endorsed the broadest steps yet to harmonize economic development with efforts to protect the environment, measures that pressure groups say lack the teeth needed to force change. Delegates from 190 nations put the finishing touches on a draft text early this morning that addresses cuts in fossil-fuel subsidies, support for the use of renewable energy and measures to protect oceans, according to UN diplomats and Brazil Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota at the talks in Rio de Janeiro. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-06-19/environmentalists-say-un-sustainability-pact-lacks-teeth.html Underground carbon dioxide storage likely would cause earthquakes. The notion of mitigating harmful carbon dioxide emissions by storing the gas underground is not practical because the process is likely to cause earthquakes that would release the gas anyway, according to a commentary published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. While the scientists do not expect that the approach would cause any large and dangerous seismic activity, they say it is likely that the earthquakes would be severe enough to jeopardize the ability to store the gas underground over the long term. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-carbon-storage-may-cause-earthquakes-20120618,0,5073255.story Backers, foes of natural gas storage plan tour Sacramento site. A plan to store 7.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas below a Sacramento neighborhood got a public airing Monday – just days before utility regulators are to cast a pivotal vote on the project. Most of the 50 people attending in the Coloma Community Center did not talk publicly. But the information-gathering session drew speakers from both sides of the debate about safety issues and whether the project is necessary. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/19/4571989/aaskdf-kjasdfh-asdkfjh-asdfkjh.html Feds approve gas-drilling project in eastern Utah. Federal land managers approved another big natural-gas project Monday for eastern Utah and said they persuaded the driller to pull back from the wild Green River. Environmental groups said drilling will nibble away at a proposed wilderness area for Desolation Canyon, which has seen little change since explorer John Wesley Powell remarked on "a region of wildest desolation" while boating the river in 1896. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-06-18/feds-approve-gas-drilling-project-in-eastern-utah http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20884763/feds-approve-gas-drilling-project-eastern-utah?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com VEHICLES China eyes subsidies to develop energy-saving vehicles: paper. China is considering tax exemptions and subsidies for buyers of energy-saving vehicles in an attempt to boost its low-emissions auto sector, the Shanghai Securities News reported on Tuesday. The development plan submitted to the State Council is part of broader efforts to upgrade China's fragmented automobile sector and establish an early footing in the production of low-emission and environmentally friendly vehicles. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/19/us-china-cars-idUSBRE85I02J20120619 Tesla has a lot riding on Model S sedan's success. On a gleaming white factory floor in Fremont, workers buzz over freshly assembled cars that represent the future of Tesla Motors. The workers search for flaws. They check the paint, the wiring, the fit of door against body. They run the cars over a bumpy indoor track to simulate rough roads. They douse the cars with pressurized water to make sure nothing leaks. The cars - sleek, sumptuous and powered only by electricity - are the Model S. The S is only the second model introduced by Tesla and the first that the upstart automaker will build on its own. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/18/MNEH1P2SC5.DTL#ixzz1yG3FIYhV GREEN ENERGY U.K. Solar Industry Sidesteps Tariff Cut to Build Biggest Plants. Solar-energy companies are applying to build the U.K.’s biggest projects, sidestepping a cut in state subsidies aimed at limiting new power plants by relying on a decade-old incentive program and tumbling panel prices. The market for utility-scale projects, stymied since the U.K. lowered feed-in tariffs paid to generators in August, may as a result see as much as 600 megawatts of plants built through April, the Solar Trade Association said. That’s about four times the level of such installations now operating in the country. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-18/u-k-solar-industry-sidesteps-tariff-cut-to-build-biggest-plants.html Rural Power Group Says EPA Rules Thwart Coal-Fueled Electricity. An electricity supplier serving 1.5 million customers in four rural states said separate regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are thwarting plans to build coal-fired power plants. Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc., a nonprofit in Westminster, Colorado, can’t complete a proposed plant in Kansas because of the rules, one aimed at curbing mercury pollution and another aimed at greenhouse-gas emissions. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-18/rural-power-group-says-epa-rules-thwart-coal-fueled-electricity.html China to Encourage Local Private Investment in Energy Projects. China pledged to increase participation by domestic non-state companies in its energy industry to accelerate oil exploration and electricity generation, which are dominated by state enterprises. Private companies will be “encouraged” and “guided” to invest in oil and natural gas ventures in China, including unconventional resources such as shale gas and coal-bed methane, the Ministry of Land and Resources said in a statement on its website yesterday. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-19/china-to-encourage-local-private-investment-in-energy-projects.html U.N. sees natural gas a key to forests, helping poor. Natural gas, including non-traditional shale gas, should play a major role in cutting greenhouse gases, protecting forests and improving the health and living standards of the world's poor, the co-head of a U.N. sustainable energy program said on Monday. Without it, the U.N.'s Sustainable Energy for All Initiative will have difficulty meeting goals of ensuring universal energy access, doubling the world's share of renewable energy and doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030, Kandeh Yumkella, co-head of the initiative, told Reuters. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/19/us-energy-un-yumkella-idUSBRE85I02M20120619 GE unveils new carbon capture technology. General Electric Co. and Norway's Sargas have joined forces to launch a new carbon dioxide emissions-capturing technology for power plants. The technology would catch 90 percent of the output of CO2 from natural gas-fired plants and use it to force more crude out of oil fields. To start, the technology will be implemented by two plants: one in Norway and one along the Gulf Coast of the United States. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/19/20 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Governor seeks to cut toxic chemicals in furniture. Sacramento --Gov. Jerry Brown ordered a revision Monday of a nearly 40-year-old California regulation that critics say has prompted furniture manufacturers to apply toxic flame retardants on products sold throughout the United States. Chemicals used to meet California's flammability safety standard on furniture have been linked to serious health problems and have been found in high levels in the bodies of children and pregnant women. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/19/BA0P1P3UGR.DTL&type=printable Fueling CA Hosts First-Of-Its-Kind Symposium on California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program. Fueling California - www.fuelingcalifornia.org - today hosted a symposium that brought together leading voices from regulatory agencies, industry leaders, environmental organizations, government, alternative energy companies and academia to discuss and educate key stakeholders on California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard Program (LCFS). The symposium provided an overview of the LCFS regulation and where we are today; discussed the realities of the implementation; and the goals of the standard and possible solutions to achieve them. Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/fueling-ca-hosts-first-kind-symposium-californias-low-120411050.html Perea to hold cap-and-trade forum in Fresno. California's landmark program to curb greenhouse gas emissions from large factories and power plants will be explained in detail during a forum on June 29 at Fresno City College. The California Air Resources Board adopted the rule last October requiring 600 of the state's largest stationary sources of pollution pay for every ton of pollution they emit beyond a certain cap. A system of auctions begins next year giving cement manufacturers, power plants, oil refineries and other facilities the chance to buy allowances for emissions they're not able to mitigate otherwise. Posted. http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/energy-and-environment/2250-perea-to-hold-cap-and-trade-forum-in-fresno Japan turns reactors back on – but bulks up on solar. Japan’s announcement over the weekend that it would restart two nuclear reactors caused no small amount of consternation within the country and abroad. Seventy-one percent of the country opposes turning the reactors back on. They point out that the country has been meeting power demands just fine without the reactors online, and also note some of the challenges of using nuclear power. Such as earthquake/tidal wave combos that knock out power plants and lead to radiation leaks. That has happened before. In recent memory. Posted. http://grist.org/news/japan-turns-reactors-back-on-but-bulks-up-on-solar/ OPINIONS A Public Service Ad About Air, and an App. “I MEAN, yeah, you can say it’s an unusual hobby,” says a man in his 20s wearing oversize glasses in a quirky new public service announcement from the American Lung Association. “I’ve had people laugh at me, but I don’t care. I just love collecting air.” The words “Alvin Grimes, Air Collector” appear on the screen, and the camera draws back to show him sitting before a wall of jelly jars. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/business/media/american-lung-association-seeks-younger-donors-with-new-ad-and-an-app.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Editorial: Gov. Brown takes needed action on toxic flame retardants. For years, the chemical industry has fought to stop statewide bans on certain toxic chemicals, arguing that such decisions are best left to federal authorities, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Yet the chemical industry's credibility has been seriously undermined by a recent investigative series in the Chicago Tribune on the subject of flame retardant chemicals in furniture and baby products. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/19/v-print/4571721/gov-brown-takes-needed-action.html Rio Isn’t All Lost. IN June 1992, world leaders, including President George Bush, agreed to combat climate change at the Earth Summit meeting in Rio de Janeiro. This week, at “Rio+20,” leaders, experts and activists will once more gather to ponder the fate of the planet. Optimism will be in short supply. Since the first conference, global carbon emissions have increased by some 50 percent — an outcome that those who were present 20 years ago would surely have seen as disastrous. And we are continuing this sorry trend: As the Arctic becomes ice-free, we can expect that it will be drilled for oil. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/opinion/rio-isnt-all-lost.htm l Elias: State squelches dubious hydrogen grant policy. Less than two weeks after this column exposed a situation where tens of millions of state tax dollars were given to billion-dollar corporations — but only with approval from other billion-dollar corporations — the California Energy Commission suddenly ended that practice. In a message sent late May 25, the commission said it "is canceling its grant solicitation for hydrogen fueling stations to revise solicitation protocols. The commission will issue a new solicitation at a future date." Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/18/elias-state-squelches-dubious-hydrogen-grant/#ixzz1yG4drTgB If we can’t end climate change in one grand effort, maybe we can do it in 21 little ones. This week, representatives of nearly every country in the world are in Rio de Janeiro attending a meeting hosted by the United Nations that happens once every 10 years. While there, the world could come together and agree to a plan that will effectively reverse decades of carbon pollution. It won’t. There are a lot of reasons why no grand accord will result from Rio: politics, economics — every nation, it seems, has its own reasons. But perhaps the problem isn’t the convocation. Perhaps the problem is the expectation that there’s a climate change silver bullet. Posted. http://grist.org/news/if-we-cant-end-climate-change-in-one-grand-effort-maybe-we-can-do-it-in-21-little-ones/ BLOGS Activist Artist vs. Pipeline. An illustrated article that takes a leaf from “Alice in Wonderland” has gained something of an online following, prompting thousands of people to urge the Canadian government to halt development of the Northern Gateway oil pipeline. In this “visual essay,” posted by the Canadian activist Franke James at her Web site, Alice poses a series of questions about the pipeline’s environmental risks to the Canadian prime minister, Stephen Harper, and his minister of natural resources, Joe Oliver, in brightly illustrated cartoon-like frames. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/activist-artist-vs-pipeline/ ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 12:05:48 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 20, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 20, 2012. 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 Businesses Take Action to Clean Up London’s Air. London — Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, says he has a solution to the city’s air pollution problem, one of the worst in Europe: Since last year, specially equipped trucks have trundled around the capital spraying glue to stick sooty particles to the ground in its worst traffic hotspots. Critics accuse Mr. Johnson, who has a shrewd penchant for self-parody, of not taking the problem seriously. Environmentalists say the trucks have been particularly active near air quality monitoring stations, to help London avoid being fined for violating E.U. pollution limits. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/business/global/cleaning-londons-air-for-the-olympics.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Rule on soot standards was overdue. The Environmental Protection Agency is tightening the nation's standards for soot pollution. It only took a court order and five years of delay for them to do the right thing. The proposal will reduce annual exposure regulations from 15 micrograms of fine-particle soot per cubic meter of air to between 12 and 13 micrograms. Earthjustice attorney Paul Cort, who represented the Lung Association and the National Parks Conservation Association in a successful lawsuit that is forcing the EPA to issue this rule, estimates that the new regulations will save 8,000 lives per year. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/20/EDAO1P4D7N.DTL&type=printable http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/20/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY State finds no link to birth defects in farm town. Kettleman City, Calif. -- State health officials say the number of birth defects in the Central Valley community of Kettleman City mirror the state average. Some Kettleman City residents claim the region experiences an unusually high number of birth defects they believe is caused by pollution. California Department of Public Health officials said during a public meeting Tuesday that tests near the homes of women who gave birth to affected children didn't reveal any substances that could be directly linked to causing defects. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/19/4574507/state-finds-no-link-to-birth-defects.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/19/state-finds-no-link-to-birth-defects-in-farm/ http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/19/2249113/state-finds-no-link-to-birth-defects.html#storylink=misearch Air Quality Action Day Forecast June 20 in All Five Pennsylvania Regions. The Department of Environmental Protection and its regional air quality partnerships have forecast a code Orange air quality action day for ozone for Wednesday, June 20, in the Lehigh Valley, Pittsburgh, Liberty-Clairton, Philadelphia, and Susquehanna Valley regions. On air quality action days, young children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems, such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis, are especially vulnerable to the effects of air pollution and should limit outdoor activities. The Lehigh Valley region is Berks, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/19/4573925/air-quality-action-day-forecast.html Rejuvenating Mexico's Polluted, Crime-Ridden Cities. Mexico’s leading architects, planners and civil servants are working together in a long-overdue battle to clean up some of the country’s most polluted urban areas. Public parks are being rehabilitated and designated pedestrian zones are cutting traffic in car-clogged cities. Leading the way in green initiatives is Villahermosa, capital of Tabasco state and a hub of the oil and natural gas industry. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/business/global/rejuvenating-mexicos-polluted-crime-ridden-cities.html CLIMATE CHANGE Mayors vaunt progress against climate change. While squabbling between rich and poor countries casts a pall over the upcoming United Nations' Rio+20 conference on sustainable development, the world's mayors said Tuesday that they were already taking real, measurable action to stave off environmental disaster and preserve natural resources for future generations. The C40 grouping of mayors from 58 megacities around the globe estimated that the nearly 5,000 measures they've already undertaken to fight global warming could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over a billion tons by 2030. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jHeNooZzY-zs1WKaJT_7IpzaqKmg?docId=de152c6fe64842ff88620992ee012913 AP Newsbreak: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/19/4574125/mayors-vaunt-progress-against.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/19/2248839/mayors-vaunt-progress-against.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20892062/mayors-vaunt-progress-against-climate-change?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20892062/mayors-vaunt-progress-against-climate-change http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/19/2879799/mayors-vaunt-progress-against.html#storylink=misearch http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/20/3 BYSUBSCRIPTION ONLY Cap-and-trade plan upheld by Calif. Court. A state appeals court on Tuesday upheld California's plan to combat global warming with a market-based cap-and-trade system to limit emissions of greenhouse gases, rejecting some environmental groups' arguments that the rules are too weak and could worsen certain types of air pollution. The state Air Resources Board, which adopted the plan in 2009, gave adequate reasons for rejecting alternatives such as binding limits on emissions and a tax on carbon-based fuels, said the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/20/BASU1P4MFB.DTL&type=printable http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/06/20/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Climate law could raise gas prices, lobbyists say. California regulations designed to fight global warming could force half of the state's refineries to close, trigger fuel shortages and add $2.70 per gallon to the cost of gasoline, according to a study released Tuesday by an oil industry lobbying group. The study, issued by the Western States Petroleum Association, argues that California's upcoming cap-and-trade system to cut carbon dioxide emissions could wreak havoc with fuel supplies as early as 2015. So could the state's low carbon fuel standard, a policy requiring refiners to lower the carbon intensity of the fuel they sell in California. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/20/BUMJ1P4HTJ.DTL&type=printable Two Sacramento area firms hailed as climate-friendly. Sacramento waste/recycling firm Atlas Disposal Industries and Citrus Heights environmental services company Virtually Basic LLC were among the 16 in-state winners of the CoolCalifornia.org "Small Business Awards." Announced by the state Air Resources Board, the awards recognize small firms that demonstrate leadership and make notable, voluntary achievements toward reducing their impact on the climate. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/20/4574790/two-sacramento-area-firms-hailed.html House approves waiver of border environmental laws. Washington -- The Republican-controlled House on Tuesday approved a bill that would allow the Border Patrol to circumvent more than a dozen environmental laws on all federally managed lands within 100 miles of the borders with Mexico and Canada. Supporters said the measure is needed to give border agents unfettered access to rugged lands now controlled by the Interior Department and Forest Service. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/19/4573769/house-takes-up-bill-to-waive-enviro.html Battle escalates over Calif.'s low-carbon standard. Sparring over the fate of California's low-carbon fuel standard continues in and out of court with a coalition of state attorneys general joining the fray on California's side. Oregon Attorney General John Kroger (D) filed an amicus brief in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, accompanied by the attorneys general of Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) in April directed the state environmental quality department to write low-carbon fuel standard regulations by the end of the year; the complaint also cites the Northeastern states' consideration of a low-carbon fuels policy.. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/20/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Small-scale emitters worry about more greenhouse gas regulations. Under U.S. EPA's greenhouse gas regulations, it would cost $182.20 more for a small-scale farmer to raise a dairy cow and $2.19 more for a local baker to make a loaf of bread. The regulations would also significantly increase the financial burden of oil refineries serving rural communities. This is what would happen if EPA's efforts to curb climate change were to hit small-scale emitters -- a group EPA has so far exempted from the most burdensome greenhouse gas regulation -- representatives from agriculture, the baking industry and a small oil refinery said yesterday at a House Energy Committee hearing. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/20/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Pike Research forecasts clean diesels to represent more than 12% of global light-duty vehicle sales by 2018; outpacing hybrids in North America. A new report from Pike Research finds that rising fuel prices and stronger fuel economy regulations will stimulate increasing demand for clean diesel vehicles in markets around the world, and forecasts sales of these vehicles will increase from 9.1 million in 2012 to 12.1 million annually by 2018, representing 12.4% of all LDV sales by the end of that period. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/06/pikediesel-20120620.html FUELS Alarm raised about potential tar sands pipeline. With the fight continuing over a proposed tar sands pipeline through the Midwest, environmental groups are raising an alarm that a Canadian energy firm may be turning its attention to a possible eastern pipeline route through Northern New England. But both the Canadian firm identified in a new report from the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Portland, Maine-based owner of the pipeline running from Portland to Montreal say no such plans are in the works. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/19/alarm-raised-about-potential-tar-sands-pipeline/#ixzz1yLh9m5a4 Pipe failure caused Feb. fire at Wash. BP refinery. BP says the Feb. 17 fire that shut down its Cherry Point oil refinery in Washington state near Ferndale was caused by a pipe failure in the crude processing unit. Refinery Manager Stacey McDaniel says the pipe has been replaced and is being monitored while a redesign is considered. BP added a maintenance "turnaround" to the repairs, which at one time required more than 3,200 additional workers at the site. The refinery returned to operation at the end of May. Its outage had been blamed as a factor in high West Coast gasoline prices. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/19/pipe-failure-caused-feb-fire-at-wash-bp-refinery/#ixzz1yLhgVroM U.S. Senate committees study air pollution and earthquakes related to oil and gas production. Advances in oil and gas extraction that spurred domestic production have drawn scrutiny on Capitol Hill, and that continued here Tuesday as separate Senate panels examined earthquakes and air pollution associated with oil and gas wells. At a hearing on new air pollution standards for oil and gas production, a Devon Energy Corp. official said the reputation of natural gas as a cleaner burning fuel is being damaged by the Environmental Protection Agency’s willful ignorance of the hydraulic fracturing process. Posted. http://newsok.com/senate-eyes-effects-of-energy-development/article/3685977 VEHICLES Fuel Efficiency Takes Baby Steps in the Auto Industry. Thanks to climate change policies and expensive gasoline, electric cars — and especially hybrid electrics — have made some inroads in the U.S. vehicle market. Still, the internal combustion engine is not about to go the way of the dodo. Mainstream engine makers are continually pushing forward incremental improvements and a few companies are developing radically different technologies. Most of these innovators are still testing and marketing their designs and market barriers may slow or block widespread adoption, even if their inventions perform as hoped. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/business/global/fuel-efficiency-takes-baby-steps-in-the-auto-industry.html?pagewanted=all Clean State. With an average of 1.8 vehicles per household, Los Angeles is the world’s most car-populated metropolis. It’s no coincidence that it also ranks in the top four on each of the American Lung Assn.’s “Most Polluted Cities” lists for ozone, year-round particle pollution and short-term particle pollution. California legislators have been acutely aware of these air-quality problems since the 1950s, and the state has long led the nation in working to limit pollution by mandating low-emission vehicles. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/custompublishing/automotive/la-clean-state-20120619,0,2967688.story GREEN ENERGY Mexico's green party focuses more on money than environment. Mexico City -- The Ecologist Green Party of Mexico isn't your garden-variety group advocating recycling and mass transportation. It's swimming in cash, ideologically flexible and tainted by scandal. And it plays an outsized role in the campaign that's leading up to this country's presidential election July 1. For one thing, it's in a coalition with the Institutional Revolutionary Party, the odds-on favorite to recapture the presidency. It may form part of the next government. Environmental advocates say the Mexican party hijacked the "green" label and has leveraged its growth by association with the global green-party movement. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/20/4575776/mexicos-green-party-focuses-more.html Scotland could see 'Silicon Valley effect' from green energy. He made the statement in an address to members of the Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco. Mr Salmond is on the west coast of America on a four-day trade mission. Scotland has 10% of Europe's wave power resources and a quarter of its offshore, wind and tidal resources. The first minister highlighted Scotland's developing marine energy sector and said the country would be a centre of excellence, bringing potentially huge economic and environmental gains. Posted. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-18517306 MISCELLANEOUS Goldman says buy Tesla before Model S sedan debut. Shares of Tesla Motors Inc. gained Wednesday after a Goldman Sachs analyst raised urged investors to buy shares of the electric car maker ahead of the delivery of its new Model S sedans. THE SPARK: Analyst Patrick Archambault increased the six-month price target on Tesla shares by 39 percent, to $50 from $36, and backed his "Buy" rating. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/06/20/financial/f090412D98.DTL&type=business OPINIONS Deadly Particles. In a welcome move that will make the air that Americans breathe cleaner, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed on Friday to tighten standards governing fine particles, commonly known as soot. Released by sources like diesel trucks and power plants, these microscopic specks can lodge in the lungs and bloodstream and cause respiratory and heart ailments. New standards are long overdue. In 2006, the E.P.A. reviewed the standards but decided to leave them where they had been set nearly 10 years before, at 15 micrograms of particulates per cubic meter of air. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/20/opinion/deadly-particles-in-the-air.html?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print Mandated filters on power plant smokestacks are a must to protect Americans' health. The following editorial appeared in the Miami Herald on Monday, June 18: After the Environmental Protection Agency's decade-long quest to implement needed standards for cleaner air and save Americans from the ill effects of mercury poisoning and other toxins, the EPA's rules are under attack in the U.S. Senate. Last December the EPA put Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) into practice, requiring coal and oil plants nationwide to filter their smokestacks from releasing harmful pollutants like mercury, lead, arsenic and acid gases into the already smoggy atmosphere. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/20/v-print/4575622/mandated-filters-on-power-plant.html Biochar aids soil fertility, keeps carbon in earth. After many afternoons digging in The Chronicle's garden, I've grown accustomed to the strong winds that blow through the intersection of Fifth and Mission. Yet I couldn't help but notice the dusty, depleted soil that barely clumped in my palm. With 6-year-old dirt harboring very little organic matter, our planters were looking more like dust bowls. Like many container gardeners, we've struggled to maintain soil fertility on our San Francisco rooftop. Typical potting soil contains a mixture of sand, compost and perlite. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/17/HOKS1NGPE6.DTL&type=printable Paternalism in the age of climate change. New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg recently proposed a ban on sales of sugary drinks over 16 oz., prompting an astonishing outpouring of strong pundit feelings on the subject of “paternalism” in government policy. (Honestly, I saw more genuine anger over this than I have seen over torture, food-stamp cuts, climate denial … it does not speak well of the political elite, frankly.) I’m not all that interested in soda policy as such. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/paternalism-in-the-age-of-climate-change/ Will the Senate make you inhale mercury? We find out today. Last year, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, a first-of-its-kind baseline regulating the emission of mercury (and, as you might have guessed, other airborne toxics) from coal- and oil-fueled power plants. Today, the Senate, led by Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), will vote on blocking the regulation from ever taking effect. Thanks, Senate! Obviously, everyone you know will be talking about this. Americans are obsessed with the intricacies of governmental regulation and the procedures by which they are overturned. Posted. http://grist.org/news/will-the-senate-make-you-inhale-mercury-we-find-out-today/ BLOGS David Roberts on the Simple Climate Problem. David Roberts of Grist.org has posted his presentation at an Evergreen State College TEDx event, “Hello Climate Change: Rethinking the Unthinkable.” The conference was organized “to encourage thinking about the role of liberal arts education in an era of climate change.” Roberts called his talk “Climate change is simple.” He focuses on the basics of the science, with a dollop of economics, and leaves off the super wicked questions related to satisfying the energy needs of humanity through its current growth spurt without overheating climate. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/david-roberts-on-the-simple-climate-problem/ Americans Polarized on Climate, Tuned Out on ‘Fracking.’ At a young age, Sheril Kirshenbaum has already excelled at many things — authorship in books on kissing and scientific illiteracy, blogging at “Culture of Science,” and more. Now she directs the new University of Texas at Austin Energy Poll, which offers a valuable view of Americans’ attitudes on energy choices and climate concerns. (The poll methods are described here.) I invited Kirshenbaum to sift the results from the second survey, conducted in March, for findings that she saw as most interesting or notable. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/americans-polarized-on-climate-tuned-out-on-fracking/ Q. and A.: The Dark Side to ‘Green’ Transactions. At Rio+20, the global conference on sustainable development that got under way Wednesday morning in Brazil, discussions abound on advancing environmental goals in a way that will benefit local and national economies. But development experts say there is a dark side to some ostensibly “green” market initiatives: the appropriation of resources for biofuels production, carbon offsets, ecotourism and so on can have devastating consequences for local people. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/20/q-and-a-the-dark-side-to-green-transactions California Court of Appeal Upholds AB 32 Scoping Plan for Greenhouse Gas Reduction. Today, the California Court of Appeal rejected an appeal by environmental justice advocates seeking to scuttle the California Air Resources Board’s AB 32 Scoping Plan. EJ advocates objected to the Scoping Plan’s adoption of a cap-and-trade program to achieve some of the greenhouse gas reductions required under the landmark California law AB 32. Their primary concern is that the program will not adequately reduce the emissions of co-pollutants that harm public health, or possibly will even increase those emissions in vulnerable neighborhoods. Posted. http://legalplanet.wordpress.com/2012/06/19/california-court-of-appeal-upholds-ab-32-scoping-plan-for-greenhouse-gas-reduction/ Appellate Court Upholds Cal. Climate Change Plan. I have previously blogged about the ongoing battle between environmental justice activists and the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) over CARB’s adoption of its scoping plan for its AB 32 program to reduce global warming emissions. I focused upon the issues under the California Environmental Quality Act, basically CARB’s initial failure to thoroughly consider alternatives and its leap to judgment before considering its response to comments. Posted. http://legalplanet.wordpress.com/2012/06/19/california-court-of-appeal-upholds-ab-32-scoping-plan-for-greenhouse-gas-reduction/ Young motorists driving far less than even 10 years ago. A new study by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group indicates Americans are driving less than they were a few years ago. That drop is largely thanks to young people. Those between the ages of 16 and 34 drove 23 percent fewer miles in 2009 than they did in 2001. While it's tempting to attribute the decline to the recession, the study suggests the decline may continue even after the economy picks up pace. Factors like steeper fuel prices, more readily available public transportation and a shift in priorities are likely to continue to allow young drivers to cut down on their time behind the wheel. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/20/young-motorists-driving-far-less-than-even-10-years-ago/ ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 12:05:48 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 21, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 21, 2012. 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 CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-Accounting for pollution likely within a decade. Corporate and government accounting will likely reflect environmental profit and loss within a decade, thanks partly to progress made this week at a U.N. conference in Rio de Janeiro, backers of the plan told Reuters on Thursday. Company accounting and calculations of gross domestic product (GDP) are flawed because they fail to show governments, consumers and managers the true costs of their activities, said Pavan Sukhdev, a board member of U.S. environmental group Conservation International and a former Deutsche Bank AG banker. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/21/un-climate-accounting-correct-idUSL3E8HL1WQ20120621 Rio: pollution rife during UN enviro conference. The throngs streaming into Rio for a sustainable development conference may be dreaming of white-sand beaches and clear, blue waters, but what they are first likely to notice as they leave the airport is not the salty tang of ocean in the breeze, but the stench of raw sewage. That's because the airport sits by a bay that absorbs about 320 million gallons (1.2 billion liters) of raw waste water a day: 480 Olympic swimming pools worth of filth. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/20/v-print/2250118/rio-pollution-rife-during-un-enviro.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change to worsen hunger as U.N.'s Rio+20 begins. As leaders from more than 130 nations convene a United Nations conference on sustainable development Wednesday, new research shows how climate change will likely exacerbate a key issue: hunger. The number of undernourished women and young children could increase 20% and affect one of every five within a decade because of climate change's impact on food production, according to an analysis by the World Health Organization and other groups. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2012/06/climate-change-exected-to-worsen-hunger-as-rio20-begins/1#.T-M_4dVeSW8 REGION: Climate plan approved by Riverside County. Riverside County's model home of the future may use small amounts of energy and water, be located near public transportation and produce its own electricity. And the county government building of the future is expected to be a model of efficiency. Those are anticipated byproducts of a draft climate action plan adopted earlier this week by the county Board of Supervisors. The final version is scheduled to be completed in summer 2013. "The future homes that younger residents may be buying ... are probably going to be much different than they are now," said county planner Adam Rush, who has been working on the plan. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/region-climate-plan-approved-by-riverside-county/article_e3152fd7-ec18-5c32-8379-ce63c42a09a8.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Navistar Fined by EPA Over Technology Built With Agency. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is fining diesel-engine maker Navistar International Corp. (NAV) (NAV) for shortcomings in pollution-control technology the agency helped it develop. “EPA is entangled in a blatant conflict in regulating a business partner,” Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, said in an e-mail. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-06-21/navistar-fined-by-epa-over-technology-built-with-agency VEHICLES Development banks commit $175bn to transportation. Rio De Janeiro -- The world's largest development banks say they are investing $175 billion over the next decade to support cleaner transportation systems. The announcement was made Wednesday in a statement by the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and six other multilateral institutions represented at a U.N. environmental conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They point out that transportation is the fastest-growing source of greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jlt3ILfjh86k6xvuVqxg0yVMOdfQ?docId=6a570efd932e49f2b39deea45ec7e189 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/21/development-banks-commit-175bn-to-transportation/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/development-banks-at-rio-un-summit-commit-175-billion-to-sustainable-transportation/2012/06/21/gJQAZ7ghsV_story.html http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/21/v-print/4578858/development-banks-commit-175bn.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/21/v-print/2251440/development-banks-commit-175bn.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Fuel Efficiency Takes Baby Steps in the Auto Industry. Thanks to climate change policies and expensive gasoline, electric cars — and especially hybrid electrics — have made some inroads in the U.S. vehicle market. Still, the internal combustion engine is not about to go the way of the dodo. Mainstream engine makers are continually pushing forward incremental improvements and a few companies are developing radically different technologies. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/business/global/fuel-efficiency-takes-baby-steps-in-the-auto-industry.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all Carmel-based startup envisions greener portable classrooms. Toxic dust, stale indoor air, mold and formaldehyde. The California Air Resources Board found all of them in the least desirable place: California’s K-12 classrooms. 
A team of local design professionals have targeted portable classrooms, which the 2004 CARB report suggests are even more environmentally sketchy than traditional classrooms. 
Paul Byrne, a Carmel architect, started Green Apple Classrooms with a vision for greener and healthier schools. Posted. http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/2012/jun/21/brighter-learning/ Icelandic tax breaks make EVs cost competitive. The Icelandic government has recently proposed to remove VAT on the first $47,000 (around €35,750) of the price of electric vehicles (EVs). Compared to vehicles with internal combustion engine (ICE) that are subject to VAT of 25,5%, the highest rate in the world, EVs will become more cost competitive and affordable for Iceland’s inhabitants. The legislation was adopted by the Icelandic Parliament on 19 June, the last day before the summer break, overcoming the final step towards the exemption of EVs from VAT. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4586 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Gov. Jerry Brown to scrap environmental exception for bullet train. Environmental groups and others had criticized Gov. Brown's plans to protect the construction of California's high-speed rail network from injunctions. After encountering criticism from environmental groups, Gov. Jerry Brown signaled Wednesday that he plans to withdraw his controversial proposal to protect the California bullet train project from injunctions sought by environmental lawsuits. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-high-speed-enviro-20120621,0,5470593.story http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/20/2881875/brown-backs-away-from-bullet-train.html#storylink=misearch http://www.mercurynews.com/california-high-speed-rail/ci_20902403/gov-jerry-brown-scraps-idea-soften-environmental-scrutiny?source=rss http://www.baycitizen.org/transportation/story/brown-backs-away-bullet-train-fight/ GREEN ENERGY EBay to power data center with renewable energy. EBay Inc. said it plans to build a data center powered by startup Bloom Energy's renewable energy fuel cells, a more environmentally-friendly alternative to drawing power from the mostly coal-based electric grid. The U.S. online auction sales group will use 30 Bloom Energy servers that use biogas derived from renewable organic waste and will only use the grid as a back-up source of power. Last month, Apple Inc. said it was buying equipment from SunPower Corp and Bloom Energy to build two solar array installations to power its main U.S. data center. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/21/us-ebay-datacenter-idUSBRE85K0BA20120621 Searing questions on massive solar experiment in Mojave Desert. As one of the world's largest sun-powered plants takes shape, observers debate the risk to birds, planes and drivers. Ivanpah Valley, Calif. — At what temperature might a songbird vaporize? Will the glare from five square miles of mirrors create a distraction for highway drivers? Can plumes of superheated air create enough turbulence to flip a small airplane? What happens if one of the Air Force's heat-seeking missiles confuses a solar power plant with a military training target? Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-heat-plume-20120621,0,917543.story MISCELLANEOUS Living near loud traffic may raise heart attack risk. Living in an area with lots of traffic noise may do more than give you a headache. A new study from Denmark suggests exposure to too much traffic noise may raise a person's heart attack risk. More people die in fatal car crashes on Tax Day, study finds. Reducing air pollution during 2008 Beijing Olympics boosted residents' heart health, research reveals. For the study, researchers looked at more than 57,000…Posted. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57457730-10391704/living-near-loud-traffic-may-raise-heart-attack-risk/ OPINIONS PATTERSON: Banking on green energy. How do you know a bank is in trouble? When it suddenly jacks up fees or imposes new ones capriciously, that’s usually a flashing red light. For example, last year, Bank of America (BOA) suddenly announced it would charge customers a $5 fee for using their debit cards. Though the bank backed off that plan after a public outcry, the Wall Street Journal reported in March that the bank was still considering requiring “many users of basic checking accounts to pay a monthly fee unless they agree to bank online, buy more products or maintain certain balances.” Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/20/banking-on-green-energy/ Time to adopt tighter rules on air pollution. The federal government is long overdue in updating standards for fine particulates, one of the most lethal types of air pollution and one that is prevalent in high concentrations in the San Joaquin Valley. Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed to finally update the current standard, set in 1997, to a more protective level. This new standard must be adopted. Science has uncovered a lot in the 15 years since the current PM 2.5 standard was set.. Posted. http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/x1076260195/Time-to-adopt-tighter-rules-on-air-pollution Despite significant victories, race remains a major fault line in American life. It shapes the distribution not only of power and economic resources, but environmental quality as well. Tales of environmental injustices around the country provide strong evidence that chemical-by-chemical and facility-by-facility regulation is inadequate to protect public health. Posted. http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/pollution-poverty-people-of-color-op-ed-morello-frosch BLOGS Senate Move to Reverse Mercury Rule Fails. A Senate resolution seeking to reverse federal regulations limiting emissions of mercury and other toxic substances from coal-burning power plants failed to win passage on Wednesday. The resolution, introduced by Senator James M. Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican, won support from 46 senators; 53 voted against it.The Environmental Protection Agency rules, issued late last year, have been criticized by some utilities, coal producers, Congressional Republicans and other foes as overly broad and potentially harmful to the economy. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/20/senate-move-to-reverse-mercury-rule-fails/ Tackling global warming in 21 easy steps. In the past, whenever world leaders have huddled to discuss what to do about this steadily warming planet of ours, they’ve usually endorsed one big, sweeping solution. That was the logic behind the Kyoto Protocol — each nation would promise sharp cuts in their overall carbon emissions. That, clearly, hasn’t worked. Global emissions are still rising rapidly. That’s why, in a new paper for Nature Climate Change, four researchers take a different approach. Instead of starting with one huge, overarching carbon limit dreamed up at U.N. conferences…Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/tackling-global-warming-in-21-easy-steps/2012/06/21/gJQALKCusV_blog.html My Air-Conditioner Envy. With scorching heat enveloping New York City this week, I’m suffering from air-conditioner envy. I want a model like the one I saw in April at the Terre Policy Center in Pune, India. But I can’t buy it. As Andrew W. Lehren and I report in The Times, the warming effects of air-conditioning gases are reaching crisis proportions as more and more people in countries like India and China buy the appliances. (Some readers have rightly pointed out that people in industrialized countries depend far more heavily on air-conditioning.) Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/my-air-conditioner-envy/ More, hotter heat waves predicted for Southern California. Southern California is going to feel the heat in the coming years, according to a new UCLA climate change study. The study, released Thursday, is the first to model the Southland's complex geography of meandering coastlines, mountain ranges and dense urban centers in high enough resolution to predict temperatures down to the level of micro climate zones, each measuring 2¼ square miles. The projections are for 2041 to 2060. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/06/more-heat-waves-predicted-for-southern-california.html Battery costs will fall to $250/kilowatt hour by 2015. Our most burning question – aside from how many licks it takes to get to the center of at Tootsie Pop – is, how much does a battery-electric vehicle's battery really cost? One analyst says that the price tag will be at about $250 per kilowatt hour by 2015, which spells good news for the EV industry. Roland Berger Strategy Consultants' analyst Wolfgang Bernhart told EV Update that the cost of a typical plug-in hybrid-electric battery "in Japan and Korea for contracts with a 2015 delivery" will be at about $250 per kilowatt hour. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/battery-costs-will-fall-to-250-kilowatt-hour-by-2015/ ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 11:57:15 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 22, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 22, 2012. 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 Smoky Haze from Indonesian Fires Engulfs Southeast Asia. For much of the year, this city’s iconic Petronas Towers, the world’s tallest twin buildings, are gleaming landmarks visible far from the city center. But last weekend, the 88-story structures in the Malaysian capital were shrouded in a smoky haze that prompted doctors to warn people with respiratory problems to wear face masks. The haze, attributed mostly to fires burning on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, has become a recurring summer blight, engulfing parts of Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei and Singapore and leaving a litany of health and economic costs in its wake. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/world/asia/smokey-haze-from-indonesian-fires-engulf-southeast-asia.html?_r=1 Rio conference attendees to see, smell pollution. Rio De Janeiro -- People streaming into Rio for a sustainable development conference may be dreaming of white-sand beaches and clear, blue waters, but what they are first likely to notice as they leave the airport is not the salty tang of ocean in the breeze, but the stench of raw sewage. That's because the airport sits by a bay that absorbs about 320 million gallons of raw waste water a day: 480 Olympic swimming pools worth of filth. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/21/MNFK1P51R5.DTL&type=printable CLIMATE CHANGE NASA experts team with teachers to give students better lessons. In a move that put local high school teachers back into the student seats, CSU Channel Islands teamed with experts from NASA to educate youths through their teachers. About 15 teachers from schools in the Oxnard Union High School District have spent the week with science experts in the Promoting Educational Leadership Climate Science Summer Institute. Organizers hope to educate teachers on the issues surrounding climate change and ultimately to reach youths, according to Bill Patzert, a research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/21/nasa-experts-team-with-teachers-to-give-students/ Climate Change to Heat Up LA Region: Study. The Los Angeles region is expected to see more days above 95 degrees by the middle of the 21st Century, according to a first-ever report from UCLA on the local impacts of climate change. The report, "Mid-Century Warming in the Los Angeles Region," predicts that temperatures will rise an average of 4.6 degrees Fahreneit if greenhouse-gas emissions continue to increase at current levels. The change would mean three times today's number of extremely hot days in downtown LA, and four times as many in the surrounding valleys and mountain areas. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47912474 FUELS South Jersey power plant scrapping coal burner. A power plant in southern New Jersey will scrap a coal-fired burner and use cleaner natural gas to fuel two others as part of an agreement with the state. The B.L. England plant in Cape May County's Upper Township will shut down one of its coal-fired units and convert two others to natural gas. "This agreement will bring one of the oldest plants here in New Jersey into the 21st century, and keep it there for a long time to come with extremely low emissions," said Robert Martin, New Jersey's environmental protection commissioner. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/21/south-jersey-power-plant-scrapping-coal-burner/ Delta gets approval for pipeline transfer. State regulators have approved a pipeline transfer that's part of Delta Air Lines' plan to buy a suburban Philadelphia oil refinery and produce its own jet fuel. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Thursday approved the transfer involving ConocoPhillips to Monroe Energy, LLC, the Delta subsidiary that will operate the facility in Trainer, Delaware County. Delta Air Lines, Inc. hopes the $150 million deal could help saved $300 million in fuel costs annually. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/22/delta-gets-approval-for-pipeline-transfer/ Everett-based Coast Guard ship testing biofuel. The buoy tender Henry Blake made its rounds of navigation aids on Puget Sound Thursday powered with fuel partly made from algae. It fueled up Wednesday at its home port in Everett with a 50-50 blend of diesel and algae oil as the Coast Guard's first ship to test biofuel, officials said. The Coast Guard is partnering in the research with the Navy, which plans to demonstrate its "Great Green Fleet" with the Nimitz strike group during the Rim of the Pacific, or RIMPAC, international military exercise beginning June 29 around the Hawaiian Islands. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/21/everett-based-coast-guard-ship-testing-biofuel/#ixzz1yXoU3QFQ VEHICLES Natural Gas for Vehicles Could Use U.S. Support. The fuel is cheap and plentiful. But there is little infrastructure to deliver it to users, and so there is little demand for equipment to use it. That, in brief, is what is wrong with the natural gas vehicle market. And in those facts could be the genesis of an idea for a federal program that would create jobs, save money for consumers and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/business/natural-gas-vehicles-are-a-compelling-target-for-a-federal-program.html?pagewanted=all Sacramento airport offers free juice for electric automobiles. Sacramento International Airport announced this week it has installed new-generation electric vehicle charging stations on each floor of the parking garage that serves passenger terminals A and B. There are two chargers on each level, suitable for newer electric cars such as the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, officials said. Use of the stations is free. Travelers who are charging up can leave their cars at the stations for the duration of their trip. The charger shuts off when the vehicle battery is fully replenished. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/22/4581261/sacramento-airport-offers-free.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/21/2252085/sacramento-airport-installs-electric.html#storylink=misearch Tesla starts delivery out of former Nummi plant. The closure of the West Coast's last big auto plant hit Fremont like a body blow. Toyota shuttered the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. factory on April Fool's Day in 2010, wiping out 4,700 jobs. The Japanese automaker had run the plant for 25 years as a joint venture with General Motors and didn't want to go it alone after GM spiraled into bankruptcy. Fremont's most visible employer was gone. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/22/BUJ21P5AQG.DTL&type=printable Power surge for plug-in cars. It's a make or break moment for electric-car maker Tesla Motors. Tesla has lost nearly $1 billion selling high-end electric sports cars to the likes of George Clooney. Now it's going to attempt to sell them to the rest of us -- and try to make money doing so. The company's first mass-market, five-seat sedan will be delivered today. The car, called the Model S, will either propel the company to profitability or leave it sputtering on the fumes of a $465 million government loan. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120622/WIRE/206221063?p=2&tc=pg GREEN ENERGY BrightSource Wins Bid for Solar Trust’s 500-Megawatt Project. BrightSource Energy Inc. (BRSE), the U.S. solar-thermal developer, was the top bidder at an auction today in Delaware to buy an unbuilt California power plant proposed by the bankrupt Solar Trust of America LLC. “BrightSource has been confirmed as the winning bidder for the Palen Solar Power Project,” the Oakland, California-based company said today in an e-mailed statement. “Once the court approves the sale and the conditions are satisfied, the acquisition will be complete.” Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-21/brightsource-wins-bid-for-solar-trust-s-500-megawatt-project.html Temecula Valley winery touts sustainability. The Ponte Family Estate Winery became the first Temecula Valley winery to join a certified list of sustainable California winegrowers last year. Now, it is promoting those environmental efforts with a new attraction for visitors: the Sustainability Tour. The winery started the tour in April as a way to celebrate Earth Day, and it has become permanent, available to visitors by appointment. The tour starts on the winery’s front porch and includes a visit to the vineyard, where guides point out methods that keep the drip-irrigation system as water-efficient as possible. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20120621-industry-temecula-valley-winery-touts-sustainability.ece State gives grant to Memphis turbine creator. The state Department of Environment and Conservation is giving a $125,000 grant to a Memphis company for development of a water turbine that will harness the power of the Mississippi River to generate electricity. The Clean Tennessee Energy Grant to Geoff Greene LLC was announced Thursday in Memphis by department officials. Company founder Geoff Greene invented a slow-turning turbine that will generate power that can be transferred into the local electricity grid. Using the grant and private funds, Greene plans to build a prototype to conduct reliability testing in the river. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/21/state-gives-grant-to-memphis-turbine-creator/ MISCELLANEOUS Arch Coal laying off 750 workers in Appalachia. One of the world's largest coal producers said Thursday it would lay off about 750 workers in the Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia coalfields, the latest setback for an industry struggling to sustain market share as utilities switch to cleaner and cheaper alternatives to generate electricity. The bulk of the cuts by Arch Coal Inc., almost 600, are in Kentucky. The disappearance of high-paying mining work heightened anxiety in hardscrabble Kentucky towns where officials worried declining demand for coal would result in leaner budgets and more people on unemployment rolls. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/21/coal-official-says-arch-coal-plans-layoffs-in-ky/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/arch-coal-laying-off-workers-in-appalachia/article_91c90dcf-c923-52b5-99e7-495a5ae821cb.html Asthma and the inner city: East St. Louis children struggle with life-threatening disease. The 4-year-olds laughed as they ran out on the playground at the start of morning recess. Within minutes, one boy stopped, a terrified look on his face. Brenda Crisp and her staff immediately realized what was happening: Asthma attack. “He escalated from zero symptoms to a severe attack in no time at all,” Crisp said. “It came out of the clear blue.” An ambulance rushed the boy to the hospital, where he recovered for two days. Two years later, he still suffers asthma attacks and must take his nebulizer, which delivers a dose of corticosteroids and oxygen, wherever he goes. Posted. . http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/pollution-poverty-people-of-color-asthma-and-the-inner-city OPINIONS A Green Roof Would Help. Unlike water and air, air-conditioning is far from a natural resource. Our goal should focus on reducing demand, consumption and providing renewable alternatives for cooling needs whenever possible. Universal access to traditional electric air-conditioning is unrealistic and would be environmentally catastrophic. The case for conserving energy by reducing urban temperatures seems like a no-brainer. The — generally unproductive — space on roofs provides one strategy to reduce demand and consumption. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/06/21/should-air-conditioning-go-global-or-be-rationed-away/a-green-roof-would-help-reduce-air-conditioning-demand Going Green. Back in 1987, when we set up our consulting company called SustainAbility, no one knew the word. For years we had to spell out the name. Today, according to a 2010 Accenture survey of 766 chief executives worldwide, 93 percent see sustainability as important for the future of their businesses, 88 percent accept that they must drive new requirements through their supply chains, and an astonishing 81 percent say they have already integrated sustainability into their businesses. Job done, you might conclude. But you’d be wrong. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/opinion/global-agenda-magazine-going-green.html?pagewanted=all Save the planet? Here's a good place to start. Rio de Janeiro -- Addressing global warming and sustainable development is daunting: droughts in Africa; sea-level rise in the South Pacific; violent storms in the United States and plummeting fish stocks around the world. It's easy to get lost in all that we need to do. World leaders at the Rio+20 Earth Summit should start with two issues at the foundation of our planet's problems: fossil fuel subsidies and ocean acidification. Each year, governments give almost $1 trillion in tax breaks and subsidies to oil, gas, coal and other fossil fuel companies. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/06/21/EDQ81P51FR.DTL&type=printable Mercury News editorial: Tesla's the coolest green symbol of Silicon Valley. The 800 people who work at the old NUMMI plant in Fremont are breaking all the rules. They have good manufacturing jobs in Silicon Valley, which everybody knows is too expensive and over-regulated for factories. They're making something that, just a few years ago, sounded looney: an all-electric luxury sedan, with a less expensive version in the works to accelerate (although ever so quietly) zero-emission cars into the mainstream of family transportation. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_20908770/mercury-news-editorial-teslas-coolest-green-symbol-silicon http://www.insidebayarea.com/opinion/ci_20909181/oakland-tribune-editorial-teslas-launch-brings-economic-hope http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_20909177/contra-costa-times-editorial-teslas-launch-brings-economic Erbe: Don't expect much at Rio summit. Don't expect much from the Rio + 20 Earth summit taking place in Brazil this week. Despite a dazzling display of more than 100 heads of state and 50,000 environmental activists, business leaders and policymakers, most analysts agree there will be much more disagreement at this United Nations meeting than agreement. The meeting is called Rio + 20 because the U.N. is trying to reinvigorate the progress sparked by a highly successful meeting on climate change it held in Rio two decades ago. It was known as the Earth summit. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/21/erbe-dont-expect-much-at-rio-summit/ State Of The Air Smartphone App Gives Air Quality Reports And Forecasts. It's the first day of summer, and the air where I live in Maine is nice and clean, with low levels of particulates and ozone. But people living in other parts of the country aren't so lucky. According to the American Lung Association, 41 percent of Americans live in areas where air pollution can make breathing not just more difficult but dangerous. How can you know what the air quality is like where you live? Well, you might turn to your smartphone for the answer. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/22/state-of-the-air-app-ala_n_1616916.html?utm_hp_ref=green http://www.forbes.com/sites/eco-nomics/2012/06/21/how-clean-is-the-air-your-iphone-now-has-the-answer/ Project: Home -- Light pollution can confuse wildlife. We humans like our nights, and we sure love to light them up, don't we? >From streetlights to outdoor lighting at home, practically everywhere we go can be lit up enough to do pretty much anything we want in relative safety. But we may be approaching a tipping point for too much night lighting. It's called light pollution, and it's beginning to affect parts of the world — or at least where lights dominate, or even dot, the nightscape. And this isn't just an energy saving or night-purist thing, either — it's a nature thing. Posted. http://www.chicoer.com/fromthenewspaper/ci_20914830/project-home-light-pollution-can-confuse-wildlife BLOGS A Hybrid Approach to Solar Power. When photovoltaic cells make electricity from sunlight, they collect a lot of heat along the way. And they don’t work as well warm as they do cold. Four years ago I wrote about a hybrid system that was intended both to make electricity and gather usable heat on residential rooftops. That company, now called Echo Solar, is offering its product around the country. But the market for such hybrids goes beyond homes, especially if the second product is hot water, which can make steam and then electricity. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/a-hybrid-approach-to-solar-power/?ref=science Dispatches from Rio: None from Obama? I understand why President Obama is not going to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio, which is a reprise of the 1992 Earth Summit there at which President George H. W. Bush and nearly all the world’s leaders appeared. (He’s skipping the conference despite taking direct heat in a YouTube message to Rio from Senator James Inhofe, the Republican of Oklahoma and steadfast ally of big coal, and indirect heat from Senator John Kerry, the Democrat of Massachusetts who gave a long floor speech on global warming and the Rio meeting yesterday, decrying “the conspiracy of silence that now characterizes Washington’s handling of the climate issue.”) Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/dispatches-from-rio-none-from-obama/ Dreaming Up Whole New Carbon Markets. Normally, when supporters of renewable energy talk about carbon markets, they’re referring to a system of traded credits that industries buy to compensate for their emissions of greenhouse gases, like the ones already sold in Europe and under development in California and Canada. But at the Renewable Energy Finance Forum-Wall Street, an annual conference organized by the American Council on Renewable Energy, the talk on Wednesday was of developing a different kind of carbon market where the gas would be bought and sold like a commodity to encourage carbon capture. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/dreaming-up-a-whole-new-carbon-market/ U.P.S. Is to Put 150 Plastic-Body Trucks Into Service. After a yearlong field test in five regions, United Parcel Service has ordered the production of 150 delivery trucks with bodies built of composite plastic panels. The company said that relative to the aluminum-bodied P70 package car, as the company’s equivalent vehicle is known, each plastic-body truck would lower fuel consumption by 40 percent. The trucks are expected to be received in the fourth quarter of 2012 and to go into service on high-mileage routes, primarily in the Western region of the United States. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/u-p-s-to-put-150-plastic-body-trucks-into-service/ Are these the most epic diesel-powered burnouts ever? Here in the States, we generally think of diesel-powered vehicles in one of two ways. First, there are the gigantor pickups with their loud and burly turbodiesel engines. Second, there are the diesel fuel misers, such as Volkswagen's stable of TDI mobiles. In Europe, though, nearly every car is available with at least one optional diesel engine, and many of those are considered performance models. Of course, there's also a fertile aftermarket community willing to turn any diesel engine into a mouth-breathing torque monster, and all it usually takes is the installation of a massive turbocharger. Posted. http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/21/are-these-the-most-epic-diesel-powered-burnouts-ever/ ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 12:53:58 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 25,2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 25, 2012. 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 Warming Seen Lifting California Sea Level a Foot by 2030. Global warming may push sea levels as much as a foot higher in California in the next two decades, threatening airports, freeways, ports and houses, according to a report examining risks along the U.S. West Coast. Increases are forecast to be greatest south of Cape Mendocino, with levels rising 12 inches (30 centimeters) by 2030 and as much as two feet by 2050, according to a report today by the National Research Council. In Oregon and Washington, increases may be more modest, because land also is rising. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-22/global-warming-seen-lifting-california-sea-level-a-foot-by-2030.html http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-adv-sea-level-20120625,0,7840116.story http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/06/nrc-ca-20120623.html Climate change activists scale the gates of Buckingham Palace in protest. London — Four climate change activists scaled gates at Queen Elizabeth II’s Buckingham Palace home on Saturday and locked themselves to railings in a protest demanding more urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The group, from the Climate Siren environmentalist movement, wore T-shirts with the slogan “Climate emergency. 10 percent annual emission cuts” and chanted through a loud hailer. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/climate-change-activists-scale-the-gates-of-buckingham-palace-in-protest/2012/06/23/gJQAlLroxV_story.html Sea rise faster on East Coast than rest of globe. From Cape Hatteras, N.C., to just north of Boston, sea levels are rising much faster than they are around the globe, putting one of the world's most costly coasts in danger of flooding, government researchers report. U.S. Geological Survey scientists call the 600-mile swath a "hot spot" for climbing sea levels caused by global warming. Along the region, the Atlantic Ocean is rising at an annual rate three times to four times faster than the global average since 1990, according to the study published Sunday in the journal Nature Climate Change. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Sea-rise-faster-on-East-Coast-than-rest-of-globe-3658967.php http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=AP&date=20120625&id=15260466 http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/24/sea-rise-faster-on-east-coast-than-rest-of-globe/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/nation-world/ci_20930995/sea-rise-faster-east-coast-than-rest-globe?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/nation-world/ci_20930995/sea-rise-faster-east-coast-than-rest-globe?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com&IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/sea-rise-faster-on-east-coast-than-rest-of-globe/image_9c020034-1e45-557b-8727-c808c61f7612.html http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0625/Sea-levels-rising-on-US-East-Coast-faster-than-anywhere-else U.S. cuts greenhouse gases despite do-nothing Congress. A curious thing is happening to the air in the United States. It's getting cleaner. Despite there being no real effort by Congress to address global warming and America's longstanding reputation as an energy hog, U.S. carbon dioxide emissions are falling. The lackluster economy has something to do with it. But it doesn't fully explain what's happening. Consider that even factoring in a stronger economy, forecasters see greenhouse gas emissions continuing to fall. It's possible the country may meet its pledge to reduce emissions 17% by 2020. Posted. http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/21/news/economy/greenhouse-gases-cut/index.htm Senate poised to vote on global warming as a consideration in flood insurance. The nation's sprawling flood insurance program would begin considering the impacts of climate change under a Senate bill that is expected to be voted on this week. The legislation instructs the 44-year-old program with 5.6 million policyholders to incorporate science's best estimates about future flooding changes into the map-making process that identifies floodplains across the country. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/25/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS North American Emission Rules for Ships to Enter Force. On 1 August 2012, enforcement of the North American Emissions Control Area (ECA) is due to commence. This third and largest ECA (the other two encompass the North Sea and the Baltic Sea areas) was first proposed by Canada and the United States on 27 March 2009. France quickly joined in on behalf of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, its territory off the Atlantic coast of Canada. The proposal was approved by the IMO on 26 March 2010 by means of an amendment to Annex VI (Regulations for Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships) to the MARPOL Convention. Posted. http://www.marinelink.com/news/american-emission-north345746.aspx University to Design Fossil Fuel-Free Cargo Ship. Developments are underway at the University of Southampton to design the modern world’s first 100% fossil fuel free sailing cargo ships, in a project which aims to provide efficient and affordable low-carbon shipping in the face of rising fossil fuel prices and the global challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The project combines proven technology and a state of the art dyna-rig sail propulsion system with an off the shelf Rolls-Royce engine powered by waste derived liquid biomethane (liquid gas). Posted. http://www.marinelink.com/news/university-fuelfree345697.aspx FUELS No hearing for shipping industry's bid to sink Calif. fuel rule. The Supreme Court announced today it would not hear a shipping industry challenge to a California air rule that requires vessels to use low-sulfur fuels within 24 miles of the coast. The legal question in Pacific Merchant Shipping Association v. Goldstene was whether state regulators have the authority to issue such an order or whether it was pre-empted by federal law. The Submerged Lands Act generally limits state authority to 3 miles from the coast. In a March 2011 ruling, the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said federal law did not pre-empt the California Air Resources Board rule. That ruling now stands. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/25/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Coal companies routinely win “competitive bids” against no competition. There are two senses in which coal is artificially cheap. The more sophisticated reason is the idea that coal has negative impacts on the economy and on public health which are not incorporated into its price. There’s also a practical sense in which coal is too cheap: coal producers pay far too little for it. A report in today’s Washington Post provides a clear example of this latter sense, focused on the Powder River Basin overlapping Montana and Wyoming. Posted. http://grist.org/news/coal-companies-routinely-win-competitive-bids-against-no-competition/ VEHICLES Tesla Motors Delivers World's First Premium Electric Sedan to. Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA) delivered Model S, the world's first premium electric sedan, to its first customers at an invitation-only event at the Tesla Factory in Fremont, California today. These deliveries put Model S on the road approximately one month earlier than previously announced and places the company in a good position to build 5,000 cars by the end of 2012, followed by 20,000 cars in 2013. "In 2009, we set out to build the most innovative car of the 21st century, and since then have dedicated ourselves to developing and testing Model S to ensure that under any situation." Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/article/2012-06-22/agq5Z7v_U3Zc.html http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/25/19 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Porsche Looks at Energy to Ready for Post-911 Role: Cars. Porsche SE, the holding company controlling a majority stake in Volkswagen AG (VOW) after a botched takeover attempt four years ago, will probably soon be investing more in energy than in sports cars like the iconic 911. Porsche SE shareholders voted today in favor of changes in the Stuttgart, Germany-based company’s charter as it closes in on finalizing the sale of the Porsche car-making unit to VW. The vote allows the holding company to invest in materials for the auto industry, real estate and energy trading. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-06-24/porsche-mulls-energy-trading-to-prepare-for-life-after-911-cars.html GREEN ENERGY California energy officials plan for life without San Onofre. As officials make short-term plans to cope while the San Onofre plant is off line, they're also starting to think about the possibility of a nuclear-free future. California energy officials are beginning to plan for the possibility of a long-range future without the San Onofre nuclear power plant. The plant's unexpected, nearly five-month outage has had officials scrambling to replace its power this summer and has become a wild card in already complicated discussions about the state's energy future. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-san-onofre-20120624,0,5823630,print.story New 'digesters' will turn Sacramento food waste into energy and natural gas. Two new projects in Sacramento are proving that one person's trash is another's big business. With the nation's largest commercial solid waste digester about to be built in Sacramento, the area could soon be a leader in creating value out of garbage. Clean World Partners and Atlas Disposal Industries, both of Sacramento, recently broke ground on a $13 million anaerobic digester and renewable natural gas fueling station in south Sacramento. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/24/4583102/new-digesters-will-turn-sacramento.html Biodigester's appetite is fed by the ton. Crates filled to the brim with watermelon rinds, bushy pineapple tops, lettuce scraps and grass clippings each weigh in at nearly a ton. One might be inclined to call this "organic waste." But not Clean World Partners: This is biodigester food. It's feeding day for the four huge cylindrical tanks of the biodigester on the grounds of the American River Packaging plant in North Natomas. Nearly 10 tons of leftover plant matter are being dumped into the mouth of the digester and stuffed in with a garden fork. Without breathing any greenhouse gases into the atmosphere…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/24/v-print/4583100/biodigesters-appetite-is-fed-by.html New efficiency standards for clothes washers, dishwashers. New energy-efficiency standards for residential clothes washers and dishwashers were announced by the U.S. Energy Department. Under the new rules, announced in May, front-loading clothes washers will use 15 percent less energy and 35 percent less water. Top-loading clothes washers will use 33 percent less energy and 19 percent less water. For dishwashers, the savings will be about 15 percent on energy and more than 20 percent on water. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/25/v-print/4586651/new-efficiency-standards-for-clothes.html Firm moves to deploy new ocean energy systems. The sea's heaving, rolling waters are an often overlooked source of renewable energy, but companies are now harnessing the motion of the ocean to feed electricity into the grid. The potential is enormous, experts say. "The predictions are that oceans could generate at least 10 percent of the world's energy usage," said Belinda Batten, director of the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center at Oregon State University. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/25/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY San Francisco Bay tidal power project resurfaces. A bid to harvest tidal power from the San Francisco Bay has re-emerged with a new plan to satisfy potential customers and water users. Golden Gate Energy, a subsidiary of Washington, D.C.-based Oceana Energy, last week received a six-month extension from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to file its draft license application by December. It is planning to submerge 30-foot turbines near the Golden Gate Bridge as early as 2014. The FERC permit would allow the company to test smaller turbines in water closer to the surface in preparation for the full-scale project, which will sink turbines 150 feet underwater. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/25/16 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY State green bank chief: entrepreneurial spirit in a government suit. Bryan T. Garcia, the president of the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority, calls himself a believer in the philosophy of hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky. "You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take," Garcia quotes Gretzky as famously saying -- and quotes him often. Garcia has always taken the shots -- starting as a 10-year-old outside Los Angeles, scorekeeping for softball leagues at $3 a game, six games a weekend, to pay for his first Apple computer. Posted. http://www.ctmirror.org/story/16726/state-green-bank-chief-entrepreneurial-spirit-government-suit MISCELLANEOUS Court: Can EPA regulate mud from logging roads? Washington -- The Supreme Court is getting down in the mud. The justices said Monday they will hear an appeal of a federal court ruling that declared mud washing off logging roads is pollution. The federal appeals court in San Francisco ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to write regulations to reduce the amount of runoff from logging roads that reaches salmon streams. Oregon and the timber industry filed separate appeals challenging the court ruling. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/25/4587107/court-can-epa-regulate-mud-from.html http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Court-Can-EPA-regulate-mud-from-logging-roads-3660520.php Supercomputer to study weather 'butterfly effect' Cheyenne, Wyo. -- Here in the shortgrass prairie, where being stuck in the ways of the Old West is a point of civic pride, scientists are building a machine that will, in effect, look into the future. This month, on a barren Wyoming landscape dotted with gopher holes and hay bales, the federal government is assembling a supercomputer 10 years in the making, one of the fastest computers ever built and the largest ever devoted to the study of atmospheric science. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Supercomputer-to-study-weather-butterfly-effect-3658439.php Sneakers-maker Puma tracks its carbon footprint. How big is a sneaker's carbon footprint? In a quest to find out, sportswear giant Puma's chairman, Jochem Zeitz, helped develop the Environmental Profit & Loss Account, or EP&L, a balance sheet that assigns a dollar figure to the environmental costs inflicted at every step of the manufacturing process that transforms rubber, cotton, leather and other materials into the brand's iconic soccer shoes, track suits and jerseys. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/23/2884982/sneakers-maker-puma-tracks-its.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/business/sneakers-maker-puma-tracks-its-carbon-footprint/article_4a604dbe-ffac-510d-9615-7cad75e0a658.html OPINIONS Tesla rollout is showtime for electric cars. With a hum, not a roar, Tesla Motors is heading closer to the middle of the road. The electric-car maker, best known for its $110,000 sports car, began delivering a $50,000-and-up sedan to a handful of eager buyers Friday. It's a healthy start buoyed by Tesla's ambitious leader Elon Musk, who believes that within 20 years, a majority of new autos will be running on electrons, not fossil fuels. Other plug-in vehicles are also hitting the market. But doubts remain. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Tesla-rollout-is-showtime-for-electric-cars-3657008.php Reader Rebuttal (McEldowney & Schiller): California energy prices. California's electricity bills are among the lowest in the nation, and it's because of our state's innovative energy policies that we pay less for power. The Register's editorial "California: also land of pricey energy" [June 8] gets it exactly wrong on both these points. Far from being a competitive disadvantage, California's leading-edge energy efforts – including Assembly Bill 32 – help California consumers and our state's economy as a whole. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/energy-360297-california-businesses.html BLOGS Cooking the Planet or the Self, an Uneasy Choice. In a recent article in The New York Times, Elisabeth Rosenthal and Andrew W. Lehren warned of the role of air-conditioning gases in worsening global warming. The story described the increased sales of air-conditioners in countries like India and China, which it said are rising 20 percent a year “as middle classes grow, units become more affordable and temperatures rise with climate change.” It added that “the potential cooling demands of upwardly mobile Mumbai, India, alone have been estimated to be a quarter of those of the United States.” Posted. http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/25/cooking-the-planet-or-cooling-ourselves-an-uneasy-choice/ ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 12:43:28 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 26, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 26, 2012. 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 says pollution controls can be based on future technologies. Ruling comes in a suit brought by paint manufacturers against the South Coast Air Quality Management District, which regulates pollution from sources other than vehicles. Southern California air pollution authorities may require pollution controls based on technologies that do not exist but may be reasonably anticipated, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-aqmd-paint-20120626,0,6464959.story http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/26/2257825/calif-supreme-court-oks-future.html#storylink=misearch http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/26/2887800/calif-supreme-court-oks-future.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20940104/calif-supreme-court-oks-future-technology-rules?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20940104/calif-supreme-court-oks-future-technology-rules?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/26/calif-supreme-court-oks-future-technology-rules/#ixzz1yuwkm8nh Federal agency to examine Sinclair SO2 emissions. A federal agency is preparing to examine sulfur dioxide emissions from a refinery in south-central Wyoming. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry plans to look at three years of data on air pollution from the Sinclair Refinery. The agency is part of the Centers for Disease Control. The Casper Star-Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/OpJiqT) that the Wyoming Outdoor Council environmental group sought a broader public health assessment of the refinery. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Federal-agency-to-examine-Sinclair-SO2-emissions-3663783.php http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_20940104/calif-supreme-court-oks-future-technology-rules Court upholds state pollution rules on offshore ships. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a shipping industry challenge Monday to California's air pollution rules requiring ocean-going vessels to use low-sulfur fuel within 24 miles of the coast, standards that the state said would save thousands of lives. The state Air Resources Board adopted the restrictions in July 2009 for ships that cross the 24-mile threshold while bound for California ports. The rules expire in 2015 when federal regulations take effect that will impose similar standards within 200 miles of the nation's shorelines. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Court-upholds-state-pollution-rules-on-offshore-3661264.php EPA study explains link between smog, heart problems. Smog has been linked to heart problems and even death, and new research by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency begins to explain why. Researchers found that healthy young adults who have been exposed to ozone pollution – which is a major component of smog – experience physiological changes that could be linked to heart ailments in vulnerable populations, such as elderly people with cardiovascular disease. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/environmental-health/story/epa-study-explains-link-between-smog/ http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/24/2887039/epa-study-explains-link-between.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/epa-study-explains-link-between-smog-heart-problems/article_1ee956f1-250c-53b6-8a3b-a0fc2c55b8f5.html Winds stir up dust in west San Joaquin Valley. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District warned that the northern and western parts of the San Joaquin Valley would experience blowing dust until about 11 p.m. Thursday. Because of that, the district issued a cautionary health statement for those areas, noting that people with heart or lung disease should avoid the dust. The western part of the San Joaquin Valley was expected to see winds gusting up to 45 mph. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/breaking-news/x1076260275/Winds-stir-up-dust-in-west-San-Joaquin-Valley DWP tells state board it’s ‘done’ at Owens Lake. State air quality watchdogs have a little less than two weeks to decide whether the City of Los Angeles is required to continue dust mitigation efforts on the Owens Dry Lake – despite city attorneys’ adamant assertions that L.A. is “done” with any such obligations. The California Air Resources Board met last Friday to hear arguments from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District regarding a disagreement between the two entities over mandated mitigation measures. Posted. http://www.inyoregister.com/node/2803 CLIMATE CHANGE Federal court upholds EPA's global warming rules. A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld the first-ever regulations aimed at reducing the gases blamed for global warming. The rules, which were challenged by industry groups and various states, will reduce emissions of six heat-trapping gases from large industrial facilities such as factories and power plants, as well as from automobile tailpipes. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EPA_GREENHOUSE_GASES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Other AP Stories http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/court-rules-agency-is-unambiguously-correct-in-using-law-to-curb-global-warming-gases/2012/06/26/gJQAlrsM4V_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Federal-court-upholds-EPA-s-global-warming-rules-3663669.php http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/26/2257979/federal-court-upholds-epas-greenhouse.html#storylink=misearch SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/26bn/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Researchers Observe Climate Change, First-Hand. As the climate changes, scientists are documenting measurable shifts in the natural world — from a tremendous loss in Arctic sea ice and an increase in extreme weather like drought, floods and heatwaves, to the migration of plants and animals to new latitudes. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2012/06/25/155717377/researchers-offer-first-hand-views-on-climate-change Cap ‘n Trade: There’s a lot to learn from what’s happening out West. Agencies across the United States are watching California’s implementation of a state- wide cap and trade. Companies are waiting to see how that program will impact business, and clean technology industries are hoping that the expected revenues spur innovation and new industries. Cap and Trade is a fairly simple concept: ‘Cap’ is a legal limit on the quantity of greenhouse gases that a region can emit each year, and ‘trade’ means that companies can swap among themselves the permission – or permits – to emit anything above that cap. Posted. http://www.thegreeneconomy.com/cap-n-trade-theres-a-lot-to-learn-from-whats-happening-out-west/ FUELS SFO official concerned about 'catastrophic' hydrogen explosion at proposed fueling station. A project to build a long-planned hydrogen vehicle fueling station at San Francisco International Airport is likely headed for the scrap heap due to squabbles over liability and fears of a "catastrophic" gas explosion. Now that negotiations have broken off with the would-be operator of the station at the southwest corner of SFO, the Airport Commission is slated to vote Tuesday on whether to kill the project. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20935895/sfo-official-concerned-about-catastrophic-hydrogen-explosion-at?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20935895/sfo-official-concerned-about-catastrophic-hydrogen-explosion-at?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Coal plants are the VHS tapes of the energy production flea market. When the Clean Air Act was updated in 1977, existing power plants got a free pass: They didn’t have to meet new standards until the next time their owners invested in them. So a number of pre-1977 plants simply never upgraded. (This is always a good thing to keep in mind during discussions of coal power.) (You do have discussions about coal power, don’t you? At family reunions and the like?) Some of these grandfathered coal plants have simply been shut down. But coal power has traditionally been so profitable that massive, expensive upgrades to old plants are worth the investment. Posted. http://grist.org/news/coal-plants-are-the-vhs-tapes-of-the-energy-production-flea-market/ VEHICLES AABC Europe 2012: Better batteries with same chemistry. The third European Advanced Automotive Battery Conference (AABC) took place 18-22 June 2012 in Mainz, Germany. Chaired by Bertrand Largy, Renault, Session 4 of AABTAM focused on battery pack engineering in automotive applications, aiming at making batteries safer, more reliable and better performing through better design, innovative cell-to-cell connection and modular approach. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4729 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Global visions of bullet trains. In the international race to build bullet trains, California is not only getting crushed by the likes of France and Japan, but also Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan. Dozens of powerful nations and even far-flung countries on every continent except Antarctica are asking the Golden State what's taking so long to join the bullet train club. The answer could come as soon as this week, when the state Legislature votes whether to start building the $69 billion rail line. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics-government/ci_20927265/global-visions-bullet-trains?source=rss GREEN ENERGY Bill that reforms RGGI becomes law. State still enrolled in energy program. Gov. John Lynch let a bill become law over the weekend that reforms New Hampshire's involvement in a regional cap-and-trade program, a move that disappointed environmental activists who say it halves energy efficiency funding generated by the multi-state compact. "Keeping New Hampshire in RGGI has been a priority for the governor, and this bill does that," Colin Manning, spokesman for the Democratic governor, said in a statement. Posted. http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/338194/bill-that-reforms-rggi-becomes-law?CSAuthResp=1340734025%3A5fh1d4pgahefm9hsl53hqa1kp6%3ACSUserId%7CCSGroupId%3Aapproved%3A9AE88FB3AC3F86659108D36CBC2AE888&CSUserId=94&CSGroupId=1 Trade threat lurks as U.S. levies new tariff on Chinese solar panels. The waves of a budding worldwide solar energy trade dispute are washing over three continents this week as the U.S. government called for new tariffs on Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers and China's Ministry of Commerce fired a warning shot at European officials who are contemplating a move similar to their American counterparts'. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/26/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Chemicals in furniture target of Calif. Lawmakers. Judy Levin's couch may not actively be trying to kill her, but it's far from a benevolent presence in her home. Levin, of Oakland, had her 20-year-old couch tested for toxic chemicals and was upset to learn it contains two flame retardants - V6 and TCEP, tris (2-carboxyethyl) phosphine. TCEP has since been listed by the state as a carcinogen under Proposition 65. But possibly more upsetting to Levin is the realization that there's not much she can do about it. The foam in furniture sold in California has to meet flammability standards set by state regulators in 1975. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Chemicals-in-furniture-target-of-Calif-lawmakers-3661414.php OPINIONS Letters: High-speed rail vs. reality. Re "Bullet train faces 'a tight vote,'" June 24 When voters in 2008 approved the bonds to start high-speed rail construction, we were told the cost would be about $35 billion. Now the figure is nearly $100 billion. We were also told private enterprise would step up to help provide financing, but that hasn't happened. The first segment of the bullet train is to be built in the Central Valley. If you are going to build a bridge across a river, you don't start in the middle. Nobody there wants it, and several groups are threatening to sue if it is built. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0626-tuesday-bullet-train-20120626,0,1656699.story Andy Ball and David Cush: California can't afford not to build high-speed rail. In the midst of the debate surrounding high-speed rail, the project remains a top priority to a diverse set of business, labor, civic, transportation and community organizations throughout California. High-speed rail development is an essential component of a forward-looking economic agenda that will immediately bolster California's job outlook and improve our economy in the long-term. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_20935693/andy-ball-and-david-cush-california-cant-afford?source=rss Gas prices continue slide, but for how long? Enjoy it while it lasts. Gas prices continue their surprising summer slide, with the average in many Bay Area cities now under $4 a gallon. But with July Fourth around the corner, some experts are already predicting that they will resume their climb as motorists take to the road for holiday excursions. On Monday, however, motorists were savoring the $3.69 a gallon they were paying for regular unleaded at Gas of America in AntiochPosted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_20936567/gas-prices-continue-slide-but-how-long The Climate Post: Rising Oil, Gasoline Prices Push Politicians and Reporters to Utter "Nonsense" In a major speech on energy at the University of Miami, President Obama said rising gasoline prices are a "painful reminder" of the need for alternatives. He was on the offensive, trying to counter criticisms of the GOP presidential candidates -- including Newt Gingrich, who promised he'd get gasoline down to $2.50 a gallon. Countering calls to "drill, baby, drill," Obama called the GOP candidates' ideas "bumper sticker" strategies, "not a plan." Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mason-inman/the-climate-post-rising-o_b_1314800.html Murdock: A winning route along the pipeline. With his recent swing-state bus tour behind him, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney should plan his next road trip. Romney should ride along the envisioned route of the Keystone XL pipeline. Along the way, he should invoke, meet and even appear with Democrats and labor leaders who agree with him on Keystone and are frustrated with President Barack Obama's obstructionism on this vital, job-rich energy venture. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/25/murdock-a-winning-route-along-the-pipeline/#ixzz1yuxeqKhC “Don’t write off cap-and-trade” It’s time to stop the hand-wringing over carbon markets, writes Robert Stavins. Low permit prices in Europe and America point to changing circumstances and fixable flaws – not the failure of an idea. Various journalists and advocates have, of late, described America’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) as being near “the brink of failure” thanks to the trend of very low prices of permits to emit carbon dioxide. Posted. http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/5010 BLOGS Could ‘Green’ Bonds Help Tackle Climate Change? Delegates from across the world poured into Rio de Janeiro to attend the UN’s sustainable development summit to discuss how to tackle climate change. One item on the agenda: Could the issuance of “green bonds” be part of the answer? Investor interest for green bonds exists, but potential purchasers of such products are not being offered appropriate investments on a big enough scale. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2012/06/26/could-green-bonds-help-tackle-climate-change/ Can U.S. carbon emissions keep dropping? That depends on Congress. Here’s a green trend that more people should know about: Since 2007, the United States has managed to curtail its global-warming pollution by quite a bit — energy-related carbon emissions have fallen roughly 6 percent over the past five years. Some of that, it’s true, has been due to the recession. Less economic activity means less demand for energy. But not all of it. The drop has also come as cheap natural gas has forced power companies to shutter their coal plants. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/06/26/can-u-s-carbon-emissions-keep-dropping-that-depends-on-congress/ U.S. Grants a Keystone Pipeline Permit. The Obama administration, moving swiftly on the president’s promise to expedite the southernmost portion of the disputed Keystone XL pipeline, has granted construction permits for part of the route passing through Texas, officials said on Tuesday. The Army Corps of Engineers on Monday told TransCanada, which wants to build a 1,700-mile pipeline to carry heavy crude from Alberta to the Gulf Coast, that it could begin construction on the portion of the proposed pipeline that would end at the gulf port of Nederland, Tex. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/26/u-s-grants-a-keystone-pipeline-permit/ Seeking a Profitable Place to Put Captured Carbon. Two major oil companies joined by a chemical company and an investment group have invested $9 million in a commercial carbon capture project in Texas that will treat the flue gases from a coal-fired cement kiln and turn them into marketable chemicals.T he $125 million project, to be built in San Antonio with the aid of federal grants totaling $28 million, is intended to turn a profit through sales of sodium bicarbonate, hydrochloric acid and caustic soda. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/25/seeking-a-profitable-place-to-put-captured-carbon/ A New Satellite Tool Tracks Deforestation. An international team of researchers presented a new tool at the Rio+20 sustainability conference last week: the first satellite system for monitoring deforestation across Latin America in nearly real time. While such programs have existed in Brazil for several years, the program, called Terra-I, fills a much-needed gap for some smaller Latin countries that are losing forests at an equal or higher rate. “Everyone more or less understands maps,” said Mark Mulligan, a geographer at King’s College London and one of the project’s designers. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/25/a-new-satellite-tool-tracks-deforestation/ A Fresh Look at Oil’s Long Goodbye. My bedtime reading tonight is “Oil: The Next Revolution – The unprecedented upsurge of oil production capacity and what it means for the world.” This mind-bending report points to a prolonged period of rising oil production, particularly in the United States (for reasons laid out below), and a potential collapse in oil prices, with all kinds of implications for security, international politics, the economy and, without doubt, climate. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/25/a-fresh-look-at-oils-new-boom-time/ A Tragicomic Take on Cape Wind. When the energy entrepreneur Jim Gordon first proposed building the Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound, he assumed the project would be a slam dunk. Liberal Massachusetts communities would surely embrace a clean energy initiative, he figured. More than 10 years later, the offshore project is still not up and running, although it has passed some regulatory hurdles and survived a few legal challenges from locals who oppose the project. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/25/a-tragicomic-take-on-cape-wind/ Mark Landsbaum: OC Register's Resident Climate Science Denier. The Orange County Register's stance on climate change and efforts to contain greenhouse gases that contribute to the current warming trends isn't exactly in line with widely accepted scientific data. This is due in part to the presence of climate change contrarian Mark Landsbaum on its editorial board. Landsbaum, who had a previous stint at the Los Angeles Times before joining the Register, has penned numerous columns for the Register attacking climate science and cap-and-trade initiatives going as far back as 2008. Posted. http://mediamatters.org/blog/201206260003 ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 12:28:25 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 27, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 27, 2012. 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 ICAO Carbon-Cut Plan Will Mask Emissions Output: Engineer. A metric proposed as part of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s plan to curb greenhouse gases in the airline industry will mask the actual emissions of aircraft, according to an aeronautical engineer. The proposal uses a plane’s maximum take-off weight, a certification level known as MTOW, to help determine emissions and whether the aircraft is efficient enough to fly…Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-27/icao-carbon-cut-plan-will-mask-emissions-output-engineer.html Rio: pollution rife during UN enviro conference. Rio de Janeiro—The throngs streaming into Rio for a sustainable development conference may be dreaming of white-sand beaches and clear, blue waters, but what they are first likely to notice as they leave the airport is not the salty tang of ocean in the breeze, but the stench of raw sewage. That's because the airport sits by a bay that absorbs about 320 million gallons (1.2 billion liters) of raw waste water a day: 480 Olympic swimming pools worth of filth. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5imbLSiWprvGrn9C02RLDAC09_LmA?docId=eeb2b7d943d04252b8c35bace8a9822d Associated Press: http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_20949583/rio-pollution-rife-during-un-enviro-conference http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20949583/rio-pollution-rife-during-un-enviro-conference?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20949583/rio-pollution-rife-during-un-enviro-conference?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Lodi bakery faces fine over air pollution accusation. A Lodi bakery has agreed to pay $1.3 million in fines and new equipment after an investigation discovered that the business was releasing harmful chemical vapors into the air. According to a press release from the Environmental Protection Agency, Ralcorp's Cottage Bakery, located on South Stockton Street, has been ordered to pay a penalty of $625,000 after a nearly three-year investigation revealed the business failed to apply for air pollution permits to install and operate the facility's ovens and other air pollution controls that minimize the release of volatile organic compounds, including ethanol. Posted. http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_d79aebf6-535b-564c-9924-fb61ad05058d.html?mode=print CLIMATE CHANGE Exxon's CEO: Climate, energy fears overblown. ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson says that fears about climate change, drilling, and energy dependence are overblown. In a speech Wednesday, Tillerson acknowledges that burning of fossil fuels is warming the planet, but says society will be able to adapt. The risks of oil and gas drilling are well understood and can be mitigated, he says. And he says dependence on other nations for oil is not a concern as long as access to supply is certain. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EXXON_CLIMATE_CHANGE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-27/exxon-s-rex-tillerson-says-global-warming-manageable-.html http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Exxon-s-CEO-Climate-energy-fears-overblown-3667064.php Climate change would lead to increased fire activity, study shows. Climate change is likely to alter fire patterns around the world, including a potential increase in the number of fires for much of California in the next 30 years, according to a new study led by UC Berkeley researchers. The study, published in Ecosphere, modeled projected climate changes and how those changes would affect fire activity. The Northern Hemisphere would see the largest increases in the frequency of wildfires, with some parts of the globe potentially seeing decreases, said Max A. Moritz, the study's lead author. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/26/v-print/4592560/climate-change-would-lead-to-increased.html Legislators could delay state's emissions trading linkage with Quebec. A bill in the California Legislature set to be voted on today would prevent the state from linking greenhouse gas trading programs to other governments without the governor's approval, a hitch that would potentially delay the state's plan to link its market with Quebec's. As currently written, one of the bills accompanying the Legislature's version of the state budget would require the state Air Resources Board to notify the governor if it intends to link market-based programs with another state, province or country. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/27/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Few legal options for losers in EPA rule challenge. After a federal appeals court upheld Obama administration greenhouse gas regulations yesterday, attention turned to what remaining legal options are left available to the challengers. The choice is straightforward: Ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to rehear the case or immediately seek Supreme Court review. A three-judge panel of the appeals court yesterday denied or dismissed challenges to four rules that are key to the administration's effort to regulate greenhouse gas emissions (Greenwire, June 26). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/27/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Rep. Issa Challenges EPA on Heavy Truck Fuel Economy Standard. The House Oversight Committee is claiming that the California Air Resources Board was too influential in the drafting of federal truck fuel efficiency standards. Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said in a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency that CARB appears to have been "heavily invested and highly involved" in development of the standards for heavy-duty trucks. "It is not clear to the committee, however, why CARB exercised such outsized influence in this process…Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=77343&news_category_id=3 Half of Inhaled Soot Particles from Diesel Exhaust, Fires Gets Stuck in the Lungs. The exhaust from diesel-fueled vehicles, wood fires and coal-driven power stations contains small particles of soot that flow out into the atmosphere. The soot is a scourge for the climate but also for human health. Now for the first time, researchers have studied in detail how diesel soot gets stuck in the lungs. The results show that more than half of all inhaled soot particles remain in the body. The figure is higher than for most other types of particles. Posted. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/06/120627092016.htm FUELS COLUMN-Biofuels caught in price squeeze: Gerard Wynn. Rising crop costs are squeezing biofuel margins and may see production fall or stagnate in the United States for the first time since 1996, adding to challenges in Brazil and Europe. A long-run correlation between U.S. corn and crude oil broke down this month, stemming from new fears for the world economy coupled with harsh conditions in key corn growing areas. The changing dynamic illustrates challenges for the sector. U.S. corn ethanol production margins are driven by oil markets and costs driven by corn markets: Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/27/column-wynn-biofuel-costs-idUSL6E8HQ76S20120627 GREEN ENERGY Private equity wary of German green energy shift. Any German politicians hoping private equity investors will cough up some of the billions needed to finance the shift to green energy should probably think again, if comments at an industry conference on Wednesday are anything to go by. Speakers at the conference said renewable energy projects, vital if Germany is to achieve its goal of a sustainable shift away from nuclear power, were too bound by red tape to be an attractive destination for the huge sums which private equity firms allocate. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/27/germany-privateequity-green-idUSL6E8HRDR120120627 Rural farm funds announced. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reports that USDA has selected 450 projects totalling $7.4 million in Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant funding nationwide, including 13 projects in California, that are focused on helping agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy consumption and costs and use renewable energy technologies in their operation. In California, projects total $260,000. Posted. http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/news/agriculture/2346-rural-farm-funds-announced MISCELLANEOUS Portland airport terminal gets green kudos. Maine's Portland International Jetport has become the nation's second commercial airport to receive LEED gold certification. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and its gold certification demonstrates that the airport was built to environmentally friendly, energy-efficient standards. Airport Director Paul Bradbury says the new terminal will save $150,000 a year in fuel costs thanks to installation of the state's largest geothermal system. The system features 120 wells, each 500 feet deep. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/27/2889438/portland-airport-terminal-gets.html#storylink=misearch OPINIONS Natural-Gas Cars Can Drive Us Toward a Better Economy. Armenia is not generally known as a world leader, but it holds at least one record: Seventy-five percent of its cars and trucks run on natural gas. In the U.S., in contrast, the share is well under 0.1 percent -- even though natural-gas prices have plummeted here over the past few years. Given the problems associated with U.S. dependence on oil, more use of natural gas for transportation could carry big benefits. One of the most important of these would be macroeconomic. Switching to natural-gas vehicles would reduce our vulnerability to oil-price shocks…Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-26/natural-gas-cars-can-drive-us-toward-a-better-economy.html Dan Morain: Turn cap and trade rate bomb into AB 32 dividends. Mike Florio, a lifelong consumer advocate turned California Public Utilities commissioner, hasn't often found himself aligned with the California Chamber of Commerce, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and major power companies. But in a very public setting not long ago, he warned about the issue that has exercised business advocates: the bill that is coming due as the state goes about reducing greenhouse gases and combating climate change. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/27/v-print/4591278/turn-cap-and-trade-rate-bomb-into.html Joanne S. Marchetta: Tahoe needs to allow some development to make environmental gains. Lake Tahoe holds a different meaning for each of us. For many Bay Area residents, it was your childhood summer or kayaking trip, the lakeside wedding, the cabin tucked away in whispering pines. There is also a lot of commerce at Lake Tahoe -- not to mention about 40,000 private properties surrounding the lake. Lake Tahoe is also on the world stage for cutting-edge science, invasive species prevention and best practices for land-use planning. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_20943006/joanne-s-marchetta-tahoe-needs-allow-some-development Latinos Nationwide Call for New Power Plant Rules to Curb Climate Change. This summer is already shaping up to be a scorcher. The northeast has gone from sweaters to sweltering in under a week, persistent droughts have brought record setting wildfires in New Mexico, and just weeks into hurricane season, we're already awaiting the fourth named storm in the Atlantic. For many Latinos in these seriously impacted parts of the country and for many who work outside in the heat or live in areas that don't meet clean air rules and are struggling under healthcare costs, the risks of climate change are real. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adrianna-quintero/record-number-of-latinos-_b_1621113.html?utm_hp_ref=green Aluminum Giant Alcoa Finds New Markets In Green Tech Economy. I just want to say one word to you. Aluminum. It may not be the plastics of the 21st century, but aluminum demand is growing along with the need for lighter, more fuel efficient cars, lightweight laptops and tablets like the iPad I’m writing this post on as well as futuristic products such as self-cleaning, smog-eating building panels. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/toddwoody/2012/06/26/aluminum-giant-alcoa-finds-new-markets-in-green-tech-economy/ Appeals court to EPA: You just keep on regulating greenhouse gas. This morning, a federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., upheld the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) first-of-its-kind greenhouse gas regulations, dismissing out of hand a variety of challenges from industry and states. The findings uphold the agency’s rules defining limits to the emission of greenhouse gas pollution under the Clean Air Act. Specifically, the court ruled: Yes, the agency acted properly in determining that CO2 is a danger to public health; …Posted. http://grist.org/news/appeals-court-to-epa-you-just-keep-on-regulating-greenhouse-gas/ BLOGS Where Are Hybrids, Electric Cars Selling Fastest? Hawaii. Hawaii, the land of sun, sea, sand and surfing. Green transport, too, according to the latest sales figures emerging from the islands. In fact, hybrids and electric cars are selling so well in the state they almost matched 2011's figures in the first five months of this year. We've already speculated that islands could be the most likely homes for electric cars, with higher-than-average gas prices and smaller road networks. In the case of Hawaii, there's plenty of potential for green energy from solar, hydro or geothermal power too. Posted. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1077288_where-are-hybrids-electric-cars-selling-fastest-hawaii ====================================================================== 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 Jun 2012 13:00:42 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for June 28, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 28, 2012. 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 LA council votes to strictly enforce Clean Air Act. Los Angeles officials have voted unanimously to approve stricter enforcement of the federal Clean Air Act, including a provision that requires coal-fired plants to reduce mercury and other toxic air pollution. City News Service reports the city council voted 10-0 on Wednesday to regulate the city's coal-fired power plants, which provide about 39 percent of the city's electricity. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has vowed to comply with the new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards and eventually eliminate coal as an energy source. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/27/la-council-votes-to-strictly-enforce-clean-air/#ixzz1z6WPzbAA http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/27/2260655/la-council-votes-to-strictly-enforce.html#storylink=misearch CLIMATE CHANGE California Lawmakers Pass Measure Limiting Cap-And-Trade Links. California lawmakers passed a bill that may stall plans for a link of the state’s cap-and-trade system with Quebec that would allow companies to exchange carbon permits across the borders. The measure, approved as part of the legislature’s $95.1 billion budget package, requires the state’s air resources board to gain approval from the governor before linking cap-and-trade systems with other jurisdictions. The board was expected to decide tomorrow on a link with Quebec that would allow companies to use carbon offsets and permits issued by the province to meet California’s greenhouse-gas emissions targets. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-28/california-lawmakers-pass-measure-limiting-cap-and-trade-links.html Court ruling to shift greenhouse gas fight back to Congress. An appeals court decision to uphold proposed federal greenhouse gas rules may shift the fight over regulating the heat-trapping emissions back to Congress, where lawmakers may step up efforts to diminish the EPA's power or renew efforts to set a price on carbon, experts said. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia on Monday unanimously ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) finding that carbon dioxide is a public danger and the decision to set limits for emissions from cars and light trucks were legal. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/28/us-emissions-court-idUSBRE85R0C120120628 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20960957/federal-court-upholds-epas-greenhouse-gas-rules?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20960957/federal-court-upholds-epas-greenhouse-gas-rules?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com NASA cancels climate study project in Thailand. The United States says it will not be able to carry out a major climate study this year because Thailand has delayed a decision on whether to grant the U.S. space agency permission to use a key naval air base. NASA's request to use Thailand's U-Tapao air base as the project's operations center has faced opposition from critics who say it could be a cover for military purposes. The base is located in Chonburi province, 190 kilometers (118 miles) southeast of Bangkok. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/NASA-cancels-climate-study-project-in-Thailand-3668701.php Heat wave: 1,000+ records fall in US in a week. Feeling hot? It's not a mirage. Across the United States, hundreds of heat records have fallen in the past week. From the wildfire-consumed Rocky Mountains to the bacon-fried sidewalks of Oklahoma, the temperatures are creating consequences ranging from catastrophic to comical. In the past week, 1,011 records have been broken around the country, including 251 new daily high temperature records on Tuesday. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/27/heat-wave-1000-records-fall-in-us-in-a-week/#ixzz1z6YFIuoU FUELS Enviros: Gas industry got inside info from NY DEC. An environmental group has released documents showing the natural gas industry had exclusive access to proposed drilling regulations at least six weeks before they were made public by New York state's Department of Environmental Conservation. The Environmental Working Group alleged Thursday that a prominent industry lawyer used this access to try to weaken rules restricting discharges of radioactive wastewater. The national group is seeking a moratorium on shale gas drilling until all health and environmental concerns are resolved. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Enviros-Gas-industry-got-inside-info-from-NY-DEC-3669899.php HIGH-SPEED RAIL Some senators push for shift in bullet train plan. Three months ago, Gov. Jerry Brown hit the reset button on the California bullet train, slashing $30 billion from its $98 billion budget and promising to reorder the controversial project's priorities. Now, some Democrats in the state Senate want to hit the reset button again. They have proposed dramatically shifting the high-speed rail project's focus by cutting back on planned construction in the Central Valley and instead spending billions on immediate rail improvements in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/rail-361008-project-train.html GREEN ENERGY Screens used to lower electricity bills. Tokyo -- Screens and shades placed on the outside of windows have been gaining popularity as people expect they will reduce indoor heat and help push down their electricity bills for the summer. Made of polyester or other thin materials, the screens and shades are not eyesores because many can be rolled up when not in use. In early June, Mineko Akiba, a 70-year-old housewife in Chiba, Japan, had a roll-up shade installed at her house outside a living room window that is 1.7 meters wide and 2 meters high. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/28/4595503/screens-used-to-lower-electricity.html San Jose teams up with SolarCity. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed has installed solar panels on his own home and has made renewable energy a key platform of his "Green Vision" for the city. Now the city is working with San Mateo-based SolarCity to install rooftop solar panels on 16 municipal buildings, with 14 additional sites under consideration. Four of the projects, including installations at Kelley Park and the Police Activities League Sports Center, are already complete. Twelve others are under way, including libraries in Alum Rock and Almaden, the Tully Road ball field and three downtown parking garages. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20954178/san-jose-teams-up-solarcity?source=rss MISCELLANEOUS L.A. metal recyclers charged in mishandling of toxic waste. Los Angeles city attorney's office accuses the owners of three metal recycling businesses of posing 'a significant threat to human health and the environment.' Los Angeles city prosecutors Wednesday took the unusual step of filing criminal charges against the owners of three metal recycling businesses, accusing them of illegally handling hazardous waste and allowing toxic chemicals to be released into storm water. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-metal-recycle-20120628,0,5369342.story Gas mowers to be exchanged for electric ones Saturday at Big A. Annual lawnmower exchange is in 10th year and has taken more than 43,000 carbon-belchers out of circulation. Anaheim – Air-quality officials are coming to Angel Stadium on Saturday, armed with hundreds of electric lawn mowers they hope professional landscapers and weekend gardeners will pick up in exchange for old, carbon-belching models. This is the 10th anniversary of the Southern California Air Quality Management District's popular Lawnmower Exchange Program. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/mowers-361130-program-electric.html Worth noting: Finalists picked for film-making contest, more. Finalists have been chosen in the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District's annual amateur film-making contest. Sophia Breedlove of Fresno won in the K-8 category, Andrew Beard of Bakersfield won in the high school category and Antonio Garcia of Bakersfield won in the college and teachers category. Participants created 30-second videos illustrating how to change things in daily life that would improve air quality in the San Joaquin Valley, according to Valley Air District spokesman Anthony Presto. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x1408651535/Worth-noting-Finalists-picked-for-film-making-contest-more OPINIONS A Court Rules for the Planet. A federal court decision on Tuesday upholding the Environmental Protection Agency’s landmark rulings to control greenhouse gases was a decisive victory for the Obama administration and a devastating blow to polluters. It vindicated the administration’s strategy of controlling emissions through regulation and showed good sense at a time when both the agency and the science of global warming are under relentless Congressional attack. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/opinion/a-court-rules-for-the-planet.html?_r=1 Letters: When the oceans rise. Re "State sea levels expected to rise," June 25. Climate change news over the last several weeks, like The Times' article on California's sea levels rising by up to five feet, has been troubling. The country's most esteemed scientists continue to forecast a major sea level rise, as in the recent National Research Council report, while high-level government institutions decline to take meaningful action to forestall or even confront it. Local governments and communities will bear the brunt of this intransigence, but they are also empowered to take independent action. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0628-thursday-oceans-rise-20120628,0,5493464,print.story Is your sofa safe? A California agency is set to study furniture flammability rules, which largely serve as the standard nationwide. The California Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation might just be the most important state agency that no one's ever heard of. It is about to revamp the state's flammability standards for furniture, a mundane-sounding subject that will have significant ramifications not just in California but nationally as well. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-flame-retardant-california-20120628,0,5527976.story Dan Walters: Fate of California's bullet train iffy in state Senate. The state Assembly would surely vote for Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to begin building a north-south bullet train in the San Joaquin Valley – but the Senate, where party discipline is much weaker, is proving to be a tougher political nut to crack. Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg has publicly pledged to approve construction funds and wants a vote next week. Just weeks ago, Senate approval appeared certain, but with Republicans solidly opposed, Steinberg needs support from 20 of the 24 other Democratic senators. At the moment, the votes aren't there. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/28/v-print/4594851/dan-walters-fate-of-californias.html Weather underground: How TV weathercasters can help in the climate fight. We humans are warming our climate — mostly by burning up fossil fuels. And we’re seeing a range of serious impacts in our own backyards and across the globe, including the increased frequency and magnitude of some types of extreme weather. Americans seem to get it. Polling from 2011 shows that a majority of us now link an unnaturally warming climate to droughts, floods, and other extremes. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-change/weather-underground-how-tv-weathercasters-can-help-in-the-climate-fight/ BLOGS Cutting the Electric Bill with a Giant Battery. A giant battery bank installed by the side of the Southeast Pennsylvania Transit Authority’s subway tracks a little over a month ago is saving about nine megawatt-hours of power a week, its manufacturer says, which is more electricity than the typical apartment-dweller uses in a year. The battery system, which I wrote about last year, is allowing the trains to run a bit like Prius hybrids. When they slow down at a station, their motors turn into generators, converting torque into current. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/cutting-the-electric-bill-with-a-giant-battery/?ref=energy-environment In New Jersey, Brewing an Alternative to Petroleum. Walking into the research facility of Primus Green Energy is not unlike wandering onto the set of “Dr. Who.” Everywhere you look, there is plumbing, usually covered in multiple layers of shiny aluminum foil. The foil is hot, it’s festooned with hundreds of wires and it reeks of solvents. Robert A. Heinlein, the writer of science fiction, once said that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/in-new-jersey-brewing-an-alternative-to-petroleum/ Tides Canada Stands Up to Government Critics. A charitable foundation devoted to environmental causes that has been vilified by politicians in Canada’s governing Conservative Party has struck back, outlining its finances and accusing the politicians of trying to silence dissent. On Wednesday, the group, Tides Canada, released an unusually detailed accounting of both its grants and its international donors to counter the charges. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/tides-canada-stands-up-to-government-critics/ CAFE standards upheld by U.S. appeals court. No dice, partner. Federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for 2012-16 were upheld this week by a U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., quashing efforts by certain industries and a number of states to overturn the mandate, The Detroit News reports. The standards, which have been backed by the Obama Administration, require fleetwide fuel economy to reach 34.1 miles per gallon by 2016. The mandate, made in part to address evidence of global warming from greenhouse gas emissions, has been backed by most major automakers, including Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/06/28/cafe-standards-upheld-by-u-s-appeals-court/ Climate Smack-Down: Court Upholds EPA's Carbon Pollution Standards In Triumph of Science and Law. On Tuesday the federal appeals court in Washington delivered a resounding victory for science, the rule of law, and common sense by upholding the Environmental Protection Agency’s landmark actions to start curbing the dangerous carbon pollution driving climate change. Ruling unanimously in Coalition for Responsible Regulation v. EPA, the appeals court rejected each and every attack from the coal companies, power companies…Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ddoniger/climate_smack-down_court_uphol.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, 29 Jun 2012 12:02:52 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for June 29, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for June 29, 2012. ARB Newsclips for June 29, 2012 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 air chief defends carbon regs in court victory's wake. U.S. EPA air chief Gina McCarthy defended her agency's plans to address greenhouse gases this morning before a key House Energy and Commerce subpanel, fortified by a federal appeals court decision this week that affirmed EPA's proposal. She testified that EPA had taken a "deliberative and common-sense approach" to limiting carbon pollution that would not be a hit to the economy, as some lawmakers have said. "Over 40 years of Clean Air Act implementation, we've seen that clean air and a healthy economy go hand in hand," she told the Energy and Power Subcommittee. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/29/7 BY SUBCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Calif. plans to go it alone on cap and trade, at least at first. Sacramento, Calif. -- California's foray into carbon emissions trading will begin as a solo venture, regulators announced yesterday at a hearing originally intended to secure the Canadian province of Quebec as the state's first trading partner.California air pollution officials said they still plan to include other jurisdictions in their economywide cap-and-trade program, but it won't happen in time for the inaugural auction this November of allowances to manufacturers, oil refineries and other industries, which must obtain them to cover their carbon dioxide emissions starting next year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/06/29/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Brazil Said to Consider Increased Ethanol Mix in Fuel. Brazil is considering a request by Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR4), the country’s state-owned oil company, to increase the amount of ethanol added to gasoline, said two government officials with knowledge of the discussions. Authorities are reviewing ethanol supplies in the South American country to determine if there is enough to proceed with the measure, which would help reduce imports and boost Petrobras’s earnings, said the officials, who asked not to be identified as the matter is not public. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-29/brazil-said-to-consider-increased-ethanol-mix-in-fuel.html Western Colorado Struggles as Energy Jobs Fade. The news of a nationwide energy boom is almost too much for people in this town built atop a sea of oil shale and natural gas, where rusting tanks line the highways and ExxonMobil helped to finance the 4-H club’s new community center. Elsewhere — seemingly everywhere else but here, locals say — an oil and gas stampede is transforming towns from the green hills of western Pennsylvania to the plains of North Dakota and eastern Colorado, bringing a flood of money, jobs and attendant environmental concerns. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/us/energy-boom-turns-to-bust-in-colorado.html US, Canada cooperate on advanced biofuels, clean energy tech. The U.S. DOE and Environment Canada released the U.S.-Canada Clean Energy Dialogue Action Plan II on June 21. The plan outlines the next phase of activities the two countries plan to undertake to jointly advance clean energy technologies. According to the DOE, the new action plan renews the commitment between the U.S. and Canada to involves work in several areas, including biofuels, carbon capture and storage, smart grids and energy efficiency. Posted. http://biodieselmagazine.com/articles/8562/us-canada-cooperate-on-advanced-biofuels-clean-energy-tech Groups say CAFE standards could stymie biofuels industry. Proposed fuel economy standards could hamper the U.S. biofuels industry, a coalition of rural energy proponents and farm organizations said yesterday. In comments filed with U.S. EPA, the groups warned that the new corporate average fuel economy standards, commonly known as CAFE standards, eliminate incentives to use biofuels. In addition, the standards do not adequately value the reduced greenhouse gas emissions possible through the use of biofuels, they said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/06/29/9 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES ENERGY: Escondido firm installs 400th electric vehicle charger. Escondido firm Baker Electric Inc. has now installed 417 residential electric car chargers and 143 publicly available high-speed chargers in San Diego County, the company said Thursday. The county has been at the center of a national electric vehicle roll-out: Nissan launched its all-electric Leaf and Chevy launched its mostly electric Volt in 2010 in San Diego County. At the same time, the region has been one of five areas in which the Arizona firm Ecotality has been installing chargers paid for by the government. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/energy-escondido-firm-installs-th-electric-vehicle-charger/article_79a121fe-83db-5e99-8498-8b683cb19451.html High-profile early adopters demo hydrogen car. Actress Diane Kruger is one of more than 35 environmental enthusiasts and "early adopters" in California who are among the first to drive Mercedes-Benz's emissions-free B-Class F-Cell vehicle. The hydrogen-fuel-cell electric vehicle generates electricity on board in a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. With a range of about 250 miles and short refueling times, the B-Class F-Cell combines emissions-free local mobility with suitability for long journeys and impressive performance, producing as its only by-product, pure water. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_20918851/high-profile-early-adopters-demo-hydrogen-car?IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com Shift points. Toyota says it will start selling a super-small electric vehicle in its Japanese home market for a super-small price: just US $12,600, reports electric-vehicle advocate Green Car Congress. The two-seater will be based on the COMS single-seat EV unveiled at last year's Tokyo Motor Show. Nissan expects to triple sales of its Leaf electric car in Europe this year, as new production facilities in England come on stream. Europe sales and marketing chief Paul Wilcox projects 9,000 unit sales this year compared to 3,000 last, reports industry journal Automotive News. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_20918837/shift-points?IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com GREEN ENERGY A 2nd U.S.-Supported Maker of Solar Panels Will Close. Abound Solar, a solar panel maker that received a $400 million loan guarantee from the federal government, announced on Thursday that it would file for bankruptcy amid plummeting prices and intense competition from Chinese manufacturers in the solar equipment market. The failure of Abound, which tapped about $68 million of the loan guarantee before the Energy Department cut off its credit last September, comes after the collapse last year of Solyndra, another high-tech solar panel maker that had received federal funds. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/business/energy-environment/abound-solar-says-it-will-file-for-bankruptcy.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jun/28/solar-firm-that-got-doe-loan-to-declare/ http://www.modbee.com/2012/06/28/2261647/solar-firm-that-got-doe-loan-to.html#storylink=misearch http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/06/28/2891319/solar-firm-that-got-doe-loan-to.html#storylink=misearch Telecom pioneer Green now wired for solar. On a Santa Rosa hilltop, telecom entrepreneur Don Green opened his home Thursday to unveil a solar array that is one of the largest residential installations in the country. It takes a lot of energy to power his 14,000-square-foot home and guest house, and Green's 84.6-kilowatt system is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2,266 tons of carbon dioxide over the next 25 years, the equivalent of a small car driving about 7.7 million miles. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120629/BUSINESS/206291105 MISCELLANEOUS House Solyndra Probe Nears Completion. The Republican-led investigation into Solyndra LLC, the solar-panel maker that received a $535 million U.S. loan guarantee only to go bankrupt two years later, is drawing to an end. Representative Cliff Stearns, the chairman of the House Energy Committee’s oversight panel, told reporters yesterday that he was awaiting certification from the White House that it had turned over all requested documents relating to Solyndra. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-06-28/house-s-stearns-says-investigation-into-solyndra-nearing-end.html Elk Grove to open hazardous waste collection center. Elk Grove residents currently have to travel about an hour round trip to get rid of an old TV set or paint can. But they soon will be able to drop off household hazardous waste for free in their own city. The city of Elk Grove started construction on a $4.6 million special waste collection center, scheduled to open in May. The center will be built on a vacant lot in an industrial area off Grant Line Road and Highway 99. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/29/4598190/elk-grove-to-open-hazardous-waste.html Critics say conference report deals major blow to alternative transport. As Congress drives to sign a national transportation bill into law just days before the current policy expires, environmental and transportation groups attacked the conference report released yesterday for stripping support for transportation options. The bill represents a major and somewhat unexpected legislative success following indications that Congress would instead opt for the 10th extension of existing law. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/06/29/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS Spray-on solar windows use teeny tiny solar cells to capture energy. If the Internet has taught us anything, it is that everything is better when it is smaller. Kittens are better than cats. Cake pops are better than cakes. LEGO models of anything are pretty great, even if the full-sized version is pretty iffy (say, a meth lab). Thus: Solar panels? Good. Teeny tiny solar cells? BETTER. Solar cells so tiny they can be sprayed onto windows? SO COOL. Posted. http://grist.org/list/spray-on-solar-windows-use-teeny-tiny-solar-cells-to-capture-energy/ BLOGS Pondering a Link Between Forest Fires and Climate Change. This week, record temperatures and wildfires have scorched the western United States. The National Climate Data Center reports that 41 heat records (6,027 weather stations take measurements around the country) have been broken or tied since Sunday, mostly in Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska, which is quite unusual for this time of year. Since Saturday, a wildfire near Colorado Springs has burned over 18,000 acres, and 34 other large fires are still burning in the country. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/pondering-a-link-between-forest-fires-and-climate-change/ Car Rentals for the ‘Eco-Curious.’ Electric car sales have so far ranged from disappointing to dismal. But Lee Broughton, head of corporate sustainability for Enterprise Holdings, the parent of Enterprise, National and Alamo, has an idea about how they might be improved: by enlisting an American demographic he calls the “urban eco-curious.” In 2010 Enterprise invested in electric vehicles, buying 350 Nissan Leafs, but it found that its customers were not really interested. Consumers hesitate to rent them for the same reason that they hesitate to purchase: “range anxiety,” or worry about how far the car will go without a charge. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/car-rentals-for-the-eco-curious/ BMW and Toyota expanding cooperation: fuel cells, sports car, powertrain electrification and lightweight technologies. Expanding their existing cooperation agreement signed in December 2011 (earlier post), Toyota Motor Corporation and the BMW Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at long-term strategic collaboration in four fields: joint development of a fuel cell system; joint development of architecture and components for a future sports vehicle; collaboration on powertrain electrification; and joint research and development on lightweight technologies. (Earlier post.) Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/06/bmwtmc-20120629.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, 2 Jul 2012 14:07:27 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 2, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for July 2, 2012. 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 NOx emissions exceeded limits in 12 European countries in 2010. Air pollution emitted from sources such as traffic, industry and households is still above internationally agreed limits in 12 European countries, according to newly published data. The accompanying report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) confirms an initial assessment published earlier this year, showing 12 EU Member States exceeded limits under the National Emissions Ceilings (NEC) Directive in 2010. (Earlier post.) Under the NEC Directive, countries were obliged, by 2010, to meet ceilings for four important air pollutants: nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ammonia (NH3). These pollutants are harmful to both people and the environment, causing respiratory illnesses, acidifying soil and surface water, and damaging vegetation. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/07/eea-20120702.html CLIMATE CHANGE Report on costs of California's greenhouse gas law debated. Business and health groups sparred again this week over whether state-mandated greenhouse gas reductions will eliminate jobs and halt investment in the state, or create jobs, cut health care costs and fuel the economy. The California Manufacturers and Technology Association released a report Thursday saying that California families would pay $2,500 annually and lose $900 in earnings per year by 2020 as a result of the state Global Warming Solutions Act. The act, also known as Assembly Bill 32, will also cause billions of dollars in losses to employers and the state economy, the report found. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/30/4600984/report-on-costs-of-californias.html California Regulators Set Cap-and-Trade Implementation Schedule, Delay Links to Quebec, and Agree to Next Set of Offset Protocols. ARB approves reg changes, will open tracking system. Rice and coalmine methane offset protocols move ahead. Gov. Brown must approve Quebec linkages. Yesterday, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) approved regulatory changes to the State’s cap-and-trade program. Board passage of the amendments set in place a schedule for implementation of the program, which includes an opening in July of the program’s carbon allowance and offset credit tracking system. ARB also indicated they would open a public process for the acceptance of new offset protocols. Plans to link the California cap-and-trade program to a similar scheme in Quebec, however, were put on hold. Posted. http://new.evomarkets.com/desks/carbon_ca/post/421/ FUELS Keystone XL pipeline expansion driven by oil-rich tar sands in Alberta. Repairman Shawn Flett stood 30 feet above the ground on the deck of a truck the size of a house. He had just waved it gingerly into the repair shop as if guiding an airplane into a hangar. This is a beast of a machine, with 14-foot tires and weighing in at more than a million pounds. The truck burns 50 gallons of diesel an hour as it rumbles with 400-ton loads across the giant open-pit mines that have transformed a swath of Alberta’s vast northern forest into unsightly but lucrative sources of oil. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/keystone-xl-pipeline-expansion-driven-by-oil-rich-tar-sands-in-alberta/2012/06/30/gJQAVe4ZEW_story.html Gas under graveyards raises moral, money questions. Loved ones aren't the only thing buried in the 122-year-old Lowellville Cemetery in eastern Ohio. Deep underground, locked in ancient shale formations, are lucrative quantities of natural gas. Whether to drill for that gas is causing soul-searching as cemeteries - including veterans' final resting places in Colorado and Mississippi - join parks, playgrounds, churches and residential backyards among the ranks of places targeted in the nation's shale drilling boom. Opponents say cemeteries are hallowed ground that shouldn't be sullied by drilling activity they worry will be noisy, smelly and unsightly. Defenders say the drilling is so deep that it doesn't disturb the cemetery and can generate revenue to enhance the roads and grounds. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jyPeKQg2dDKuOwGCByLcPkLrSTYg?docId=eada8a33ab544b14913e9ad74d77f09c AP Newsbreak: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/01/2895539/gas-under-cemeteries-raises-money.html#storylink=misearch http://www.centredaily.com/2012/06/30/3247613/gas-under-graveyards-raises-moral.html http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-06-30/gas-drilling-cemeteries/55945368/1 White rot, the fungus that stopped coal, might start commercial biofuels. The evolutionary rise of a common fungus -- white rot -- is responsible for the end of underground coal formation 60 million years ago, scientists say in a paper published last week in Science. Ironically, that same fungus could now be a key element to help the world move away from fossil fuels by helping to create cheaper renewable fuels. White rot is probably most familiar to homeowners in humid climates because it decomposes wood by breaking down the lignin -- the latticelike material that makes wood and other plant material rigid. BY SUBSCRIPTION. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/07/02/3 VEHICLES This Summer, Electric Cars Are Merging Into California's Traffic. IT doesn't sound as sexy as the 1967 Summer of Love, but for Californians with a passion for plug-ins, the warm months of 2012 are turning into the season of the electric car. Some four years after the $100,000-plus Tesla Roadster became the nation's only new electric vehicle capable of highway speeds, a wave of more affordable plug-in cars are coming to market. And California, the state with the nation's largest auto market, the worst air quality and the most stringent emissions rules, is the first to catch the tide. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/automobiles/evs-are-merging-into-californias-traffic.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/auto-news/this-summer-electric-cars-are-merging-into-californias-traffic-642685/ California's electric car rebate program gets $27 million boost in funding. The Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, the source of the $2500 of additional incentives for electric car purchases, which was running low on funding, received new funding from the Air Resources Board. California and its concern for air pollution has been at the forefront of pushing for clean vehicle technology. One of that states programs, the Air Quality Improvement Program, provides funds under the California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project for the $2500 rebate California offers for electric car purchases on top of the $7500 federal tax credit. The funds in that program, which had shrunk to $3,368,013, just received a massive infusion of over $27 million in new funding from the Air Resources Board and $5 million from the California Energy Commission. Posted. http://www.torquenews.com/1075/californias-electric-car-rebate-program-gets-27-million-boost-funding A Bare-Bones Electric Car That Goes the Extra Miles. THE driving distance for electric vehicles priced near the heart of the new-car market — starting around $35,000, before federal tax credits and other incentives — is defined by cars like the Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus Electric. Each of those models, when keeping pace with a typical mix of traffic conditions, will drive about 70 to 80 miles on a fully charged battery. So the introduction of a similarly priced electric sedan that delivers a consistent 100-mile range represents something of an industry milestone. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/01/automobiles/autoreviews/a-bare-bones-electric-car-that-goes-the-extra-mile.html?_r=1 Nissan providing residual battery power forecast and use information services to LEAF owners. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. introduced two services through the Nissan LEAF owners’ website and smartphone applications: one that precisely forecasts the LEAF’s remaining battery capacity when it arrives at a destination; and the other called “Minna no Syouhi Denryoku (Energy Usage Database)” (available in Japan and North America). A dedicated website for Nissan LEAF owners already supplies a route search function which alerts a driver to information on charging spots, time required to drive a given travel route, and driving directions. Recently, owners have requested information regarding energy consumption based on additional variables, such as when a Nissan LEAF travels in areas with a large elevation change, such as up mountains. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/07/nissan-providing-residual-battery-power-forecast-and-use-information-services-to-leaf-owners.html Focus on choice — gas or electric. Big Valley Ford in Stockton is among the first 67 dealers in the nation certified to offer Ford Motor Co.'s first all-electric car, the 2012 Focus Electric. To earn that standing, the dealership had to agree to install charging stations and train service technicians and sales personnel on all the ins and outs of these electric vehicles. But it's not all that unusual for the dealership, which previously made a major commitment to offering natural gas-fueled commercial trucks in this region. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120702/A_BIZ/207010307&cid=sitesearch MISCELLANEOUS How about laser's red glare? Like Francis Scott Key's Fort McHenry, the venerable tradition of Independence Day fireworks shows is under attack. From one flank, red ink from municipal budgets has fireworks fuses fizzling. Without enough bucks for their bang, California cities that once bankrolled fireworks shows for the Fourth of July have canceled them – though in the immediate Sacramento region, most of the shows go on. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/02/4604026/how-about-lasers-red-glare.html#storylink=misearch New app provides air quality readings. Worried about breathing polluted air? A new app shows users the air quality in their area and lets them know when it might be best to stay indoors. State of the Air, a free app released by the American Lung Association, provides real-time updates on levels of ozone and particulate pollution in the atmosphere -- the two most widespread air pollutants, and among the most dangerous, in the United States. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/02/app-air-idINL2E8I22H520120702 OPINION ANOTHER VIEW: We can't afford debt from 'visionary' high-speed rail. In his June 22 Community Voices piece, "Despite naysayers, high-speed rail on track to be a game changer," Howard Silver wrote about California's "doers" and "optimistic, visionary people" who built the Golden Gate Bridge, highways and the aqueduct. Those were different days. People and businesses were flocking to the Golden State in search of a better life. Today's movers, shakers and crony capitalists have a different vision of California -- where the unions rule. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/hot-topics/x1330930563/We-cant-afford-debt-from-visionary-high-speed-rail Global warming in our backyard. It's not just about the polar bears anymore. There was a time when the conversation about global warming was dominated by news about the Arctic, where its effects are the most easily visible to the lay public. The narrative involved shrinking glaciers and the ferocious white bears that live part of their lives on drifting ice floes that now are melting. But polar bears are far away and ice is just, well, ice. So it would be a good idea for the public — and especially Southern Californians — to pay rapt attention to several reports published within the last couple of weeks that bring the reality of climate change from the polar ice caps to our backyard. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-adv-global-warming-20120702,0,4512793.story Climate-warming deniers are zealous in their convictions. Several of the regular readers of this column have told me that since I've been brave enough to tell the truth about evolution, I should do the same for climate change and expose it as a hoax. It's an interesting attitude and speaks to some key differences in the way creationists and climate change skeptics approach science. Climate change skeptics are much more scattered in their views than are creationists, but they are better organized and together speak with a louder, and angrier voice. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/02/4604606/climate-warming-deniers-are-zealous.html#storylink=misearch Tighter pollution rules seconded. I'd like to thank The Californian very much for its June 21 editorial, "Time to adopt tighter rules on air pollution," which recognizes the human toll of air pollution in the Central Valley and the need for the Environmental Protection Agency to set more health-protective standards for fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5, one of the deadliest and most dangerous forms of air pollution. Under the Clean Air Act, air quality standards must be set at levels that protect public health, including the most sensitive individuals. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/letters/x1330930861/Tighter-pollution-rules-seconded?utm_source=widget_60&utm_medium=summary_entries_teaser_widget&utm_campaign=synapse LOIS HENRY: When it comes to fireworks, I'm still a hater. Well here we are again, just a hop, skip away from another 4th of July celebration. And after all these years of being ignored in my quest to have personal fireworks banned, I've decided...I'M STILL RIGHT! We absolutely must ban personal fireworks. What? You thought I'd gone soft in my old age? Pshaw! Personal fireworks, and the absolute insanity they engender, have created a hazard that is so out of control they need to be banned. Potential fire damage is just one issue. (Considering our tinder dry conditions this year, though, that is a huge issue.) They also cause injuries, terrorize animals and push our pollution levels into the stratosphere. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/columnists/lois-henry/x1330930768/LOIS-HENRY-Fireworks-still-not-worth-the-risk BLOGS Reviewing the Coda. In Sunday’s Automobiles section, Bradley Berman reviews the 2012 Coda, a purely electric, no-frills compact sedan that is priced within range of the more luxurious Ford Focus Electric and Nissan Leaf. The Coda regularly returned 100 miles of range on a single charge in Mr. Berman’s week with the car, roughly 20-30 miles more than the estimated ranges of the Leaf and Focus. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/29/reviewing-the-coda/ ====================================================================== 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 Jul 2012 12:18:10 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 3, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for July 2, 2012. 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 grants stay in NM emissions case. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday gave New Mexico officials, the state's largest electricity provider and others more time to sort out a solution for curbing haze-causing pollution at a coal-fired power plant in northwestern New Mexico. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson signed a 90-day stay so parties can evaluate alternatives for the San Juan Generating Station. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/02/epa-grants-stay-in-nm-emissions-case/#ixzz1zZsXekC9 http://www.modbee.com/2012/07/02/2267463/epa-grants-stay-in-nm-emissions.html#storylink=misearch EPA proposing to approve Ariz.'s air quality plan. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to approve Arizona's plan to control sulfur dioxide and soot at three power plants in the state. EPA officials also are proposing additional pollution controls for nitrogen oxide at those plants in an effort to improve visibility at 18 national parks and wilderness areas in Arizona. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/EPA-proposing-to-approve-Ariz-s-air-quality-plan-3680614.php CLIMATE CHANGE This US summer is 'what global warming looks like'. If you want a glimpse of some of the worst of global warming, scientists suggest taking a look at U.S. weather in recent weeks. Horrendous wildfires. Oppressive heat waves. Devastating droughts. Flooding from giant deluges. And a powerful freak wind storm called a derecho. These are the kinds of extremes climate scientists have predicted will come with climate change, although it's far too early to say that is the cause. Nor will they say global warming is the reason 3,215 daily high temperature records were set in the month of June. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g7xfErZetaXe0iCQL5VPDTuWNvzA?docId=02baae09ba264eb68696397ed5ee06ad AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/3/this-us-summer-is-what-global-warming-looks-like/ http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_20995833/this-us-summer-is-what-global-warming-looks?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_20995833/this-us-summer-is-what-global-warming-looks?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/this-us-summer-is-what-global-warming-looks-like/article_4528d070-20c9-5c6c-9e2b-dfa0c76814c6.html Australian PM defends carbon tax. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has launched a radio and television campaign promoting her widely unpopular carbon tax on the country's biggest polluters. "People will have the opportunity to judge for themselves," she told Australian television. "And what people are going to see is tax cuts," Gillard said, addressing the nation yesterday. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/07/03/8 EPA keeps threshold in place for greenhouse gas emissions. U.S. EPA reaffirmed today that it would not regulate smaller sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the near future. The Clean Air Act required EPA to consider the feasibility of reducing its threshold for regulation of greenhouse gases, but its final "step three" of the so-called tailoring rule confirmed that the agency will regulate only new sources that emit at least 100,000 tons per year of carbon dioxide equivalent, or existing sources that meet the same threshold when they expand to increase their emissions by at least 75,000 tons per year of carbon dioxide equivalent. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/07/03/2 'Global warming' disappears from flood legislation. The words "global warming" were stripped from legislation reauthorizing the nation's flood insurance program before Congress passed it Friday. But the bill is still expected to expand the program's consideration of climate change, experts say. Although the measure doesn't explicitly task the Federal Emergency Management Agency with diagnosing the impacts of greenhouse gases on flooding nationwide, it requires officials to ascertain the effects of sea level rise, intensifying rainfall and hurricane-driven ocean surges on its 5.6 million policyholders. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/07/03/2 After the Earth Summit, young people push for real change. There are two ways to respond when you watch the world’s leaders attempt to solve the planet’s most pressing problems and fail: You can despair or you can raise hell. After watching the 2009 climate talks in Copenhagen collapse, many bright-eyed young people despaired, suffering through months of what can only be described as a “Hopenhagen” hangover. More recently, when the diplomats at the Rio+20 Earth Summit produced a policy document with all the weight of a fluffy pink cloud, we watched the cloud pass and decided to get down to business. Posted. http://grist.org/politics/after-the-earth-summit-young-people-push-for-real-change/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Navistar Alters Course. Navistar International Corp. NAV +7.16% is expected to disclose soon that it is backing away from the pollution-reduction technology for its engines that has weighed on the U.S. truck maker's sales and brought it into conflict with federal regulators, said people familiar with the company's plans. The company plans to adopt the same process for treating diesel-engine emissions used by its rivals in an attempt to reverse falling truck sales and regulatory uncertainty that has caused its stock price to collapse and made the company the subject of takeover speculation. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304708604577503292076655510.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution FUELS Sunoco refinery to stay open in Philadelphia. The oldest and largest refinery on the East Coast will stay open thanks to a deal between Sunoco and the private equity firm The Carlyle Group, with the groups announcing Monday that they have agreed to terms on a joint venture at the facility. The new venture also will make a substantial investment in the facility to help it import lower-cost oil from North Dakota's Bakken formation, shift to refining a higher proportion of ultra-low-sulfur diesel and use natural gas from the booming Marcellus Shale formation that lies below much of Pennsylvania, Carlyle officials said. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/sunoco-refinery-to-stay-open-in-philadelphia/article_8d0ab932-11de-5b72-bc77-52f257b9c5d0.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/07/02/2266730/sunoco-refinery-to-stay-open-in.html#storylink=misearch VEHICLES U.S. Car Sales Climbed in June. General Motors and Chrysler reported double-digit sales of new vehicles in June as the auto industry was helped by lower gas prices and steady demand. G.M. said Tuesday that its sales in the United States increased 15.5 percent during the month to 248,000 vehicles, which the company said was its best monthly performance in nearly four years. Chrysler reported a 20 percent increase over the previous year, marking its best June sales since 2007. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/business/us-car-sales-climbed-in-june.html GREEN ENERGY Imperial Irrigation District offers free energy-efficiency upgrades to small businesses. Small businesses in the Imperial Irrigation District service area are eligible for free energy-efficiency surveys and upgrades under the district’s Open for Business program. The program sends energy experts to qualifying small businesses to conduct an audit of its facilities and install energy efficiency equipment — such as efficient light bulbs, occupancy sensors and LED exit signs — free of charge. In 2011, more than 900 small businesses in IID's service area participated, saving more than 2.9 million kilowatt hours of energy — the equivalent cutting the carbon emissions of 185 homes a year. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012120702004 Wind credit with bipartisan backing gets lost in election-year fray. The ongoing campaign to extend a tax break vital to the wind industry is experiencing something of an identity crisis. On the one hand, the credit has broad bipartisan support and efforts to extend it have been championed even by some freshman Republican lawmakers swept into office on the tea party-backed wave two years ago. On the other, congressional Democrats and the Obama administration are increasingly pointing to inaction on the credit to attack their political rivals and draw contrasts aimed at highlighting GOP support for the oil industry. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/07/03/1 MISCELLANEOUS Midwest ranchers, lawmakers protest EPA flyovers. Midwest ranchers have never been enamored with environmental regulators, but they really began to complain after learning that federal inspectors were flying over their land to look for problems. The Environmental Protection Agency flies over power plants and other facilities nationwide to identify potential air, water and land pollution. It began using aerial surveillance in the Midwest in 2010 to check farms for violations of federal clean water regulations. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/midwest-ranchers-lawmakers-protest-epa-flyovers/article_9d702e96-9189-5f7e-953f-a9fd5f303a0c.html BLOGS More Views on the Gas Rush and Hydraulic Fracturing. Here are a couple of reactions to my exchange with “Gasland” filmmaker Josh Fox after signals emerged that New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo is poised to end a state moratorium on gas drilling using hydraulic fracturing. (In a related development, North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue, a Democrat who does not flatly oppose hydraulic fracturing, on Sunday vetoed a bill championed by state Republicans that she said was insufficiently protective of water supplies and landowners.) Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/02/more-views-on-the-gas-rush-and-fracking-debate/ Beyond Maize in Malawi. Jordan Schermerhorn, a recent graduate of Rice University, is the 2012 “Win A Trip” winner. She is currently traveling with Nick through parts of southern Africa. In her third post she writes about how farmers in Malawi are adapting to agricultural changes that threaten their livelihoods. The first president of Malawi imposed a strict dress code, banning women from wearing pants until the mid-1990s. Today the remnants of this policy can be seen in a wariness of pants that persists rural villages, so I purchased a chitenje – a type of wrap skirt – for our trip to observe drought resilience projects outside of Balaka. Posted. http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/02/beyond-maize-in-malawi/ The Tricky Business of Counting Rain. The number of water-monitoring stations around the world has declined steadily over the last quarter-century, and economic doldrums and a lack of resolve on the policy-making front could cause the trend to hold for years to come, researchers warn. This could deprive scientists and practitioners of data essential to immediate and long-term water resource management decisions, many argue. From 1989 to 2006, the number of stations across Europe fell by nearly half, from 10,000 to less than 6,000, according to a study published this month in the Journal of Hydrometeorology. (Half of the 6,000 are in Germany.) Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/02/do-not-publish-the-tricky-business-of-counting-rain/ For Compact E.V.’s, Divergent Approaches in Quest for Performance. The purely electric Coda compact sedan, reviewed by Bradley Berman in Sunday’s Automobile section, can travel farther than other cars in its class. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the car’s range at 88 miles on a full charge, but Mr. Berman repeatedly found the car capable of exceeding that number, yielding more miles than the Ford Focus Electric or Nissan Leaf. Rather than accomplishing that feat with finesse, Coda does it with a big hammer — more specifically, a bigger battery, the rough analogue of having a larger fuel tank on a gasoline-burning vehicle. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/02/for-compact-e-v-s-divergent-approaches-in-quest-for-performance/ Author Claims Electric Vehicles Are a Green Illusion. To hear automakers and environmentalists tell it, electric vehicles (EVs) are the greenest and cleanest solution to personal mobility. But in his book Green Illusions: The Dirty Secrets of Clean Energy and the Future of Environmentalism, author Ozzie Zehner argues that EVs are more symbolism and marketing than environmental and fossil-fuel saviors. And in many cases, EVs are actually worse for the environment than traditional gas-powered vehicles. To prove this, Zehner, a visiting scholar at UC Berkeley, points to what he views as the fuel-inefficient process of manufacturing EVs, and claims that they don’t make a big difference in greenhouse-gas emissions. Posted. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/07/green-illusion/ Tata works with French company on sub-$20,000 EV. Yes, the car will still cost less than $20,000. No, we still don't know when it's coming out. India-based Tata Motors is working with France-based Dassualt Systems at developing more technology for the eMO ("electric mobility") electric vehicle that's so far only appeared in concept form, the Hindu Business Line reported. The two companies are working on design touches that will keep both the cost and weight of the vehicle as low as possible in order to reach the goal of selling a vehicle with a 100-mile single-charge range for less than $20,000, according to the publication. But there's still no word on how much Tata's investing or when a production model will see the light of day. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/02/ tata-works-with-french-company-on-sub-20-000-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, 5 Jul 2012 12:28:12 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 5, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for July 5, 2012 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 Many Native Americans live next to power plants. Beyond the ancestral hunting fields and the rows of small, sparse homes, the cemetery at the Moapa River Indian Reservation sprawls across a barren hill with the tombstones of tribal members who died young. Their deaths haunt this small desert community outside Las Vegas. Children play indoors, afraid they might be next. Hoping to keep out the air they believe is killing their people, tribal elders keep their windows shut and avoid growing food on the land where their ancestors once found sustenance. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hB9Q3el2NAo0kvDp0CYy7uPYSm1A?docId=62ce28fb72e642e9a2f8b7fc0e568d12 AP Newsbreak: http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/many-native-americans-live-next-to-power-plants/article_30c71ad2-85b8-584a-ac1a-73fd2cf7af5e.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/07/04/2269599/many-native-americans-live-next.html#storylink=misearch http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/04/2898333/many-native-americans-live-next.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Many-Native-Americans-live-next-to-power-plants-3683871.php http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21005398/many-native-americans-live-next-power-plants?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21005398/many-native-americans-live-next-power-plants?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Clean the Skies. One evening last spring, Peter nearly stopped breathing. He was riding in the car with his mother, April, who was taking the 11-year-old boy back from a visit to the ER for one of his chronic asthma attacks. He seemed to be getting better — and then his throat began to constrict. He began to wheeze loudly. He rolled his head back to get more air. "That was wrong. 'He should be better than this by now,' I remember thinking. I knew something was wrong then," April recalls. "They had given him some meds and the usual advice, but it was not working." Posted. http://magazine.ucla.edu/features/clean-the-skies/ Hong Kong’s dirty air costs $6 billion a year. As Hong Kong strives to consolidate its reputation as a financial hub and major offshore conduit for China’s wealth, the smog that often envelops its skyscrapers exacts a heavy cost on its pro-business credentials and competitiveness. The problem costs an estimated $6 billion each year, according to health experts, with air quality in the former British colony now among the worst in Asia. Newspaper vendor Chung Tang, 74, knows just how bad it can be, working all day at a bus stop in Sheung Wan, a busy neighbourhood next to the central business district where pollution-free trams trundle along steel rails, between the cars and buses, just as they have done for more than 100 years.Posted. http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Hong+Kong+dirty+costs+billion+year/6885113/story.html#ixzz1zlwLEAO4 NY picks 23 groups to do citizen air sampling. The state Department of Environmental Conservation has selected 23 community organizations to do sampling to help identify and address local air quality concerns. Participants will use Environmental Protection Agency-approved canisters to collect air samples for an hour. The DEC will analyze the samples for pollutants. If toxic pollutants are found, DEC will conduct additional testing, determine the source of pollution and look at ways to reduce it. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/APe5598c4fbbe0499db4a06bd250edc4c1.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution CLIMATE CHANGE N.C. to sea level forecasters: Ignore climate change data for now. Scientists with a state commission in North Carolina will not be permitted to issue formal predictions of sea level rise based on climate change – at least for the next four years. After enduring national ridicule for proposing a bill to outlaw any coastal sea level projections based on climate change data, the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature came up with a compromise Tuesday. Lawmakers effectively put the sea level debate on hold by asking for more studies – but none that involve climate change. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-north-carolina-climate-change-predictions-20120703,0,4748940.story Conn. shoreline preservation group sets meetings. A task force has scheduled three public hearings this summer to look into the impact on property of rising sea level and extreme storms. The New Haven Register reports (http://bit.ly/LzituX) that the Shoreline Preservation Task Force has set meetings this month and in August in Branford, Fairfield and Groton. The task force was established in February to study and make legislative recommendations about storm impacts and the effects of climate change on shoreline communities. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21010127/conn-shoreline-preservation-group-sets-meetings?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21010127/conn-shoreline-preservation-group-sets-meetings?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21010127/conn-shoreline-preservation-group-sets-meetings?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Global warming seen as a factor in wildfires. A growing chorus of environmental groups is blaming climate change for the ferocity of this year’s wildfires, heating up the debate over fire policy as wetter conditions brought relief to the Colorado front. At the “Forests at Risk” symposium held last week by the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, environmental advocates, federal officials and scientists agreed global warming was a major player in this year’s destructive fire season. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/3/global-warming-seen-as-a-factor-in-wildfires/ How’s the weather, America? July 5, 2012 edition. Everything west of the Mississippi is still on fire. Also, some spots east of the Mississippi. Maybe also the Mississippi. InciWeb tracks wildfires currently burning in the United States; right now, there are literally hundreds of thousands of acres on fire or recently burned. (Grist List has a horrifying, sad video from a family that visited the “moonscape” that was once their neighborhood.) On the plus side, people are more and more willing to point at climate change as the culprit. Here’s Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano drawing that connection. Posted. http://grist.org/news/hows-the-weather-america-july-5-2012-edition/ Preindustrial carbon dioxide still warming the planet. Carbon dioxide emissions that predate the industrial revolution continue to haunt the world, new research has found, challenging assumptions that coal-fired generators and gasoline engines solely drive today's climate changes. When it comes to tracking greenhouse gases, most scientists tabulate emissions from the mid-19th century onward, when fossil fuels caught on as the main energy source for production and transportation. It makes sense, given that smokestacks and tailpipes are the largest man-made emitters in the modern era. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/07/05/3 SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Fraud Case Shows Holes in Exchange of Fuel Credits. Gary L. Miller knew something was afoot in the garage rented out behind his auto equipment business. Through an open door, Mr. Miller glimpsed piles of pipes, polyethylene tanks and pumps. But nothing was hooked up. Nothing was being made.So it came as a surprise — to say the least — when he learned that the tenant, Rodney R. Hailey, had told a federal agency that he would produce millions of gallons of biodiesel fuel there. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/us/biofuel-fraud-case-shows-weak-spots-in-energy-credit-program.html VEHICLES U.S. files trade complaint against China over new auto tariffs. The U.S. has filed an international trade complaint against China for new duties it placed on many large American-made vehicles, the Obama administration announced Thursday. The duties, which range from 2% to 21.5%, are aimed at more than $3 billion in annual sales of cars and sport utility vehicles exported into China. The duties were slapped on the vehicles in December and are unfair, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said Thursday. “As we have made clear, the Obama administration will continue to fight to ensure that China does not misuse its trade laws and violate its international trade commitments to block exports of American-made products,” Kirk said. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-obama-china-autos-trade-complaint-20120705,0,4673656.story Modesto workshop to discuss owning electric cars. People intrigued by electric vehicles can learn more about them at a July 21 gathering in north Modesto. The free event, "The Future is Electric: Plug In and Get There," will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the regional office of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, 4800 Enterprise Way, off Bangs Avenue. Attendees can learn about incentives of up to $13,000 per vehicle and programs offered by the Modesto Irrigation District and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/07/04/2270327/modesto-workshop-to-discuss-owning.html#storylink=misearch SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Car, truck sales surge in June. From mini cars to monster pickups, sales of new cars and trucks surged in June and eased concerns that Americans would be turned off by slower hiring and other scary headlines. Automakers sold nearly 1.3 million cars and trucks in June, up 22 percent from the same month last year. Chrysler posted its best June in five years. Sales soared at Volkswagen, which is on track for its best year in the U.S. since 1973. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012207040303 GREEN ENERGY Solar, wind energy a missed opportunity for Cuba. The sleepy country setting that farmer Juan Alonso calls home hasn't changed much since he was born 74 years ago, with the two rustic wooden houses nestled among palm trees against a backdrop of green hills and clear skies. Incongruously perched atop the homes are the only visual clues that his 150-acre (60-hectare) farm inhabits the 21st century: the gleaming solar panels that revolutionized the lives of Alonso and his family. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jb3VaqYibdHbUl29m6RlgKFSdGXg?docId=de31e6efe2b2477fbb7ed97a6905df6c AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/cubas-small-scale-successes-with-solar-wind-energy-yet-to-make-a-nationwide-impact/2012/07/05/gJQAukKYPW_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Solar-wind-energy-a-missed-opportunity-for-Cuba-3685763.php http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21011312/solar-wind-energy-missed-opportunity-cuba?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21005398/many-native-americans-live-next-power-plants?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21011312/solar-wind-energy-missed-opportunity-cuba?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/05/2899315/solar-wind-energy-a-missed-opportunity.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/5/solar-wind-energy-a-missed-opportunity-for-cuba/ http://www.modbee.com/2012/07/05/2270797/solar-wind-energy-a-missed-opportunity.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy SUBSCRIPTION ONLY State farm bureau gets OK to sue over solar project. The California Farm Bureau has won approval to pursue its legal fight against solar development on Valley farmland. A Fresno County Superior Court judge ruled last week that the California Farm Bureau Federation can sue Fresno County for permitting a 90-acre solar plant on agricultural land near Interstate 5. County attorneys had argued that the farm bureau didn't have a local connection to the proposed solar project and therefore couldn't sue. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/04/2898824/state-farm-bureau-gets-ok-to-sue.html Family-owned Muir Beach firm to build San Rafael Airport solar project. Synapse Electric, a Muir Beach-based company managed by a local married couple, has been selected to install a $3 million photovoltaic project at the San Rafael Airport. The Marin Energy Authority announced in May that it had signed a 20-year agreement to buy electricity produced by the 972-kilowatt solar installation. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21001033/family-owned-muir-beach-firm-build-san-rafael?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com MISCELLANEOUS Feds settle Western energy corridor lawsuit. Parts of a plan for designating thousands of miles of energy corridors in 11 Western states will be revamped under a settlement reached by federal land managers, more than a dozen environmental groups and one Colorado county. The settlement was filed Tuesday in federal court in San Francisco and must be approved by a judge. At issue are more than 6,000 miles of corridors for power lines; oil, natural gas and hydrogen pipelines; and other energy distribution systems that were carved out by the Bush administration as part of the 2005 Energy Policy Act. The corridors were finalized in 2008, and environmentalists sued in 2009 over concerns that more than half of the corridors passed through sensitive areas from Washington south to New Mexico. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/western-energy-corridors-to-be-revamped-under-settlement-between-feds-environmentalists/2012/07/03/gJQAYemaLW_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/03/feds-settle-western-energy-corridor-lawsuit/#ixzz1zlRpe63K Japan reactor on grid; panel slams crisis response. Nuclear power returned to Japan's energy mix for the first time in two months Thursday, hours before a parliamentary investigative commission blamed the government's cozy relations with the industry for the meltdowns that prompted the mass shutdown of the nation's reactors. Though the report echoes other investigations into last year's disaster at the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant, it could fuel complaints that Japan is trying to restart nuclear reactors without doing enough to avoid a repeat. Thursday's resumption of operations at a reactor in Ohi, in western Japan, already had been hotly contested. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/05/japan-reactor-on-grid-panel-slams-crisis/#ixzz1zlSNzlgY OPINION The Most Sensible Tax of All. ON Sunday, the best climate policy in the world got even better: British Columbia’s carbon tax — a tax on the carbon content of all fossil fuels burned in the province — increased from $25 to $30 per metric ton of carbon dioxide, making it more expensive to pollute. This was good news not only for the environment but for nearly everyone who pays taxes in British Columbia, because the carbon tax is used to reduce taxes for individuals and businesses. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/opinion/a-carbon-tax-sensible-for-all.html Hot Enough for You? When the weather is cold, we think it's cool to make fun of global warmism. Invariably when we do so, global warmists get hot under the collar. You fool! they thunder. Climate isn't the same thing as weather! Of course we understand that. Cool down, it's a joke. It's a joke designed to make a point--a point worth revisiting now that it's hot out. And it is hot: As we write, Google informs us that the temperature in New York, outside our lovely air-conditioned apartment, is 88 degrees. Over the weekend we were in Tennessee, and at one point our rental-car thermometer informed us the outside temperature was 111, albeit on blacktop. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304708604577504832203888456.html?KEYWORDS=climate+change The EPA wins, for science’s sake. LAST WEEK, as the nation’s attention was on the Supreme Court and health care, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a ringing ruling concerning America’s response to global warming that does two critical things. First, it emphatically dismisses arguments that the science is too uncertain to justify federal action. Second, it assures Congress that, if lawmakers don’t act on global warming, the courts won’t stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from doing so independently of Congress, using the powers the EPA has under the Clean Air Act. Both should persuade lawmakers to develop, at long last, a comprehensive response to climate change instead of leaving the job to the EPA’s command-and-control regulation. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-epa-wins-for-sciences-sake/2012/07/04/gJQANbN6NW_story.html Feeling the Heat. Still don't believe in climate change? Then you're either deep in denial or delirious from the heat. As I write this, the nation's capital and its suburbs are in post-apocalypse mode. About one-fourth of all households have no electricity, the legacy of an unprecedented assault by violent thunderstorms Friday night. Things are improving: At the height of the power outage, nearly half the region was dark. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/eugene-robinson-feeling-the-heat/2012/07/02/gJQANNZGJW_story.html http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120705/A_OPINION/207050304&cid=sitesearch http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120703/WIRE/120709906 http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/05/2899417/eugene-robinson-global-warming.html#storylink=misearch http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_20999420/eugene-robinson-anyone-east-coast-should-believe-global?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com High-speed rail boosts economy. During the course of any modern political debate, we often hear a familiar refrain from those who oppose particular investments. They usually say something along the line of "This project will burden future generations with debt." We're currently hearing of lot of this concerning high-speed rail in California. And while concern about our debt is a legitimate and important point of view, it does not apply to California's high-speed rail project. Investment in high-speed rail will actually help to reverse the downward economic spiral that leads to deficits and long-term debt. How can this be? Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/ci_21005261/high-speed-rail-boosts-economy?IADID=Search-www.sbsun.com-www.sbsun.com#ixzz1zlmbA4sm BLOGS District by District, Climate Change in Los Angeles. Last year, as part of a series about planners mapping out adaptations to climate change, I wrote about how the city of Chicago was expecting that its climate would be comparable to that of Baton Rouge today by the end of the century. Chicago based its predictions on global climate models that had been adjusted to use data from local weather stations and to take into account the moderating effect of Lake Michigan. Still, the model was described as little more than a schematic evaluation of the potential regional impact. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/district-by-district-climate-change-in-los-angeles/ A New Climate Science Resource from the National Academies. The National Academies, the nation’s preeminent independent scientific advisory body, has released a series of videos building on themes laid out in its America’s Climate Choices reports over the past couple of years. Above, you can watch the material as a single long video. Below you can find links to seven themed sections. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/a-new-climate-resource-from-the-national-academy-of-sciences/ Can China Follow U.S. Shift from Coal to Gas? Here’s an effort to look ahead from a promising American environmental trend to a prospect for the same in China, starting with two observations. First, the combination of abundant and cheap natural gas and tightening regulations on coal-burning power plants in the United States — along with a general intensification of efforts to conserve energy — has led with unpredicted speed to a remarkable, and likely persistent, drop in coal-based electricity generation and related decline in emissions of the most important greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/04/a-greenhouse-gift-if-china-follows-u-s-shift-from-coal-to-gas/ Too Much Wood, Too Little Power. I was in Malawi for six hours before my laptop fried. While charging overnight, it became the sorry victim of a routine power surge. Though it sputtered back to life the next day, I was very bluntly forced to acknowledge the power issues Malawians in the cities deal with on a regular basis, along with the complex ecological trade-offs people weigh to meet their needs. While only a minority of Malawians are actually hooked up to the electrical grid, the consequences of frequent blackouts and surges for all become clear in hospitals. A flickering light or faulty generator can mean the difference between life and death for a woman undergoing a caesarean section or a premature baby dependent on a ventilator. Posted. http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/03/too-much-wood-too-little-power/ Crescendo Partners to Tap Market for Canada’s EnviroResolutions. Australia’s Crescendo Partners has been appointed to assist in a capital raising for Vancouver-based technology solutions provider EnviroResolutions Inc. The company and related entities will fold into an already listed Over-The-Counter Bulletin Board shell company later this month. EnviroResolutions is seeking to raise an additional US$5 million, Crescendo Partners Director Paul Shmukler told Deal Journal Australia. The group owns a technology that is patented across 127 countries until 2030, ENVI-Clean. It says the technology is the most efficient single system emissions cleaning technology available for use in a market with an indicative size of up to US$1 billion. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/dealjournalaustralia/2012/07/03/crescendo-partners-to-tap-market-for-canadas-enviroresolutions/?KEYWORDS=diesel+emissions Wildfire, heat wave: Is it climate change? As wildfires devour acreage across the West and a heat wave broils in the East, the question seems natural: Are we feeling the effects of global warming? Scientists still answer cautiously. No single weather event, they say, can be linked directly to global climate change. But some researchers have begun to draw a broader connection between sweltering temperatures, tinder-dry forests and a warming planet. While direct links are still elusive, the statistics, they say, reveal climate change hovering in the background — pushing conditions more consistently toward extremes, and causing those extremes to increase in severity. Posted. http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2012/07/03/wildfire-heat-wave-is-it-climate-change/173626/ House chair Issa questions CARB's influence on new truck-efficiency rules. Darrell Issa, tree hugger. Just kidding. Issa, the House Oversight Committee Chairman, recently sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency questioning why the California Air Resources Board was influential in drafting last year's heavy-duty-truck greenhouse-gas emissions standards, Truckinginfo reported. Issa (R-Calif.), who gave the EPA until today, July 5, to respond to a list of questions, took issue with the fact that CARB appeared to have more influence than a number of other non-federal entities, according to the publication. Issa also said the new rules would place undue costs on independent truckers who'd need to upgrade their rigs in order to meet the new standards. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/05/house-chair-issa-questions-carbs-influence-on-new-truck-efficie/ ====================================================================== 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 Jul 2012 12:11:11 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 6, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for July 6, 2012 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 Bolder Protests Against Pollution Win Project’s Defeat in China. China has long been known as a place where the world’s dirtiest mines and factories can operate with impunity. Those days may not be over, but a growing environmental movement is beginning to make the most polluting projects much harder to build and operate. Large and sometimes violent demonstrations against the planned construction of one of the largest copper smelting complexes on earth prompted local officials in southwestern China’s Sichuan Province to continue backpedaling furiously on Wednesday. The local government of Shifang, the planned site of the smelter, announced in a statement that the construction of the $1.6 billion complex had not only been suspended but also permanently canceled. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/world/asia/chinese-officials-cancel-plant-project-amid-protests.html Soot Pollution Standards Pose Challenge to Cities. In a laboratory at Rice University, a small machine hums, drawing in outside air through a tube and analyzing its soot content. “We can tell when someone walks by with a cigarette,” said Robert Griffin, an associate professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering. Nonsmokers also breathe in soot, sometimes known as particulate matter. It is a type of pollutant that increasingly concerns scientists as they uncover new links to heart and lung problems. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/us/some-cities-may-not-meet-new-epa-standards-for-soot-pollution.html?_r=1 CLIMATE CHANGE Official: More in US convinced of climate change. Increasingly common experiences with extreme climate-related events such as the Colorado wildfires, a record warm spring and preseason hurricanes have convinced many Americans climate change is a reality, the head of a U.S. scientific agency said Friday. Many Americans had previously seen climate change as a "nebulous concept" removed from them in time and geography, said National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief Jane Lubchenco. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/05/4613164/official-more-in-us-convinced.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy AP Newsbreak: http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21018132/official-more-us-convinced-climate-change?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21018132/official-more-us-convinced-climate-change?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21018132/official-more-us-convinced-climate-change?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/05/2900235/official-more-in-us-convinced.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/us-climate-official-says-more-extreme-events-convincing-many-americans-climate-change-is-real/2012/07/06/gJQAHNZ5QW_story.html http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/6/official-more-in-us-convinced-of-climate-change/ Chino council OKs General Plan with climate action plan. Council members have approved the city's General Plan with an agreement that a climate action plan be completed by 2013. The requirement is part of a lawsuit that was settled with a San Diego-based environmental group - Citizens for Responsible Equitable Environmental Development, or CREED. CREED officials argued the city's General Plan did not include an adequate air-pollution study for children and the elderly. The group also said the plan lacked an adequate study on greenhouse gases and failed to consider alternative citywide development that would have reduced impacts on the environment. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_21016158?IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com Forest fires, wood-burning stoves may have stronger climate impacts than previously thought. Scientists have found that fossil fuel and biomass combustion, whether from forest fires or from wood-burning stoves, has a larger impact on the climate than previously considered. Wildfires, such as the recent blazes in the western United States, along with millions of stoves across the developing world, dirty engines and aging generators, can kick up soot in vast quantities. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/07/06/1 SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Navistar Bends on Emissions Technology. Truck maker Navistar International Corp. NAV -15.77% said Friday it will adopt a pollution-reduction technology for its engines that mirrors the rest of the truck industry, abandoning an alternative strategy that has undermined the company's credibility and caused its stock price to collapse. Navistar plans to treat diesel-engine exhaust with a process known as selective catalytic reduction, or SCR. The process, which involves filtering exhaust through a urea solution, will be used in tandem with another treatment technology called exhaust-gas recirculation, or EGR. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303684004577510602042441784.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Navistar Announces Advanced Clean Engine Technology To Meet Emissions Regulations. Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) today announced that it will introduce its next generation clean engine solution – In-Cylinder Technology Plus (ICT+) – to meet 2010 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emissions regulations and position the company to meet greenhouse gas (GHG) rules in advance of 2014 and 2017 requirements. The ICT+ technology combines Navistar's advanced in-cylinder engine expertise with urea-based aftertreatment and is expected to be available beginning early 2013. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/06/4613387/navistar-announces-advanced-clean.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Caterpillar Inc. to pay $510,000 for shipping, selling uncertified equipment in California. Caterpillar Inc. will pay a fine of $510,000 to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for shipping more than 590,000 on-road and off-road engines that did not have legally required emissions controls installed. The investigation of these violations was conducted with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice based on similar conduct outside of California. The settlement calls for the Illinois-based company to pay a total of $2.55 million in penalties nationwide for violations of the Clean Air Act. Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2012/7/5/CaterpillarInctopay510000forshippingsellinguncertifiedequipmentinCalifornia.aspx FUELS Global Hydrogen Production and Storage Technologies Market to Reach US$1.4 Billion by 2018, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. GIA announces the release of a comprehensive global report on Hydrogen Production and Storage Technologies markets. The global market for Hydrogen Production and Storage Technologies is projected to reach US$1.4 billion by the year 2018. Factors expected to encourage adoption of Hydrogen Production and Storage Technologies in the coming years include increasing preference for renewable energy, growing oil prices, and increased focus on reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Further, technology innovations and robust demand from developed markets, including the US and Europe, also augur well for the market. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Global-Hydrogen-Production-and-Storage-3685730.php VEHICLES I Am Silent, Hear Me Roar. THIS TESLA MODEL S thing you've heard so much about? You know, all-electric sedan, Silicon Valley, that guy from SpaceX? This is one amazing car. I mean, hard-core amazing. But first and foremost, gentle reader, it goes like the very stink of hell. Fifty-to-100-mph acceleration in the $97,900 Signature Performance model I drove is positively Lambo-like and…wait, let's stop right there: People who like fast cars are sensualists. And screaming up through the gears of an Italian sports car—getting that flit and loft in the belly, tasting the saliva of speed—is a pleasurable and addictive sensation. They don't call it dopamine for nothing. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304211804577504632238740966.html?KEYWORDS=vehicles Fisker teams up with Leonardo DiCaprio. Fisker is teaming up with movie star Leonardo DiCaprio to promote the environment through DiCaprio's foundation while also promoting Fisker's cars. DiCaprio is an equity investor in Anaheim-based Fisker, which makes the $100,000 Karma hybrid. DiCaprio received the first Karma off the production line and is among a string of Hollywood connections for the vehicle. The car had a recurring role on "Two and a Half Men" and pop star Justin Bieber got one for his 18th birthday. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/fisker-362322-dicaprio-production.html Honda to begin sales of all-new “N BOX +” mini-vehicle. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced it will begin sales of the N BOX + (“N BOX plus”), the second model of the new mini-vehicle N Series, at dealerships across Japan on July 6, 2012. Following the introduction of the N BOX, which realized one of the largest*1 interior spaces among all mini-vehicles in the market through adoption of newly-designed platform and powerplant, Honda is now introducing the N BOX + which was developed under the concept of “adding (“plus”) new possibilities.” Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/5/honda-to-begin-sales-of-all-new-n-box-mini-vehicle/ HIGH-SPEED RAIL Central Valley farmers protest high-speed rail. California is poised to begin building the nation's first high-speed rail system early next year, eventually sending trains zipping from San Francisco to Los Angeles as fast as 220 mph. But first the High-Speed Rail Authority must get the Legislature, and then the Central Valley, on board. Should high-speed rail officials persuade lawmakers to fund construction of the first 130-mile stretch, they'll need to quickly rebuild support in the San Joaquin Valley, where poor community relations have soured already skeptical farmers and local leaders, overshadowed hopes of economic development, and fueled opposition that could slow or stop arrival of the fast trains. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Central-Valley-farmers-protest-high-speed-rail-3684819.php GREEN ENERGY Placentia homeless shelter gets a green upgrade. A century-old farmhouse turned homeless shelter in Placentia has received more than $100,000 in energy-efficiency upgrades. The improvements to the Homeless and Intervention Shelter, known as HIS House, were made possible by a $56,570 donation from Walmart. Another 20 local construction-related businesses donated free or reduced materials such as paint, roofing shingles and insulation to the project. "As difficult as it is in the construction industry, there's still a desire to give," said Scott Larson, a project manager with HomeAid Orange County who oversaw construction. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/shelter-362277-energy-project.html OPINION The Wise Way to Regulate Gas Drilling. AMERICA’S energy future has been transformed by the production of natural gas made possible by hydraulic fracturing. This gas is a much cleaner source of electricity than coal. The problem is that the fracturing process used to extract the gas can, if done improperly, pollute surface and drinking water and emit dangerous air pollution. States like Texas, Pennsylvania and New York are now rushing to impose their own rules. But what we really need is a system of federal oversight that will promote confidence in this technique and provide the industry with uniform standards without overregulating it. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/opinion/the-wise-way-to-regulate-hydraulic-fracturing.html Colorado's perfect firestorm. Last week, my parents had to pack their belongings and flee as the Waldo Canyon fire barreled toward their house in Colorado Springs. They were among 32,000 people forced from their houses by the fire, which has destroyed nearly 350 homes. My parents were lucky. Despite the trauma and fear of having to evacuate, they didn't lose their home. But the fire emphasized something of a long-running debate between my father and me: the reality and politics of climate change. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-lubell-colorado-fires-and-climate-change-20120706,0,1751544.story Washington’s Hell Week puts climate change back on the radar. Wildfires? Record thunderstorms? Blast furnace heat? An earthquake, even? Bring it on! At least that’s what one group of folks is thinking, even if they don’t voice it quite so crassly. “We don’t want to do it in an I-told-you-so kind of way,” demurs John Topping, who is the president of the Washington-based Climate Institute. But see, people! This is what all the global-warming Paul Reveres have been shouting about. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/washingtons-hell-week-puts-climate-change-back-on-the-radar/2012/07/05/gJQAQxtTRW_story.html BLOGS In Hong Kong, a Pledge to Turn Down the A/C. Hitting the shopping malls in Dubai or Singapore? Taking in a movie in Hong Kong? Better take a cardigan: arctic conditions often prevail in such spaces in hot but wealthy societies on this side of the globe. As I wrote in The Times about a year ago, however, it’s not just a question of discomfort. Cranking up the air-conditioning to that extent wastes energy and money and contributes to carbon dioxide emissions and air pollution in general. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/05/in-hong-kong-a-pledge-to-turn-down-the-ac/ Fireworks, some air pollution and your comments. The Fourth of July brought two pleasant surprises -- several comments on my blog item about fireworks air pollution and a holiday that was not marked by huge pollution spikes. But, since I have your attention, there were spikes in particle pollution in most places around the San Joaquin Valley. They just weren't huge spikes. Hanford's reading between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. was more than twice the daily federal threshold. That's dangerous. The spikes in Modesto and Turlock were a little bit higher. The pollution spikes were noticeable in Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Bakersfield, Visalia and Huron. Posted. http://fresnobeehive.com/news/2012/07/the_fourth_of_july_brought.html#storylink=misearch California approves $27 million in green-vehicle incentives. The Golden State's going a little more green once again. The California Air Resources Board approved $27 million in incentives that will be used to accelerate sales of zero-emission vehicles in the most populous U.S. state. CARB said that a "majority" of the funds will go towards purchase incentives for plug-ins and other zero-emission vehicles. About $10 million will go towards hybrid and zero-emission buses and trucks. So far, California, which has already mandated that one in seven new cars sold in the state be zero-emissions by 2025, has given out incentives to owners of more than 8,500 passenger cars, trucks and buses since 2008. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/06/california-approves-27-million-in-green-vehicle-incentives/ ====================================================================== 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 Jul 2012 12:29:13 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newclips for July 9, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for July 9, 2012. This is a service of the California Air Resources Board’s Office of Communications. You may need to sign in or register with individual websites to view some of the following news articles. AIR POLLUTION US scientist: Ocean acidity major threat to reefs. Oceans' rising acid levels have emerged as one of the biggest threats to coral reefs, acting as the "osteoporosis of the sea" and threatening everything from food security to tourism to livelihoods, the head of a U.S. scientific agency said Monday. The speed by which the oceans' acid levels has risen caught scientists off-guard, with the problem now considered to be climate change's "equally evil twin," National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief Jane Lubchenco told The Associated Press. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jNb3J6yrPbDkw0EXAG5aBRD4EGIA?docId=455526ac2e6e46b88c36096bafdf95a7 AP Newsbreak: http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/us-scientist-ocean-acidity-major-threat-to-reefs/article_452f370f-a22c-51bd-92a9-e4700a3a0a1e.html CLIMATE CHANGE New inventory of black carbon emissions from China finds 2007 levels higher than previously reported. A new black carbon (BC) emissions inventory from China found BC emissions levels in 2007 of 1,957 Gg BC—higher than reported in earlier studies. The inventory also forecasts that BC emissions in China in 2050 will be 920–2,183 Gg/yr under various scenarios, with the industrial and transportation sectors standing to benefit the most from technological improvements. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/07/bcchina-20120708.html Cities are leading the charge on climate action. While many national governments struggle to take comprehensive action on climate change, major cities around the globe are acting on their own. The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) recently released a report [PDF] tracking initiatives cities are taking to address their greenhouse gas emissions. Many of these municipal governments — plagued by heat waves and flooding — recognize the urgent need to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Cities account for 70 percent of global emissions [PDF] while occupying just 2 percent of dry land. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-change/cities-are-leading-the-charge-on-climate-action/ FUELS Steep Fuel Prices Driving Push for Efficient Aircraft. Europe’s effort to make international air carriers pay for their greenhouse gas emissions has infuriated other nations and set off a headline-grabbing trade dispute. But unless the cost it imposes on airlines jumps significantly, experts say, the continent’s carbon trading program is unlikely to have much effect on the industry’s climate-warming pollution. That is because a far more powerful driver is already pushing aircraft manufacturers to increase the efficiency of planes — the high and volatile price of fuel. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/09/business/global/steep-fuel-prices-driving-push-for-efficient-aircraft.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all VEHICLES The Battery Is Included, but the Benefit Is Slim. MOST people aren’t aware of this, but since the late 1990s the Chevrolet Malibu’s success has roughly tracked the career of Robert Downey Jr. The early years of the millennium were not draped in glory for either the actor or the midsize sedan, but in 2008 Mr. Downey Jr. starred in “Iron Man” and Chevrolet released a seventh-generation Malibu that was finally ready to challenge the Toyota Camry. Think of the 2013 Malibu as “Iron Man 3,” a follow-up effort aimed at keeping the acclaim rolling. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/08/automobiles/autoreviews/the-battery-is-included-but-the-benefit-is-slim.html Pike Research forecasts annual global sales of light-duty natural gas vehicles to reach 3.2M in 2019. The global market for light-duty (LD) natural gas vehicles (NGVs)—including passenger cars, light-duty trucks and commercial vehicles—will experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.2% between 2012 and 2019, reaching 3.2 million vehicles sold in 2019, according to a new forecast by Pike Research. This level of sales results in a cumulative total of 25.4 million LD NGVs on the road by 2019. LD NGVs make up about 97% of the total NGV market (2.08 million vehicles out of 2.15 million vehicles in 2012). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/07/pikengv-20120706.html HIGH-SPEED RAIL High-speed rail officials rebuffed proposal from French railway. The French railway recommended that the state build the rail line along the Interstate 5 corridor and partner with it or another foreign firm to hold down costs. As state officials accelerated their effort to design a high-speed rail system in 2010, they were approached by the renowned French national railway with a suggestion: The project could use the help of an experienced bullet train operator. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rail-advice-20120709,0,4539140.story High-speed rail squeaks through California Senate. By a bare majority, the state Senate voted Friday to approve initial construction on California's $68 billion high-speed rail project, ending months of intense lobbying and uncertainty in the Legislature. The approval was a major legislative victory for Gov. Jerry Brown, who lobbied lawmakers before the vote and celebrated with Democratic legislative leaders off the Senate floor immediately after. The outcome was uncertain as recently as hours before the vote. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/07/v-print/4615291/high-speed-rail-squeaks-through.html Simitian flips stance on high-speed rail. Ten years ago, he enthusiastically co-authored a bill to put the bullet train on the ballot. On Friday, after years leading intense oversight hearings on the polarizing $69 billion plan, he stunned listeners on the Senate floor and voted against the start of construction -- nearly killing the project altogether. Simitian, the bespectacled, professorial lawmaker from Palo Alto who was thrust into the role of unofficial bullet train watchdog in Sacramento, epitomized the bullet train debate like no other. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california-high-speed-rail/ci_21033651/joe-simitian-steady-hand-high-speed-rail-debate?source=most_viewed GREEN ENERGY Eye on the Environment: California's green building codes get greener. Last week, California renewed its reputation as a national leader in sound environmental building practices. The CalGreen Building Code, initially adopted in January 2011, made California the first state to create statewide green building codes. Effective July 1, 2012, a set of enhancements and improvements to the code took effect. These changes not only set higher standards for conserving water, saving energy and improving indoor air quality, they also introduce regulatory flexibility. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/06/californias-green-building-codes-get-greener/ Blowing in the right direction: Two big wind projects are moving forward. As we continue to retire aging dirty coal plant after aging dirty coal plant nationwide (we just hit 112 coal plants secured to retire), we are also pushing hard to replace them with clean energy, and as little natural gas as possible. That’s why we were excited this week to see two very large clean energy announcements from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/a-good-move-for-wind/ MISCELLANEOUS Landlords can ban smoking — but not by just posting a sign. California landlords can forbid smoking in common areas and individual units. Any such prohibition must be included in each tenant's rental agreement. Question: I bought a rental property with 10 units about two years ago. There is a nice lawn and sidewalk area in front, and a pool with picnic tables in rear. There is also a parking lot. When I took over the property, the prior owner had already inserted a clause in the rental agreements prohibiting smoking in the units. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-rent-20120708,0,4599049.story Cibola Systems, Recipient of 2012 CoolCalifornia Climate Award. In recognition of the audiovisual firm’s contribution to renewable energy, water conservation, and diminished greenhouse gas emissions. At the 3rd annual CoolCalifornia Small Business Awards, Cibola Systems was honored by the California Air Resources Board for the firm’s commitment to green energy and a green economy. By reducing their impact on the environment, this award acknowledges the voluntary, proactive measures taken by Cibola Systems to promote action and awareness that is good for business, and good for the climate. Out of a total of 78 worthy applicants, Cibola Systems was one of 16 winners selected for their achievements in carbon reduction and renewable energy. Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/cibola-systems-recipient-2012-coolcalifornia-climate-award-090237553.html OPINIONS The Price of Green Virtue. When California's economy was booming in 2006—remember that?—Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and many Californians wanted to show their environmental virtue by becoming the first state to pass a comprehensive climate change law. And so they did, for which the bill is starting to come due. Lawmakers and environmentalists predicted that the new law, called AB 32, would become a model for the rest of the nation. It never did. They also said the Golden State's head start in developing green technologies would create thousands of new jobs. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304870304577491152903293004.html?mod=googlenews_wsj What price clean air? The federal government is a bull that has found yet another china shop, this time in Arizona. It seems determined to inflict, for angelic motives and progressive goals, economic damage on this state. And economic and social damage on Native Americans, who over the years have experienced quite enough of that at Washington’s hands. The gain from this pain? The most frequently cited study says “research to date . . . is inconclusive as to whether” there would be “any perceptible improvement in visibility at the Grand Canyon and other areas of concern.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/george-will-epa-regulations-threaten-arizonas-economy-navajos-livelihood/2012/07/06/gJQAzWFfSW_story.html Letters: What we can do about climate change. Re "Global warming in our backyard," Editorial, July 2. Thank you for your wonderful synopsis of the most recent climate science and how it pertains to Southern California. However, it is regrettable that it is still necessary to even mention climate skeptics. No news organization feels the need to mention plate tectonics skeptics when reporting on earthquakes or flat-Earth believers when reporting on space. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0706-friday-climate-change-fires-20120706,0,2847621.story L.A. -- transit's promised land. Which major U.S. city is at the cutting edge of forward-thinking transportation planning? Surprise: It's Los Angeles. I've spent the last three years traveling to 14 cities around the world, looking at how places as diverse as Copenhagen, Tokyo and Bogota are trying to escape congestion, pollution and sprawl by finding alternatives to the car. When people ask me which major U.S. city is at the cutting edge of forward-thinking transportation planning, they're always surprised when I reply that it is Los Angeles — those "72 suburbs in search of a city," Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-grescoe-los-angeles-transit-20120708,0,2241882.story Colorado's perfect firestorm. Conflagrations such as the Waldo Canyon fire may make climate change skeptics easier to convince. Last week, my parents had to pack their belongings and flee as the Waldo Canyon fire barreled toward their house in Colorado Springs. They were among 32,000 people forced from their houses by the fire, which has destroyed nearly 350 homes. My parents were lucky. Despite the trauma and fear of having to evacuate, they didn't lose their home. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-lubell-colorado-fires-and-climate-change-20120706,0,1751544.story Ask reinsurers about climate change. It's hard to pin a single event -- like the heat wave that's gripped the Mid-Atlantic for the past week -- on climate change. But some of the predicted impacts of global warming made by climate scientists over the past decade can no longer be ignored. Among those predictions: Wildfires in the West and Southwest would become more frequent and serious. New Mexico recently saw its worst wildfire in history. Colorado is in the midst of a record-setting fire season. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/our-view/x577922226/Ask-reinsurers-about-climate-change Sustainability and the Politics of Environmental Protection. The outcry against high pressure hydraulic fracturing and the growing movement toward environmental protection in China are examples of the constant and growing force of environmental protection in politics. For decades there has been consistent pressure from shortsighted corporations and some right wing ideologues to reframe the environmental issue as one of over-regulation and define it as a trade-off between economic growth and environmental protection. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-cohen/sustainability-and-the-po_b_1658657.html?utm_hp_ref=green BLOGS Was climate-change poll biased? Was a Washington Post poll published last week that asked Americans how they felt about major environmental problems biased in a global-warming direction? A sharp-eyed reader raised that question after pointing out that Jon Krosnick, the Stanford University professor who has helped The Post conduct its polling on environmental issues, sat on the board of a group called Climate Central. Climate Central began in 2008 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brought together news professionals and scientists whose main goal was to disseminate straightforward climate data and studies to the public. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/omblog/post/was-climate-change-poll-biased/2012/07/09/gJQAYreeYW_blog.html Climate change: Global warming is a fact. Saturday night I hung out in my sauna. Actually I just sat on the front porch. It was 101 degrees at 8:15 p.m., according to the Post website; while weather.com reported that it was 99 degrees. In such situations I prefer the front porch because of the veneer of civilization suggested by the street, the cars, the other houses. The back porch views nature, which, we now know, is not our friend. We seem to have suddenly jumped from the Holocene back to the Eocene. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/achenblog/post/climate-change-global-warming-is-a-fact/2012/07/09/gJQAAGs6XW_blog.html On Our Radar: Climate Change in ‘Real Time’. In just one week, three high-ranking federal officials have weighed in on climate change, linking it to recent weather extremes in the United States. [Think Progress] Air pollution from power plants, automobiles and agriculture is changing the alpine vegetation in Rocky Mountain National Park, a new study financed by the National Park Service indicates. The study site was a meadow in the Mummy Range, the type of ecosystem that is most sensitive to air pollutants. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/06/on-our-radar-climate-change-in-real-time/ Nissan to Push LEAF to Mass Market. In the recent surge in electric car launches, one maker stood out, and not in a good way: Nissan. Depending on your perspective, its polar bear ad was either cliche, cringeworthy, touching, or in conflict with your worldview. It took the most overused symbol of climate change and used it to convey that your use of their LEAF electric car would play a part in addressing global climate change. Even more off the mark was a billboard ad featuring a globe with rainbows and dolphins on it. Even those who are predisposed to like such imagery found the association at best confusing, at worst offensive to their sensibilities. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/07/nissan-push-leaf-mass-market/ ====================================================================== 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 Jul 2012 13:32:11 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 10, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for July 10, 2012 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 industry braces for court air pollution ruling. Washington - The power industry is waiting for a federal appeals court to rule on proposed emissions controls for coal-fired power plants, a decision with implications for energy sectors ranging from natural gas to coal to tradeable pollution permits. The Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is expected as soon as Tuesday to issue its decision on the Environmental Protection Agency's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, or CSAPR. It delayed the decision on December 30, just two days before the rule was to enter force. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/09/us-usa-epa-court-idUSBRE8681ED20120709 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/10/epa-cross-state-air-pollution-rule_n_1660540.html Officials declare Spare the Air day Tuesday. With temperatures forecast to reach into the 90s around the North Bay today, air quality officials have declared a Spare the Air Day for the greater Bay Area. Residents are advised to drive less and reduce energy use to limit air pollution, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District said. Warm, still conditions trap ozone, or smog, close to the earth, making for poor air quality that’s especially challenging for children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions, the air district said. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120709/ARTICLES/120709586 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21038599/spare-air-alert-called-tuesday-bay-area?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21038599/spare-air-alert-called-tuesday-bay-area?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com AIR QUALITY: Smog-reducing proposals kept secret. The public is not being allowed to view proposals to spend $53 million to reduce air pollution in the Coachella Valley or learn who has submitted the pitches. The lack of transparency has raised concerns among some open-government advocates, who say it is the public’s business and doesn’t merit such secrecy. The South Coast Air Quality Management District is administering the fund, intended to be used to cut pollution to compensate for emissions from a new power plant. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/politics-headlines-index/20120709-air-quality-smog-reducing-proposals-kept-secret.ece?ssimg=640328#ssStory640329 EPA sets Central Valley public hearing on particle pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it plans two public hearings – one in Sacramento ad the other in Philadelphia, Pa. -- on proposed updates to the national air quality standards for fine particle pollution, dubbed PM2.5). A federal court ruling requires EPA to update the standards based on best available science. The proposed updates, which the EPA says meet that requirement; build on steps already taken by the agency to reduce pollution in communities across the country. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=21433 Nitrogen Dioxide Air Pollution Lessens in Parts of U.S. and Europe. Satellite measurements show that nitrogen dioxide in the lower atmosphere over parts of Europe and the US has fallen over the past decade. More than 15 years of atmospheric observations have revealed trends in air quality. As the world's population increases, economies in many countries are also growing and populations are concentrating in large cities. With the use of fossil fuels still on the rise, pollution in large cities is also increasing. Nitrogen dioxide is an important pollutant in the troposphere, the lowest portion of our atmosphere. Posted. http://eponline.com/articles/2012/07/10/nitrogen-dioxide-air-pollution-lessens-in-parts-of-us-and-europe.aspx Dirty diesel generators test EPA, demand-response industry. Demand-response companies have gained a green reputation as they've grown into a major player on the electricity market, but critics warned U.S. EPA today there's a dirty secret in how they're relieving the strained power grid on the hottest summer days. On competitive energy markets, these firms often get paid to provide "negawatts," or negative megawatts, by inking contracts with customers who agree to avoid using electricity when needed. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/07/10/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Black lung disease, once on the brink of extinction, is back. Thank the coal industry. In February 1969, miners in West Virginia launched an illegal wildcat strike. The action halted extraction for half of the mines in the northern part of the state for days. The miners had one demand: end black lung disease. The action worked. By the end of 1969, new policies went into effect in an effort to curb the disease, which results from the inhalation of coal dust and leads to long-term lung damage and impaired breathing. New exposure limits were set, and miners were offered regular chest X-rays and compensation for damage. Posted. http://grist.org/news/black-lung-disease-once-on-the-brink-of-extinction-is-back-thank-the-coal-industry / Fire news: Mendocino National Forest fire now 10,000 acres and growing. July 9 saw significant spread to the fire in Mendocino National Forest now dubbed the Mill Fire. It grew from 2,500 acres at noon to 10,000 acres at the 8 p.m. update. The fire is considered 10 percent contained and no estimate on when the fire will be fully contained has been provided by Mendocino National Forest officials. The cause of the fire is under investigation. As of the update there were 700 personnel responding to the incident. Posted. http://www.willitsnews.com/ci_21040296/fire-news-mendocino-national-forest-fire-now-10?source=most_viewed Hancock to offer free air emissions classes. Representatives from local businesses, industry and governmental agencies, as well as the general public, are invited to attend free air emissions regulation courses via Hancock College. The classes, offered at the Santa Maria and Lompoc college campuses, are especially geared toward owners, managers and staff from regulated industries and government and private sector environmental professionals. Santa Maria courses are offered by Hancock and the Central California Environmental Training Center in collaboration with the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the Lompoc course is in collaboration with Imerys Minerals California, Inc. Posted. http://santamariatimes.com/news/local/education/hancock-to-offer-free-air-emissions-classes/article_8039973a-c98b-11e1-8364-0019bb2963f4.html CLIMATE CHANGE Study links global warming to Texas heat waves. New research suggests that global warming increases the chances of heat waves in Texas, like the one that hit the state last year. The government also confirmed Tuesday that 2011 was among the 15 warmest years on record. Texas had record heat and drought last year. Part of the problem was a weather pattern called La Nina, which contributed to drought across the South. Scientists in Oregon and England used computer simulations to estimate how much more likely such Texas heat waves are because of global warming. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_GLOBAL_WARMING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-07-10-12-02-46 Japan agency says high chance El Nino to emerge this summer. Tokyo - Japan's weather bureau said on Tuesday its climate models indicate there is a strong possibility the El Nino weather pattern, which is often linked to heavy rainfall and droughts, will emerge this summer. The Japan Meteorological Agency changed the language in its monthly assessment of the six-month outlook for El Nino that it used in June, when it said it was more likely that normal weather patterns would prevail in Asia through to December. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/10/us-weather-elnino-japan-idUSBRE86906U20120710 Ohio farmers grow concerned over dry conditions. Farmer John Hoffman hopes forecasts of more hot temperatures and extremely dry weather across the state the next few weeks will change, but he doesn't hold out a lot of hope for much of his corn crop. And he's not alone. Concerns are growing among Ohio's farmers as abnormally dry conditions, considered among the worst in the last decade, and triple-digit temperatures scorch already parched fields, stunting much of the corn and soybean crops. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/09/ohio-farmers-grow-concerned-over-dry-conditions/#ixzz20EdcfWi1 Extreme climes producing more insurance claims: report. With climate change, the number of extreme weather events, such as severe thunderstorms, is expected to increase. According to Telling the Weather Story, a report prepared for the Insurance Bureau of Canada last month, Canada's climate is warming and getting wetter. "These changes to the climate are likely responsible, at least in part, for the rising frequency and severity of extreme weather events in Canada, …Posted. http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Extreme+climes+producing+more+insurance+claims+report/6908419/story.html#ixzz20EmaaAnu DIESEL EMISSIONS Cat pays $510K for shipping, selling uncertified equipment in California. Caterpillar will pay a fine of $510,000 to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for shipping more than 590,000 on-road and off-road engines that did not have legally required emissions controls installed. The investigation of these violations was conducted with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice based on similar conduct outside of California. The settlement calls for the Illinois-based company to pay a total of $2.55 million in penalties nationwide for violations of the Clean Air Act. Posted. http://www.equipmentworld.com/cat-pays-510k-for-shipping-selling-uncertified-equipment-in-california/ FUELS Ethanol: Beloved by farmers, detested by Big Oil, endlessly debated by Congress. In 2007, Congress finalized a new policy mandating the integration of renewable source fuels into America’s gasoline. In other words, biofuels — gasoline substitutes/additives that could be used by existing vehicles but that were both renewable and resulted in less harmful emissions. Here’s the EPA’s overview of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), as it’s known. Posted. http://grist.org/news/ethanol-beloved-by-farmers-detested-by-big-oil-endlessly-debated-by-congress/ Is fracking polluting Pennsylvania groundwater or not? ProPublica has been at the forefront of examining the possible negative impacts of fracking. Yesterday, they posted a story titled, “New Study: Fluids From Marcellus Shale Likely Seeping Into PA Drinking Water.” Here’s how it starts: New research has concluded that salty, mineral-rich fluids deep beneath Pennsylvania’s natural gas fields are likely seeping upward thousands of feet into drinking water supplies. Posted. http://grist.org/news/is-fracking-polluting-pennsylvania-groundwater-or-not/ VEHICLES Oregon’s ‘electric highway’ a boon for plug-in drivers on the West Coast. It may not be long before electric car owners on America’s Pacific coast can drive all the way from Canada to Mexico using quick-charge stations. Thanks to Oregon’s new ‘electric highway,’ it’s now possible to charge an electric car every 25 miles down a 200-mile stretch of Interstate 5. That, says an NBC News video, makes it the longest stretch of electric highway in the country. It’s set to improve even further, as the state has funding for another 35 quick-charge stations. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/08/idUS202230176920120708 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Challenges remain for Calif. high-speed rail plan. Sacramento, Calif. California lawmakers may have given their OK to what could be the nation's first high-speed rail line, but the project is still a ways from leaving the station. Even with prominent supporters such as President Barack Obama and Gov. Jerry Brown, bullet train backers must still overcome a number of challenges, including environmental concerns, clashes with local leaders over land use, a $68 billion overall price tag with no funding guarantees, and an increasingly disenchanted public. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HIGH_SPEED_RAIL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Brown, LaHood stump for Calif. Project. Oakland, Calif. -- California will find the money to build its high-speed rail line, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) said yesterday at the Port of Oakland. Politicians had the $68.4 billion statewide rail project on their minds yesterday, even though the Oakland event was to mark an unrelated federal award to the port's rail system. The state high-speed rail authority's recently installed CEO, Jeff Morales, was also in attendance. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/07/10/9 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Chevrolet steps up promotions to boost sagging market share. Chevrolet will allow buyers to return their cars for a full refund as long as they have less than 4,000 miles driven and no damage. The offer is part of a new marketing program that includes no-haggle pricing and is meant to increase Chevrolet sales and reverse a market-share slide for the brand this year. The “Love it or return it” program is good on new 2012 or 2013 model-year vehicles. Any returns have to be within 30 to 60 days of the purchase date. The promotion runs through Sept. 4 and may help Chevrolet sell off its remaining inventory of 2012 vehicles as it transitions to the new model year. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-chevrolet-nohaggle-sales-20120710,0,5547584.story GREEN ENERGY UPDATE 1-Japan aims for $628 bln green energy market to boost economy. TOKYO, Japan will aim to create a $628 billion green energy market by 2020 through deregulation and subsidies to promote development of renewable energy and low-emission cars, a draft of the government's growth strategy showed. The government will also work with the Bank of Japan to ensure the country exits deflation and achieves stable price growth, according to the draft obtained by Reuters on Tuesday. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/10/japan-economy-growth-idUSL3E8IA3C820120710 Apple's withdrawal from "green" certification program surprises purchasers. After establishing itself as an environmental leader among consumer electronics companies, Apple's (AAPL) abrupt withdrawal from a prominent "green" product registry has set off a furor in the blogosphere and could modestly cut into the company's computer sales. Apple's decision may be tied to the design of the new MacBook Pros, which have batteries glued into the case and can't be disassembled for recycling -- a violation of the green certification standards of EPEAT, a nonprofit product rating group backed by many manufacturers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21038488/apples-withdrawal-from-green-certification-program-surprises-purchasers?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_21038486/apple-withdrawal-epeat-green-certification-program-surprises-purchasers OPINIONS Legislature takes long view on high-speed rail. By approving the first stretch of track for a bullet train system, Sacramento has made a landmark choice, one that comes with vision, boldness and sizable risks. California needs this transportation link in its future - along with tough-minded management to make it happen. The concept of 200-mph trains linking the northern and southern population centers makes sense, as voters agreed in passing a $9.9 billion bond measure in 2008. But poor oversight, rising costs and a dose of NIMBY sniping have raised questions, not all of them answered. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Legislature-takes-long-view-on-high-speed-rail-3694566.php DYER: Wild weather can't prove global warming, but bet on it. It was 107 degrees Fahrenheit in St. Louis, Missouri, last weekend, about the same as in Saudi Arabia. Along the U.S. Atlantic Coast, it was cooler, but not much: 105 degrees in Washington, D.C., just short of the city's all-time record. And 46 Americans were already dead from the heat wave. In Britain, it was incredibly wet. Almost 2.3 inches of rain fell on Saturday in parts of southern England, and over 20 flood warnings and 100 flood alerts were in effect. The wettest April ever was followed by the wettest June (more than double average rainfall), and July has started the same way. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/columnists/dyer/dyer-wild-weather-can-t-prove-global-warming-but-bet/article_2297fdb8-21db-52cd-89f5-68b0ba51fe0f.html Editorial: Ban leaf blowers, or at least limit their usage. The subject blows into town every now and again, and we're hearing its low roar once again--residents are complaining about the noise and air pollution caused by gas-powered leaf blowers. We heard about it in a letter to the editor a couple of weeks back from Tony Fiorentino, a 40-year Los Gatos resident, and now we've heard about it again from longtime community volunteers Valerie and John Hopkins in a letter responding to Fiorentino's original correspondence. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21039990/editorial-ban-leaf-blowers-or-at-least-limit?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com BLOGS Green Groups Plan Legal Challenge to Arctic Drilling. A coalition of about a dozen environmental groups is preparing to file a lawsuit as early as Tuesday seeking greater protections as Shell prepares to begin drilling exploratory wells off the North Slope of Alaska this summer, spokesmen for the groups said. The groups — including Earthjustice, the Natural Resources Defense Council, the Sierra Club, Oceana and the National Audubon Society — will challenge the Interior Department’s approval of Shell’s plans for responding to a potential spill. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/09/green-groups-plan-legal-challenge-to-arctic-drilling 'Thank God' for high-speed rail funding, Gov. Jerry Brown says. "It's a jobs creator, and thank God we got it," Gov. Jerry Brown said of funding for high speed rail, narrowly approved by the Legislature last week. He and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood were at the Port of Oakland on Monday to take a victory lap. The state Senate barely passed $8 billion in state and federal spending on the bullet train and related transportation projects on Friday, sending the bill to Brown for his signature. The federal funding was contingent on the state allocating money. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/07/thank-god-for-rail-funding-says-jerry-brown.html Review: Insteon remote-control LED light bulb. The dream of a fully technology integrated and automated home can make a tech geek downright giddy: coffee machines that grind coffee and brew at a set hour, power sockets with built-in USB outlets, steaks cooked medium rare thanks to a Bluetooth thermometer. For every person who thinks a thermostat that learns personal temperature preferences is excessive, there's a tech geek who calls that cool. Take the new LED bulb by Insteon. Released a couple of weeks ago, this bulb can be turned on, off or dimmed by remote control (included with bulb) or by iOS and Android apps. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2012/07/insteon-remote-control-light-bulb-review.html Panasonic, Energizer, P&G Promise to Ramp Up Battery Recycling. Panasonic, Duracell (Procter & Gamble), Energizer and Rayovac today have announced an ambitious nationwide commitment to the recycling of household batteries. Under the umbrella of the Corporation for Battery Recycling (CBR), these four companies and other stakeholder groups envision an industry-led voluntary program that changes how American consumers dispose of household batteries. CBR’s push is important because battery recycling is still a pesky problem for manufacturers, retailers and municipalities. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/07/corporation-for-battery-recycling-panasonic-energizer-pg/ ====================================================================== 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 Jul 2012 12:24:29 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 11, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for July 11, 2012. 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 called for Wednesday in the Bay Area. Bay Area air quality officials have invoked another Spare the Air Day for Wednesday as more sizzling temperatures are expected to raise unhealthy smog levels in ground-level air. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District asks the public to minimize driving and other pollution making activities, and advises people to limit outdoor exercise to early morning hours. Smog can irritate lungs, throats and eyes. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21047529/spare-air-alert-called-wednesday-bay-area?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21047529/spare-air-alert-called-wednesday-bay-area?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Texas judge rules that the atmosphere is protected under the public trust doctrine. Last May, a group of teenagers filed a series of lawsuits seeking to force the federal and state governments to take action on climate change. A key argument made in the lawsuits is that the atmosphere is a public trust – or, as described in one brief, that it is a”fundamental natural resource necessarily entrusted to the care of our federal government … for its preservation and protection as a common property interest.” Yesterday, a state district court judge in Texas agreed. Posted. http://grist.org/news/texas-judge-rules-that-the-atmosphere-is-protected-under-the-public-trust-doctrine/ SAN BERNARDINO: Wildfire nearly contained, cause still undisclosed. The flames and smoke are gone, but questions linger about the cause of a 75-acre blaze in the mountains between San Bernardino and Crestline. “They have not ruled out arson,” U.S. Forest Service spokesman John Miller said of the preliminary investigation, though he declined to elaborate. The blaze erupted about 1:54 p.m. Monday, July 9, beside Highway 18 in the high-gear turnout, a wide spot in the road below Panorama Point and just west of a bridge over Old Waterman Canyon Road, Miller said. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/san-bernardino-county/san-bernardino-county-headlines-index/20120710-san-bernardino-wildfire-nearly-contained-cause-still-undisclosed.ece CLIMATE CHANGE EU's Hedegaard still plans ETS review before summer. EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said her team was working "very, very hard" to publish a review on the emissions trading scheme before the Brussels August break, a step towards bolstering carbon prices impatiently awaited by the market. Analysts have estimated carbon emission allowances need to be priced between 20 and 50 euros to support low-carbon investment. They were trading around 8 euros on Tuesday, after hitting a low of 5.99 euros in April, because of a surplus following a slump in demand, along with the economy of the euro zone. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/10/us-eu-ets-idUSBRE8680KW20120710 Ex-Rep. Inglis working on climate change. Former U.S. Rep. Bob Inglis has been chosen as head of a conservative campaign to draw more attention to clean energy and climate change. George Mason University said Tuesday that the Republican would lead its Energy and Enterprise Initiative at the school's Center for Climate Change Communication near Washington. The program plans to hold forums around the country that bring together economists, national security experts and climate scientists to explore ways to use free enterprise to solve the nation's energy and climate challenges. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Ex-Rep-Inglis-working-on-climate-change-3698866.php Global warming tied to risk of weather extremes. Last year brought a record heat wave to Texas, massive floods in Bangkok and an unusually warm November in England. How much has global warming boosted the chances of events like that? Quite a lot in Texas and England, but apparently not at all in Bangkok, say new analyses released Tuesday. Scientists can't blame any single weather event on global warming, but they can assess how climate change has altered the odds of such events happening, Tom Peterson of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told reporters in a briefing. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/10/4621303/study-links-global-warming-to.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/10/study-links-global-warming-to-texas-heat-waves/ http://www.modbee.com/2012/07/10/2276611/study-links-global-warming-to.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/global-warming-tied-to-risk-of-weather-extremes/image_079d335a-a5d3-5446-a1e6-8fd4cffacefe.html http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120710/WIRE/120719978 http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21043395/study-links-global-warming-texas-heat-waves?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21043395/study-links-global-warming-texas-heat-waves?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/10/2904468/study-links-global-warming-to.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/10/global-warming-tied-risk-weather-extremes/ Climate Change Will Unleash Buried Toxics. San Francisco Bay is surrounded by hazardous waste that will leach into groundwater and the bay itself when sea levels rise. Toxic sites ringing the San Francisco Bay tell the story of its recent past. Smelting plants, hazardous waste dumps, landfills, shipyards, fuel depots, and military bases recall an era when the bay was prized more for its tactical and commercial values than for its ecology. Posted. http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/climate-change-will-unleash-buried-toxics/Content?oid=3283672 On state's climate change policy, regulators courting disaster. It’s time to separate fact from myth about AB 32. If we don’t, we could be facing a future of $6.50 gas prices AND a return to fuel lines and rationing. This bleak future could be with us a lot sooner than anyone thought. Now that the California Air Resources Board has finished writing the main regulations that make up the bulk of the state’s climate change policies, we’re beginning to see a number of studies take a hard look at the likely impacts from those policies. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=10pbo7gonxex8p8&xid=10pbj0fcslgxphm&done=.10pbo7gonxf78p8 Climate change loads the dice for more extreme weather – study. Climate change is changing the odds of some extreme weather events, according to new research by government scientists in the United States and Britain. Back-to-back La Niña cycles helped create the scorching heat wave that drove Texas' record-breaking drought last year, but climate change also played a role, the researchers report in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/11/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Polish 'ghost' coal plants ignite emissions trading outrage. Poland is claiming €7 billion worth of carbon trading allowances for coal power plants that do not exist. At least one of the coal plants for which Poland is requesting €7 billion of free carbon allowances under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS)'s little-known '10c derogation' does not exist, a EurActiv investigation has found. Poland has applied for €33-million worth of free allowances for the Łęczna coal plant, near the Ukrainian border, but there is no visible evidence that any construction work has begun at the sleepy greenfield site. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/11/coal-energy?newsfeed=true FUELS Kan. gas station becomes first in U.S. to sell E15. A Lawrence, Kan., service station yesterday became the nation's first to sell gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol. Scott Zaremba, owner of the Zarco 66 "Oasis" station, said he plans to soon expand sales of the fuel, E15, at another of his stations in Ottawa, Kan. Until now, cars had the option of filling up with gasoline blended with up to only 10 percent ethanol. "Alternatives to gasoline are critically important to our nation's energy future, and Americans deserve to have a choice of cost-competitive fuel at the pump," Zaremba said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/07/11/16 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES China's car sales rise 9 percent in June. China's auto sales rose 9 percent in June despite a slowing economy as buyers rushed to beat possible limits on car registrations aimed at curbing traffic. Automakers sold 1.58 million cars, trucks and buses during the month, the China Automobile Manufacturers Association, a government-sanctioned industry group, said Wednesday. The figures are a bright spot in a Chinese economy that has seen industrial activity and retail sales growth slow in recent months. Automakers are looking to China, the biggest market by number of vehicles sold, to help drive weak global demand. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/11/chinas-car-sales-rise-9-percent-in-june/#ixzz20KVFVlmu Electric vehicle sales expected to hit higher gear before 2015 – report. Electric vehicle sales and the benefits that come with them are expected to accelerate in the next three years, according to a report released yesterday by Environment America. With a record number of cars on the market and infrastructure constantly expanding, Americans will have an easier time driving a vehicle with no tailpipe emissions than ever before, said John Cross, federal transportation advocate and author of the report. "We can plug in, power up and protect our planet, because plug-in vehicles have now arrived," Cross said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/11/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION HIGH-SPEED RAIL New bullet train plan ‘mangled,’ perhaps illegal, ex-rail booster says. Even as the state Senate voted last week to approve California's $68 billion high-speed rail plan, opponents pressed forward on a Kings County lawsuit to stop the controversial construction project. Former California High-Speed Rail Authority Chairman Quentin Kopp, who led a 20-year fight for the bullet train, said he believes this latest lawsuit poses a real threat. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/11/v-print/2905096/new-bullet-train-plan-mangled.html U.S. high-speed rail to produce $26.4B in benefits in coming decades. The benefits of a high-speed rail program in the United States will override the costs and put the country on track for a competitive future, leaders of the American and international rail community said yesterday at a gathering on Capitol Hill. High-speed rail "is about creating jobs, expanding mobility, reducing congestion, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, providing more environmentally sustainable transit options," said Michael Melaniphy, president and CEO of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), at a lunch briefing yesterday. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/11/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Harry Owen Walker. Harry Owen Walker passed away peacefully, after a long illness, at home surrounded by family on July 1, 2012. Harry was a professor at UC Davis in the department of land, air and water resources in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences for more than 40 years. Harry was born Feb. 23, 1920, in Monterey and attended high school in Watsonville where he was a member of the Future Farmers of America. He graduated from UC Davis and served in the Army Air Corps for four years during World War II, spending most of the time as a flight engineer instructor. Posted. http://www.davisenterprise.com/obits/harry-owen-walker/ OPINIONS Talking to Dad about climate change. Last week, my parents had to pack their belongings and flee as the Waldo Canyon fire barreled toward their house in Colorado Springs. They were among 32,000 people forced from their houses by the fire, which has destroyed nearly 350 homes. My parents were lucky. Despite the trauma and fear of having to evacuate, they didn’t lose their home. But the fire emphasized something of a long-running debate between my father and me: the reality and politics of climate change. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120711/WIRE/120719972 COURSEY: How to build a big fire. Like California's, the tinder-dry woodlands of Colorado erupt in wildfires on a regular basis. Sometimes the fire is caused by nature, such as a lightning strike. Often, it's caused by humans. Either way, like California's, most of Colorado's summer fires don't make national headlines. Unless they cause the evacuation of 30,000 people, burn 350 homes and kill two people who couldn't get out of their house ahead of the flames. The Waldo Canyon Fire on the edge of Colorado Springs is history now, but it dominated the national news for a good part of the time I was away on vacation. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120710/NEWS/120719983 BLOGS So Much Data, but Who Can Analyze It? The rollout of smart meters, devices that can record and send reams of information on real-time electricity usage, has been anything but smooth. Customers have complained about inaccurate readings, being promised savings that never materialize, possible health hazards and threats to their privacy. But utilities have soldiered on. They continue to install millions of the meters, saying that the data they provide helps them manage electrical load, pinpoint or avoid power losses, stabilize the grid and ease the integration of renewable forms of energy into the grid — all of which in theory will save customers money in the long run. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/11/so-much-data-from-smart-meters-but-who-can-analyze-it/ Hyundai Elantra subject of class-action lawsuit for 'misleading 40 MPG' ads. 'Your mileage may vary.' We're all used to seeing those words at the end of any advertisement that mentions fuel mileage, and we all know what it means: Not all drivers will get exactly the same mileage, and oftentimes what you get will be lower than what it says on the car's window sticker. That explanation may not hold water with Louis Bird of Sacramento, California, owner of a 2011 Hyundai Elantra. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/10/hyundai-elantra-subject-of-class-action-lawsuit-for-misleading/ After two years of La Niña, El Niño May Be on the Way. If you thought the first six months of the year were chock full of weird weather events, just wait — according to climate scientists there is an increasing likelihood that El Niño conditions will soon develop in the tropical Pacific Ocean. El Niño events, which are characterized by an area of unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean, can have a huge influence on global weather patterns. Its effects on the U.S. tend to peak during the winter. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/07/10/after-two-years-of-la-nina-el-nino-may-be-on-the-way/?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, 12 Jul 2012 12:51:56 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 12, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for July 12, 2012. 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 Iowans sue EPA over livestock feedlot emissions. Cedar Rapids, Iowa (AP) — A group of Iowa residents has filed a lawsuit seeking to require the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate emissions from livestock operations. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District in Cedar Rapids, claims the EPA's failure to regulate pollutants such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, commonly found in the air around the operations, endanger public health and welfare, The Gazette (http://bit.ly/NjVeoH ) reported. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Iowans-sue-EPA-over-livestock-feedlot-emissions-3702528.php POLLUTION: Tougher burning restrictions expected. On the heels of a new rule that restricts wood fires in people’s homes and yards, air-quality regulators are talking about a further crackdown on fireplaces to control fine-particle pollution in Southern California. Under the current rules, the South Coast Air Quality Management District proclaims no-burn days in areas where fine-particle pollution is expected to reach unhealthful levels. The district is considering a lower threshold for no-burn days that would be in effect for the entire air basin from the ocean to the mountains, district spokesman Sam Atwood said. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20120711-pollution-tougher-burning-restrictions-expected.ece Thursday will be third Spare the Air day this week. Air quality officials have declared a third consecutive Spare the Air Day on Thursday because of forecasts calling for hot temperatures and high pollution levels. Residents around the greater Bay Area are being advised to avoid any unnecessary driving, as well as strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day. It will be the fourth Spare the Air day of the season, and the third since Tuesday, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District said. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120711/COMMUNITY/120719929 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21054475/spare-air-alert-called-thursday-bay-area?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21054475/spare-air-alert-called-thursday-bay-area?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Mill Fire acreage and containment climb slightly Wednesday. Northern California – Firefighters continued to make progress on a wildland fire that’s been burning in the Mendocino National Forest for nearly a week. The Mill Fire, burning north and east of Upper Letts Lake within the Colusa County side of the forest since last Saturday, reached 16,800 acres late Wednesday, according to Mendocino National Forest officials. The fire edged up about 800 acres on Wednesday, with containment improving to 38 percent, the agency said. Posted. http://www.lakeconews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25932:mill-fire-acreage-and-containment-climbs-slightly-wednesday&catid=1:latest&Itemid=197 Higher CO2 levels in atmosphere could speed emissions from soils – study. As higher levels of carbon dioxide permeate the Earth's atmosphere, scientists have long counted on forests -- which, as individual trees, grow larger in carbon-rich environments -- to soak up some of the excess. But after nearly a decade and a half of observing forest ecosystems in controlled settings, scientists now see evidence that elevating carbon levels may cause forests to release as much extra carbon as they absorb. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/12/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Canadian regulators approve first large CO2 control project for oil sands. Canadian regulators approved a project yesterday that could become the first-ever large-scale attempt to control CO2 emissions from the country's oil sands region. The Alberta Energy Resources Conservation Board greenlighted Royal Dutch Shell PLC's Quest CCS project, which envisions capturing 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually from an oil sands upgrader -- an oil processing unit -- and storing the greenhouse gas underground permanently. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/12/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE FOOD: Technology helps limit drought losses. For months, Illinois farmer David Kellerman held out hope for rain, even as the worst drought in nearly 25 years spread across the country. He finally gave up when the temperature hit 108 three days in a row. Corn won’t develop kernels if it gets too warm during pollination, and Kellerman knew the empty cobs in his fields would never fill out. Just after the Fourth of July, he and the neighbor he farms with took an extraordinary step: They cut down the entire crop and baled the withered plants to use as hay for their cattle. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20120711-food-technology-helps-limit-drought-losses.ece http://www.nctimes.com/business/crop-technology-helps-limit-corn-losses-in-drought/article_874f4fc8-8c94-542a-8ae7-57529d0f5942.html Cap and Trade Resurrected? Some States Awaken to Its Economic Benefits. Evidence showing that cap and trade can bolster a new revenue stream has some state and federal officials quietly seeking answers. Cap and trade is long dead in the United States, a victim of shifting political winds, fierce oil industry opposition and a weak economy. With many states in financial trouble—and with evidence building that cap and trade can bolster a new revenue stream and create jobs—some states are starting to take a second look. Posted. http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20120708/cap-and-trade-rgg-states-california-economic-benefits-energy-efficiency-jobs-carbon-auctions-proceeds-deficits California Department of Water Resources Finalizes Climate Action Plan. The California Department of Water Resources ("DWR") recently finalized and approved a Climate Action Plan ("Plan"). The first phase of this Climate Action Plan is a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan, which will guide State Water Project development and decision making with respect to energy use and greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions. The Plan outlines how DWR will make substantial reductions in its GHG emissions in the near-term (present to 2020)…Posted. http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=44f5a37d-933e-41bf-acdd-c0b1331502dd DIESEL EMISSIONS California fines Caterpillar for engine violations. The California Air Resources Board said Caterpillar Inc., the Peoria, Ill.-based producer of industrial equipment and engines, will pay a $510,000 fine for shipping nearly 600,000 on- and off-road engines that did not have legally required emissions controls. ARB said the fine resulted from a joint investigation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Justice. The fine is part of a larger national settlement resulting in payment of $2.55 million for violations of the Clean Air Act. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/11/v-print/4622946/california-fines-caterpillar-for.html FUELS Brent leaps above $101 as U.S. ups sanctions versus Iran. Brent crude futures turned higher in late trading on Thursday, jumping above $101 a barrel, after the United States announced increased sanctions against Iran, quashing sharp losses sparked by global economic growth worries. U.S. crude followed suit and gasoline futures rose more than 1 percent higher tracking the global benchmark Brent futures, traders said. The U.S. Treasury said, in announcing the move, that it was blacklisting a number of firms and individuals for contributing to what it called an effort to acquire nuclear weapons. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/12/us-markets-oil-idUSBRE83H17O20120712 Can fracking pollute water? Study tries to answer. A new study being done by the Department of Energy may provide some of the first solid answers to a controversial question: Can gas drilling fluids migrate and pose a threat to drinking water? A drilling company in southwestern Pennsylvania is giving researchers access to a commercial drilling site, said Richard Hammack, a spokesman for the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/11/can-fracking-pollute-water-study-tries-to-answer/ Dominion begins operations at new Va. power plant. Dominion Virginia Power has started commercial operations at its Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in Wise County as part of its blueprint to meet growing energy demands and comply with changes to environmental regulations. The Richmond, Va., energy provider said Wednesday that the 585-megawatt power station in St. Paul was placed in commercial operation late Tuesday after four years of construction that employed nearly 2,400 workers at its peak. The $1.8 billion power station uses coal, waste coal and biomass to produce enough to power 146,000 homes at peak demand. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/11/dominion-begins-operations-at-new-va-power-plant/ Companies that bought fake renewable credits fault EPA for lack of warning. One thing that has particularly irked companies that were taken in by a recent high-profile scam involving the peddling of fraudulent renewable energy credits on the biodiesel market is the fact that U.S. EPA knew about the scam for more than a year before it told buyers about it. Oil refiners and other obligated parties that purchase the renewable fuel credits to satisfy government mandates have questioned why EPA didn't provide them with a heads-up about the green energy scheme sooner. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/07/12/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Sacramento public parking garages to add electric charging stations. Sacramento electric car owners will have 28 more charging stations to use starting in November. The City Council last week approved installation of the stations at eight public parking garages. The new stations – provided by Coulomb Technologies' ChargePoint America program – will work with every electric vehicle on the road except for select Tesla model vehicles. For those cars, an adapter is sold by Tesla. The charging stations will be free to use. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/11/4622584/sacramento-public-parking-garages.html United Airlines orders 150 Boeing 737s. United Airlines is buying 150 Boeing 737s, planning to use them to replace older planes that are not as fuel efficient. The order announced on Thursday includes 100 of Boeing's new 737 Max 9s.That's a new version of the plane that will have new engines and other tweaks to cut how much fuel it burns. Those planes start arriving at United in 2018. United is also buying 50 of Boeing's current 737-900ER. Those planes begin arriving late next year. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/United-Airlines-orders-150-Boeing-737s-3702057.php www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/12/2906722/united-airlines-orders-150-boeing.html#storylink=misearch ROUSH CleanTech Receives CARB Retrofit Alternative Fuel System Certification for 2010-MY Vehicles. ROUSH CleanTech has received California Air Resources Board (CARB) approval of its propane autogas fuel system for retrofitting 2010 model year 5.4-liter Ford E-150, E-250 and E-350 cargo vans and wagon. This is the first CARB certification awarded since 2000 for a liquefied petroleum gas retrofit system, and the first CARB certification for any alternative fuel system for retrofit installation on 2010 model year vehicles, according to the company. Posted. http://www.businessfleet.com/News/Story/2012/07/ROUSH-CleanTech-Receives-CARB-Retrofit-Alternative-Fuel-System-Certification-for-2010-MY-Vehicles.aspx McKinsey analysis indicates Li-ion pack prices could fall to $160/kWh by 2025; EV TCO competitive with combustion engine vehicles. A new analysis by the consultancy McKinsey & Company indicates that the price of a complete automotive lithium-ion battery pack could fall from the current $500–$600/kWh to about $200/kWh by 2020 and to about $160/kWh by 2025 (in real dollars, indexed to 2011). These figures represent the price per effective kWh, assuming batteries with 70% depth of discharge (DoD), and include the price of battery cells, battery-management systems, and packaging. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/07/mckinsey-20120712.html China aims to build and sell 5M energy-efficient vehicles by 2020. The Chinese government plans to invest heavily in green-tech vehicles and appliances, providing subsidies and incentives to get industries on board. The goals are to lessen dependence on foreign oil, cut emissions and speed the transition of the auto industry to a more environmentally sustainable model. By 2015, the country hopes to build and sell 500,000 energy-efficient and alternative-energy vehicles, increasing that number to 5 million by 2020. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/12/11 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY China drives 24% rise in new clean tech investment. China was the main contributor to a 24 percent rise in new global investment in clean energy in the second quarter as large Chinese solar and wind projects raised millions of dollars of finance, said research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance. New global clean energy investment totalled $59.6 billion in the second quarter of this year, up 24 percent from the previous quarter but still 18 percent below the near-record high of $72.5 billion in the second quarter of 2011, the company said in a report on Wednesday. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/11/clean-energy-investment-idINL6E8IB5JL20120711 U.S. trails in energy efficiency ranking. The United States ranked ninth out of 12 major industrial powers in overall energy efficiency, according to a new survey released Thursday. The American Council on Energy Efficient Economies scorecard rated the world’s top 12 economies on a variety of fronts, including energy use in buildings, fuel economy standards and energy intensity in the industrial sector. The United Kingdom ranked highest, with an overall score of 67 out of 100. The United States scored 47. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/12/us-trails-energy-efficiency-ranking/ Gills Onions, Duda unveil newest ventures into renewable energy. The future of agriculture in Ventura County and California just may be a high-tech battery on an Oxnard onion farm. On Wednesday, amid the tangy aroma of fresh-cut onions, grower and food processor Gills Onions unveiled the technology to curious onlookers — a vanadium flow battery that converts chemical energy into electricity to store for later use. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/11/gills-onions-duda-unveil-newest-ventures-into/ Brazilian inmates can reduce their sentence by providing human-powered electricity. Brazil is pioneering a new sort of jailhouse workout, in which inmates ride bikes instead of pumping iron. That’s not because they’d prefer fast inmates to strong ones (either one seems problematic if there’s an incident). It’s because the bikes, unlike weightlifting or prison-yard basketball, help power a nearby town. The program has four bikes, sourced from the police department’s lost and found. The incentive, as the Associated Press reports, is that the more time inmates spend generating pedal power, the shorter their stay in prison will be. Posted. http://grist.org/list/brazilian-inmates-can-reduce-their-sentence-by-providing-human-powered-electricity/ Industry adopting natural gas, shunning coal – experts. The energy industry is transitioning out of coal generation, and natural gas is poised to take its place, according to a panel of experts at the Summer 2012 Energy Outlook Series yesterday. Panelists said it would be difficult for coal to regain its former hold on the market as record-low natural gas prices and pressure from U.S. EPA to adopt stricter environmental standards have made coal-fired power plants less cost-effective. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/12/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Energy storage policy -- a necessity that is ramping up slowly. San Francisco -- Using energy storage to capture and mete out wind and solar power has immense potential but not enough financial upside for utilities to embrace currently, backers are saying. At this week's Intersolar conference in San Francisco, advocates of energy storage were front and center, arguing for policy updates on the state and federal levels. Encompassing batteries, pumped water, compressed air and flywheels, the field is not considered to be mature relative to the renewable energy technologies it's intended to supplement. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/12/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS APNewsBreak: Tube wear detailed at CA nuke plant. Federal regulators have released the most detailed information to date on damage at California's idled San Onofre nuclear power plant. Records posted Thursday show the extent of wear in 3,400 tubes that carry radioactive water in the plant's troubled steam generators. The tube wear caused by vibration and friction was found in 15,000 places at varying degrees of erosion. The report has implications for the fate of the plant shut down since January. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/APNewsBreak-Tube-wear-detailed-at-CA-nuke-plant-3702580.php OPINIONS Is California's high-speed train on track or off the rails? One political party absolutely loves the idea of the modern rail system, both as a boon for business and commerce, and, incidentally, perhaps as a bit of a boondoggle for its political buddies. Guess which party. It’s the GOP, 150 years ago. The rail system I’m talking about is the railroad to the Pacific. It was a very wide plank in the Republican Party platform in 1856 and 1860, and a dream of Abraham Lincoln’s that he never lived to see realized. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-california-high-speed-train-20120710,0,4229826.story Bullet train vote demonstrates California Legislature working well. When the California Legislature works, this is one example of how it works well. But one big caveat: We're talking about functional versus dysfunctional, leadership versus ineptitude — a system that is running smoothly rather than broken. We're not necessarily talking about a desired policy result. Sometimes you lose. (If you're a California Republican, you usually do in Sacramento.) First, the math: Gov. Jerry Brown and his legislative leader allies needed a majority vote in each house. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cap-rail-20120712,0,4624110.column EDITORIAL: Uncle Sam’s solar eclipse. As much of the nation broils under the merciless July sun, the Obama administration can’t resist the urge to burn cash on “green” energy projects. Each time one of these solar-energy firms flames out, American taxpayers get singed. Even a sundial would indicate it’s quitting time. The latest to fail is Abound Solar, a Colorado solar-panel manufacturer. The firm filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidation on July 2, two years after being awarded a $400 million stimulus loan guarantee. President Obama personally touted the loan during a 2010 radio address called “A Solar Recovery.” Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jul/11/uncle-sams-solar-eclipse/ A Ticket to Ride: High-Speed Rail Moves Forward on a Historic (and Bumpy) Track in California. Last Friday's narrow passage of legislation authorizing the beginning of construction of the first high-speed rail system in America was a dramatic moment many years in the making. And while it was undertaken entirely by Democrats at the end, some famous Republican politicians made it happen along the way. In fact, it would never have happened without them. Which makes the current version of the once Grand Old Party and its knee-jerk opposition to the project all the more ironic. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-bradley/a-ticket-to-ride-highspee_b_1666733.html Spare the Air - is anybody listening? It was a Spare the Air day, but that was news to Stephanie Gillian and her carpool mates who drove across the Bay Bridge into San Francisco on Wednesday. "Isn't the entire summer Spare the Air?" Gillian, 28, asked on a day when the air quality in the eastern and southern reaches of the Bay Area was predicted to slip into the unhealthy range for people with respiratory problems. "Or is it in the winter?" asked Jeffery Wu, a 29-year-old information technology technician. "You're not supposed to burn wood during the holidays. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Spare-the-Air-is-anybody-listening-3700478.php Why California is still the place for business. Polluters and their friends have made a blood sport out of knocking California’s economy and regulatory climate. Although study after study from the Public Policy Institute of California about business relocations debunks the myths, the adage “if you repeat something loud enough and often enough, people begin to think it is true” is being repeated thanks to the efforts of the conservative propaganda machine. But facts are stubborn things. And here’s one that hasn’t changed: California employs more Americans and has more businesses than any other state. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/05/why-california-still-place-business/?print&page=all BLOGS B FAO Yields to Meat Industry Pressure on Climate Change. The past year has been the warmest ever in the United States, with record heat sweeping across the country last week, causing at least 52 human deaths and also harming livestock. In fact, livestock are not only harmed by human-caused global-warming greenhouse gas, but also cause about 18 percent of it, according to “Livestock’s Long Shadow,” a 2006 UN Food and Agriculture Organization report by FAO livestock specialists (who normally promote livestock). Posted. http://bittman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/11/fao-yields-to-meat-industry-pressure-on-climate-change/ LaHood: Obama high-speed rail effort 'off to a good start,' despite GOP opposition. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday that the Obama administration's high-speed rail proposals have gotten off to a "good start" despite rejections by several Republican state officials. Speaking at the start of the World Congress on High-Speed Rail in Philadelphia, LaHood said the rejection of rail money by GOP governors in states like Florida, Wisconsin and Ohio was offset by a recent approval in California. Posted. http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/railroads/237271-lahood-us-high-speed-rail-effort-off-to-a-good-start ====================================================================== 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 Jul 2012 12:50:26 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 13, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for July 13, 2012. 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 Sand, salt, volcanoes add to EU clean air challenge. Desert sand, sea salt, volcanic ash and other forms of natural pollution are adding to rising levels of man-made dirt sullying the air and making it harder, especially for Mediterranean countries, to meet EU environmental regulations. A report released this week from EU body the European Environment Agency (EEA) found the highest levels of natural pollutants were in Spain, which frequently experiences forest fires, most recently this month. Out of 42 instances, where the levels in Spain were reported above legal limits, 18 were caused by natural pollution, said the report, which is the first European study of its kind. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/13/us-eu-pollution-idUSBRE86C0LN20120713 San Joaquin Valley Air District Honored for Smog Check Program That Repairs Polluting Vehicles for Low-Income Drivers. California business and labor leaders today recognized the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) for its low-income vehicle repair program that cleans up the region's oldest and dirtiest passenger cars and trucks. Tune In & Tune Up is a voluntary program that provides convenient Smog Check testing and $500 repair vouchers to help low-income drivers pass Smog Check. Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/san-joaquin-valley-air-district-honored-for-smog-check-program-that-repairs-polluting-vehicles-for-low-income-drivers-2012-07-12 CLIMATE CHANGE TPG, Samsung-Backed Carbon Capture Project Leads in EU Funds. A U.K. carbon-capture project part- owned by Samsung Group and developed by a British company held by TPG Capital is first in line for a share of as much as 1.5 billion-euros ($1.8 billion) in European Union funding. The Don Valley Power Project in northern England proposed by 2Co Energy Ltd. leads a list of ventures selected as candidates in a European Commission funding program, the commission said today in a report on its website. Four of the eight projects on the list are based in the U.K. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-07-12/u-k-carbon-capture-project-leads-in-eu-funding-contest.html Temperatures climbing, weather more unstable, a majority says in poll. Most Americans say they believe temperatures around the world are going up and that weather patterns have become more unstable in the past few years, according to a new poll from The Washington Post and Stanford University. But they also see future warming as something that can be addressed, and majorities want government action across a range of policies to curb energy consumption, with more support for tax breaks than government mandates. The findings come as the federal government released a report Tuesday suggesting the connection between last year’s severe weather and climate change. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/post-stanford-poll-finds-more-americans-believe-climate-change-is-happening/2012/07/12/gJQAh92wgW_story.html Sea level higher than previously thought during last warming. During the last period of global warming, which peaked roughly 125,000 years ago, sea levels may have risen up to 30 feet higher than today’s levels, according to researchers. A study published Thursday in the journal Science examined data from coral reefs throughout the globe and concluded that ancient sea levels were roughly a third higher than previously estimated. Drawing parallels between today’s period of planetary warming…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-sea-level-20120712,0,54118,print.story Antarctica faces an array of climate problems, including invasive species. Antarctica faces a growing array of threats from human activities, including overfishing, tourism, oil and gas exploration, and climate change, according to an international group of researchers. Protecting the continent may require revisiting the international agreements that govern its use, including the 50-year-old Antarctic Treaty, they write in an essay published yesterday in the journal Science. The treaty and related agreements established Antarctica as a scientific preserve, set forth a series of regulations to protect the icy polar environment and banned military activity there. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/13/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Unexplained CO2 uptake slows climate change, baffles scientists. The world's plant and animal ecosystems have been absorbing more carbon dioxide than normal since 1988, reducing the impact of climate change, scientists say. C02 is naturally consumed by plants and then sequestered in the ground, a cycle that has picked up speed, says a report released by a global research team. The increased land uptake is about 1 billion metric tons of carbon per year -- more than 10 percent of global fossil fuel emissions for 2010 -- the report says. The findings have scientists around the globe reeling. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/13/12 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Caterpillar to pay CARB $510,000 for shipping engines deemed illegal. Caterpillar Inc. will pay the California Air Resources Board $510,000 after a lengthy investigation showed the diesel engine manufacturer shipped and sold nearly 590,000 engines without installing emissions control devices. The investigation was pursued by CARB, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the U.S. Department of Justice, according to a CARB news release. The federal portion of the investigation was concluded last year. All told, the company will pay $2.5 million in total fines as a result of the emissions violations. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=23888 FUELS Natural gas research funds reach Bay Area. The Energy Department announced Thursday $30 million in grants to propel research on powering cars and trucks with natural gas, including awards to two projects in the Bay Area. SRI International, in Menlo Park, is slated to receive $875,000 to develop low-pressure natural gas storage systems for light-duty vehicles using porous carbon materials that allow more of the natural gas to be stored densely. If successful, the technique would eliminate the need for an external tank. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Natural-gas-research-funds-reach-Bay-Area-3703703.php Murkowski criticizes BLM well cleanup efforts. Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Thursday called the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's approach to addressing abandoned wells in the Alaska Arctic an "embarrassment" to the federal government. Her comments came during a Senate hearing she requested in Washington, D.C., focused on the cleanup of so-called legacy wells in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Murkowski, R-Alaska, said it's the "height of hypocrisy" that the federal government doesn't live up to the same standards that it holds private industry to in plugging and reclaiming well sites. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/12/murkowski-criticizes-blm-well-cleanup-efforts/#ixzz20W9ip2yh State regulators reject Sacramento gas storage plan. In an impressive display of David besting Goliath, a group of Sacramento residents succeeded Thursday in blocking a $70 million plan to store 7.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas beneath their working class neighborhood. The California Public Utilities Commission, in a 3-2 vote, rejected the plan by Sacramento Natural Gas Storage LLC to store the gas 3,800 feet below the Avondale/Glen Elder neighborhood in southeast Sacramento. It was a post-San Bruno moment. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/13/4628252/state-regulators-reject-sacramento.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/07/13/2280141/state-regulators-reject-sacramento.html#storylink=misearch VEHICLES Up to speed on CARB. Paul Condran, equipment maintenance manager for Culver City, said his city pioneered the use of compressed natural gas vehicles. Businesses and cities throughout the state continually struggle to keep pace with changing California Air Resources Board rules and regulations. And so it wasn't surprising that many turned out Thursday in Irwindale for a "Get up to speed with CARB" workshop. Posted. http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_21067281/up-speed-carb HIGH-SPEED RAIL UCLA study of Japan's bullet train raises questions about California project. A UCLA analysis of Japan's Shinkansen bullet train and its impact on the growth of cities along its route calls into question claims by state officials that California's high-speed rail project will create up to 400,000 jobs. A new UCLA economic analysis of Japan's Shinkansen bullet train and its impact on the growth of cities along its route calls into question claims by state officials that California's high-speed rail project will create up to 400,000 permanent jobs. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-high-speed-study-20120713,0,28886,print.story High-speed rail project will be a boon for Caltrain. The passage of Gov. Jerry Brown's infrastructure initiative for California high- speed rail is an important milestone in bringing modern, electric train service to the Bay Area. The initiative ensures funding for the modernization of Caltrain, a project that is critical to the Bay Area and the state. We are grateful to the governor, the elected officials, the communities served by Caltrain and the people who have supported the effort to preserve and improve this vital service. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21066267/high-speed-rail-project-will-be-boon-caltrain?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com High-speed rail is en route to U.S. and bringing carbon reductions, Lahood says. High-speed rail is coming to America and will leave a lighter carbon footprint behind it, U.S. policymakers and international railroad experts predicted this week at the 8th World Congress on High Speed Rail in Philadelphia. "Our generation's job is to invest in high-speed rail and high-performing passenger rail, and that's exactly what we're going to see across the country," Secretary of Transportation Ray Lahood told reporters. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/13/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY One effort to kill Calif. bullet train dies; another vows 'redoubling'. An effort to derail California's bullet train has failed. Opponents of the project came up short in their attempt to get the "No Train Please Act" on the ballot, the California secretary of state said this week. The initiative, which would have blocked funding for the line, didn't gather the needed 807,615 voter signatures. The endeavor ends as the train moves forward with plans for construction. The state Legislature last week sanctioned nearly $8 billion to build the initial leg and fund other early rail work (Greenwire, July 9). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/13/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Renewable Energy Still A Working Progress As It Develops In California. California is trying to lead the way in renewable energy use but the amount of green energy used on hot summer days may be much less than you think. CBS13’s Steve Larges went into the nerve center of California’s energy grid. It’s kind of like air traffic control for California, only it’s for energy. What they are looking for, especially on hot days, is how much green energy is going into things like keeping the air conditioning running. Four o’clock in the afternoon is a busy time for California’s power grid. Posted. http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/07/12/renewable-energy-still-a-working-progress-as-it-develops-in-california/ Retrofit loans could trim utility costs. When Fritz Grupe started building houses in the 1960s, energy efficiency standards were pretty modest. "You needed to put 2 inches of insulation in the ceiling and none in the walls," he said this week. "That was the code. Because the utility bills in those days were eight bucks a month." We can yearn for those good old days, Grupe said, or we can bring all those good old homes up to code to make summertime energy bills - and summertime heat - more bearable. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120713/A_NEWS/207130320&cid=sitesearch U.S. ranks 9th in energy efficiency, falling below China. The United States ranked ninth in a major new international energy efficiency rating system, falling below China, Australia and the European Union in more than two dozen categories of energy use. Topping the list was the United Kingdom, where analysts found major improvements in energy savings over the past decade and hailed the promise of the country's new "Green Deal," which aims to overhaul the energy efficiency of homes and small businesses. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/13/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://grist.org/news/of-the-worlds-12-largest-economies-the-u-s-is-the-ninth-most-energy-efficient/ MISCELLANEOUS Heat islands surrounded on all sides by perspiration. There is not a single tree on Jim Lewallen's block. Looking east down Main Street, he spots a towering palm perhaps three blocks away. To the west, he can make out the forested grounds near the county courthouse. "It's pretty hot, and the reason is there's so much concrete around here. Concrete on the ground, concrete on the buildings, concrete all over the place," said Lewallen, 53, an artist who spent Thursday painting in the air-conditioned lobby of the Main Street Manor apartments. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120713/A_NEWS/207130317&cid=sitesearch Prescribed burn planned in North County on Friday. North County residents are likely to see smoke Friday. Local landowners, Cal Fire, the county Air Pollution Control District, and the California Air Resources Board will collaborate on a 25-acre prescribed burn near Garden Farms. The burn will take place between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the eastern end of Santa Clara Road in southeast Atascadero. Cal Fire says the burn is a training exercise that allows fire crews to use live fire “and gain valuable experience using prudent ignition and containment techniques.” Posted. http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/07/12/2140763/smoke-fire-prescribed-burn-friday.html OPINIONS Editorial: PUC makes the right call on gas storage. It took more than five years but in the end, the California Public Utilities Commission listened to the concerns of residents from Sacramento's Avondale/Glen Elder neighborhood and rejected a proposal to store 7.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas under their homes. It was the right decision. As the three commissioners who voted against the proposal stated, the need for the project did not outweigh its potential risks. Those risks included gas leakage, water contamination and even explosions. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/13/4628000/puc-makes-the-right-call-on-gas.html Contra Costa Times editorial: Apple owes Silicon Valley an explanation. The Silicon Valley's commitment to green technology is a source of pride, and Apple is a valley trend-setter. Its decision to withdraw its products from a prominent green product registry erodes its image as an environmental leader and raises a more disturbing possibility: That other tech competitors will take its departure as a free pass to also drop out of the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool, or EPEAT, system. Apple's response earlier this week to The Loop isn't good enough. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_21060622/contra-costa-times-editorial-apple-owes-silicon-valley?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Ronald Stein: California's costly global warming crusade. The key to successful public policy is flexibility – the ability to continue to assess the feasibility and viability of regulations before and even after they are implemented. Unfortunately, sometimes the desire to "get it done" eclipses the need to get it done right. It's frighteningly clear that the California Air Resources Board, in its eagerness to pursue the goals of Assembly Bill 32, the state's global warming law, has lost sight of the significant flaws and disastrous economic impacts its policies will have California businesses and residents. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/california-363481-carb-global.html BLOGS Amid Chatter on Climate and Energy Views, a Look at Deeds. There is endless cogitation, here and elsewhere, over views on human-driven global warming and America’s energy menu. Much of this, I’m afraid, is about as useful as watching “water sloshing in a shallow pan.” Lots of motion, no depth. Here’s a quick look beyond climate and energy beliefs and words to climate and energy deeds, provided in the latest report on American’s actions related to energy conservation and greenhouse gases from the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and Center for Climate Change Communication at George Mason University. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/12/amid-chatter-on-climate-and-energy-views-a-look-at-deeds/ Ethanol 15: The View from the Road. How much progress is ethanol making? As I write in The Times, this week a gas station operator in Lawrence, Kan., just west of Kansas City, became the first in the nation to offer e15, the 15 percent ethanol blend that was approved in 2010 for some cars by the Environmental Protection Agency. The fuel is intended to be an alternative to e10, the blend that is now standard around most of the United States. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/13/ethanol-15-the-view-from-the-road/ European electric vehicle charging-station revenue will jump tenfold by 2020. Here's one European "union" that plug-in advocates will support. Europe's electric-vehicle charging station revenue will jump more than tenfold by the end of the decade as automakers work towards a unified charging standard and demand for plug-in vehicles rise, Pike Research says. Annual European charging-station revenue will increase to about $1.27 billion in 2020 from about $90 million this year, according to Pike Research. Germany alone will account for almost a quarter of Europe's charging equipment sales through the end of the decade. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/12/european-electric-vehicle-charging-station-revenue-will-jump-ten/ ====================================================================== 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 Jul 2012 14:23:14 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 16, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for July 16, 2012. 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 area choking on smoke from Robbers fire. Smoke from the Robbers fire in the Placer County foothills has fouled the air around the Sacramento region, officials say. The cities of Sacramento, Auburn, Elk Grove, Placerville and more received a rating of "unhealthy for sensitive groups" Friday, said Heather Kuklo, air quality specialist for the Placer County Air Pollution Control District. Those ratings can change quickly, Kuklo said. "Smoke doesn't just stay in one place; it's dynamic, it can always move." The smoke from wildfires contains small particles that are harmful to people, she said. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/14/4630400/sacramento-area-choking-on-smoke.html 3 W.Va. groups sue Alpha over selenium pollution. Environmentalists are again suing Alpha Natural Resources over selenium pollution, this time from nine southern West Virginia operations. The complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Huntington targets mines in Logan, McDowell, Boone, and Kanawha counties. The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy and Sierra Club say Virginia-based Alpha is violating the federal Clean Water Act and state-issued discharge permits. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/3-W-Va-groups-sue-Alpha-over-selenium-pollution-3710421.php County's kids with asthma more likely to visit ER. Children with asthma are far more likely to visit the emergency room if they live in Imperial County - an alternative that costs taxpayers and may result from dust and poverty, experts suggest. One in five children ages 5 to 17 in the county has been diagnosed with asthma, which can be managed with medication. The rate of youngsters visiting the emergency room for asthma treatment is three times higher than the state average, according to the California Department of Public Health. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/16/2910599/imperial-county-asthma-kids-more.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21084904/imperial-county-asthma-kids-more-likely-hit-er?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Crews continue to battle growing Mendocino National Forest fire. The Mill fire in Mendocino County grew by more than 6,500 acres on Friday as crews battle rugged terrain and high temperatures. The fire has burned 25,534 acres since it started July 7 in the Mendocino National Forest northeast of Letts Lake. Fire officials estimated the blaze, which has destroyed five outbuildings, was 50 percent contained Friday night. Steep terrain and the fire's behavior made it too dangerous for firefighters to work directly along the fire's uncontained edge, officials said. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120713/ARTICLES/120719818/1042/opinion?Title=Crews-continue-to-battle-growing-Mendocino-National-Forest-fire Carbon causes extreme weather; in other news: Smoking causes cancer. Smoking causes cancer. Carbon pollution causes extreme weather. It really doesn’t have to be more complicated than that. We dump billions of tons of carbon pollution into the atmosphere each year. As a result, the concentration of carbon dioxide has increased by 40 percent. Excess carbon dioxide traps excess heat in the atmosphere. Excess heat causes extreme heat waves, droughts, and storms. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-change/carbon-causes-extreme-weather-in-other-news-smoking-causes-cancer/ REGION: Air pollution agency launches online complaint system. The regional air quality authority has set up an online reporting system that allows citizens to register complaints about everything from dust and stench to illegal burning and paint overspray. The South Coast Air Quality Management District’s new tool also lets users track the status of their complaints, all of which are investigated, said Sam Atwood, the district’s spokesman. “We have over 100 field inspectors, but they’re responsible for well over 10,000 square miles in our jurisdiction…Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20120713-region-air-pollution-agency-launches-online-complaint-system.ece CLIMATE CHANGE Merkel warns of global warming if no climate accord. Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Monday that global warming will accelerate at a dramatic rate unless leaders reach a deal on limiting greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible. After marathon talks in Durban last December, countries agreed to forge a new deal by 2015 that would for the first time force all the biggest polluters to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Critics said at the time, however, the plan was too timid to slow global warming. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/16/us-germany-environment-idUSBRE86F0R220120716 Fugitive Methane Caught in the Act of Raising GHG. It may turn out that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are higher from using natural gas to produce electricity than from using coal. Or are they? The possible culprit of these GHG emissions is fugitive emissions of methane. Since methane is a far more potent GHG than CO2, this is bad. Fugitive losses include loss of methane from the well-head during flow-back return of the fluids, during drill-out following fracturing and during well-venting…Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2012/07/15/fugitive-methane-caught-in-the-act-of-raising-ghg/ Residents share opinions on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions via county action plan. Richmond resident Cordell Hindler is already taking shorter showers and turning off the lights. He said he’s tired of seeing his water and heating bills shoot through the roof. “I live in a house where everything is not up to date,” Hindler said about his heater, stove and light fixtures. “My bills are getting out of control. I’m here trying to learn how to keep my utility bills down.” About a baker’s dozen of residents like Hindler attended the Contra Costa County Climate Action Plan Open House on Thursday night. Posted. http://richmondconfidential.org/2012/07/13/residents-cast-opinions-on-how-to-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-during-countywide-action-plan/ Cornell professor: Switching from coal to natural gas would cut greenhouse gases 40 percent. Switching from coal to natural gas will cut greenhouse gases 40 percent, even if getting the natural gas requires hydrofracking, a Cornell University professor said in a recently published paper. Lawrence M. Cathles said switching to natural gas is a smart move because it’s a “natural transition fuel.” “From a greenhouse point of view, it would be better to replace coal electrical facilities with nuclear plants, wind farms and solar panels, but replacing them with natural gas stations will be faster, cheaper,” and achieve 40 percent of the benefits of doing away with fossil fuels, he said. Posted. http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/07/cornell_professor_switching_fr.html FUELS Graveyards weigh requests to drill for gas. Columbus, Ohio -- Loved ones aren't the only thing buried in the 122-year-old Lowellville Cemetery in eastern Ohio. Deep underground, locked in ancient shale formations, are lucrative quantities of natural gas. Whether to drill for that gas is causing soul-searching as cemeteries - including veterans' final resting places in Colorado and Mississippi - join parks, playgrounds, churches and residential backyards among the ranks of places targeted in the nation's shale drilling boom. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Graveyards-weigh-requests-to-drill-for-gas-3707987.php VEHICLES TRAFFIC COLUMN: Which new hybrid cars qualify for car-pool lane privileges? Q: Robert Vincent said he’s driving a 2012 hybrid after recently trading cars. “So, I’m really enjoying the better gas mileage with the hybrid,” the Corona resident said in a phone message. “Also, several people have told me I probably could apply for a sticker (for the car) so I can use in the car-pool lanes even when I’m the only person in the car. I can’t get an official answer on this. Can you give me one?” Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/columns/on-the-road-headlines/20120715-traffic-column-which-new-hybrid-cars-qualify-for-car-pool-lane-privileges.ece GREEN ENERGY Why we pay double for solar in America (but won’t forever). I often get flak when I publish research on the cost trajectory for solar (my “Rooftop Revolution” report estimates 100 million Americans reaching grid parity by 2021). About half think I’m too conservative, and half think I’m too overconfident that solar will continue to drop in price by 7 percent per year indefinitely. But I’m not alone in perceiving an enormous cost reduction opportunity for solar in the United States. An article in Forbes last week suggested that we can “Cut The Price Of Solar In Half By Cutting Red Tape.” Posted. http://grist.org/solar-power/why-we-pay-double-for-solar-in-america-but-wont-forever/ Clean Energy from Simulating the Leaf: Artificial Photosynthesis. At the very bottom of the food chain there are the producers, converting light energy from the sun into chemical energy through photosynthesis. Artificial imitation of this process has intrigued many researchers, as it is an ideal alternative energy source to fossil fuels with low carbon emissions and energy costs. Moreover, conventional solar energy has its biggest weakness: when the sun is not available, energy cannot be harvested as well. Artificial photosynthesis redeems this weakness, as it is able to store converted chemical energy in liquid form to be used when the sun is not available, just like a battery. Posted. http://ucs.berkeley.edu/energy/2012/07/solar/clean-energy-from-simulating-the-leaf-artificial-photosynthesis/ OPINIONS The EPA is carefully considering jobs vs. pollution. George F. Will’s July 8 op-ed column [“What price clearer air in parks?”] omitted and distorted significant facts. Mr. Will’s economic analysis missed the fact that upgrades at the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) in Arizona, while slashing air pollution, also stand to create jobs. The costs are investments in pollution-control technology and in workers who put that technology in place and keep it running. The Environmental Protection Agency has not yet acted on the NGS. Our work to date has consisted of consultation with the power industry and Native American tribes on a plan that protects health, follows the law and benefits tribal economies. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-epa-is-carefully-considering-jobs-vs-pollution/2012/07/14/gJQAQXQkkW_story.html Editorial: Speak your mind on health of your lungs. Lydia Rojas' 15- year-old daughter suffered an asthma attack so severe she died. Even though he had never smoked, 33-year-old Robert Linkul of Sacramento contracted a rare from of cancer that forced the removal of the lower lobe of his left lung. Vallejo fifth-grader Jaxin Woodward is an avid runner, but severe asthma forces her to curtail her passion for the sport. These are just a handful of California residents who are set to testify before federal Environmental Protection Agency officials in Sacramento on Thursday. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/16/4632996/speak-your-mind-on-health-of-your.html Santa Monica residents still irked by leaf blowers, despite long standing ban. Santa Monica College's groundskeepers are being honored at the 2012 Eco Hero Awards for transitioning away from gas powered gardening equipment. Another green triumph for Santa Monica, mecca of hybrid SUVs and reusable bags. But to those of us who live here, we know there's still a dark side to the city's eco-friendly heart. And lately, I've been hearing it raging outside my windows more wildly than ever. What is it? The two-stroke roar of the gas-powered leaf blower. Posted. http://www.scpr.org/programs/madeleine-brand/2012/07/16/27415/santa-monica-irked-by-ineffective-leaf-blower-ban/ CARB exempts itself from public meeting laws. The modus operandi of CARB (California Air Resources Board) goes against legitimate ways of conducting business in public state agencies. Specifically, CARB runs its business in private without the prying eyes of the public it serves. California’s state budget was passed in the first week of July. Hidden in the bowels of the budget was a bill, SB 1018, that exempted CARB from open meeting rules in upcoming cap-and-trade auctions. The provision would allow Western Climate Initiative, Inc. (WCI), a company that CARB created, to manage carbon trading auctions without public scutiny. Such private proceedings would impose hidden taxes on energy consumers and small businesses without accountability or public knowledge. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/carb-exempts-itself-from-public-meeting-laws INLAND: Air-district stealth. Cloaking smog-reducing projects in secrecy does little to ensure public confidence that air quality regulators will spend the money wisely. Southern California’s air quality agency should end the needless confidentiality about proposals to cut air pollution in the Coachella Valley. The public should have sufficient time to thoroughly study and review the pitches before any the agency makes any decision. The South Coast Air Quality Management District is seeking proposals for spending $53 million to improve air quality in the valley. Posted. http://www.pe.com/opinion/editorials-headlines/20120715-inland-air-district-stealth.ece Talking the talk on the environment doesn’t equal walking the walk. People who advocate green behavior aren’t more likely to engage in it, at least in Hungary, according to recent research from Corvinus University in Budapest [PDF]. A survey was carried out in order to measure the difference between the ecological footprint of “green” and “brown” consumers. No significant difference was found between the ecological footprints of the two groups — suggesting that individual proenvironmental attitudes and behaviour do not always reduce the environmental impacts of consumption. Posted. http://grist.org/news/talking-the-talk-on-the-environment-doesnt-equal-walking-the-walk/ Is denial of Global Warming based on faith or science? In the last month or so, we have broken over 1,000 temperature records in the US. We have also seen a big increase in extreme weather and in weather related episodes in unusual places. Is this a manifestation of Global Warming? Could be. The National Climatic Data Center has reported that the last 12 consecutive months have been the hottest since recording started in 1895. Back in engineering school in the early 1970s, we were introduced to a new theory, then called the “Greenhouse Effect.” Posted. http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/21st-century-pacifist/2012/jul/14/denial-global-warming-based-faith-science/ The Great American Drought: Climate Change? The New Dust Bowl? It’s difficult to deny that large areas of the US are undergoing drought conditions at the moment. But should we be assuming that this is a portent of climate change? Or even that it is a harbinger of a new Dust Bowl, as in the 1930? We cannot completely rule out either of those possibilities but the correct answers as yet are no and no. That there are drought conditions in many places is not in doubt: In a monthly report to be released Monday, the National Climatic Data Center is expected to announce that this year’s drought now ranks among the ten largest drought areas in the past century. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/07/16/the-great-american-drought-climate-change-the-new-dust-bowl/ California Air Resources Board cap and trade program circumvents state open meeting laws with a Moonbeam assist. Strong headline, I know, but I didn’t believe this was true until I researched it myself. First some background; I once served as an elected official on my local school board. During orientation and virtually every annual CSBA meeting after that, along with numerous public meetings and letters to the editor where people constantly reminded us of the Brown Act, it loomed large as the most important law that we had to follow. Posted. http://truthiscontagious.com/2012/07/14/california-air-resources-board-cap-and-trade-program-circumvents-state-open-meeting-laws-with-a-moonbeam-assist Dr. Frank Bures: Diesel particulates really do matter. Exhaust from diesel engines has long been known to be a large contributor to air pollution. It also has been labeled by various U.S. government agencies a “potential or reasonably anticipated or likely” carcinogen or cancer-causing agent. On June 12, the International Agency for Research on Cancer declared it to be a definite lung cancer carcinogen after a weeklong meeting reviewing much data. The IARC is part of the World Health Organization. Diesel exhaust shares a Group 1 status along with smoking, asbestos, ultraviolet light and alcohol. It also was said to be a possible cause of bladder cancer. Posted. http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/local/features/article_544b2c2a-cd27-11e1-b4d7-001a4bcf887a.html BLOGS Shell Seeks to Weaken Air Rules for Arctic Drilling. Shell has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to loosen air pollution requirements for its Discoverer drill rig, which is planning to begin exploratory drilling operations off the North Slope of Alaska early next month. In its application to the agency, dated June 28, Shell said the Discoverer cannot meet the requirements for emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia of an air permit granted by the E.P.A. in January. The company also asked for a minor air permit modification for its Kulluk drill ship, which is also supposed to begin work in the Arctic in the coming weeks. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/13/shell-seeks-to-weaken-air-rules-for-arctic-drilling/ Problems With G.E.’s WattStation Charger for Some Nissan Leafs. After reports that its WattStation home charger had damaged the on-board charging system of some Nissan Leaf electric cars, G.E. Energy issued a statement Friday conceding that some Leaf owners had encountered problems and that the company was “actively working with Nissan to help determine the source of this issue.” The G.E. subsidiary said it had not encountered similar issues with other electric car models. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/13/problems-with-g-e-s-wattstation-charger-for-some-nissan-leafs/ A jail goes green. I’ve been in many jails and prisons — as a reporter, not as a resident — and I can testify that advanced electronic components are in short supply, so I was surprised to see the following three words appear together in the same story: solar, power, jail. The Frederick News-Post reports: The Frederick County Adult Detention Center is going green as work has begun on the installation of a solar power array that officials hope will save the county money in the long run. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/rosenwald-md/post/a-jail-goes-green/2012/07/16/gJQA8ErQoW_blog.html How states are regulating fracking (in maps). Armed with new drilling techniques, companies are spreading out across the United States, cracking open shale rock in search of vast new stores of natural gas. It’s not an exaggeration to say that hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” has revolutionized the U.S. energy industry. Cheap natural gas has become America’s top source for electricity, displacing coal and bringing back jobs to once-decaying states like Ohio. Here there be shale gas. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/07/16/how-states-are-regulating-fracking-in-maps/ How Do Companies Do Business in a Carbon Constrained World. Most of the top 500 companies in the world are now benchmarking themselves against their peers on climate change and carbon performance. Ernst & Young has examined how companies prepare for a transition to a low-carbon economy and the challenge of making sustainable growth compatible with business models? Key findings of the Ernst & Young Report report include the following…Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/how-do-companies-do-business-carbon-constrained-wo/ Turning a Coal Mine’s Gas Problem Into a Ski Resort’s CO2 and Energy Solution. Earlier this week, Climate Progress posted an interesting essay, “Climate Change is Fracking Society,” written by Auden Schendler, who is vice president of sustainability at the Aspen Skiing Company and the author of “Getting Green Done: Hard Truths from the Front Lines of the Sustainability Revolution.” Schendler’s summation of the science pointing to dangerous human-driven climate change is pretty overheated. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/13/turning-a-coal-mines-gas-problem-into-a-ski-resorts-co2-and-energy-solution/ ====================================================================== 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 Jul 2012 15:53:12 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 17, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for July 17, 2012. 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 Appeals court upholds EPA air quality rule. A federal appeals court upheld a new Environmental Protection Agency rule to limit nitrogen dioxide emissions near major roadways, in a defeat for the oil industry, which said the rule went beyond what was necessary to protect public health. Tuesday's decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., is a victory for the Obama administration and environmental groups that supported the 2010 rule, which limits exhaust that could remain in the air for a one-hour period. The 100 parts-per-billion limit was intended to reduce smog from such sources as car exhaust pipes and factories; it was more stringent than a standard dating from 1971. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/17/us-epa-nitrogendioxide-decision-idUSBRE86G0ZS20120717 Industry Group Loses Challenge to Nitrogen Dioxide Rules. The first new U.S. standard for nitrogen dioxide in at least 35 years was upheld by a federal appeals court, which said the Environmental Protection Agency had the authority to attempt to improve air quality around the nation’s busiest roadways. A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington today threw out a challenge by the American Petroleum Institute to regulations restricting the peak amount of nitrogen dioxide, or NO2, from tailpipes and smokestacks that can be present in the air during a one-hour period. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-17/industry-group-loses-challenge-to-nitrogen-dioxide-rules.html Imperial County leads state in treatment of children with asthma. Youngsters in the region are far more likely than those elsewhere to go to the ER or be hospitalized for the chronic respiratory disease. Experts don't know why. As the relentless wind stirs up piles of dust and dirt and creates a gigantic funnel of haze in the vast, sweltering Imperial Valley, children like Marco Cisneros battle to breathe. Marco wheezes and coughs and reaches desperately for his inhaler, but the medication doesn't always give him the relief he needs. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-imperial-county-asthma-20120716,0,2057005.story Ozone reaches unhealthy code orange level in Richmond area. Ozone, the main pollutant in smog, hit the unhealthy Code Orange level in Richmond this afternoon, according to state estimates. Active children and adults and people with respiratory diseases such as asthma should limit strenuous outdoor activities through this evening, officials said. To hold down pollution, officials are asking people to avoid unnecessary car trips, conserve power and limit the use of gasoline-powered equipment such as lawn mowers. Posted. http://www2.timesdispatch.com/weather/2012/jul/17/ozone-reaches-unhealthy-code-orange-level-richmond-ar-2063821/ 'Smog Eating Tile' Developed in Stockton. Boral Roofing in Stockton makes a lot of tiles, but there’s one tile that goes beyond the rest. Not only does it protect a home and is energy efficient, it eats smog – well, sort of. Renowden explained the key is a photo catalyst mixed into the tile’s coating, which UV Rays activate. “It oxidizes nitrogen oxides one of the main components of smog,” said Renowden. “Rather than actually eating it, it helps prevent the formation of smog.” That reaction also breaks down to calcium nitrate, which is a garden fertilizer according to Renowden. Posted. http://www.fox40.com/news/headlines/ktxl-smog-eating-tile-developed-in-stockton-20120716,0,1380818.story#ixzz20uOiWHAD Fuel Tech awarded $36.6M air pollution control contract in Chile. Fuel Tech announced it was awarded the largest air pollution control contract in its history. The $36.6M order, placed by E.CL S.A., a major utility in Chile, includes turnkey installation of Low NOx Burners and Over-Fire Air systems and mill modernization for six coal-fired units. Equipment deliveries are scheduled to commence during the first quarter of 2013, with project completion occurring during the third quarter of 2014. Posted. http://finance.yahoo.com/news/fuel-tech-awarded-36-6m-110205027.html CLIMATE CHANGE UK delays green power subsidy decision for second time. The British government on Tuesday put off for a second time a crucial announcement on subsidy levels for renewable energy, risking further delays in projects that will help Britain meet its legally binding climate change targets. The government was due to announce by Tuesday new state support levels for renewable energy projects from April 2013, before Parliament breaks for summer recess. "We will not be making an announcement today. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/17/us-britain-renewables-subsidies-idINBRE86G0MT20120717 EU carbon rescue plan may not help U.N. offset slump. Any lifeline European Union regulators throw to the bloc's own troubled carbon market may do little to help the United Nations' ailing emissions offset scheme. The EU emissions trading scheme and the U.N.-backed offset market have been in an interdependent relationship since 2005, particularly since most of the demand for offset credits comes from the 12,000 or so big polluters in the EU scheme. Both markets are flooded with supply. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/17/us-offsets-un-eu-idINBRE86G0LA20120717 El Nino indicators ease, still expected late 2012. Climate indicators for an El Niño event in the western Pacific have eased slightly in the past fortnight, but meteorologists still expect the weather pattern which can bring drought to the Asia-Pacific and damage crops to form late in 2012. El Nino indicators such as the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), sea surface temperatures and trade winds have eased over the past two weeks, but are still close to El Niño thresholds, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology said on Tuesday. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/17/us-australia-weather-elnino-idINBRE86G08C20120717 Merkel warns of global warming if no climate accord. Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Monday that global warming will accelerate at a dramatic rate unless leaders reach a deal on limiting greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible. After marathon talks in Durban last December, countries agreed to forge a new deal by 2015 that would for the first time force all the biggest polluters to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Critics said at the time, however, the plan was too timid to slow global warming. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/16/germany-environment-idINL6E8IGFEG20120716 Scientists want climate change in young minds. Climate change subscribers say the fight against global warming will require younger soldiers. On Monday, the National Center for Science Education, a nonprofit group that denounces intelligent design and supports an evolution-only curriculum in the classroom, will expand its mission. The organization of scientists, anthropologists and others is turning its attention to climate change, and it will mount an aggressive effort to teach the nation’s schoolchildren that climate change is real and is being driven by human activity. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jan/16/scientists-want-climate-change-young-minds/ Poll: Generation X unconcerned about climate change. Amid a summer of record-setting heat, a new survey finds that most of Generation X 's young and middle-age adults are uninformed and unconcerned about climate change. Only about 5% of Gen Xers, now 32 to 52 years old, are "alarmed" and 18% "concerned" about climate change, reports the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research on Tuesday. Two-thirds, or 66%, of those surveyed last year said they aren't sure global warming is happening and 10% said they don't believe it's occurring. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2012/07/poll-generation-x-unconcerned-about-climate-change/1 http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/17/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Long Beach Waste-To-Energy Facility Impacted by AB-32; Increase in Recycling Efforts. Long Beach officials are questioning the future of the local waste-to-energy plant as it comes under new environmental regulation and does not meet the guidelines of California’s new solid waste recycling goals. The Southeast Resource Recovery Facility (SERRF) is a solid waste processing plant at 120 Pier S Ave. that burns trash from regional municipalities and converts it to power. Posted. http://lbbusinessjournal.com/long-beach-business-journal-newswatch/136-lof-scroller-articles-12-07-17/741-long-beach-waste-to-energy-facility-impacted-by-ab-32-increase-in-recycling-efforts.html Greenhouse gas emission disclosure can boost stock prices – study Companies that voluntarily report greenhouse gas emissions data are being rewarded by investors through higher stock prices, according to a new University of California study to be published in the Journal of Accounting and Public Policy. The study, which examined 10 years of business emissions reporting through the Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire (CSRwire), found that stock values of companies that disclosed their greenhouse gas emissions rose on average nearly half a percentage point in the three days immediately after the disclosure. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/17/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Pro-industry groups again ask Congress to kill EPA carbon rule. Conservative groups yesterday again asked lawmakers to oppose U.S. EPA's plans to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants. Sixteen organizations signed on to a letter asking members on both sides of the Capitol to stand against the rule, stating that it "will effectively ban construction of new coal-fired power plants." "While hundreds of thousands of Americans are directly and indirectly employed by the coal industry, tens of millions of Americans enjoy the affordable and reliable energy produced by coal-fired power plants," …Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/07/17/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Shell Oil ship mishap in Alaska fuels concerns. A Shell Oil drilling ship that slipped its anchor in Alaska's Dutch Harbor raises serious concerns about the company's ability to operate safely in Arctic waters, particularly after the same vessel ran into a mooring problem in New Zealand waters last year, environmental groups said Monday. The 571-foot Noble Discoverer lost its mooring Saturday, drifting extremely close to shore before it was towed farther off shore and re-anchored. Shell and the Coast Guard say an inspection of the hull by a remotely operated vehicle showed no signs of damage or grounding. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SHELL_VESSEL_ANCHORAGE_PROBLEM?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Cheaper gas keeps US consumer prices flat. Consumer prices were unchanged in June, held down by cheaper gas. Outside the volatile food and energy categories, inflation was mild. Weak economic growth is limiting the ability of companies to raise prices. The tame inflation was underscored by a 0.2 percent drop in consumer prices for the April-June period as a whole. That was the first quarterly drop in consumer prices in two years. In May, the consumer price index fell 0.3 percent. In April, it was unchanged. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CONSUMER_PRICES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT HIGH-SPEED RAIL Alternate high-speed rail route through Kings County proposed. The state's high-speed rail authority has offered an alternative route around Hanford aiming to address criticism of its plan by Kings County residents. But some of those same critics said the new plan -- highlighted by adding a Hanford bypass west of the city -- does little to ease their concerns over lost farmland, homes and businesses. Aaron Fukuda, a Hanford resident whose rural neighborhood east of the city would be displaced by the original east-Hanford bypass, said the western option will do little to appease opposition in Kings County. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/16/2911572/high-speed-rail-kings-county-route.html#storylink=cpy GREEN ENERGY UPDATE 2-NextEra cuts N.H. Seabrook output due to solar activity. NextEra Energy Inc said it expects to be able to increase power at the 1,247-megawatt Seabrook nuclear power plant in New Hampshire after reducing output Sunday night due to solar magnetic activity, a plant spokesman said Monday. "The conditions that caused the power reduction Sunday night have gone away," said David Barr, a spokesman for the plant, noting this was the first time plant operators reduced the Seabrook reactor because of solar activity. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/07/16/utilities-nextera-seabrook-idINL2E8IG3XW20120716 MISCELLANEOUS APNewsBreak: Calif. tests show lead in jewelry. California is cracking down on more than a dozen businesses accused of selling and distributing costume jewelry containing dangerous levels of lead despite repeated warnings. State investigators uncovered hundreds of lead-laced trinkets marketed to children and adults, including some pieces contaminated with lead levels more than 1,000 times the legal state limit. The state was expected to file a lawsuit Tuesday against 16 companies — retailers, wholesalers, suppliers and distributors — doing business in Los Angeles and elsewhere. Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/apnewsbreak-calif-tests-show-lead-jewelry-070511491.html Supervisors consider air board shuffle. Shasta County supervisors will renew their talks on adding some city representation to the homogeneous Air Pollution Control Board at today's meeting. The board, which oversees climate change issues by monitoring pollutants, coming up with mitigation measures for them, regulating burn days and meeting state and federal environmental standards, is currently made up of the five county supervisors. The cities of Redding and Anderson have pushed for spots on the board in recent months to give them clout in important environmental decisions. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2012/jul/16/supervisors-consider-air-board-shuffle/ OPINIONS Our View: Air pollution talk could use Valley voices. Lydia Rojas' 15- year-old daughter suffered an asthma attack so severe she died. Even though he had never smoked, 33-year-old Robert Linkul of Sacramento contracted a rare form of cancer that forced the removal of the lower lobe of his left lung. Vallejo fifth-grader Jaxin Woodward is an avid runner, but severe asthma forces her to curtail her passion for the sport. These are just a handful of California residents who are set to testify before federal Environmental Protection Agency officials in Sacramento on Thursday. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/07/17/2421113/our-view-air-pollution-talk-could.html Health Hazards of Heat Waves, Wildfires, and Other Extreme Weather. Like many Americans, I struggled to keep cool during the recent heat wave, but what really worried me was how my father would handle the spike in temperature. Medical experts say hot weather takes the heaviest toll on senior citizens, young children, and people with heart and lung illnesses. Diabetics, the obese, and people using common medications also face a greater risk when the heat rises. In other words, tens of millions of people are vulnerable to extreme heat. Now that climate change is making potent heat waves more commonplace, these numbers will only continue to rise. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frances-beinecke/health-hazards-of-heat-wa_b_1680158.html?utm_hp_ref=health BLOGS Helping Parks Sustain Themselves. Some major sustainability themes have emerged as over 850 landscape architects, government officials, city planners and park enthusiasts meet in New York City for the Greater and Greener International Urban Parks Conference. Among the issues highlighted on Monday were recycling of rainwater and reclaiming former landfills and brownfields as park spaces. Addressing the conference, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg emphasized that parks help the local economy by boosting property values and improving the quality of life. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/17/helping-parks-sustain-themselves/ New Restrictions on Pest Control Operators Will Help Prevent Pesticide Pollution. The following is a press release from the BASMAA’s (Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies’ Association) regarding new statewide pesticide regulations that take effect this week. The new regulations put limits on exterior spraying in order to reduce stormwater pollution from pesticides. Exterior or perimeter spraying is commonly used to combat ant problems at home in the Bay Area during the summer months and during rainy season–both peak times for ant invasions. Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/incontracosta/2012/07/16/new-restrictions-on-pest-control-operators-will-help-prevent-pesticide-pollution/ UC Berkeley’s Helios Building set to open in August. The Helios Building, a new addition to downtown Berkeley, is in the very final stages of construction and the scientists for whom it has been built are expected to move in over six weeks, starting on July 30. The $133 million, 133,000 sq. ft. building, which stands five stories high on a two-block lot bounded by Oxford, Hearst, Berkeley Way, and Shattuck, is home to UC Berkeley’s Energy Biosciences Institute, a collaborative project between Berkeley Lab, UC Berkeley and the University of Illinois. Posted. http://www.berkeleyside.com/2012/07/17/uc-berkeleys-helios-building/ Biofuel from Plastic for this Young Egyptian Scientist from Alexandria. A sixteen-year-old Egyptian student, Azza Abdel Hamid Faiad from the Zahran Language School in Alexandria has identified a new low-cost catalyst which can generate biofuel by breaking down plastic waste. The idea of breaking down plastic polymers into fuel feedstocks, the bulk raw material used for producing biofuel, is not a new idea. But Faiad has found a high yield catalyst, aluminosilicate catalyst that breaks down plastic waste producing gaseous products like methane, propane and ethane, which are then converted into ethanol to use as biofuel. Posted. http://www.greenprophet.com/2012/07/egypt-biofuel-plastic/ Why Global Warming Is Now an Economic Tax on the Middle Class. Given its costs, global warming can now be thought of as an economic tax on the middle class. A recent NOAA report found that 56 percent of the continental U.S. is currently experiencing drought. Exaggerated by global warming, enhanced drought is reducing America’s corn crop and sending the futures price for corn soaring by 34 percent over the last four weeks. This will generate a painful new economic tax on a middle class whose food supply is largely tied to corn as an ingredient and as animal feed. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/07/global-warming-economic-tax-middle-class/ Explaining Explosion of Daily Record Highs Easy as Pie. As the climate has warmed during the past several decades, there has been a growing imbalance between record daily high temperatures in the contiguous U.S. and record daily lows. A study published in 2009 found that rather than a 1-to-1 ratio, as would be expected if the climate were not warming, the ratio has been closer to 2-to-1 in favor of warm temperature records during the past decade (2000-2009). This finding cannot be explained by natural climate variability alone, the study found, and is instead consistent with global warming. Posted. http://www.climatecentral.org/blogs/more-heat-records-compared-to-cold-records/ Cap and Trade: One Piece of California's Climate Puzzle. When the California cap-and-trade program fully launches on January 1, 2013, it will create the second largest carbon market in the world. While cap-and-trade may be the most visible and perhaps most controversial part of California's climate strategy to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, it is not the only -- or even the biggest -- piece of the puzzle. Cap-and-trade is but one puzzle piece among many that the state is pursuing…Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gary-gero/california-cap-and-trade_b_1666332.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, 18 Jul 2012 12:26:55 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 18, 2012 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. AIR POLLUTION White House weakened EPA soot proposal, documents show. The White House recently modified an Environmental Protection Agency proposal to limit soot emissions, according to documents obtained by The Washington Post, inviting public comment on a slightly weaker standard than the agency had originally sought. The behind-the-scenes tweaking of the proposed soot standards, which affect particles measuring less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, sparked criticism that the White House was interfering with science-based decisions. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/white-house-weakened-epa-soot-proposal-documents-show/2012/07/17/gJQANH3yrW_story.html Nefarious forces hampering Shell’s Arctic drilling include air, water, ice. Guys, I have some bad news. Shell’s attempts to drill exploratory wells in Alaska aren’t going that great. Cue the Shell-denfreude. First, there was that ship that tried to escape, only to be dragged back into servitude. Then the company had to go hat-in-hand to the Environmental Protection Agency, asking if maybe, just this once, the agency would be cool with a little more air pollution coming from their drilling rig. Posted. http://grist.org/news/nefarious-forces-hampering-shells-arctic-drilling-include-air-water-ice/ Green streets can cut pollution, says study. The creation of "green walls" in urban areas could cut pollution by up to 30%, scientists have suggested. UK researchers say more trees and other vegetation at street level would clean air in areas that are normally exposed to higher pollution levels. Plants in towns and cities have been shown to remove nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM), both of which are harmful to human health. The findings appear in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. Posted. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18873391 Expert paints bleak air pollution picture to children's asthma group. While politicians like to tout improvements in pollution and air quality, that's not the world that scientists like John Froines see. "Air pollution is not getting better, it's getting worse," said Froines, a retired UCLA professor and director of the Southern California Particle Center. Speaking at a meeting Tuesday of the Long Beach Alliance for Children with Asthma, Froines said the more that scientists learn about air pollution and its effects, the more alarming the picture becomes. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_21097605/expert-paints-bleak-air-pollution-picture-childrens-asthma Earth Log: Bad ozone day renews debate about warnings. The air turned scary corrosive for two hours in Fresno last Thursday. Even in the San Joaquin Valley, where breathing bad air is a way of life, this was dangerous. The ozone overload on a steamy, windless day was the highest in nearly two years. And it triggered a now-familiar debate. How are we supposed to know when ozone is that high? Ozone is not like dust or smoke, which you can see and smell. By comparison, ozone is odorless and invisible. Kevin Hall, who heads the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition, says there should be some kind of warning system above and beyond the air district's everyday forecasts and publicity campaign. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/17/2912947/earth-log-bad-ozone-day-renews.html#storylink=misearch CLIMATE CHANGE Average Chinese person's carbon footprint now equals European's. The average Chinese person's carbon footprint is now almost on a par with the average European's, figures released on Wednesday reveal. China became the largest national emitter of CO2 in 2006, though its emissions per person have always been lower than those in developed countries such as Europe. But today's report, which only covers emissions from energy, by the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency and the European commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) show that per capita emissions in China increased by 9% in 2011 to reach 7.2 tonnes per person, only a fraction lower than the EU average of 7.5 tonnes. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/18/china-average-europe-carbon-footprint U.S. leads the world in cutting CO2 emissions — so why aren’t we talking about it? Contrary to popular belief, the U.S. is making progress on climate change. We have cut our carbon emissions more than any other country in the world in recent years — 7.7 percent since 2006. U.S. emissions fell 1.9 percent last year and are projected to fall 1.9 percent again this year, which will put us back at 1996 levels. It will not be easy to achieve the reductions Obama promised in Copenhagen — 17 percent (from 2005 levels) by 2020 — but that goal no longer looks out of reach, even in the absence of comprehensive legislation. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-policy/u-s-leads-the-world-in-cutting-co2-emissions-so-why-arent-we-talking-about-it/ Slow Ride Stories: Kick-starting conversations about climate change. The climate is a-changin’ — but the debate on climate change isn’t. As a result, climate scientists and environmental advocates appear to be fighting a losing battle: A recent poll of American attitudes toward climate change, put out in March by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, revealed that the number of climate skeptics in America is growing, and fewer voters view climate change as a scientifically affirmed or politically important issue. With this news in mind, a two-man film crew has hit the back roads of America to, in their words, kick-start a new national conversation about climate change — one that might circumvent heated politics by focusing on local perspectives. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/slow-ride-stories-kick-starting-conversations-about-climate-change/ FUELS MIT study questions fuel savings from ethanol blending. The renewable ethanol fuel blended into the United States' gasoline supply does not lower prices at the pump as advocates have claimed, according to a study released this week by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The paper critiques earlier studies sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), which found that mixing ethanol with transportation fuel reduced gasoline prices by 89 cents in 2010 and $1.09 in 2011. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/18/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY HIGH-SPEED RAIL AM Alert: Jerry Brown to sign funding bill for high-speed rail. Gov. Jerry Brown will be in Los Angeles this morning and in San Francisco this afternoon as he signs legislation authorizing funding to start construction of the state's controversial high-speed rail project. The Los Angeles ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St., and the San Francisco event is set for 2 p.m. at Transbay Transit Center construction site on Howard Street between First and Second streets. Senate Bill 1029 squeaked out of the Senate earlier this month with the bare minimum of votes to authorize $5.8 billion to begin construction in the Central Valley. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/07/am-alert-jerry-brown-to-sign-high-speed-rail-funding-senate-bill-1029.html VEHICLES Electric Cars Charged Without Cables, Without Touching. When it comes to introducing risk free electric cars into the mainstream, car rental is a no-brainer. Wireless charging systems could be just the right push to increase the adoption and convenience. Wireless Charging Saves The Day. If you’ve been reading our latest electric car articles on TorqueNews.com lately, you’ll probably have noticed we are slightly enamored with the promise of ease and convenience when it comes to the wireless charging of electric cars. Posted. http://www.torquenews.com/1079/helping-electric-car-rental-wireless-charging GREEN ENERGY County protects farmland from solar development. The Kern County Board of Supervisors approved a compromise plan Tuesday that will guide solar project developers who want to build large-scale sun farms on valley farmland. Some solar power developers and farming interests grudgingly supported the policy, developed by the Kern County Planning Department, which would set up a pathway for developers and planners to follow to determine what farmland is best to build solar power plants on. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x920646520/County-protects-farmland-from-solar-development Lodi gathering input toward a greener future. Lodi officials are searching for community input into how the city can lower greenhouse gas emissions and incorporate environmentally friendly features to its infrastructure. The city has hired Los Angeles-based consulting firm AECOM to create a climate action plan that will outline how the city can incorporate more public transit, offer residents the opportunity to include more energy-efficient features into their homes and how to ensure that industrial businesses are operating in a way that limits their carbon footprint. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120718/A_NEWS/207180313&cid=sitesearch Life Tech to install electricity-generating Bloom Fuel System at its headquarters. Life Technologies Corp. will install a fuel cell system to provide electricity for its headquarters, manufacturing and distribution center, the company said Wednesday. The 1 megawatt Bloom Energy fuel cell system will reduce Life Tech's carbon emissions by 30 percent, increase energy reliability and reduce costs when it begins operating in August, the biotech and instrumentation products company said in a press release. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/business/energy/life-tech-to-install-electricity-generating-bloom-fuel-system-at/article_fbe324f3-c669-5d58-be11-b6f164e93825.html Power play: Can utilities turn energy efficiency into fun and games? At any given moment, Collin Faunce can see exactly how much energy he’s using in his house. When he turns on the dishwasher, his consumption spikes on the colorful head-up display on his computer monitor. If he and his wife, Erica, set the air conditioning just a few degrees higher, they can watch the dollars spared tick upwards in real time. They don’t have to wait for the monthly bill to understand their savings, and when a gadget siphons away precious energy, the Faunces can immediately identify the culprit. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/power-play-can-utilities-make-energy-efficiency-fun/ OPINIONS Not so fast on blaming global warming. CAN YOU BLAME the scorching weather on climate change? Not really. Or at least not yet. In a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) report released last week, researchers attempted to determine how much they could attribute six extreme weather events last year to human-caused global warming. Even now, months on, some experts worry that drawing conclusions is precipitous. Figuring out what caused a flood in Thailand or a drought in Texas is hard. Doing it quickly is harder. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/not-so-fast-on-blaming-global-warming/2012/07/17/gJQAHIl2rW_story.html Viewpoints: Join fight for cleaner air in EPA proposal. My daughter was 8 when she was hospitalized because of a severe asthma attack. Air pollution had long been a professional concern for me, but this experience elevated the issue to a highly personal and very frightening level. Although the quality of the air we breathe has improved significantly since 1970, when a bipartisan Congress passed the Clean Air Act, millions of Americans are still experiencing for themselves variations of my family's story – and not always with a happy ending. Fortunately, there's something that we can do. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/18/4638126/join-fight-for-cleaner-air-in.html My Word: Who better than an Eagle Scout to show bold initiative on carbon pollution. Boy Scout spirits will soar Aug. 1 during the centennial celebration for Eagle Scouts everywhere. Please join me in encouraging Eagle Scout -- and Boy Scouts national President and Exxon Mobil CEO -- Rex Tillerson to play a prominent role. I have asked him to change the course of human history with true climate solutions leadership this year. Eagle Scouts should live by "We leave our campsites cleaner than we found them" as well as the Scout Law and Scout Oath. We share reverence for God; our family, neighbors and society; and our environment, which supports life for all species. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21096566?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21096566/my-word-who-better-than-an-eagle-scout?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com BLOGS EC proposes 30% stricter emissions standards for 2020. As they do with fashion and culinary wonders, the Europeans are continuing to take the lead in tightening fuel-economy standards as well. The European Commission (EC) has proposed fleetwide greenhouse-gas emissions standards for cars that are about 30 percent stricter by the end of the decade than they were last year. Van emissions standards would be tightened by about 20 percent, Green Car Congress reports. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/18/european-commission-proposes-stricter-car-emissions-standards/ Bloomberg says buyers, not automakers, should get more federal funding for plug-in vehicles. The U.S. government would be more effective at spurring plug-in vehicle sales if it provided more financial incentives to consumers instead of automakers. At least, that's the opinion in a Bloomberg News editorial. Saying that finding alternatives to gasoline "a worthy public goal," Bloomberg says the government should expand purchasing incentives beyond the $7,500 it provides for buyers of some plug-ins and hybrids. President Obama has said he wants 1 million plug-in vehicles to be on U.S. roads by 2015; the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards he proposed last year would mandate about a 70 percent fuel economy improvement by 2025. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/17/bloomberg-buyers-not-automakers-more-federal-funds/ Wireless EV Charging Mats on the Horizon. Several automakers are developing technology that would help alleviate drivers' range anxiety. What if you could charge your Nissan Leaf while stopped at a red light? Several automakers are developing cordless charging mats that would, in theory, allow drivers of electric vehicles to do just that. The idea is that when the car is positioned over the charging mat, coils on the car's undercarriage would engage with the charger. Posted. http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost-tech.aspx?post=9710f2b5-ae04-4de9-93c7-bde683327a63&icid=autos_3161 ====================================================================== 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 Jul 2012 15:26:10 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 19, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for July 19, 2012 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 hold hearing on soot regulations today in Sacramento. A national fight over clean air standards is coming to Sacramento today. The federal Environmental Protection Agency will hold a hearing today in Sacramento – one of two in the nation – on proposed revisions to its air quality rules. "The question in front of the EPA is what level of air pollution makes people sick," said Janice Nolen, assistant vice president of national policy and advocacy for the American Lung Association in Washington, D.C. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/07/19/2287741/epa-to-hold-hearing-on-soot-regulations.html Indiana to appeal EPA ruling on Lake, Porter air. Indiana officials say they will appeal the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's decision to find Lake and Porter counties out of compliance with air quality standards because of their location near Chicago. Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels and Attorney General Greg Zoeller say every Indiana county meets the standards under the Clean Air Act for the first time but that Lake and Porter are being punished because one monitoring station in Illinois fell short. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Indiana-to-appeal-EPA-ruling-on-Lake-Porter-air-3719772.php Chevron settles air pollution allegations. New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa announced on Wednesday that Chevron USA Inc. will pay a civil penalty of $231,875 following a joint state-federal settlement over alleged air pollution control law violations. Chevron, in a joint complaint filed by the Department of Environmental protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, allegedly violated state and federal air quality laws at its asphalt refinery in Perth Amboy. Additionally, Chevron allegedly violated rules pertaining to leak detection and repair requirements for hazardous air pollutants at the Perth Amboy plant and violated conditions of the plant's Title V air operating permit. Posted. http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/236764-chevron-settles-air-pollution-allegations COACHELLA VALLEY: Air district urged to release pollution cleanup proposals. Elected officials are pressuring regional air quality officials to release details about proposals on how to spend $53 million designated to offset pollution in the Coachella Valley from a new power plant. Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs, in a letter to South Coast Air Quality Management District, has urged the agency’s chief to make the proposals public. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/politics-headlines-index/20120718-coachella-valley-air-district-urged-to-release-pollution-cleanup-proposals.ece CLIMATE CHANGE US forecast: Hot, dry weather to linger into fall. Federal weather forecasters predict the unusually hot dry weather that has gripped much of the nation will linger into fall, especially for the parched heartland. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's outlook for August through October shows that nearly every state likely will have hotter than normal temperatures. Much of the Midwest is likely to be drier than normal, too. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_DROUGHT_FORECAST?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-07-19-12-01-12 Glacier in north Greenland breaks off huge iceberg. An iceberg twice the size of Manhattan tore off one of Greenland's largest glaciers, illustrating another dramatic change to the warming island. For several years, scientists had been watching a long crack near the tip of the northerly Petermann Glacier. On Monday, NASA satellites showed it had broken completely, freeing an iceberg measuring 46 square miles. A massive ice sheet covers about four-fifths of Greenland. Petermann Glacier is mostly on land, but a segment sticks out over water like a frozen tongue, and that's where the break occurred. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_GREENLAND_GLACIER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-07-17-18-35-45 UK police close 'Climategate' investigation. British police have closed their three-year investigation into the theft of hundreds of climate science emails published to the Web, saying Wednesday there was no hope of finding any suspects behind the breach. The theft, dubbed "Climategate" by some, caught researchers at the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit discussing ways to dodge right-to-know requests, keep opponents' research out of peer-reviewed journals, and destroy data. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_BRITAIN_CLIMATE_EMAILS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT CO2 is buried at sea with the help of iron sulfate. Seeding the ocean with iron can bury carbon for centuries, aiding the fight against climate change, a new study suggests. The influx of iron encourages the growth of phytoplankton blooms that consume carbon dioxide. When the tiny organisms die, they sink into the deep ocean, effectively trapping the CO2 there for centuries. The idea is decades old. But the findings reported yesterday in the journal Nature are the first evidence that fertilizing the oceans with iron could be a viable method of burying CO2 that would otherwise help warm the planet. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/19/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Driving on borrowed time: Nonprofits deal with new emission standards. New Beginnings Christian Church's 1979 Peterbilt only has a couple of years to live. Whether it will be sold for parts or left to rot in a junkyard isn't yet known, but one thing is certain: In 2015, the big shiny semi won't be on the road anymore. Most people don't think twice about the trucks used to haul goods, but nonprofit organizations in Bakersfield are coming to terms with the fact that come 2015, they may no longer be able to use the vehicles they have depended on for years. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/business/x160346093/Driving-on-borrowed-time-Nonprofits-deal-with-new-emission-standards?utm_source=widget_56&utm_medium=photo_entries_teaser_widget&utm_campaign=synapse FUELS Navy Chief urges Congress to support biofuels. (VIDEO) The Navy's top official says he thinks federal lawmakers will come around on the branch's ambitions to ease its use of foreign oil once they understand it's not an environmental move--it's a defense strategy. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/navy-chief-urges-congress-to-support-biofuels/2012/07/19/gJQAJ6ByvW_video.html Navy's "Great Green Fleet" debuts in Pacific. The U.S. Navy's "Great Green Fleet," a group of warships and fighter jets burning an expensive blend of biofuels and petroleum, made its operational debut on Wednesday as the Senate prepared for a political fight over the program's cost. Dozens of F/A-18 Super Hornets and other aircraft powered by conventional jet fuel mixed with recycled cooking grease and algae oil screamed off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz during international military exercises in the central Pacific Posted. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/07/19/us-usa-navy-greenfleet-idUKBRE86I0B220120719 Navy Shows off new biofuel Great Green Fleet. The Secretary of the Navy called it a 'Historic day for America.' Just 100 nautical miles north of Oahu, the Navy for the first time used biofuel blends for a carrier strike group on the U.S.S. Nimitz. It's being called the Great Green Fleet. With each takeoff of a jet, refueling of a ship, or tanker, the U.S. Navy wants to decrease its reliance on foreign oil as prices continue to rise. "We can make big strides toward energy independence. We can reduce our vulnerability that we currently have," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48246446 Neb. agency hits TransCanada with host of questions about new route. The Nebraska environmental agency accused by Keystone XL opponents of preparing to rubber-stamp a new route for the $5.3 billion pipeline yesterday sought a lengthy list of politically volatile data from its operator, including the identity of chemicals used to dilute the heavy Canadian oil sands crude that it would carry to the Gulf Coast. The Cornhusker State's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in April began reviewing a new path for Keystone XL that aims to avoid the permeable soil and high water tables of the Sand Hills region. Posted. http://eenews.net/public/energywire/2012/07/18/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Studies: Fuel will be cheaper, cleaner with low-carbon standard. Scientists from six of the nation’s leading research institutions, including the University of California Davis, have found that fuels will be cleaner and cheaper in the future if the U.S. adopts a national low-carbon fuel standard. This finding and others will be detailed in a series of studies released Thursday at a bipartisan briefing on Capitol Hill. The scientists will be joined at the briefing by representatives of the automobile, electric utility and biofuels industries. A low-carbon fuel standard is designed to reduce the carbon footprint of transportation fuels. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2012/07/19/fuel-low-carbon-standard-studies-uc-davi.html How to Fix America's Fuel Future. Everyone across the political spectrum talks about the need to wean the US from foreign oil. But when it comes to the details-how to actually make America more energy independent-the political posturing begins. Recently, a Congressional dust-up dogged the national Renewable Fuel Standard. The year has also seen fights over the Keystone XL pipeline and the Pentagon's renewable fuels efforts. And despite widespread support from Americans-and strong support from the auto industry itself-some still object to the 54.5 mpg by 2025 standard expected out later this summer. There is another way. Posted. http://energy.aol.com/2012/07/19/how-to-fix-americas-fuel-future/ National Low Carbon Fuel Standard study releases major Technical Analysis and Policy Design reports; providing a scientific basis for policy decisions. The National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Project has released two major reports that synthesize its findings from the past several years of work: a Technical Analysis Report (TAR) and Policy Design Recommendations. The primary objectives of the National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) Study were to (1) compare an LCFS with other policy instruments, including the existing Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) and a potential carbon tax, that have the potential to significantly reduce transportation greenhouse gas…Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/07/nlcfs-20120719.html U.S. researchers push a low-carbon fuel standard. The United States needs to make a rapid transition off petroleum fuels, and a national low-carbon fuel standard is the way to get there, according to two new studies by scientists at six top U.S. research institutions. "Overall, the low-carbon fuel standard is harnessing market forces, using performance standards and has the potential to be a very robust policy," said Daniel Sperling, director of the Institute for Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis, and one of 22 researchers who worked on the reports. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/07/19/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY 'Very doable' low-carbon standard could boost economy, environment – researchers. A low-carbon fuel standard that would expand the mix of non-petroleum transportation fuels could build on the existing renewable fuels standard to advance clean fuels development, according to researchers behind a series of new reports on the policy. By requiring companies to meet a goal for the carbon intensity of transportation fuels, a LCFS could not only diversify the mix of fuels on the market but could address some problems that have dogged the RFS, researchers said. The LCFS would encourage a broader suite of fuels and have a larger effect on the economy and environment than the existing RFS program, they said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/07/19/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Researchers: LCFS Would Help America. During a bipartisan briefing on Capitol Hill, researchers from six institutions advocated that adopting a national Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) would be a positive step for America. Renewable fuels, they said, will be cleaner, cheaper and “Made in America”. This consensus by the group of researchers was met after conducting an extensive series of peer-reviewed LCFS studies. The research will be published in The Energy Policy Journal’s special issue on Low Carbon Fuel Policy over the next several months. Posted. http://domesticfuel.com/2012/07/19/researchers-lcfs-would-help-america/ Researchers say U.S. should adopt low-carbon fuel standard. Scientists from six of the nation’s leading research institutions, including the University of California Davis, have found that fuels will be cleaner and cheaper in the future if the U.S. adopts a national low-carbon fuel standard. This finding and others will be detailed in a series of studies released Thursday at a bipartisan briefing on Capitol Hill. The scientists will be joined at the briefing by representatives of the automobile, electric utility and biofuels industries. A low-carbon fuel standard is designed to reduce the carbon footprint of transportation fuels. Posted. http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/national/2012/07/researchers-say-us-should-adopt.html HIGH-SPEED RAIL Jerry Brown signs rail bill, avoids Central Valley opponents. San Francisco – It took the promise of nearly $2 billion in rail upgrades in the Bay Area and Los Angeles for Gov. Jerry Brown to secure the Legislature's support for high-speed rail, so it was there that the Democratic governor celebrated on Wednesday. Discontent with the project and legal challenges, however, linger in the Central Valley – the site of the first track actually designed for high-speed trains. Had Brown come there, one opponent said, he might have had tomatoes lobbed at him. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/19/4641314/jery-brown-signs-rail-bill-avoids.html#mi_rss=Top%20Stories California moves forward on $68 billion high-speed rail project. California moved full steam ahead on Wednesday with a $68 billion high speed rail project, a move that comes as the state slashes spending to close a nearly $16 billion budget deficit and as a string of its cities mull bankruptcy. At a ceremony in Los Angeles, Governor Jerry Brown signed an initial funding bill for the train project, clearing the way for construction of a 130-mile section of track through the state's agricultural heartland. Brown says a bullet train network will boost job creation and provide an alternative to car and plane travel in the country's most populous state. Posted. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-california-railbre86h1k8-20120718,0,2581185.story California Gov. Brown signs high-speed rail bill. It took the promise of nearly $2 billion in rail upgrades in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles for California Gov. Jerry Brown to secure the Legislature's support for high-speed rail, so it was there that the Democratic governor celebrated on Wednesday. Discontent with the project and legal challenges, however, linger in the Central Valley - the site of the first track actually designed for high-speed trains. Had Brown come there, one opponent said, he might have had tomatoes lobbed at him. Posted. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/07/18/156730/california-gov-brown-signs-high.html GREEN ENERGY Small U.S. Solar Businesses Suffering from Tariffs on Imported Chinese Panels. Marco Mangelsdorf thought he made a smart move early this year when he bought nearly 300 solar panels from a manufacturer in China rather than from the United States. The modest $54,000 purchase was expected to help his customers save 50 percent on their solar systems. Mangelsdorf's company ProVision Solar engineers and installs rooftop solar on homes and businesses in Hawaii. "I'm beating myself up," he says now. Posted. http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20120718/small-us-solar-businesses-suffer-chinese-panel-tariffs-retroactive-commerce-department Nation's largest wood-fired power plant opens in east Texas. East Texas, with its relatively still air, may have missed out on the state's wind boom, but it does have something its western neighbors lack: trees. Now, as the nation's largest biomass power plant revs up its boiler there, the region is making its own contribution to the state's renewable energy portfolio. Southern Co., which operates the Nacogdoches Generating Facility under its subsidiary Southern Power, announced yesterday that the 100-megawatt plant is now sending electrons to the grid. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/07/19/22 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS California lifts rules that curbed anti-mosquito ground treatments. After months of intense lobbying, California's local mosquito control districts have won a key battle against new federal regulations that districts contended slowed them in their fight against West Nile virus. The victory came late last week as the State Water Resources Control Board lifted monitoring requirements that districts said hindered ground treatment of mosquitoes in the larval stage. While the new rules aimed to curb pesticide use on the ground…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/19/4641319/california-lifts-rules-that-curbed.html#mi_rss=Top%20Stories GM to let some owners rent out cars. Own a GM vehicle? Start your own car rental business. That's the latest pitch from General Motors Co., which on Tuesday was scheduled to team with a small San Francisco company to kick off a nationwide program that would allow owners of GM vehicles equipped with the OnStar system to rent them out. Under the venture, which was announced in October, subscribers to GM's OnStar service can list their vehicle for rent through a program operated by RelayRides. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120718/WIRE/207181038 The Bicycle Revolution in Paris, Five Years Later. In July 2007, many Parisians laughed at their mayor, Bertrand Delanoë, when he announced the creation of a public bicycle sharing system aimed at reducing traffic in the French capital. The system was called Vélib’, a combination of “vélo”, which means bicycle in colloquial French, and “liberté”, or freedom. During its first few months of operation, the skeptics appeared to be right. While most Parisians snubbed the heavy public bicycles (weighing 23 kg), others destroyed or stole them. Posted. http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/07/the-bicycle-revolution-in-paris-five-years-later/ OPINIONS Viewpoints: Join fight for cleaner air in EPA proposal. My daughter was 8 when she was hospitalized because of a severe asthma attack. Air pollution had long been a professional concern for me, but this experience elevated the issue to a highly personal and very frightening level. Although the quality of the air we breathe has improved significantly since 1970, when a bipartisan Congress passed the Clean Air Act, millions of Americans are still experiencing for themselves variations of my family's story – and not always with a happy ending. Fortunately, there's something that we can do. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/18/v-print/4638126/join-fight-for-cleaner-air-in.html Earth Log: Bad ozone day renews debate about warnings. The air turned scary corrosive for two hours in Fresno last Thursday. Even in the San Joaquin Valley, where breathing bad air is a way of life, this was dangerous. The ozone overload on a steamy, windless day was the highest in nearly two years. And it triggered a now-familiar debate. How are we supposed to know when ozone is that high? Ozone is not like dust or smoke, which you can see and smell. By comparison, ozone is odorless and invisible. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/17/2912947/earth-log-bad-ozone-day-renews.html#storylink=cpy Powerful California State Agency Plans Gasoline Price Increases. The state of California is planning to hike the price of gasoline by at least a dollar a gallon. But you won’t see more roads or public transportation or actually anything of value for the money. Instead, this is part of the direct cost of regulation that California motorists will shoulder from “climate change” rules passed during the past several years. Officials with the Air Resources Board (ARB), the powerful state agency charged with implementing AB 32 and other climate control measures…Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/07/powerful-california-state-agency-plans-gasoline-price-increases/ Hot out? Guess that means that everyone believes in climate change again. Yesterday, we celebrated the 110th birthday of the air conditioner. (Happy day-after-your-birthday, air conditioner!) We illustrated that post with one of the oldest photos of an air-conditioning system we could find, a unit installed in the Capitol in 1938. It’s a huge thing, all pipes and bolts and such. And installing it was obviously a major, major mistake. You see, yet again, it turns out that more people believe in climate change when they feel hot. Posted. http://grist.org/news/hot-out-guess-that-means-that-everyone-believes-in-climate-change-again/ Global Warming's Terrifying New Math. Three simple numbers that add up to global catastrophe - and that make clear who the real enemy is…If the pictures of those towering wildfires in Colorado haven't convinced you, or the size of your AC bill this summer, here are some hard numbers about climate change: June broke or tied 3,215 high-temperature records across the United States. That followed the warmest May on record for the Northern Hemisphere – the 327th consecutive month in which the temperature of the entire globe exceeded the 20th-century average…Posted. http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/global-warmings-terrifying-new-math-20120719 BLOGS California Dreaming? Selling Congress on Low-Carbon Fuel. Proponents of California’s low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) hope problems with the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) could spell an opportunity to promote the state’s groundbreaking alternative approach at the national level.Scientists from six research institutions—including UC Davis—are attending a bipartisan briefing on Capitol Hill this week to present the results of a new study touting the potential benefits of a national low-carbon standard. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/07/19/selling-congress-on-low-carbon-fuel/ RelayRides and OnStar Inaugurate Car-Sharing Program. As of Tuesday, owners of vehicles equipped with an active OnStar subscription can rent their cars through RelayRides, the peer-to-peer car-sharing start-up. The connectivity service, wholly owned by General Motors, should make the car-sharing experience easier, as well as more appealing and secure, according to Vijay Iyer, a spokesman for OnStar. As with any rental through RelayRides, registered users reserve the OnStar-equipped vehicles online. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/relayrides-and-onstar-inaugurate-car-sharing-program/?pagewanted=print An E15 Update. In the week since Scott Zaremba has been selling e15 for ordinary cars at his gas station in Lawrence, Kan., the oil industry has issued a national warning not to buy his product because of the possibility of engine damage, and the ethanol lobby has replied that oil companies might just as well tell people to buy nothing. In May, the auto and oil industries reported that in a test they commissioned of E15, which is 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent unleaded gasoline, some models failed. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/19/an-e15-update/ New emissions rules expected to improve West Oakland air quality. West Oaklanders will breathe easier—literally—in the coming months as they start to feel the effects of recently implemented emissions regulations for trucks at the Port of Oakland. The first phase went into effect in 2010, and tougher rules are on the horizon for early 2014. The regulations are applauded by health experts, who link diesel exhaust to high rates of asthma, but others say these strict rules could put thousands of truck drivers out of work. Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/inoakland/2012/07/18/new-emissions-rules-expected-to-improve-west-oakland-air-quality/ AM Alert: U.S. Navy highlights California clean-tech partnerships. VIDEO: Dan Walters wonders, in today's report, whether Gov. Jerry Brown signed a "death warrant" for his November tax measure while signing legislation to fund construction on California's high-speed rail project. The U.S. Navy comes to the Capitol today. Rear Admiral Dixon Smith, the commander of Navy Region Southwest, joins Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, Sen. Fran Pavley and California Energy Commission Chairman Robert B. Weisenmiller to highlight clean-tech partnerships at California's naval installations. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/07/am-alert-071912.html This is What the Beginning of the End of the Planet Feels Like. This summer 34,500 people were forced to evacuate their homes in my home state of Colorado. I watched as a dozen wildfires raged through the state with some contained in days or weeks, while others are still not extinguished. The extremely hot weather, dry climate and dramatically reduced water supply that all led to the wildfires are part of a pattern that has been unfolding for more than a decade. In fact, the past 10 years have been unequivocally the hottest on record in the history of weather record keeping. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dion-rabouin/climate-change-minority-communities-_b_1678411.html Congress: Expedite Renewable Energy. In 2009 it seemed as though Congress was finally going to pass legislation that would transition our country to a renewable energy future. The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, also known as the Waxman-Markey Bill, would have created a cap and trade system on greenhouse gases, required electric utilities through a renewable electricity standard (RES) to meet 20 percent of their electricity demand through renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by 2020, subsidized renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, and financed modernization of the electrical grid, among many other provisions. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stefanie-penn-spear/renewable-energy-congress_b_1684693.html Algal Blooms Could Have Caused Last Ice Age. At various points in Earth’s history, dust fell into the ocean and fed algae, which gobbled up carbon dioxide and sank to the bottom of the sea, taking greenhouse gas with them and cooling the world. That’s a key conclusion scientists are drawing from an unusual 2004 experiment in which they grew a massive algae bloom in the Southern Ocean. Data from the experiment may also tell researchers whether seeding the seas with iron is a good way to curb global warming. Posted. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/algae-ice-age-climate/ Dumping iron at sea can bury carbon for centuries, study shows. Iron fertilisation creates algae blooms that later die off and sink, taking the absorbed carbon deep towards the ocean floor. Dumping iron into the sea can bury carbon dioxide for centuries, potentially helping reduce the impact of climate change, according to a major new study. The work shows for the first time that much of the algae that blooms when iron filings are added dies and falls into the deep ocean. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/18/iron-sea-carbon?newsfeed=true ====================================================================== 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 Jul 2012 14:16:58 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 20, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for July 20, 2012. 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 permit for Las Brisas plant needs more work. An air permit for a planned coal-fired power plant on the Texas coast is expected to face another review by regulators. Parties in the Las Brisas Energy Center dispute agreed Thursday to fine tune their language related to the disputed permit. The unit is planned for Corpus Christi's inner harbor. Environmental groups have raised air quality concerns. A judge in Austin in May rejected the 2011 permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Judge Stephen Yelonosky said TCEQ granted approval based on models not meeting national air quality standards. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Air-permit-for-Las-Brisas-plant-needs-more-work-3722466.php EPA hears public views of changes to soot standard. Jesse and Jessika Hernandez were barely a year old when the twins contracted asthma. Now, at age 10, they grapple with the illness every day, missing school and ending up in a hospital, because of the poor air quality in their native Fresno. The two were among several dozen that attended the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Sacramento hearing on national air quality standards Thursday. The agency is proposing a change to the annual standard for soot and is seeking the public's input. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/20/v-print/4643552/epa-hears-public-views-of-changes.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/07/19/v-print/2288775/dozens-give-epa-an-earful-over.html SUBSCRIPTION ONLY POLLUTION: EPA officials take testimony on soot standards. Sacramento Clean-air advocates urged federal environmental officials Thursday to impose stricter limits on fine-particle pollution, a move industry representatives warned would increase business costs and hurt the economy. The hearing near the Capitol was the second of two day-long sessions on either side of the United States this week to get reaction to the Environmental Protection Agency's proposal last month to lower its annual fine-particle standard for the first time since 1997. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/politics-headlines-index/20120719-pollution-epa-officials-take-testimony-on-soot-standards.ece CLIMATE CHANGE Leaders say climate is changing Native way of life. Native American and Alaska Native leaders told of their villages being under water because of coastal erosion, droughts and more on Thursday during a Senate hearing intended to draw attention to how climate change is affecting tribal communities. The environmental changes being seen in native communities are "a serious and growing issue and Congress needs to address them," Tex Hall, chairman of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation of New Town, N.D., said Wednesday. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_NATIVE_AMERICANS_CLIMATE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/20/us-india-monsoon-mission-idUSBRE86J0CS20120720 http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress/native-americans-seek-plan-to-respond-to-climate-changes-they-say-affect-their-way-of-life/2012/07/19/gJQAlpTuwW_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/19/climate-change-affecting-native-communities/#ixzz21BKA9D52 http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/leaders-say-climate-is-changing-native-way-of-life/article_f6ca51c2-f77a-54e1-a5f1-ad7ad2ac945a.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/19/2915405/climate-change-affecting-native.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/07/19/2288705/climate-change-affecting-native.html#storylink=misearch Canada energy industry must improve green record - Senate report. Canada will not be able to fully benefit from huge resources of oil and natural gas unless the energy industry improves its environmental record, a Senate report concluded on Thursday. The report, from the Energy Committee of the Senate, said Canada should do more to persuade the world it was developing its resources responsibly. "Canada must demonstrate its commitment to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions on a national scale," it said, adding that firms working in the oil sands industry had to improve their environmental performance. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/19/canada-energy-future-idUSL2E8IJ71C20120719 Zhongtian Lighting Co., Ltd. Launches the LED Spotlights of M16 Series to Help Mitigate Global Warming. There are many factors causing the global warming, such as population explosion, the air pollution caused by extensively using coals to emit the carbon dioxide, sharp reduction of forestry source, poisonous waste pollution and so on. However, there is no doubt that the heat emitted by the incandescent lamps also is a key factor to cause the global warming. The M16 series LED spotlights can deal with the problem well. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Zhongtian-Lighting-Co-Ltd-Launches-the-LED-3722081.php FUELS Military spending fight hits foreign oil, biofuel. Some 100 nautical miles northeast of Oahu in the Pacific Ocean, a fleet of U.S. Navy fighter jets slings from the deck of the U.S.S. Nimitz aircraft carrier, leaving thin trails of smoke on the tight runway. The operation, part of maneuvers involving several thousand sailors as part of the world's largest naval exercises in waters off Hawaii, was at the center of a growing controversy involving defense spending and foreign oil. The dozens of air and sea vessels surrounding the Nimitz — including helicopters, fighter jets and destroyer ships…Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_NAVY_CLEAN_ENERGY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Military-spending-fight-hits-foreign-oil-biofuel-3720609.php http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/19/2915438/military-spending-fight-hits-foreign.html#storylink=misearch Defense officials defend "Great Green Fleet" cost. The Navy's "Great Green Fleet," a group of warships and fighter jets burning an expensive blend of biofuels and petroleum, is performing as planned, Defense Department officials said on Thursday, as the Senate prepared for a fight over the program's cost. Dozens of F/A-18 Super Hornets and other aircraft powered by conventional jet fuel mixed with recycled cooking grease and algae oil screamed off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz on Wednesday during international military exercises in the central Pacific. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/19/us-usa-navy-greenfleet-idUSBRE86I0B220120719 Navy 'Green Fleet' sails on biofuels. Washington -- As the Navy ran test exercises with biofuel-powered planes and vessels near Hawaii this week, top Obama administration officials hit back against criticism that the endeavor was a waste of taxpayer dollars. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said the "Great Green Fleet" test exercises for the first time proved that aircraft carriers, FA-18 jets and other equipment could run on advanced biofuels without any modifications, a milestone in his quest to find alternative fuels. Critics have blasted the exercises as too costly, especially as the Defense Department heads toward mandated budget cuts. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Navy-Green-Fleet-sails-on-biofuels-3721590.php VEHICLES Plug-in hybrid sales gain traction as electric cars falter. Since a new generation of electric cars went on sale 18 months ago, the results have been far from jolting. Sales of cars that run off battery power alone have declined despite Ford, Honda and Mitsubishi joining pioneer Nissan in the marketplace for electric vehicles. Analysts say the limited range of electric cars, their greater expense and the lack of a widespread public charging infrastructure have hurt the appeal of the vehicles. Still, there is a bright spot for rechargeable cars in plug-in hybrids…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-cmax-plugin-hybird-20120719,0,4475042,print.story Ford says plug-in van goes 20 miles on electricity. Ford says a plug-in electric version of its new C-Max small van will be able to go more than 20 miles on battery power alone, and have a range of 550 miles on a tank of gas. The C-Max Energi plug-in, due in showrooms this fall, is expected to get the equivalent of 95 miles per gallon of gasoline in combined city/highway driving, Ford Motor Co. said in a statement. A version of the five-seat C-Max powered by a gas-electric hybrid powertrain also is due out in the fall. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Ford-says-plug-in-van-goes-20-miles-on-electricity-3722771.php Ford recalls some 2013 Escapes, says: Stop driving them. The 11,500 recalled Escape SUVs have a fuel line problem that could cause a fire if not repaired, Ford says. Separately, Honda recalls 166,000 CR-Vs and 6,200 Acura ILX sedans to fix a door issue. In an unusual move associated with a recall, Ford Motor Co. told owners of one version of the new redesigned Escape sport-utility vehicle to stop driving it because it might catch on fire. Dealers will go to the homes of owners, provide a loaner and retrieve the Escape for repairs. Ford needs to replace a fuel line in the vehicles. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-ford-recall-20120720,0,2329594,print.story An Electric Car That Actually Goes Far? Researchers have long had high hopes for lithium-air batteries, a device that has the potential to store 10 times more energy than the best lithium-ion batteries on the market today. But so far, lithium-air batteries have been unstable, falling apart after a few charges. Now researchers report that they’ve made the first stable lithium-air batteries. If the batteries can leap other hurdles needed to make them practical, they may one day give electric cars a driving range similar to today’s gas guzzlers. Posted. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/electric-car-battery/ RIVERSIDE: Researchers seek more miles from electric cars. Scientists in Riverside are optimistic that finding a better way to drive could extend the range of electric cars, potentially putting drivers more at ease. Relying on real-time traffic info and other mapping characteristics, researchers believe re-routing cars so they reduce idling time at lights, avoid congestion and travel at steady, efficient speeds could improve the range of electric cars by about 10 percent. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/transportation-headlines/20120719-riverside-researchers-seek-more-miles-from-electric-cars.ece Eaton to develop affordable home refueling station for natural gas vehicles; liquid piston technology. Eaton Corporation will develop an affordable home refueling station for natural gas vehicles, utilizing existing natural gas sources in the home and innovative compressor technology. The effort is funded in part by a $3.4-million grant from the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) MOVE project. (Earlier post.) Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/07/eaton-20120720.html GREEN ENERGY State, Business and U.S. Navy Leaders Highlight Clean Energy and Job Creation as Capstone to Navy Week. Leaders from California clean tech companies, state government and the United States Navy came together at the State Capitol today to highlight innovative clean tech partnerships at Navy installations across the state. As part of Sacramento Navy Week, designed to give the community a better understanding of the Navy, the Sailors who serve in it and the important work they do, more than a dozen California companies showcased current projects with the Navy that utilize biofuels, solar power, energy efficiency and waste-to-energy advancements to meet Navy energy goals. These leaders also laid out a vision for the future of these partnerships in California. Posted. http://sd23.senate.ca.gov/news/2012-07-19-state-business-and-us-navy-leaders-highlight-clean-energy-and-job-creation-capstone- UPDATE 4-China to investigate U.S., S.Korean solar materials imports. China will open investigations into imported U.S. and South Korean solar-grade polysilicon, the country's trade ministry said on Friday, in the latest instance of growing tensions between major solar manufacturers. The Ministry of Commerce said that it would open anti-dumping and anti-subsidy probes on U.S. imported polysilicon, as well as an anti-dumping probe on South Korean imports of the raw materials used to make solar products. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/20/china-trade-solar-idUSL4E8IK0I220120720 EBay Plans Data Center That Will Run on Alternative Energy Fuel Cells. EBay plans to build a data center to handle its billions of dollars in retail transactions that will draw its power from alternative energy fuel cells rather than the national power grid, which is heavily dependent on coal plants. It will be the first major tech company to use alternative power as a primary source for energy-hungry data centers, although the new center will connect to the electricity grid for backup. Environmental groups have issued a series of rebukes to Internet companies because of their heavy reliance on coal-fired power to run their centers. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/21/technology/ebay-plans-data-center-that-will-use-alternative-energy.htm l Government postpones green energy subsidy cut by two months. Britain moved back the start date of new mostly lower subsidy levels for small-scale renewable projects by two months to December 1 and said it would cut support for wind, hydro and waste power by 5 percent per year from 2014, depending on uptake. Friday's announcement came days after the government delayed a tariff decision for large-scale renewable projects, its Renewable Obligations programme. It gave green energy investors some certainty about how much money they will receive for smaller projects which will start operating later this year. Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/government-postpones-green-energy-subsidy-cut-two-months-140459652.html Green labels add value to California homes. California homeowners who add insulation, upgrade to more efficient water heaters and make other energy- and water-saving improvements could add as much as 12% to the value of their homes when they are certified as green by the Energy Star, GreenPoint Rated or LEED for Homes programs, according to a study released Thursday. The "Value of Green Labels in the California Housing Market" study found that a typical California home valued at $400,000 sells for an average of 8.7%, or $34,800, more when it has a green label. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-lh-green-labels-home-values-20120719,0,1541911.story Sustainability reinventing the California Dream. The California Dream began with a laconic offer: "There it is. Take it." The speaker was William Mulholland, the engineer who headed the mighty Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, opening a sluice in 1913 that brought water from the Owens Valley to the future megalopolis. The network of dams, aqueducts and reservoirs that sustains Los Angeles is one of America's great engineering feats. It is a vital part of the 20th-century post-urban model: a network of freeways and sprawling suburbs based on cheap fuel, cheap water and cheap land. Posted. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10820891 MISCELLANEOUS Sacramento-area plans advance for SouthEast Connector. Is it possible to build a 35-mile expressway in a way that helps the environment – or at least doesn't hurt it? That's the question facing regional officials as they push ahead with plans for the Capital SouthEast Connector expressway, the largest road project the Sacramento region has seen in decades. Bike lanes, hydrogen fuel stations and solar panels are among the ideas floated to green-up the planned thoroughfare, which would run from El Dorado Hills, skirting Folsom, Rancho Cordova and Elk Grove, and linking Highway 99 and Interstate 5 in south Sacramento County. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/20/4643685/sacramento-area-plans-advance.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/07/20/2289102/sacramento-area-plans-advance.html#storylink=misearch Judge slaps mining company with $2 million penalty. A federal judge is ordering a Canadian mining company to comply with the nation's clean water laws and pay at least $2 million in penalties for polluting a tributary of the Boise River system. The order and penalty represent another loss for Atlanta Gold Corp., which is seeking to extract gold from the mountains near the historic mining town of Atlanta. Earlier this year, U.S. Magistrate Judge Mikel H. Williams ruled that the company is legally responsible for high levels of arsenic and iron flowing from an abandoned mine shaft. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Judge-slaps-mining-company-with-2-million-penalty-3722775.php OPINIONS Viewpoints: Change safety standards for toxic furniture. Gov. Jerry Brown made a bold move last month when he directed a state agency to update California's 40-year-old furniture flammability standards to improve fire safety and eliminate use of toxic and untested chemicals. Just a few weeks after Brown's directive, the California Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation will hold public workshops in Sacramento and Riverside to review its recent draft flammability standard. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/20/v-print/4643254/change-safety-standards-for-toxic.html Soot Hearings: Speaking Out for Public Health. On Tuesday, hundreds of Philadelphia residents rallied and spoke at an Environmental Protection Agency hearing on new safeguards to cut deadly soot pollution nationwide. On Thursday, many others rallied at a second soot hearing in Sacramento. I grew up in the Smoky Mountains, where -- believe it or not -- dangerous levels of air pollution sometimes made it dangerous to hike in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Since becoming a mom two years ago…Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-anne-hitt/soot-hearings-speaking-ou_b_1686134.html?view=print&comm_ref=false Deroy Murdock: Obama's green projects bleeding red. "We'll invest $15 billion a year over the next decade in renewable energy, creating 5 million new green jobs that pay well, can't be outsourced, and help end our dependence on foreign oil," candidate Barack Obama pledged on Nov. 1, 2008. Three years and eight months later, as unemployment has exceeded 8 percent for 41 straight months, Obama seems incapable of keeping this promise. Consider three key programs of the U.S. Department of Energy. DOE's website boasts that its "clean energy" initiatives loaned $34.7 billion and launched "nearly 60,000" jobs. This totals a staggering $578,333 per position. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/million-364546-obama-bankruptcy.html A tragicomic tale of coal industry incompetence and disregard. Let me share an remarkable story with you. It’s about coal: the people it harms, the arrogance the industry has developed over years of being coddled, and the way it’s all starting to fall apart. Up to the northeast of Las Vegas, off of I-15, is the 48-year-old Reid Gardner coal-fired power plant, owned by NV Energy. It spews lead, smog, mercury, and carbon dioxide, but for our present purposes, let’s focus on its gigantic ponds and piles of coal ash. Not only are they leaking chromium into the groundwater …Posted. http://grist.org/coal/a-tragicomic-tale-of-coal-industry-incompetence-and-disregard/ BLOGS Could plankton help us tackle climate change? As carbon emissions keep rising each year, with no end in sight, scientists have begun dreaming up all sorts of zany geoengineering schemes for slowing down the rate at which the planet’s heating up. Artificial volcanoes to cool the air! Giant mirrors in space to deflect sunlight! Fertilizing the ocean with iron to mop up that carbon!As it turns out, that last idea might actually work. A team of researchers has published a new study in Nature showing that, under the right conditions, it’s possible to lace the ocean with iron in order to stimulate the growth of phytoplankton. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/07/19/could-plankton-help-us-tackle-climate-change/ ====================================================================== 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 Jul 2012 11:11:39 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for July 23, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for July 23, 2012. 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 reviewing rule on toxic air pollution; standards for future plants targeted. The Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing part of a controversial rule that sets the first federal standards to reduce toxic air pollution from power plants. The rule, issued in December, is aimed at curbing mercury and other toxic pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants. The Obama administration calls the rule a sensible step to reduce pollution, but Republicans have denounced it as a part of a “war on coal.” The rule could force hundreds of the nation’s oldest and dirtiest power plants to clean up or shut down. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/apnewsbreak-epa-to-review-rule-on-toxic-air-pollution-standards-for-future-plants-targeted/2012/07/20/gJQA8BhUyW_story.html Spin cycle begins anew as EPA takes second look at mercury rule. Industry representatives and environmentalists are scrambling to make sense of U.S. EPA's announcement of a plan to take another look at portions of a mercury rule for new power plants. In a letter to petitioners Friday, EPA air chief Gina McCarthy painted the reconsideration as limited in scope. EPA would review some provisions of the mercury and air toxics rule that it finalized in December that deal with how toxics from new power plants would be measured, McCarthy wrote. The reconsideration may lead to changes in the rule, she said, but they will be "largely technical in nature"(Greenwire, July 20). Posted. SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/07/23/1 Department of Pesticide Regulation Air Monitoring Shows Pesticides Well Below Health Screening Levels. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation issued the following news release: Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) Director Brian R. Leahy announced today that air monitoring of nearly three dozen pesticides in California for the past year shows residues well below levels established to protect human health and the environment. "We're pleased the results indicate a low health risk to residents of the communities where monitoring stations are located," Leahy emphasized. "This information is essential to help us evaluate whether our restrictions on pesticide applications are protective over the long term." Posted. http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2012-07-20&val=293560&cat=material Beijing's smog-cutting efforts significantly cut emissions. As the London Olympics near, lessons can be learned from 2008, when Beijing hosted the games, on how to cut the environmental footprint of the world's foremost international athletic event, a recent study suggests. Large numbers of trucks and cars were ordered to stay out of the city before Beijing hosted the Olympics four years ago. The city made the move largely in an effort to avoid tainting air that athletes would breathe and possibly to avoid negative press. Posted. SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/07/23/20 Where the breathing isn't easy. As the relentless wind stirs up piles of dust and dirt and creates a gigantic funnel of haze in the vast, sweltering Imperial Valley, children like Marco Cisneros battle to breathe. Marco wheezes and coughs and reaches desperately for his inhaler, but the medication doesn't always give him the relief he needs. Often, his mother has to call 911. Since being diagnosed with severe asthma six years ago, Marco, who lives in this border town east of San Diego, has visited the hospital nearly 50 times. He has been airlifted on several occasions. The illness has affected much of his childhood, preventing him from playing sports, going to friends' houses and attending school for days at a time. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/22/4648834/where-the-breathing-isnt-easy.html#storylink=misearch CLIMATE CHANGE For Ecuadorian village, a struggle to adapt to changing climate. Frosts aren't on time for the 960 people living in this tiny, remote village, hidden on a chilly, windswept mountain ridge in South America. A minor problem? Maybe for some. But in the Andean community, 8,800 feet above sea level, frosts - and their impact on crop cycles - are kind of a big deal. In this agricultural community, crops are planted during the full moon, a tradition meant to help ensure a full harvest. But these days, the harvests aren't as full. Village residents say it's the mark of climate change descending upon the Ayaloman people. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/22/2917752/for-ecuadorian-village-a-struggle.html#storylink=misearch DIESEL EMISSIONS Driving on borrowed time: Nonprofits deal with new emission standards. New Beginnings Christian Church's 1979 Peterbilt only has a couple of years to live. Whether it will be sold for parts or left to rot in a junkyard isn't yet known, but one thing is certain: In 2015, the big shiny semi won't be on the road anymore. Most people don't think twice about the trucks used to haul goods, but nonprofit organizations in Bakersfield are coming to terms with the fact that come 2015, they may no longer be able to use the vehicles they have depended on for years. Posted. SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/business/x160346093/Driving-on-borrowed-time-Nonprofits-deal-with-new-emission-standards FUELS Experts: Some fracking critics use bad science. In the debate over natural gas drilling, the companies are often the ones accused of twisting the facts. But scientists say opponents sometimes mislead the public, too. Critics of fracking often raise alarms about groundwater pollution, air pollution, and cancer risks, and there are still many uncertainties. But some of the claims have little - or nothing- to back them. For example, reports that breast cancer rates rose in a region with heavy gas drilling are false, researchers told The Associated Press. Fears that natural radioactivity in drilling waste could contaminate drinking water aren't being confirmed by monitoring, either. And concerns about air pollution from the industry often don't acknowledge that natural gas is a far cleaner burning fuel than coal. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jCUQcMjaT-TJqizs7WRB1zIw8rzA?docId=cef00570f618477d8e9fcb53579af91c AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/doctors-scientists-say-fracking-critics-misrepresent-some-facts-to-make-their-point/2012/07/22/gJQAX1nO2W_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Experts-Some-fracking-critics-use-bad-science-3726159.php http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/22/2918032/experts-some-fracking-critics.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/22/4649161/experts-some-fracking-critics.html#storylink=misearch VEHICLES Rowland Unified gets millions in grants for green school buses. Rowland Unified School District is taking steps to turn its big yellow school buses green. The district recently received $2.5 million in grants to buy cleaner buses. The new buses are fueled by compressed natural gas, known as CNG, eliminating the dirty diesel that powered the old buses. Rowland Unified sees the buses as one more step in its green initiative. Studies show CNG buses emit significantly less pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. Posted. http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_21132513/rowland-unified-gets-millions-grants-green-school-buses How to standardise EV charging payment systems? Despite the more than 10, 000 installed public charging stations, finding a charging station where you can actually plug-in can be challenging in the San Francisco Bay Area. Why? Because many different services currently exist for EV charging, and each has a different payment system. Below cars21.com reviews the most popular ones. Up until now the most common charging payment system was to subscribe to a charging company operating charging stations (such as Ecotality or ChargePoint). Using this system subscribers receive a Radio-frequency identification (RFID) card that works only at the charging points operated by the company with which they have a service contract. This means that if you drive to a city where your company has no charging point you might get stuck. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4798 Why Do Zipcar Users Abuse the Cars? 4 Lessons For the Access Economy. The access economy could easily become a theme for a new season of In Treatment with its ongoing trust and behavioral issues. This week it lay on the couch while two researchers tried to figure out why consumers don’t take good care of their Zipcars. Ultimately Prof. Fleura Bardhi and Prof. Giana Eckhardt hoped to learn how consumer-object and consumer-to-consumer relationships work in the sharing economy overall. For starters, they found that although Zipcar attempts to build a brand community, consumers currently do not want this type of engagement. Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/07/zipcar-users-dont-good-care-cars-new-research-offers-4-lessons-access-economy/ GREEN ENERGY 'Green' homes sell for 9 percent more, study says. California homes that meet environmental standards, such as energy efficiency and proximity to public transportation, are selling at higher prices than homes that don't, according to a new report. The study, conducted by researchers at UC Berkeley and UCLA, looked at homes that were labeled green by LEED, GreenPoint Rated and Energy Star - rating systems that give green label certifications to homes. To be certified, each rating system has a list of criteria homes must meet, including well-insulated ceilings and walls and energy-efficient lighting. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-harney-20120722,0,7849454.story http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/22/2918744/green-homes-sell-for-9-percent.html#storylink=misearch http://www.baycitizen.org/environment/story/green-homes-sell-9-percent-more-study/ County protects farmland from solar development. The Kern County Board of Supervisors approved a compromise plan Tuesday that will guide solar project developers who want to build large-scale sun farms on valley farmland. Some solar power developers and farming interests grudgingly supported the policy, developed by the Kern County Planning Department, which would set up a pathway for developers and planners to follow to determine what farmland is best to build solar power plants on. The "pathway," said Planning Director Lorelei Oviatt, would use Department of Conservation classifications of farmland in Kern County to determine whether a development would require stiff mitigation or could be developed without special consideration. Posted. SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x920646520/County-protects-farmland-from-solar-development?utm_source=widget_63&utm_medium=latest_entries_widget&utm_campaign=synapse OPINIONS We’re All Climate-Change Idiots. CLIMATE CHANGE is staring us in the face. The science is clear, and the need to reduce planet-warming emissions has grown urgent. So why, collectively, are we doing so little about it? Yes, there are political and economic barriers, as well as some strong ideological opposition, to going green. But researchers in the burgeoning field of climate psychology have identified another obstacle, one rooted in the very ways our brains work. The mental habits that help us navigate the local, practical demands of day-to-day life, they say, make it difficult to engage with the more abstract, global dangers posed by climate change. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/opinion/sunday/were-all-climate-change-idiots.html AB32's downside. Two recent studies have confirmed that California’s Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32) will have devastating effects on the state’s economy. It was a big red flag when the California Air Resources Board, which enforces the law, estimated in 2010 that it would reduce the state’s economic output by 0.2 percent. Now, studies conclude the economic harm will be staggering from enforcement of the act. AB32 ironically threatens to worsen what it ostensibly was created to correct, fuel shortages and an increase in global emissions. Posted. http://www.vvdailypress.com/opinion/downside-35660-recent-studies.html Why is the U.S. government so bullish on coal predictions? U.S. energy policies prop up coal consumption in a variety of ways, some clear and some less so. For example, the Bureau of Land Management has lately come in for a drubbing for leasing public lands to coal mining companies at comically low rates, and to the detriment of taxpayers. Official bullishness on coal extends to other government agencies too, such as the Department of Energy, which produces the nation’s energy forecasts. If you sift through the new coal projections in the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook 2012, you’ll find something rather curious: The U.S. government has a more favorable outlook for coal than virtually any other major forecasting institution. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/why-is-the-u-s-government-so-bullish-on-coal-predictions/ Our View: How to choke California's economy. Two recent studies conform California's Global Warming Solutions Act will have devastating effects on the state's economy, and even be counterproductive in its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It was a big red flag when the California Air Resources Board, which enforces the law, estimated in 2010 that it would reduce the state's economic output by 0.2 percent. It should have raised more eyebrows than it did when bureaucrats and regulators tasked with putting the best face on its consequences admitted it will have a negative economic effect. Posted. http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/california-117990-reduce-studies.html BLOGS Climate Change and the American Political Agenda. Just as the movie massacre in Colorado reminds us that the assault weapon ban has not been discussed in the presidential campaign, the intense storms and heat this summer remind us that climate change is a phrase that seems to have been banned on the campaign trail. The ability of powerful economic interests to control America's political agenda is not news, but the degree to which facts and science are willfully denied seems to be getting worse. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-cohen/climate-change-and-the-am_b_1694462.html E.P.A. to Consider Relaxing an Air Pollution Rule. The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Friday afternoon that it would review its new standards for mercury, soot and other emissions for a handful of proposed new coal-burning power plants. The review will delay the implementation of the regulation for the new plants for at least three months while experts determine whether the emissions limits may safely be relaxed. The agency said the action was a “routine” reconsideration of technical standards based on new information received after the adoption of the so-called mercury rule late last year. The review will affect five planned power plants in Georgia, Kansas, Texas and Utah. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/20/e-p-a-to-consider-relaxing-an-air-pollution-rule/ When Beijing Cleared the Air. As the Olympic Games draw near in London and some fret about the environmental impact, it might be instructive to look back on the measures taken when Beijing played host in 2008. It’s not likely that the organizers in Beijing were thinking about climate change when they ordered large numbers of cars and trucks to stay out of the city before the games began. One suspects that they were more worried about harm to the country’s image, if the world watched athletes struggling to compete while inhaling dirty air. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/22/remembering-beijings-accomplishment/ Solar Power: China Might Be Stepping Up Its Green Energy Game. China, it appears, might be ready to step up and do its part in deploying more of the vast solar photovoltaic capacity it is producing. Will it be enough to make everything OK in the beleaguered solar manufacturing sector? No, but it sure won’t hurt. Earlier this month, China’s renewable energy division put out word that the country would boost its target for solar energy installation to 21 gigawatts in the current five-year plan, which runs through 2015. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/21/solar-power-china-alternative-energy_n_1690464.html?utm_hp_ref=green Scalers Union Tells Clean Harbors to Clean Up its Act. ILWU Local 56 Scalers Union and other labor demonstrators held a press conference outside the Clean Harbors Environmental Services facilities in Gardena as a warning to clean up their act. A long history of environmental violations trail the Massachusetts based environmental services company, ranging from the Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Air Resources Board, and the state’s Water Resources Board. “We’re here to warn the harbor community that Clean Harbors has a spotty record when it comes to protecting workers and the public,” said Ruben Hurtado, Business Agent and Dispatcher at Local 56. Posted. http://www.randomlengthsnews.com/blogs/Notebook/tag/california-air-resources-board/ ====================================================================== 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 Jul 2012 12:32:38 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 24, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for July 24, 2012. 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 Protesters urge EPA to reject Arctic waiver. About a dozen Alaskans rallied Monday outside the Anchorage federal building to urge the Environmental Protection Agency to reject Shell Oil's request for a waiver of requirements in the company's air permit, which it needs to drill exploratory wells in the Arctic Ocean. A rejection of the waiver is one of the last hopes drilling foes have to stop the company from drilling this year in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska's northwest coast. Shell Oil Co. also hopes to drill in the Beaufort Sea off the state's north coast. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/23/protesters-urge-epa-to-reject-arctic-waiver/ EPA agrees to air pollution limits for Florida. The federal Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to set deadlines for limiting haze-causing air pollution from aging power plants and factories in Florida. Earthjustice said Monday the agreement would settle a lawsuit the legal organization filed for several environmental groups including the Sierra Club and National Parks Conservation Association. It is subject to approval by a federal court in Washington, D.C. It requires EPA to finalize cleanup steps in two phases with the last due July 15, 2013. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/23/epa-agrees-to-air-pollution-limits-for-florida/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Cruise ship lines, Alaska officials question new air pollution limits. The gleaming white Sapphire Princess docked in this deep-water port this month, unloading its passengers and taking on another 2,600 guests headed first to Glacier Bay and, eventually, Vancouver, B.C. Every day of that trip the cruise ship — whose Web site invites passengers to see Alaska’s “pristine landscapes” — will emit the same amount of sulfur dioxide as 13.1 million cars, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and as much soot as 1.06 million cars. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/cruise-ship-lines-alaska-officials-question-new-air-pollution-limits/2012/07/22/gJQAc4Jy2W_story.html City to measure emissions from diesel engines. Metro Vancouver will use "remote sensing" to measure the diesel pollution from thousands of semi-trailer trucks, dump trucks, buses and other heavy-duty vehicles over the next three months. The move, which involves infrared and ultraviolet beams from a specialized testing trailer on the side of a road, is expected to help the regional district better understand the emissions from these vehicles so it can design programs and policies to target diesel soot. The beams are directed across road-ways at the height of a truck's "stack" or engine exhaust pipe. Posted. http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/City+measure+emissions+from+diesel+engines/6979420/story.html FUELS China seeks N. American energy reserves, know-how. Offshore Chinese energy giant CNOOC's $15 billion offer for Canadian oil and gas producer Nexen Inc. is strategically calibrated to win regulatory approval - unlike its failed 2005 attempt to buy Unocal. The deal announced Monday shows China's appetite for overseas energy assets remains as strong as ever despite its current economic slowdown. Weaker oil prices and a resolve to capture technologies China needs to unlock its own sizable but hard to extract reserves are powerful incentives for its energy companies to snap up foreign producers. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CHINA_CANADA_ENERGY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://www.nctimes.com/business/china-seeks-n-american-energy-reserves-know-how/article_0458fbe0-86df-5236-94f8-527300e805dd.html Lead author of fracking study is industry board member. Austin, Texas -- The lead author of a recent University of Texas study that suggested that hydraulic fracturing, commonly called fracking, does not contaminate groundwater is a paid board member and shareholder in a company that engages in the practice, a situation that critics are calling a conflict of interest and of which the researcher's supervisors were unaware. "The report was presented as if it was an independent study of fracking when, in fact, the study was led by a gas industry insider," …Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/23/4653605/lead-author-of-fracking-study.html Gateway pipeline risks exceed rewards, B.C. Premier says. British Columbia Premier Christy Clark is warning that the environmental risks associated with a plan to sell Canadian oil to Asia through the Northern Gateway pipeline outweigh the economic benefits, leaving her at odds with the federal and Alberta governments. Ms. Clark conveyed her concerns about the project during a series of high-level meetings, beginning with a telephone call to Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Thursday. Posted. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/pipeline-risks-exceed-rewards-bc-premier-says/article4435145/ VEHICLES EVs always cheaper to charge than ICEs. The study, ”United States Smart Grid: Utility Electric Vehicle Tariffs,” includes a benchmark of the EV tariffs of ten different utilities in six different US states (California, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon and Texas). “In all scenarios we studied, the costs to recharge an electric vehicle were cheaper than fueling a gasoline-powered car. In the most likely EV charging scenarios, costs were approximately one-tenth to half the costs of fueling a conventional vehicle with gasoline,” according to Northeast Group, LLC. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4805 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Delay sought on Bakersfield high-speed rail path. The state lawmaker who this month cast a deciding vote on funding for California high-speed rail now wants to delay a portion of the controversial project. Despite early agreements to send the train through downtown Bakersfield, state Sen. Michael Rubio said Monday that the Bakersfield City Council, the Kern County Board of Supervisors and those who have participated in the project no longer support that route. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/23/2919867/delay-sought-on-bakersfield-high.html GREEN ENERGY Wind farm rises on Alaskan island. Fire Island, Alaska -- Look hard to the west from mainland Anchorage. The horizon is changing fast. Tall towers are rising up on Fire Island as Cook Inlet Region Inc. builds its long-talked-about wind farm. By the end of September, it is expected to be producing electricity - the first megawatt-scale wind project in Southcentral Alaska. From select vantage points at Kincaid Park, the Coastal Trail, the Hillside and even the overlook at the Glen Alps parking lot, the poles look like tiny toothpicks, small enough to mask with a thumb. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/24/4654546/wind-farm-rises-on-alaskan-island.html LA unveils $48 million solar power plant. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has unveiled a solar plant it says can power 3,300 homes a year. The 10 megawatt Adelanto Solar Power Project was introduced Monday. The Mojave Desert plant actually began generating electricity to Los Angeles on June 30. The $48 million plant has more than 46,000 solar panels. It was built on DWP land 65 miles north of Los Angeles and can generate up to 10 megawatts of power. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/23/2919274/la-unveils-48-million-solar-power.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/07/23/2293135/la-unveils-48-million-solar-power.html#storylink=misearch MISCELLANEOUS Penn State scientist threatens legal action over Sandusky comparison. Penn State University global warming researcher Michael Mann is lawyering up to counter attacks by conservatives who have referred to him as the “Jerry Sandusky of climate science.” Mann’s lawyer wrote Friday to National Review Executive Publisher Scott Budd demanding a retraction and apology for a July 15 blog post that compares Penn State’s mishandling of years of child sexual abuse to the university’s investigation of “Climategate.” Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78852.html Calif. county to vote on medication disposal bill. A proposed ordinance that would put the pharmaceutical industry on the hook for not only making drugs, but also getting rid of them, is scheduled to be taken up by California's Alameda County on Tuesday. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors plans to vote on an ordinance that would require drug makers to pay for programs to dispose of expired and unused drugs. Government and industry officials said the ordinance would be the first of its kind nationwide. Advocates for the law said that unused drugs pose a danger to the environment and people's health. Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/calif-county-vote-medication-disposal-bill-073900176--finance.html OPINIONS Paul Krugman: Loading the climate change dice. A couple of weeks ago the Northeast was in the grip of a severe heat wave. As I write this, however, it's a fairly cool day in New Jersey, considering that it's late July. Weather is like that; it fluctuates. And this banal observation may be what dooms us to climate catastrophe, in two ways. On one side, the variability of temperatures from day to day and year to year makes it easy to miss, ignore or obscure the longer-term upward trend. On the other, even a fairly modest rise in average temperatures translates into a much higher frequency of extreme events -- like the devastating drought now gripping America's heartland -- that do vast damage. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/24/4653434/the-climate-dice-are-loaded-and.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21145143?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Thomas D. Elias: One-party government fosters secrecy. Much has been made — and rightly so — of the "budget trailer" bill passed swiftly and without public hearings earlier this summer that allows virtually complete secrecy to the new semi-governmental corporation that will administer California's upcoming cap and trade program for reducing air pollution and greenhouse gases. That measure, known as SB 1018, allows directors of the new corporation to do anything it likes in secrecy. The corporation will eventually levy heavy fees against businesses that emit more than the prescribed level of pollutants. Posted. http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/made-118082-one-party.html Is county doing enough to tackle global warming? Local environmentalists have sued San Diego County for not doing enough to thwart global warming by allegedly creating a blueprint that doesn’t ensure greenhouse gas reductions and isn’t comprehensive. The San Diego chapter of the Sierra Club on Friday filed a lawsuit in Superior Court challenging the county’s Climate Action Plan, saying the county needs a more enforceable strategy to reduce emissions of pollutants linked to climate change. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/23/county-doing-enough-thwart-global-warming/ Letters: Santa Monica's common-sense smoking ban. Re "Santa Monica goes too far," Editorial, July 22 Your editorial on Santa Monica's pending ban on smoking in condo and apartment units says the proposal intrudes too far into the "lives and homes of residents." The law does absolutely nothing to curtail current residents' smoking rights. It covers only prospective residents who, by definition, are not yet residents when they learn that the unit they are considering is a nonsmoking unit. They can choose to reside in a community with smoking units. That decision helps current nonsmoking residents. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0724-tuesday-santa-monica-smoking-20120724,0,7099436.story Guest Commentary: Preparing Your Organization for the Impending Cost of Carbon. It’s not a matter of “if” the United States will implement a program to reward organizations for reducing emissions and penalize those that do not, but “when.” This means that U.S. companies — particularly global players — can’t afford to keep their sustainability plans on the back burner. In fact, the pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is greater than ever. In 2005, Europe implemented the first large cap-and-trade program in the world under its European Union Emission Trading Scheme, while Australia’s program, the second largest, started this month as part of its Clean Energy Future package. Posted. http://logisticsviewpoints.com/2012/07/24/guest-commentary-preparing-your-organization-for-the-impending-cost-of-carbon/ Another reason to bug out: Drought puts electrical production at risk. In 2005, Americans used 410 billion gallons of water a day. In the spirit of the soon-to-commence-we’ve-heard London Olympics, that’s enough to fill 620,808 Olympic-sized swimming pools. In the spirit of the 2000 Sydney Games, it’s three times the amount of water in Sydney Harbor. (How much we use now is probably similar, but the U.S. Geological Survey’s research on 2010 won’t be ready until 2014.) Half of the water we use goes to power generationPosted. http://grist.org/news/another-reason-to-freak-out-drought-puts-electrical-production-at-risk/ What I left out when I wrote about lowball renewable energy projections. Last week, I highlighted some energy projections from 2000 or so that substantially underestimated the growth of renewables. Mainly I wanted an excuse to repost Michael Noble’s list. So as not to merely thieve, I added a few musings of my own, reflecting my ongoing obsessions with the dynamics of distributed energy and the values-based assumptions buried in economic models. Posted. http://grist.org/renewable-energy/what-i-left-out-when-i-wrote-about-lowball-renewable-energy-projections/ BLOGS What we know about climate change and drought. As farmers in the United States slog through the country’s worst drought in 50 years, a lot of people are asking about the connection between global warming and the arid landscape in the Midwest. Is climate change causing this drought? Didn’t the United States suffer even worst droughts in the past? And what can we expect if the planet continues to warm? How will it affect our food supply? Those aren’t easy questions. So here’s a guide to what we know about the link between climate change and drought. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/07/24/what-we-know-about-climate-change-and-drought/ RISE: Climate Change and Coastal Communities. This month yet another new study about climate change* was released. But this one is different. Unlike many previous studies in which scientists are hesitant to draw causal connections between global warming and specific weather events, this study comes out and says it: "Global warming makes heat waves more likely." The study also found that global warming is making other weather extremes more likely, such as droughts and heavy rains. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephanie-j-stiavetti/rise-climate-change-and-c_b_1693837.html Air Pollution In London May Hurt Olympic Athletes, Says Leading Sports Medicine Doctor. High concentrations of nitrogen dioxide in London could increase breathing problems among Olympic athletes, according to a leading sports medicine committee. According to Dr. William S. Silvers of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), the air quality in London during the 2012 Olympic games — set to start in three days — could cause a “narrowing of the airways” in athletes competing outdoors. Posted. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/07/24/573371/air-pollution-in-london-may-hurt-olympic-athletes-says-leading-sports-medicine-doctor/ International Support for Renewable Energy. With the December 31 deadline for the extension of the wind power production tax credit (PTC) looming, the future of American green energy hangs in limbo. The US might to look to other countries that are dedicated to the development of the renewable energy sector and make the passing of the PTC extension — and support for clean energy in general — a priority. In its twelfth Five-Year Plan, China places strong emphasis on boosting economic growth through the encouragement of the development of seven emerging industries: new energy… Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/07/24/international-support-for-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, 25 Jul 2012 12:17:39 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 25, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for July 25, 2012. 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 Cut air pollution, buy time to slow climate change: U.S. Cutting soot and other air pollutants could help "buy time" in the fight against climate change, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday as seven nations joined a Washington-led plan. Air pollution, from sources ranging from wood-fired cooking stoves in Africa to cars in Europe, may be responsible for up to six million deaths a year worldwide and is also contributing to global warming, the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/24/us-climate-pollution-idUSBRE86N15220120724 CLIMATE CHANGE With Warming, Peril Underlies Road to Alaska. In February 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the Army Corps of Engineers an assignment: Build a road from British Columbia across the Yukon to Alaska — in eight months, before winter sets in. Japan had just destroyed much of the Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor. Alaska was vulnerable to invasion (in fact, the Japanese occupied two Aleutian Islands that June). If Americans did not build a supply road linking Alaska to the heart of North America, the thinking went, invading Japanese would do it for them. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/24/science/with-warming-peril-underlies-road-to-alaska.html?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=Search Dramatic ice melt in Greenland. In a scant four days this month, the surface of Greenland's ice sheet melted to an extent not witnessed in 30 years of satellite observations, NASA reported Tuesday. On average, about half of the surface of the ice sheet melts during the summer. But from July 8 to July 12, the ice melt expanded from 40 percent of the ice sheet to 97 percent, according to scientists who analyzed the data from satellites deployed by NASA and India's space research institute. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/25/v-print/4657166/dramatic-ice-melt-in-greenland.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/nasa-strange-and-sudden-massive-melt-in-greenland/article_dfdee449-a023-5420-b304-1575ab36391a.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21147274/nasa-strange-and-sudden-massive-melt-greenland?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com California a Step Closer to Carbon Cap and Trade. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has reached a crucial, if forbiddingly wonky, milestone in its implementation of the state's Cap and Trade program for carbon dioxide. California's largest emitters of carbon dioxide now have a computerized tracking system to allow them to trade carbon credits starting in 2013 -- but they only have until the end of next month to sign up. Posted. http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/policy/california-a-step-closer-to-carbon-cap-and-trade.html FUELS U.S. biofuel advocates urge Congress to continue Pentagon funding. Military veterans and former lawmakers urged Congress on Tuesday to continue funding the Pentagon's controversial biofuels program, saying the failure to deal with U.S. dependence on foreign oil was a key factor in the wars of the past 22 years. "As long as U.S. and global economic security are dependent on oil produced in volatile regions of the world, our military will be required to continue deployments and dangerous missions to ensure the ... security of vital energy resources," the group, led by retired Republican Senator John Warner, said in a letter to President Barack Obama and members of Congress. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/25/us-usa-navy-biofuels-idUSBRE86O01A20120725 Oil Group Files Second Lawsuit Over EPA Biofuel Standards. An oil and gas industry trade association filed a second lawsuit challenging U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations governing fuel additives that include biological materials. The American Petroleum Institute, in lawsuits filed yesterday and in March, is seeking to overturn an EPA standard mandating the purchase of fuels formulated in part from biological materials including switchgrass, wood chips and agricultural waste. The group claims the regulations include cellulosic fuels that don’t exist. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-25/oil-group-files-second-lawsuit-over-epa-biofuel-standards.html Wrong valve cause of fire at AC Transit hydrogen station. The use of an incorrect valve caused a May 4 Emeryville fire that caused neighborhood evacuations and closed AC Transit's $10 million new hydrogen fueling station for buses, federal investigators have concluded. In an apparent slip up, a pressure relief valve at the hydrogen fuel plant was made with a type of hard steel known to crack and fail when exposed to hydrogen, Sandia National Laboratories investigators said in a 33-page report released this week. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21149278/wrong-valve-cause-fire-at-ac-transit-hydrogen?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21149278/wrong-valve-cause-fire-at-ac-transit-hydrogen?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Teachers drill down to how oil gets produced. Aera Energy engineer Matt Kedzierski explained Wednesday to a group of teachers how the prices of oil barrels are set, how to calculate the gravity of oil, and how much it costs companies to make a single drill. "You can make a good math problem out of all this," said eighth-grade teacher Anna Zucker. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/business/x160346155/Teachers-drill-down-to-how-oil-gets-produced VEHICLES France plans to save car industry by going green. Green technology is the answer to the declining fortunes of France's auto industry, according to a new government plan to turn the sector around. The strategy for France's carmakers was unveiled Wednesday by the Ministry for Industrial Recovery—a government department created by President Francois Hollande to put his plan to "re-industrialize" France into action. Across Europe, lots and factories are filling up with unsold cars. Industry executives estimate factories have the capacity to build 20 percent more cars than they are able to sell. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21153343/france-plans-save-car-industry-by-going-green?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21153343/france-plans-save-car-industry-by-going-green?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21153343/france-plans-save-car-industry-by-going-green?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/25/2921580/france-plans-to-save-car-industry.html#storylink=misearch Valley Air District wins award for car emissions tests, more. A program that provides free emissions testing and car repairs to Central Valley drivers earned the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District a state environmental award, according to a news release. The program, called Tune In, Tune Up, won the annual Edmund G. "Pat" Brown Award given by the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance. Drivers throughout the Central Valley can have their car emissions tested at regular events. If the test determines the car would likely fail a smog test, the driver is given a voucher for up to $500 in repairs to make the car meet smog test standards. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x475201557/Worth-noting-Valley-Air-District-wins-award-for-car-emissions-tests-more SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY U.S. solar plan creates energy zones, excludes sensitive lands. The federal government offers incentives to place facilities in 17 designated areas in six Western states, including 154,000 acres in California. The Obama administration unveiled plans Tuesday to ramp up solar energy production, offering incentives for solar developers to cluster projects on 285,000 acres of federal land in the western U.S and opening an additional 19 million acres of the Mojave Desert for new power plants. The long-awaited plan also appears to rewind previous land-use decisions by the federal government. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0725-solar-zones-20120725,0,5295805,print.story Solar expected to make up 40 percent of PG&E's renewable portfolio by 2020. Solar power, which makes up a tiny part of California's overall energy mix, will account for the biggest piece of the state's renewable energy pie by the end of the decade, according to the state's largest utilities. Last year, Pacific Gas & Electric got most of its renewable energy from wind, bioenergy, geothermal and small hydropower dams. Solar accounted for about 1 percent. But that mix is quickly changing, and by 2020, the San Francisco-based utility expects solar to account for 40 percent of its renewable portfolio. California's aggressive "Renewable Portfolio Standard" law requires utilities to purchase 33 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Posted. http://business-news.thestreet.com/mercury-news/story/solar-expected-make-40-percent-pges-renewable-portfolio-2020-0/1 LEED Release Delayed Amid Controversy. The U. S. Green Building Council announced last week that it will delay release of Version 4 of its environmental rating system for construction projects, and extend the comment period through December 10, 2012, due to an unprecedented level of 22,000 comments on the current draft. After further comment, voting on the new version will likely be delayed until next June. USGBC has already certified 40,000 construction projects in 130 countries worldwide, and it says 1.5 million square feet of new building space is certified daily. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/leed-release-delayed-amid-controversy MISCELLANEOUS Sen. Boxer pushes for tougher toxics law. Retired San Francisco fire Capt. Tony Stefani, who contracted a rare form of pelvic cancer, told a Senate committee Tuesday that there is evidence that flame retardants and other chemicals used in household products expose firefighters to a "toxic soup" after they extinguish fires. Stefani founded the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Fund in 2006 after two other firefighters he worked with also contracted the cancer, known as transitional cell carcinoma, in its more common form of bladder cancer. Since then, his foundation has been involved in three studies of environmental exposure to chemical toxins. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Sen-Boxer-pushes-for-tougher-toxics-law-3732565.php Redwood City firm sued over dumping of toxic waste, The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office has filed a civil complaint against a Redwood City construction company that allegedly disposed of toxic chemicals in a Dumpster, causing three garbage workers to be hospitalized from exposure. The complaint alleges that some time around Dec. 26, 2011, Arron John Pellarin -- owner of Pellarin Construction Company -- assigned three of his employees to conduct various improvements at its Redwood City facility, located at 1520 Main St., Deputy District Attorney Todd Feinberg said. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_21154169/redwood-city-firm-sued-over-dumping-toxic-waste OPINIONS Soot risks and CARB's truck and bus regulation. The California Air Resources Board is committed to cleaning up the air and protecting public health by getting the oldest, dirtiest diesel trucks off the road. Unfortunately, The Californian's July 18 editorial "Flexibility in rollout of AB 32 makes sense" mistakenly identified AB 32 as the state measure that will accomplish that goal. In fact, it is the truck and bus regulation, a measure that is specifically designed to lower diesel soot and smog-forming emissions by introducing, on a staggered schedule, progressively cleaner trucks over the next decade. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/letters/x1626241730/Soot-risks-and-CARBs-truck-and-bus-regulation SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Thomas D. Elias: State's open-government rules take a hit under one-party rule. MUCH has been made - and rightly so - of the "budget trailer" bill passed swiftly and without public hearings earlier this summer. It allows virtually complete secrecy to the new semi-governmental corporation that will administer California's upcoming cap and trade program for reducing air pollution and greenhouse gases. That measure, known as SB 1018, allows directors of the new corporation to do anything it likes in secrecy. The corporation will eventually levy heavy fees against businesses that emit more than the prescribed level of pollutants. Posted. http://www.presstelegram.com/opinions/ci_21150798/thomas-d-elias-states-open-government-rules-take Hunger, population and climate change. The international news warns that Somalia again faces starvation, this despite last year's famine only recently being declared over. While mothers hold healthy infants kept alive by supplies from outside, the U.N. spokesman cautions that their situation is unsustainable. This year's harvest is already doomed by returning drought and war. He fears the world's compassion will tire. He offers no solution. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/24/hunger-population-and-climate-change/ BLOGS The Recycling Reflex. What if there were something that could create 1.5 million new jobs, reduce carbon emissions equal to taking 50 million cars off the road, cut dependence on foreign oil, increase exports, save water, improve air quality and reduce toxic waste? What if it were low-cost and readily implemented? Wouldn’t everyone do it? At a time of wildfires, droughts and persistent unemployment, wouldn’t it be a centerpiece of the presidential campaign? Posted. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/the-recycling-reflex/?scp=4&sq=air%20pollution&st=Search Heartland Droughts and the Greenhouse Effect. Brad Plumer of The Washington Post has written the best primer I’ve seen yet this summer on “What We Know About Climate Change and Drought.” He smartly writes that there are no simple answers, but does offer a succinct summary: Droughts have multiple causes. The United States has suffered worse droughts in the past. It’s not yet clear whether we’ve reached the point where global warming is making droughts worse again, at least in North America. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/heartland-droughts-and-global-warming/?scp=3&sq=climate%20change&st=Search University of Texas Will Review Gas Study After Conflict Questions Raised. There have been several developments following the disclosure of a substantial unstated financial relationship between Charles Groat, who supervised a University of Texas Energy Institute study of environmental impacts of gas drilling, and a drilling company. In an e-mail exchange with a reporter for StateImpact Texas, Groat said his industry relationships had no bearing on the analysis, which he did not directly work on. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/24/university-of-texas-will-review-fracking-study/?scp=2&sq=air%20pollution&st=Search G.M. Participates in a Test of Smart-Grid Features in Master-Planned Community. On Tuesday, General Motors and its OnStar division announced they would partner with Pecan Street Incorporated to conduct a smart-grid demonstration project in Mueller, a master-planned community roughly three miles from downtown Austin, Tex. The Chevrolet Volt will play a key role. The project, supported b a $10.4 million grant from the Energy Department and more than $14 million in matching funds from project partners, is intended to test an integrated clean-energy smart grid in a 700-acre urban neighborhood developed on the site of a shuttered airport. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/24/g-m-tests-smart-grid-features-in-master-planned-community-with-chevy-volt/?scp=1&sq=vehicles&st=Search Interior Names Solar ‘Hot Spots’ Out West. After more than two years of study and public comment, the Interior Department on Tuesday identified 17 sites on 285,000 acres of public land across six Southwestern states as prime spots for development of solar energy. Agency officials said the government would fast-track applications for large-scale solar energy installations at those sites in the hope of speeding construction of thousands of megawatts of renewable, nonpolluting electricity generation. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/24/interior-names-solar-hot-spots-out-west/?scp=2&sq=green%20energy&st=Search Fuel Efficiency Driving Onshoring. Lost in the current debate about “offshoring” is the remarkable story of the “onshoring” of fuel-efficiency manufacturing. Thanks in large part to stronger standards, American drivers no longer have to buy foreign if they want to trade in their gas guzzler for gas sippers. Fuel-efficiency is driving sales and jobs growth in the auto industry. And as demand grows, so does the business case to make fuel efficient cars and components in America. Hybrid productions exemplify this trend. With U.S. hybrid sales booming (up 63% this year), Toyota and Honda are bringing production to the U.S. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/rhwang/fuel_efficiency_driving_onshor.html Tom Bowman Launches Blog to De-Politicize Climate Change Discussion. For more information contact: Tom Bowman, TomBowman.com (562) 494-3400 or tom@tombowman.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tom Bowman Launches Blog to De-Politicize Climate Change Discussion TomBowman.com explores shared values that drive effective climate response July 25, 2012 – Signal Hill, CA – Tom Bowman, a small business entrepreneur and one of the premier interpreters of climate science and green business strategies, has created a new blog to examine public attitudes about climate change and the core values that motivate people to engage in climate response. Using an exploratory approach, the TomBowman.com blog will go beyond the simplistic, highly partisan rhetoric that typifies climate change discussions to reveal what Americans are already doing in response to the climate challenge—and why. The TomBowman.com blog will also include “The Climate Report with Tom Bowman™,” an audio program that features in-depth interviews with a variety of business, communications, policy, science and other experts. By discussing how to address climate change from different perspectives, Bowman will reveal unique insights that yield effective solutions. Bowman says his goals are to encourage people to engage and to help readers make informed choices about their future. "This blog will be a place to explore some of things that keep people on the sidelines, such as our unconscious preconceptions and core values. I’ll also highlight practical actions that people in all walks of life are already taking—actions that unlock even more possibilities," says Bowman. Bowman’s twenty five years as a successful small business owner, a communications expert and an informal science educator is the basis of his interdisciplinary approach to a wide variety of topics. Sought after as a “public intellectual,” Bowman has earned the respect of the scientific community with his firm’s award-winning exhibitions, including Global Warming: Facts & Our Future at the Marian Koshland Science Museum of the National Academy of Sciences, Ocean on the Edge for the Aquarium of the Pacific and the Smart Energy ExperienceTM for Southern California Edison. As a social entrepreneur driven to effect wide-scale change, Bowman created the Climate Solutions Project, a touring festival and exhibition designed to engage the public with the risks and potential solutions to climate change. Cited for its innovative approach, the Climate Solutions project was selected as a finalist for the Buckminster Fuller Challenge. In 2008, Bowman convened a groundbreaking meeting to assess public attitudes about global warming and authored its influential summary report, early evidence of his exploratory approach to learning. Bowman’s green business expertise has been recognized with three awards earned for implementing a cost-effective plan that slashed his firm’s greenhouse gas emissions by 65% in less than two years. In addition to being published in Science and the International Journal of Sustainability Communications, Bowman writes a monthly green business column, www.GreenExhibiting.com. A sought-after advisor and communicator on climate and energy issues, Bowman has consulted for NOAA, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and the National Science Foundation and contributed to the federal Climate Literacy education guide. The TomBowman.com blog will be launched on July 25, 2012 and is available using the link www.tombowman.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: Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:10:32 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 26, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for July 26, 2012 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 Judge blocks air permit for Texas coal-fired plant. A state judge has struck down a state air permit for a planned coal-fired power plant on the Texas coast. State District Judge Stephen Yelenosky's ruling came Wednesday in Austin. He says state regulators didn't require backers of the Las Brisas Energy Center to show it would meet standards intended to ease air pollution. A spokesman for the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality says the agency believes the permit is sufficiently protective. He says the agency is considering its next move. Posted. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57480622/judge-blocks-air-permit-for-texas-coal-fired-plant/ http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21158292/judge-blocks-air-permit-las-brisas-plant?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21158292/judge-blocks-air-permit-las-brisas-plant?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/25/4660848/judge-blocks-air-permit-for-las.html Environmentalists to sue Colstrip over pollution. Environmentalists filed notice Wednesday that they plan to sue the six companies that co-own eastern Montana's Colstrip power plant over alleged pollution violations. The Sierra Club and Montana Environmental Information Center say the plant's owners failed to upgrade pollution control equipment as required under the Clean Air Act for older power generation facilities that undergo significant changes. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-07-26/environmentalists-to-sue-colstrip-over-pollution http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Environmentalists-to-sue-Colstrip-over-pollution-3734683.php CLIMATE CHANGE Could extreme weather be causing climate change? New study aims to find if peat bogs release greenhouse gas when it rains. The causes of climate change are still the subject of heated debate - but a new study aims to find out if the weather itself may be making the problem worse. Peat soils which are farmed - and thus exposed to the atmosphere - release greenhouse gases. Extreme weather can change the amount of greenhouse gases being released from peat soils - and understanding this could lead to a way to control the effect. Monitoring the effects of weather on peatlands could provide an effective way to fight climate change. A team of researchers from the Department of Geography and Centre for Landscape and Climate Research at the University of Leicester set up a new monitoring station in June to measure greenhouse gas emissions from drained and cultivated peatlands in the East Anglian Fens. Posted. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2179305/Could-extreme-weather-causing-climate-change-New-study-aims-peat-bogs-releasing-greenhouse-gas-rain.html George Osborne's gas push has shattered the climate change consensus. When the history of climate change in the UK is written, probably from a bunker somewhere in Northern Scandinavia, the last few months will be noted as the moment when the country's admirable political consensus on the need to tackle climate threats and build a green economy finally shattered. The UK does not have the world's most vibrant green economy - how can it when the government has managed to engineer the second serious recession in three years - but it does have several advantages that has made the country a highly attractive proposition for green businesses and investors. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jul/26/george-osborne-gas-climate-change?newsfeed=true Dead cattle, devastation in wake of Western fires. Cecil and Delores Kolka thought they escaped the worst of the Ash Creek Fire when the 390-square-mile blaze spared their home and several pastures as it ripped through the couple's Montana cattle ranch. But when the family went to round up their livestock they encountered carnage - the charred and bloated bodies of an estimated 400 cows and calves killed as the fire torched a series of narrow, thickly forested draws on the nearby Custer National Forest. Some surviving animals were burned so badly that their hides were peeling. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/26/dead-cattle-devastation-in-wake-of-western-fires/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/dead-cattle-devastation-in-wake-of-western-fires/article_d470cd8e-f1cf-5f2a-a52a-57605315d744.html America supports helping farmers adapt to climate change because obviously. For some completely inexplicable reason, the public is quite supportive of government programs that would help farmers adapt to climate change. It is almost like people enjoying eating food/not starving to death/having agriculture! >From Phys.org: Regardless of what those surveyed believe causes climate change, more than 65 percent of them support government assistance for farmers, said Scott Loveridge, MSU professor of agricultural, food and resource economics. …Posted. http://grist.org/news/america-supports-helping-farmers-adapt-to-climate-change-because-obviously/ Australian voters oppose carbon tax. The majority of Australian voters do not support a carbon tax, saying it would be bad for the overall economy as well as individual households, according to a "Climate of the Nation" poll. Sixty-seven percent of those surveyed said the government should take a leading role in mitigating climate change, but respondents said proposed plans would be ineffective. Only 28 percent thought the Labor Party's carbon pricing system would be able to reduce emissions by at least 5 percent by 2020. Forty percent thought it would be unsuccessful, and 32 percent didn't know. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/07/26/8 SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Vancouver Testing Diesel Pollution From Trucks. A three-month, $130, 000 study to measure diesel pollution from heavy-duty vehicles on Vancouver’s roads and highways began in July, according to the Delta Optimist. Testing will be done during Summer 2012, using technology involving remote sensing tests so that trucks and buses do not have to stop or slow down when passing the test site. Infrared and ultraviolet beams from a testing trailer on one side of a road will be directed at the height of a heavy-duty truck's engine exhaust pipe. The beams go through the exhaust of passing trucks to a "detector," allowing for analysis of the vehicle's emissions, the regional district explained. Posted. http://www.todaystrucking.com/vancouver-testing-diesel-pollution-from-trucks Proposed emissions testing won't include most diesels. Despite reportedly being a major contributor to air pollution, most diesel vehicles will not be tested in Cache County’s planned emissions inspection program, according to County Executive Lynn Lemon. He noted Wednesday that diesels without on-board diagnostic (OBD) technology will be exempt from testing in accordance with the federal Clean Air Act. Grant Koford, the Bear River Health Department’s environmental health division director, said Wednesday that 2008 and newer diesel vehicles are equipped with OBD technology, but those older than 2008 “may not have it.” He noted there is no tailpipe test for diesels. Lemon said that not being able to test most diesels is frustrating. Posted. http://news.hjnews.com/news/article_dee4c794-d6bc-11e1-a72d-001a4bcf887a.html VEHICLES UK Electric Vehicle charger network must be open source. It's not a term particularly well embedded in our collective vernacular just yet, but "EV Chargers" does of course refer to 'Electric Vehicle Chargers', the units we need to keep the next generation of environmentally sustainable cars on our roads. But could EV Chargers go open source? Eco-transport website Hybridcars.com reports this week on Charge Your Car Limited, a project originating in the North East that is part of the Department for Transport's Plugged in Places project funded by One North East, OLEV, public and private partners. Posted. http://www.computerweekly.com/blogs/open-source-insider/2012/07/uk-electric-vehicle-charger-network-must-be-open-source.html Industry says there will be enough lithium - but will there be enough graphite? While EV uptake might be not as fast as forecast last year, investments into battery plants are still high. GS Yuasa invests $300 (~ €245) million to expand their battery production facilities, LG Chem invests the same amount in a li-ion battery plant in the US to supply the Chevy Volt, Russia had announced to put $420 (~ €342) miilion into completing the world's largest li-ion battery plant..... But if only 5% of cars worldwide were to become electric, current graphite production would need to double, says Greg Bowes, CEO of Northern Graphite (see exclusive interview tomorrow), who has a graphite mine development project in Bissett Creek, Ontario, Canada. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4806 GREEN ENERGY China solar makers decry trade spat, urge dialogue. Chinese solar panel makers are urging Beijing to seek talks with the European Union over a dispute they say threatens to escalate into a trade war. Four big solar panel manufacturers issued a joint statement Thursday appealing for both sides to resolve the disagreement over allegations they receive illegal subsidies and dump their products in the European market. "The Chinese government should immediately seek high-level dialogue with the EU to find a way to improve the situation," said the statement by Yingli Green Energy Holdings Co., Suntech Power Holdings Co., Trina Solar Ltd. and Canadian Solar Inc. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h-ITW6eToLgyG4HFHiOhgRlTrvxw?docId=4e87d3be3c1e40678a4490ce82a9c888 AP Newsbreak: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/china-solar-panel-makers-say-dispute-with-eu-risks-trade-war-urge-beijing-to-pursue-talks/2012/07/26/gJQAZoLlAX_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/26/2923072/china-solar-makers-decry-trade.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/China-solar-makers-decry-trade-spat-urge-dialogue-3736587.php http://www.nctimes.com/business/china-solar-makers-decry-trade-spat-urge-dialogue/article_bdccdbc4-878c-5a7a-86de-99acd63a45c3.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/26/china-solar-makers-decry-trade-spat-urge/ Westerly to consider solar energy park. Westerly zoning officials are taking up a proposal from a company that wants to build a solar energy park as part of the town's green energy initiative. The Westerly Sun reports (http://bit.ly/M9H3Yj ) a hearing on the proposal from Middletown-based rTerra has been scheduled for Aug. 1. The company, already designated as the town's solar energy partner, wants to build a 1 megawatt solar array with 3,500 photovoltaic panels on White Rock Road, next to the town's Water Department building. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Westerly-to-consider-solar-energy-park-3736971.php Desert Solar May Pose Threat to Desert Biofuels. Development in the desert can cause serious dust pollution, and utility-scale solar is no exception to that rule. Any disturbance to the desert's delicate soils can loose tons of dust into the air. (If you've driven past Ford Dry Lake on I-10 on a windy day recently, you've seen an example of this, as heavy dust off the Genesis Solar Energy Project routinely slows transcontinental traffic between Blythe and Indio.) That dust can do more than decrease visibility, and breathability for that matter. It can also seriously affect desert plant life, including some desert plants that are being farmed as a renewable energy source themselves. And according to jojoba farmer Donna Charpied, dust blowing off the Desert Sunlight construction site adjacent to her farm in the Chuckwalla Valley has seriously damaged this year's crop of potential fuel oil. Posted. http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/biomass/biofuels/desert-solar-may-pose-threat-to-desert-biofuels.html How Green Power Can Benefit Both Small Retailers and the Environment. You've bought compact fluorescent light bulbs for your store, offer reusable shopping bags and stock your shelves with eco-friendly products. What else can you do to show your commitment to the environment? Consider switching to green power. While the upfront costs of green energy can be substantial, the investment can pay off in lower energy costs down the road. The first step is to decide on the type of alternative energy program. There are a variety of ways you can reduce your store's use of traditional energy sources, such as coal and gas, or compensate for some of the carbon emissions they generate. The most clear-cut approach is to install power generators, such as solar panels or a wind turbine, at your store. You also could buy energy from a utility that commits to obtaining some or all of your power from green sources. Posted. http://news.terra.com/how-green-power-can-benefit-both-small-retailers-and-the-environment,f1019a94753c8310VgnVCM10000098cceb0aRCRD.html Eagle Mountain mine 'green' power project stymied. It's a tale of two obsessions and blind bureaucracy. Developer Steve Lowe wants to turn the long-idle Eagle Mountain iron mine — located near Desert Center about 50 miles east of Indio — into a massive, pumped storage plant that would help integrate wind and solar power into the grid. The yawning pits at Eagle Mountain — closed since the 1980s — would become reservoirs, connected by underground tunnels that would in turn be connected to an underground power turbine. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012207260310 MISCELLANEOUS California Air Resources Board Awards CleanFlame Firelogs As A Climate Leader. The California Air Resources Board proudly recognized CleanFlame with a prestigious award as a Climate Leader with helping to improve air quality. The CoolCalifornia.org Small Business Awards honored CleanFlame as a business that made notable, voluntary achievements toward reducing their climate impact. This firelog manufacturer invested in new technologies to enhance water and energy conservation. Also recognizing the company's efforts were Senator Doug LaMalfa and Assemblyman Dan Logue. Unlike other artificial firelog brands, CleanFlame Logs and Firestarters are clean enough to cook over, toxin free, safer for our families and better for our environment. CleanFlame products represent a new era in sustainability coupled with a much healthier alternative. Posted. http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2012/07/26/california-air-resources-board-awards-cleanflame-firelogs-climate-leader OPINIONS Editorial: Transparency is needed for cap-and-trade. Californians, understandably, have considerable angst about establishing a cap-and-trade program as a response to state law requiring a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The Legislative Analyst's Office has called the program, an offshoot of the passage of AB 32, "one of the most wide-ranging and complex regulatory efforts in the history of the state." That's why public oversight is essential as the state attempts to build a regional market. No one wants a repeat of California's experience with energy deregulation, which set the stage for the electricity crisis of 2000-01. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/26/4661167/transparency-is-needed-for-cap.html BLOGS A Climate and Energy Stalemate. On the day he clinched the Democratic nomination for president in 2008, Barack Obama declared that future generations would look back and say, “This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal.” He made addressing climate change, domestically and as part of a concerted international effort, a central tenet of his campaign platform and a top priority of his first year in office.Then the president backed off, hamstrung by an economic crisis and implacable opposition from Republicans, who were cheered on and financed by their ideological allies and fossil fuel companies. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/a-climate-and-energy-stalemate/ A Squabble Over Moving Oil and Sharing Royalties. After opposition from many Nebraskans, environmentalists and others in the United States stalled approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, Canada turned to Plan B, a collection of other pipeline routes that could move crude from Canadian oil sands to refineries along the American gulf coast. But now, internal politics may jeopardize a different pipeline proposal — one that is central to the Canadian aim of cultivating Asian countries, particularly China, as oil sands customers.Because Alberta is landlocked, its oil must cross into neighboring British Columbia by pipeline to be loaded onto ships bound for China. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/a-squabble-over-moving-oil-and-sharing-royalties/ In New Jersey, Brewing an Alternative to Petroleum. Walking into the research facility of Primus Green Energy is not unlike wandering onto the set of “Dr. Who.” Everywhere you look, there is plumbing, usually covered in multiple layers of shiny aluminum foil. The foil is hot, it’s festooned with hundreds of wires and it reeks of solvents.Arthur C. Clarke, the writer of science fiction, once said that any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/28/in-new-jersey-brewing-an-alternative-to-petroleum/ O.C. company buys UK electric-car tech firm. Green Automotive Co. in Newport Beach said it has acquired Liberty Electric Cars Ltd. in Oxford, England, which designs and sells electric vehicle technology. Liberty’s intellectual property covers drive trains for electrical vehicles including trucks, buses, 4X4s and sport utility vehicles. Green Automotive converts, imports and distributes electric vehicles and converted piston engines worldwide. It is currently assessing all-electric and alternate fuel vehicles including buses for possible introduction into the United States. Posted. http://jan.ocregister.com/2012/07/25/o-c-company-buys-uk-electric-car-tech-firm/80416/ What is green energy? In the past three decades, research and development in green energy has exploded, yielding hundreds of promising new technologies that can reduce our dependence on coal, oil, and natural gas. But what is green energy, and what makes it a better option than fossil fuels? Green energy comes from natural sources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, plants, algae and geothermal heat. These energy resources are renewable, meaning they're naturally replenished. In contrast, fossil fuels are a finite resource that take millions of years to develop and will continue to diminish with use. http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/stories/what-is-green-energy DOE funds 13 biofuel projects with $41 million. The U.S. Department of Energy has got its fingers in a lot of alternative-energy pies, from hydrogen vehicles to plug-ins. Today, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the DOE has announced that it will reach a little deeper into 13 biofuel and feedstock improvement projects with a $41 million investment. We hope there are gloves involved in the "manure to ethanol" project. The details of the projects can be found in the press release below, but there are five that will "diversify the nation's energy portfolio and replace the need for gasoline and diesel in vehicles" and eight that use "biomass genomics to improve promising biofuel feedstocks and drive more efficient, cost-effective energy production." Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/26/doe-funds-13-biofuel-projects-with-41-million/ ====================================================================== 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 Jul 2012 11:40:35 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 27, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB News Clips for July 27, 2012 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 Years into grant to reduce emissions in Santa Cruz, meager returns realized. In 2008, a regional agency aimed at reducing air pollution awarded a $120,000 grant to get Santa Cruzans to team up during commutes, reducing traffic and helping the environment. The award had lofty goals - cut vehicle emissions by 16 tons over the five-year life of the grant by getting 1,900 carpoolers to sign up through the Regional Transportation Commission, an agency comprised of local elected officials that plays a big role in local transportation issues. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_21168663/years-into-grant-reduce-emissions-meager-returns-realized?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com EPA expands comment period on power plants rule. Federal officials considering new air-quality requirements for three Arizona power plants are giving the public more time to comment and more places to do so. At issue are proposals to require additional pollution controls at the Apache Generating Station near Cochise, the Coronado Generating Station near St. Johns and the Cholla Power Plant near Holbrook. The Environmental Protection Agency extended the public comment period by about two weeks to Sept. 18. And it's adding public hearings in August in Holbrook and Benson to one already scheduled in Phoenix. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/27/epa-expands-comment-period-on-power-plants-rule/#ixzz21qLgyOIJ CLIMATE CHANGE Strong storms threaten ozone layer over U.S., study says. Strong summer storms that pump water high into the upper atmosphere pose a threat to the protective ozone layer over the United States, researchers said Thursday, adding that the risk of damage may increase as the climate warms. In a study published online by the journal Science, Harvard University scientists reported that some storms send water vapor well into the stratosphere -- which is normally drier than a desert -- and showed how such events could rapidly set off ozone-destroying reactions with chemicals that remain in the atmosphere from CFCs, the now-banned refrigerant gases. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_21169115/strong-storms-threaten-ozone-layer-over-u-s?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21169115?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21173302/3-obstacles-remain-shells-offshore-plans?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com FUELS Ethanol Makers' Long Hot Summer. Record corn prices and sluggish gasoline demand are squeezing profits for U.S. ethanol companies, prompting some producers to idle plants or slow production. Valero Energy Corp., VLO +0.98% Abengoa Bioenergy US Holding Inc. ABG.MC +4.30% and Nedak Ethanol LLC have idled plants since mid-June, citing poor market conditions for the corn-based fuel additive. And Archer Daniels Midland Co., ADM +0.74% the biggest U.S. ethanol producer by capacity, said that its ethanol margins had eroded to a loss of well over 20 cents a gallon. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303644004577522962336134368.html?KEYWORDS=fuels 3 obstacles remain for Shell's offshore plans. With the clock ticking on a short season for Arctic drilling, Shell Oil Co. is facing a triple threat of complications in its quest to explore for oil this year off Alaska's northern coast. Sea ice is lingering a bit longer than usual. A problem with a permit regulating air pollution on one of its drill ships remains unresolved. And an oil spill containment barge still isn't ready. Shell remains confident it will be able to work in its Arctic drilling sites this year, said Pete Slaiby, the Shell vice president who oversees Alaska. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21173302?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21173302?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21173302/3-obstacles-remain-shells-offshore-plans?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com VEHICLES July auto sales look strong despite economic jitters. The economic news remains mixed, but that hasn’t slowed car buyers down in July. With another weekend to go, industry analysts say sales remain comparatively strong and it is consumers who are fueling the industry. No, this isn’t the roaring market of decade ago, but it is healthy by post-recession, sluggish-growth standards. Market research firm J.D. Power & Associates estimates that new-vehicle retail sales will reach about 969,200 units this month. While that’s a slight dip from June it still represents an 18% gain from a year ago. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-july-auto-sales-forecast-20120726,0,266765.story GREEN ENERGY China-Europe Relations Tested in Solar Dispute. Chinese solar panel manufacturers Thursday called on Beijing to begin talks with the European Union to prevent what they said would be the largest trade dispute in the history of China-Europe relations. Yingli Green Energy Holdings Co., Suntech Power Holdings Co., STP +2.56% Trina Solar Ltd. TSL +3.65% and Canadian Solar Inc. CSIQ -3.73% said in a joint statement that an investigation into dumping allegations could trigger a trade war between China and the EU, "which would cause huge losses for both parties." Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443343704577550163622130158.html?KEYWORDS=green+energy China solar panel makers say dispute with EU risks trade war, urge Beijing to pursue talks. Chinese solar panel makers are urging Beijing to seek talks with the European Union over a dispute they say threatens to escalate into a trade war. Four big solar panel manufacturers issued a joint statement Thursday appealing for both sides to resolve the disagreement over allegations they receive illegal subsidies and dump their products in the European market. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/china-solar-panel-makers-say-dispute-with-eu-risks-trade-war-urge-beijing-to-pursue-talks/2012/07/26/gJQAZoLlAX_story.html Christie vetoes clean energy bill again. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed legislation again that would have kept the state in a multistate clean air program. The bill required New Jersey to remain a part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a regional pact to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and fund clean energy projects. The veto came as no surprise since Christie pulled New Jersey from the 10-state pact in December and vetoed a similar bill last August. The governor says the program amounted to a tax on electricity use without reducing carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Christie-vetoes-clean-energy-bill-again-3738684.php 5 High-Tech Summer Energy-Efficiency Boosts for Your Home. "Green" technology can turn the hot weather baking much of America this summer from a drag on your home's air-conditioning bill to a source of free solar energy -- if you know what improvements to make. "Green upgrades can give you a good return on investment, a lifestyle that's more pleasant and let you feel good about what you're doing to help the environment," says Harvey Sachs, senior fellow at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Posted. http://business-news.thestreet.com/mercury-news/story/5-high-tech-summer-energy-efficiency-boosts-for-your-home/11641417 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21172412?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21172402/5-high-tech-summer-energy-efficiency-boosts-your?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com&IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com MISCELLANEOUS Marine Highway opening. Barge M580-A lay quietly at her new home Thursday, tied up at the east end of the mile-long dock on Rough and Ready Island. Capable of carrying up to 9,000 tons of cargo, the massive, rust-colored hulk, whose life work until now had been hauling logs along Northwest waterways, is the last major piece of the Port of Stockton's Marine Highway project, arriving Wednesday night. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120727/A_BIZ/207270310&cid=sitesearch LIBERTY QUARRY: Supervisors feuding over revised plan. A rift has developed between two Riverside County supervisors over re-submitted plans for the Liberty Quarry. Supervisor John Benoit, who represents desert cities, is supporting efforts to fast track plans for the Temecula-area open pit gravel mine. But Supervisor Jeff Stone, who represents Temecula and has been one of the board’s leading quarry opponents, said Benoit should not try to fast-track projects in his district. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/politics-headlines-index/20120726-liberty-quarry-supervisors-feuding-over-revised-plan.ece OPINIONS China's Canadian Energy Play. President Obama may not want to exploit the energy buried in Canada's Alberta oil sands, but China sure does. Think of Monday's $15.1 billion offer by China's state-owned Cnooc to buy Canadian energy giant Nexen as a post-Keystone XL Pipeline bid to replace the U.S. as Canada's biggest energy investor and market. Nexen offers Cnooc a sweeping North American energy footprint, with assets from heavy oil and shale gas in Alberta to offshore leases in the Gulf of Mexico. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444025204577547074156244672.html?KEYWORDS=green+energy Dirty but essential -- that's coal. Standing in the dispatch office of the North Antelope Rochelle Mine near Gillette, Wyo., Scott Durgin pointed at a flat-panel display. The regional vice president for Peabody Energy smiled. The most productive coal mine in the world was on target. Since midnight, about one train an hour had been loaded, each carrying about 16,000 tons of coal. I asked Durgin how long Peabody could continue mining in the region. Easily for five more decades, he replied. "There's no end to the coal here." Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-adv-bryce-coal-epa-climate-20120727,0,3827413.story Today in coal: Americans hate it, India hates it, Siberia hates it. Three updates on the coal industry. If you can’t be bothered to read the whole thing, here’s a summary. Coal: Ugh. Americans see more future in renewables. A poll from Rasmussen Reports indicates that Americans see investment in renewables as a better plan than investment in fossil fuels like coal. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 55% say investing in renewable energy sources like solar and wind is a better long-term investment for the United States than investing in fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil. Posted. http://grist.org/news/today-in-coal-americans-hate-it-india-hates-it-siberia-hates-it/ BLOGS Court Rejects a Ban on Local Fracking Limits. A Pennsylvania court on Thursday struck down a provision of a state law that forbade municipalities to limit where natural gas drilling can take place within their boundaries. The law, known as Act 13 and approved in February, required that drilling be allowed in all zoning districts, even residential areas, although with certain buffers. The law had been sought by drillers who have been fracking in the Marcellus Shale and wanted uniformity in rules on where they could drill. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/court-rejects-a-ban-on-local-fracking-limits/ Hydrogen fuel cells may get a shot at batteries after all. He'll never use the word "fracking," but thanks to that new drilling technique, the U.S. Secretary of Energy now admits he's changed his mind about hydrogen fuel cells. That's because the abundance of natural gas now being retrieved from shale also provides an enormous source of hydrogen that, when coupled with new reforming technology, produces energy with a low carbon footprint. When Steven Chu, a Nobel Prize winning physicist, was named Secretary of the Department of Energy in the Obama Administration, he quickly redirected much of the Department's automotive research efforts into battery electric vehicles. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/27/hydrogen-fuel-cells-may-get-a-shot-at-batteries-after-all/ ====================================================================== 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, 30 Jul 2012 14:14:37 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 30, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for July 30, 2012. 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 "Greyjing"? Air pollution fouls Beijing's name. With its parks, centuries-old palaces, history and culture, Beijing should be one of the more pleasant capitals of the world. Instead, it's considered among the worst to live in because of chronic air pollution. Lung cancer rates are rising among the 20 million residents of China's capital, health officials say. For many multinational companies, Beijing is considered a hardship posting and, despite the extra allowances that classification brings, some executives are leaving. On some days, Beijing is enveloped in a brownish-grey smog... Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/30/uk-china-pollution-idUSLNE86T00U20120730 Imperial County air district reaches settlement with EPA. On Friday, Imperial County released a statement saying the Air Pollution Control District had reached a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that resolved a pending lawsuit. In September 2010, the air district filed a lawsuit in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals for review of the EPA’s July 8, 2010, limited disapproval of the air district’s Regulation VIII Fugitive Dust Rules. The petition sought to vacate EPA’s disapproval of the rules…Posted. http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-imperial-county-air-district-reaches-settlement-with-epa-20120728,0,5046803,print.story LA Freeway Expansion, The I-710 Corridor Project, Could Improve Public Health: Report. Expanding a major Los Angeles freeway in an area known for traffic-related air pollution could improve public health, according to a draft environmental impact report issued last month by the California Department of Transportation. The project, known as the I-710 Corridor Project, could increase the number of lanes on the nearly 25-mile freeway, which runs north to south from East Los Angeles to Long Beach. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/la-freeway-expansion-the-_n_1719518.html CLIMATE CHANGE Scientists unlock ocean CO2 secrets key to climate: study. From giant whirlpools to currents 1,000 km wide, scientists said on Monday they have uncovered how vast amounts of carbon are locked away in the depths of the Southern Ocean, boosting researchers ability to detect the impact of climate change. Oceans curb the pace of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels. The Southern Ocean is the largest of these ocean carbon sinks, soaking up about 40 percent of mankind's CO2 absorbed by the seas. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/29/us-climate-ocean-idUSBRE86S0ID20120729 Analysis: Evidence for climate extremes, costs, gets more local. Scientists are finding evidence that man-made climate change has raised the risks of individual weather events, such as floods or heatwaves, marking a big step towards pinpointing local costs and ways to adapt to freak conditions. "We're seeing a great deal of progress in attributing a human fingerprint to the probability of particular events or series of events," said Christopher Field, co-chairman of a U.N. report due in 2014 about the impacts of climate change. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/27/us-climate-extremes-idUSBRE86Q0PI20120727 COLUMN-U.S. bets on producing oil with captured CO2: John Kemp. The United States can extract billions of barrels of otherwise unrecoverable oil by injecting carbon dioxide (CO2) underground and also needs to bury CO2, produced by its reliance on coal for power and industry, to fight climate change. Until now, the CO2 used for recovering oil has been specially extracted from underground but the government is working to use the lure of oil extraction to encourage the capture and storage of carbon produced from power stations. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/30/column-kemp-oil-co-idUSL6E8IUGHM20120730 Storms Threaten Ozone Layer Over U.S., Study Says. Strong summer thunderstorms that pump water high into the upper atmosphere pose a threat to the protective ozone layer over the United States, researchers said on Thursday, drawing one of the first links between climate change and ozone loss over populated areas. In a study published online by the journal Science, Harvard University scientists reported that some storms send water vapor miles into the stratosphere…Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/science/earth/strong-storms-threaten-ozone-layer-over-us-study-says.html?ref=science&pagewanted=print Prominent climate-change denier now admits he was wrong. Washington - The verdict is in: Global warming is real and greenhouse-gas emissions from human activity are the main cause. This, according to Richard A. Muller, professor of physics at the University of California, Berkeley, a MacArthur fellow and co-founder of the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and hundreds of other climatologists around the world came to such conclusions years ago, but the difference now is the source: Muller is a long-standing, colorful critic of prevailing climate science…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/29/4672565/prominent-climate-change-denier.html San Diego County Climate Plan Draws Lawsuit. Environmentalists said the county's plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions falls short and they are taking the matter up in court. California is requiring all municipalities to develop climate action plans when they update their community's general planning documents. The documents are supposed to help local governments map out growth in a way that reduces the impact on climate change. San Diego County has a plan, but critics argued the document isn't changing the way the county does business. Posted. http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/jul/27/san-diego-copunty-climate-plan-draws-lawsuit/ Greenhouse gas measurement company raises $7 million. Picarro continues to attract interest in its technology for detecting and measuring a range of greenhouse gas emissions. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company has emerged as part of a consortium keeping tabs on the emissions impact of the Summer Olympics in London. Meanwhile, it has added another $7 million in venture capital from Focus Ventures, DAG Ventures, NTT Electronics nd Mingxin China. Posted. http://www.zdnet.com/greenhouse-gas-measurement-company-raises-7-million-7000001752/ FUELS Ethanol Lobby Expects Opponents to Ask EPA to Suspend Law. The Renewable Fuels Association, the largest U.S. ethanol trade group, said it expects livestock and poultry industry supporters to ask the Obama administration to suspend the nation’s ethanol requirement as early as today. The groups may ask the Environmental Protection Agency to waive the mandate requiring refiners to use 13.2 billion gallons of ethanol this year and 13.8 billion in 2013 because of higher corn prices caused by drought in the grain-rich U.S. Midwest. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-30/ethanol-lobby-expects-opponents-to-ask-epa-to-suspend-law-1-.html http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/30/us-usa-ethanol-waiver-idUSBRE86Q1FR20120730 Gasoline prices rise slightly across much of the U.S. The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline rose slightly across most of the nation over the last week, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. In California, the average climbed 1.8 cents to $3.798 a gallon. The U.S. average rose 1.5 cents to $3.486 a gallon. Analysts attributed the rise to the recovery in U.S. oil prices. Crude futures are again hovering around the $90 a barrel level after falling to the lowest price of the year of $77.69 a barrel during the final week of June. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-gas-prices-rise-20120730,0,5914378.story VEHICLES Car dealers fear Obama fuel standards will make new vehicles unaffordable. The White House is expected to OK federal standards in the next few weeks that will nearly double vehicle gas mileage for vehicles by 2025, as automotive dealers warn the changes could slam the recovering retail car industry because they will come with sticker prices that will keep buyers off their lots. The recommendations call for “fleet wide” gas mileage of 54.4 miles a gallon by 2025 -- essentially the average gas mileage for cars, trucks, vans and all other vehicles in a model year. Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/29/car-dealers-fear-new-obama-fuel-standards-will-make-new-vehicles-unaffordable/ Do-it-yourself: How to build your own electric car, hacker style. By day, David Brown is a security consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton. But in his spare time, he’s one of a growing number of do-it-yourself electric vehicle creators. In the past couple of years, Brown retrofitted a 1974 Volkswagen Beetle into an electric car, and he talked about his “Voltswagon” project at the Defcon hacker conference on Saturday in Las Vegas. Electric cars can save you a lot of money when it comes to skipping gas purchases, and they’ve been getting more popular since Tesla launched its first electric car in 2008. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/29/idUS321869576920120729 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Bay Area to Sin City? Las Vegas bullet train backers gamble on record loan. Call it the bachelor or bachelorette party of tomorrow: you and your friends sipping cocktails aboard a futuristic train as it whips travelers across the desert to Las Vegas. You might have to wait awhile, but it's not such a long shot. Lost in the fractious debate over California high-speed rail is a separate, little-publicized plan for a second bullet train that would connect the Golden State with Sin City. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california-high-speed-rail/ci_21188241/bay-area-sin-city-las-vegas-bullet-train?source=rss GREEN ENERGY Walmart Unveils 100th Solar Installation in California. Investment in Solar Power Adds Thousands of Contract Construction Jobs. Walmart's College Avenue store in San Diego was today unveiled as the 100th California Walmart store now using rooftop solar panels to generate power, contributing to the company's broader goal of being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy. Walmart's investment in solar power typically generates an average of 48 contract positions per site. By working with California-based SolarCity, the company's focus on solar power has generated more than 3,000 contract construction jobs in California. Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/walmart-unveils-100th-solar-installation-in-california-2012-07-30 MISCELLANEOUS Drillers in Utah Have a Friend in a U.S. Land Agency. VERNAL, Utah — Bill Stringer leaned into the office of his top deputy here at the Bureau of Land Management one recent day to share his latest victory. “We got upheld!” Mr. Stringer said, meaning his bosses in Salt Lake City had gone along with his staff’s recommendation to allow oil drilling near Desolation Canyon, a national historic site known for its pristine wilderness and white-water rafting. Despite objections from environmentalists, more oil wells would dot the huge stretch of federal land Mr. Stringer oversees. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/28/us/politics/bureau-of-land-managements-divided-mission.html?ref=science&pagewanted=print Electricity trading probed. It's been a decade since companies like Enron Corp. manipulated California's electricity market to generate billions in excess profits. Enron went out of business long ago, and California's energy market has been a place of relative calm. Now, however, another big power trader is being investigated for allegedly gaming the state's electricity system. State officials believe a subsidiary of JPMorgan Chase & Co., the New York investment bank, pulled down an extra $73 million by exploiting a small wrinkle in California's electricity market over several months in 2010 and 2011. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/30/v-print/4672960/electricity-trading-probed.html OPINIONS The Conversion of a Climate-Change Skeptic. CALL me a converted skeptic. Three years ago I identified problems in previous climate studies that, in my mind, threw doubt on the very existence of global warming. Last year, following an intensive research effort involving a dozen scientists, I concluded that global warming was real and that the prior estimates of the rate of warming were correct. I’m now going a step further: Humans are almost entirely the cause. My total turnaround, in such a short time, is the result of careful and objective analysis by the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project, which I founded with my daughter Elizabeth. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/opinion/the-conversion-of-a-climate-change-skeptic.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&pagewanted=print Canada’s Oil, the World’s Carbon. Last month, the State Department formally invited public comment on the issues it should consider in a new environmental assessment of the Keystone XL, a 1,200-mile pipeline that would connect the Alberta oil sands to an existing pipeline in Nebraska. The review process was triggered when TransCanada filed a new pipeline application after its first proposal was rejected by President Obama in January. The department’s first environmental assessment was grossly inadequate, one of the main reasons President Obama rejected the proposal. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/30/opinion/canadas-oil-the-worlds-carbon.html?ref=opinion&pagewanted=print Editorial: Is a sequel of Enron scandal scamming state? Customers of PG&E and other utilities may have thought that manipulation of the electricity markets was a sorry part of California history, one that ended when Enron, the thieving Texas energy giant, went bankrupt amid scandal and federal indictments. But it has come back, if accusations leveled by the California Independent System Operator are true. The ISO, which entered the lexicon a decade ago when California deregulated the electricity market and blackouts ensued, is a nonprofit corporation that oversees the state's electrical transmission system. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/07/30/4672483/is-a-sequel-of-enron-scandal-scamming.html?storylink=lingospot_related_articles Our View: Hold state agency accountable. Californians, understandably, have considerable angst about establishing a cap-and-trade program as a response to state law requiring a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The Legislative Analyst's Office has called the program, an offshoot of the passage of Assembly Bill 32, "one of the most wide-ranging and complex regulatory efforts in the history of the state." That's why public oversight is essential as the state attempts to build a regional market. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/07/28/2440835/our-view-hold-state-agency-accountable.html Dan Logue: CARB exemption violates public trust. It has only just come to light that written into a budget trailer bills passed last month was a special exemption for one of the state's most controversial public agencies — the California Air Resources Board. The exemption will allow CARB to use a private third-party corporation to conduct its cap-and-trade auction without having to comply with state laws, called the Bagley-Keene Act, that require state agencies to keep meetings and records open to the public. This is a gross violation of the public's right to know about state agency actions that affect them. Posted. http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/exemption-118148-public-logue.html Wolverton: I'm not charged by Ford's Focus Electric. I love the idea of electric cars. But I wasn't enamored with the Ford Focus Electric. I drove the Focus Electric for three days this past week. During that time, I commuted to and from work, ran errands and made a trip up to San Francisco. In other words, I used it much like I would my own Prius. I found a lot to like about the car. It's well built. Features like a navigation system, keyless door locks and a high-end sound system come standard. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21167487/wolverton-review-not-charged-by-ford-focus-electric The Coming Food Crisis: Blame Ethanol? Obviously, this seems to me to be a highly undesirable outcome. So, what do we do? The answer seems to me to be ridiculously simple. Since making less ethanol presents such a dire picture—-let’s try making MORE ethanol. We are not limited to how much corn we can grow. We can plant more corn. But we are limited in the amount of land available that we can plant corn on. Especially, if the drought continues. Fortunately, we are not limited to what we can make ethanol from. We do not have to use corn—we can other things. Other things that grow well where corn does not. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2012/07/28/the-coming-food-crisis-blame-ethanol/2/ BLOGS How the Supreme Court’s health care ruling could weaken the Clean Air Act. Legal scholars are still trying to sift through the broader implications of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on health-care reform. Yet some experts now wonder if the precedent set by the June decision could eventually be used to weaken U.S. air pollution rules. In an article this week, Jonathan Adler of Case Western University argues that the Medicaid portions of last month’s Supreme Court ruling could end up having far-reaching effects. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/07/27/how-the-supreme-courts-health-care-ruling-could-weaken-the-clean-air-act/ Ethanol company CEO says the biofuel is a "most hated" industry. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The ethanol industry in the U.S. has gotten billions in farm subsidies and has been praised by politicians of both major parties, but the recent bad press has not only led to the end of 30 years of corn subsidies to make the biofuel, but also for the entire industry to now be "one of the most hated industries in the world." That's how Todd Becker, president and CEO of Green Plains Renewable Energy, phrased it to CNBC recently. It can be easy to see why, since the ethanol has been very publicly blamed for affecting gas prices and hurting some engines. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/30/ethanol-company-ceo-says-the-biofuel-is-a-most-hated-industry/ ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 12:24:22 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 1, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 1, 2012. 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 Hopewell plant fined, improving pollution controls. A Hopewell chemical plant has agreed to pay a $175,000 fine for alleged air pollution violations. Under the agreement with federal officials, Hercules Inc. has also agreed to add $200,000 in pollution controls. The Richmond Times-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/Ol73hJ) reports that the plant did not adequately limit emissions of chemical pollutants and it had an inadequate system for detecting leaks. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/01/hopewell-plant-fined-improving-pollution/#ixzz22JV4IVyi RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Liberty Quarry closer to fast-track approval. Riverside County supervisors voted for a streamlined approval process for the new Liberty Quarry application following a daylong hearing featuring impassioned comments from members of the public and elected officials alike. Their voices rising at times, supervisors Tuesday, July 31, voted 3-2 to ask county staff to begin the process of adding surface mines, such as the quarry, to the list of projects eligible for fast-tracking, a process that allows certain developments to bypass the Planning Commission and head straight to the Board of Supervisors for approval. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/politics-headlines-index/20120731-riverside-county-liberty-quarry-closer-to-fast-track-approval.ece Quebec plans to adopt air-quality policy. Quebec Environment Minister Pierre Arcand has been a busy man over the last nine days. As the clock ticks down to an expected election call Wednesday, Arcand has criss-crossed the province, holding press conferences to announce everything from the expansion of a national park to increased funding for compost-treatment centres to better-than-expected results from a campaign to reduce plastic-bag use in Quebec. Posted. http://www.montrealgazette.com/health/Quebec+plans+adopt+quality+policy/7019860/story.html#ixzz22JXc7SDI Air District Reaches Settlement with EPA on Challenge to Dust Rules. The Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (Air District), together with the California Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks), have entered into a settlement agreement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will resolve the Air District’s and Parks’ pending litigation in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The Air District and Parks had challenged EPA’s July 8, 2010 limited disapproval of the Air District’s Regulation VIII fugitive dust rules. Posted. http://tribwekchron.com/2012/07/air-district-reaches-settlement-with-epa-on-challenge-to-dust-rules/ CLIMATE CHANGE California weighs giving away more CO2 permits. In an effort to dissuade companies in key industries facing new carbon costs from leaving the state, California is considering giving them millions of dollars’ worth of additional free greenhouse gas allowances, state's air regulator said on Monday. California's cap-and-trade program seeks to emulate tactics used in the European Union and Australia to address emission "leakage" - a term describing the exodus of employers from a state or country in order to sidestep environmental costs. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/01/us-california-carbon-idUSBRE8700BS20120801 Planners mull report on climate change. As California grows warmer, nowhere will the increased temperatures be starker than its arid Central Valley, where farmers will have to consider whether the crops grown today will survive in a harsher environment. Rising sea levels will also flood coastal airports and municipal sewage systems, while earlier springs will hasten snow melt and reduce the state's capacity to generate hydroelectric power in the summer months when it's needed most. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21204228/planners-mull-report-climate-change?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/31/2930866/calif-report-will-guide-climate.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/31/calif-report-will-guide-climate-change-02/#ixzz22JVPcw72 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120731/WIRE/120739918 California prepares for harsh realities of changing climate. Climate change is real and unfolding, and the outlook for California is bleak, according to new state-sponsored studies. Released Tuesday, the studies warn that California can expect more scorching heat waves, severe wildfires and strain on the electric grid as the Earth warms and sea levels rise along the state's 1,100-mile long coast. Higher temperatures in the coming decade mean that many more of the state's 37 million people will depend on air conditioning -- increasing demand for electricity by up to 1 gigawatt during hot summer months. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21203992/california-prepares-harsh-realities-changing-climate?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Calif. leaders brace for threats from air, land, sea. California must start preparing now for a future that will be hotter and drier because of climate change, state officials said yesterday. Warmer temperatures are producing a number of threats, leaders said, including accelerated sea-level rise, dangers to the power supply and perils to the agricultural industry. "Climate change is here now in California," said Ken Alex, director of the state's Office of Planning and Research. "We need to adapt." The assessment came as the California Energy Commission and Natural Resources Agency released more than 30 studies on the effects of climate change. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/08/01/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Texas, Calif. to face more climate-induced downpours – report. Houston -- Climate change is causing heavier rainstorms to occur more frequently across Texas and Southern California, according to separate versions of a new report released yesterday. In mid-July, the Houston area and much of the southeastern part of the state received torrential downpours over successive days. Manhole covers popped up onto some downtown streets where sewer systems were overwhelmed, and in this city's northwest corner, one of the hardest-hit areas, 100 homes were flooded when Cypress Creek spilled over its banks. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/01/7 BY SUBSCRIPTON ONLY Scientists examine California's vulnerability to climate change. Fish biologist Peter Moyle says most native fishes, like this cutthroat trout, will suffer population declines and some face extinction from climate change. As climate change threatens to reshape California’s landscape, University of California, Davis, researchers are helping to inform policymakers about the state’s vulnerability and provide strategies for adaptation. The UC Davis research appears in a report, “Our Changing Climate,” released today by the California Natural Resources Agency and the California Energy Commission. Posted. http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=10294 New study links wildfires and climate change. New study has found a strong link between climate change and wildfire. It appears to explain long-term changes in the frequency of fire over many centuries, and it may explain what's been happening in the West in recent years. "Climate ultimately drives fire," said Mitchell Power, assistant professor of geography at the University of Utah and curator of the Garrett Herbarium at the Natural History Museum of Utah. Power is lead author of the new study which explored lake-bottom sediments in hundreds of locations around the world. Posted. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865559760/New-study-links-wildfires-and-climate-change.html U.S. Drought and Climate Change: Science Points to Link. The drought that’s turned most of the United States into a dessicated hotbox may be a symptom of climate change, a brutal blowback from carbon pollution. Climate scientists, who prefer to speak in terms of probabilities and trends rather than single events, are reluctant to point fingers at any one cause — but signs point to human influence making a natural dry spell unnaturally severe. Posted. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/07/climate-change-drought/ FUELS Shell Oil scales back Arctic drilling plan. Shell Oil Co. is downsizing its plan for off-shore drilling in the Arctic this year amid delays completing a spill containment barge required by the federal government, a spokesman said Tuesday. Shell now hopes to complete two wells in 2012 instead of five. One would be in the Beaufort Sea off the northern Alaska coastline, and the other in the Chukchi Sea off the northwest coast between Alaska and Russia. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/shell-oil-scales-back-arctic-drilling-plan/article_000b0e26-15a6-560b-9f8f-4a20ed1282b7.html VEHICLES As Fleet Sales Stall, Automakers Report Mixed Results. Automakers reported mixed results for their July sales in the United States, as both General Motors and Ford posted declines due in part to lower sales to rental fleets and other business customers. G.M., the nation’s largest automaker, said it sold 201,000 vehicles in the month, down 6.4 percent from the same period a year ago. The company said sales to retail customers increased slightly, but fleet sales dropped 41 percent. Ford said its overall United States sales declined 3.5 percent during the month to 166,000 vehicles. Ford also cited lower fleet sales as the prime reason for the decrease. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/business/as-fleet-sales-stall-automakers-report-mixed-results.html?_r=1 AUTOMOTIVE: Smaller Prius is gas stingy. Not counting plug-in cars, the 2012 Toyota Prius c is the most gasoline-stingy auto on the U.S. market, with a combined city/highway rating of 50 miles a gallon, according to the federal government. Better yet, the starting retail price of $19,710 means the Prius c has the second-lowest base price of any gasoline-electric hybrid in the country. No wonder the 2012 Prius c small hatchback with four-cylinder engine mated to two electric motors and battery pack is a compelling offering for budget-minded consumers and environmentalists who want to reduce oil usage and air emissions. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/automotive-smaller-prius-is-gas-stingy/article_7b4d8e9b-479b-58e2-a161-af009c172f95.html HIGH-SPEED RAIL High-speed rail will shift Highway 99 through Fresno. Caltrans estimates that it will cost about $226 million and take up to three years to relocate a stretch of Highway 99 through Fresno to make way for high-speed train tracks. The estimate by the state's transportation department includes acquiring the private property needed to shove the freeway west by about 100 feet between Ashlan and Clinton avenues in central Fresno, as well as building new traffic lanes and demolition of the old highway, according to a report to the California High-Speed Rail Authority. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/31/2931368/high-speed-rail-will-move-highway.html GREEN ENERGY NE governors, Canadian counterparts talk energy. New England governors and their eastern Canadian counterparts, who are eager to export a growing overabundance of hydroelectric and wind power, promised Monday to work together to increase the use of clean energy throughout the region. During their 36th-annual meeting, governors, eastern Canadian provincial leaders and their representatives talked about the need to share energy resources across state, provincial and international boundaries. Posted. www.vcstar.com/news/2012/jul/30/ne-governors-canadian-counterparts-talk-energy/ OPINIONS Editorial: The challenge in reversing climate change denial. For some people climate change is proving a godsend. Quebec wine producers are glorying in a manifestly warming climate in the province with a third consecutive warmer and drier summer underway. This is boosting the yield of their vines and favouring the production of vintages said to be exceptionally rounded and full-bodied. Quebec’s environment ministry reported this week that the province’s average temperature has risen by 1.6 degrees Celsius between 1961 and 2010. Posted. http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Editorial+challenge+reversing+climate+change+denial/7019508/story.html Climate change takes back seat on campaign trail. It’s been a summer of discontent, with much of the country broiling under a heat wave like few before. Out West, parched wildlands burn. In the Midwest, farmers are sweating out another year of drought and wilted crops. Consumers are feeling it, too, as they fume over rising food prices and muse about what’s behind the scorching temperatures. Many scientists and environmentalists, and some politicians, are sure of what’s at least partly to blame: climate change. Posted. http://bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2012/07/31/climate-change-back-burner-issue-presidential-race-despite-drought-heat-waves-wildlands-fires/Tlj7h1XkK5mlPkGjzCE7AJ/story.html BLOGS A Glimpse of the Alternative Fuel Future. While a variety of new fuel technologies are advancing, policymakers can be assured that the internal combustion engine will remain dominant for decades, the National Petroleum Council told the Department of Energy on Wednesday in a report. The report from the council, an advisory agency, was drawn up in response to requests from the Energy Department for counsel on how to accelerate the adoption of new fuels and technologies, from compressed natural gas to fuel cells to biofuels, between now and 2050. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/a-glimpse-of-the-alternative-fuel-future/ India’s Long Struggle for Power. India’s power outages this week were the nation’s largest, but they reflect a long-standing national problem. “India has long struggled to provide enough electricity to light its homes and power its industry around the clock,” Vikas Bajaj wrote this April. “In recent years, the government and private sector sought to change that by building scores of new power plants,” he wrote, but that campaign “is now running into difficulties because the country cannot get enough fuel — principally coal — to run the plants.” Posted. http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/31/indias-long-struggle-for-power/ White House honors California high-speed rail leader for innovation. Although polls have shown that a majority of California voters have soured on the state’s bullet-train project, there is at least one place where it still has overwhelming political support: the White House. On Tuesday, President Obama, whose high-speed-rail initiative has come off the tracks in several parts of the country, named Dan Richard, chairman of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, a “Transportation Innovator Champion of Change.” Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/08/white-house-honors-california-high-speed-rail-leader-for-innovation.html GE says WattStations not to blame for Nissan Leaf charging problems. It's not us. That's what General Electric is saying after reports surfaced that some charging stations – namely, its GE WattStations – were causing the on-board charger in some Nissan Leafs to be damaged. General Electric says it's a software issue specific to Nissan's electric car, as proven by the fact that no other types of electric vehicles suffered charger damage after using a WattStation. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/07/31/ge-wattstation-nissan-leaf-charging-problems/ In the light of day, that solar plan looks like cap-and-trade. When it comes to global warming, I always thought it would be a cold day in hell before I found myself agreeing with the Daily Kos. But I found myself in agreement with what that liberal website’s D.S. Wright had to say about our governor’s signing of that solar-energy bill last week. In an article headlined “GOP Keynote Speaker Bails out Solar Industry, Says Government Creates Jobs,” Wright cited Chris Christie’s boasting of that bill’s job-creation potential. Posted. http://blog.nj.com/njv_paul_mulshine/2012/07/in_the_light_of_day_that_solar.html Connecting the Dots on Climate Change. On Wednesday, the Senate Environment and Public Works committee takes up the important issue of climate change science and adaptation. Hopefully, it's a first step toward some real solutions to address record heat, drought, storms and other effects of climate change that we're now all experiencing first-hand. When it comes to connecting the dots between climate change and extreme weather, the lines are now clear. What's also clear is that we can do something -- a lot of things, actually -- to prevent more of the climate-change related weather disasters we're experiencing. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frances-beinecke/connecting-the-dots-on-cl_b_1728809.html Global Warming Debate Heats Up, Again. A firestorm is raging across the Internet after The New York Times ran an op-ed piece by University of California Berkeley scientist Richard Muller. In it, he explains why he turned from climate-change skeptic to accepting the central role that humans play in warming the planet. Muller claims that a careful reanalysis of the data collected from temperature stations led him to conclude that the average global temperature "has risen by two and a half degrees over the past 250 years, including an increase of one and a half degrees over the most recent 50 years. Moreover, it appears likely that essentially all of this increase results from the human emission of greenhouse gases." Posted. http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/08/01/157659554/global-warming-debate-heats-up-again ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 10:52:00 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 2, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 2, 2012. 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 Hong Kong Smog Worst in 2 Years as Storm Traps Pollutants. Hong Kong roadside air pollution reached the worst levels in more than two years as a typhoon that passed through Taiwan brought hot weather and trapped pollutants, prompting a government health warning. The Air Pollution Index was “very high” at the roadside-monitoring station in Central, Causeway Bay and Mongkok as of 2 p.m. local time, according to the city’s Environmental Protection Department. The reading in Central reached the “severe” level earlier at 212, the highest since March 23, 2010. Typhoon Saola grounded flights and closed businesses in Taiwan as winds and rain lashed the island. Hong Kong was influenced by the outer layer of the storm as the heat and weak winds resulted in higher ozone levels, trapping the pollutants in the city, the government said in a statement on its website yesterday. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Hong-Kong-Smog-Worst-in-2-Years-as-Storm-Traps-3756279.php Air pollution fatalities expected to increase. Hot summer days in large cities are often accompanied by vehicle and industrial emissions that makes breathing difficult and unhealthy. 
According to Andrea Pozzer of the Max Planck Institute, high levels of urban pollution are likely to affect most of the world's population by 2050 - with China, North India and the Middle East expected to record the most drastic deterioration in air quality. "Air pollution is one of the major current health risks of humanity. At present, urban outdoor air pollution causes 1.3 million estimated deaths per year worldwide, according to the World Health Organization," Pozzer explained. "That number will increase in coming years if no further action is taken to reduce pollutants. Our study shows that further legislation to control and reduce man-made emissions is needed, in particular for eastern China and northern India, to avoid hot-spots of elevated air pollution." Posted. http://www.tgdaily.com/general-sciences-features/65125-air-pollution-fatalities-expected-to-increase 

 Study finds that under business-as-usual scenario, average global air quality to worsen; China, North India and Middle East are the hot spots. Under a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario, a rapidly increasing number of people worldwide will experience reduced air quality by 2050, according to a new simulation of the atmosphere done by scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, the Institute of Atmospheric Physics and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. China, North India and the Middle East are expected to be especially affected by a drastic decrease in air quality. Following this BAU scenario, the researchers projected that air quality for the global average citizen in 2050 would be almost comparable to that for the average citizen in East Asia in the year 2005—an outcome which underscores the need to pursue emission reductions, according to the authors. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/08/pozzer-20120802.html Valley air district officials urge ozone precautions. Rising ozone levels throughout the valley are causing air quality to deteriorate, and air officials urge residents to take protective measures where necessary. Typical summer meteorological conditions are ideal for ozone (smog) formation, which officials expect to continue through today. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has developed a tool to help residents stay informed about air quality in their area. The Real-Time Air Advisory Network is a free, automated data delivery service that links the subscriber's computer to an air monitor of choice. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/08/01/v-print/2308959/valley-air-district-officials.html Geothermal gases being studied. Naturally occurring release of geothermal gases in a Clearlake neighborhood led to the collaboration of multiple agencies and a senior project of a University of California, Berkeley student. Lake County Public Health Director Karen Tait said as more information becomes available, area agencies - in collaboration with state and federal agencies - will share findings that could help residents and businesses in the area of Burns Valley School (BVS) understand how to live and work safely in the presence of the gases. Tait said the hydrogen sulfide gas is easily detected by its rotten-egg smell while other gases such as methane and carbon dioxide are odorless. She said fault lines crisscrossing many areas of the county may provide conduits for gases to percolate to the surface. Posted. http://www.record-bee.com/ci_21213261/geothermal-gases-being-studied CLIMATE CHANGE Calif. Carbon Credits Could be Free to Firms at Risk of Leaving State. The California Air Resources Board – the state’s air regulator – is considering giving free carbon credits for its forthcoming cap-and-trade program to companies deemed to be at risk of leaving the state when the program comes into force, according to reports. CARB, which will regulate the new program, is looking to stem the tide of possible emission “leakage” – a term describing companies leaving for other jurisdictions after the implementation of environmental regulations, reports Reuters Point Carbon. The body is weighing giving free credits in “trade-exposed” industries like cement production, the news service says. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/08/02/calif-carbon-credits-could-be-free-to-firms-at-risk-of-leaving-state/ Earth sucking up increasing amounts of carbon dioxide. The Earth's ability to soak up man-made carbon dioxide emissions is a crucial yet poorly understood process with profound implications for climate change. Among the questions that have vexed climate scientists is whether the planet can keep pace with humanity's production of greenhouse gases. The loss of this natural damper would carry dire consequences for global warming. A study published in Thursday's edition of the journal Nature concludes that these reservoirs are continuing to increase their uptake of carbon — and show no sign of diminishing. In an accounting of the global "carbon budget," researchers calculated that Earth's oceans, plants and soils had almost doubled their uptake of carbon each year for the last half-century. In 1960, these carbon sinks absorbed around 2.4 billion metric tons of carbon; in 2010, that figure had grown to around 5 billion metric tons. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-land-ocean-carbon-sinks-20120802,0,1935104.story Conversion of climate change skeptic not likely to sway GOP. Are two of the left’s most useful villains, Charles and David Koch, not quite as unredeemable as liberals believe? Could it be they might change their minds about climate change and admit that it is real? UC Berkeley physics professor Richard A. Muller says that, after years of paying for studies by global warming skeptics, the Koch brothers honestly want to get the science clarified. They helped fund Muller who, only three years ago, doubted that the Earth was heating up to dangerous levels due to human activity. Now, with his Koch-funded research complete, he has reversed himself. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/topoftheticket/la-na-tt-climate-change-skeptic-20120802,0,5819816.story Facebook reveals its carbon footprint. Facebook has, for the first time, revealed the carbon footprint of its operations and its more than 900m users' likes, photo albums and status updates. The data, published on Wednesday, shows that despite the social networking's rising star, its carbon emissions are still a fraction of internet rival Google. Facebook's annual emissions were 285,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2011, compared with Google's 1.5m tons in 2010. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/aug/01/facebook-google-carbon-footprint FUELS Lack of funding slows research into possible public health effects of gas drilling. Is gas drilling ruining the air, polluting water and making people sick? The evidence is sketchy and inconclusive, but a lack of serious funding is delaying efforts to resolve those pressing questions and creating a vacuum that could lead to a crush of lawsuits, some experts say. A House committee in June turned down an Obama administration request to fund $4.25 million in research on how drilling may affect water quality. In the spring, Pennsylvania stripped $2 million of funding that included a statewide health registry to track respiratory problems, skin conditions, stomach ailments and other illnesses potentially related to gas drilling. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/lack-of-funding-slows-research-into-possible-public-health-effects-of-gas-drilling/2012/08/01/gJQA8fZkPX_story.html Shell Opens New Demonstration Hydrogen Station in California. Shell announced the opening of a new demonstration hydrogen station in Newport Beach, California today. 'Demonstration hydrogen filling stations allow us to evaluate a range of different technologies and learn valuable lessons about costs, consumer behavior and how to dispense it efficiently to different vehicles,' said Matias Sanchez Cane, North America Commercial Manager for Shell Alternative Energies. 'To reduce costs and achieve its commercial potential, hydrogen requires considerable cooperation between fuel providers, car makers, equipment suppliers and governments. Posted. http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2012-08-02&val=336986&cat=energy VEHICLES Ford adding 225 jobs, new assembly line to build hybrid transmissions. Ford Motor Co. is hiring 225 workers and adding an assembly line at a Detroit-area plant to make a new hybrid-electric transmission. Ford says it’s investing $220 million in the Van Dyke Transmission plant in Sterling Heights to make the new transmission. The new transmission is the first designed and produced entirely be Ford, which used to get its hybrid transmissions from a Japanese supplier. The transmission will be used in several new vehicles that go on sale this fall. The vehicles include the C-Max hybrid and plug-in hybrid small SUVs and hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ midsize sedans. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/ford-adding-225-jobs-new-assembly-line-to-build-hybrid-transmissions/2012/08/02/gJQAi5wyRX_story.html EVs in Italy: Market trends and policy updates. Looking at the geographic basis, Italy is mainly made of small cities and concentrated metropolitan areas, perfectly suitable for electric vehicles. On the infrastructure side, a publication from Pike Research in July 2012 rated Italy as the 5th European country for a future infrastructure charging points market. So what is holding Italy back in moving faster forward on the introduction of low emission cars? Looking at the facts, the EV market in Italy is very small today, with hybrids and full EV combined making up less than 1% of total car sales in the first part of 2012. This does not come as a surprise given that the range of models offered was very limited until 2012 because no Italian car manufacturer was offering EVs, so drivers interested in purchasing a PHEV/EV had so far to revert to French or Japanese manufacturers. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4830 MISCELLANEOUS Ports give clean air awards to six companies. Six companies have been honored for their air pollution-lowering efforts. The ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles on Wednesday gave Clean Air Action Plan Air Quality Awards in two categories. In the category of Air Quality Leadership at the corporate level, the ports honored SA Recycling LLCP; international shipping line APL; tugboat operator Harley Marine Services. In the Significant Early Action to Reduce Emissions category, awards were given to Pacific Harbor Line; BP, which has two petroleum terminals in Long Beach and operates the only tanker facility in the world to use shore power during the offloading of cargo; and Matson Navigation Co. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_21212639/ports-give-clean-air-awards-six-companies OPINION Climate change science, not hype. Last week, NASA announced that 97% of Greenland's vast ice sheet had undergone at least some surface melting this summer, compared with a normal melt area of about 50%. The 2012 figure, said the headline on the space agency's press release, was "unprecedented." That's a powerful word in any context, but it's especially so when you're talking about the politically charged topic of climate change. If the melting was unprecedented, it would reinforce the idea that scientists are right about the dangers of human-generated greenhouse gases, and at the same time make it harder for skeptics to take potshots at the science. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-lemonick-climate-science-skeptics-20120802,0,2483181.story COLUMN-Renewable-energy tax hike can be justified: Gerard Wynn. Developers have made big returns from subsidies on renewable energy projects, raising the question whether new tax increases are justified in a continuing financial crisis or merely state opportunism. Investors are arguing the latter, but the picture is more nuanced. The Czech Republic recently won court backing for a tax on solar projects, which Bulgaria is considering emulating, while Spain plans to raise an additional 6 billion euros ($7.38 billion) or so a year from new taxes on power generation. The measures all have the effect of cutting returns to projects, so it could be argued that they are similar to retroactive cuts in subsidies that, in the case of renewable energy, guarantee a power price premium called a feed-in tariff. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/08/02/column-wynn-renewable-taxes-idINL6E8IRLHN20120802 The secrets drillers can hide about the fracking in your backyard. Are frackers in your state allowed to keep secrets? A new analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council shows that the majority of states where fracking occurs have no disclosure laws at all, and that those that do are woefully behind when it comes to revealing behind-the-scenes details of their operations. While the Obama administration has put some new rules in place, many decisions about what drillers are allowed to hide are left to the states; Interior Secretary Ken Salazar complained to Reuters that state-level regulation is “not good enough for me, because states are at very different levels — some have zero; some have decent rules.” Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/the-secrets-drillers-can-hide-about-the-fracking-in-your-backyard/ Science is not for sale. Money, as the saying goes, can't buy you love. It turns out it can't buy science either. And if there's anybody who'd want to make such a purchase it would be the Charles Koch Charitable Foundation, which, along with its libertarian petrochemical billionaire founder Charles G. Koch, has, as the Los Angeles Times subtly put it, "a considerable history of backing groups that deny climate change." The scientist in question is Richard A. Muller, professor of physics at University of California, Berkeley, MacArthur Fellow and co-founder of the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project, whose research was heavily funded by the charity. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120802/A_OPINION01/208020305&cid=sitesearch BLOGS A Deeper Look at Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest in ‘Frackademia.’ Opponents of expanded gas drilling have coined the term “frackademia” for university research on the potential impacts of the boom in shale gas drilling that involves industry money or experts with industry ties. The effort, of course, is aimed at conveying that industry money or relationships leads to bad science. I’ve seen studies of this kind that have robust findings. The “Future of Natural Gas” analysis of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Institute, while undertaken with some industry money and (marginally disclosed) relationships of authors to energy companies, appears to have held up well to independent scrutiny, for instance. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/01/a-deeper-look-at-undisclosed-conflicts-of-interest-in-frackademia/ Extreme weather and climate change: Caution required but not reckless statements. In the wake of punishing heat waves, historic droughts, extensive flooding and extraordinary melt activity on Greenland, many are asking if we are seeing long-predicted results of climate change, caused primarily by man-made heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions. Recent studies on extreme events found in an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report and the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society suggest that such events may not be attributable to weather variability alone. They also echo warnings issued by scientists for decades. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/extreme-weather-and-climate-change-caution-required-but-not-reckless-statements/2012/08/02/gJQAQjcjRX_blog.html Big Drought Makes for a Small ‘Dead Zone.’ In yet another display of the inexorable interdependence of Earth’s ecosystems, a bad summer for Midwestern farmland has turned out to be a good one for life in the Gulf of Mexico. Researchers from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium have found that this summer’s hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico – the oxygen-devoid area of water colloquially known as the dead zone – covers one of the smallest areas recorded since scientists began measuring the hypoxic zone in 1985. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/02/big-drought-makes-for-a-small-dead-zone/ Revisiting a U.S. Carbon Tax. Worries over the budget deficit and, to a lesser extent, over climate change are stirring new interest in an idea that could tackle both: a carbon tax. The concept is as simple as it is politically sensitive—place a tax on carbon-dioxide emissions, which will help drive them down. Use the proceeds to cut taxes elsewhere or reduce the deficit. On Thursday, Rep. Jim McDermott (D., Wash.) is set to introduce a carbon bill in the House that sets a target for reduction in emissions and instructs the executive branch to impose a tax sufficient to meet that target. The bill is designed to cut emissions of greenhouse gases and raise tens of billions of dollars that could help pay down the deficit. Posted http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/08/02/revisiting-a-carbon-tax/?KEYWORDS=cliKEYWORDS%3Dclimate+change Climate change turns personal: why brands must adapt. Until recently, climate change remained an abstract concept to most Americans — something that may have long-term consequences for the planet, but moving too slowly be a significant concern in their daily lives. Today, however, such sentiments may be beginning to change. As more and more Americans experience such events firsthand, they’re beginning to make the connection between climate change and its growing impact. Natural disasters and extreme weather events such as high winds and rain storms, floods, droughts and heat waves are happening more frequently — and with greater intensity. Posted. http://theenergycollective.com/davidwigder/99331/climate-change-turns-personal-why-brands-must-adapt Chevy Volt sells 1,849 in July, Nissan Leaf just 395. In the U.S. plug-in vehicle market, the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid continues to dominate the all-electric Nissan Leaf. After five months of the Volt beating the Leaf ... the same thing happened in July. The Volt sold 1,849 units last month, up from 1,760 in June and up from 125 in July 2011. The increase happened even though GM's overall sales were down six percent compared to July 2011. Most of the loss was from a 41 percent drop in fleet sales. The Chevrolet Spark sold 1,460 units in July, the first month it was on sale. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/01/chevy-volt-sells-1849-july-2011-nissan-leaf-just-395/ Renting Electric, Hybrid And Green Cars: What Are Your Options? If you drive an electric car, hybrid, diesel or other green vehicle day-to-day, you might like to know that you can rent similar when you go abroad, or even when you fly across country to visit relatives. Luckily, many rental and car-sharing firms offer green vehicles on their fleets, and some even have dedicated green vehicle policies allowing drivers to pick a more environmentally-friendly option when they rent. So next time you travel, what are your options? Posted. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1078175_renting-electric-hybrid-and-green-cars-what-are-your-options ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 12:09:26 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 3, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 3, 2012 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 Judge dismisses lawsuit over Wyoming coal leases. A federal judge has dismissed a legal challenge from environmental groups that sought to block federal coal leases in Wyoming's Powder River Basin on the grounds that burning the coal would contribute to global warming. The Sierra Club and WildEarth Guardians had challenged the federal government's sale of leases on 2 billion tons of coal. The leases are on U.S. Bureau of Land Management lands near Arch Coal's Black Thunder mine and Peabody Energy's North Antelope Rochelle mine - two of the world's largest coal mines. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/02/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-over-wyoming-coal-leases/#ixzz22V7Mk0uW Half of air particulates in North America imported from Asia. Atmospheric aerosols, tiny solid particles such as soot and dust, affect not only air quality—and therefore human health—but also the climate. Aerosols absorb and scatter both incoming and outgoing radiation, directly affecting air temperature, and also indirectly influence climate by influencing cloud formation. Unfortunately, the contribution from aerosols is one of the more uncertain aspects of global climate models, in part because of their complicated movement: they can travel thousands of miles with the wind, affecting countries and even continents far from their source. A paper published in this week's issue of Science shows that the volume of these traveling particles can actually rival the amount produced locally. This means that regulations on local emissions will only help fix part of the problem. Posted. http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/08/half-of-air-particulates-in-north-america-imported-from-asia/ CLIMATE CHANGE California defends use of offsets in CO2 market. California's air regulator this week defended its decision to allow emitters to use offset credits in the state's forthcoming emissions trading system, refuting claims made in a lawsuit by two green groups that there is no way to ensure the environmental integrity of those projects. The plaintiffs who brought the case, environmental groups the Citizens Climate Lobby and Our Children's Earth Foundation, argued that there is no way to accurately measure the environmental impact of carbon offset projects, and have asked the court to step in to prevent the California Air Resources Board (ARB) from issuing them carbon credits. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/08/03/us-california-carbon-idINBRE87209M20120803 Majority of Californians say they know nothing about emissions cap-and-trade program. California's landmark global-warming bill was a white-hot topic in the 2010 governor's race and remains former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature environmental achievement. But as the state prepares to unroll the law's cap-and-trade program in November with the first state auctions of emissions permits, a new poll finds that 57 percent of Californians say they have never heard anything about the program. The statewide poll by the Public Policy Institute of California further found that 30 percent of respondents said they had heard "a little," while just 12 percent said they had heard "a lot." Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/elections/ci_21213312/more-than-half-californians-say-they-know-nothing?source=rss Cap and Trade Company Pitches to Hoopa. Hoopa has trees. Old growth trees and lots of them compared to most places in California, or even the nation. Hoopa’s old growth forests make it a competitive player in California’s carbon offsetting market. California’s 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act set forth an ambitious plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. The Cap and Trade program started on January 1, 2012, with an enforceable compliance obligation beginning in 2013. According to Sean Carney, president of Finite Carbon, a national carbon credit brokerage firm, Hoopa’s forests are second to none in terms of potential for cleaning pollution produced by big industry like Pacific Gas and Electric, LA Department of Water and Power, Chevron, BP and Shell. Posted. http://www.tworiverstribune.com/2012/08/growing-money-on-trees/ Northern ice study defies theories. Greenland’s ice seems less vulnerable than feared to a runaway melt that would drive up world sea levels, according to a study showing that a surge of ice loss has petered out. “It is too early to proclaim the ice sheet’s future doom” caused by climate change, lead author Kurt Kjaer of the University of Copenhagen wrote in a statement of the findings in Friday’s edition of the journal Science. An examination of old photos taken from planes revealed a sharp thinning of glaciers in northwest Greenland from 1985 to 1993, the experts in Denmark, Britain and the Netherlands wrote. Another pulse of ice loss in the area lasted from 2005 to 2010. Posted. http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Northern+study+defies+theories/7033696/story.html#ixzz22VAgGZM4 DIESEL EMISSIONS August brings CARB truck enforcement heat. Don’t be surprised if you see California Air Resources Board enforcement staff along California entry points, ports and truck stops this month. August is “Gear Up for Clean Truck Month” at CARB, which has organized an enforcement blitz aimed at making truck and trailer owners aware of the state’s emissions regulations. CARB staff says they want to increase awareness, which may come in the form of a warning or a citation. “We just want people to know what they need to do,” said Bruce Tuter, manager of compliance and outreach for CARB’s mobile sources division. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=23975 State launches new crackdown on polluting trucks. Use a truck in your business? Better make sure it’s up to snuff when it comes to emissions. That’s because the state is launching a statewide, month-long enforcement campaign to spot polluting trucks.The California Air Resources Board says the multi-agency campaign is to make sure that trucks are in compliance with air pollution laws."Our goal this month is to do everything in our power to make sure truckers know the rules and that they understand how to comply," says CARB Executive Officer James Goldstene. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=21611 FUELS Fraud Fears Put a Chill in Fuel Program. A government program designed in part to foster innovative new producers of alternative diesel fuels is now endangered by fears of burgeoning fraud. Congress in 2005 and 2007 set mandates requiring major oil refiners to purchase credits representing gallons of diesel-motor fuel made from alternative sources, such as cooking oil and soybeans. The idea was to jump-start a new industry by attracting start-ups that otherwise would have trouble competing on price with established biodiesel producers. But federal charges that two small producers passed along worthless credits—and warnings that more cases could be coming—have spooked major buyers, threatening the viability of the small companies trying to gain a foothold. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444840104577550944057955070.html?KEYWORDS=fuels Argus launches California LCFS assessment. Global energy and commodity price reporting agency Argus has launched the first published market price assessment for California Low Carbon Fuel Standard credits. Argus' expanded coverage of California emissions markets includes weekly spot assessments of the LCFS credits. The new data will be published weekly in Argus Air Daily, Argus US Products and Argus US Ethanol. Through these market services, Argus offers extensive renewable energy market price data. Posted. http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/8995/argus-launches-california-lcfs-assessment Amid drought, high corn prices, industries urge continued support of advanced biofuels. As oil companies, livestock farmers and bipartisan legislators implore U.S. EPA to alter the required level of corn ethanol gallons, leaders from the advanced and cellulosic biofuel industries are warning them not to gut the federal law to support biofuels. In an environment scorched by drought, ethanol opponents say the federal renewable fuel standard (RFS) -- which ensures that 15.2 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol is mixed in the nation's fuel supply this year -- is constricting the supply of animal feed and will raise prices at the grocery store. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/08/03/2 SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES U.S. Energy Department gives Ford $3.1M grant to improve batteries. The U.S. Department of Energy is giving Ford a $3.1-million grant to work on improving the efficiency of advanced batteries for use in alternative-energy vehicles. Ford will partner with a Texas firm, Arbin Instruments, to develop a high-precision battery testing device to improve battery-life forecasting and monitoring. The device will reduce the time and expense required in the research, development, and qualification testing of new batteries. Posted. http://www.freep.com/article/20120802/BUSINESS01/308020222/1014/business01 Conversion EVs taking off and solar fast charging at home - Electric Japan Weekly No44. In Miyazaki prefecture the Japanese company EVHonda, specialised in EV conversions, has organised workshops for the conversion of cars to electric vehicles. The training follows the “Guidelines for Converted Electric Vehicles” published by the Association for the Promotion of Electric Vehicles (APEV) in April 2011. The Miyazaki branch of the Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization underlined that the introduction of converted EVs helps bring up the number of electric vehicles in Miyazaki prefecture. The prefecture hopes with these initiatives to create a centre of excellence that will attract companies to the region. Okaden, a company in Sendai, Miyazaki, is already specialising in EV conversions and would like to see the EV business in the region expanding. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4836 HIGH-SPEED RAIL High-speed rail gains steam. Plans for a high-speed rail line connecting Houston with the Dallas-Fort Worth region are slowly gaining momentum as local and state agencies, both public and private, explore options on how best to build a potential line. Those options include from where the funding may come from and where the line would be built. The America 2050 report, conducted by the Texas Transportation Institute—a member of the Texas A&M University System charged with solving transportation challenges—ranked the Houston-to-Dallas corridor first in terms of the need for a high-speed, intercity passenger rail. Posted. http://impactnews.com/articles/high-speed-rail-gains-steam High-speed rail board OKs plan for Caltrans to shift part of Highway 99. It's still not determined when shovels will start digging, but some of the first real construction on California's proposed high-speed train project could be done by the state's highway department. The California High-Speed Rail Authority on Thursday authorized its executives to ink an agreement with the California Department of Transportation to handle the design and execution of a 2.5-mile relocation of Highway 99 through central Fresno. The project could be worth up to $226 million. The authority's board, however, was shorthanded for the vote following the resignation of board member Russ Burns. Burns, business manager for the Operating Engineers Union Local 3, sent his resignation letter to board chairman Dan Richard on Monday. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/02/2933888/high-speed-rail-board-member-resigns.html California High-Speed Rail board member resigns for day job. California High-Speed Rail Authority board member Russ Burns resigned this week to devote more time to his day job. Burns, who is business manager for the Operating Engineers Union Local 3, sent his resignation letter to board chairman Dan Richard on Monday. Co-vice chairman Tom Richards noted Burns' decision at the start of Thursday's board meeting. Richards said Burns "is needing to turn his time and his efforts toward the administration of Local 3. We will miss him." Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/02/2934990/california-high-speed-rail-board.html GREEN ENERGY Hawaii wind farm that had fire is industry pioneer. The wind farm on Oahu's North Shore that suffered a fire this week is an industry pioneer that uses storage batteries to even out the electricity it supplies. Energy Secretary Steven Chu two years ago hailed the project as having the potential to set an example for other wind developers around the nation. The department guaranteed a $117 million loan to Kahuku Wind Power for facility's construction. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/02/hawaii-wind-farm-that-had-fire-is-industry/#ixzz22V8KUiwO OPINION Cap-and-trade system must be done right. It won't be on the ballot, but California's cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions is the other big story in November. That's the month when the state will launch the world's second-largest cap-and-trade program. It's critically important that we get this right, and there will be a lot of pressure to get it wrong. The first matter of importance is maintaining the price pressure of the carbon credits themselves. The AB32 statute directs the Air Resources Board to minimize all feasible emissions "leakage," or the scenario by which greenhouse gas reductions in California lead to increased emissions outside the state - particularly because California businesses find it advantageous to relocate. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Cap-and-trade-system-must-be-done-right-3755523.php Delaisla: Get informed on climate change. As the East Coast of the United States recovered from a very hot spell, historic wild fires were recorded in New Mexico, Colorado and throughout the Southwest, with record temperatures in the Midwest and other places. That's the scope of climate change as we know it. Mostly, we simply see it as weather variation, not as the long-warned-about global man-made warming. The picture is still not large enough — a wide perspective calls for a director's cut, a multi-screen theater of mind and a larger geographical notion, that what happens in one screening room also is the story running in the other theater. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/02/delaisla-get-informed-on-climate-change/#ixzz22V7iOZax Ross Clark, Earth Matters: Addressing climate change a team sport. Most people today would agree that reducing our impact on the climate is a good thing -- but knowing where to start is a different matter. You may have already turned your heating thermostat down and switched out your incandescent light bulbs for energy-saving fluorescent bulbs. And even if you're not ready to buy a new car, you can decide your next vehicle will be electric or a hybrid. Still, if you're like many concerned residents overwhelmed with the prospect of climate change, you may feel like these actions are simply sandbags against the large-scale tidal wave of global warming. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_21224939/ross-clark-earth-matters-addressing-climate-change-team?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com BLOGS Who Are Your Sources? Two years ago I traveled to southern Indiana to write about a House race between an incumbent Democrat, Baron Hill, against a Tea Party-supported Republican, Todd Young.Mr. Hill said he believed that climate change was real, human activity was causing it and government must act to address it. He voted for a cap-and-trade bill that passed the House by a narrow margin in 2009. Mr. Young said he was skeptical about the human impact on the climate and that any global warming trend was probably a cyclical phenomenon. His Tea Party supporters agreed with him, and he won the contest by 10 percentage points. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/who-do-you-count-on/ On Climate Change, Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained: Part 1. Among political insiders in Washington, the conventional wisdom is that action on global climate change is a dead issue for the foreseeable future. But that need not, and should not, be the case. The atmospheric thermostat isn't on hold while we wait for a better political moment. And outside the beltway where voters are dealing with drought, floods, fires and heat waves -- and soon, higher food prices -- the right political moment may already have arrived. What remains is for our current and prospective elected leaders to seize it. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-s-becker/climate-change-politics_b_1725675.html Germany Installs Over 4 Gigawatts of Solar Power in First Half of 2012. Some more superlatives for Germany's solar power expansion: PV Magazine reports that in the first hald of 2012 Germany has installed just over 4.37 gigawatts of grid-tied solar power. Remarkably just about 1.8 GW of that happened in June alone (perhaps even more remarkable, this isn't even a record amount for one month in Germany). If you're not already impressed, consider some other indicators of the commitment to solar power in Germany and the strong progress being made there: Back in May, over one weekend solar power provided half of Germany's electricity. Half! Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/germany-installs-over-4-gigawatts-solar-power-first-half-2012.html Congressman Introduces Carbon Tax Bill. Today, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) introduced the “Managed Carbon Price Act of 2012″ (MCP), a bill imposing a tax on carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from producers of coal, oil, and natural gas, refineries, and other covered sources. The MCP has roughly the same long-term goal as the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill, the Copenhagen climate treaty, and California Assembly Bill 32 — an 80% emissions reduction below 2005 levels by 2050. Under the MCP, covered sources would have to purchase (non-tradeable) permits equal to the quantity of CO2-equivalent GHGs they emit. The Secretary of Treasury, in consulatation with the Secy. of Energy and Administrator of EPA, would “manage” permit prices to ensure that both the long-term and interim reduction targets are met. Posted. http://www.globalwarming.org/2012/08/02/congressman-introduces-carbon-tax-bill/ Electric vehicles: a boon for retailers? There are comparatively few electric vehicles on the road, but researchers are beginning to uncover consumer behavior trends that could influence everything from how utilities charge for electricity to where and how people shop. Electric vehicle charger maker ECOtality has learned that electric vehicle (EV) owners spend significantly more time in stores than typical customers when charging at those locations. It has installed chargers at retailers including IKEA, Kohls, Cracker Barrel, and Fred Meyer under a grant from the Department of Energy (DOE). Posted. http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/electric-vehicles-a-boon-for-retailers/18278 Alt-fuel vehicle sales slowed in July as EV demand stalls. U.S. sales of advanced-powertrain vehicles in July had their slowest year-over-year growth rate in three months, and below-peak gas prices may be putting domestic consumers in a little less of a frenzy when it comes to lowering their refueling bills. Additionally, electric-vehicle sales stalled, another small indication that the American public remains somewhat hesitant to plug in full time. Automakers sold more than 39,000 hybrids and plug-in vehicles last month. That marked an impressive 66-percent growth rate from July 2011's total of more than 23,000 units, but which represented the slowest growth rate since April's 54 percent. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/03/alt-fuel-vehicle-sales-slowed-in-july-as-ev-demand-stalls/ ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 14:35:23 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 6, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 6, 2012. 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 Dust from Asia Fills North America's Atmosphere. Nearly half of the tiny droplets and particles suspended high in the atmosphere over North America comes from other continents, an examination of satellite data reveals. "That is a big number: half. I wasn’t expecting anything like that," study researcher Lorraine Remer of the University of Maryland says in a video released in conjunction with the new study on aerosols. Specifically, the research team found that 70.5 million tons (64 teragrams) of foreign aerosols — which include naturally occurring dust as well as pollution — arrive over North America every year. Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48469557#.UCAHwNVp33U CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Change Study Ties Recent Heat Waves To Global Warming. The relentless, weather-gone-crazy type of heat that has blistered the United States and other parts of the world in recent years is so rare that it can't be anything but man-made global warming, says a new statistical analysis from a top government scientist. The research by a man often called the "godfather of global warming" says that the likelihood of such temperatures occurring from the 1950s through the 1980s was rarer than 1 in 300. Now, the odds are closer to 1 in 10, according to the study by NASA scientist James Hansen. He says that statistically what's happening is not random or normal, but pure and simple climate change. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/04/climate-change-heat-wave-global-warming_n_1742653.html WCI Inc. director steps down after 4 months. The executive director of the Western Climate Initiative Inc. has stepped down after four months on the job. Anita Burke cited personal reasons in stepping down. She was hired at the end of March to help set up the first economywide greenhouse gas market in North America. The cap-and-trade system set to begin in California next year is in the midst of preparing for an initial auction of allowances this November to large emitters of carbon dioxide. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/08/06/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB enforcement campaign to focus on trucker compliance, education. August may be the dog days of summer, but in California it’s Gear Up for Clean Truck Month, with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) launching a multi-agency campaign to make sure that trucks traversing the state’s highways are in compliance with state air pollution laws. "Our goal this month is to do everything in our power to make sure truckers know the rules and that they understand how to comply," said CARB Executive Officer James Goldstene. "All our diesel regulations were adopted with one thing in mind — protecting public health. Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2012/8/6/CARBenforcementcampaigntofocusontruckercomplianceeducation.aspx http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-print.asp?news_id=77686 FUELS Gas industry advertising shifts toward issues. Black-and-white images show steelworkers inside a mill. They walk outside and hand a short section of pipe to a natural gas crew, shown in full color. "Drilling is just the beginning," says the new Range Resources Corp. TV ad that ties Western Pennsylvania's steel history to the gas drilling industry that's taken hold here in recent years. The "baton" handoff ad shot with local workers at U.S. Steel Corp.'s Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock runs during NBC's Olympics broadcasts across most of PennsylvaniaPosted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Gas-industry-advertising-shifts-toward-issues-3766090.php Iowa Ethanol Production: Midwest Fuel Plants Slow Down As Effects Of Drought Set In. Ethanol plants are voluntarily slowing production as corn prices climb and supplies tighten amid a widespread drought that has generated discussion about whether more of the crop should be devoted to food production. Ethanol production nationally has dropped by 20 percent since the beginning of the year and is at a two-year low, said Bob Dinneen, CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, a national trade group. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/03/midwest-iowa-nebraska-ethanol-production_n_1739345.html VEHICLES Craving Energy and Glory, Pakistan Revels in Boast of Water-Run Car. In a nation thirsting for energy, he loomed like a messiah: a small-town engineer who claimed he could run a car on water. The assertion — based on the premise that he had discovered a way to easily split the oxygen and hydrogen atoms in water molecules with almost no energy — would, if proven, represent a stunning breakthrough for physics and a near-magical solution to Pakistan’s desperate power crisis. “By the grace of Allah, I have managed to make a formula that converts less voltage into more energy,” the professed inventor, Agha Waqar Ahmad, said in a telephone interview. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/world/asia/boast-of-water-run-car-thrills-pakistan.html?_r=1&ref=science&pagewanted=print Military adding more electric vehicles to fleet. Electric vehicles are becoming a more common sight on military bases as the Department of Defense adds “road-capable” electric cars such as the Chevy Volt to a fleet of thousands of smaller battery-powered vehicles. Last month, the first two Chevy Volts arrived at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., where they will be used as nontactical government vehicles. Eighteen Volts are about to hit the roads at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Marine Corps and Air Force officials said. The moves are part of the Defense Department’s “green initiatives,” which seek to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign energy sources. Posted. http://www.stripes.com/news/military-adding-more-electric-vehicles-to-fleet-1.184928 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Highway 99 work for high-speed rail delayed until 2014. Work to shift part of Highway 99 through central Fresno to make way for high-speed train tracks may not begin until at least early 2014. That's the official expectation after the California High-Speed Rail Authority voted Thursday to approve an agreement with Caltrans for moving the 2.5-mile stretch of the highway between Ashlan and Clinton avenues. The agreement, worth up to $226 million, calls for Caltrans to work as a contractor for the rail authority. The state highway agency will be responsible for design and construction to nudge the highway over by about 100 feet to accommodate new high-speed train tracks between the highway and the adjacent Union Pacific Railroad freight tracks. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/03/2935041/hwy-99-shifting-in-fresno-from.html GREEN ENERGY Investing in the grid: When the going gets tough, the tough get … creative. The unexpected storms that knocked out power to millions in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic last month highlighted how fragile America’s electric grid is. But while front-page photos of fallen trees and utility repair trucks capture people’s attention, there’s a much more grave and fundamental threat to our electric grid. The U.S. grid system was born in the 1920s, and has seen few major upgrades since the 1960s. With America’s growing population and exploding demand — bigger houses, A/C units, TVs, iThings — we have serious congestion and inadequate capacity on our nation’s power lines. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/investing-in-the-grid-when-the-going-gets-tough-the-tough-get-creative/ MISCELLANEOUS Davis biotech company AgraQuest is a striking success story. If this were Silicon Valley, the story of AgraQuest Inc. would barely make a ripple. In the Sacramento area, where high-tech startups struggle and big payouts are rare, what's happened to the Davis biotech company is nothing short of remarkable. AgraQuest, which makes chemical-free pesticides and fungicides, agreed to be sold last month for $425 million – one of the richest takeovers the region has seen in years. The buyer is agribusiness giant Bayer CropScience. AgraQuest's sale could bring more jobs, as Bayer plans to make the Davis firm the center of its green-products business. It also could inspire young firms struggling in Sacramento's often difficult entrepreneurial climate. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/06/v-print/4696300/davis-biotech-company-agraquest.html OPINION Get It Right on Gas. WE are in the midst of a natural gas revolution in America that is a potential game changer for the economy, environment and our national security — if we do it right. The enormous stores of natural gas that have been locked away in shale deposits across America that we’ve now been able to tap into, thanks to breakthroughs in seismic imaging, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” are enabling us to replace much dirtier coal with cleaner gas as the largest source of electricity generation in America. And natural gas may soon be powering cars, trucks and ships as well. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/opinion/sunday/friedman-get-it-right-on-gas.html?scp=3&sq=climate%20change&st=Search Is It Hot Enough for Ya? CLIMATE change is hardly a seasonal issue, but summer is the only time of year when Americans and the news media regularly fix their attention on the everyday heat emergency that’s already altering life on our planet. Indeed, this summer’s record-shattering weather across the United States has created a heightened level of interest in and concern about the consequences of climate change. For the moment, we have an opportunity to make fundamental changes to the way our country deals with the environment, changes that would lock in public acceptance of climate change. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/05/opinion/sunday/is-it-hot-enough-for-ya.html?scp=2&sq=climate%20change&st=Search Coal-generated electricity -- a burning issue. Will the U.S. have to wean itself off its abundant energy source? Responding to Robert Bryce's July 27 Op-Ed article on coal-generated electricity, "Dirty but essential," Irvin Dawid wrote in a letter published Wednesday: "Bryce begins his Op-Ed article on coal at Peabody Energy's huge North Antelope Rochelle Mine near Gillette, Wyo. Is that really the best place to get an idea as to how 'essential' coal is to our future? "I would point Bryce to a Georgia Power Co.plant featured in a July 14 NPR report. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0804-postscript-coal-20120804,0,6776668.story Climate science still trumps skeptics. My Op-Ed article on climate science and climate hype provoked plenty of online responses -- as pretty much anything touching on this very touchy subject inevitably will. Also quite predictably, several of the comments repeated critiques of mainstream climate science that have been raised and thoroughly debunked literally hundreds of times. Here’s a sampling, along with my responses: "theblooms" writes: "Anthropogenic Global Warming is FAR FROM PROVEN. If the evidence is so damn clear-cut, then why did the East Anglia University Climate Research Unit cook the books and falsify the data?" Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-climate-science-skeptics-20120803,0,5920056.story Pete Stark has climate bill Obama, Romney should support. Re "Presidential contenders can't duck climate change" (Editorial, July 31): The editorial board notes, "Both candidates must be pressed on what policies they would pursue, both nationally and globally. If Muller can change his tune on climate change, Obama and Romney can at least discuss the issue and offer solutions. The stakes involved couldn't be higher." U.S. Rep. Pete Stark, D-Fremont, has offered a solution: the Save Our Climate Act (HR 3242), which will use a modified version of the fee-and-dividend model to reduce emissions, shrink the deficit, and trigger extensive job growth simultaneously. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/06/v-print/4676954/climate-change.html Editorial: More changes to CEQA? Only if vetted in the open. Gov. Jerry Brown has again raised the possibility of changes to the California Environmental Quality Act. That's the sweeping 1970 state law that requires public and private developers to analyze the impacts of their projects, study alternatives and implement mitigation measures. CEQA is a powerful legal tool, and like the legal profession itself, nearly everyone has a love-hate relationship with it. Developers have used the law to derail projects of competing developers. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/05/4691362/more-changes-to-ceqa-only-if-vetted.html Changing Views About A Changing Climate. What is the role of humans in climate change? "Call me a converted skeptic," physicist Richard Muller wrote in an Op-Ed in the New York Times this week, describing his analysis of data from the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project. Though Muller was once a notable skeptic regarding studies connecting human activity to climate change, he has now concluded that "humans are almost entirely the cause" of global warming. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2012/08/03/158085161/changing-views-about-a-changing-climate Climate change is here -- and worse than we thought. When I testified before the Senate in the hot summer of 1988, I warned of the kind of future that climate change would bring to us and our planet. I painted a grim picture of the consequences of steadily increasing temperatures, driven by mankind's use of fossil fuels. But I have a confession to make: I was too optimistic. My projections about increasing global temperature have been proved true. But I failed to fully explore how quickly that average rise would drive an increase in extreme weather. Posted. http://www.startribune.com/opinion/165072786.html?refer=y Global Climate Change: Intervention Required. As an adult, I've intervened to help family members come to grips with a serious addiction, such as alcoholism. In the face of irrefutable evidence that global climate change is causing irreparable damage to the environment, when are you and I going to do an intervention to wean humanity from its addiction to fossil fuel? This summer's extreme weather has caused all but the most dogmatic to conclude that Global Climate Change is affecting our weather. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bob-burnett/global-climate-change-int_b_1736980.html?utm_hp_ref=green Wondering if climate change is real? Just ask my cows. Of all the ways nature has to kill you, drought may be the cruelest. The desiccation proceeds day after punishing day. The afternoon sun pounds the earth like a brazen hammer. As I write, the temperature here in Perry County, Arkansas, has reached 108 degrees. The countryside is dying. There’s nothing green in my pastures except inedible weeds. Even pigweed is drooping. Our pond dried up six weeks ago. The ground beneath is bare and cracked. Up on the ridge, some hardwoods are shedding leaves and going dormant; oaks are simply dying. Posted. http://www.dailyadvance.com/opinion/other-views/wondering-if-climate-change-real-just-ask-my-cows-1164697 Straight talk on high-speed rail. High-speed rail is a visionary project that holds the potential to alter transportation patterns in the state, but many difficult challenges must be overcome before the promise of affordable high-speed rail travel comes to pass, and any one of these challenges could significantly delay or even derail the project’s completion. Approximately $4.7 billion in state and $3.3 billion in federal money have been committed to fund initial construction of the high speed rail system in the Central Valley and to improve existing rail and transit connections to that system; however, just $37 million was allocated to the San Diego region for improvements to the trolley’s Blue Line. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/aug/04/keeping-on-track/ Heed air board, throw away the green Kool-Aid. In 2008, Barack Obama vowed that once he was president a wave of well-paying “green” jobs would lift the woeful U.S. economy. In 2010, Jerry Brown vowed that once he was governor, a wave of well-paying “green” jobs would lift the rotten California economy. But as has been documented in the news pages of The New York Times and The Washington Post, the green-jobs tidal wave proved to be a huge myth. Now it’s time to retire another green myth: the notion frequently voiced by California Democrats that not only is there little or no downside to complex environmental regulations, sometimes they even help the economy. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/aug/05/heed-air-board-toss-the-green-kool-aid/ Air pollution: should it stop you exercising? The people involved with the Olympics are determined to make athletes of us all. Bradley Wiggins's win has inspired fans to get on their bikes; meanwhile Transport for London is encouraging passengers to walk between venues during the Games. But before we start doing Usain Bolt impressions through the city, scientists and campaigners are suggesting that we ought to think about the quality of air we are inhaling first. Days before the opening ceremony, there were warnings that Olympic athletes could underperform, and even risk their health, because of London's summer smog. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/aug/05/air-pollution-should-stop-you-exercising?newsfeed=true BLOGS U.S. Fight Against E.U. Airline Emissions Plan Heats Up. A meeting of 17 non-European nations hosted by the U.S. State and Transportation departments in Washington last week ended with assurances that the participants were working toward curbing their emissions from aviation. Given that no European Union countries were invited to the gathering, it was unsurprising that all the participating nations reaffirmed their strong opposition to the European Union’s Emission Trading Scheme (E.U. ETS). Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/u-s-fight-against-european-airline-emissions-plan-heats-up/?scp=4&sq=climate%20change&st=Search Toyota and Tesla Trot Out the RAV4 EV. The RAV4 EV, a battery-powered crossover jointly developed by Toyota and Tesla, made its California debut this week. The vehicle, aimed at urban markets here, will be offered for sale this summer for $51,000. Tesla has a $100 million contract to supply the vehicle’s electric motors, power electronics, proprietary lithium-ion battery packs, single-speed gearboxes and software. The components, the companies said, were similar to those in Tesla’s new Model S sedan. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/toyota-and-tesla-trot-out-the-rav4-ev/?ref=electricvehicles On Climate Change, Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained: Part 2. With Congress paralyzed late last year, President Barack Obama decided to assert his authority more aggressively on a number of issues: "If Congress refuses to act, I've said that I'll continue to do everything in my power to act without them." He coined a slogan: "We Can't Wait". Global climate change certainly falls into the "we can't wait" category. It's a very bad influence on things we care about -- a healthy economy, affordable food, protection from natural disasters, lower taxes, control of federal spending, and the safety of the nation's infrastructure, to name a few. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-s-becker/on-climate-change-nothing_1_b_1733372.html Climate Change and Ozone Loss Linked and May Link to Skin Cancer Incidence. For decades, scientists have known that the effects of global climate change could have a potentially devastating impact across the globe, but Harvard researchers say there is now evidence that it may also have a dramatic impact on public health. As reported in a paper published in the July 27 issue of Science, a team of researchers led by James G. Anderson, the Philip S. Weld Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry, are warning that a newly-discovered connection between climate change and depletion of the ozone layer over the U.S. could allow more damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation to reach the Earth's surface, leading to increased incidence of skin cancer. Posted. http://www.celsias.com/article/climate-change-and-ozone-loss-linked-and-may-link/ ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 12:02:12 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 8, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 8, 2012. 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 sets rules for Navajo power plant. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued its final rule aimed at cleaning up the largest single source of haze-causing pollutants in the country. Rather than mandate that the Four Corners Power Plant take one avenue to reducing nitrogen oxide emissions, the EPA is giving the plant's operators a choice, regional administrator Jared Blumenfeld told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Arizona Public Service can either upgrade the five units at the northwestern New Mexico plant or go with its own plan to shut down three units and install controls at the two others. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/APNewsBreak-EPA-sets-rules-for-Navajo-power-plant-3771861.php RICHMOND REFINERY FIRE Residents near refinery fire heckle Chevron execs. A major fire at one of the country's biggest oil refineries that sent hundreds of people to hospitals with complaints of breathing problems will push gas prices above $4 a gallon on the West Coast, analysts said Tuesday. The fire, which sent plumes of black smoke over the San Francisco Bay area, erupted Monday evening in the massive Chevron refinery about 10 miles northeast of San Francisco. It was out early Tuesday. The West Coast is particularly vulnerable to spikes in gasoline prices because it's not well-connected to the refineries along the Gulf Coast, where most of the country's refining capacity is located, analysts say. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5htmfaAwPfdaugoy5MlWbS7BRHvVg?docId=94131f5fa89345d7a0d5c01f53d71ae4 OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/07/2942331/residents-near-refinery-fire-heckle.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/analysts-calif-refinery-fire-will-push-gas-prices-past-4-a-gallon-on-west-coast/2012/08/07/b58b1b7c-e0ef-11e1-8d48-2b1243f34c85_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/08/chevron-response-to-refinery-fire-under/#ixzz22yJ1Rj73 http://www.nctimes.com/business/chevron-response-to-refinery-fire-under-criticism/article_290de67b-f120-5d13-8bcc-5025e29259b6.html http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120808/WIRE/120809602 http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_21260082/richmond-furious-crowd-confronts-chevron-refinery-government-officials Richmond: Air quality determined safe after Chevron refinery fire. The air quality in western Contra Costa County has been determined safe after test results for 23 petroleum-related pollutants were analyzed Tuesday after a fire at a Chevron refinery in Richmond on Monday night, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The air quality has been tested and determined not to be a significant health concern, with potentially toxic pollutants found to be well under levels that could impact sensitive populations, the air district said in a statement. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_21262924/richmond-air-quality-determined-safe-after-chevron-refinery CLIMATE CHANGE Ouch! July in US was hottest ever in history books. This probably comes as no surprise: Federal scientists say July was the hottest month ever recorded in the contiguous United States. The average temperature for the Lower 48 last month was 77.6 degrees. That breaks the old record from July 1936, during the Dust Bowl, by two-tenths of a degree. Records go back to 1895. Last month also was 3.3 degrees warmer than the 20th century average for July. The first seven months of 2012 were the warmest on record for the nation. And August 2011 through July this year was the warmest 12-month period on record. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21263327/ouch-july-us-was-hottest-ever-history-books California Air Resources Board Maps Polluters. On the new Google Earth map are 625 facilities that each produce more than 25,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases annually. The map breaks down facilities by industry, air district, zip code and by types of emissions. Stanley Young with CARB says the information is the foundation of the state's Cap and Trade program, "The reason why the accuracy and stringency of the reporting is important is because that helps us establish their compliance obligation -… Posted. http://www.capradio.org/articles/2012/08/07/california-air-resources-board-maps-polluters http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2012-08-08&val=355516&cat=materia http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/08/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY U.N. Climate Change Goals: U.S. Reaffirms Support After Criticism. The United States reaffirmed support for a U.N. goal of limiting global warming after criticism from the European Union and small island states that Washington seemed to be backing away. "The U.S. continues to support this goal. We have not changed our policy," U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern said in a statement on Wednesday. Almost 200 nations, including the United States, have agreed to limit rising temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) above pre-industrial times to avoid dangerous changes such as floods, droughts and rising sea levels. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/08/un-climate-change-goals_n_1754657.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Report: Pollution levels at Port of Long Beach show significant drops. The air in and around the Port of Long Beach is cleaner today than it was six years ago, according to an emissions inventory report released by harbor officials this week. The report showed significant drops in air pollution from 2005, including a 75 percent decrease in airborne diesel particulates, a 50 percent drop in nitrogen oxides, an 80 percent decrease in sulfur oxides and a 23 percent drop in greenhouse gas emissions. It is the fifth straight year the port has shown improved pollution numbers, which port officials have attributed to its clean-air programs. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_21258887/report-pollution-levels-at-port-long-beach-show FUELS Mustard goes from sandwiches to biofuel to fertilizer. You can slather it on a ham sandwich, fuel up your pickup, maybe even kill the bugs in your garden. Ken Kimes has high hopes for mustard. Kimes is president of Farm Fuel Inc., which was founded in 2007 with the aim of growing mustard for biofuel. Five years later, the company is marketing mustard seed meal as an organic fertilizer and is looking into its potential to replace chemical fumigants in the production of strawberries and other crops. "It's showing good promise at knocking back soil diseases," said Kimes. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/08/4704779/mustard-goes-from-sandwiches-to.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/08/2942700/mustard-goes-from-sandwiches-to.html#storylink=misearch VEHICLES No support for low-speed electric vehicles in China. According Su Bo, the vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), based on the “Energy-Saving and New Energy Vehicle Industry Development Plan (2012-2020),” low-speed electric vehicles will not be the focus of China’s development of new energy vehicles. Low-speed electric vehicles will not be the path followed by China’s EV industry. Low-speed electric vehicles usually use lead-acid batteries, which are can cause pollution in some cities. MIIT requires that low-speed EVs improve their product quality to must meet safety standards and national standards. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4848 Offsetting Emissions at the Pump In California. It is now possible to offset carbon emission at the pump while refueling for Fullerton, California residents who wishes to do so. Propel Fuels has become the first company to enable consumers to offset their driving emissions at the pump any time they fill their tank. Propel's flagship fuel station in Fullerton, Calif. offers customers the option to offset their carbon emissions by funding clean air projects through the Carbonfund.org Foundation. Since Propel launched CarbonOffset in May, customers have chosen to contribute $1 per fill to fully offset the emissions from their purchase more than one thousand times. Posted. http://www.hybridcars.com/news/offsetting-emissions-pump-california-49654.html HIGH-SPEED RAIL Merced City Council OKs time to plan high-speed rail station. The Merced City Council recently approved $50,000 in staff time over three years to help move ahead with plans for the construction and development of Merced's high-speed rail station. The funding is to be used in conjunction with a $600,000 grant from the California High-Speed Rail Authority, for hiring a consultant on the project. A request for proposals will be out by September, and the project should be under way by the start of next year. The final planning documents will be put together with significant input from the community, said Elaine Post, development manager for Economic Development Department. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/08/07/2463286/merced-city-council-oks-time-to.html GREEN ENERGY Black Hills to close 2 Wyo. coal-fired power units. Black Hills Corp. plans to close two coal-fired power units in Wyoming by early 2014 because the company says it would be too expensive to bring them in line with new Environmental Protection Agency pollution rules. The Casper Star-Tribune (http://bit.ly/QfecwE ) reported Wednesday that the units slated for closure are the Osage plant and one of six power stations at a complex in Gillette. The Osage plant has been idle since October 2010 but Black Hills has continued to maintain it. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Black-Hills-to-close-2-Wyo-coal-fired-power-units-3772165.php Garbage drops as CA's recycling goal grows. Californians have slashed the amount of stuff they throw away each day, pushing per capita disposal rates down to a record low last year even though the economy picked up steam. It’s a good showing — but residents aren’t doing nearly as well as they might have thought, and state officials are asking for help to dramatically boost waste reduction and recycling by 2020. That likely will result in a suite of new rules, programs and fees designed to improve reuse of materials and minimize the need for more landfills. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/aug/05/how-can-california-boost-recycling/ SD council struggles with green grades in 2011. Environmental groups on Thursday issued their annual report card for the San Diego City Council and mayor. Only a couple of leaders got the kind of grades they would want to show their parents. Council members Marti Emerald and Todd Gloria each pulled in a B grade. David Alvarez, chairman of the council’s natural resource committee, was given a C-plus. Otherwise, it was D's and F's. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/aug/02/sd-council-struggled-green-grades/ Bill Clinton comparing US foreign green energy use. Former President Bill Clinton says U.S. renewable energy efforts lag behind those in other countries, and he says action, cooperation and "thinking big" are needed to change the future. Clinton also told an audience at the fifth annual National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas on Tuesday that government can help. He says tax incentives are important, and countries like Germany and China have used them to become leaders in solar power around the world. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/07/bill-clinton-comparing-us-foreign-green-energy/#ixzz22yKAatQK Mitt Romney's green-jobs criticism carries risks. Mitt Romney's presidential campaign has been savaging what it calls President Barack Obama's "unhealthy" obsession with "green jobs." The Republican challenger criticizes the government program that propped up solar manufacturer Solyndra, and he mocks Obama's vision of a boom in employment, citing a European study to argue that new solar or wind-energy positions would destroy jobs elsewhere. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/07/romneys-green-jobs-criticism-carries-risks/#ixzz22yKuBfWQ MISCELLANEOUS California Air Resources Board to host mobile Ag regulation workshops. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) will host the first public workshops to discuss In-Use Self-Propelled Off-Road Mobile Agricultural Equipment Regulation (mobile Ag regulation) on Sept. 6 in the Central Valley and via webcast. The workshops will discuss how to reduce oxides of nitrogen emissions and particulate matter from in-use off-road diesel agricultural equipment. Posted. http://www.californiaagnet.com/pages/landing_news?California-Air-Resources-Board-to-host-m=1&blockID=625529&feedID=2523 OPINIONS The Silver Lining in the Drought. FROM where I sit on the north end of America’s grain belt, I can almost hear the corn popping to the south of me. The drought threatens to drive up global corn prices beyond their level in 2007-8, when food demonstrations broke out around the world. But such crises often lead to change — and transformation is what is needed to make our food system less vulnerable. We have become dangerously focused on corn in the Midwest (and soybeans, with which it is cultivated in rotation). This limited diversity of crops restricts our diets, degrades our soils and increases our vulnerability to droughts. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/08/opinion/the-droughts-alert-for-corn.html?_r=1 Tobacco companies fight to keep smoke in our eyes -- and lungs. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control had some good news for the health of the American public this week: Its graphic commercials showing the ravages of smoking-related illness are having a dramatic effect on people's desire to quit, according to a story published this week by USA Today. It's hard to ignore a real-life throat-cancer patient who speaks in a barely comprehensible rasp as she dons her wig, her false teeth and an artificial larynx for the day. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-smoking-cancer-commercials-20120807,0,3406673.story FORUM: How to gain energy independence. Many people are heading to the beach or mountains this summer. I decided to break out of the usual vacation routine this year. I went to Washington, D.C., so I could talk to members of Congress about climate change and energy policy. That may not sound like much fun but I had a blast, and in the process I discovered that there is hope for a better future if enough of us engage in a meaningful conversation with our government. A little background: In 1977, Jimmy Carter was president. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/forum-how-to-gain-energy-independence/article_efc7c24f-6fa4-5625-b49b-789a4d7171d0.html Opinion: Thomas L. Friedman: Getting natural gas right. We are in the midst of a natural gas revolution in America that is a potential game changer for the economy, environment and our national security -- if we do it right. The enormous stores of natural gas that have been locked away in shale deposits across America that we've now been able to tap into, thanks to breakthroughs in seismic imaging, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," are enabling us to replace much dirtier coal with cleaner gas as the largest source of electricity generation in America. And natural gas may soon be powering cars, trucks and ships as well. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_21255766/opinion-thomas-l-friedman-getting-natural-gas-right For the Next Audit—The Air Resources Board. Last week, the Department of Finance concluded a quick audit of the Special Funds portion of the budget that, whether sufficient to look into the situation or not, hopefully will start a trend in performing audits on government program revenues and costs. Next in line should be an audit on the California Air Resources Board, which the Joint Legislative Audit Committee is considering in a hearing today. Many in the business community are concerned with the lack of transparency on CARB’s responses to information regarding the use of administrative fees charged to California businesses under AB 32, the landmark greenhouse gases law. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/08/for-the-next-audit-the-air-resources-board/ The U.S. keeps passing more and more renewable energy milestones. So there’s this new television show on NBC called “Power Off” or something that’s been heavily advertised during the Olympics. (That’s not it’s name, but I can’t be bothered to look it up. If you want to, go nuts.) The premise appears to be that the world loses all of its power. It’s not clear why. So everyone runs around fighting with bows and arrows, because I guess guns use electricity now. I raise that TV show both to make fun of it and to assuage any concerns that it might have prompted. Don’t worry, America. We’re getting better and better at making electricity. Posted. http://grist.org/news/the-u-s-keeps-passing-more-and-more-renewable-energy-milestones/ BLOGS Sparing Sewers All That Restaurant Grease. Every hour of every day, plants across the United States treat the waste that flows through the nation’s sewers. The process is energy-intensive. Wastewater treatment plants often consume more electricity than any other service a city provides — sometimes even as much as 30 to 40 percent of its overall energy consumption, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In a push to produce more of its own energy, a wastewater treatment plant in Gresham, Ore., is turning to an unlikely source to generate power: the gray-white grease-filled wastewater that flows out of restaurants and other places where food is prepared. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/06/sparing-sewers-all-that-restaurant-grease/ Senate committee approves $2,500 federal tax credit for electric two-wheelers. Last week, the Senate Finance Committee approved a federal tax credit worth 10 percent of the price of electric bikes and motorcycles, up to a maximum of $2,500. If the bill passes, it would end an existing electric vehicle tax credit for golf carts that can't be taken on public highways, unlike electric bikes. The committee approved the amendment by a voice vote as part of a broader package of tax measures after a debate over whether e-bikes are worth it. Creating more U.S. jobs, and not losing them overseas, was cited as a reason for supporting it. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/07/senate-committee-approces-2-500-federal-tax-credit-for-electric/ Federal vehicle fleet larger, but more fuel-efficient. Federal agencies have been making their vehicle fleets more fuel-efficient in recent years but the number of those vehicles has been growing, a study for Congress has found. The Government Accountability Office reported that the percentage of agency fleet vehicles using alternatives to conventional gasoline or diesel fuel rose from 14 to 33 percent over 2005-2011. That increase followed a series of laws and directives stretching back 20 years aimed at reducing the government’s fuel consumption. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/post/federal-vehicle-fleet-larger-but-more-fuel-efficient/2012/08/07/18d84a98-e0bd-11e1-a19c-fcfa365396c8_blog.html New Tool Maps California’s Biggest Greenhouse Gas Emitters. Wondering where all the petroleum refineries are located in California? Curious about which industries in your area emit the most greenhouse gases? Or which counties have the most big industrial polluters, and which don’t have any at all? A new interactive map from the California Air Resources Board taps the versatility of Google Earth software to transform eye-glazing spreadsheet data into a visual, if wonky, feast. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/08/07/new-tool-maps-californias-biggest-greenhouse-gas-emitters/ http://isun.blogs.mydesert.com/2012/08/07/check-out-greenhouse-gas-emitters-in-the-coachella-valley Chevron Refinery Fire: Health Impact. Since Monday’s fire erupted just after 6pm, more than 600 people have been treated in emergency departments at Kaiser in Richmond and Doctors Medical Center in nearby San Pablo for symptoms caused by the Chevron refinery fire. One of them was Point Richmond resident Cheri Edwards. “The smoke was kind of like an oily smell, it was an oily smell, and I have asthma really bad. And right now I’m at the bus stop trying to go to Kaiser because I have been having respiratory problems.” Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/stateofhealth/2012/08/07/chevron-refinery-fire-health-impact/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FStateOfHealth+%28KQED%27s+State+of+Health%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, 9 Aug 2012 13:12:20 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 9, 2012 From: slenehan@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 9, 2012 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 Md., Del. make list of worst power plant polluters. Maryland and Delaware are among the nation's top 20 power plant polluters, according to new rankings by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Maryland ranked 19th in the rankings released Thursday, an improvement from fifth place the year before. Delaware rose one spot from 21st the year before to make it onto the top 20 list. The new rankings are based on 2010 figures, and the NRDC says new standards imposed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency mean power plant pollution should drop over the next few years. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Md-Del-make-list-of-worst-power-plant-polluters-3775595.php Spare the Air alert issued for Thursday. A Spare the Air alert has been issued for Thursday by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which is advising residents to avoid outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day, when air quality is unhealthiest. "With five Spare the Air Alerts already this summer and the hottest weather of the season likely yet to come, we need to do more to reduce air pollution," said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the air district. The district is encouraging people to carpool, work from home or bike to work to cut down on air pollution that creates smog in the summer heat. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_21265870/spare-air-alert-issued-thursday http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21265502/spare-air-alert-issued-thursday-bay-area?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21265502/spare-air-alert-issued-thursday-bay-area?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com US Magnesium loses pollution appeal. A federal appeals court is closing a loophole that let Utah industries exceed pollution emissions and escape sanctions by blaming malfunctioning equipment. Utah regulators say they were moving to close the loophole anyhow and make all unexpected pollution releases a potential Clean Air Act violation. The U.S. Environment Protection Agency is forcing the change and says Utah is on the right track. The Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the new regulation earlier this week by rejecting a challenge from U.S Magnesium. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/US-Magnesium-loses-pollution-appeal-3772644.php Air Pollution Linked With Stillbirth Risk. Air pollution has been linked to a number of breathing problems, mainly in developing countries, and now a new preliminary study looking at pollution levels in New Jersey has found an increased risk of stillbirths among women exposed to specific pollutants. "We found that different pollutants are harmful in different trimesters of pregnancy," said Dr. Ambarina Faiz, an instructor at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. For example, exposure to a high level of nitrogen dioxide was particularly harmful during the first trimester, she said. The study was published online July 18 in the American Journal of Epidemiology. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/09/air-pollution-stillbirth_n_1760301.html NOAA, partners find 50-year decline in some Los Angeles vehicle-related pollutants. In California’s Los Angeles Basin, levels of some vehicle-related air pollutants have decreased by about 98 percent since the 1960s, even as area residents now burn three times as much gasoline and diesel fuel. Between 2002 and 2010 alone, the concentration of air pollutants called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) dropped by half, according to a new study by NOAA scientists and colleagues, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research yesterday. “The reason is simple: Cars are getting cleaner,” said Carsten Warneke, Ph.D., a NOAA-funded scientist with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder. Posted. http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2012/20120809_laairqualitystudy.html RICHMOND REFINERY FIRE Effect of Chevron refinery fire on gas prices is unclear. The market is waiting for Chevron to report on the severity of damage to its refinery. The expected run-up in gasoline prices after a major fire at a Bay Area refinery may not come as quickly as expected, but it's coming. What isn't known at this point, analysts said, is how bad it will get. The market is waiting for Chevron Corp.to report on the severity of the damage to its 2,900-acre refinery in Richmond, Calif., which opened in 1902. Chevron said Wednesday that the refinery, which was shut down because of the fire at one of its units, was now partially operating. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-chevron-gas-prices-20120809,0,3198696.story Refinery fire highlights pollution concerns. A massive Chevron oil refinery fire that sent hundreds of people rushing to hospitals and is pushing West Coast gas prices higher was just the latest pollution incident at the facility that records show has increasingly violated air quality rules over the past five years. The refinery is one of three such facilities near San Francisco that rank among the state's top 10 emitters of toxic chemicals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Release Inventory. Chevron's Richmond refinery—the scene of Monday's fire that shrouded the area in black smoke—has been cited by San Francisco Bay area regulators for violating air regulations 93 times in the past five years. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iDxdJa0AIpy3B_PxnyHPZ8_XIZBQ?docId=abd6d605632642e8a1b920b858b1b8e6 OTHER RELATED ARTICLES http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/09/2944364/fire-is-latest-pollution-problem.html#storylink=misearch www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21271009/fire-is-latest-pollution-problem-at-chevron-plant?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21271009/fire-is-latest-pollution-problem-at-chevron-plant?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120808/A_NEWS/120809897&cid=sitesearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/09/fire-is-latest-pollution-problem-at-chevron/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/fire-is-latest-pollution-problem-at-chevron-plant/article_290de67b-f120-5d13-8bcc-5025e29259b6.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/08/09/2321226/fire-is-latest-pollution-problem.html#storylink=misearch http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120808/WIRE/120809567 Tests reveal safe toxics levels near Chevron refinery fire, but airborne particulates data not available. The Bay Area air district declared toxic chemical levels were safe after Monday night's Chevron refinery fire in Richmond, so why did nearly 1,700 people go to hospital emergency rooms complaining of stinging eyes, wheezing and difficulty breathing? Experts note the tests analyzed chemicals in the air, but not the particulate matter -- soot -- that turns smoke black and can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21266816/tests-reveal-safe-toxics-levels-near-chevron-refinery?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21266816/tests-reveal-safe-toxics-levels-near-chevron-refinery?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com How an oil refinery can pollute the air (infographic). Nearly 1,700 Bay Area residents went to hospital emergency rooms complaining of stinging eyes, wheezing and difficulty breathing after Monday night's Chevron refinery fire in Richmond. This simplified diagram of an oil refinery shows how and where hazardous chemicals and gases get into the air. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_21268054/ Chevron refinery fire in California highlights the site's ongoing air pollution violations. A massive refinery fire that sent hundreds of people rushing to hospitals and is likely to increase West Coast gas prices was just the latest pollution incident at the facility that records show has increasingly violated air quality rules over the past five years. The Chevron oil refinery is one of three such facilities in Contra Costa County that are among the state's top 10 emitters of toxic chemicals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Toxic Release Inventory. Posted. http://www.startribune.com/business/165423906.html?refer=y Chevron Fire Triggers Calls for Tougher Controls. The explosion and hours-long fire at Chevron’s large oil refinery in Richmond, California has triggered calls for tougher regulation of toxic chemicals. The Chevron fire reportedly released toxic chemicals including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide in unknown amounts, sending hundreds of local residents to local hospitals with breathing and eye complaints. California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control claims it has little to no oversight of dangerous substances produced in refinery accidents. Posted. http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/news/200/chevronfire08082012/ CLIMATE CHANGE Regulator urges change in California cap-and-trade program. A federal regulator asked California's governor to suspend a section of the state's cap-and-trade regulations that addresses power imported from out of state, warning that it threatens to destabilize its power supply and disrupt the world's eighth largest economy. Phillip Moeller, one of five commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), which oversees electric reliability, said in a letter to Governor Jerry Brown that California's prohibition of and lack of clarity about "resource shuffling" may disrupt its electricity market. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/08/08/us-california-carbon-idINBRE8770C320120808 Carbon Credits Gone Awry Raise Output of Harmful Gas. When the United Nations wanted to help slow climate change, it established what seemed a sensible system. Greenhouse gases were rated based on their power to warm the atmosphere. The more dangerous the gas, the more that manufacturers in developing nations would be compensated as they reduced their emissions. But where the United Nations envisioned environmental reform, some manufacturers of gases used in air-conditioning and refrigeration saw a lucrative business opportunity. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/world/asia/incentive-to-slow-climate-change-drives-output-of-harmful-gases.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/08/09/23 What Cornfields Show, Data Now Confirm: July Set Mark as U.S.’s Hottest Month. It may come as little surprise to the nation’s corn farmers or resort operators, but the official statistics are in: July was the hottest month in the lower 48 states since the government began keeping temperature records in 1895. The average temperature last month was 77.6 degrees — 3.3 degrees above the average 20th-century temperature, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported on Wednesday. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/science/earth/july-was-hottest-month-ever-recorded-in-us.html?ref=science&pagewanted=print Climate change not a presidential election issue yet. Barack Obama promised to tackle climate change when he first ran for the White House four years ago, but - battling this summer for a second term - he speaks little of the issue even as the United States suffers through a drought of historic proportions, wild storms and punishing heat that topples temperature records almost daily. As late as April, Obama told Rolling Stone magazine climate change would be a central campaign issue. Posted. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57489676/climate-change-not-a-presidential-election-issue-yet/ Seeking hardier breeds for drought, climate change. Cattle are being bred with genes from their African cousins who are accustomed to hot weather. New corn varieties are emerging with larger roots for gathering water in a drought. Someday, the plants may even be able to "resurrect" themselves after a long dry spell, recovering quickly when rain returns. Across American agriculture, farmers and crop scientists have concluded that it's too late to fight climate change. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21264519/seeking-hardier-breeds-drought-climate-change?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21264519/seeking-hardier-breeds-drought-climate-change?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com DIESEL EMISSIONS 6 shipping carriers become inaugural participants in Port of Los Angeles Environmental Ship Index. Six shipping carriers have become the inaugural participants in the Port of Los Angeles Environmental Ship Index (ESI), an international clean air program that rewards ocean carriers for bringing their newest and cleanest vessels to the Port. Developed through the International Association of Ports & Harbors’ World Ports Climate Initiative, the ESI program is the first of its kind in North America and the Pacific Rim. The web-based ESI program, already underway at 14 European ports, offers immediate and significant clean air benefits by rewarding vessel operators …Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/08/esi-20120809.html FUELS Livestock farmers seek pause in ethanol production. Livestock farmers and ranchers seeing their feed costs rise because of the worst drought in a quarter-century are demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency waive production requirements for corn-based ethanol. One-third of House members have also signed onto a letter urging EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to relax ethanol production targets in light of corn supply concerns and spiking prices. The EPA says it is working with the Agriculture Department and is keeping a close eye on crop estimates and how they might relate to the biofuel program. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Livestock-farmers-seek-pause-in-ethanol-production-3774474.php New biofuels offer hope to hungry world. The poorest people in the world face additional hunger as the price of staple foods soar. The growth of crops in 2012 has been badly affected by drought in the US and Russia and prices have risen 50% since June. According to a report about the hike in food prices, from the international agency Oxfam, 40% of US corn stocks are currently being used to produce fuel. The US Renewable Fuel Standard mandate requires that up to 15 billion gallons of domestic corn ethanol be blended into the US fuel supply by 2022. Posted. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19179419 CaFCP report concludes California needs 68 hydrogen fueling stations by end of 2015 to support first commercial wave of fuel cell vehicles. To support the planned commercial launch of fuel cell electric vehicles by automakers in 2015 (FCEVs), California needs 68 hydrogen fueling stations in five clusters in which most early adopters are expected, according to a new report issued by the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP). These 68 stations should be in place by the end of 2015 in order to serve adequately the first approximately 20,000 FCEVs, the report finds. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/08/cafcp-report-concludes-california-needs-68-hydrogen-fueling-stations-by-end-of-2015-to-support-first.html Coal's hard times are felt by the nation's railroads. Coal-to-gas fuel switching by U.S. electric utilities is proving to be a game changer for the nation's railroads, many of which derive significant revenues from hauling coal from mine sites in Appalachia, the Midwest and the West to power plants across the country. CSX Corp., the nation's largest hauler of coal with a base of operations in the East, said in a conference call with investors yesterday that coal revenues for the first half of 2012 are down 10 percent, while total volumes delivered are down 14 percent from the same period in 2011. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/09/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Electric vehicle supplier expands manufacturing operation in Dixon. A Palo Alto-based developer and marketer of drivetrain systems for electric vehicles is expanding its operations in Dixon. Efficient Drivetrains Inc., said it has added a second research and development facility, growing Dixon operations from 4,000 square feet to about 12,000 square feet. The expansion will used, in part, to construct vehicles being designed for the global marketplace. Company CEO Joerg Ferchau said the company currently employs 18 but anticipates adding three or four more hires this year. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/08/4706062/electric-vehicle-supplier-expands.html#storylink=cpy Fallbrook Technologies raises $20.1M. Fallbrook Technologies Inc. has raised $20.1 million in an equity offering, the company stated in an SEC filing Wednesday. Founded in a garage in Fallbrook by inventor Don Miller, the privately held company makes a continuously variable planetary gear called NuVinci that can be used in bicycles, electric vehicles and off-road vehicles. The company says NuVinci eliminates jarring and shocks caused by shifting gears, and saves energy. A total of $30.7 million is being sought in the offering, leaving $10.6 million left to be raised, the company stated in the filing. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/fallbrook-technologies-raises-m/article_bd48c949-ab17-5e1c-b087-4876574af93f.html Battery-switchable electric Commodore breaks 24-hour world EV distance record. The battery-switchable fully-electric Holden Commodore developed by EV Engineering in Australia (earlier post) recently unofficially broke the distance record for a production electric car, achieving 1,886 (1,172 miles) kilometers of driving over a 24-hour period. A team of 16 engineers and technicians from EV Engineering and its member companies began the attempt at 1 pm on Saturday 21 July, supported by a team in the workshop operating the semi-automated switch station that switches a depleted battery for a fully-charged one. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/08/commodore-20120809.html EV Batteries: cell costs down, but not enough - insights of Uwe Wiedemann, AVL. We know for more than 120 years that electric vehicles are technologically feasible, but when it comes to being able to replace ICEs without a premium price, it is still very difficult, especially because of the battery. Uwe Wiedemann, Product Manager in the Global Battery Competence Team at AVL, give his insights on battery systems cost and market development. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4850 HIGH-SPEED RAIL High-Speed Rail Authority sets disadvantaged business goal for contracts. The California High-Speed Rail Authority Board has set a goal to ensure that 10 percent of federal rail contracts and other construction contracts are awarded to businesses that have been certified as disadvantaged. A Disadvantaged Business Enterprise is a small business that is at least 51 percent owned by at least one person who is both socially and economically disadvantaged. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2012/08/09/calif-high-speed-rail-disadvantaged-busi.html GREEN ENERGY Geothermal energy industry stalls in California, officials tell Sacramento summit. The core of the U.S. geothermal energy industry came to Sacramento this week with a message: California is not paying enough attention to this underground power source. "There's no question the industry is stalled in California," said Karl Gawell, executive director of the Geothermal Energy Association in Washington, D.C. The association's members wrapped up their National Geothermal Summit on Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/09/v-print/4708146/geothermal-energy-industry-stalls.html EASTVALE: City Council discusses manure-to-energy project. Norco city officials Wednesday night, Aug. 8, spoke at Eastvale’s City Council meeting to ease their neighbors’ concerns about a proposed manure-to-energy project within Eastvale city limits.Norco City Manager Beth Groves assured Eastvale City Council members that if Norco goes ahead with its plan to build a plant where manure and green waste would be incinerated and turned into energy, it would go through the Eastvale planning process. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20120809-eastvale-city-council-discusses-manure-to-energy-project.ece MISCELLANEOUS Chicago Delay Fuels Concern About New York Bike Sharing. An ambitious bike-share program, trumpeted as a transformational initiative by a powerful big-city mayor, has been pushed back to the spring. No, not in New York — but in Chicago. The program in Chicago, operated by Alta Bicycle Share, will not meet its initial target of late summer and will be delayed until next year, officials there announced this week. Alta is also in charge of New York City’s program, which was supposed to begin last month. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has attributed the delay here to software problems, and no new starting date has been announced. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/nyregion/chicago-delay-fuels-concern-about-new-yorks-bike-sharing.html US, Mexico Sign Agreement Addressing High Priority Border Environmental Issues. Today U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa P. Jackson joined Mexico’s Secretary for the Environment and Natural Resources Juan Elvira Quesada to sign the Border 2020 U.S.-Mexico Environmental program agreement. Posted. http://scoopsandiego.com/news/local/us-mexico-sign-agreement-addressing-high-priority-border-environmental-issues/article_b397eec0-e195-11e1-be40-001a4bcf6878.html OPINIONS George F. Will: Despite its high-ranking supporters, high-speed rail is no boon for California. State Sen. Joe Simitian's district office near Stanford's campus is nestled among shops sporting excruciatingly cute names ("A Street Bike Named Desire," "Mom's the Word" maternity wear) intended to make the progressive gentry comfortable with upscale consumption by presenting it as whimsical. This community surely has its share of advanced thinkers who believe trains are wonderful because they are not cars (rampant individualism; people going wherever and whenever they want, unsupervised). Nevertheless …Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/08/4707583/despite-its-high-ranking-supporters.html http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/08/3751834/george-f-will-one-states-reckless.html BLOGS The Power of Images: California Maps Greenhouse Gases. One of the most significant political problems facing campaigns against air pollution these days is this: by and large, you can’t see it. You can track its molecules, watch emergency room admissions go up and down as it waxes and wanes and estimate the number of lives shortened by it. But none of that provides the jolt of, say, a picture of a tornado’s path or a river on fire. Back in 1948, when killer smog descended on Donora, Pa., it was a visible scourge. But carbon dioxide is odorless and colorless, so the eye is no judge of gauging when pollution is better or worse. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/the-power-of-images-california-maps-greenhouse-gases/?src=twrhp Climate Change Adaptations: How To Prepare For Global Warming. Wild geoengineering schemes may aim to reverse global warming by reflecting sunlight into space or storing excess carbon dioxide, but they won't spare humanity from living through climate change in the next several decades. That means humans must adapt to life in a world where droughts hit harder, floodwaters rise higher and entire island nations may sink beneath the waves. 'Some adaptation ideas resemble science fiction made real — growing crops inside city buildings, floating villages and genetically engineered crops. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/09/climate-change-adaptations_n_1759835.html Mazda's SkyActiv technology driving hefty weight loss goal. You may have noticed that Mazda hasn't released a lineup of electric vehicles, hybrids and alternative fuel vehicles. So, how will the automaker reach the demanding 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 federal mandate? By going lightweight and utilizing its Skyactiv technology. As part of its Skyactiv program, Mazda dropped 575 pounds off its CX-5 crossover from its similar-sized predecessor, the CX-7. Now the goal is shed at least 220 pounds every time it redesigns one of its models. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/09/mazda-s-skyactiv-technology-driving-hefty-weight-loss-goal/ ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 14:37:48 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 10, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 10, 2012. 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 and power alert on Friday. High temperatures predicted for the rest of the week prompted another Spare the Air alert for the Bay Area on Friday, as well as the summer's first Flex Alert, which asks Californians to conserve electricity. The Flex Alert, in effect through Sunday, asks residents to avoid using major electronic appliances and air conditioners from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. to avoid overwhelming the state's power grid. Last summer saw just two Flex alerts, said Stephanie McCorkle, a spokeswoman for California's Independent System Operator, which oversees the distribution of electricity. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Spare-the-Air-and-power-alert-on-Friday-3776697.php#ixzz23ATJpaU8 RICHMOND REFINERY FIRE Richmond: Air quality officials say pollution detected from refinery fire. Richmond -- Air quality regulators say they were wrong about pollution caused by the Chevron refinery fire in Richmond. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District originally said that air samples taken during Monday's fire showed that toxic air contaminants were below levels considered safe by federal health officials. On Thursday the district said its "initial statement was incorrect." In one of eight samples taken throughout Richmond, levels of the toxic compound acrolein were above the federal standard. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/nws/ci_21282612 http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_21282612/richmond-air-quality-officials-say-pollution-detected-from http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/regulators-detect-pollution-from-ca-refinery-fire/article_cc190e77-5383-513f-a594-43549b97195d.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/09/regulators-detect-pollution-from-ca-refinery/ http://www.modbee.com/2012/08/09/2322804/regulators-detect-pollution-from.html#storylink=misearch http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21278493/regulators-detect-pollution-from-ca-refinery-fire?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_21282612/richmond-air-quality-officials-say-pollution-detected-from?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_21282612/richmond-air-quality-officials-say-pollution-detected-from?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/09/2945944/regulators-detect-pollution-from.html#storylink=misearch Chevron response to fire threat probed. Investigators looking into the fire at the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond suspect that heat insulation around a leaking pipe contributed to the disaster by masking the extent of the danger until it was too late, The Chronicle has learned. By underestimating the size of the leak, initially believed to be about 20 drips per minute, officials kept operating the refinery's large crude unit, where crude oil is separated under heat reaching 1,100 degrees. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Chevron-response-to-fire-threat-probed-3777488.php CLIMATE CHANGE Tracy in race to be the "coolest" California city. TRACY -- The city of Tracy is reducing its carbon footprint one step at a time, and its efforts have put it in the running to be one of the "coolest" cities in the state. The city has been selected as one of the top four in California in the "CoolCalifornia Challenge," a months-long program that tests Californians to see if they can reduce things like gas emissions, water usage and energy. The city that reduces its footprint the most at the end of a given month is awarded $10,000 to go toward an environmental project. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/environment/ci_21276444/tracy-race-be-coolest-california-city Did Climate Change Spur Plants to Migrate Uphill? In a section of Southern California’s Santa Rosa Mountains, plants appear to have been migrating uphill in recent decades, but the reason is controversial. An early study attributed this shift to changes in local climate, possibly due to urbanization or natural cycles, but akin to changes expected as a result of human-caused global warming. But another research team set out to refute that, saying this claim overlooked a crucial dynamic in this area: fires. Posted. http://www.livescience.com/22239-plant-shift-climate-debate.html Climate change is clouding Lake Tahoe’s future say researchers. Natural forces and human actions have impacted the legendary clarity of Lake Tahoe as well as its physics, chemistry and biology since 1968, according to a report Thursday from the University of California, Davis, which has been monitoring of Lake Tahoe. While the clarity of Lake Tahoe's famed blue waters has long been the most visible and widely used indication of the lake's health, a range of environmental and water quality factors is at play, the latest report says. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=21655 Will Climate Change Wipe Out Surfing? There is already evidence that storms driven by climate change are causing bigger swells—which makes surfers happy. What makes surfers worry is sea level rise. Jacob Hechter is gingerly traversing the rocks on his way out to Rincon, in Santa Barbara. Known as the Queen of the Coast, Rincon is a 300-yard cobblestone point that lies at a right angle to the rest of the Southern California coast, catching swells and sending surfers barreling down its sweeping curve. As he navigates the rocks, Hechter, a cartographer, muses aloud about what climate change …Posted. http://www.psmag.com/environment/will-climate-change-wipe-out-surfing-44209/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Truckers charged up. Tom Howard gestured toward his big rig. "Step inside my office," he said. With pleasure. It was 75 degrees in the cab, unlike the broiling asphalt parking lot at the Flying J truck stop. And Howard's "office" muffled the noise of an endless parade of trucks outside. This is the comfort and peace that a long-distance trucker needs to get a good night's sleep. And on Thursday, it got a lot easier to rest while complying with no-idling laws. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120810/A_NEWS/208100331&cid=sitesearch Battling Air Pollution. (VIDEO) Word tonight of a new campaign to clean up the valley's dirty air. The Air Resources Board is working with the Highway Patrol, inspecting big rigs traveling through Fresno on Highway 99. It's called the "Gear up for clean trucks" campaign. The inspections also help keep truck drivers safer, because officers check the fuel and brake lines on all the big rigs inspected. Posted. http://www.cbs47.tv/news/local/story/Battling-Air-Pollution/WGURU4wag0WwGx8idIJCPg.cspx Incoming Big Rigs Undergo Emissions Tests. Local air quality control went under the hood today, making sure big rigs are not contaminating Valley resources. The Air Resources Board ordered a mandatory inspection, of all trucks coming into Fresno on the 99 Freeway, to determine whether their engines were up-to-code on exhaust emissions. Chief Tony Brasil said, "What we're trying to do, is increase awareness, by making sure that the rules are being met, so that truck owners take the actions needed, to reduce emissions from their existing engines." Posted. http://www.kmjnow.com/pages/landing_localnews_2011?Incoming-Big-Rigs-Undergo-Emissions-Test=1&blockID=625729&feedID=806 New Detroit DT12 transmission contributes to enhanced fuel efficiency and performance for heavy-duty trucks. Detroit Diesel Corporation, a Daimler company, is showcasing its DT12 automated manual transmission for heavy duty trucks. Part of the Detroit complete powertrain offering, the DT12 combines the operational ease of an automatic with the efficiency of a manual transmission, resulting in enhanced fuel economy, vehicle performance and safety. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/08/dt12-20120810.html FUELS Maersk's new fleet raises fuel efficiency. A.P. Maersk-Møller A/S's planned fleet of the world's largest container vessels will be as groundbreaking for their shape as their size. The 20 ships will be the first cargo-box carriers with rounded hulls rather than streamlined V-shaped ones, according to Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., which is developing the 18,000-container vessels. The change reflects a shift by operators away from designing ships to go as fast as possible to instead emphasizing fuel economy. "These vessels will be the Prius of the seas," said Lee Jae Won, an analyst at Tongyang Securities Inc. in Seoul. "They're fuel efficient and environmentally friendly." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Maersk-s-new-fleet-raises-fuel-efficiency-3777268.php Gas prices rise; officials wait to enter refinery. A fire at one of the nation's largest oil refineries helped push West Coast gas prices close to $4 a gallon Thursday, as the same federal team that investigated the Gulf Coast spill waited to inspect the unit that was knocked out by the blaze. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board team was standing by with state and company inspectors to do structural and environmental tests to see if it was safe to enter the unit and determine when production might resume after the Monday night blaze. In all, five separate investigations will be done. Posted. http://www.760kfmb.com/story/19233292/fire-is-latest-pollution-problem-at-chevron-plant ETHANOL: USDA predicts smallest corn crop in 6 years. In a report closely watched by the livestock and ethanol industries, the Agriculture Department today sharply reduced its projections of this year's corn crop in response to the drought conditions in the Midwest. Average corn yields per acre are expected to be 123.4 bushels, down 22.6 bushels from the forecast last month and the lowest average yield since 1995. USDA also reduced its forecast for total corn production for the 2012-2013 growing year by 2 billion bushels. The crop is expected to be only 10.8 billion bushels -- the lowest figure since 2006. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/08/10/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Frito-Lay to add 45 electric delivery trucks to California fleet. Frito-Lay plans to put 45 more electric delivery trucks on California roads in the coming months, bringing its fleet of such vehicles in the state to 105 by the end of the year. The trucks are made by Smith Electric Vehicles, a private manufacturer in Kansas City, Mo., that names its truck models after famous inventors and scientists. Its biggest truck is the Newton while the smaller vehicle is called the Edison. The chip company uses the Newton, which employs Lithium-ion battery cell technology and is designed for urban settings with heavy “stop-and-go” driving. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-frito-electric-trucks-20120809,0,2867620.story http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_21277439/gov-brown-lauds-frito-lays-all-electric-trucks Newark-based Envia, backed by GM, may have electric car breakthrough. Detroit -- A small battery company backed by General Motors is working on breakthrough technology that could power an electric car 100 or even 200 miles on a single charge in the next two-to-four years, GM's CEO said Thursday. Speaking at an employee meeting, CEO Dan Akerson said the company, Newark, Calif.-based Envia Systems, has made a huge breakthrough in the amount of energy a lithium-ion battery can hold. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/cars/ci_21277154/gm-may-have-electric-car-breakthrough Study: Cleaner cars helping to reduce LA pollution. Los Angeles -- The Los Angeles area still has some of the nation's dirtiest air, but a study released Thursday concluded cars are belching far fewer pollution-causing fumes. The level of dozens of volatile organic compounds in the Los Angeles basin fell about 98 percent in the past 50 years, according to a study funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "The reason is simple: Cars are getting cleaner," said a statement from study co-author Carsten Warneke of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Study-Cleaner-cars-helping-to-reduce-LA-pollution-3776162.php#ixzz23AHNEe4D http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21278840/study-cleaner-cars-helping-reduce-l-pollution?source=rss http://www.contracostatimes.com/environment/ci_21275011/study-cleaner-cars-helping-reduce-la-pollution http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/cc389064e7d140f78e2ca9b36821391b/CA--LA-Smog-Study ExxonMobil, climate change deniers and global warming--follow the money. There is a strong, vocal group of climate change deniers out there. Even while much of the reputable research supports climate change, there are always those out there who can refute its existence. To truly climate change deniers, follow the money. Rex Tillerson, CEO of ExxonMobil has long been a denier of global warming. While he recently has admitted climate change’s existence, he still doubts the data. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/exxonmobil-climate-change-deniers-and-global-warming-follow-the-money GREEN ENERGY NASA's 'green' planetary test lander crashes. Earlier this week NASA safely landed a robotic rover on Mars about 150 million miles away. But on Thursday here on Earth, a test model planetary lander crashed and burned at Kennedy Space Center in Florida just seconds after liftoff. The spider-like spacecraft called Morpheus was on a test flight at Cape Canaveral when it tilted, crashed to the ground and erupted in flames. It got only a few feet up in the air, NASA said. NASA spokeswoman Lisa Malone said it appears that the methane-and-liquid oxygen powered lander is a total loss. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_NASA_LANDER_CRASH?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-08-10-08-14-19 OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/NASA-s-green-planetary-test-lander-crashes-3775997.php http://www.contracostatimes.com/environment/ci_21274067/nasa-test-planetary-lander-burns-and-crashes New high-efficiency gas power plant in Lodi ready for final testing. California's largest single consumer of electricity plans to eliminate 80 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. A new, highly efficient power plant outside Lodi will help make that possible. The state Department of Water Resources uses an average of 2,000 megawatts of power each day to pump water up and down the state. About half of DWR's power comes from its own hydroelectric plants, but the rest is purchased from others and includes electricity produced from burning coal, considered a major culprit in global warming. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/10/4712399/hed-here.html#storylink=cpy Milpitas is new home to what's being billed as world's largest recycling plant. Milpitas -- With conveyor belts whirring and new equipment gleaming, a Phoenix-based recycling and trash-hauling company on Thursday opened what it is billing as the largest recycling plant in the world in the heart of Silicon Valley. Republic Services, for years known as BFI, christened the $55 million facility on Dixon Landing Road in Milpitas, adjacent to the Newby Island Landfill, which it also operates. The 80,000-square-foot recycling plant can process up to 420,000 tons of waste a year…Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21275853/facility-billed-worlds-largest-recycling-plant-opens-milpitas MISCELLANEOUS Wind advocate joins Sierra Club Foundation board. The Sierra Club Foundation announced today that offshore wind advocate Shirley Weese Young will join its board of directors. Young, a Chicago-based graphic designer, leads the Illinois Sierra Club chapter's efforts to implement offshore wind energy in Chicago and is active in the Illinois Wind Council. "As the Sierra Club Foundation continues to fund projects that focus on ending our dependence on coal and oil, we must also promote the right set of clean energy solutions to replace them," Sierra Club Foundation Executive Director Peter Martin said in a statement. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/08/10/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Heat wave prompts call for power conservation. California's electricity grid manager urged residents statewide to conserve power today as an extended heat wave is predicted to tax the system. The California Independent System Operator declared a "flex alert" that will last through Sunday. It asked people to reduce electricity usage from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. Today is expected to see the highest energy consumption of the three-day alert period, the ISO said. It forecasted that Californians will use a total 46,800 megawatts of electricity. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/08/10/22 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS Eugene Robinson: Global warming is the new normal. Excuse me, folks, but the weather is trying to tell us something. Listen carefully, and you can almost hear a parched, raspy voice whispering, "What part of 'hottest month ever' do you people not understand?" According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July was indeed the hottest month in the contiguous United States since record-keeping began more than a century ago. That distinction was previously held by July 1936, which came at the height of the Dust Bowl calamity that devastated the American heartland. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/10/4712014/global-warming-is-the-new-normal.html You thought Monday's Chevron fire was bad, look back to the '90s. In fact, Monday's blaze is the first refinery accident to receive the county's most severe designation -- Level 3 -- since a similar fire struck the same facility in 1999. From 1992 to 1999, Contra Costa's heavy-industry facilities endured 11 Level 3 incidents, killing six workers, injuring almost 50 others and sending more than 23,000 residents to hospitals for treatment. Industry experts and elected officials say the industrial safety ordinance appears to have played a major role in making accidents such as Monday's much more rare. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_21277882/you-thought-mondays-chevron-fire-was-bad-look http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_21277882/you-thought-mondays-chevron-fire-was-bad-look Editorial: Is California getting too much CARB? Powerful pollution bureaucracy needs auditing, but Legislature’s ruling Democrats refuse. Democratic government is accountable government. Voters can make informed choices only if they know what's going on with their tax dollars. Californians recently have been learning about $54 million that was unspent by the Department of Parks and Recreation, and about $37 billion in "special funds" throughout state government that is spent without oversight. But perhaps the biggest state bureaucracy that goes unaccountable is the California Air Resources Board, headed by Chairwoman Mary Nichols. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/carb-368050-government-audit.html Editorial: Every month, it seems, sets new weather records. Residents of the United States have just lived — or, more accurately, sweltered — though the hottest month in the nation's history. The average July temperature in the contiguous 48 states was 77.6 degrees Fahrenheit, 3.3 degrees above the 20th century average for the month, according to records that go back to 1895. The previous record was 77.4 in 1936, the depths of the Dust Bowl. That 0.2 degree may seem small to the layperson, but climate scientist Jake Crouch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration called it "a pretty significant increase over the last record.” Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/09/editorial-every-month-it-seems-sets-new-weather/ Auto testing won’t cut smog. I’m writing in response to the “Pollution Solution” article. Really, emission testing to clear the air in Cache Valley! Let’s look at some of the facts. Can I assume our air will be as clean as the air in Salt Lake Valley, which has already been doing emission testing? In an article dated July 22, County Executive Lynn Lemon stated that the council would direct the board “to adopt and promulgate (to put a law into effect by formal public announcement) rules and regulations” ensuring compliance with the EPA and state requirements related to emissions. Posted. http://news.hjnews.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/article_7df042c2-e230-11e1-a21b-0019bb2963f4.html Public is tuning back in to the debate on climate change. Richard Muller, a self-proclaimed “skeptic” on climate change, is having a well-publicized road-to-Damascus moment. Muller, a physicist at the University of California at Berkeley, has declared his conversion to the long-accepted view of most climate scientists that global warming is real and human activity is “almost entirely the cause.” His conclusion: “You should not be a skeptic, at least not any longer.” Posted. http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1239178--public-is-tuning-back-in-to-the-debate-on-climate-change Ethanol: How government is making your food more expensive. Middle America is in the middle of a drought, meaning that corn production will fall to a 17-year low, according to an Agriculture Department report. But a drought for some is a boom for others, as farmers who do harvest corn this year will enjoy record high prices. Projections show that corn prices may skyrocket to about $8 a bushel and corn futures have already risen to $8.29 a bushel. For farmers and ranchers, low yields and higher prices are part of the risk involved in their livelihood, but thanks to government ethanol standards they have another big corn consumer causing higher prices. Posted. http://washingtonexaminer.com/epa-ethanol-mandate-screwing-up-food-prices/article/2504561#.UCVG9tVp33U Cap and Trade: California's Best Secret: A new statewide poll in California has mixed results for those of us dedicated to fighting climate change. While the good news is actually great news, the bad news is a call to action. Let me start on the upbeat side, which recognizes the magnitude of the issue. The Public Policy Institute of California's 12th annual poll on "Californians and the Environment" found that a strong majority of Californians, 78 percent, thinks that the world's temperature has probably increased over the last 100 years, versus 17 percent who said it probably hasn't. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-gordon/cap-and-trade-californias_b_1757328.html BLOGS In Richmond, concern about air pollution goes beyond Chevron fire. Pollution and the environment have always been big issues for Californians. A statewide survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California last month showed that approximately half the state’s residents see air pollution as a serious threat to their health. Among African Americans and Latinos, concern is even greater. The majority of those polled in these groups believe that people in lower-income areas are disproportionately affected by air pollution. Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/kalw/2012/08/09/in-richmond-concern-about-air-pollution-goes-beyond-chevron-fire/ California Heats Up and That Means Health Risks. The rest of the nation has sweltered this summer, but California has escaped extreme heat — until now. The National Weather Service may not have high-end graphics, but its map tells the story. The San Joaquin Valley, starting south of Modesto, is colored a brownish-red and that means excessive heat warning. Temperatures are expected to exceed 100 degrees every day until Tuesday. The bright pink areas indicate a heat “watch” (click here if you don’t know the difference). This kind of heat is not just a weather story, it’s a significant health and environment story too. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/stateofhealth/2012/08/09/california-heats-up-and-that-means-health-risks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=california-heats-up-and-that-means-health-risks Long Lease Announced for Major Port Tenant. Dole Fresh Fruit Company, one of the Port of San Diego’s largest tenants and the country’s largest banana importer and second-largest pineapple importer, is set to sign a 24.5 year lease to keep operations in San Diego. Dole controls nearly 22 acres at the Port’s Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, where 95,000 containers of fruit are unloaded from ships annually. As part of the agreement, the Port will spend up to $7 million in shore power equipment to service Dole vessels, as required by California Air Resources Board regulations. Posted. http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/news-ticker/2012/aug/09/long-lease-announced-for-major-port-tenant/ NFL at Rose Bowl would increase traffic, noise: environmental report. Pasadena would see a significant and unavoidable increase in noise, traffic and air pollution if an NFL team were to play at the Rose Bowl for up to five years, but the severest results would be temporary and manageable, according to a report released by the city of Pasadena Thursday. The environmental report is part of a process to prepare for the possibility of hosting an NFL team for up to five years while a permanent stadium is built elsewhere in the region. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/08/nfl-at-rose-bowl-pasadena-environmental-report.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, 13 Aug 2012 12:13:52 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips of August 13, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips of August 13, 2012. 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 Steel mill polluted town as Romney firm profited. The rusty stains on Shirley Carter's home are a permanent reminder of her fight with the local steel mill, just down U.S. Highway 17 near the boat docks. No matter how many cans of industrial-strength acid she went through, the red tint on her property never seemed to go away. In 1998, Carter and her neighbors sued Georgetown Steel, then owned by the company Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney co-founded, Bain Capital. They sought millions in cleanup costs and accused the mill's owners of leaving their historic Southern neighborhood looking like it had been hit by a "chemical bomb." Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-08-13/steel-mill-polluted-town-as-romney-firm-profited http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/steel-mill-polluted-town-as-romney-firm-profited/article_bc750ea0-cf5e-57f9-a336-d3b52497ba2c.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/08/13/2327711/steel-mill-polluted-town-as-romney.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/11/steel-mill-polluted-town-as-romney-firm-profited/ Incentive program sought to protect whales and cut pollution. Asking yielded little cooperation. Four years ago, federal officials set up a voluntary program, asking ships to slow down in the Santa Barbara Channel to prevent deadly collisions with whales. The measures took effect for a few months each year, when whales are drawn to the area by heaping supplies of krill. But fewer than 1 percent of ships have cooperated, said Sean Hastings, resource protection coordinator with the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/10/incentive-program-sought-to-protect-whales-and/ RICHMOND REFINERY Chevron refinery has history of fires and pollution releases, but that is par for industry. Federal investigators say last week's massive blaze at Chevron's Richmond refinery was a "near disaster" that could have killed more than a dozen workers trying to fix an old, leaky pipe, but a review of air pollution violations, accidents and fires at Contra Costa's four refineries show the San Ramon-based oil giant is not the worst offender. The Aug. 6 fire in a crude oil refining unit burned and billowed smoke for hours, prompting residents in nearby communities to seek shelter indoors. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_21292343/chevron-refinery-has-history-fires-and-pollution-releases?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_21292343/chevron-refinery-has-history-fires-and-pollution-releases?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com CLIMATE CHANGE ARB looks at reducing 'cap and trade' burden on businesses. Big business sees California's global-warming law as a job killer, a $1 billion tax that could force some of the state's heaviest industries to flee. Now state regulators, trying to ease the burden, are studying whether to give hardship breaks to dozens of companies. Under the plan being considered, the state would dole out extra carbon credits – the precious allowances that will give industries the license to emit greenhouse gases starting in January. The proposal could save companies millions of dollars. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/13/4720127/arb-looks-at-reducing-cap-and.html#storylink=cpy New high-efficiency gas power plant in Lodi ready for final testing. California's largest single consumer of electricity plans to eliminate 80 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. A new, highly efficient power plant outside Lodi will help make that possible. The state Department of Water Resources uses an average of 2,000 megawatts of power each day to pump water up and down the state. About half of DWR's power comes from its own hydroelectric plants, but the rest is purchased from others and includes electricity produced from burning coal, considered a major culprit in global warming. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/10/4712399/hed-here.html?storylink=lingospot_related_articles#storylink=cpy Long Beach to study possibility of selling carbon credits to industry to offset tree costs. Does money grow on trees? Some Long Beach council members want to find out. A proposal to be introduced Tuesday to the City Council asks to determine the feasibility of selling carbon credits potentially produced by Long Beach's 393,000-tree urban forest to help defray the multimillion dollar annual cost of tree trimming. The possible source of revenue - at a time when Long Beach leaders are faced with balancing another deficit in 2013 …Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_21294645/long-beach-study-possibility-selling-carbon-credits-industry Agencies fear the worst - and plan for it - amid climate change. Experts predict that climate change, in addition to causing longer and fiercer heat waves and higher humidity, will bring an increase in viruses and bacteria that cause illness. Infectious disease specialists who will have to deal with those health effects got an unplanned preview from the deadly H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009-2010 and the whooping cough epidemic that followed a few months later. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/breaking-news-headlines/20120812-agencies-fear-the-worst---and-plan-for-it---amid-climate-change.ece Climate change may increase parasite infections, say scientists. According to research published today in the journal Nature: Climate Change, parasites may flourish with climate change. The increasing variability of the global climate is shifting the distribution of infectious diseases in both human and animal populations. These changes have the potential to adversely affect our capability to manage diseases. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/climate-change-may-increase-parasite-infections-say-scientists Companies will exploit Cap and Trade. Anti-capitalists always complain that entrepreneurs exploit loopholes in all those nice laws liberals and progressives pass to help the environment, the baby seals, the rain forests, etc. You can bet that will happen with California’s Cap and Trade program, which launches in January and is preceded by carbon allowance auctions on Nov. 14. Reported Forbes: “Governor Jerry Brown’s budget plan, released in January, projected auction revenue of $1 billion in 2012-13. When the cap-and-trade program expands to include transportation fuels in 2015, auction revenue will ratchet upwards.” Posted. http://www.calwatchdog.com/2012/08/09/companies-will-exploit-cap-and-trade/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Port Air Quality Continues Improvements. The Port of Long Beach continues to receive good evaluations when it comes to reducing air pollution, according to its annual emissions inventory report. “This year we saw a lot more of these smaller and incremental changes,” said Art Wong, port spokesman. “My expectation is that next year there will not be hardly any changes, but when we start plugging in the ships (to shore power), then we will see another significant reduction.” Posted. http://www.gazettes.com/news/environment/port-air-quality-continues-improvements/article_6a0b5eb4-e27a-11e1-92d2-001a4bcf887a.html EPA's Navistar Proposal Up for Final Review. The Environmental Protection Agency is close to releasing a revised proposal on whether or not Navistar International can pay penalties on engines that don't meet clean air standards. The proposed rule, which still is under wraps, is awaiting final review at the White House Office of Management and Budget. Last May the agency said it would allow Navistar to pay non-compliance penalties. Navistar said it needed that relief in order to keep selling its Class 8 engines, which use an exhaust gas recirculation technology that has not yet been able to bring the engines into compliance with clean air requirements. Posted. http://truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=77737 FUELS New catalyst can break down vehicle methane emissions. A team of scientists from Italy, Spain and the United States has identified a catalyst that could break down methane -- a potent greenhouse gas -- in vehicle engines, reducing it to only a fraction of its global warming potential. A combination of palladium particles and a semiconductor called cerium oxide allows methane to break down into water and carbon dioxide more efficiently than other catalysts, a study in Science publishes last week showed. While methane makes up a small amount of vehicle exhaust, its global warming potential -- 20 times that of carbon dioxide -- is significant. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/13/6 BY SUBSRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD: Miles-per-gallon credibility. “How much credibility is there in the so-called EPA estimates of miles-per-gallon we should expect to get when we buy a certain car?” J. Paul Lombardi asked that question when explaining his 2012 Hyundai Sonata GLS isn’t delivering the fuel economy alleged by the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy — 24 miles per gallon in city driving, 35 mpg for highway driving. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/columns/on-the-road-headlines/20120812-on-the-road-miles-per-gallon-credibility.ece GREEN ENERGY Federal spending on clean energy falls short on jobs, but wind and solar advance. Washington -- What has America gotten so far from President Barack Obama’s spending on clean energy, and has it been worth the cost? The multibillion-dollar outlays of the past four years had equally big goals: putting people to work right away, but also future jobs in a growing global endeavor to cut pollution and the risks from climate disruption. The federal spending has become an issue in the 2012 campaign. Republicans say the federal government squandered taxpayers’ money…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/12/4714938/federal-spending-on-clean-energy.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/12/2947343/federal-spending-on-clean-energy.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/08/12/2324325/federal-spending-on-clean-energy.html#storylink=misearch MISCELLANEOUS Metal recycling firms burgeon in state, but regulators can't keep up. The operations commonly handle hazardous materials and sometimes are near homes, but are subject to inconsistent oversight by a patchwork of agencies. Many are rarely if ever inspected. The explosions came one after another, jolting a South Los Angeles neighborhood. "It felt like an earthquake, and then it was just raining fire," recalled Richard Gomez, who watched a metal recycling facility on Slauson Avenue erupt in flames one day in June 2010. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-recycle-20120812,0,7688222.story Foes: Pa. state permit order threatens environment. Critics say a new order from Gov. Tom Corbett will pressure state employees to more quickly approve environmental permits, including Marcellus Shale gas wells and projects that involve sensitive wetlands or ecosystems. The order, signed July 24, is described as a "Permit Decision Guarantee" for the Department of Environmental Protection. Environmental advocates say the order directs the agency to "consider compliance with the review deadlines a factor in any job performance evaluations" of staff. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Foes-Pa-state-permit-order-threatens-environment-3784123.php#ixzz23Rbfc6Ir High-speed rail advocacy group to host info workshop in Hanford. A California High Speed Rail advocacy group will hold an informational workshop in Hanford from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 25 to discuss the latest environmental impact report from the California High Speed Rail Authority. Citizens for California High Speed Rail Accountability is hosting the workshop at the First Baptist Church of Hanford on the report for the Fresno-to-Bakersfield section of the rail system, spokeswoman Shelli Andranigian said. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/11/2949043/high-speed-rail-advocacy-group.html OPINIONS Heating up debate on climate change. Excuse me, folks, but the weather is trying to tell us something. Listen carefully, and you can almost hear a parched, raspy voice whispering: “What part of ‘hottest month ever’ do you people not understand?” According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July was indeed the hottest month in the contiguous United States since record-keeping began more than a century ago. That distinction was previously held by July 1936, which came at the height of the Dust Bowl calamity that devastated the American heartland. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/eugene-robinson-heating-up-debate-on-climate-change/2012/08/09/d81a9986-e259-11e1-a25e-15067bb31849_story.html Hundred-Year Forecast: Drought. BY many measurements, this summer’s drought is one for the record books. But so was last year’s drought in the South Central states. And it has been only a decade since an extreme five-year drought hit the American West. Widespread annual droughts, once a rare calamity, have become more frequent and are set to become the “new normal.” Until recently, many scientists spoke of climate change mainly as a “threat,” sometime in the future. But it is increasingly clear that we already live in the era of human-induced climate change, with a growing frequency of weather and climate extremes like heat waves, droughts, floods and fires. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/opinion/sunday/extreme-weather-and-drought-are-here-to-stay.html?pagewanted=print Cracking down on diesel. California can, and should, lead the world in ending the menace of soot and black carbon pollution from diesel engines. California can, and should, lead the world in ending the menace of soot and black carbon pollution from diesel engines. We've all choked on black smoke billowing from diesel trucks and buses. It's obviously polluting, but what's not obvious is much worse. Diesel emissions are a major health hazard — cancer causing, in fact. And they are a big part of the threat to our climate. Yet cleaning them up is practical, easy and affordable — the rules just need to be enforced. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-pope-diesel-emissions-air-quality-20120813,0,6756831.story The right move on gas mileage. After fine-tuning the rules for a year, the Obama administration is due next week to set mileage standards that will double fuel economy to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. It's the right move that saves money for consumers, cleans the air and cuts oil imports. But GOP forces - led by likely presidential contender Mitt Romney - aren't sold on the obvious good sense of this plan. Stepping in ahead of the White House, a Republican report claims the higher mileage rules were coerced from carmakers who needed federal bailouts. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/The-right-move-on-gas-mileage-3780176.php#ixzz23RcJVmUg Convert Richmond refinery to biocrude. The Chevron oil refinery in Richmond on San Francisco Bay opened in 1902, before there was a dense population surrounding it. It is incredibly dangerous to have an oil refinery in the middle of an urban area, and any new refinery today would be built far from a dense population. No new refineries have been built in the United States since 1976, because they are an environmental nightmare. Oil refineries are hazardous and carry with them a risk of chemical spills and explosions, which are extremely detrimental to human beings and ecosystems. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/Convert-Richmond-refinery-to-biocrude-3777111.php#ixzz23RdiYXwy Barnidge: UC Berkeley professor was slow to warm up to climate change. Global warming skeptics come in many forms. Richard Muller is a physics professor at UC Berkeley with an extensive background in climatology, but for years even he found himself at odds with the theory. He was troubled, he said, by unreliable data from temperature stations located on asphalt lots or near buildings. Further doubts were fueled by "Climategate" -- the 2009 revelation that researchers with the University of East Anglia's Climatic Research Unit had manipulated facts. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21292931/barnidge-professor-was-slow-warm-up-climate-change http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_21292933/barnidge-professor-was-slow-warm-up-climate-change?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Daniel Borenstein: Air district's Richmond refinery fire statement incomplete, inaccurate. As hundreds of Richmond residents complained of respiratory ailments after Monday night's fire at the Chevron refinery in Richmond, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District sent out a news release suggesting everything was fine. Lab analysis from air samples showed levels of potentially toxic pollutants to be well under state standards "and not a significant health concern," the district declared in a carelessly written statement. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_21287888/daniel-borenstein-air-districts-richmond-refinery-fire-statement Global Warming and the Meaning of Doom. Alarming data and warnings about climate change have been with us for twenty years. The issue has morphed into something like a low-level toothache. The public is numbed by all the bad news, and in place of sensible solutions, we witness the folly of political polarization. You can't believe in climate change and be a good conservative. This departure from fact-based reality is only part of the problem. China and the U.S., who produce 40 percent of the world's harmful emissions…Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deepak-chopra/global-warming-doom-meaning_b_1772802.html?utm_hp_ref=books Global Warming Debate Needs Cooler Heads To Prevail. Over the course of the last two weeks, two scientists -- James E. Hansen of Columbia University and Richard A. Muller at the University of California, Berkeley -- took to the pages of two prominent American newspapers to present new and compelling evidence that climate change is real, that it is driven overwhelmingly by human activity, and that its dire effects are already upon us. And then nothing happened. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-zeller-jr/global-warming-cooler-heads_b_1765473.html BLOGS Climate Insight From a Magical Mountain Range. As many people know, human civilization arose during a particularly stable period in the history of the earth – the Holocene, encompassing the 12,000 years since the end of the last ice age. It may have been no accident that civilization burst forth during an era when ice had retreated from some of the most favorable land and when climate, sea level and other conditions had settled down after the turbulence of the ice age. But they have not entirely settled down. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/13/climate-insight-from-a-magical-mountain-range/?src=twr The Physics of Tidal Energy. As my colleague Jess Bidgood reported in Friday’s paper, a tidal energy project is moving ahead in Maine, with high costs but high hopes too. But the 180-kilowatt unit that the Ocean Renewable Power Company hopes to put under water next week is really just a first step. The big question is, how well will it withstand the force of the rushing water? The region, the Bay of Fundy, is famous for strong tides, but the company has picked a spot called Cobscook Bay, where the current is relatively slow, an average of 5.8 knots, or 6.7 miles an hour. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/10/the-physics-of-tidal-energy/?src=me The Secrets of Hissing Trees. Three years ago, a researcher collecting tree core samples in Connecticut was startled to see one of the trees begin to hiss and spit. Even more surprising, he found that the leaking gas could be set on fire. It’s been known since around the 1970’s that a relatively rare bacterial infection in trees responsible for the damaging rot known as wet wood can cause trees to emit methane, a greenhouse gas with 20 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide. Trees in wetland soils can also act as straws, sipping methane from soggy, oxygen-poor soil. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/10/the-secrets-of-hissing-trees/ BROWN AIR: Morning pollution a pall in SB Valley. Anyone driving west on Interstate 10 from the east San Bernardino Valley this morning likely saw a thick, yellow-brown wall of air pollution lying ahead. It’s not an uncommon sight, and it’s often accompanied by a distinctive, acrid smell that can make people think twice about taking a deep breath. Sort of dispels the expression “morning fresh.” So what is that stuff, exactly? Sam Atwood, longtime spokesman for the South Coast Air Quality Management District, said the likely culprit is PM 2.5, microscopic particles that combine to form one of the more troublesome forms of air pollution. Posted. http://blog.pe.com/environment/2012/08/10/brown-air-morning-pollution-a-pall-in-sb-valley/ Fuel efficiency bringing back automotive jobs, but there's more to the story. Consumer demand for fuel efficient vehicles and a federal mandate to reach 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 has helped bring back 236,000 badly-needed U.S. auto industry jobs since 2009, says a report issued by DrivingGrowth. A portion of this growth – 66,300 new jobs – occurred in the Midwest in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, along with new jobs in 500 facilities in 43 states that manufacture components and technology that contribute to fuel economy improvements. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/13/fuel-efficiency-bringing-back-automotive-jobs-but-theres-more/ Cap And Trade: California’s Best Secret. A new statewide poll in California has mixed results for those of us dedicated to fighting climate change. While the good news is actually great news, the bad news is a call to action. Let me start on the upbeat side, which recognizes the magnitude of the issue. The Public Policy Institute of California’s 12th annual poll on “Californians and the Environment” found that a strong majority of Californians, 78 percent, thinks that the world’s temperature has probably increased over the last 100 years, versus 17 percent who said it probably hasn’t. Posted. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2012/08/13/681131/cap-and-trade-californias-best-secret/?mobile=nc ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 12:13:26 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 14, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 14, 2012. 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 Smoke over Sacramento coming from Grizzly Island fire in Solano County. The heavy smoke that hung over Sacramento on Monday came from a fire burning on Grizzly Island in Solano County, according to Sacramento County's Regional Fire Dispatch Center. Sacramento-area fire dispatchers were inundated with calls from residents wondering about the location of the fire. Several fires also have been burning in areas north of Sacramento, which could have contributed to smoke in the area. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/14/4723285/smoke-over-sacramento-coming-from.html#storylink=omni_popular#storylink=cpy Sacramento area weather: Not only blazing hot but smoky too. Eye-smarting smoky, hot weather is predicted today by the National Weather Service. Conditions were miserable on Monday. Not only was it the hottest day of the year, the mercury hitting 107 in downtown Sacramento, a wildland fire sent smoke into the city around dinner time. The smoke that cloaked the city through the night mostly came from a fire that burned on Grizzly Island in Solano County. Today, government weather watchers say that Sacramento could experience smoke from bigger fires burning to the north. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/14/v-print/4724214/sacramento-area-weather-not-only.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/08/14/2329140/sacramento-area-weather-not-only.html#storylink=misearch SUBSCRIPTION ONLY RICHMOND REFINERY FIRE Chevron considered replacing pipe. Chevron officials initially deemed the pipe that failed dramatically last week, causing a major fire at its Richmond refinery, as possibly needing replacement last year but ultimately cleared it for five more years of service, The Chronicle has learned. Investigators with the U.S. Chemical Safety Board and other federal and state agencies have launched several inquiries into the Aug. 6 leak and fire. Both the damage and the investigations could leave part of the crude oil processing unit down for months. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Chevron-considered-replacing-pipe-3785841.php#ixzz23XCMYraY Refinery fire site too dangerous for investigators. Federal and state investigators are trying to determine how to safely enter the area where a fire broke out in a Chevron Corp. refinery last week so they can examine a failed pipe blamed for the blaze, which the company reportedly considered replacing nearly a year ago. Structural engineers on Monday determined the damaged crude unit that was the site of the fire in the facility was too hazardous to enter. The 8-inch pipe leaked and its contents ignited, sending black smoke into the sky above Richmond, Calif., and thousands of nearby residents to hospitals with complaints of eye irritation and breathing difficulty. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/14/refinery-fire-site-too-dangerous-for/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/refinery-fire-site-too-dangerous-for-investigators/article_290de67b-f120-5d13-8bcc-5025e29259b6.html Investigators wait on OK to enter Richmond refinery. Investigators looking into the cause of an oil refinery fire at Chevron's Richmond facility are waiting for structural engineers to determine if it's safe to enter the unit. Federal, state and company inspectors hope to get the all-clear and gain access to the fire site later Monday. The Aug. 6 fire destroyed an area of the refinery that produces gasoline that satisfies California's clean-air regulations, the toughest in the nation. It started as a pipe leak. Other parts of the refinery, which supplies 16 percent of California's daily gas consumption, are still producing fuels. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120813/A_NEWS/120819958&cid=sitesearch Richmond refinery repairs could take several months for Chevron to complete. The permit process to approve a replacement or repair of the fire-scarred Crude Unit No. 4 at Chevron's Richmond refinery could take "months" to complete, a top city official said. That estimate, from Richmond City Manager Bill Lindsay, suggests that Chevron might not be back in full operation for three to six months. It's unknown how long repairs might take once the permits are approved. "I would expect it's going to take some months," Lindsay said. "That's just a guess. It could be several months." Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_21308825/richmond-refinery-repairs-could-take-several-months-chevron?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21308825?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com CLIMATE CHANGE California Air Chief Says Carbon Auction Won’t Be Delayed. California plans to sell the first carbon allowances in November, undeterred by warnings from a federal energy commissioner that a system meant to curb emissions may harm businesses, the state air board’s head said. The agency is on schedule to develop a platform for a Nov. 14 auction of allowances, each allowing for the release of one metric ton of carbon under a state program that caps emissions from plants beginning next year, Chairman Mary Nichols said during an interview at Bloomberg’s San Francisco office. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-08-13/california-air-chief-says-carbon-auction-won-t-be-delayed Brown's office launches climate change website. Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday launched a website to document the effects of climate change and respond to those who question it, calling them climate change "denialists." Brown's office announced the site while he was at Lake Tahoe with Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval for an annual summit focused on the health of the lake, which straddles both states. The Democratic governor said in a statement that climate change has irrevocably altered Lake Tahoe. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21302817?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/13/2950857/browns-office-launches-climate.html#storylink=misearch http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120813/A_NEWS/120819957&cid=sitesearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/13/browns-office-launches-climate-change-website/ California’s carbon-trading market will launch in November. The long run-up to California’s cap-and-trade program will finally end this November, as the state launches its market for carbon allowances. Polluters will buy allowances for each ton of carbon dioxide they produce on an open market. Producing more will therefore cost a company more, producing less will yield a cost savings. The system is intended not only to impose a cost on the pollution, but also to bring down the total amount of pollution. Posted. http://grist.org/news/californias-carbon-trading-market-will-launch-in-november/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Union Pacific to study low-emissions locomotives. Union Pacific said on Monday that it will spend $20 million testing low-emissions locomotives in California. The railroad may eventually test up to 25 locomotives with various low-emissions technology. They include one, to be based in Roseville, Calif., that will use several emissions-reducing technologies, including recirculating its exhaust gasses. The railroad and the California Air Resources Board will analyze the emissions reductions achieved by that locomotive over the next year and a half. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-08-13/union-pacific-to-study-low-emissions-locomotives Frito-Lay Rolls Out More Electric Delivery Trucks in California. California is now home to the largest fleet of Frito-Lay electric delivery trucks. State officials, including Gov. Edmund Brown Jr., joined senior leadership from PepsiCo's Frito-Lay North America division to announce the growth of Frito-Lay's California electric truck fleet. Once all of the vehicles are deployed by the end of 2012, California will be home to 105 all-electric delivery trucks, the largest deployment in any state. By the end of this year, Frito-Lay will have more than 275 electric trucks deployed in the U.S., making Frito-Lay the largest commercial fleet of all-electric trucks in the country. In May of this year, Frito-Lay reached a milestone of one million all-electric miles driven. Posted. http://truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=77741 FUELS Despite falling oil cost, California gas prices soar in refinery fire's wake. Gas prices in California are soaring a week after a fire damaged the Chevron refinery in Richmond, a critical piece of the state's supply chain. Prices at the pump jumped 25.8 cents in the Sacramento area over the past week, to $4 a gallon, according to market tracker GasBuddy.com. In San Francisco, motorists are paying $4.17 a gallon, according to a separate survey by AAA. And it may be only the beginning. "You probably won't see a break until mid- to late September," said Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst for GasBuddy. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/14/v-print/4723131/despite-falling-oil-cost-california.html Navy partners with local company in quest for new energy sources. Why should the Navy switch from diesel to biodiesel if the two types of fuel have the same energy efficiency? Naval officials asked that question 12 years ago when the change was suggested. Russell Teall, founder of local biodiesel producer Biodico, said biodiesel can be made in the U.S., alleviating dependency on foreign oil, which suppliers could cut off if political relations went awry. Also, emergency supplies are in underground salt domes in Texas and Louisiana that are vulnerable to natural and man-made disasters. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/13/navy-partners-with-local-company-in-quest-for/ VEHICLES Korean scientists develop fast-charging battery. South Korean scientists have developed a new material for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that they say could cut charging time down significantly and prove a boon for electric vehicles. According to Yonhap News Agency's report on Monday, a group of scientists from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, who were funded by the country's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has gone beyond conventional rechargeable battery technology. Posted. http://www.zdnet.com/korean-scientists-develop-fast-charging-battery-7000002577/ New coolant keeps EV batteries cool even during hot summer days. A team of German researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology has developed a new coolant for EV batteries called CryoSolplus, which is capable of absorbing between two and three times as much heat as water. The scientists’ next task will be to carry out field tests, trying out the coolant in an experimental vehicle. Overheating of batteries in electric vehicles (EVs), which in hot summer weather could easily happen, can dramatically cut their life by up to 50%. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4857 HIGH-SPEED RAIL High-speed rail forum brings together contractors, small businesses. About 500 representatives of small businesses from throughout the San Joaquin Valley and California are meeting Tuesday morning in Fresno with potential prime contractors for California's high-speed train system. An industry forum at the Save Mart Center outlined plans for construction between Fresno and Bakersfield. It also served as a networking session for businesses hoping to work on the project. "You all have a lot of experience, and we want to take advantage of that," said Hans Van Van Winkle, the construction manager for the statewide high-speed train project. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/14/2951735/high-speed-rail-forum-brings-together.html GREEN ENERGY Obama to push wind power in Iowa, Romney to tour Ohio coal mine. The presidential candidates turn to the topic of energy Tuesday as they travel to different battleground states with different interests in future U.S. energy policy. In Iowa, President Obama plans to talk about wind energy as he pushes Congress to extend the production tax credit for companies investing in this growing alternative source. In Ohio coal country, meanwhile, Republican Mitt Romney is expected to talk about Obama’s “war on coal” and the strain he says it puts on an industry that helps to power the state’s economy. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-romney-campaigning-energy-20120814,0,687578.story MISCELLANEOUS Effort to Cut Milan Traffic Halted as Court Favors Garage. It would seem to go without saying that a measure aimed at reducing traffic in the center of a city would hurt the business of a parking garage there. It would not even seem to be a matter of dispute, much less a court case. Yet in Italy, where obstructionism has been raised to a fine art, few were surprised when an administrative court, the Council of State, upheld a parking garage’s right to appeal and Milan’s six-month experiment with a fee that was designed to reduce traffic congestion hit a brick wall. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/13/world/europe/ruling-halts-an-effort-to-reduce-traffic-in-milan.html?_r=1 California fire fee ignites anger as bills go out. More than 800,000 Californians who own property in wildfire country will begin receiving bills this week for a new annual fire-protection fee, rekindling outrage among rural residents and leading to a likely lawsuit seeking to overturn the surcharge. The fee, passed by Democrats in the Legislature and signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last year, is intended to raise an estimated $84 million in its first year for fire-prevention efforts. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120813/A_NEWS/120819962&cid=sitesearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/12/bills-going-out-to-property-owners/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/california-fire-fee-ignites-anger-as-bills-go-out/article_aaf8c31e-b4a2-56bf-9234-42c1497453b1.htm l http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120813/COMMUNITY/120819854 OPINIONS Shale Gas to the Climate Rescue. The battle against runaway climate change is being lost. The green movement and the energy industry — while engaged in a furious debate on issues from nuclear power to oil sands — are missing the bigger picture. There is little recognition by either side that current policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions are inadequate for dealing with the threat that they pose. It is the coal-fueled growth of countries like China and India that generates much of these emissions. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/14/opinion/shale-gas-to-the-climate-rescue.html Chevron's refinery, Richmond's peril. The facility that caught fire violates pollution rules and is a daily threat to workers and neighbors. Stay inside, close your windows and doors, and turn off air conditioning and heating units. Pets and all children in sporting activities should be brought inside, and have duct tape ready should you need to further seal windows and doors. These are among the "shelter in place" warnings made to Bay Area residents last week in response to a massive fire at the Chevron Corp. refinery in Richmond. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-0814-juhasz-chevron-refinery-pollution-20120814,0,5532083.story Viewpoints: State's servants should be accountable. Almost 20 years after I helped initiate legal action against Pacific Gas and Electric for the contamination of the small town of Hinkley's tap water with cancer-causing hexavalent chromium, this week the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Working Group planned to file another hexavalent chromium suit to force the state agency charged with protecting our health to finally establish an enforceable standard for this dangerous chemical lurking in the drinking water supplies of millions of Californians. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/14/v-print/4722877/states-servants-should-be-accountable.html EDITORIAL: Time to end ethanol mandate. The notion of the government trying to pick winners and losers in the economy is one that has largely been rejected in the United States. Our historical record of economic growth and a healthy middle class was the result of allowing individuals to make their own decisions, with a loose set of regulations to try to minimize out-and-out fraud and abuse. To discuss where exactly to draw the line on what constitutes abuse is to wade into a gray area, and is an arena of political debate that has contributed mightily to the shaping of our elections through the centuries. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-time-to-end-ethanol-mandate/article_f5686838-621b-55e7-9602-b4ab9da73a56.html Murdock: The speech Romney should give. Mitt Romney cannot run from his record at Bain Capital. So, he might as well give this speech. ... Ladies and Gentlemen: You have heard plenty about my previous life as a rich businessman. Yes, I made some $250 million in free enterprise and am proud I did — just as Berry Gordy is proud that he produced millions at Motown and Steve Jobs was proud he yielded billions at Apple. Like these respected and wealthy entrepreneurs, I added value, delivered products and services that people wanted and created thousands of careers along the way. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/13/murdock-the-speech-romney-should-give/ Companies will exploit Cap and Trade. Anti-capitalists always complain that entrepreneurs exploit loopholes in all those nice laws liberals and progressives pass to help the environment, the baby seals, the rain forests, etc. You can bet that will happen with California’s Cap and Trade program, which launches in January and is preceded by carbon allowance auctions on Nov. 14. Reported Forbes: “Governor Jerry Brown’s budget plan, released in January, projected auction revenue of $1 billion in 2012-13. When the cap-and-trade program expands to include transportation fuels in 2015, auction revenue will ratchet upwards.” Posted. http://www.calwatchdog.com/2012/08/09/companies-will-exploit-cap-and-trade/ BLOGS Should Candidates Talk About Climate Change? Anthony Leiserowitz, the director of the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, just sent the note below about a new analysis of climate attitudes. I’m posting it here as part of a continuing effort to point to notable news and analysis out there in the fire hose flood: Today we are releasing a short report that draws upon data from our latest national survey (March 2012) and other research to investigate this question: On balance, will candidates for political office benefit or be harmed by talking about and supporting action to reduce global warming? …Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/14/should-candidates-talk-about-climate-change/ Do Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney disagree on climate change? Mitt Romney’s views on climate change can be difficult to pin down. In 2004, when Romney was governor of Massachusetts, his administration unveiled a detailed plan to reduce the state’s carbon emissions. As recently as June 2011, Romney was telling voters in New Hampshire that “the world’s getting warmer,” that “I believe that humans contribute,” and that “I think it’s important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases.” Since then, however, Romney has softened that stance somewhat. “I don’t know if [rising temperatures are] mostly caused by humans,” he told another New Hampshire crowd last summer. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/08/14/do-paul-ryan-and-mitt-romney-disagree-on-energy-policy/ Climate Change: Countries That May Be Hit Hardest. Rising seas threaten to drown island countries such as the Maldives and Kiribati in the era of global warming — a dire scenario that has forced leaders to plan for floating cities or consider moving their entire populations to neighboring countries. Most countries won't need to take such drastic steps to simply survive, but many more will similarly experience the uglier side of climate change. The countries potentially facing the worst fates may not necessarily experience the greatest climate change, but instead lack the resources to cushion their people against climate-related disasters such as hurricanes, floods, heat waves and droughts. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/14/climate-change-countries_n_1776064.html New Fisker statement on Karma fire: batteries not to blame. As we suspected yesterday, the first official word from Fisker about the Karma that caught fire in Woodside, CA this weekend is that the li-ion batteries are apparently not to blame. Fisker has released a statement, which you can find below, that says that independent investigators from Pacific Rim Investigative Group are looking into the cause of the blaze and that: Evidence revealed thus far supports the fact that the ignition source was not the Lithium-ion battery pack, new technology components or unique exhaust routing. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/13/new-fisker-statement-on-karma-fire-batteries-not-to-blam/ ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 14:38:28 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 16, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 16, 2012. 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 Bay pollution trading impact on poor questioned. The impact on poor communities of cutting Chesapeake Bay pollution through credit trading is being questioned in a report released Wednesday by a nonprofit policy analysis group. The Center for Progressive Reform said that the report finds that even if trading cuts overall pollution, it might still have a negative impact on low-income and minority communities. Pollution trading allows some polluters to buy credits for cuts made by others. Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and West Virginia already have state programs, but a bay-wide program does not exist. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Bay-pollution-trading-impact-on-poor-questioned-3790492.php#ixzz23jH05X7X CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change poses risks to food, beyond US drought. Downpours and heatwaves caused by climate change could disrupt food supplies from the fields to the supermarkets, raising the risk of more price spikes such as this year's leap triggered by drought in the United States. Food security experts working on a chapter in a U.N. overview of global warming due in 2014 said governments should take more account of how extremes of heat, droughts or floods could affect food supplies from seeds to consumers' plates. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/08/16/climate-drought-idINL6E8JFAI220120816 Greenland melting breaks record 4 weeks before season's end. Melting over the Greenland ice sheet shattered the seasonal record on August 8 – a full four weeks before the close of the melting season, reports Marco Tedesco, assistant professor of Earth and atmospheric sciences at The City College of New York. The melting season in Greenland usually lasts from June – when the first puddles of meltwater appear – to early-September, when temperatures cool. This year, cumulative melting in the first week in August had already exceeded the record of 2010, taken over a full season, according to Professor Tedesco's ongoing analysis. Posted. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-08/ccon-gmb081412.php http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/16/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Hawaii Supreme Court rules in favor of Maui groups. The Hawaii Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled in favor of Native Hawaiian and environmental groups seeking to have more water restored to several central Maui streams so they can grow taro and revive natural habitat. The court ruled the state Commission on Water Resource Management erred when it came up with a plan outlining how much water two companies may divert from the streams. The court said the commission failed to adequately consider how stream flows affect Native Hawaiian customary practices in the area. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/15/hawaii-supreme-court-rules-in-favor-of-maui/#ixzz23j5KJCQv China gets greener but is far from meeting its long-term clean energy and environmental goals – report. Shanghai -- Despite notable progress, China still faces big troubles on its energy, climate and environmental fronts, the Asian Development Bank says in a country analysis report published yesterday. The report, prepared by a group of experts and the bank's own team, assessed China's environmental performance during the period of 2006 and 2010, saying that the country achieved many environmental improvements even though its economy grew faster than expected. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/16/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB advises reefer unit owners to purchase their compliance options soon. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recommends taking immediate action to plan and order compliance options to ensure model year 2005 transport refrigeration units (TRUs or reefer units) comply by the end of 2012. Purchase orders must be placed soon for in-use TRU compliance technology to qualify for a compliance extension. The TRU Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) allows compliance extensions if delivery or installation is delayed. Posted. http://refrigeratedtrans.com/2010-emissions/carb_reminds_reefer_owners_of_compliance_technology_deadlines_0816/ Port of Long Beach Sees 75% Emissions Reduction. Port of Long Beach (PoLB), analysis of key pollutants in 2005 compared to 2011 show a 75% reduction in airborne diesel particulates as a result of clean air programs, and air pollution from port-related sources declining for the fifth year in a row, the port authority has said. Program results showed reductions of all the key air pollutants from ships, trucks, locomotives, tractors, and cranes that move cargo. In addition to the drop in diesel emissions…Posted. http://shipandbunker.com/news/am/983137-port-of-long-beach-sees-75-emissions-reduction FUELS EPA to approve grain sorghum for cleaner ethanol. The federal government is on the verge of approving a grain mainly used as livestock feed to make a cleaner version of ethanol, a decision officials say could give farmers a new moneymaking opportunity, boost the biofuels industry and help the environment. A plant in western Kansas already is gearing up to take advantage, launching a multimillion-dollar renovation so it can be the first to turn sorghum _ a plant similar in appearance to corn _ into advanced ethanol. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/epa-to-approve-grain-sorghum-for-cleaner-ethanol/article_a12a00b2-4d99-50d3-bbc5-241ca1e42bf8.html http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-08-15/epa-to-approve-grain-sorghum-for-cleaner-ethanol http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/epa-to-approve-sorghum-for-cleaner-ethanol-experts-say-grain-has-less-impact-on-food-prices/2012/08/15/8861a178-e70e-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/15/2953235/epa-to-approve-grain-sorghum-for.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21322738/epa-approve-grain-sorghum-cleaner-ethanol?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com BP Biofuels, Texas AgriLife Research partner to advance cellulosic biofuel feedstock development. BP Biofuels and Texas AgriLife Research, part of The Texas A&M University System, have signed a three-year agreement to develop and commercialize cellulosic feedstocks for the production of advanced biofuels. The collaboration will utilize AgriLife Research’s diverse high biomass energy crop breeding program and BP Biofuels’ position as one of the few global energy companies growing commercial-scale biomass crops for liquid fuels. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/08/bptexas-20120815.html Natural gas slowly makes its way to your filling station. Motor fuel retailers are cautiously betting that the filling station of the future will offer a broader range of options than what is available to today's gas-and-go drivers. The change is coming with the integration of tens of thousands of alternative-fuel vehicles into the global motor fleet, including those powered by natural gas, hydrogen, biofuels and electricity. In the United States, truck stop chain TravelCenters of America LLC revved the alternative fuels market this summer when it said it would soon offer liquefied natural gas (LNG) at the same islands where owners of gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles have long held sway. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/16/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Early August auto sales match July's pace. It may be the dog days of August, but auto sales aren't slowing. Industry analysts and dealers said this week that sales during the first half of August matched July's pace and could go even higher. In July, new cars and trucks sold at an annual rate of 14.1 million. While that's a slight letdown from the pace of 14.3 million in the first half of the year, it's a big improvement over last year's 12.8 million. Sales, in fact, remain a bright spot in the weakest economic recovery since the Great Depression. Unemployment is high at 8.3 percent and consumer spending is feeble. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/15/early-august-auto-sales-match-julys-pace/#ixzz23j4MF1Mm GM China begins prototype battery cell fabrication. General Motors China is fabricating and testing prototype battery cells and complete systems at its Advanced Technical Center in Shanghai to support GM researchers and engineers in the development of next-generation vehicle battery systems. These systems are expected to be more affordable for GM customers around the world and help GM expand vehicle electrification. Researchers will be able to complete a series of processes, including battery material preparation, battery material coating, battery cell fabrication and battery cell performance testing. GM’s goal is to accelerate the development of batteries with improved energy density, allowing smaller overall system sizes and reducing costs. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/08/gmchina-20120816.html GREEN ENERGY Report: 37,400 Clean Energy Jobs Announced In Q2, But PTC Threat Already Slowing Wind Industry. Top 10 Clean Job States: California, Florida and New York Landed Most Clean Energy Jobs in 2nd Quarter; Michigan, Colorado, Ohio, New Jersey, Illinois, Nebraska and Mississippi Rounded Out Biggest-Gaining States. As many as 37,409 jobs could be created from the more than 70 major clean energy projects announced across the United States during the second quarter of 2012, according to the latest quarterly Clean Energy Jobs Roundup from Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2)…Posted. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/report-37400-clean-energy-jobs-announced-in-q2-but-ptc-threat-already-slowing-wind-industry-2012-08-16?utm_source=California+Brightspot&utm_campaign=5655433d6f-my_google_analytics_key&utm_medium=email INDUSTRY: Solar company bringing 1,000 jobs to Riverside. A company that markets solar panels and has a very bullish outlook about the future demand for its products is relocating its operations to a historic but long-abandoned Riverside building and hopes to employ as many as 1,000 people there, a spokesman said Wednesday, Aug. 15. SolarMax Technology is remodeling the old Food Machinery Corp. building adjacent to the Metrolink station near downtown Riverside. The company will bring its corporate headquarters, including full sales and office staffs, employees who arrange customer financing and some distribution personnel, to the location by the end of the year. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20120815-industry-solar-company-bringing-1000-jobs-to-riverside.ece Vt. wind power protesters found guilty of trespass. Six protesters who blocked a road leading to a wind power project on a mountain in Lowell have been found guilty of trespassing. A jury in Newport returned the verdict on Wednesday night after a one-day trial. The protesters were accused of lining the path to prevent workers and trucks from reaching the area where Green Mountain Power Corp. contractors are building the wind energy project on Lowell Mountain in Lowell, a small town in the northern part of the state. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/15/vt-wind-power-protesters-found-guilty-of/ MISCELLANEOUS Lubbock man jailed in biodiesel fuel fraud case. A West Texas businessman indicted on 79 counts in a $42 million biodiesel fuel fraud investigation has reported to jail. Jeffrey David Gunselman was booked into the Lubbock County Jail on Wednesday. No bond has been set. A federal grand jury in Lubbock indicted the former Absolute Fuels chief executive officer on counts of wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21323370/lubbock-man-jailed-biodiesel-fuel-fraud-case?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com OPINIONS Golden State high-speed rail is smart. When he was governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger put high-speed rail before the voters, and the project has strong support from a bipartisan group of mayors representing five of California’s largest cities. Business groups across the state, including the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and the Orange County Business Council, ardently advocate for it. Does Mr. Will have a better idea about how California can meet the mobility needs of the estimated 20 million new citizens who will call the state home over the next several decades? New freeways and airports? What would those cost? Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/golden-state-high-speed-rail-is-smart/2012/08/15/459d0a26-e56a-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html Viewpoints: Implementing AB 32 will increase unemployment, household expenses. With the passage of California's Assembly Bill 32, the Golden State has embarked upon an experiment in energy policy that has no modern parallel. Several recent studies have shown that the consequences to the state could be dire, and that California faces a choice between continuing on its current trajectory toward a future of reduced economic growth and opportunity, or changing course and adopting less draconian climate and energy policies. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/16/4729971/stark-choices-for-states-energy.html Viewpoints: Clean energy law drives innovation, creates jobs, attracts investments. A quality cost-benefit analysis looks at real costs and real benefits, using recognized economic models that have been peer-reviewed. The recent analysis commissioned by the California Manufacturers & Technology Association to look at Assembly Bill 32, our state's landmark clean energy law, misfires on both sides of the cost/benefit equation. And its underlying model takes serious departures from accepted economic modeling. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/16/4729970/clean-energy-law-drives-innovation.html#storylink=cpy A sign of what's to come? On especially hot days, 35-year-old Paco Galvan must choose between his work and his health. He stopped picking pears at noon this week, which will make it that much harder to pay the electric bill. Not that paying the bill helps. The air conditioner in Galvan's house is so weak it cools only one room. It is hard to sleep at night for Galvan and his four children. Not far from his home off Church Street, Analicia Garcia pushed a stroller toward Union Square where her daughter would be dropped off by the school bus Wednesday. Her sons wrestled over a bottle of ice water. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120816/A_NEWS/208160335&cid=sitesearch In America's National Parks, Air Pollution Knows No Boundaries. Summer is a time when American families plan vacations. Many are centered on the natural beauty of our country and the National Parks System. However, what many tourists may not anticipate is that the destination of their journey is being impacted by air pollution in the form of soot and haze, despite laws that were put into place as far back as the 1970s. In 1977, there was strong bipartisan support in Congress to mandate the restoration of air in 156 of the country's national parks and wilderness regions. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marcia-g-yerman/air-pollution-national-parks-_b_1783169.html BLOGS In Fuel Cells, Some Hope for Urban Sanitation. As more and more people around the world flock to cities, urban areas in developing nations are struggling to keep up with the human influx and the waste that people produce. In 2010 roughly 2.5 billion people lacked basic sanitation, according to the World Health Organization. A team of engineers has developed a tool that may prove to be a solution: fuel cells that harness a mix of microbes to clean wastewater while producing their own power. The technology is young, but it shows promise, said Hong Liu, an associate professor of biological and ecological engineering at Oregon State University who heads the team. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/16/in-fuel-cells-some-hope-for-urban-sanitation/ ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 14:46:55 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 17, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 17, 2012. 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 signs rule to cut haze in Big Sky Country. Federal regulators have approved a new measure meant to help turn Montana's Big Sky Country into Clear Sky Country by forcing industrial plants to cut pollutants that make hazy skies over national parks and wilderness areas. The Environmental Protection Agency rule has been criticized by industry as too costly and by conservationists and other federal agencies as not tough enough. The goal is to restore visibility to natural conditions in national parks and wilderness areas from Idaho to North Dakota. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EPA_MONTANA_HAZE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED ARTICLES http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/16/epa-signs-rule-to-cut-haze-in-big-sky-02/#ixzz23p32RaDk http://www.modbee.com/2012/08/16/2332382/epa-signs-rule-to-cut-haze-in.html#storylink=misearch Air pollution expected to be unhealthy today in foothills. Bad air pollution is being forecast in three locations today by the Butte County Air Quality Management District. The pollution will be very unhealthy in Concow/Yankee Hill, unhealthy in Paradise, and unhealthy for sensitive groups in Forest Ranch. Sensitive groups are children and older adults and those with heart or lung problems. They should reduce exertion in Forest Ranch, avoid it in Paradise, and avoid all outside physical activity in Concow/Yankee Hill. Posted. http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_21334853/air-pollution-expected-be-unhealthy-today-foothills Hot air makes hard breathing. A heat wave finally broke Wednesday, Aug. 15, when daytime high temperatures in Tracy dipped below the 100-degree mark for the first time since Aug. 9. But the effects of the high temperatures are likely to linger. According to Anthony Presto, spokesman for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, the heat wave created the perfect crucible for poor air in the Central Valley, combining stagnant, hot conditions with emissions from tailpipes, fires and other organic compounds. Ozone, “a corrosive gas that damages lung tissue…Posted. http://www.tracypress.com/view/full_story/19837238/article-Hot-air-makes-hard-breathing?instance=home_news_bullets CLIMATE CHANGE AP IMPACT: CO2 emissions in US drop to 20-year low. In a surprising turnaround, the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere in the U.S. has fallen dramatically to its lowest level in 20 years, and government officials say the biggest reason is that cheap and plentiful natural gas has led many power plant operators to switch from dirtier-burning coal. Many of the world's leading climate scientists didn't see the drop coming, in large part because it happened as a result of market forces rather than direct government action against carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAS_DRILLING_CO2_DROP?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-08-16-22-39-40 OTHER RELATED ARTICLES http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/16/4732022/ap-impact-co2-emissions-in-us.html http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_21331721/natural-gas-cuts-coal-use-and-reduces-co2 http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/ap-impact-co2-emissions-in-us-drop-to-20-year-low-some-experts-optimistic-on-global-warming/2012/08/16/e2b11a80-e814-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21327959/ap-impact-co2-emissions-us-drop-20-year?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21336230/ap-impact-co2-emissions-us-drop-20-year?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/ap-impact-co-emissions-in-us-drop-to--year/article_596317f1-86b4-5201-a4d5-d14c08e199f9.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/08/16/2332274/ap-impact-co2-emissions-in-us.html#storylink=misearch http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/08/in-a-surprise-co2-emissions-hit-20-year-low/1#.UC6C6tVeSW8 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2018937839_apusgasdrillingco2drop.html http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/08/17/co2-emissions-in-us-drop-to-20-year-low-some-experts-optimistic-on-global/ Forecast: US drought lingering but leveling off. The worst drought in the U.S. in decades may be leveling off or even be easing ever so slightly in some lucky locales, federal weather forecasters announced Thursday in a report of little comfort for farmers and ranchers who already have begun tallying this year's losses. While the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center calls for the drought to linger in the nation's breadbasket …Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DROUGHT_SEVERITY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Climate change driving Australian fish south. Australian scientists said Friday there was now "striking evidence" of extensive southward migration of tropical fish and declines in other species due to climate change, in a major ocean report card. Compiled by more than 80 of Australia's leading marine experts for the government science body CSIRO, the snapshot of global warming's effects on the island continent's oceans warned of "significant impacts". "Climate change is already happening; widespread physical changes include rapid warming of the southeast and increasing flow of the east Australia current," the report said. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gnPGPIvsE5J-rO0F71ja9zRpIUPg?docId=CNG.b448ea5b6d75e7807182aac9eeed6898.341 Impact of U.S. drought on crops may be peaking, Vilsack says. The severity of the worst U.S. drought in 56 years may be peaking, while its effects on corn and soybeans, the nation’s two biggest crops, may not be known until the harvests, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. The steadying of weather conditions may limit food inflation next year, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted last month would be 3 percent to 4 percent, Vilsack said yesterday in an interview at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. It may also ease pressure to relax federal requirements for the use of corn to make ethanol, he said. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/impact-of-us-drought-on-crops-may-be-peaking-vilsack-says/2012/08/17/a23c52f8-e823-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html How climate change is changing forests in the Northeast – report. The northeastern United States could be a much different place by the end of the 21st century, with insects, animals and even trees shifting to accommodate higher temperatures and increasingly conflicting weather patterns, according to a new report by U.S. and Canadian scientists. The report, titled "Changing Climate, Changing Forests: The Impacts of Climate Change on Forests of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada," is a cross-disciplinary synthesis of existing research, drawing on the expertise of 38 scientists to give a holistic picture of forest health under a changing climate. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/17/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Canada's greenbelt stores vast amounts of carbon, report says. A report by the David Suzuki Foundation released Wednesday aims to quantify the role of Canada's greenbelt in mitigating the effects of climate change. "It's a massive carbon storehouse," said Faisal Moola, the Suzuki Foundation's director of science. The forests, farms and wetlands of the greenbelt span from Rice Lake to the Niagara River, covering 1.8 million acres. All that vegetation pulls carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and stores it in its biomass. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/17/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Shipping terminals to reduce diesel emissions. The Yang Ming and Yusen shipping terminals will be equipped with electrical power generators as part of an ongoing effort to reduce diesel emissions from cargo ships docking at the Port of Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners on Thursday awarded a $31.2 million contract to Santa Fe Springs-based Cupertino Electric to install the Alternative Maritime Power equipment at Berths 121-126 and 212-216.AMP technology allows container ships to "plug in" to a generator and operate on electrical power while docked, rather than idling on its diesel engine. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_21330132/shipping-terminals-reduce-diesel-emissions RB advises reefer unit owners to purchase their compliance options soon. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recommends taking immediate action to plan and order compliance options to ensure model year 2005 transport refrigeration units (TRUs or reefer units) comply by the end of 2012. Purchase orders must be placed soon for in-use TRU compliance technology to qualify for a compliance extension. The TRU Airborne Toxic Control Measure (ATCM) allows compliance extensions if delivery or installation is delayed. Posted. http://refrigeratedtrans.com/2010-emissions/carb_reminds_reefer_owners_of_compliance_technology_deadlines_0816/ FUELS UPDATE 1-U.S. Automakers, refiners lose challenge to new ethanol mix. Trade associations for automakers, refiners and other industries may not challenge new rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approving the introduction of an ethanol blend known as E15, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Friday. The 2-1 ruling from the court in Washington, D.C., dismissed challenges brought by the trade associations because the court said they do not have standing. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/17/ethanol-court-idUSL2E8JH6FN20120817 http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-automakers-refiners-lose-challenge-to-new-ethanol-mix-20120817,0,5028011.story?track=rss In Drought, a Debate Over Quota for Ethanol. Washington — Three big intertwined but rival agribusinesses — corn farmers, meat and poultry producers, and biofuel refineries — are in a political fight to protect their interests as a drought ravages corn producers and industrial consumers alike. At issue is whether to suspend a five-year-old federal mandate requiring more ethanol in gasoline each year, a policy that has diverted almost half of the domestic corn supply from animal feedlots to ethanol refineries, driven up corn prices and plantings and created a desperate competition for corn as drought grips the nation’s farm belt. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/business/energy-environment/ethanol-quota-debated-by-corn-farmers-and-meat-industry.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print California gas prices may have peaked. Last week's refinery fire sent fuel prices soaring, but 'Southern California gas prices have actually only risen by about 2 cents since Sunday,' an Auto Club spokesman says. The rapid rise in gasoline prices, sparked by a refinery fire last week, has slowed and may have peaked, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. Since the fire at Chevron Corp.'s Richmond Refinery in the Bay Area on Aug. 6, the average retail price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California has shot up 25.8 cents. At one point, it jumped 5 cents overnight. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gas-prices-20120817,0,6244417,print.story Duck farm taps waste product to create methane. There's solar power and wind power. Now Culver Duck Farms is taking the move toward use of renewable energy resources a step further — it plans to use the duck parts that don't make it to the dinner plate to help power the facility. Duck offal would be put into what's called an anaerobic digester to produce methane, making Culver Duck one of a select group of ag operations nationwide using such technology. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Duck-farm-taps-waste-product-to-create-methane-3795859.php#ixzz23pINfwf7 Novozymes cuts prediction of U.S. ethanol production because of drought. Novozymes, the world's biggest supplier of enzymes used in biofuels, cut its forecast for U.S. ethanol production because of the ongoing drought's impact on corn prices and availability. The Danish company, which commands more than 60 percent of the biofuels enzyme market in the United States, forecast yesterday full-year ethanol production of 13.4 billion gallons, down 6 percent from its previous forecast of 14.2 billion gallons. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/17/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Appeals court tosses E15 lawsuit on lack of standing. A federal appeals court today dismissed a lawsuit brought by oil, auto and food industries against U.S. EPA for its approval of E15, or gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol. In its decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that none of the petitioners has standing to bring the action against EPA. "Because we hold that no petitioner has standing to bring this action, we dismiss all petitions for lack of jurisdiction," Chief Judge David Sentelle wrote in his opinion. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/08/17/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Fracking bills derailed in committee. Legislation designed to regulate hydraulic fracturing in California died in committee yesterday, leaving the Golden State one of the most unregulated fracking hot spots in the country for now. The two bills -- a moratorium and a chemical disclosure requirement -- did not make it past the Senate Appropriations Committee. The moratorium, from state Rep. Betsy Butler (D), would ban the issuance of permits for new wells using the process that shoots chemical-laced water and sand underground to release trapped oil and gas. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/print/2012/08/17/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Anti-smog device. May 22, 1960: UCLA researchers Richard D. Hopa, left, and Hiroshi Kimura demonstrate a new anti-smog device developed for automobiles. This image accompanied a May 23, 1960, L.A. Times story that reported: The Board of Supervisors was told yesterday of the development of a new device which sponsors aver will prevent up to 80% of nitrogen oxides, major ingredients of smog, from entering the air when attached to automobiles. Posted. http://framework.latimes.com/2012/08/17/anti-smog-device/ Success of Japanese EVs at the hill climb race. Applications for clean energy vehicle subsidies (CEV) registered after February 2012 can be submitted to the Japanese Next Generation Vehicle Promotion Centre until 7 March 2013. Buyers of electric cars benefit from tax exemptions as well as from the clean energy vehicle subsidies, for which a budget of ¥3.7 billion (~€38 million) remained as of 20 July 2012. Also eligible for the subsidies are plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and clean diesels. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4859 GREEN ENERGY Top executives say no thanks to U.S. cleantech jobs. U.S. solar and biofuel companies are struggling to find new top executives after a string of departures over the past year, demonstrating a lack of faith among executives that the sector can recover from a supply glut that has hammered share prices. Almost all the top U.S.-listed solar companies, including First Solar Inc., SunPower Corp, Canadian Solar Inc. and JA Solar Holdings Co, have seen either their CEO or CFO leave over the past year. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/16/us-cleantech-executives-idUSBRE87F12620120816 Mass. clean energy economy growing, report says. The growth of Massachusetts' renewable energy economy is outpacing the overall economy nearly tenfold, according to a new report that measures clean energy sector employment and the number of businesses that use clean energy practices. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center announced Thursday that its annual report found an 11.2 percent growth in the sector's economy from July 2011 to July 2012. Renewable energy leaders say they expect the growth to continue, and industry employers who were surveyed said they expect to hire more workers in the coming year. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/16/mass-clean-energy-economy-growing-report-says/ GE 'Skypump' charges electric cars with wind power. Almost a year after they officially announced it, GE and vertical axis wind turbine company Urban Green Energy have announced the installationsource of the Sanya Skypump, a wind-powered charging station capable of recharging an electric car on wind energy. Last year, GE and vertical axis wind turbine company Urban Green Energy announced the launch of the Sanya Skypump, a wind-powered charging station capable of recharging an electric car on wind energy alone. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/In-Gear/2012/0816/GE-Skypump-charges-electric-cars-with-wind-power MISCELLANEOUS Free Workshop on California High Speed Rail. Citizens for California High Speed Rail Accountability (CCHSRA) will host a free educational and informational workshop concerning the proposed Fresno-Bakersfield section of the California High-Speed Rail at First Baptist Church of Hanford from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 25th. The church is located in Hanford, California. This is the second Environmental Impact Report (EIR)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) workshop the Kings County-based nonpartisan advocacy group has hosted. Posted. http://hanford.kmph.com/news/92097-free-workshop-california-high-speed-rail OPINION End the Ethanol Mandate. Record-high corn prices should be sending a clear message to policy makers in Washington: Requiring people to put corn-based fuel in their gas tanks is a bad idea. Since 2005, the U.S. government has mandated that gasoline contain ethanol, almost all of it derived from corn. The policy, ostensibly aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on foreign oil and at improving the environment, has been a bonanza for farmers. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-16/ethanol-in-gas-tanks-makes-food-on-your-table-cost-more.html Urban growth means hotter summers; white paint can help. It’s hot out there. Hotter than it would be if instead of what I see outside my sliver of window -- roads, buildings -- there was grass and vegetation. Hotter, too, than it would be if the buildings were all covered with white paint, a la a Greek island. This is the “heat island effect,” and it happens because the materials used to make roads and structures absorb a lot more heat from the sun than does vegetation. They slowly release that heat through the night, keeping everything not-so-nicely cooking. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-sizzling-summers-from-urban-growth-20120816,0,2620928.story Letters: Who pays for cleaner trucks? Re "Cracking down on diesel," Opinion, Aug. 14 Carl Pope makes a good case for retrofitting trucks with diesel filters, which costs about $10,000 a truck, to reduce deadly air pollution. But the benefit is to the public. Why should the truck owner bear the burden while getting no direct benefit? I suggest that the retrofit be subsidized by taxpayers because they receive the benefit. Among the advantages of this approach is that the retrofits will be done sooner and the savings from costly enforcement programs can be used to actually get the job done. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0816-thursday-diesel-trucks-20120816,0,128611,print.story OPINION: Texas claims a victory over the EPA. Monday was "I told you so" day for some top Texas officials. A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for the state in a legal battle with the federal Environmental Protection Agency. "This decision is a big win for jobs and a big win for Texas," said Gov. Rick Perry in a statement released after the ruling. He said the appeals court finding "affirms that states have the right to develop permitting processes that balance the priorities of protecting the environment and allowing our industries to thrive." Texas brought the case after the EPA, in 2010, disallowed the Texas Flexible Permit Program, the state's plan for air quality control at industrial plants. State officials had a right to gloat about the ruling. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-mct-opinion-texas-claims-a-victory-over-the-epa-20120817,0,2482128.story EDITORIAL: We will ship some coal and growth to India. As Vice President Joe Biden told a supporter in the 2008 campaign, "No coal plants here in America. Build them, if they're going to build them, over there." Biden was referring to China, but India's economy is growing, too. And so it has come to pass. Officials in Kentucky and West Virginia announced Wednesday a $7 billion deal with the Abhijeet Group that will result in the shipment of 9 million tons of Appalachian coal a year to India for 25 years. The abundant, affordable domestic energy source the Obama administration has so recklessly devalued will benefit India instead. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-mct-editorial-we-will-ship-some-coal-and-growth-to-20120817,0,7306000,print.story EDITORIAL: A methane mess of Ada County's making. Strange but true: Methane gas is now such a coveted commodity that a company is preparing to take Ada County to court over it. But from the looks of it, Ada County commissioners brought this methane mess on themselves -- all in the process of trying to cut a dubious deal with Dynamis Energy, the latest company to seek to turn county landfill trash into clean energy. Hidden Hollow Energy faces a bind, resulting in part from the Dynamis dealings. Hidden Hollow, which has produced energy from landfill methane gas since 2006…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-mct-editorial-a-methane-mess-of-ada-countys-making-20120817,0,1235627.story Don't let polluters weasel out California environmental law. Re "Clean energy law drives innovation, creates jobs, attracts investments" (Viewpoints, Aug. 16): Predictably, polluters are attempting to weasel out of abiding by California's groundbreaking clean energy law. Cries of an economic slowdown are mere fear-mongering on the part of industry. Assembly Bill will promote innovation by bringing even more clean-energy investment to the state, simply shifting jobs from dirty energy to clean. It's a win-win situation for Californians: cleaner air and more jobs. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/16/4732644/dont-let-polluters-squirm-out.html#storylink=cpy California's cap and trade system spells economic doom. Re ""Air board may ease carbon credits" (Page A1, Aug. 13): If people wonder what the California economy will look like in 2015 and beyond, they should consult the ominous warnings described by this article. As the article mentions, the California Air Resources Board will soon begin operating a cap and trade system, estimated to cost California industry $1 billion in new operating expenses in 2013, but up to $6 billion in 2015. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/16/4731592/carb-greenhouse-gas-regulations.html#storylink=cpy California Resources Board Amnesia. A rouge agency runs amok with unchecked powers and a dubious agenda. Inquiries about are met with political dodges or an outright refusal to disclose. Secrecy and obfuscation are used by the agency to thwart further investigation. Undaunted, the hero presses on against the unsettling conspiratorial silence and what it conceals. It sounds like a plot taken from a political thriller, like the Manchurian Candidate or the Bourne Identity movie franchise. Instead, it is life imitating art. This is what has been happening at the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/08/california-resources-board-amnesia/ BLOGS The Physics of Tidal Energy. As my colleague Jess Bidgood reported in Friday’s paper, a tidal energy project is moving ahead in Maine, with high costs but high hopes too. But the 180-kilowatt unit that the Ocean Renewable Power Company hopes to put under water next week is really just a first step. The big question is, how well will it withstand the force of the rushing water? The region, the Bay of Fundy, is famous for strong tides, but the company has picked a spot called Cobscook Bay, where the current is relatively slow, an average of 5.8 knots, or 6.7 miles an hour. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/10/the-physics-of-tidal-energy/ Trucks Continue to Idle in West Oakland. Diesel truck idling persists at the Port of Oakland posing a health hazard to workers and the surrounding community. With California’s strict idling limits long in place and a positive recent enforcement report from the state Air Resources Board, you would think that truck idling is no longer a problem. Yet Webcam views at the port reveal repeated long lines at one port terminal, leaving drivers to wait for hours exposed to the fumes and contributing to hazy conditions for everyone. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dbailey/post_1.html 2013 Nissan Leaf will go 25% further, could cost a lot less. Months ago, we heard that the U.S. version of the 2013 Nissan Leaf would go farther per charge in cold weather thanks to a better heater. This was about the Leaf that will be made in Smyrna, TN starting later this year. A new report on Inside EVs (based on the Japanese language Sankei Biz site) says that the new Leaf, at least the version destined for sale in Japan, will have its range extended to over 250 kilometers (155 miles) in any weather. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/16/2013-nissan-leaf-will-go-25-further-could-cost-a-lot-less/ ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 16:20:03 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 20, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 20, 2012. 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 Merits of a Power Line From Quebec Are Debated. On paper, the proposal looks fairly straightforward: a 330-mile underground power line that would carry electricity generated by hydropower in Quebec, one of the cheapest power markets in North America, to New York City, one of the most expensive. The transmission line would help cut air pollution in the city, by reducing the need to burn natural gas locally, proponents say. And the metropolitan region would be less reliant on the Indian Point nuclear plant, which Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a Democrat, wants to close. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/nyregion/merits-of-power-line-from-quebec-to-new-york-city-are-debated.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all&pagewanted=print Why L.A. is ahead on gauging air quality. Air regulators in the Los Angeles basin appear to be better prepared to gather information quickly about refinery fires than regulators in the Bay Area. That, both agencies say, is partly because the air pollution in the Los Angeles area is consistently so much worse than in the Bay Area. The South Coast Air Quality Management District has an array of portable devices that can be deployed during a refinery fire or similar event, district officials said. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Why-L-A-is-ahead-on-gauging-air-quality-3800056.php#ixzz246OEkD99 Refinery smoke blew past air monitors. Smoke and soot from the fire at Chevron's refinery in Richmond spread across a densely populated area, sickening thousands. But while the material found its way into lungs and bloodstreams, it did not find an air quality system that could measure it in a meaningful way. The network of air monitors run by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is designed to track everyday levels of pollutants like ozone and carbon monoxide, part of an effort to meet government health standards. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Refinery-smoke-blew-past-air-monitors-3800068.php#ixzz246RkFUmS Study puts Ohio among most toxic states. A newspaper reports that a new survey puts Ohio near the top of the country's top 20 toxic states. The Dayton Daily News (http://bit.ly/NyTOfe ) reports that The Buckeye State was No. 2 on a list of 20 states that are responsible for a disproportionate share of toxic emissions from the U.S. electric sector. That's according to a report released earlier this month by the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group. Kentucky was No. 1 on the list. The report said the emissions include key power plant pollutants such as mercury, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, ammonia and others. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Study-puts-Ohio-among-most-toxic-states-3800590.php#ixzz246Xdg9IE Vitamin C Might Protect Lungs On High-Pollution Days: Study. An antioxidant-rich diet could do your lungs a favor when exposed to air pollution, according to a small new study. Researchers from Imperial College London found that asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients were more likely to be admitted to the hospital on days when there were high particulate matter levels outside, Environmental Health News reported. Particulate matter is a pollutant that causes oxidative stress in the body (raising the risk of health problems like heart attack). Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/19/vitamin-c-pollution-lungs-antioxidants-particulate-matter_n_1797797.html SMOG: Unhealthful air grips the region. The 2012 smog season is shaping up to be worst in years for Inland residents. From July 18 through Thursday, Aug. 17, ozone levels were in the unhealthful range every day. Forecasters said the weeks ahead likely will bring more of the same. What’s making the situation more punishing is triple-digit heat with high humidity — the result of monsoon conditions that funnel moist air from the Gulf of Mexico. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20120818-smog-unhealthful-air-grips-the-region.ece Officials issue air warning for Valley. Worried that back-to-school traffic and hot temperatures will create a brew of toxic pollution over the San Joaquin Valley, air quality officials have called an "Air Alert" for Monday and Tuesday. It's already too late to eliminate a $29 million air pollution penalty after 2013, as officials had hoped. But keeping ozone levels down the rest of this summer and over the next two years could end the penalty after 2014, said Anthony Presto, a spokesman for the Valley Air Pollution Control District. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120818/A_NEWS/208180318 Valley air quality expected to suffer as school starts. Smog levels in the Valley typically spike when kids return to school. Next week's increase in traffic prompted the air pollution district to issue the season's first air alert. The Air Pollution Control District is asking people not to idle their cars while dropping off and picking up students. That may be tough for some parents waiting in 100-degree heat. The high heat only adds to the Valley's poor air quality, and with cars full of kids ready to line up for the start of school the Valley Air Pollution Control District has issued an air alert for Monday and Tuesday. Posted. http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8776681 Air alert on for Monday, Tuesday. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is ushering in the back-to-school season with an air alert effective Monday and Tuesday. Air alerts aim to remind residents to curb pollution, said Jaime Holt, chief communications officer for the district. The goal is to avoid violations of the Environmental Protection Agency's one-hour ozone standard, which measures ozone levels in one-hour snapshots at monitors throughout the valley. If levels are above 125 parts per billion, that's a violation and more than three violations at the same monitor in one year means a big fine, Holt said. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x290597846/Air-alert-on-for-Monday-Tuesday?utm_source=widget_63&utm_medium=latest_entries_widget&utm_campaign=synapse Cold, allergies -- or ozone? Valley catches air pollution. In the 1990s, it seemed concern for the ozone layer was everywhere, leading to plenty of studies on skin cancer and environmental worries. Now, it seems every week an ozone warning is issued by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. And with the warnings come sneezing, headaches, and coughs. So what is ozone -- and how is it affecting our health? Ozone is a type of oxygen molecule. While the type of oxygen molecule used to breathe is two oxygen atoms bonded together, ozone has three. Posted. http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/local/health/article_d90482b6-ea7f-11e1-a632-001a4bcf887a.html CLIMATE CHANGE CLIMATE CHANGE California suspends CO2 market rule on electricity imports. California's air regulator said on Thursday it would delay by 18 months a controversial part of its carbon market rules addressing imported electricity after coming under pressure from a Washington official who warned it threatened to disrupt western U.S. power supply. Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board (ARB), wrote in a letter to Philip Moeller, a commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), that the state needs more time to define "resource shuffling" in the rules governing its carbon cap-and-trade program, which begins next year. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/20/us-california-carbon-idUSBRE87J06B20120820 California's carbon price rollout. Australia is certainly not going it alone on a carbon price – the latest cab off the rank will be California, which begins its cap-and-trade scheme in January 2013. Erwin Jackson from The Climate Institute talks to George Peridas from the US Natural Resources Defense Council on how the scheme will work, and how similar it is to Australia’s carbon laws …Posted. http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/californias-carbon-price-rollout GREEN ENERGY In Calif. desert, the future is now for solar plant. Turn a power plant boiler inside out. Stick it on top of a 450-foot tower, and point 50,000 pairs of mirrors at it. In a matter of months, that setup -- under construction here in the Mojave Desert -- will begin sending electricity to consumers in Southern California when the first phase of the world's largest concentrating solar plant begins operating. By the end of next year, another 120,000-plus mirror pairs are expected to be online, tracking the sun's movements to power two additional towers as the 392-megawatt Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station enters full operation. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/08/20/2 BY SUBSCRIPTON ONLY MISCELLANEOUS SCE&G, environmental group settle lawsuit. An environmental group says it has settled a lawsuit accusing South Carolina Electric & Gas of illegally discharging arsenic and other contaminants into a river near Columbia. Attorneys for the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation said Monday that a settlement includes an agreement to remove all of the coal ash now being stored at the Wateree Station near Eastover. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/SCE-G-environmental-group-settle-lawsuit-3800899.php#ixzz246OtLOUN New program allows transfer of pollution credits. A new program being tested in Ohio and two other states would allow farmers who cut polluted storm water runoff to sell the reductions to power companies as credits to help them meet government requirements. The Columbus Dispatch (http://bit.ly/NAziqh) reports the Electric Power Research Institute came up with the idea and helped persuade state and federal officials to support it. The "water quality trading" test program was recently announced by environmental regulators in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/New-program-allows-transfer-of-pollution-credits-3800556.php#ixzz246PK5q60 OPINIONS Programs to Reduce Carbon Emissions. “Carbon Credits Gone Awry Raise Output of Harmful Gas” (“Chilling Effect” series, front page, Aug. 9), about the effect of the United Nations’ carbon credit program in driving increased production of a coolant with a harmful waste gas byproduct, illustrates the key drawbacks of carbon credit programs, cap and trade, and related schemes. These programs often lead to perverse incentives that produce no net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions or, worse, can even increase emissions. Cap-and-trade programs, like the European Union’s, allow offsets that are too easily manipulated. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/18/opinion/programs-to-reduce-carbon-emissions.html?_r=1 Dan Morain: Will jobs be lost with cap and trade? Extraordinarily smart people at the California Air Resources Board have taken to using the term "leakage" as they go about devising the experimental cap and trade system for reducing greenhouse gases. Homer Perez, head boiler mechanic at Pacific Coast Producers' tomato cannery off East Main Street in Woodland, might use a word that is more familiar to the rest of us: "layoff." The cannery has been operating under one owner or another since the 1920s.. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/19/4736585/dan-morain-will-jobs-be-lost-with.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/08/19/2336710/dan-morain-will-jobs-be-lost-with.html#storylink=misearch California's cap-and-trade must stand firm for our future. This July was the hottest on record for the United States. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the average July temperature clocked in at 77.6 degrees, breaking the record set in the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s. By now, everyone can see the looming consequences of global warming. This year’s drought has devastated the nation’s crops. The corn harvest is expected to drop by 13 percent from last year, and the soybean harvest is expected to drop by 12 percent. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/2012/08/californias-cap-and-trade-must-stand-firm-our-future Editorial: Oil giant Tesoro OK with a certain kind of California 'green'. The folks at Tesoro Corp. decided to stick around a little longer, after all. The Texas-based oil refiner doubled down on its California investment last week by buying a BP refinery in Carson near Los Angeles and 800 gas stations for $2.5 billion. The company bought the BP property for the most basic of business reasons: It got a good deal. Not two years ago, Tesoro was one of the Texas companies that poured $10.4 million into Proposition 23…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/20/4740011/editorial-oil-giant-tesoro-ok.html Calif. Gov. Brown's eco-propaganda. In a cynical and desperate scheme to wring the last dime out of the myopic, elite green voters of California, Gov. Brown is spending California taxpayer dollars to convince you that global warming should be a firm basis for his fanciful green-leveraged spending on high-speed rail and taxing under California’s go-it-alone 2013 carbon cap-and trade climate regulations. Gov. Brown’s new propaganda campaign includes his Office of Planning and Research website that attempts to demonize global warming skeptics, scientists and energy companies on the unsettled side of the climate change issue. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/calif-gov-brown-s-eco-propaganda McEwen: Diesel truckers should pay for bad air. It's a shared Fresno experience. You're returning from Los Angeles, Pismo Beach, Lake Tahoe or even our local Sierra. Hanging above the great Valley floor is a woven blanket of ozone and particulates, and you think, "I breathe that filthy stuff." Yes, we do. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has been with us 26 years. Businesses have spent $40 billion meeting regulations and buying emissions credits since its formation. More of us use electric lawn mowers and ride bikes. More of us drive hybrids or new, clean-burning gas vehicles. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/18/2957324/mcewen-diesel-truckers-should.html Theory Meets Reality on California’s Carbon Cap-and-Trade Program. Theory met reality on Tuesday at a Senate informational hearing on California’s carbon cap-and-trade program that is set to start with an auction in November 2012. Craig Anderson from Solar Turbines, an industrial gas turbine manufacturer with 4,000 employees in San Diego, testified that the soon-to-be-fully-implemented cap-and-trade program is the most significant threat to his company’s growth. “I can say without hesitation that AB 32 is viewed by our company leaders as not only the most significant environmental regulation we have faced in California, but also the greatest threat to the growth of our business in California,” said Anderson. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/08/theory-meets-reality-on-californias-carbon-cap-and-trade-program/ BLOGS Can natural gas really help tackle global warming? A primer. Over the winter, the United States reached a striking milestone. Carbon-dioxide emissions from the energy sector sank to their lowest levels in 20 years. At a glance, the country seems to be making major progress in tackling climate change. And many analysts give credit to the recent flood of cheap natural gas, which is shoving aside coal as America’s top source of electricity. Yet some environmentalists have argued that the accolades for natural gas are too premature. True, the shale gas boom has led to lower carbon pollution from the country’s power plants. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/08/20/can-natural-gas-really-help-tackle-global-warming-heres-everything-you-need-to-know/ Sustainable Innovation: Reducing Fashion’s Carbon Footprint. The colorful world of fashion has its dark sides, not least of which is its potential impact on the environment. First, there are the negative effects cause in the making, dying and distributing of most clothes, coverings and other fabrics. Then, there is what happens to all these textiles after consumers are done with them. Cheap clothing has become a disposable product in our society and most people in Europe recycle or donate less than half the clothing they discard — and they discard a lot — with the rest going into landfills. Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/sustainable-innovation-reducing-fashions-carbon-footprint/ Infiniti sets 2014 due date for all-electric LE with wireless charging. Infiniti has re-confirmed it will sell the production version of the LE, and it has now given us a year: 2014. This makes it likely that Nissan's upscale arm will be the first OEM to sell a production inductive charging vehicle. USA Today reports that Infiniti officials made the announcement in California alongside the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance this past weekend. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/20/infiniti-sets-2014-due-date-for-all-electric-le-with-wireless-ch/ ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 12:19:38 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 21, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 21, 2012. 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 overturns border-crossing pollution rule. A federal appeals court has overturned a regulation clamping down on power plant pollution that contributes to unhealthy air in neighboring states. In a 2-1 decision Tuesday, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said the Environmental Protection Agency's cross-state air pollution rule exceeded the agency's statutory authority. The court faulted the EPA for imposing "massive emissions reduction requirements" on upwind states without regard to limits imposed by law. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EPA_DOWNWIND_POLLUTION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED ARTICLES http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/21/4744510/court-overturns-border-crossing.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/21/2959511/court-overturns-border-crossing.html#storylink=misearch http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-08-21/u-dot-s-dot-appeals-court-overturns-cross-state-air-pollution-rule http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/appeals-court-overturns-regulation-to-reduce-power-plant-pollution-spoiling-air-downwind/2012/08/21/da739076-eb9f-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/08/21bn/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Sinclair fined $3.8M for pollution at Wyo. plants. Sinclair Oil Corp. has agreed to pay a $3.8 million fine for two of its Wyoming oil refineries exceeding air pollution limits that had been established three years earlier in another settlement with the federal government, authorities announced Monday. Sinclair also agreed to spend about $10.5 million on additional pollution control equipment and other measures at its refineries in Casper and east of Rawlins in the town of Sinclair, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/20/sinclair-fined-38m-for-pollution-at-wyo-plants/ CLIMATE CHANGE New carbon emissions rule could cost UC, CSU millions. Large campuses in the University of California and California State University systems are bracing for the implementation of new state rules that will force them to cut carbon emissions or pay as much as $28 million a year to offset their greenhouse gases. For years, businesspeople have been complaining that the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, also known as Assembly Bill 32, will decimate California's economy and force companies to move out of state. The program, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2013, sets a gradually shrinking cap on emissions by the state's biggest polluters while also establishing a market for carbon credits, which will be initially distributed through an auction and free handouts to many emitters. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/million-369041-state-cap.html Action on climate change speeding up: Commission. The expert Commission was set up by the Federal Government last year and says its remit is to "provide all Australians with an independent and reliable source of information" about climate change, action on greenhouse gas emissions, and the carbon price. Its latest report, subtitled 'The Critical Decade' and released today, says nearly 850 million people in 33 countries will soon be living in economies with a carbon price or similar arrangement. Commissioner and economist Robert Beale says Australia is still the developed world's biggest per-capita carbon emitter "by quite a way". Posted. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-21/more-countries-set-to-adopt-carbon-price/4211572 UN calls on nations to adopt drought policies. The world urgently needs to adopt drought-management policies as farmers from Africa to India struggle with lack of rainfall and the United States endures the worst drought it has experienced in decades, top officials with the U.N. weather agency said Tuesday. The World Meteorological Organization says the U.S. drought and its ripple effects on global food markets show the need for policies with more water conservation and less consumption. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/21/un-calls-on-nations-to-adopt-drought-policies/#ixzz24CIh4J8d Calif. will relax its regulation of 'resource shuffling' in cap-and-trade program. California regulators won't enforce a controversial provision in their cap-and-trade system requiring emitters to deny shuffling high-carbon electricity out of the state when trading begins next year. In response to a worried letter Aug. 6 from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission member Philip Moeller, Air Resources Board (ARB) Chairwoman Mary Nichols said she would suspend the requirement for businesses to promise that they have not engaged in "resource shuffling”, or avoiding carbon constraints by arranging power imports to sell dirtier energy out of state. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/21/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS California gasoline prices climb, but at reduced pace. Gas prices have slowed their climb, but motorists are still paying heavily at the pump, here in the Sacramento area and nationwide. And prices could go even higher by Labor Day weekend. The average price of gas in the area rose 3.3 cents over the past week to $4.05 a gallon, according to Monday's weekly report by SactoGasPrices.com, a GasBuddy.com website. That was a comparative walk in the park after the previous week's 25.8-cents-a-gallon spike following an Aug. 6 fire that damaged the Chevron refinery in Richmond, a critical link in the state's gas supply chain. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/21/4742853/state-gasoline-prices-climb-but.html#storylink=cpy GREEN ENERGY China declares US energy projects violate free trade, stepping up trade spat. China’s government has ruled that U.S. government support to six American solar and wind power projects violates free trade rules, adding to strains between Beijing and its trading partners over renewable energy. The United States and China are the two biggest markets for renewable energy and have pledged to cooperate in developing technology. They accuse each other of improperly supporting their own producers and obstructing foreign competitors. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/china-declares-us-energy-projects-violate-free-trade-stepping-up-trade-spat/2012/08/20/dac33d9a-eb2e-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html West Hollywood OKs ban on plastic bags in store checkout lines. West Hollywood's ordinance follows decisions by a string of California cities to prohibit single-use plastic bags. The bans aim to reduce landfill waste. West Hollywood has become the latest in a string of California cities — including Santa Monica, Long Beach and Pasadena — to ban single-use plastic bags at store checkout lines. The City Council adopted an ordinance Monday night prohibiting hundreds of pharmacies and grocery and retail stores… Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-plastic-bag-ban-20120821,0,5969498.story El Cerrito recycling center has style. It's no surprise that El Cerrito's new recycling center comes with such studiously green touches as thick benches assembled from remnants of wooden trusses from the shed that once stood on the site. The unexpected twist is the center's architectural presence - an industrial campus of wood and steel cradled against steep cliffs in a way that shows how even the least glamorous aspects of modern life can be housed in energetic style. The $2.8 million center opened in April on a bowl-shaped site at the end of Schmidt Lane that in previous lives was a quarry and then the city dump. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/place/article/El-Cerrito-recycling-center-has-style-3799947.php#ixzz24CP7reGf MISCELLANEOUS BP recalls unleaded regular gas from Whiting. WHITING, Ind. -- BP is alerting northwestern Indiana fuel distributors that it's recalling unleaded regular gasoline shipped from its Whiting fuel storage terminal Aug. 13-17. The company said Monday it believes that fuel stored in a tank at the storage depot could cause hard starting, stalling and other drivability issues. BP asks any customer whose vehicle has experienced those problems since Aug. 13 to contact its customer hotline at 1-800-333-3991. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/20/4742587/bp-recalls-unleaded-regular-gas.html#storylink=cpy Almond Environmental Tour shows sustainability in action. The Almond Board’s recent environmental stewardship tour provided real-world examples of how almond growers are taking sustainable farming principals and putting them into action in a way that manages resources with an eye toward environmental stewardship and economic viability. Brian Leahy, director of the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, one of the state’s highest ranking regulators who himself has a background in sustainable farming, was one of 40 state, local and federal regulators, elected officials, media and other invited guests who got a firsthand look at innovative almond growing practices related to water, nutrient and pest management at the Almond Board’s eighth annual Environmental Stewardship Tour in May. Posted. http://westernfarmpress.com/tree-nuts/almond-environmental-tour-shows-sustainability-action OPINIONS Residents have right to know what is in the air. The right to know what's in the air we breathe and what we're being exposed to from our neighbors - whether resident, business or industry - is a fundamental human right. This right isn't easy to exercise and vanishes without action. The recent fire at Chevron's Richmond refinery makes the strongest case for a community's right to know, yet Richmond, North Richmond and San Pablo residents have been denied their right by local government and industry. We protest this denial and call for environmental justice. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/Residents-have-right-to-know-what-is-in-the-air-3802444.php#ixzz24CNntPVl Dan Walters: Overhauling CEQA now a hot topic. For years – even decades – business groups have complained that the California Environmental Quality Act's complex provisions were being misused to block worthwhile projects, often for reasons that had nothing to do with the environment. The complaints drew sympathy from Republican legislators, and sometimes became intertwined with state budget negotiations. But the Legislature's dominant Democrats, closely allied with environmental groups, refused to entertain any major changes in CEQA. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/21/4743027/dan-walters-overhauling-ceqa-now.html#storylink=cpy Roadshow: What 'HOV Only' means on toll lanes at Highway 237 and I-880. I've noticed a few times that the express lane signs will say "HOV Only" instead of the toll on Highway 237 in the evening commute. Why would the express lane only allow carpoolers during toll hours? A Good question, and here's the answer. When you see "HOV Only" on the sign over the carpool or express lane, it means solo drivers may not use this lane unless they are driving a motorcycle or clean air vehicle with green or white stickers. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/traffic/ci_21338584/roadshow-what-hov-only-means-toll-lanes-at?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com KEVIN HALL: We can clean Valley's air. Cleaning our Valley's air is not the impossible task some people, particularly those in charge of doing the job, want us to think. What's needed is new leadership at the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. In his Sunday column, "Diesel truckers should pay for bad air," Bill McEwen correctly identifies one major source of our problem: diesel exhaust from semi-trucks. Thanks largely to state regulators, those emissions will drop from 139 tons per winter day in 2012 to 78 tons by 2019. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/21/2958867/kevin-hall-we-can-clean-valleys.html#storylink=misearch Leave the renewable fuels standard alone. America is suffering from the worst drought since the Dust Bowl. Thirty-two states have been declared natural disaster areas, rural communities are hurting, and lawmakers from the local, state and national level are looking for solutions. As often happens in times of crisis, a potential solution is being touted that would have drastically negative consequences in the long run - altering America’s Renewable Fuels Standard, or RFS. For the sake of the very rural communities suffering today, and for our energy and national security long-term…Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79884.html BLOGS Sweaty Lessons in the ‘True’ Cost of Construction. When my wife, Julia, and I arrived in Moab, Utah, to start our four-month internship building a straw bale house, a party was raging in the backyard. Our internship is with the nonprofit group Community Rebuilds, and on the evening we drove up to the house we’ll be sharing with seven other interns, Emily Niehaus, the group’s founder and director, was throwing a thank-you party for Bike and Build. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/sweaty-lessons-in-the-true-cost-of-construction/?hp Business, labor groups propose environmental act changes. A coalition of business and labor groups is proposing changes to California's landmark environmental law, saying it is time to modernize a 40-year-old measure that is often used to block even so-called green development. At a Sacramento press conference Monday, representatives of the coalition outlined a proposal that they said would maintain the California Environmental Quality act as "the state environmental law" but eliminate regulatory redundancy and limit legal challenges to "real" environmental lawsuits. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/08/business-labor-groups-propose-ceqa-changes.html California has HOV lane stickers for plug-in vehicles, but not many takers. Those new green stickers in the Golden State haven't exactly been golden. A California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) program that distributes special high-occupancy-vehicle-lane (HOV) stickers to owners of vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt and Toyota Prius Plug-in has started slower than expected, as few plug-in drivers have taken up the state's offer to let them drive solo in HOV lanes, the North County Times reports. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/21/california-has-hov-lane-stickers-for-plug-in-vehicles-but-not-m/ Climate Change This Week: Climate Skeptic Team, Poached Caviar, and More. Climate Change? What climate change? While Mitt Romney has expressed uncertainty over whether global warming is occurring or not, his vice-presidential pick, Congressman Paul Ryan, is a virulent denier of climate science, with a Congressional voting record to match, reports Brad Johnson at Climate Progress. Thus, this election will be crucial in deciding how the U.S. addresses climate change. Make your vote part of it! Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-ellen-harte/climate-change-this-week-_16_b_1808743.html LA's Pollution from Car Exhaust is Down 98% from the 60s. My earliest memories of L.A. are colored with a grey, dystopian palette—I remember staring out at a hazed-over full moon, actually impressed by the way the smog smeared the city lights and hung thick in the air even at night. It was surreal and noirish and pretty repulsive. And that was just over ten years ago. It never really occurred to me to again be impressed by how quickly that industrial fog has lifted. But I think back to more recent visits to California's sprawling metropolis, and it's striking: I'd never again seen it so choked by pollution. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/fossil-fuels/las-pollution-car-exhaust-down-98-60s.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 Aug 2012 10:02:56 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newclips for August 22, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov **Due to computer problems yesterday the ARB Newsclips for August 22, 2012 is being posted today. We apologize for the inconvenience. Thank you 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’ Victory Over EPA Is Muted by Low Gas Prices. Southern Co. (SO), Edison International (EIX) and rival power companies won a legal fight with the Environmental Protection Agency, gaining more time and leeway to cut pollution from burning coal. The bigger challenges from cheap natural gas may make it a muted victory. “This really is a black eye for the EPA,” James Lucier, managing director at Capital Alpha Partners LLC in Washington, said in an interview. “But for the industry, the critical factor overall has been the low price of natural gas,” which is “the great destroyer.” Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-22/coal-plants-victory-over-epa-is-muted-by-low-gas-prices.html Georgia, Alabama AGs applaud air pollution ruling. Attorneys generals from Georgia and Alabama have applauded a 2-1 ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that overturned a regulation clamping down on power plant pollution that contributes to unhealthy air in neighboring states. Alabama and Georgia joined with 13 other states in challenging the rule. The EPA had adopted the rule in an attempt to cut down on downwind air pollution from power plants. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Georgia-Alabama-AGs-applaud-air-pollution-ruling-3804886.php#ixzz24IIDXGpq Coal silo collapses at W.Va. power plant. Mon Power says it's investigating what caused the collapse of a coal silo at the Albright Power Plant just 10 days before it was set to be taken offline. No one was injured when the No. 2 silo collapsed. WBOY-TV (http://bit.ly/Nj1FYt) says it's one of three at the site. Albright is an older, inefficient generating station that Ohio-based FirstEnergy is shutting down to comply with new federal air emissions standards. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Coal-silo-collapses-at-W-Va-power-plant-3806594.php#ixzz24IPAw97 1 Garfield Co. to help fund oil, gas pollution study. The Garfield County commissioners say the county will commit up to $1 million for a study of air pollution near oil and gas wells. The Glenwood Springs Post Independent reported Tuesday (http://tinyurl.com/8hloawp) that energy companies have agreed to contribute $800,000 toward the three-year, $1.8 million study. The study would be done by Colorado State University and would examine the type and quantity of emissions from drilling…Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/21/garfield-will-help-fund-oil-gas-pollution-study/#ixzz24IJXWSgg CLIMATE CHANGE California CO2 market players eyeing nuclear plant woes. Newly announced major layoffs and a prolonged outage at a major nuclear power plant have raised concerns that the price of carbon allowances for California's forthcoming cap-and-trade program will rise sharply, market participants said Tuesday. Southern California Edison (SCE), owner of the San Onofre nuclear power plant in southern California, announced on Monday night it will lay off 730 employees this year to cut costs, a move that comes as the plant's owners acknowledged that it will be a long time before the carbon-free nuclear plant will fully return to service. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/22/us-california-carbon-idUSBRE87L06720120822 Antarctic Peninsula started warming 600 years ago. Temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula started rising naturally 600 years ago, long before man-made climate changes further increased them, scientists said in a study on Wednesday that helps explain the recent collapses of vast ice shelves. The study, reconstructing ancient temperatures to understand a region that is warming faster than anywhere else in the southern hemisphere, said a current warming rate of 2.6 degrees Celsius (4.7 Fahrenheit) per century was "unusual" but not unprecedented. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/22/us-climate-antarctica-idUSBRE87L0R820120822 China to spend $372 billion on cutting energy use, pollution. China will plough $372 billion into energy conservation projects and anti-pollution measures over the next three-and-a-half years, part of a drive to cut energy consumption by 300 million tonnes of standard coal, the country's cabinet said Tuesday. A report from China's State Council, or cabinet, said the investments will take China almost halfway to meeting its target to cut the energy intensity 16 percent below 2010 levels by 2015. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/22/us-china-energy-idUSBRE87L01920120822 http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-08-22/china-may-spend-373-billion-for-energy-savings-emissions-curbs Democratic lawmakers move to oppose rewriting California environmental law. In the middle of an end-of-session bid to overhaul the California Environmental Quality Act, 33 Democratic lawmakers urged legislative leaders in a letter released Wednesday to oppose any significant rewriting of the law. "Like many important laws, CEQA is not perfect and could probably be improved while retaining its many benefits – but only if such improvements are undertaken in a good faith process and are crafted very carefully," said the letter delivered to Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez, both Democrats. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/22/4746549/democratic-lawmakers-move-to-oppose.html#storylink=cpy Effort building to change state's landmark environmental law. Sacramento — In what has become an annual late-summer ritual that coincides with the end of the California Legislature's lawmaking session, a push to make changes in the state's landmark environmental law appears to be picking up steam in the Capitol. A coalition of business groups held a news conference Monday to lay out the principles for what it calls a "modernization" of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/21/effort-building-to-change-states-landmark-law/?print=1 Imperial Irrigation District could profit from cap and trade. California’s soon-to-launch carbon emissions market — referred to as cap and trade — could mean millions in revenue for the Imperial Irrigation District. The IID Board of Directors will meet at 1 p.m. today, with an agenda including a discussion of the projected windfall the utility could reap if the maximum number of emissions credits it is allocated by the state is more than it actually needs. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20120821/BUSINESS/120821001/California-cap-and-trade-Imperial-Irrigation-District?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage&nclick_check=1 Calif. universities struggle to pay carbon tax. Large college campuses within the University of California and California State University systems must reduce greenhouse gas emissions or pay up to $28 million a year for offsets as part of the state's Global Warming Solutions Act. Five University of California campuses, one medical center and two California State University campuses qualify for the cap-and-trade program, which will go into effect Jan. 1. Compliance could cost $6.3 million to $25 million for the UC system and $799,000 to $3.2 million for CSU campuses. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/22/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS German bioethanol output up as more used in gasoline blend. German bioethanol output rose 21 percent in the first half of 2012 to 295,000 metric tons due to a rise in blending levels in gasoline, bioethanol industry association BDBE said, dismissing criticism that this contributed to higher global food prices. The German government in 2011 raised the maximum permitted level of bioethanol blended in gasoline to 10 from 5 percent as part of a program to protect the environment by cutting carbon dioxide emissions. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/22/us-germany-bioethanol-idUSBRE87L0QM20120822 San Francisco Diesel at High as Tesoro Said to Cut Output. Spot diesel in San Francisco advanced to a record premium against futures after Tesoro Corp. (TSO)’s Golden Eagle refinery in Northern California was said to cut production of the fuel following a compressor breakdown. Tesoro’s 170,000-barrel-a-day Golden Eagle plant curbed diesel production after one of two compressors at a hydrodesulfurization unit shut following an equipment failure, a person with direct knowledge of the incident said earlier today. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-21/san-francisco-diesel-jumps-to-record-premium-to-futures.html Strange Bedfellows Debate Exporting Natural Gas. The shale gas revolution is starting to pay small dividends for U.S. consumers. As electrical utilities rush to switch from coal to gas, peak electricity rates have fallen in nearly every market. According to the U.S. Consumer Price Index, utility gas service for things like heating and cooking is now 13 percent cheaper than it was 12 months ago. That’s great and all, but taken together those savings don’t add up to much. Electricity and gas bills account for only about 4 percent of our total spending. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-08-22/strange-bedfellows-debate-exporting-natural-gas Maryland company asks for Iowa City's trash. A company that converts organic material into ethanol is requesting access to Iowa City's trash. KGAN-TV in Cedar Rapids says (http://bit.ly/Owqray) Fiberight Industries is planning to build a $60 million refinery in Blairstown. The Maryland company is expanding into Iowa, and a top executive asked Tuesday to lease three acres of Iowa City's landfill. Fiberight vice president Steve Gerber says more than 50 percent of the materials that go into landfills is organic and can be turned into ethanol. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Maryland-company-asks-for-Iowa-City-s-trash-3806567.php#ixzz24INW8Fx3 Pa.: Okla. energy firm's data filled with errors. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection says natural gas drilling company Chesapeake Energy last week filed an important Marcellus Shale production report containing so many errors a state database rejected it. DEP spokesman Kevin Sunday said on Tuesday a previous statement by Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corp. that suggested state databases were the problem wasn't entirely accurate and omitted important points. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Pa-Okla-energy-firm-s-data-filled-with-errors-3804429.php#ixzz24IRj8SUD Ethanol Waiver May Lower Corn But Raise Gas Prices. Calls are growing to suspend the federal ethanol production mandate next year, as the worst drought in more than half a century has devastated the corn crop in the U.S. The question is whether a waiver of the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, will actually bring down sky-high corn prices. Georgia is among the states with major livestock production petitioning the Environmental Protection Agency for a waiver, arguing that scarce corn used for ethanol production is making feed prices unsustainably high for the state’s $20 billion poultry industry. Posted. http://www.cnbc.com/id/48751567 As New York nears fracking decision, both sides take to the airwaves. Earlier this week, CBS reported that New York State will roll out new guidelines to allow fracking sometime after Labor Day. It’s a vague story, to be sure, but it meshes with reports from late June about fracking companies getting an early peek at the restrictions. There’s another reason to believe a rule is imminent: both pro- and anti-fracking groups have taken to the airwaves along the state’s southern border with Pennsylvania. Posted. http://grist.org/news/as-new-york-nears-fracking-decision-both-sides-take-to-the-airwaves/ If you’re building a power plant and it isn’t natural gas, you’re not trendy. You’ve heard us say it before: America produces as much electricity from natural gas as from coal. It’s a sea change that has happened incredibly quickly. Today, the Energy Information Administration outlined exactly how the switch happened. Most of the new generators built over the past 15 years are powered by natural gas or wind. In 2012, the addition of natural gas and renewable generators comes at a time when natural gas and renewable generation are contributing increasing amounts to total generation across much of the United States. Posted. http://grist.org/news/if-youre-building-a-power-plant-and-it-isnt-natural-gas-youre-not-trendy/ VEHICLES State rebate program putting drivers in clean-tech vehicles. San Francisco resident Shanthi Rajagopalan used to feel bad about driving to work alone, putting pollutants into the air without even carpooling. Then she learned of California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project. The project provides rebates of up to $2,500 for the purchase or lease of a light-duty, zero-emission or plug-in hybrid vehicle. Rajagopalan went with the Mitsubishi i. “It’s really, really fun to drive; I actually look forward to my commute,” she said, adding that, “It feels really good to have less of an impact on the environment.” Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2012/08/state-rebate-program-putting-drivers-clean-tech-vehicles HIGH-SPEED RAIL A lot riding on California dream of high-speed rail. California is moving ahead with the first link of its massive high-speed rail project, with construction set to begin early next year – even though not one state Republican lawmaker voted to fund it and despite several analyses warning of planning deficiencies. Eventually, sleek trains that can top 220 miles per hour would whiz up and down the state, linking Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, and many cities in between. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2012/0821/A-lot-riding-on-California-dream-of-high-speed-rail GREEN ENERGY Chinese solar industry faces weak sales, price war. Chinese solar panel makers that grew fast over the past decade are suffering big losses due to slumping global sales and a price war that threaten an industry seen by communist leaders as a role model for hopes to transform China into a technology leader. Another looming challenge: Moves by the United States and Europe toward imposing possible anti-dumping tariffs on Chinese-made solar panels that might further depress sales. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/08/21/2339124/chinese-solar-industry-faces-weak.html#storylink=misearch SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS I-80 carpool lane slows assemblywoman. When it comes to special-interest legislation, it's hard to beat Assemblywoman Fiona Ma's call to eliminate a carpool lane so she'll have an easier time getting to work as a solo driver. Ma, a Democrat who commutes to Sacramento from her San Francisco district, is targeting the eastbound carpool lane on Interstate 80 between the Bay and Carquinez bridges. That freeway is one of the busiest stretches in the state, but the carpool lane has almost no one in it during the morning commute, Ma says, and should be open to all. So she's sponsoring a bill that would make that happen. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/I-80-carpool-lane-slows-assemblywoman-3805594.php#ixzz24I8CfcXx OPINIONS Don't rush changes to the California Environmental Quality Act. Lawmakers want to change the California Environmental Quality Act in their session's final days. But it's too late for careful language or public vetting. With a little more than a week remaining in the legislative session, suddenly the big buzz is about CEQA. The Legislature has long neglected to reform the California Environmental Quality Act, even though it needs amending. And now that it's too late for carefully rendered language or a full public vetting, Assembly Speaker John A. Perez (D-Los Angeles) is touting CEQA reform as one of his top priorities. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-ceqa-reform-20120821,0,4593358.story Herdt: What you don't know about California. An unexpected development seems to have happened on the way to the Great California Train Wreck. The locomotive has gotten itself back on the rails, and although it is not yet exactly speeding forward it has left a legion of naysayers standing along the tracks. The most recent evidence came in the state jobs report released last Friday. It showed a third consecutive month of strong job gains, and a year-to-year increase of 365,100 jobs that was the largest 12-month increase since 2000. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/21/herdt-what-you-dont-know-about-california/?print=1 The Bigger Picture on Carbon Emissions. You may have been encouraged to read a widely-circulated story last week that declared “CO2 Emissions in U.S. Drop to 20-year Low.” The report from the Associated Press largely credits cheap natural gas for the change, and says that “many of the world’s leading climate scientists didn’t see the drop coming, in large part because it happened as a result of market forces rather than direct government action.” But is that really the full picture? If you read the government report that is the basis for the Associated Press article, you’ll find some more nuance, as well as cause for both optimism and concern. Posted. http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2012/08/21/the-bigger-picture-on-carbon-emissions-in-the-u-s/ Wind Energy Generating A Lot of Mud. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, renewable energy subsidies have exceeded those given to the fossil fuels since 2008. Most green-oriented taxpayer funds started in the 1980s while those tied to oil and gas were begun in 1913. To be fair, oil and gas play a much larger role in the country’s economic productivity than does wind or solar. But therein lay the arguments that the two political foes are making. Romney is saying that the monies given to wind and solar are providing a low-overall return in terms of job creation and economic productivity. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2012/08/22/wind-energy-generating-a-lot-of-mud/2/ How Climate Change Got Caught in the Culture Wars. Climate change is arguably the biggest challenge the nation and the world face right now. There’s a solid scientific consensus that anthropogenic global warming is underway. But in America – to put it gently – there’s a range of beliefs about it, and what if anything to do about it. This lack of social consensus has paralyzed the political system. Nothing much is happening, or likely to happen for a while. Why? Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnmcquaid/2012/08/21/how-climate-change-got-caught-in-the-culture-wars/ BLOGS Bush Administration 2012 climate emissions goal met. In 2002, the Bush Administration unveiled its climate policy centered around the goal of reducing greenhouse gas intensity 18 percent by 2012. “This step will set America on a path to slow the growth of our greenhouse gas emissions and, as science justifies, to stop and then reverse the growth of emissions,” the Bush White House said. Ten years later (long after most have probably forgotten about it), data indicate the goal has been achieved, at least to an approximate degree. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/bush-administration-2012-climate-emissions-goal-met/2012/08/21/a8c983cc-ebb9-11e1-a80b-9f898562d010_blog.html Romney’s Attack on Clean Energy: True, With an Asterisk. This week, Mitt Romney echoed an accusation made by various conservative bloggers against President Obama — that his administration has spent $90 billion on green energy. “Do you know how much money he invested in so-called green energy companies?” Mr. Romney asked during a campaign stop in Manchester, N.H., on Monday “Ninety billion. Ninety billion!” But is it true? Roughly, yes. In fact, the number appears in a document on the White House Web site and represents the financing available in the 2009 stimulus package. Posted. http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/romneys-attack-on-clean-energy-true-with-an-asterisk/ Lawmakers urge legislative leaders to oppose CEQA changes. Dozens of lawmakers are urging legislative leaders to oppose a last-minute campaign by business and labor groups to make key changes to California's landmark environmental law, asking their bosses to table the issue in the final two weeks of the session and revisit it next year. In a letter to Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) and state Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento), 33 lawmakers said major changes to the California Environmental Quality Act deserved "serious, thoughtful and transparent deliberation," a debate that is unlikely in the harried, final days of a two-year legislative session. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/08/lawmakers-urge-legislative-leaders-to-oppose-ceqa-changes.html LA smog has less of a chokehold than years ago, NOAA study says. If you visited or lived in the Los Angeles area many years ago, you why it was called, unofficially, the City of Smog. In the early 1970s, I attended the LA Zoo with my third grade classmates on one of those given days when the South Coast Air Quality Management District likely issued a smog warning. The sky was gray, thick, and hazy. My eyes were red, my throat was thick and sore and it hurt to breathe deeply. Even though there are more cars on the streets and freeways of LA now than 40 years ago, I haven't experienced that kind of aerial assault lately. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/22/la-smog-has-less-of-a-chokehold-than-years-ago-noaa-study-says/ You Can’t Fly an Airplane with an Algae Pond on It…Or Can You? United Airlines made waves last year when it became one of the first commercial U.S. airlines to use algae biofuel, and it quickly followed up by joining the Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative last spring. Now the airline is bumping its commitment to sustainable aviation up another notch through a new partnership with the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group. United’s growing confidence in biofuels calls to mind presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s now-infamous statement that “you can’t drive a care with a windmill on it.” Posted. http://www.triplepundit.com/2012/08/united-airlines-joins-sustainable-aviation-fuel-group/ Fat- and Oil-Burning Plant Could Power 18,000 Homes. A £20-million clean energy plant has been proposed for a site at Shoreham Port in West Sussex, England. Portslade, Southwick, and Shoreham could all be powered by the proposed energy plant if it is approved and becomes operational. (Shoreham has a population of about 19,000–20,000.) Edgley Green Power is the company responsible for the plan and potential construction. They would like to have the new plant running by 2014. It would be built at Fishersgate terminal on a one-acre site next to the Shoreham Power Station. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2012/08/20/fat-and-oil-burning-plant-could-power-18000-homes/ ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 12:53:36 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 23, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 23, 2012. 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 County not impacted by federal air sanctions. Recent federal sanctions freezing highway transportation funds for projects won’t impact the county, an Imperial County Transportation official said Wednesday. The sanctions, announced by the Environmental Protection Agency earlier this month, were placed as the EPA found the county out of compliance in applying so-called best available control measures for particulate matter 10 under the Clean Air Act. PM10 can be a variety of materials including smoke or dust, and is considered hazardous to humans by the EPA. Posted. http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/ivp-county-not-impacted-by-federal-air-sanctions-20120822,0,838121.story CLIMATE CHANGE Green Climate Fund to discuss $100bn pledged by rich countries. A new global fund on climate change that aims to channel $100 billion a year in aid to poor countries selected officials from South Africa and Australia as its leaders at its first meeting Thursday. The Green Climate Fund, created as part of a deal struck in December 2011 at the 194-nation climate talks in Durban, South Africa, will be led by Zaheer Fakir, head of international relations for South Africa’s environment agency, and Ewen McDonald, deputy head of Australia’s international development agency, the fund said in a statement. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/aug/23/un-green-climate-fund-climate-change?newsfeed=true http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/first-meeting-held-to-organize-creation-of-100-billion-un-green-climate-fund/2012/08/23/1e237da8-ed1d-11e1-866f-60a00f604425_story.html Drought hits Mississippi: Ol' Man River just keeps limping along. Even in the best of times, the Mississippi River is a slow and torpid thoroughfare. But when an extended drought persists and the muddy waters recede, squeezing barges through the narrow channels becomes an expensive, and sometimes impossible, chore. The great summer drought of 2012 has closed lower sections of the river, shut down harbors and forced barges to run aground as river levels drop to near-record lows. With no significant rains in sight, authorities responsible for keeping the Mississippi open for commerce say things are likely to get worse before they get better. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-mississippi-water-level-drops-20120822,0,871316.story California environmental law faces changes. A proposal to loosen California's landmark environmental protection law is expected to be introduced at the Capitol as soon as Thursday, giving the public and lawmakers only about a week to debate and consider the controversial legislation's fate. Backers of the proposal, largely from the business community, say the California Environmental Quality Act passed in 1970 needs to be updated because it has become cumbersome, and some individuals and groups misuse the law to stop or delay development for non-environmental reasons. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/California-environmental-law-faces-changes-3808467.php#ixzz24OLTXWRv Nuclear woes raise concerns that prices will rise for carbon allowances. Layoffs and the shutdown of a California nuclear power plant have raised concerns that the price of carbon emission allowances for the state's cap-and-trade program will increase sharply. Southern California Edison (SCE) announced that it will lay off 730 employees this year to cut costs at the San Onofre nuclear power plant in Southern California. The plant has been idle since Jan. 31, when a radiation leak in one of the plant's two units was discovered. On Tuesday, futures for California Carbon Allowances (CCAs) traded between $17.50 and $17.75, up from the week before. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/23/11 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Union Pacific unveils cleaner, less-powerful locomotives. In an effort meet new federal requirements for cleaner-burning freight engines, Union Pacific unveiled at its Roseville yard Wednesday the UP 9900 – an experimental locomotive utilizing three different filtering technologies. The UP 9900 – which sacrifices one-quarter of the standard engine's power to make room for the three onboard filters – is part of a $20 million Union Pacific investment toward meeting the Environmental Protection Agency's requirements. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/23/4749885/union-pacific-unveils-cleaner.html#storylink=cpy Truck Inspection At Border Aimed At Reducing Pollution. Some Fines Issued For Trucks That Violated New State Emissions Standards. SAN DIEGO -- Inspectors cracked down on one of the biggest sources of air pollution in the state Wednesday. Hundreds of tractor-trailers were stopped and inspected by the California Air Resources Board near the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. Inspectors were making sure all of the big rigs abided by new emissions standards that kicked in at the beginning of 2012. "The bad news is that California has the worst air pollution in the nation," said Air Resources Board spokeswoman Beth White. Posted. http://www.10news.com/news/31376880/detail.html FUELS Ethanol-maker gets USDA backing for NC fuel plant. A company that wants to turn grasses grown on North Carolina hog farms into motor fuel on Wednesday got the federal backing it wanted before building an ethanol plant supporters think could mark a milestone in the state's rural economy. The U.S. Agriculture Department said Wednesday it has approved a loan guarantee worth $99 million for Wilmington-based Chemtex International Inc., backing a larger bank loan for the $170 million project. Production is expected to start in 2014. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/22/ethanol-maker-gets-usda-backing-for-nc-fuel/ CEC hires Gas Tech Institute for biogas, natural gas-fired CHP. The Gas Technology Institute has been awarded two new contracts totaling $3.5 million from the California Energy Commission, in order to develop new combined-heat-and-power (CHP) and waste heat-recovery technologies at industrial facilities in California. A $1.8 million grant will go toward developing and demonstrating a fuel-flexible, hybrid-generation CHP system that can run on biogas produced by anaerobic digesters at wastewater treatment plants and landfills, as well as natural gas. Posted. http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/7986/cec-hires-gas-tech-institute-for-biogas-natural-gas-fired-chp Scientists engineer bacteria to make fuel from CO2. Researchers have developed a new pathway to get one of the tiniest forms of life to make fuel. By breathing in carbon dioxide and hydrogen, an engineered version of the bacterium Ralstonia eutropha produced branched alcohols, compounds that can be blended with gasoline or serve as an energy source on their own. This could help repurpose carbon emissions in a way that can generate money. The researchers, who published their findings earlier this month in Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, initially studied this bacterium because it can form polymers under stress. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/23/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Survey of California plug-in vehicle owners highlights charging behavior. Californians own more than 12,000 plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), roughly 35% of all plug-in vehicles in the United States. As of July 2012, approximately 1,000 new plug-in vehicles are being sold in the state every month. The more than 12,000 PEVs provide both consumer and environmental benefits, according to a new study by the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE). CCSE conducted the survey in support of California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP). The study surveyed more than 1,400 PEV owners in coordination with the California Air Resources Board (ARB) in early 2012. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/08/ccse-20120822.html Hybrids, subcompacts headline Ontario exhibit. The Inland Empire Auto Show will go on this weekend with a new backer and once again, without the support of a big wheel. Kumho Tire U.S.A., with North American headquarters in Rancho Cucamonga, has signed on as the premier tire sponsor of the annual show that runs from Friday, Aug. 24, through Sunday, Aug. 26, at the Ontario Convention Center. Despite the show owners’ renewed efforts to woo Ford, the automaker declined. “Boy, is that a bummer,” lamented Mike Caudill, one of show’s co-owners. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20120822-auto-show-hybrids-subcompacts-headline-ontario-exhibit.ece GREEN ENERGY Mitt Romney sees path to energy independence. The Republican is releasing a plan to increase energy production for lower costs and independence by 2020. Features of the plan, a contrast to Obama's, include Keystone XL and new offshore drilling. Mitt Romney will unveil an energy plan Thursday that he says will allow North America to be energy independent by 2020 and decrease costs to consumers by increasing domestic production. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-romney-energy-20120823,0,1072869,print.story Princeton Review honors 'green' CSU campus. The Princeton Review has included California State University, Chico, on its 2013 green honor roll. According to a news release issued by the Princeton Review, the green honor roll ranks institutions based on their environmentally related practices, policies and academic offerings. Princeton Review surveyed 806 colleges nationwide and gave them scores between 60 and 99 based on each campus' sustainability and environmental efforts. Chico was one of 21 colleges to receive the highest possible score of a 99 and make it onto the honor roll. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/23/v-print/4750149/princeton-review-honors-green.html California Proposes Forest Thinning for Biomass Energy, But is it a Good Idea? A report released today by a consortium of state agencies recommends ramping up California's forest thinning program so that the resulting biomass can be burned to produce energy, but doing so may actually make the state's carbon footprint worse instead of better. The state's 2012 Bioenergy Action Plan calls for increasing "community-scale, forest-based biomass facilities" that would take leftover biomass from forest thinning and commercial logging operations and burn it to produce electricity. Posted. http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/biomass/state-proposes-forest-thinning-for-biomass-energy.html MISCELLANEOUS If San Onofre nuclear plant is restarted, who pays? The San Onofre nuclear plant must first be deemed safe to restart. But with costs already mounting, it's unclear who would foot the bill. Nearly seven months after the San Onofre nuclear power plant was closed because of a leak, officials are grappling with whether it makes financial sense to bring the plant fully back online, and if so, who should pay for the necessary repairs. Fixing San Onofre is shaping up to be an expensive proposition, with the price tag jumping into the hundreds of millions of dollars if the plant's massive steam generators require replacing. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0823-san-onofre-20120823,0,3003032.story Chromium 6 suspected at Disney Studios. Air conditioning system in Burbank may be a source of water contamination. Federal and state regulators are investigating whether a vintage air conditioning system at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank played a role in contaminating groundwater with chromium 6, a cancer-causing heavy metal widely used in aerospace manufacturing and other industries. A consultant hired by the Environmental Protection Agency recently identified the Disney property among a list of facilities being "investigated as potential sources of chromium contamination in groundwater," according to an April 2012 report recently posted on the agency's website. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-fi-disney-chromium-20120823,0,6673226.story http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Disney-may-be-a-source-of-groundwater-pollution-3809829.php OPINIONS Another Rebuff for Cleaner Air. What’s a federal agency to do? Twice in the last eight years, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued carefully vetted rules aimed at reducing air pollution that crosses state lines — the smog-forming nitrogen oxide pollutants and health-threatening sulfur dioxide that drift eastward from Midwestern power plants. And, in both cases, the agency has been shot down by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The first rule, issued in 2005, was aimed at reducing these pollutants by up to 70 percent. Unlike most programs of the George W. Bush administration, it won swift approval from environmentalists. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/opinion/another-rebuff-to-the-epa-for-cleaner-air.html?_r=1 Court ruling on EPA pollution rule: Bad air and bad reasoning. An appeals panel has tied itself into logical knots to stop a rule on pollutants from taking effect. The Cross-State Pollution Rule would save up to $280 billion a year in healthcare and other costs. Environmental regulation is a complicated business, but the Environmental Protection Agency's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule is, in principle, fairly simple. It aims to protect people who live in states that are downwind of the deadly pollutants emitted by power plants in adjacent states — so if coal smoke from Texas, say, is poisoning the air in Louisiana, the EPA can force Texas to be a better neighbor by cutting emissions. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/health/la-ed-epa-cross-state-pollution-20120823,0,5385545.story Letters: Refinery safety. Re "Chevron's refinery, Richmond's peril," Opinion, Aug. 14 The Op-Ed article by activist Antonia Juhasz mischaracterized the Aug. 6 incident at Chevron Corp.'s Richmond refinery and our commitment to the health and safety of our workers and neighbors. Refineries in the San Francisco Bay Area operate under the most stringent air pollution controls in the world. Chevron complies with rigorous health, environmental and safety regulations from numerous local, state and federal agencies that oversee the refinery; in many cases, the company goes above and beyond. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-0822-wednesday-chevron-refinery-20120822,0,3209874,print.story Celebrating the Midwest drought? Wait, hear me out... The Midwest drought may not leave you with a whole lot of sympathy for corn farmers and producers of other commodity crops. Not only has the drought driven up prices allowing them to rake in beaucoup bucks -- NPR’s Sam Charles has posted an eye-popping chart -- but these farmers will also receive crop insurance. But for small farmers, the drought has threatened their livelihood. Grist rounded up a handful of tweets with the hashtag #Drought12 to show how farmers are using social media to humanize their critical situation. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-ol-celebrating-the-midwest-drought-20120822,0,7575516.story Editorial: Railyard is a step closer to development. Tuesday's Sacramento City Council meeting made it clear that the focus in the downtown railyard has returned to where it should be: How to build a 21st century transportation hub and revive the historic Old Depot and Central Shops as a base for development of the 240-acre site. The proposed arena that took up so much time, only to fall apart, is now just a white space on a map. The transportation piece is shaping up. As of Aug. 15, new train tracks separate passenger and freight trains. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/23/4722921/more-waste-of-select-committees.html#storylink=cpy I had a green job. Mitt Romney has recently taken fire not only from the Obama campaign but even from some left-leaning Republicans, for his rightful criticism of Obama’s destructive “green jobs” programs. Not only is Mr. Romney right to criticize these programs -- and his position supported by many economic studies -- but in fact the situation is even worse than anything suggested by these criticisms. Green jobs are destroying the abilities and spirits of a whole generation of engineers. Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/08/22/had-green-job/ 54.5 mpg efficiency standard will fuel a national renewal. With the darkest days of the recession behind us, Americans are looking to better economic times. They also are looking forward to their politicians working together to find solutions. While there are many areas where different sides are far apart, there is a very good news story expected from Washington this week. It's an issue that almost all Americans can get behind: higher fuel efficiency. An agreement set to be finalized by the Obama administration as soon as this week promises that by 2025, new vehicles will get an average of 54.5 miles per gallon. This builds on standards already in place, which by 2016 will raise the average fuel efficiency of the new passenger vehicle fleet to 35.5 mpg. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/hot-topics/x1012644539/54-5-mpg-efficiency-standard-will-fuel-a-national-renewal Five years' evidence makes case for solar. Five years ago, we purchased and installed a solar electric system on our home. It has now produced more than 50,000 kilowatt-hours of 100 percent clean, renewable energy. These 50 megawatts of self-generated electricity represents the non-emission of more than 25,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from utility-company-produced power. The array of solar panels provided all the electricity used in the home for the last five years. A few more years and the system will pay for itself. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/letters/x1012644541/Five-years-evidence-makes-case-for-solar Life Saving Cross-State Air Pollution Protections in Jeopardy After Court Ruling. Yesterday, the D.C. Circuit Court ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency's Cross-State Air Pollution protection (PDF), which sought to protect Americans from dangerous air pollution from coal-fired power plants. The protection would have reduced life-threatening soot and smog pollution from power plants in 28 states and helped curb poor air quality days and respiratory illnesses that affect millions of Americans. We are all disappointed with the court's decision yesterday. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-anne-hitt/air-pollution-epa_b_1818537.html BLOGS Action Plans on CO2 that Go Beyond ‘Woe is Me, Shame on You’. I recently received a note from Tim Whitley, the founder and head of the nonprofit group Carbon Offsets to Alleviate Poverty, which I think merits posting as a “Your Dot” contribution because it takes a step beyond the “woe is me, shame on you” rhetoric that has long been favored by people seeking to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Here’s Whitley’s piece, with a postscript from me: In recent weeks, Richard Muller converted from climate skepticism, Bill McKibben terrified us with new math, and James Hansen told us that climate change is already here and worse than we thought. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/action-plans-on-co2-that-go-beyond-woe-is-me-shame-on-you/ Is Smog Over? NOAA research shows a 98 percent drop in some vehicle-related air pollutants in L.A. At one point during the past several decades, the brownish-pink layer of pollution blanketing Los Angeles got so bad that it required the use of smog masks and smog alerts. According to a photo retrospective of the city's smog problem, a public-relations effort once culminated in the crowning of a Miss Smog Fighter. Even as recently as the early 2000s, L.A. was synonymous with smog -- and for good reason. But now, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released research that shows L.A.'s smog woes have largely been solved. Posted. http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=73911fe7-a74d-4d01-80db-ff9384f7939b&icid=autos_3378 Report: electric vehicle sales to top 130 million by 2025. The decline of the internal combustion engine will be gradual as cleaner alternatives take hold. A market research company is predicting that annual sales of electric vehicles will reach 130 million units sold annually by 2025, which while encouraging, falls far short of today’s automobile sales. Global Information Inc. yesterday announced a report that forecasts the electric vehicle market’s outlook over the next ten years. It credits government support for making EVs more affordable and advancing the perception that they are now a viable alternative to gasoline powered vehicles. Posted. http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/intelligent-energy/report-electric-vehicle-sales-to-top-130-million-by-2025/18441 Survey says? California plug-in drivers like solar, love their cars. No surprise here: the Golden State is quite green when it comes to plug-in vehicles. California, which accounts for about one-tenth of both the U.S. population and registered vehicles, is home to more than a third of all domestic plug-in vehicles, the California Center for Sustainable Energy says in a new report. Better yet, almost 90 percent of plug-in owners use those vehicles as their primary rides. More than 12,000 Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius Plug-in vehicles – and other electric-drive models – have been sold in California, where around 1,000 plug-ins are being purchased each month, the report says. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/23/survey-says-california-plug-in-drivers-like-solar-love-their-c/ Hybrids not the dream vehicles of the short-term lease crowd. Here's a tip for those who market hybrid electric vehicles: you can pretty much forget about people who love to lease – not just the lease itself, but swapping the lease. According to a new survey just released by Swapalease, the majority of respondents declined to pick an answer to the question of what was their dream hybrid. Sure, the sample is limited – not man more than 200 Swapalease nationwide members participated – but to not have any answer to "What's Your Dream [hybrid] Car?"…Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/22/hybrids-not-the-dream-vehicles-of-the-short-term-lease-crowd/ Who's Laughing Now? Scientists Make Crude Oil from Pig Manure. Pig manure is one step away from a transformation of metamorphic proportions. The lowly waste product, notorious for its impact on the environment and on human olfactory nerves, is on the verge of becoming an important alternative to petroleum now that scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a process for converting raw pig manure to crude oil. With further development, the process may even yield biodiesel. If successful commercially, the process would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants from pig farms and many other types of livestock operations. In particular, it could help protect drinking water supplies in livestock farming areas. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2010/04/16/whod-laughing-now-scientists-make-crude-oil-from-pig-manure/ ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 14:15:21 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 24, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 24, 2012. 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 sensors read normal in Chevron fire. Two weeks after a large fire at the Chevron refinery sent plumes of black smoke floating over Richmond and San Pablo, regional air regulators admit they weren't able to measure the amount of soot in the air as the flames raged. A single air sample taken 2 miles from the refinery and six hours after the fire ignited on Aug. 6 shows that the amount of fine particulate material in the air wasn't any higher than normal for early August, according to Bay Area Air Quality Management District data. "In a nutshell, the overall results ... were unremarkable for this time of year," said Eric Stevenson, director of air sciences for the regional agency. “Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Air-sensors-read-normal-in-Chevron-fire-3811731.php#ixzz24Tqv60Wb Air in Butte County bad for hours this year, for days in 2008. It's the difference between hours and days. A comparison of air quality this year to that of 2008 — when nearby fires also filled the area with smoke — was presented to the Butte County Air Quality Management District board Thursday. Staffer Jason Mandly explained that while the current fires have caused hours of bad air, the 2008 blazes fouled the air for days on end, and at levels far higher than we're seeing today. For example, Chico hasn't had a day since this set of fires began where the air quality was worse than moderate, according to Mandly. Posted. http://www.chicoer.com/fromthenewspaper/ci_21390225/air-butte-county-bad-hours-this-year-days CLIMATE CHANGE Bid to overhaul California Environmental Quality Act falls short. A late-hour bid to overhaul the California Environmental Quality Act fell apart Thursday, with Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg saying the upper house will not take up the measure before the legislative session ends next week. "The Senate will not take up comprehensive CEQA reform in the last days of the legislative session," Steinberg, D-Sacramento, told reporters at the Capitol. "This law, for all of its strengths and its faults, is far too important to rewrite in the last days of the session." Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/24/v-print/4753169/bid-to-overhaul-california-environmental.html http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/jim-miller-headlines/20120823-ceqa-overhaul-not-happening-before-aug.-31-recess.ece http://totalbuzz.ocregister.com/2012/08/23/ceqa-reform-proposal-already-dead-in-sacramento/88354/ China plunges into carbon capture technology, seeking emissions cuts and exports. Shenhua Group Corp., one of China's coal giants, has built much of its success at the cost of climate change. Every year, the company digs hundreds of million of tons of coal out of the ground and sells this carbon-intensive energy source throughout China. Meanwhile, its own plants consume a few million tons to generate power and chemicals, releasing a massive amount of climate-harming gas into the air. But now, Shenhua is shifting its course. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/24/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Aquacultures provide opportunity to offset impacts of climate change. Climate change and overfishing could affect the variety and availability of fish in the wild, prompting consumers to turn to seafood raised in aquacultures, the fastest-growing food system in the world, experts say. Wild seafood still accounts for slightly more than half the market, according to a report funded by the Worldwatch Institute. However, farmed fish are quickly gaining ground within the industry, growing 8.7 percent in 2010 to almost 60 million tons and rising again in 2011 by 6.2 percent to about 64 million tons. As climate change continues to have more of an impact, some fish species will simply die out…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/24/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS GE says first to meet 2015 U.S. rail emission rules. General Electric Co (GE.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Friday plans to unveil a new generation of railroad locomotive that will meet strict U.S. emission standards set to take effect in 2015. The new Evolution locomotive keeps the largest U.S. conglomerate a step ahead of rival Caterpillar Inc's (CAT.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Electro-Motive Diesel train unit and will allow railroads to meet emission standards without adding another fluid to the list of chemicals needed to maintain trains, GE officials contend. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/24/us-ge-rail-idUSBRE87N0P120120824 Diesel Trucks Inspected In Otay Mesa For Pollution Laws Compliance. Heavy-duty diesel trucks filling the air with dark smoke were inspected at Otay Mesa before entering Mexico today. The Air Resources Board and the California Highway Patrol tested many trucks to see whether they were compliant with California's air pollution laws and fuel efficient. Not all the trucks heading south were inspected. Some showed signs of violations, but Beth White, manager of truck and bus regulation with the Air Resources Board, said most were in compliance. Posted. http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/aug/22/diesel-trucks-inspected-otay-mesa-pollution-laws-c/ FUELS Calls to lower ethanol quota rise as U.S. corn crop withers. To avert a possible food crisis from a lack of corn, groups are urging changes to the U.S. renewable fuel standard or at least a temporary waiver of the ethanol quota. The worst U.S. drought in more than half a century has rallied critics of the federal renewable fuel standard, which will reserve about 40% of the nation's corn crop for ethanol production this year. Critics have long questioned the commitment of a growing share of a food source for fuel use. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-drought-ethanol-20120824,0,619759.story Ethanol additive 49 cents cheaper. Number of the day 49 cents. That's how much less ethanol costs per gallon than regular gasoline. The price difference is encouraging refiners to continue using the biofuel as an additive even if the Obama administration ends a requirement to do so. The Midwestern drought - the most severe in 56 years - has prompted lawmakers to call for a suspension of the ethanol mandate because of its potential effect on food costs. Ethanol will consume 42 percent of this year's corn crop, according to government estimates. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Ethanol-additive-49-cents-cheaper-3811507.php#ixzz24TrsTJw4 Romney's fossil fuel-rich energy plan accused of being shortsighted. Mitt Romney's plan to achieve North American energy independence relies predominantly on expanded fossil fuel production, when many experts say efforts are needed to use less energy, not more, with new technologies in transportation and manufacturing. In promoting energy production in untapped areas off the East Coast and across federal lands, the Republican presidential candidate is making energy generation a piece of his economic message, saying that mining and other energy-making activities will create 3 million jobs. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/24/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FERC hearings examine gas- and coal-fired power, highlight low priority for renewables. Government regulators are assessing the nation's increasing dependence on natural gas as a source of electricity generation in a series of regional meetings around the country throughout the month of August. Advocates for renewable energy, however, express concern that in a "dash for gas," the federal government may be overlooking the long-term reliability and emissions reduction potential of renewable sources such as wind and solar. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/24/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Researchers explore a puzzle: Why did atmospheric methane drop? The amount of methane pumped into the atmosphere has slowed over the past few decades, and scientists haven't been sure why. A new study concludes that changes in fossil fuel production and use -- including greater demand for natural gas -- are behind the slowdown. Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, say their results suggest companies are more likely to capture natural gas that escapes when oil is pumped from the ground. That means less methane is released by venting or flaring gas from oil fields. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/08/24/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Tesla builds 100th sedan, but steep production ramp looms. Tesla has built its 100th Model S sedan. That may not seem like a lot, but it's an indication that the electric car company is -- as it said in a blog post Tuesday announcing the milestone -- starting to ramp up production. Palo Alto-based Tesla's last production update came about a month ago, when it announced its second-quarter results. At that point, the company had made 40 cars total and had delivered none to customers other than the first 10 it delivered in a highly publicized "launch" event June 22. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21376443/tesla-builds-100th-sedan-but-steep-production-ramp Clean-Diesel Proponents Still Await Details On Chevy Cruze. Clean-diesel fans must wait longer to find out details of General Motors’ commitment to build a diesel-powered U.S. version of its Chevrolet Cruze compact car at its Lordstown, Ohio, assembly facility. GM this week announced that it will invest $220 million for tooling and equipment to build the next-generation Cruze, retaining more than 5,000 jobs in Ohio. While significant for GM and Ohioans, this was a relatively routine announcement. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/dalebuss/2012/08/23/clean-diesel-proponents-still-await-details-on-chevy-cruze/ GREEN ENERGY Solyndra plant may sell at huge loss. Solyndra's factory in Fremont, which closed nearly a year ago as the solar company spiraled into bankruptcy, may sell for just a fraction of what taxpayers invested in it. But then, that's not unusual in bankruptcy. Seagate Technology, a Cupertino company that makes computer hard drives, has reached a tentative agreement to buy Solyndra's factory and headquarters for $90.3 million, unless someone else swoops in with a better offer. Any sale will require the approval of a bankruptcy court judge. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Solyndra-plant-may-sell-at-huge-loss-3811513.php#ixzz24TrNKT4E Romney energy plan focuses on more oil. The energy plan Mitt Romney unveiled Thursday adopts familiar GOP ideas for weaning the United States off foreign oil by boosting offshore drilling and relaxing environmental regulations - in dramatic contrast to the Obama administration's approach. Although President Obama and his Republican challenger view energy development as a way to rev up the economy and create jobs, Romney's plan focuses squarely on the oil and gas sector. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Romney-energy-plan-focuses-on-more-oil-3811741.php#ixzz24TuK36lQ Assembly Vote Coming on Solar Garden Bill. If you'd like to use electricity from rooftop solar but you don't own a rooftop to put it on, the California Assembly will soon be deciding whether or not to help you. On Monday, August 27 the Assembly is scheduled to vote on SB 843, which would allow renters, low-income Californians and others who can't install solar panels on their own property to buy shares in offsite solar facilities of up to 20 megawatts in size, and share in the proceeds from power sales to utilities. SB 843, if enacted, would create the Community-Based Renewable Energy Self-Generation Program in which retail utility customers could offset up to 100% of their utility bills by buying shares in a shared facility…Posted. http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/solar/photovoltaic-pv/assembly-vote-coming-on-solar-garden-bill.html U.S. Chamber unveils 'pro-growth, pro-jobs' fix for Calif. Economy. A glut of regulations handcuffs job creation in California and forces consumers to pay more for energy, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said yesterday as it unveiled a report proposing fixes. The 79-page document, dubbed "California Comeback," critiques policies in a host of areas including spending, taxes, schools and infrastructure. It sees the energy arena as one of the most problematic given the state's high unemployment. The Golden State last month had a 10.7 percent jobless rate, compared with the U.S. average of 8.3 percent. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/08/24/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS L.A. Unified replaces plastic foam cafeteria trays with paper ones. The districtwide switch to recyclable paper trays was sparked by students at one middle school who were studying the effects of trash on the environment. Lunch items in the Los Angeles Unified School District have been in flux in recent years — for example, swapping pizza for whole-grain spaghetti — but the sagging plastic foam tray that carried the food survived for decades. That changed too earlier this month, when the foam was switched out for recyclable paper trays at all district schools. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-plastic-foam-20120824,0,1467040.story As a bike-friendly city, we're halfway there. In its July issue, Bicycling magazine placed Sacramento right in the middle of its top-50 best bike cities, a ranking that suggests we've come a long way in recent years and can, with a little more effort and foresight, someday elbow our way into the Top 10 with the likes of Portland and San Francisco. Sacramento already has it good when it comes to riding a bike – the year-round weather, the flat terrain, the easy-to-navigate street grid, as well as the much-lauded 32-mile bike trail that winds along the American River from downtown to Folsom Lake without encountering automobile traffic. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/23/4748468/as-a-bike-friendly-city-were-halfway.html#storylink=cpy OPINIONS Viewpoints: Healthy headwaters are key to water future. Two new climate change studies offer a fascinating, if deeply troubling, view of California's water future. The noted climate scientist Jim Hansen and his NASA colleagues have analyzed decades of global temperatures and found a steep increase in the frequency of extremely hot summers. The statistical likelihood of extreme heat, drought and heavy downpours in certain regions is so huge that from a mathematical perspective these cannot be random or normal events. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/24/4753029/healthy-headwaters-are-key-to.html#storylink=cpy Roderick Wright's cap and trade hearing was biased. Re "Will Jobs be lost with Cap and Trade?" (Dan Morain, Aug. 19): Stepping back, a broader perspective shows the positive effects from a clean, efficient economy. Sen. Roderick Wright recently held a hearing about the cap and trade program. I was scheduled to participate in that hearing, but withdrew when I learned the senator was basing the discussion on a discredited report funded by the oil industry, and had stacked the panel with representatives of polluting industries. Given the lopsided nature of the hearing, it appeared the viewpoint shared by most Californians that AB 32 creates jobs and stimulates investments was not welcome. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/22/4749767/the-short-view-wisdom-research.html#storylink=cpy Energy independence is within our grasp, America. Over the past decade, American energy supply has undergone a remarkable transformation. We are experiencing no less than a resource revolution – an “American spring” for a nation seeking freedom from dependence on hostile countries for energy to power our economy. The United States – once heavily reliant on an unpredictable cartel and worried about the prospect of running out of fossil fuels – now enjoys projections of once unimaginable abundance from domestic and other North American sources. Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/08/24/energy-independence-is-within-our-grasp-america/#ixzz24UFxDc1K BLOGS A Fresh Look at the Difference Between Climate Trends and Variations. For awhile I’ve been wanting to draw attention to this visual deconstruction of the “global warming has stopped” meme often used by people whose profession or worldview makes them apt to reject science pointing to a greenhouse-heated climate: (graph) This animated graphic was created by the folks at the Skeptical Science blog as part of a series of posts on the notion of “going down the up escalator.” Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/a-fresh-look-at-the-difference-between-climate-trends-and-variations/?ref=science Romney’s Energy Plan. Ridiculing a campaign document is like shooting unusually large fish in a barrel, but Mitt Romney’s new energy “plan” is so fantastical and extreme that I feel compelled to fire away. Let’s start first with the premise of the plan, which is also its promise: that energy independence is an achievable goal for America by 2020. Presidents have been talking about energy independence since Richard Nixon and haven’t come close. The simple truth, as President Obama has recognized, is that a country that holds less than 3 percent of the world’s reserves but consumes more than 20 percent of the world’s supply cannot drill its way to energy independence. Posted. http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/romneys-energy-plan/?ref=opinion California Powers Up Plan for Waste-to-Watts. Energy from trash and fewer catastrophic fires? What’s the catch? Wood scraps, animal manure, household garbage and other wastes may soon fuel a sweeping “clean energy” initiative in California, if the collective vision of several state agencies comes to pass. This week, the state announced its 2012 Bioenergy Action Plan [PDF], which promotes an array of organic materials as a large and untapped fuel source for an energy-hungry state. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/08/23/california-throws-the-switch-on-waste-to-watts/?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: Mon, 27 Aug 2012 15:51:27 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 27, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 27, 2012. 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 plans pollution reduction at Gallatin plant. The Tennessee Valley Authority expects to spend as much as $1 billion to reduce harmful emissions from a coal-fired power plant by up to 95 percent. According to The Tennessean (http://bit.ly/MVmo9x ), the work at the Gallatin Fossil Plant, northeast of Nashville, is projected to be completed by 2017. Four large scrubbers are planned at the plant, which burns 13,000 tons of coal per day and generates enough electricity to power 300,000 homes. Some environmental groups, however, say TVA should instead invest in energy efficiency, saving enough power to shut down the plant. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/TVA-plans-pollution-reduction-at-Gallatin-plant-3817900.php#ixzz24lgLJ2RA Greener cars have improved L.A. air quality. Smog-producing compounds in Los Angeles are down 98 percent since the 1960s. They're down by half just since 2002, thanks to higher-mileage cars. Given the length of time the U.S. Government is taking to set new gas mileage standards for 2025, you’d be forgiven for thinking the only benefit from driving a high gas-mileage car is the savings you make at the pump. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/In-Gear/2012/0825/Greener-cars-have-improved-L.A.-air-quality Chevron’s Richmond Refinery Fire: Another Case of Environmental and Community Destruction. Chevron’s Richmond Refinery – the company’s second largest refinery – recently spewed toxic smoke over Richmond and San Pablo sending more than 14,000 people in the East Bay to medical facilities with smoke-related complaints. This is but the latest in Chevron’s legacy of environmental and community destruction. Chevron is the second largest oil company in the United States and the third largest corporation in the U.S. with $26.9 billion in 2011 profits. Posted. http://www.fogcityjournal.com/wordpress/5016/chevrons-richmond-refinery-fire-another-case-of-environmental-and-community-destruction/ Court further splits challenge to mercury rule. In deciding how to handle various complicated challenges to U.S. EPA's mercury and air toxics rule, a federal appeals court has decided to separate out another of the issues, meaning it will now hear three separate cases on the matter. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an order Friday stating it will hear as a separate case revisions to new source performance standards that were included as part of the new rule, known in EPA parlance as the MATS rule. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/08/27/23 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Nobody's Forcing Anybody to Disclose CO2 Emissions: Steer. Resources are all the rage. With the world population headed toward 9 billion people by 2050, from 7 billion today, companies and governments are eager to ensure they have access to strategic and industrial materials, now and for all time. The problem is that resources are becoming more expensive as the global middle class expands and is able to buy more stuff. The Goldman Sachs Commodities Index (now the Standard & Poor's GSCI) has risen by about 3.5 times between early 1991, when it launched, and today (It closed at 670.51 on Friday). Greater competition for fewer resources doesn't mean that everything is at risk of running out next week, or even "peaking." Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-27/nobody-s-forcing-anybody-to-disclose-co2-emissions-steer.html Intriguing Habitats, and Careful Discussions of Climate Change. Boston — Sitting on an artificial mangrove island in the middle of the ray and shark “touch tank,” Lindsay Jordan, a staff member at the New England Aquarium, explained the rays’ eating habits as children and their parents trailed fingers through the water. “Does anyone know how we touch these animals when we are not at the aquarium?” she asked. The children’s faces turned up expectantly. “The ocean absorbs one-third of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions,” Ms. Jordan said, explaining that it upsets the food chain. “When you turn on your car, it affects them.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/27/science/earth/zoos-and-aquariums-struggle-with-ways-to-discuss-climate-change.html?pagewanted=print On Glaciers, Balls of Dust and Moss Make a Cozy Home. Life has a habit of turning up in the most unlikely of places. Geysers, desert cliffs, even heaps of dung are environments that at least a few creatures call home. Now balls of moss on glaciers are joining this strange list. The clumps, known as glacier mice, have been found to contain miniature ecosystems. And even in freezing temperatures, scientists found, the inhabitants manage to thrive. In high winds glacier mice, which form when clumps of dust and organic debris develop a layer of moss over time, hop across vast sheets of ice. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/28/science/earth/glacier-mice-offer-a-micro-habitat.html?pagewanted=print Warm Arctic sets record for summer sea ice melt. Scientists say critical ice in the Arctic Ocean melted to record low levels this overheated summer. The National Snow and Ice Data Center reported Monday that the extent of Arctic sea ice shrank to 1.58 million square miles and is likely to melt more in the coming weeks. That breaks the old record of 1.61 million square miles set in 2007. Figures are based on satellite records dating back to 1979. Data center scientist Ted Scambos says the melt can be blamed mostly on global warming from man-made emissions of greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Warm-Arctic-sets-record-for-summer-sea-ice-melt-3817773.php#ixzz24lgjA4JQ Scientists look at genetic crops to beat drought. Colorado scientists are looking at genetically modified crops as a way farmers can beat the drought as worries continue about the safety of eating altered foods. Colorado State University professor Phil Westra says attitudes are changing toward crops that have been altered to resist drought and pests because of a continuing drought that has slashed harvests and increased the price of food. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Scientists-look-at-genetic-crops-to-beat-drought-3817945.php#ixzz24leYN4ul RIVERSIDE: Utilities officials fear state rules could spike rates. Riverside Public Utilities officials and some other municipal electric providers worry that customers could see their electric bills spike when the state’s cap-and-trade program takes effect next year. The program is designed to reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 by issuing a set number of pollution credits to industry and utilities — the “cap” — and holding auctions for the credits — the “trade.” Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20120824-riverside-utilities-officials-fear-state-rules-could-spike-rates.ece Carbon efficiency failing to fight warming: study. A surge in carbon emissions from power demand in the developing world is overwhelming progress by nations including China and the United States in improving efficiency, new research shows. Seeking to cut costs, numerous nations in recent years have scaled back or revamped the dirtiest plants that use coal, which among major forms of energy is the highest emitter of carbon blamed for the planet's rising temperatures. Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/carbon-efficiency-failing-fight-warming-study-190740830.html Final Test Before California's Cap-and-Trade Program Kicks Off. Next week’s scheduled practice auction of greenhouse gas allowances for California’s largest polluters will provide an important first look into how the state’s cap-and-trade program, a key element of the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), will work going forward. With millions of dollars worth of allowances planned to be auctioned in the coming year, and everyone watching to see whether California can successfully implement the nation’s first economy-wide cap-and-trade program, it’s important to get this right. Posted. http://theenergycollective.com/kristineberhard/106281/final-test-californias-cap-and-trade-program-kicks FUELS Gas prices rise as refineries shut for Isaac. Pump prices are heading higher as Tropical Storm Isaac forces several major refineries along the Gulf Coast to halt production in preparation for high winds and heavy rains. Fear of reduced gasoline supplies sent wholesale gasoline prices up 7.7 cents, or 2.4 percent, to $3.155 per gallon Monday. The average retail price for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. rose to $3.75 on Monday, and it could pass $3.80 by Labor Day weekend, says Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OIL_PRICES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-08-27-15-10-08 Most Coal-to-Gas Switching in U.S. Permanent, Moody’s Says. Coal won’t win back much of the share of electricity generation that it has lost to natural gas in the U.S., Moody’s Investors Service said. “Coal will regain a bit of market share as natural gas prices recover somewhat, but most coal-to-gas substitution to date will be permanent,” Anna Zubets-Anderson, a Moody’s vice president and senior analyst, wrote in the report. Production from shale has boosted gas inventories and coal has faced more scrutiny from environmental regulators. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-27/most-coal-to-gas-switching-in-u-s-permanent-moody-s-says-1-.html GREEN ENERGY Private sector must fund bulk of green energy: EIB. Most of the funding for Europe's push into green energy needs to come from the private sector, the president of the EU's long-term lending arm said on Monday, adding that the continent's credibility hinged on its ability to manage the shift. "If we want to switch to renewables in Europe on a permanent basis, the lion's share (of investment) needs to come from the private sector," Werner Hoyer, president of the European Investment Bank (EIB), said at the annual Handelsblatt renewable energy conference. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/27/us-eib-hoyer-renewables-idUSBRE87Q0O220120827 Energy use low, expectations high for La Valentina housing project in Sacramento. The La Valentina project, a new 81-home mixed-use "green" development at the corner of E and 12th streets in Alkali Flat, opens to high expectations today. Many hope the $25 million project, billed as the new wave of downtown development, will be a model for Sacramento. "La Valentina represents what is possible in the central city," said Meea Kang, president of Domus Development. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/27/4759362/energy-use-low-expectations-high.html#storylink=cpy Miners occupy coal mine in Sardinia in protest. Some 100 miners are occupying a coal mine on Sardinia island to press for state funds for a clean energy project they say will provide new jobs. Miners at the Carbosulcis mine told Sky TG24 TV on Monday that they want the government and Parliament to quickly approve funding for a project to capture and store underground carbon dioxide that otherwise would add to polluting greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Miners-occupy-coal-mine-in-Sardinia-in-protest-3817679.php#ixzz24mIGzESy MISCELLANEOUS Canada Says ‘Anonymous’ May Attack Energy Firm Computers. Canadian security agencies have warned energy companies such as Imperial Oil Ltd. (IMO) their computers may be attacked by the Anonymous hacker group because of the industry’s work developing Alberta’s oil sands, government documents show. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, public safety department and Communications Security Establishment Canada all investigated threats against the industry between the start of 2011 and mid-March, according to documents obtained this month by Bloomberg News under freedom of information laws. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-08-27/canada-says-anonymous-may-attack-energy-firm-computers.html Critics fight New Mexico plutonium plan. Nuclear watchdogs are fighting a proposal to ship tons of plutonium to New Mexico, including the cores of nuclear warheads that would be dismantled at an aging and structurally questionable lab atop an earthquake fault zone. Opponents voiced their opposition at a series of public hearings that opened this week on the best way to dispose of the radioactive material as the federal government works to reduce the nation's nuclear arsenal. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Critics-fight-New-Mexico-plutonium-plan-3808744.php#ixzz24lh9knBc DEQ fines helps purchase new equipment. Criminal fines are allowing the state Department of Environmental Quality and state police to buy air monitoring equipment, vehicles, clothing, safety goggles and first aid kits. Tim Knight, administrator of DEQ's assessment division, tells The Advocate (Http://bit.ly/SHncRv) the $1 million in fines allows the state to purchase the items. The money comes from a federal judge's order last year that Houston-based Pelican Refining Co. pay $12 million for violating the U.S. Clean Air Act and obstructing justice. The fines stemmed from broken or poorly functioning pollution-control equipment at the company's Lake Charles refinery and the filing of false reports. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/DEQ-fines-helps-purchase-new-equipment-3817778.php#ixzz24mJGJiDu OPINIONS Carbon Tax Silence, Overtaken by Events. DON’T expect to hear much about climate change at the Republican and Democratic conventions. Yes, there will be plenty of speeches about unemployment, budget deficits and other immediate problems. But the threats posed by global warming are decades away — or so we have been told repeatedly in recent years. Many climate scientists, however, are now pointing to evidence linking rising global temperatures to the extreme weather we’re seeing around the planet. The United States has just endured its hottest 12-month period on record. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/business/carbon-tax-would-have-many-benefits-economic-view.html?src=recg&pagewanted=print Staying Cool in the Developing World. To the Editor: “The Cost of Cool” (Sunday Review, Aug. 19), about the exorbitant — and rapidly rising — costs of air-conditioning in the increasingly crowded cities in the tropics, where cool living and working conditions appear to be a prerequisite to economic development, points to an urgent need for family planning. Three inexorable global trends — climate change, resource depletion and population growth — are on a catastrophic collision course. Although substituting clean energy sources — solar, wind, tidal — for reliance on fossil fuels may have promise in some undefined future, the only practical immediate course is to limit population growth. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/27/opinion/staying-cool-in-the-developing-world.html?pagewanted=print Another View: AB 32 will add costs, hurt California economy. Californians are tired of divisive politics taking the place of meaningful policy debates. But in their Aug. 16 Viewpoints article "Clean energy law drives innovation, creates jobs, attracts investments," W. Bowman Cutter and Matthew E. Kahn do just that and distract from the real discussion surrounding AB 32. Despite their claim that it will produce tremendous economic benefits for California, many studies have found that AB 32 will harm California's economy; the only debate is how much. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/26/4755388/ab-32-will-add-costs-hurt-california.html#storylink=cpy Cap and trade is a good thing. Re "Will jobs be lost with cap and trade?" (Dan Morain, Aug. 19): As a local businessman with strong community ties, I support California's efforts to implement AB 32, specifically the cap and trade program. Instead of buying into the opposition's sky-is-falling argument, let's focus on the facts. California's clean energy policies are attracting clean technology investments, creating jobs and reducing our reliance on imported energy. By putting a cap on carbon, we can reduce air pollution and other threats attributed to climate change including forest fires and sea level rise. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/25/4745427/response-to-dan-morains-editorial.html#storylink=cpy Cap and trade threatens food production. Re "What will be price of cap and trade?" (Dan Morain, Aug. 19): I wish you had placed the article "rediscovering nature's food emporium," by Stuart Leavenworth on the front page below the cap and trade article. Maybe people would get the linkage: if the government runs the processors of locally grown food, such as Pacific Coast Producers, out of the state or country, we'll all need to be trekking off to the Sierra to collect gooseberries or green yampa flowers. That will be in the afternoon after we've, hopefully, caught a salmon in the morning. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/25/4742769/regulations-will-backfire-on-local.html#storylink=cpy Editorial: CEQA end run could come back to haunt the Delta and Sacramento. When making sausage, competent chefs know they can't rush the process – unless they want to risk their fingers getting stuck in the meat grinder. Up until Thursday, it appeared that the sausage makers of the Legislature were prepared to make a bloody mess of a dish with a last-minute overhaul of the California Environmental Quality Act. Fortunately, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg intervened, meaning that the upper house will not take up the measure before the session comes to a merciful end this week. As we've said in previous editorials, CEQA is ripe for manipulation and needs updating. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/26/4755382/ceqa-end-run-could-come-back-to.html Dan Morain: City of Davis, military join to lobby for solar. The U.S. Navy has come to the defense of the ecotopian college town of Davis, where streetlights have been adjusted to make stargazing more productive. Defense Department representatives have been walking the Capitol halls advocating for a bill that could help Davis and any other town or military base in the state become more energy independent, while permitting civilians to more easily plug in to solar power. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/26/4755368/city-of-davis-military-join-to.html#storylink=cpy Sacramento needs to become more bike-friendly. Sacramento is more than 20 years behind Portland and other cities in the Bicycling Magazine Rating. For some people, a bike is transportation. For others, it is a form of recreation and fitness. Sacramento planners need to view the needs of pedestrians, mass transit and bicycling as being interconnected. Agencies need to coordinate their efforts. Many city governments have made a radical cultural shift away from the automobile culture embracing the bicycle.—Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/26/4752807/bicycling-in-sacramento.html#storylink=cpy If we ruin the air, what will our children breathe? Watching the sun set into the Pacific Ocean from a hotel tucked in among the dry scrub hills of San Diego, I have a chance to reflect on life here in Southern California, on climate changes and on what's in store for future generations. I'm here with a group of 22 Japanese university students who will spend a month studying English at San Diego State University, and I'll stay a week while they settle into their classes and host families. As always, I'm charmed by the students' optimism and contagious excitement. Posted. http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fe20120826sh.html The Apocalypse of Overpopulation and Climate Change : Fighting for Water and Food. As we are coming closer to December 21, 2012, anxiety is building up for many. It is of course the prediction of the Mayan calendar, the one of Nostradamus, and the belief of Christian fundamentalists that the fateful “judgment day” phase has already begun with a few potential candidates playing the role of the anti-Christ. As a rationalist, I can not adhere to any of this and especially not the part of the return of Jesus. Posted. http://newsjunkiepost.com/2012/08/25/surviving-the-man-made-apocalypse-will-we-fight-for-water-and-food/ BLOGS For Climate Change, a Possible Trial Could Echo the Scopes Monkey Case. Eighty-seven years ago, people and organizations who believed in freedom of scientific inquiry arranged for a test case of Tennessee's law against teaching the theory of evolution. The result was theater so cogent that it was later distilled as the play "Inherit the Wind." Now the climate scientist Michael E. Mann may be laying the groundwork for his own version of that trial, threatening to sue National Review for defamation. The offending piece was a blog post by Mark Steyn, which described Dr. Mann as "the man behind the fraudulent climate-change 'hockey-stick' graph, the very ringmaster of the tree-ring circus." Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/27/a-scopes-monkey-trial-for-climate-science/?ref=energy-environment&pagewanted=print >From Katrina to Isaac – How Much Has Hurricane Forecasting Improved? With the tropical storm that will soon be Hurricane Isaac heading in the general direction of New Orleans seven years (possibly to the day) after Hurricane Katrina topped the flood protections there, I looked back at the archived track forecasts for the 2005 storm and posted the link on Twitter and Facebook. The Facebook entry elicited a notable response from Marshall Shepherd, the director of the program in atmospheric sciences at the University of Georgia. In comparing the track forecasts for Isaac with that for Katrina, he noted how much of what is called the “cone of uncertainty” – the wide area over which the track could range — had shrunk in comparing the forecasts seven years apart. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/27/from-katrina-to-isaac-how-much-has-hurricane-track-forecasting-improved/ Will Emissions Disclosure Mean Investor Pressure on Polluters? A new financial tool developed by the investment firm South Pole Carbon, in partnership with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, provides greenhouse gas emissions profiles of more than 40,000 publicly listed companies. This index is aimed at encouraging greater disclosure from companies while, hopefully, also pushing investors to build more responsible portfolios. “Investors have long been aware that the greenhouse gas profile, especially of major emitters like electric utilities, is a potential liability,” said Paul Bledsoe, a senior adviser on energy issues at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/24/will-emissions-disclosure-mean-investor-pressure-on-polluters/ ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 14:12:14 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newclips for August 28, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 28, 2012. 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 to discuss dangers of soot air pollution. The dangers of soot air pollution will be discussed during a Detroit community meeting. Doctors, environmental groups, community advocates and city residents are expected to attend Tuesday night's event at the Detroit Hispanic Development Corp. The sponsors include Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, Consortium of Hispanic Agencies, Sierra Club, the Green Door Initiative and other groups. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/28/groups-to-discuss-dangers-of-soot-air-pollution/#ixzz24rAcnCZQ Fire extinguished at Venezuela refinery. All fires have been extinguished at Venezuela's biggest oil refinery after raging for more than three days following a deadly explosion, officials said Tuesday. State television reported that the flames had been put out in the three fuel tanks that had been ablaze, and showed images of one tank smoldering. The smoke rising from the Amuay refinery had diminished markedly by dawn on Tuesday. An official of the state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA said firefighters were working to cool down one of the tanks. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/28/fires-dying-down-after-venezuela-refinery-blast/#ixzz24rBA2jl8 Smog-Producing Hydrocarbons Leaking from Refinery. Smog-producing hydrocarbons are still leaking at unlawful levels at the Chevron oil refinery in the wake of the August 6 fire there, but pollution control officials said they expect to stop it by Tuesday. Chevron could face fines of $25,000 for each day per violation. "The leak has been isolated, and will stop as soon as tomorrow," said Dan Tillema, a chemical incident investigator for the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, during a public briefing about government inquiries into the refinery disaster Monday morning at the Richmond City Council Chambers. Posted. http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/local/smog-producing-hydrocarbons-still-leaking-chevron-/nRLd7/ Only Yankee Hill/Concow has bad air quality today in Butte County. Air quality that's unhealthy for sensitive groups is forecast today in the Yankee Hill/Concow area, but moderate air pollution is expected elsewhere in Butte County. The Butte County Air Quality Management District says sensitive groups — the very young and old, and those with heart or lung problems — should reduce heavy or prolonged exertion. Smoke from the Chips Fire to the east is still impacting air quality. Posted. http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_21415623/only-yankee-hill-concow-has-bad-air-quality CLIMATE CHANGE Australia to cut carbon floor price, link to EU scheme. Australia will scrap its planned floor price for carbon emissions and will link directly with the European Union's emissions trading scheme by 2018, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said on Tuesday. Australia, one of the world's highest per capita emitters of pollutants blamed for causing climate change, imposed a fixed A$23 ($23.88) per ton carbon tax on around 300 of its biggest polluting companies in July, covering around 60 percent of emissions. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/28/us-australia-carbon-floorprice-idUSBRE87R05L20120828 Satellites Show Sea Ice in Arctic Is at a Record Low. The amount of sea ice in the Arctic has fallen to the lowest level on record, a confirmation of the drastic warming in the region and a likely harbinger of larger changes to come. Satellites tracking the extent of the sea ice found over the weekend that it covered about 1.58 million square miles, or less than 30 percent of the Arctic Ocean’s surface, scientists said. That is only slightly below the previous record low, set in 2007, but with weeks still to go in the summer melting season, it is clear that the record will be beaten by a wide margin. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/28/science/earth/sea-ice-in-arctic-measured-at-record-low.html?_r=1 Flurry of last-minute bills vie for Calif.'s cap-and-trade proceeds. California lawmakers are wrangling over billions of dollars in carbon allowances as the state's first-in-the-nation, economywide cap-and-trade system nears its start date. There are at least six bills active in the waning days of the state's legislative session that would divvy up the revenue from the quarterly auction of greenhouse gas permits, set to begin this November. Some of the proposals target specific beneficiaries. One would require electric utilities to return the cost of their permits directly to customers, while another would direct some of it to public transit agencies. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/08/28/12 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY INSIGHT Delivers Supply Chain Solutions for Cap & Trade Restrictions. Similar to Capacity Constraints; Requires Modeling Supply Chain Energy Usage & Carbon Emissions. a top international provider of supply chain planning solutions for the world's foremost companies, believes that Cap & Trade Restrictions are growing in importance to the C-Suite due to recently adopted regulations in California. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) established a new "cap-and-trade" program that launches on January 1, 2013; it places a "cap" on the aggregate greenhouse gases (GHG…Posted. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48810746#.UD0N_tVeSW9 DIESEL EMISSIONS Small business truckers use loan assistance option to purchase cleaner equipment. The California Air Resources Board and the California Pollution Control Financing Authority, part of the State Treasurer’s Office, has hit the $100 million mark in financial assistance to small-business truckers. The funding is provided through a program that provides small businesses with financial assistance to obtain loans or lease-to-own arrangements so they can purchase newer, cleaner trucks ahead of schedule for state clean truck and bus regulations. Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2012/8/28/Smallbusinesstruckersuseloanassistanceoptiontopurchasecleanerequipment.aspx California state fleet reduces petroleum consumption 13% compared to 2003. The California state fleet has reduced its petroleum consumption by 13% compared to a 2003 baseline, according to a state progress report. Key to this reduction has been the development and implementation of a plan that has improved the State fleet’s overall use of alternative fuels, the reduction of unneeded fleet vehicles, and reducing unnecessary vehicle miles traveled. In 2003, the state fleet consumed 38,559,715 gallons of petroleum-based fuel (gasoline and diesel), according to the report. In 2010, the fleet consumed 33,509,180 gallons of petroleum fuel (-13%) as well as 3,793,904 gallon of alternative fuels, comprising…Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/08/calfleet-20120828.html FUELS New mileage standards would double fuel efficiency. Washington -- The average gas mileage of new cars and trucks will have to nearly double by 2025 under regulations that were finalized Tuesday by the Obama administration. The new rules will require the fleet of new cars and trucks to average 54.5 miles per gallon in 13 years, up from 28.6 mpg at the end of last year. The regulations will bring dramatic changes to the cars and trucks in U.S. showrooms and drive automakers to introduce new technology to make vehicles cleaner and more efficient. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/28/v-print/4764319/new-mileage-standards-would-double.html Military Spending on Biofuels Draws Fire. When the Navy put a Pacific fleet through maneuvers on a $12 million cocktail of biofuels this summer, it proved that warships could actually operate on diesel from algae or chicken fat. “It works in the engines that we have, it works in the aircraft that we have, it works in the ships that we have,” said Ray Mabus, secretary of the Navy. “It is seamless.” The still-experimental fuels are also expensive — about $27 a gallon for the fuel used in the demonstration, compared with about $3.50 a gallon for conventional military fuels. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/28/business/military-spending-on-biofuels-draws-fire.html?pagewanted=all VEHICLES Autos must average 54.5 mpg by 2025, new EPA standards are expected to say. The Obama administration will finalize strict new fuel-efficiency vehicle standards Tuesday, requiring the U.S. auto fleet to average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, according to individuals briefed on the matter. The new rules, which expand on existing standards requiring American-made cars and light trucks to average 34.5 mpg by 2016, will significantly cut U.S. oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by the time they are fully implemented, the Environmental Protection Agency says. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/autos-must-average-545-mpg-by-2025-new-epa-standards-are-expected-to-say/2012/08/28/2c47924a-f117-11e1-892d-bc92fee603a7_story.html EV market projections: Part I - OEM capacity production and vision. General Motors (GM) was planning to sell 60,000 Volt/Ampera in 2012, but the US market is not getting as much traction as the European market does for PHEVs, and GM had to stop for several weeks the production of the Volt to save costs. According to Automotive News, the company is again about to idle its plant for 4 weeks in September/October. In Europe the Opel Ampera has high demand and the Ampera sales should reach 15,000-20,000 in 2012 (Opel’s objective was 10,000). Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4888 GREEN ENERGY German minister mulls slower green revolution. Germany may have to slow down its planned transformation to green energy, Environment Minister Peter Altmaier said on Tuesday in an effort to assuage worries that consumers will bear the brunt of the immense costs of the switch from nuclear. A year before an election, fears of rising energy bills in Europe's biggest economy have become a major concern for Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right government which has ambitious targets for renewables to replace atomic power. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/28/us-germany-nuclear-idUSBRE87R0JA20120828 Israel's solar power struggles against government. Israel has developed some of the world's most advanced solar energy equipment and enjoys a nearly endless supply of sunshine, but when it comes to deploying large-scale solar technology at home, the country remains in the dark ages. Solar power provides just a tiny percentage of Israel's energy needs, leaving it far behind colder, cloudier counterparts in Europe. Israeli solar companies, frustrated by government bureaucracy, have taken their expertise abroad. Fifty years ago, Israel was at the front of the pack, with simple solar water heaters on top of its apartment buildings. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-08-28/israels-solar-power-struggles-against-government http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/27/2967012/israels-solar-power-struggles.html#storylink=misearch OPINION Fracking is too important to foul up. In Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York and even Texas, there is a fundamental debate over “fracking” — the hydraulic fracturing of shale rock that, together with horizontal drilling, unleashes abundant natural gas. Mostly, it’s the loud voices at the extremes who are dominating the debate: those who want either no fracking or no additional regulation of it. As usual, the voices in the sensible center are getting drowned out — with serious repercussions for our country’s future. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/fracking-is-too-important-to-foul-up/2012/08/23/d320e6ee-ea0e-11e1-a80b-9f898562d010_story.html Anne Smart: Consumer protection needed in cap and trade. As a leader in environmental protection and climate- change policy, California has demonstrated a commitment to creating a clean energy future, while also supporting a strong and vibrant economy. Unfortunately, recent action by the state Legislature could run counter to these goals. The California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, also known as AB 32, mandates a market-based cap-and trade-program that is set to begin in November. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/28/4762435/consumer-protection-needed-in.html Romney's Dirtier, Deadlier Energy Future: Is There Another Way? The oil-dependent economy Romney supports is a step toward an unstable, costly future. Renewables and energy efficiency offer a stronger economy and a stable climate. Mitt Romney's new energy platform calls for more fossil fuel production and less regulation. It's a vision of an energy future that is dirtier and deadlier than an economy founded on a transition to renewable energy sources. And, despite the devastating droughts and massive wildfires of the last few months, it's a plan that ignores the climate dangers associated with a drill-and-burn policy. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-van-gelder/romneys-dirtier-deadlier-_b_1829536.html?utm_hp_ref=green BLOGS Could a carbon tax help the U.S. avert the fiscal cliff? With the United States facing the expiration of a slew of tax cuts in 2013—the dread “fiscal cliff”—there has been plenty of interest in offbeat tax-reform proposals. And one idea that a few economists keep knocking around is a fee on carbon emissions. After all, if we need to raise revenue, why not just tax global-warming pollution? A new paper from the MIT Global Change Institute lays out how a carbon tax might work in practice. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/08/27/how-a-carbon-tax-could-help-the-u-s-avert-the-fiscal-cliff/ Bullet train authority steps up hiring to fill long-vacant posts. Plugging long-standing vacancies in its management team, the agency that plans to build the state bullet train system announced Monday the hiring of a chief administrative officer and seven other individuals to fill a variety of top executive posts. The California High-Speed Rail Authority “is making major strides in putting in place an experienced management team to significantly improve its operations. Today marks a major milestone in achieving our staffing goals,” said Jeff Morales, the agency’s chief executive, who was hired in June. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/08/bullet-train-authority-hiring.html California Universities Support Cap and Trade for Us, Not for Them. It was announced last week that California’s UC and CSU systems will be hit with up to $28 million in new energy taxes if CARB’s cap and trade program moves forward as planned. This should have come as no surprise because citizen ratepayers and small business owners have been warning for years that the cap and trade auction will be a massive hidden tax with billions of dollars in higher energy costs impacting all Californians, including schools. However, what was surprising was the reaction of university officials. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/08/california-universities-support-cap-and-trade-for-us-not-for-them/ ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 15:53:07 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips August 29, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 29, 2012. 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 Earth Log: Valley air pollution could halt road funds. The next air-quality crisis in the San Joaquin Valley is brewing around a precious $500 million in federal funds for building freeways and roads. The money -- along with road-building jobs -- eventually could be frozen if the local air district cannot come up with a plan to clean up tiny bits of soot, diesel, moisture and chemicals called PM-2.5. The Valley's PM-2.5 problem is one of the worst in the country. This wintertime pollution is more dangerous than warm-weather ozone. It triggers asthma and heart problems. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/28/2968642/valley-air-pollution-could-halt.html#storylink=misearch CLIMATE CHANGE Trial run for cap and trade auction. Come November, California will open North America's first full-scale carbon market, in which companies buy and sell the right to emit greenhouse gases from their factories, power plants and oil refineries. It's a major undertaking involving hundreds of companies and - potentially - billions of dollars. Success or failure could have big implications for California's fight against climate change, not to mention the state's fragile economy. So on Thursday, California officials plan to stage a dress rehearsal. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Trial-run-for-cap-and-trade-auction-3822652.php#ixzz24xX9oO3v In Arctic, Greenpeace picks new fight with old foe. Global warming has ignited a rush to exploit Arctic resources - and Greenpeace is determined to thwart that stampede. Employing the same daredevil tactics it has used against nuclear testing or commercial whaling, the environmental group is now dead-set on preventing oil companies from profiting from global warming by drilling for oil near the Arctic's shrinking ice cap. The campaign took off in May 2010, when oil was still gushing from a ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/29/4768006/in-arctic-greenpeace-picks-new.html#storylink=cpy http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/In-Arctic-Greenpeace-picks-new-fight-with-old-foe-3824078.php http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/in-arctic-greenpeace-picks-new-fight-with-old-foe/article_d24ec368-c107-541f-847f-d77b43713e20.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21425478/arctic-greenpeace-picks-new-fight-old-foe?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.modbee.com/2012/08/29/2348701/in-arctic-greenpeace-picks-new.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21425478/arctic-greenpeace-picks-new-fight-old-foe?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Economists urge Calif. governor to resist weakening CO2 scheme. A group of 56 economists have urged California's governor to resist industry pressure to hand out all carbon allowances for free in the state's carbon market, set to launch next year, claiming it would create windfall profits for big emitters while widening the state budget deficit. The economists, who hail from universities and green groups including the University of California at Berkeley and the Union of Concerned Scientists, urged Governor Jerry Brown to retain plans to sell 10 percent of permits to prevent big emitters profiting from the environmental law. Posted. http://www.pointcarbon.com/news/1.1967303 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Some GOP delegates want to curb emissions but without carbon taxes, new regs. Clean water for their kids, alternative energy sources, preservation of landscapes -- these are all concepts Republican activists say they support. But when it comes to climate change, many delegates at the Republican National Convention are conflicted. They say it would be good to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but they fear that taking action would damage the economy and put more people out of work. Take Jeff Haste, a 53-year-old Pennsylvania delegate who considers himself a conservationist. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/08/29/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Israel to export gas, but domestic use comes first. Israel will allow a significant amount of its newly found natural gas to be exported, but first it must keep enough reserves to satisfy its own needs for 25 years, a government panel decided on Wednesday. Ending months of uncertainty that cast a shadow on the country's fast-developing energy sector, the committee set a cap of 500 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas that can be exported from the cluster of fields discovered off Israel's coast. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/29/israel-natgas-idUSL6E8JTBA920120829 Obama calls for cars to get almost 55 mpg. The Obama administration says automakers must almost double the average mileage by 2025, part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, oil consumption and dependence on foreign sources. The Obama administration announced fuel economy standards Tuesday that would require car makers to almost double the average gas mileage for passenger vehicles to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-fuel-standards-20120829,0,6043250.story http://www.nctimes.com/business/new-mileage-standards-would-double-fuel-efficiency/article_a7921214-6eb6-53c2-8ae3-a644f5e7985f.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/28/2967503/new-mileage-standards-would-double.html#storylink=misearch http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21420643/questions-and-answers-about-gas-mileage-standards?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.modbee.com/2012/08/28/2347768/questions-and-answers-about-gas.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21420643/questions-and-answers-about-gas-mileage-standards?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com EPA grants Louisiana 10-day clean gas waiver. The Obama administration is waiving clean gas requirements in Louisiana to make sure residents have enough supplies as Hurricane Isaac makes its way through the state. The Environmental Protection Agency says it's lifting some Clean Air Act standards for 10 days. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson says extreme circumstances are likely to cause a gasoline shortage. The waiver covers 14 of Louisiana's 64 parishes and includes the cities of New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/epa-grants-louisiana--day-clean-gas-waiver/article_edb264d3-4904-5bfc-be9d-7bfec2c6de1c.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21425940/epa-grants-louisiana-10-day-clean-gas-waiver?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com NY Mayor Bloomberg: City needs more natural gas. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has released a study finding that more natural gas is critical for the city to improve air quality and public health. Bloomberg says Tuesday that more gas is needed. His comments came after he wrote a recent opinion piece in The Washington Post expressing support for expanded natural gas drilling. Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to decide soon whether to allow shale gas drilling using hydraulic fracturing - or fracking - when an environmental review is completed. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/28/ny-mayor-bloomberg-city-needs-more-natural-gas/#ixzz24xRh1yBl Neste Oil complete first phase of its microbial oil pilot plant; feedstock for NExBTL renewable diesel. Neste Oil has completed the first phase of its project to build a pilot plant for producing microbial oil for use as a feedstock for NExBTL renewable diesel. Construction of the plant is on-schedule and on-budget. (Earlier post.) The first phase will enable the growth of oil-producing micro-organisms, and the following phases will concentrate on raw material pretreatment and oil recovery. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/08/neste-20120829.html New federal standard alone not enough -- Calif. air chief. The nation's new fuel economy standard, while laudable, won't be enough on its own to reduce carbon pollution to needed levels, the head of California's climate programs said yesterday. Because of that, California will continue its plan to require a growing number of plug-in electric and other zero-emissions vehicles. The Golden State's mandate will be binding only for cars sold there, but Air Resources Board (ARB) Chairwoman Mary Nichols believes it will have a wider impact. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/08/29/24 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY UC Riverside developing biofuel formulations for California. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside's College of Engineering – Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) are working with the state of California to develop diesel formulations with higher levels of renewable biofuels. This research supports several California legislative measures and regulations that aim to increase the use of renewable fuels and reduce greenhouse gases. These include AB 32, which requires the state to develop regulations that will reduce carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and the California Air Resources Board's (CARB's) Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Posted. http://phys.org/news/2012-08-uc-riverside-biofuel-california.html#jCp HIGH-SPEED RAIL High-Speed Rail Is Definitely Green. A recent UC Berkeley study shows that an efficient high-speed rail network in California will reduce pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions. Opponents of high-speed rail contend that it's a boondoggle because of its $68 billion pricetag. But a recent UC Berkeley study provides evidence that a California bullet train might be a good investment, particularly when it comes to reducing greenhouse gases and fighting climate change. Posted. http://www.eastbayexpress.com/ebx/high-speed-rail-is-definitely-green/Content?oid=3324388 GREEN ENERGY DOE questions Solyndra bankruptcy plan. Solyndra LLC should provide more information about tax breaks that could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars to private equity funds that control the failed solar power company, government lawyers said in a court filing. Attorneys for the Department of Energy and the Internal Revenue Service filed court papers last week objecting to a disclosure statement filed by Solyndra with its bankruptcy reorganization plan. Solyndra received a $528 million loan from the Obama administration before filing for bankruptcy protection last year. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21417759/doe-questions-solyndra-bankruptcy-plan?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Energy Department, IRS want more information on tax provisions of Solyndra bankruptcy plan. Solyndra LLC should provide more information about tax breaks that could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars to private equity funds that control the failed solar power company, government lawyers said in a court filing. Attorneys for the Department of Energy and the Internal Revenue Service filed court papers last week objecting to a disclosure statement filed by Solyndra with its bankruptcy reorganization plan. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-department-irs-want-more-information-on-tax-provisions-of-solyndra-bankruptcy-plan/2012/08/28/601b0c34-f133-11e1-b74c-84ed55e0300b_story.html MISCELLANEOUS L.A. opposes 710 Freeway extension above ground or by tunnel. The L.A. City Council unanimously votes to oppose the options presented by the MTA. It joins South Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge and Glendale. The Los Angeles City Council unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday that joined a chorus of voices opposing plans to extend the 710 Freeway north either above ground or by tunnel. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday narrowed the 12 possible options down to five and decided to cease exploration of any above-ground extension. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-710-freeway-20120829,0,57309.story OPINIONS On the right road with federal fuel economy standards. The Obama administration's fuel economy standards will save oil and cut greenhouse emissions. Republican opposition is misguided. There's nothing really new about the federal fuel economy standards that were finalized Tuesday — they were announced more than a year ago and have changed little since — but now that we're on the verge of a presidential election, they're generating more political heat. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-fuel-20120829,0,5674141.story EDITORIAL: Coal-to-diesel plant fuels optimism. Muhlenberg County officials are breathing a sigh of relief with last week's announcement of a coal-to-diesel plant that will be built near Central City. More than four years ago, the Muhlenberg County Fiscal Court invested $625,000 of its single-county coal severance funds in an effort to secure what was originally a $400 million project. For a minute, it appeared as the funds -- appropriated to help the company with design and engineering costs -- were spent in vain. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-mct-editorial-coal-to-diesel-plant-fuels-optimism-20120829,0,7615733.story EDITORIAL: The Bell Tolls: Transportation. The Virginia Department of Transportation has ambitious plans for the revenue generated by tolls. On Tuesday, The Times-Dispatch's Peter Bacque reported: "Rebuilding the interchange of Interstate 95, Interstate 85 and U.S. 460 in Petersburg would be one of the state's top priorities if Virginia gets federal approval to put tolls on I-95." His story detailed other priorities. All of the projects rate as not only welcome but necessary. According to VDOT, current funding cannot meet the needs for maintenance and improvements associated with the I-95 corridor. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-mct-editorial-the-bell-tolls-transportation-20120829,0,6279046.story For trash pickup, L.A. would be better served by non-exclusive deal. The City Council is set to choose a plan for imposing franchise agreements on private trash haulers. An exclusive system would be a bad deal for Los Angeles. Residents of Los Angeles' single-family homes have their trash picked up weekly by the city's Bureau of Sanitation, but the vast majority of L.A.'s garbage is produced by multifamily residences and businesses, and their waste is collected and dumped by private contractors. State and city laws govern recycling, dumping and emissions and help to balance legitimate environmental and labor concerns against the efficiencies of the marketplace. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-trash-20120829,0,7114816.story News Summary: New government gas mileage rules. THE NEWS: The Obama administration on Tuesday finalized regulations that will force automakers to nearly double the average gas mileage of all the new cars and trucks they sell in 2025. All new vehicles would have to average 54.5 miles per gallon in 13 years. THE IMPACT: The change cuts in half the greenhouse gases produced by the vehicles, and the government says it will save consumers $8,000 in gasoline costs over the life of a vehicle purchased in 2025. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/28/4765765/news-summary-new-government-gas.html#storylink=cpy Sardul Singh Minhas: World must slash carbon dioxide emissions. Richard Muller, the physics professor at the University of California-Berkeley and the co-founder of the Berkeley Earth Project, was a long-standing skeptic of global warming. He recently concluded that global warming was real. Ironically, the Berkeley Project was heavily funded by Charles Koch Charitable Foundation, which has a long history of backing those denying climate change. Muller's conversion just puts him in line with the vast consensus of scientific opinion, notably expressed through the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_21419022/sardul-singh-minhas-world-must-slash-carbon-dioxide Carbon Emissions in U.S. Have Dropped. Could "Not Bad" Be Good? The U.S. Energy Information Agency recently reported that the United States -- the all-time career leader in greenhouse gas emissions -- has lost a step. And that's a good thing. America's carbon dioxide output for the first quarter of this year dropped to a rate not seen since 1992. While it would be great to think environmental policy-making was the cause of this good news that appears not to be the case. Market-driven factors, such as the affordability of natural gas, and a shift to fuel-efficient cars …Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/neil-wagner/carbon-emissions-in-us-ha_b_1836805.html?utm_hp_ref=green Natural Gas: Bridge or Dead End? Natural gas is often touted as a bridge fuel: an interim step between the heavily polluting fossil fuels we depend on today and the clean renewable energy systems we hope for tomorrow. But the infrastructure we deploy to increase natural gas may actually inhibit the transition to solar and wind power. Rather than a bridge, natural gas may be a dead end. The idea of natural gas as a bridge draws on three main points. First, natural gas produces significantly less carbon dioxide than coal or oil. Second, it releases fewer impurities like sulfur and mercury compared with other fossil fuels. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-f-jones/bridge-or-dead-end_b_1837015.html?utm_hp_ref=environment Pickens: Natural-gas vehicles will survive without Congress. T. Boone Pickens said natural gas vehicles can survive just fine without Congress approving his so-called Pickens Plan. "It's going to happen, and you don't have to have Washington do it, thank God," Pickens said at Wednesday’s energy luncheon hosted by POLITICO. Pickens has had to increasingly tailor his proposal to offer federal incentives for natural-gas vehicles in the face of Capitol Hill stagnation. He now says the low price of natural gas will serve the market for the vehicles well enough without the federal assistance. Posted. http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=8CBD3269-8A1B-4152-B568-6D4FF5EC12D2 BLOGS In California, Stickers for H.O.V. Lane Privileges Go Begging. The gridlocked freeways of California are the stuff of infamy, so when the state’s Air Resources Board began administering a sticker program granting drivers of plug-in hybrids a free pass into high-occupancy-vehicle lanes, a flood of applications was expected. The flood, however, has instead been a trickle. Since the program started in January, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has issued 4,092 of the green-colored stickers to drivers who own or lease the Chevrolet Volt or Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid, the only eligible vehicles. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/in-california-stickers-for-h-o-v-lane-privileges-go-begging/ Proposed Gas Pipeline, Endorsed by the City, Draws Criticism. New York City needs cleaner, cheaper energy. That’s the only thing everyone following a proposed natural gas pipeline in the Rockaways agrees upon. But the project — running pipeline from the Atlantic Ocean under the Rockaways and Jamaica Bay into southeast Brooklyn — has drawn concern and outright opposition since it became public earlier this year. Natural gas saves customers money, eases dependence on foreign oil and is cleaner than other fossil fuels (though extracting it by hydraulic fracturing raises other issues). Posted. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/proposed-gas-pipeline-endorsed-by-the-city-draws-criticism/?src=twr Australia and EU announce world's biggest carbon trading system. Australia and the European Union plan to link their "cap-and-trade" systems to create the biggest emissions trading market on the globe, energy and climate change officials announced Tuesday. Under a cap-and-trade system, countries cap the amount of pollution they are willing to allow, then issue permits for how much each business or entity can pollute. Businesses or entities that pollute more than their share can buy credits from others that pollute less than allowed. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/08/australia-and-eu-announce-worlds-biggest-carbon-trading-system.html Lawmakers approve bill to allow San Francisco-to-Solano-County trash hauling. The Assembly sent to the governor today a San Francisco lawmaker's bill meant to ensure that her city's trash can continue to be hauled to Solano County without restriction in years to come. The measure by Democratic Assemblywoman Fiona Ma would prohibit voters in a city or county from restricting or limiting the importation of solid waste into a privately owned landfill. Assembly Bill 845 passed the lower house by a vote of 46-15. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/08/san-francisco-trash-haul-to-solano-county-legislation-rejected.html#storylink=cpy ====================================================================== 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 Aug 2012 11:43:44 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 30, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 30, 2012. 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 cap-and-trade program to cut emissions starts trial run. The eyes of the world are on California as it prepares to roll out the nation's first comprehensive cap-and-trade program, a cornerstone of the state's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift to an environmentally sustainable economy. So on Thursday, the state will stage a trial run of the online auction of emissions permits for roughly 150 major emitters of greenhouse gases to give the state time to work out any glitches before the official Nov. 14 launch of the program. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21428079/dress-rehearsal-thursday-californias-cap-and-trade-program http://www.siliconvalley.com/news/ci_21428079/trial-run-california-cap-trade-program-thursday-cut-emissions EU, Australia plan carbon market link. The proposed linking of the European Union and Australian greenhouse-gas-reduction programs will demonstrate to policymakers worldwide that carbon markets can help address climate change, said Andrei Marcu. "Those who say there is no urgency are being contradicted on the ground," Marcu, head of the Center for European Policy Studies' Carbon Market Forum in Brussels, said Wednesday in an interview from United Nations climate talks in Bangkok. "This is a very good signal. This is not theory anymore." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/EU-Australia-plan-carbon-market-link-3826135.php Greenhouse gases could lurk beneath Antarctic ice sheet. Enormous reservoirs of the potent greenhouse gas methane could lurk beneath the Antarctic ice sheet, hastening the rate of global warming if portions of the sheet collapse, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Nature. Methane, a byproduct of dead and decaying organic matter, probably exists within the sediments below the ice sheet, according to study authors. Though scientists have attempted to calculate the amount of greenhouse-gas-generating substances in Arctic permafrost, they have not previously considered reservoirs of methane beneath the Antarctic ice sheet. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-methane-reservoirs-20120829,0,5490124.story Heat waves will change breezy Calif. coast – study. Climate change already is altering California's coastal areas, spawning more intense and frequent heat waves, a new study said. Research from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and University of California, San Diego, found that residents who live near the Golden State's beaches no longer can rely on ocean breezes to moderate hot weather. The type of heat wave now seen includes temperatures that do not drop significantly at night. There also is more humidity, which previously was rare. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/08/30/18 SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Truckers at Oakland's port undergo pollution inspections. Truckers at the Port of Oakland were met this week by inspectors from the state Air Resources Board conducting spot checks of diesel emissions on rigs traveling to and from the docks. The inspections, which began Tuesday and will be conducted at the port through Thursday, are part of a monthlong statewide effort meant to ensure owners of trucks using state roadways are in compliance with air pollution regulations designed to reduce the amount of cancer-causing emissions that spew from big rigs. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_21429199/truckers-at-oaklands-port-undergo-pollution-inspections http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_21429198/truckers-at-oaklands-port-undergo-pollution-inspections http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21429199/truckers-at-oaklands-port-undergo-pollution-inspections?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Trucks Inspected For Violations At Port Of Oakland. The California Air Resources Board and the California Highway Patrol were both inspecting trucks at the Port of Oakland on Wednesday, as part of a month-long campaign to ensure compliance with California’s air pollution laws. CHP officers are making sure truck drivers have the correct license, along with valid registration. The state’s Air Resources Board is making sure truckers are complying with state air pollution laws. “If we see what looks to be the right model year range, we’ll pull those over. If we see black smoke, we’ll pull those over. If they just look like an older truck, we’ll pull those over,” said Beth White with the California Air Resources Board. “Some of it’s random but some of it isn’t.” Posted. http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/08/29/trucks-inspected-for-violations-at-port-of-oakland/ California Reaches $100 million Milestone in Loan Assistance to Truckers. The California Air Resources Board and the California Pollution Control Financing Authority, part of the State Treasurer's Office, hit the $100 million mark in financial assistance to small-business truckers so they can buy cleaner-burning vehicles. The funding is provided through a program that provides small businesses with financial assistance to obtain loans or lease-to-own arrangements so they can purchase newer, cleaner trucks ahead of schedule for state clean truck and bus regulations. "The success of this program means that truck owners are serious about using the financing options available to them to prepare for the truck regulations we have in place," said CARB chairman Mary D. Nichols. "California residents get to enjoy cleaner air and more hardworking truckers are prepared to comply with CARB's clean air regulations." Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=77860&news_category_id=3 Study finds clear trend of increasing NOx with higher biodiesel blends with CARB diesel; NOx neutrality achieved by blending in renewable or GTL diesel. A study by researchers at the University of California, Riverside’s College of Engineering – Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) and colleagues at the California Air Resources Board (ARB) found a relatively clear trend of increasing NOx emissions with increasing biodiesel blend level at levels of B20 and above for CARB-like/high cetane diesel fuels. The study is published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. They also found that increasing renewable diesel (Neste Oil’s NExBTL) and gas-to-liquids (GTL) diesel blends showed NOx reductions with rising blend level. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/08/durbin-20120830.html FUELS UC Riverside developing biofuel formulations for California. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside's College of Engineering – Center for Environmental Research and Technology (CE-CERT) are working with the state of California to develop diesel formulations with higher levels of renewable biofuels. This research supports several California legislative measures and regulations that aim to increase the use of renewable fuels and reduce greenhouse gases. These include AB 32, which requires the state to develop regulations that will reduce carbon dioxide-equivalent greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and the California Air Resources Board's (CARB's) Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). Posted. http://phys.org/news/2012-08-uc-riverside-biofuel-california.html U.S. new fuel economy standards: Overview and Analysis. "These fuel standards represent the single most important step we've ever taken to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,'' President Barack Obama said in the midst of his election campaign. The new standards will reportedly cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light-duty trucks by half by 2025. A midterm review will be conducted in 2018 to ensure rules are achievable. The new standards also plan to give automakers "credits" towards meeting the new standards if they build EVs, plug-in hybrids and vehicles that run on compressed natural gas. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4894 GREEN ENERGY BIOTECH: Carlsbad firm uses yeast for 'green' chemicals. Vegetable oils are versatile substances. They're used not only for cooking, but also for making soaps and for biofuels. If Carlsbad-based Verdezyne Inc. is successful, you may soon be wearing them, in a manner of speaking. Verdezyne, a "green" industrial chemical company, has just received a patent for a method of making adipic acid, a key component of a rugged form of nylon. Called nylon 6,6, the nylon is used in clothes, carpets and industrial applications. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/biotech-carlsbad-firm-uses-yeast-for-green-chemicals/article_2da6d6eb-197d-5d5b-bf6b-9da751eff2ea.html OPINION No Need for Carbon Auction Says California’s Most Independent Voice. Last week the most independent voice in California policy analysis said the following in a letter: a cap-and-trade “allowance auction is not necessary to meet the AB 32 goal of reducing GHG emissions statewide to 1990 levels by 2020.” The impartial Legislative Analyst (LAO) responded in a decisive letter to Sen. Henry Perea who had asked three formal, basic and highly appropriate questions: Is a cap and trade allowance auction necessary? What are the advantages and disadvantages? What are the steps the California Legislature would have to take to stop the November auction? Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/08/no-need-for-carbon-auction-says-californias-most-independent-voice/ BLOGS Economists Voice Support for California Cap-and-Trade Auction. This week, nearly 60 renowned economists and other experts around the country sent a letter to Governor Jerry Brown emphatically voicing their strong support for the design of California’s groundbreaking cap-and-trade program, a key element of the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32). Sent just days before the expected simulated auction of greenhouse gas allowances, the letter to Brown commended his leadership “in implementing the world’s most comprehensive climate law” and his commitment to auction allowances – rather than give them away free – “as part of the crucial launch phase” of the cap-and-trade program, one of the critical strategies California is pursuing to achieve AB 32’s mandate to reduce California’s carbon pollution to 1990 levels by the year 2020. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kgrenfell/economists_voice_support_for_c.html What Will It Take? Two years ago, at a Washington symposium observing the 40th anniversary of the Clean Air Act, much of the discussion centered around the use of the landmark pollution law to try to address a problem its authors never anticipated – climate change caused by increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere.The meeting took place just a few months after the Senate refused to act on a bill passed by the House in 2009 that would have addressed climate change by creating a cap and trade system to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/30/what-will-it-take/ Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon Organize Artists Against Fracking. Yoko Ono said it was not hard to recruit more than 180 artists to help convince Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York not to allow natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale through the hydraulic fracturing process known as fracking. She reached out to some friends and soon, dozens of artists, many of them with homes in New York, agreed to publicly join the campaign. Ms. Ono said she was leaving it up to the artists to design their own advocacy. “When people say, “What can I do?” I say, “think creatively,”” she said during an interview at The New York Times. “I’m thinking about spirit and brains. We have the brains and the spirit.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/29/yoko-ono-and-sean-lennon-organize-artists-against-fracking/ California Air Board Relents on College Carbon Credits. California universities appear to be in line for some relief from the state’s imminent carbon pollution fees. Implementation of California’s controversial cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases is only four months away, meaning it’s crunch time for the state’s Air Resources Board. On Thursday, the board will stage a dry run offering likely participants an opportunity to practice bidding on California carbon allowances — and allowing the ARB a chance to test its platform. Not like it doesn’t already have its hands full. For months, cap-and-trade-eligible emitters including private businesses, military bases, universities, and waste-to-energy power-plant operators have been crying for exemptions under AB 32, arguing that they would suffer undue financial hardships. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/08/29/california-air-board-relents-on-college-carbon-credits/ The carbon tax, demystified. “Carbon tax”: There’s something in that term for everyone to hate. For lefties and climate hawks, carbon — as in carbon dioxide, the largest contributor to climate change — is public enemy No. 1. And we all know what folks on the right thinks of taxes. Yet the notion of creating a carbon tax in the U.S. refuses to die — maybe because it’s a creative idea that also holds some appeal across the ideological spectrum. It’s a practical scheme to alleviate global warming — and it’s market-based! Here are some answers to the carbon-tax questions we know you have. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/the-carbon-tax-demystified/ The cultural divide over climate change. I have published over 950 blogs, the vast majority of which have focused on the science related to human-caused climate change. Since I began in August of 2009, I have struggled to find a way to elevate the discussion to a level of discourse that is consistent with the noble, respectful and dignified nature of scientific research, reports and papers published every day all over the planet. I have failed. Utterly. And I think I know why. I read a recent article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review that helps explain what we are all up against with this issue. Posted. http://blogs.redding.com/dcraig/archives/2012/08/the-cultural-di.html Study: Climate change threatens Atlantic seashores. Climate change is already hurting seven national seashores on the Atlantic Coast and threatens to submerge some of their land within a century, according to a report Wednesday by environmental groups. In five of the seven parks, more than half of the land lies low enough (less than 3.3 feet) to risk becoming submerged by the year 2100, says the report by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and the Natural Resources Defense Council. Those parks include Fire Island in New York, Assateague Island in Maryland and Virginia, Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout in North Carolina, and Canaveral in Florida. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2012/08/study-climate-change-threatening-atlantic-seashores/1#.UD-cC9UVN30 Are battery makers due for a "Ghosn shock"? Battery makers in the Japanese auto market are quite nervous, with concern that "Ghosn shock" may return in the wake of low-selling lithium-ion powered electric vehicles. In 1999, Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn put the squeeze on steel materials suppliers, pressuring them to reduce prices as part of his corporate rehabilitation agenda. That's when the term "Ghosn shock" was invented, and it's believed to have triggered the steel industry's reorganization in Japan. While Nissan has established a joint company with NEC Group producing lithium-ion batteries, the automaker wants to have access to lower prices from Hitachi. Nissan wants to add li-ion batteries produced by Hitachi to its next-generation, eco-friendly Altima and Pathfinder models, slated to be sold in the U.S. in 2013. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/08/30/are-battery-makers-due-for-a-ghosn-shock/ ====================================================================== 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, 31 Aug 2012 11:42:30 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for August 31, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for August 31, 2012. 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. CARB TRIAL AUCTION California’s Simulated Carbon Auction Seen as ‘Slam Dunk’. California, the world’s ninth-largest economy, said a trial auction of carbon allowances appears to have gone well today. Participants found the online system easy to use, the state Air Resources Board, which performed the simulation in preparation for the first real auction of permits on Nov. 14, said in a statement. More than 430 companies regulated under the state’s cap-and-trade program were invited to log into the auction platform and submit bids as part of the trial. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-08-30/california-s-simulated-carbon-auction-seen-as-slam-dunk California Tests Cap and Trade System. The main goal of the test run is to make sure the software works smoothly and prevents attempts to game the bidding system. Stanley Young is with the California Air Resources Board, which ran the practice auction for 150 participants. YOUNG: "We learned from what happened and what was successful in other auction platforms, such as in the European market and in the Northeast with the regional greenhouse gas initiative, and we've taken those lessons to heart." Part of the challenge with cap and trade markets is how prices are set for the carbon credits. Too low, and it's inexpensive for companies to pollute. Too high, and companies face too heavy a burden. Posted. http://www.capradio.org/articles/2012/08/30/california-tests-cap-and-trade-system California gives carbon auction a trial run. The state ran a test of its controversial greenhouse-gas market Thursday, even as it wrestles with ongoing complaints that the price of carbon could prove too costly for businesses. A three-hour practice auction, in which tons of fake greenhouse gases were sold online, was declared a success by the California Air Resources Board. The mock auction was a run-up to the first real sale, set for November. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/31/4774395/california-gives-carbon-auction.html State holds practice auction to test GHG market. California's first-in-the-nation, economywide greenhouse gas market took its first fledgling steps yesterday with a practice auction designed to test the online platform prior to November's inaugural sale of carbon credits. About 150 of the Golden State's largest emitters took part in yesterday's dry run, during which they got the opportunity to "kick the tires" on a state-run system that will be used four times per year through 2020 to dispense allowances to those responsible for about 80 percent of the state's greenhouse gas emissions. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/08/31/18 California's cap-and-trade program to cut emissions starts trial run. The eyes of the world are on California as it prepares to roll out the nation's first comprehensive cap-and-trade program, a cornerstone of the state's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and shift to an environmentally sustainable economy. So on Thursday, the state will stage a trial run of the online auction of emissions permits for roughly 150 major emitters of greenhouse gases to give the state time to work out any glitches before the official Nov. 14 launch of the program. Posted. http://www.siliconvalley.com/ci_21428079/trial-run-california-cap-trade-program-thursday-cut-emissions?source=most_viewed 'Cap and trade' auction to get trial run. Come November, California will open North America's first full-scale carbon market, in which companies buy and sell the right to emit greenhouse gases from their factories, power plants and oil refineries. It's a major undertaking involving hundreds of companies and - potentially - billions of dollars. So on Thursday, California officials plan to stage a dress rehearsal. Posted. http://www.chron.com/business/article/Cap-and-trade-auction-to-get-trial-run-3825622.php CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Cap-and-Trade Explained in One Simple Diagram. Every year at the Pacific Coast Producers processing plant in Woodland, Calif., half a million tons of tomatoes are sliced, diced, canned, boiled, and shipped to grocery stores nationwide. The operation is driven by steam, lots of it, which comes from a suite of massive natural-gas-powered boilers. Together, these boilers emit over 25,000 metric tonnes (~27,557 US tons) of greenhouse gases annually, which means PCP will be forced to join California's cap-and-trade carbon market, set to kick off in November. Posted. http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/08/california-carbon-trading-diagram Curtain rises on California’s planned carbon market. Every year at the Pacific Coast Producers (PCP) processing plant in Woodland, Calif., half a million tons of tomatoes are sliced, diced, canned, boiled, and shipped to grocery stores nationwide. The operation is driven by steam, lots of it, which comes from a suite of massive natural-gas-powered boilers. Together, these boilers emit over 25,000 metric tonnes (about 27,557 U.S. tons) of greenhouse gases annually, which means PCP will be forced to join California’s cap-and-trade carbon market, set to kick off in November. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/curtain-rises-on-californias-planned-carbon-market/ Researchers: California Heat Waves To Become More Humid, Stronger Along Coast. Using a “non-stationary” model that factors in the recent warming trends of the past few years, researchers from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego have determined that California heat waves will become more humid and stronger in populous coastal areas. Traditionally, California heat waves primarily affect the interior desert and valley areas that become hot during the day and both cooler and drier at night. According to study researchers Alexander Gershunov and Kristen Guirguis, their analysis and computer model data indicate that the future Golden State heat waves will be marked by greater humidity, increased nighttime temperatures, and with larger swaths of land, which include the coastal areas, being affected. Posted. http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1112684883/heat-waves-california-083012/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Toyota developing external power supply system and V2H for fuel cell buses. Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has developed an external power supply system that uses electricity generated within a fuel cell bus (FC bus) to supply electrical power to devices such as home electrical appliances. An FC bus—based on the FCHV-BUS (Fuel cell hybrid vehicle-bus)—equipped with the new power supply system has two electrical outlets (AC 100 V, 1.5 kW) inside the cabin that can supply a maximum output of 3 kW and potentially power home appliances continuously for more than 100 hours. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/08/tmcfcb-20120831.html HIGH-SPEED RAIL Train seeks taxpayer money in hopes of private profits. San Diegans are being asked to pay for a couple of costly trains they likely won’t ride very often. State and federal taxpayers are picking up the bill for California’s high-speed rail line from Bakersfield to Madera in the Central Valley. With no funding source identified and ridership between two Central Valley locations likely to disappoint, the train’s chances of ever extending all the way to San Diego seem iffy at best. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/aug/30/train-seeks-taxpayer-money-in-hopes-of-private/?page=1#article Hanford farmer says high-speed rail plans flawed. A Hanford farmer challenged Federal Railroad Administration officials in Fresno Wednesday to reject plans for high-speed train routes in Kings County and the San Joaquin Valley. Frank Oliveira, whose property would be affected by one of two route options running through Kings County, complained that the California High-Speed Rail Authority has excluded the county from planning and design decisions for the proposed train system. He and other members of the Citizens for High-Speed Rail Accountability say the alleged exclusion, dating back to 2005, violates the National Environmental Policy Act. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/08/29/2970475/hanford-farmer-calls-rail-planning.html HIGH-SPEED RAIL. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is all smiles, happy that so far his city has avoided widespread confrontations and arrests that have marred other conventions. But that doesn't mean he's pleased with everything. Buckhorn, a Democrat, used his daily press briefing to argue Tampa needs more mass transit options to build from the "worldwide" exposure it got during the convention. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/HIGH-SPEED-RAIL-3828885.php GREEN ENERGY These are basically treasure maps for renewable energy. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory sounds like one of those things that could go either way. Maybe it’s cool: “energy laboratory” sounds neat. Maybe it’s boring: “national” anything tends to be a snooze. (For example.) Funded by the Department of Energy (boring), NREL explores how the country can better use renewable power (also kind of boring). (You know, in the objective sense. Kids find it boring, for example. Like, little kids. Toddlers. I assume.) NREL alsos provide detailed maps of where in the United States a developer can reap the most benefit from various types of renewable energy. That is cool. Posted. http://grist.org/news/these-are-basically-treasure-maps-for-renewable-energy/ Second company accused of California electricity shenanigans. Once again, a power supplier has been accused of gaming California's electricity market. The company, which state officials wouldn't identify, has allegedly reaped $10.5 million in "excessive gains" since April, according to the California Independent System Operator. The ISO, which runs California's transmission grid, has blocked the company from continuing the behavior, said ISO spokeswoman Stephanie McCorkle. She said the ISO this week asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to investigate the matter. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/31/4774398/second-company-accused-of-california.html MISCELLANEOUS GOP platform highlights the party’s abrupt shift on energy, climate. Over the past four years, the Republican Party has undergone a fairly dramatic shift in its approach to energy and environmental issues. Global warming has disappeared entirely from the party’s list of concerns. Clean energy has become an afterthought. Fossil fuels loom larger than ever. And one way to see this shift clearly is to compare the party’s 2008 and 2012 platforms. It may seem difficult to believe now, but back in 2008, the Republican Party’s platform (pdf) had a long and detailed section on “Addressing Climate Change Responsibly.” Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/08/30/gop-platform-highlights-the-partys-drastic-shift-on-energy-climate-issues/ OPINION Flawed cap-and-trade plan can still be fixed before Legislature leaves. After years of bureaucratic fog, there’s a ray of sunshine illuminating and hopefully repairing the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) seriously flawed cap-and-trade auction program. A group of legislators, armed with an opinion by the state’s Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), is calling for common sense and moderation in a policy that is on the brink of costing California businesses and consumers billions of dollars, workers their jobs, and the state and local governments reduced revenues. The business community has long supported a well-designed cap and trade program to help meet the goals of AB 32, the 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act. AB 32 instructs CARB to implement AB 32 in the most cost-effective technologically feasible manner. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=10tlr10uaur5ud2&xid=10tlq6pgy855iei&done=.10tlr10uaurgud2 Could Pension Savings Fund High-Speed Rail? Before this week, California had a $60 billion-or-so problem. It was called the high-speed rail, Phase 1. That’s a rough estimate of the money California would need to complete the project that it now wants to start – and doesn’t currently have. Where would it come from? The feds don’t have it. Private investors aren’t interested. But Jerry Brown was on the case. He and the Democrats made a deal on pension legislation. And lo and behold, projections show it would save state and local governments up to $60 billion over 30 years. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/08/could-pension-savings-fund-high-speed-rail/ BLOGS East Coast National Parks at Risk From Sea Level’s Rise. Labor Day is summer’s last hurrah, and families from across the country will be flocking to the beach this weekend to soak in some final rays. Beachgoers on the East Coast making their way to Cape Cod or one of six other National Seashores, however, might want to pause and take an extra look around at the wind-tossed dunes and sloping sands. Not just because summer is coming to an end, but because these areas are some of the most susceptible to the effects of climate change and may look very different, very soon. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/30/east-coast-national-parks-at-risk-from-sea-levels-rise/ PolitiFact Repeals the Laws of Supply and Demand. If you restrict the supply of something, the price will go up. It’s one of the laws of supply and demand. Thus, cap-and-trade energy rationing schemes drive the price of energy up, by capping the supply. President Obama has conceded that in his unguarded moments. In a January 17, 2008 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Obama said that “electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket” under his cap-and-trade plan to fight global warming. He also said that under his plan, “if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can; it’s just that it will bankrupt them.” Posted. http://www.globalwarming.org/2012/08/31/politifact-repeals-the-laws-of-supply-and-demand/ ====================================================================== 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 Sep 2012 13:01:56 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 4, 2012 From: jbaxter@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 4, 2012. 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 OKs use of Shell Oil drill ship. Royal Dutch Shell PLC has received permission to operate its drill ship in the Chukchi Sea under a temporary revision to its air permit, clearing another hurdle in its quest to drill exploratory oil wells in the Arctic Ocean this year. A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Agency told The Associated Press on Friday that it will issue a one-year air permit compliance order for Shell’s activities off Alaska’s northwest coast. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120831/us-shell-arctic-air-permit/ http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/ap-newsbreak-royal-dutch-shell-clears-hurdle-in-quest-to-drill-exploratory-wells-off-alaska/2012/08/31/b3235480-f396-11e1-b74c-84ed55e0300b_story.html http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-epa-shell-arctic-20120831,0,6058124.story No early Australian link to Californian carbon market. After announcing this week it will link its future carbon market to the EU's, Australia may look to California next as a potential emissions-trading partner, but the US state may be less keen to cement a trans-continental link, analysts said. On Tuesday, Australia announced it will link its emissions trading scheme to Europe's in 2015, a move hailed as the first union of two major emission markets.Posted. http://www.smh.com.au/environment/no-early-australian-link-to-californian-carbon-market-20120903-25afb.html Court overturns border-crossing pollution rule. A divided federal appeals court Tuesday overturned a regulation clamping down on power plant pollution that contributes to unhealthy air in neighboring states. In a 2-1 decision, a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said the Environmental Protection Agency's cross-state air pollution rule exceeded the agency's statutory authority. The court faulted the EPA for imposing "massive emissions reduction requirements" on upwind states without regard to limits imposed by law. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_21368832/court-overturns-border-crossing-pollution-rule?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com San Diego flunks air quality, again. San Diego’s air quality has improved steadily over the last decade, but it still deserves an F grade for pollution levels that pose a health risk to residents, according to a new American Lung Association study. The region ranks seventh for worst ozone pollution among metropolitan areas nationwide and 15th worst for short-term particle pollution in the 13th annual “State of the Air” report released Wednesday. The study uses data from 2008 to 2010. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/apr/25/san-diego-flunks-air-quality-again/ CAP AND TRADE California kicks off carbon cap-and-trade trial. Californian officials have completed a successful trial of its much anticipated carbon trading scheme, which will be launched in November in an attempt to put a price on emissions from industrial facilities and power plants. Posted. http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2202233/california-kicks-off-carbon-capandtrade-trial California Tests Cap And Trade System. California officials held a trial auction to test the state's new system for selling carbon credits today. Starting this November some companies will be required to pay for their pollution emissions as part of California’s greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program. Many of those companies took part in the test of the auction software. Stanley Young is with the California Air Resources Board, which is running the auction. Posted. http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/aug/30/california-tests-cap-and-trade-system/ http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21428079/trial-run-california-cap-trade-program-thursday-cut-emissions?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com California Ramps up Policy That's Taboo on Campaign Trail. Amid a presidential campaign that's studiously avoiding the whole topic, Californians are launching the world's second largest "cap-and-trade" program for ratcheting down industrial greenhouse gas emissions from large emitters. It's a development worth chewing over before next week's Global Climate Change Forum, a Carbon Disclosure Project event that will be moderated by Diane Brady of Bloomberg Businessweek and broadcast on Bloomberg.com. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-03/california-ramps-up-policy-that-s-taboo-on-campaign-trail.html CLIMATE CHANGE Obama to college students: ‘Denying climate change won’t make it stop’. Recently, climate change has been the Voldemort of the Obama administration: the “threat-that-must-not-be-named.” In January, the president omitted any discussion of climate change from his State of the Union address, since what really does the gravest threat to Americans — and indeed, all homo sapiens — have to do with the state of the union? Then the White House edited climate change from Obama’s Earth Day 2012 proclamation. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/obama-to-college-students-denying-climate-change-wont-make-it-stop/ Climate change breaks the ice: 3-man sailboat makes record voyage. Warming global temperatures and melting polar ice caps have helped a trio of explorers go where few men have gone before. In an account of their voyage posted Monday, the crew of the 31-foot Belzebub II — a fiberglass sailboat with a living space the size of a bathroom — described how they crossed through the M’Clure Strait in northern Canada, a decreasingly ice-packed route through the famed Northwest Passage. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-global-warming-northwest-passage-20120903,0,380298.story Report blames climate change for summer's heat-related maladies. The wildfires, extreme heat, fish kills and wilted crops that plagued the summer of 2012 were the products of climate change, according to a report released by the National Wildlife Federation. "Unfortunately, hot summers like this will occur much more frequently in years ahead," the report states. "If we don't enact the solutions we have on hand to reduce carbon pollution, wildlife, people and our summers will suffer." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/09/04/13 Viewpoints: Risk from climate change linked with social factors. Summer brings enjoyment of warm weather, long days, a refreshing swim and barbecues. But it also brings natural hazards. Temperatures in many parts of California are near or exceed 100 degrees. Many cities are also experiencing record high nighttime temperatures, and so the evenings bring little relief from the sweltering daytime heat. These hot, dry conditions mean wildfires. More than 4,200 fires have already burned parts of California, 20 percent more than the average over the past five years. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/02/4777248/risk-from-climate-change-linked.html DIESEL EMISSIONS New rules spur sales of big-rigs in North Bay. North Bay trucking companies are spending millions of dollars on new trucks this year in order to meet tough air quality rules aimed at getting older, smoke-belching cabs off the road. The state has provided grants to help pay for new, high-tech diesels that emit a 10th of the air pollution that the 2006 models produce. The latest grants provide up to $60,000 toward a big-rig that can easily cost $130,000 or more. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120902/BUSINESS/120839874 Cleaire to Offer Heavy Duty Emissions Testing Services. Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls® announced the opening of their Heavy-Duty Chassis Dynamometer Emissions Laboratory for outside contract services. Cleaire Advanced Technology Testing Services, “CATTS,” is located in Richmond, California on the campus of the Chevron Technology Center. As one of only a handful of CFR-compliant heavy-duty chassis dynamometers, the laboratory is capable of testing a variety of medium and heavy-duty power train technologies including diesel emission control systems, hybrid power trains, and alternative fuels. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Cleaire-to-Offer-Heavy-Duty-Emissions-Testing-3837982.php Natural Gas Trucks and Buses. Medium and heavy duty trucks and buses typically use large amounts of fuel due to the combination of low fuel economy, heavy gross vehicle weight, and, in some cases, long distances traveled. The high fuel consumption of these vehicles is motivating fleet managers to find strategies to reduce both the fuel costs and the environmental impact of their fleets. Owing to substantial and rising supplies of low-cost natural gas (NG), and the substantially lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of natural gas vehicles, natural gas has become an increasingly attractive choice for a transportation fuel. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/04/4784908/natural-gas-trucks-and-buses.html#storylink=misearch Truckers at Oakland's port undergo pollution inspections. Truckers at the Port of Oakland were met this week by inspectors from the state Air Resources Board conducting spot checks of diesel emissions on rigs traveling to and from the docks. The inspections, which began Tuesday and will be conducted at the port through Thursday, are part of a month long statewide effort meant to ensure owners of trucks using state roadways are in compliance with air pollution regulations designed to reduce the amount of cancer-causing emissions that spew from big rigs. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_21429198/truckers-at-oaklands-port-undergo-pollution-inspections?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com FUELS Researchers develop efficient fuel cell PROX catalyst with help of advanced imaging technologies. Researchers at Singapore’s A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) have developed an efficient catalyst for the preferential oxidation (PROX) of CO in hydrogen gas for PEM fuel cells, such as those applied in fuel cell vehicles. In their work, they used advanced imaging technologies—high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and three-dimensional electron tomography—to identifysubtle, atomic-scale structural transformations that can activate and de-activate gold nanoparticle catalysts, a finding that may lead to longer-lasting hydrogen fuel cells. A paper on the work was published in the journal ACS Catalysis. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/09/prox-20120902.html Air Force insists it has Albuquerque fuel issue under control. As environmental disaster sites go, it doesn't look like much. A scattering of rusting wellhead covers and a machine noisily sucking hydrocarbon vapors from the earth scarcely hint at what has grown into a $50-million headache. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-albuquerque-water-20120904,0,4824451.story Wind industry's survival could depend on tax credit. In the Philadelphia region, the rebirth of the defunct U.S. Steel site in Bucks County makes the best case for winning the high-stakes gamble being played out in Congress over extending vital, government incentives for developing wind-energy systems. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-mct-editorial-wind-industrys-survival-could-depend-20120903,0,93998.story Obama Gets Fossil-Fuels Boost After Green-Jobs Revolution Fades. Four years ago, Barack Obama pledged to promote a green revolution, saying the government would back alternative-energy technologies that could create 5 million jobs and free the U.S. from a dependence on overseas oil tyrants. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Obama-Gets-Fossil-Fuels-Boost-After-Green-Jobs-3837895.php GREEN ENERGY Direct Energy Launches New Leaf Energy to Offer Texans 100% Renewable Energy. Direct Energy has launched New Leaf Energy, a new Texas brand that offers 100 percent renewable, air-pollution-free energy, 100 percent from Texas wind turbines. New Leaf Energy brings expanded product choice in Texas' green energy market and a variety of plan options that ease the way for residential customers in Greater Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Corpus Christi and beyond to help support long-term sustainability of the region and the planet. "New Leaf Energy is committed to renewing the future, one household at a time," said Rob Comstock, senior vice president at Direct Energy and general manager for the company's Texas residential business. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/04/4784596/direct-energy-launches-new-leaf.html#storylink=misearch Gas pipeline operators set sights on NY. With a decision expected soon on whether to allow natural gas drilling in New York state, pipeline operators are already looking at setting up shop, and opponents are predicting environmental damage, safety problems and land seizures through eminent domain. There's already a proposal for a pipeline to carry low-cost natural gas from Pennsylvania to major Northeast markets, such as New York City and Boston. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/03/4782004/gas-pipeline-operators-set-sights.html#storylink=misearch New project in Oregon could make wave power a reality. For more than a century, people have tried to figure out how to turn the endless, repetitive motion of the waves into a source of energy. AtWired, author Alexis Madrigal outlined some of the bizarre contraptions intended to serve that purpose, metal and wood constructions depicted in complex diagrams that evoke alchemy more than science. As Madrigal notes, more than a thousand patents for converting waves into electricity exist, which “generally didn’t work at all or only worked for a short period of time.” Posted. http://grist.org/news/new-project-in-oregon-could-make-wave-power-a-reality/ Habitat for Humanity building a model of efficiency. Nakeia and Ramell Dismond are like most working-class families: After the rent is paid, they have no money left in the budget for their kids' activities or vacations. That will change in a couple of months when they purchase a new home on the west edge of River Falls, Wis. Crews there are building a housing development that will produce all its own power, saving homeowners hundreds of dollars each month. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-habitat-20120904,0,2951189.story Green energy slow going for Imperial Valley utility. Drenched in sunshine, the Imperial Valley has become a staging ground for the greening of San Diego's energy supply. The valley's local customer-owned utility, however, has been playing catch-up when it comes to providing more electricity from sources other than fossil fuels and nuclear reactors, according to a report published Tuesday by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/19/green-energy-slow-going-imperial-valley-utility/ Penny-pinched schools -- huge market seeks energy efficiency. Anthony Wright knows well how summer heat in Memphis, Tenn., can zap life out of even the hardiest souls, including the roughly 107,000 students and faculty who begin filling the city's roughly 7,200 classrooms each year in early August. As Memphis City Schools' coordinator for energy management and conservation, Wright also knows what the heat does to his district's bottom line, sucking tens of millions of dollars annually to keep buildings cool for up to 250 days a year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2012/09/04/1 VEHICLES New 2013 Nissan Sentra delivers 34 mpg combined fuel economy, up to 40 mpg highway. Nissan’s all-new 2013 Sentra, featuring a new 1.8-liter engine and next-generation Xtronic CVT with sub-planetary gear, offers combined fuel economy of 34 mpg (6.9 L/100km). The new Sentra is 150 pounds (68 kg)—5%—lighter than the outgoing model, yet has slightly larger overall dimensions and more interior room. The lighter and more aerodynamic new Sentra allows Nissan to use the more fuel-efficient 1.8-liter engine, which along with the Xtronic CVT with sub-planetary gear helps deliver a 13% improvement in EPA combined fuel economy. With the FE+ models, Sentra achieves up to 40 mpg (5.88 L/100km) on the highway. Other CVT-equipped models are rated at 39 mpg (6.03 L/100km) on the highway. All CVT models achieve a best-in-class EPA rated 34 mpg combined (City and Highway). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/09/sentra-20120901.html EVs to replace Diesel taxis at Amsterdam Airport ? “We are grateful for the support of the European Commission, the Dutch and Danish governments, Schiphol, Renault, and all of our partners in making this project happen in less than 18 months. We’re determined to demonstrate to Europe that electric cars can drive any distance in any country and aren’t just limited to short-distance driving” said Shai Agassi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Better Place. Awarded last year, the project consortium, “Greening European Transportation Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles,” is the first-ever de-carbonization infrastructure project co-financed by the European Union’s TEN-T program. The Battery Switch Station was built in partnership with Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and will initially serve 10 Renault Fluence Z.E. taxis operated by three leading Dutch taxi companies – Connexxion, Bios and TCA. The Schiphol station is exclusively dedicated for the use of the Renault Fluence Z.E. electric taxis at this time. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4899 Electric cars now primary vehicles. The majority of plug-in electrical vehicles in California are identified as a primary car by their owners, according to a statewide survey by the California Center for Sustainable Energy. Nine out of 10 owners said plug-in vehicles represent their primary ride -- though almost all had a second, conventional car, according to a survey with more than 1,400 respondents released this month. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/03/electric-cars-advance/ http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/04/tp-not-just-novelty-owners-put-electric-vehicles/ MISCELLANEOUS A conservative assemblyman gets in his right jabs. Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly was thundering on the chamber floor against a proposal to make drivers stay 3 feet from cyclists, a regulation he said would chip away at Californians' liberty. As his voice rose, a Democratic colleague stepped in. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-donnelly-20120902,0,6609809.story OPINION The melting Arctic shouldn’t be on the backburner. THE ARCTIC IS GETTING warmer faster than almost anywhere else on Earth. The latest evidence came in an announcement from the University of Colorado’s National Snow and Ice Data Center saying that, as of Aug. 26, the Arctic sea ice cover shrunk to 1.58 million square miles this summer, the smallest area since satellite measurements began in 1979. The trend is expected to continue in the next few weeks. Over the past three decades, the average extent of the Arctic sea ice has declined by 25 to 30 percent, and the rate of decline is accelerating. In the past, older, thicker ice would drift away and be replaced by seasonal ice. But now more of the older ice is melting in the Arctic, a phenomenon that had been relatively rare. Also, less seasonal ice is replacing it. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-us-should-take-the-lead-on-the-shrinking-arctic-ice/2012/09/03/afb2ed5e-f14f-11e1-a612-3cfc842a6d89_story.html You've lost that lovin' feelin'? He serves as the chief judge at the world's most prestigious classic car show, the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. He's a widely respected automotive journalist and author, and he has a garage full of hot rods and other cool cars. But when it comes to his two teen children, "They haven't shown the slightest interest" in what's in that garage, Ken Gross laments. Posted. http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/youve-lost-that-lovin-feelin-eisenstein/ Forbes: “Germany — Insane Or Just Plain Stupid?” If you want a good snapshot of the energy insanity that has swept Germany of its feet over the last years, James Conca has it at Forbes here. Short and to-the-point! Coal power plant Werdohl-Elverlingsen, Germany. How many German readers here at NTZ will disagree? Not many I suspect. Hat-tip Science Skeptical. Posted. http://notrickszone.com/2012/09/02/forbes-germany-insane-or-just-plain-stupid/ Cap and trade will give California edge. The closer you get to a goal, the tougher the going can get. As California prepares to launch America's latest cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases, opponents are making a goal-line stand. They're trying to persuade Californians that a carbon market will somehow hurt the state's recovering economy. As a California investor, I know the opposite is true. The new carbon market is one element in a broad suite of business-friendly clean energy and efficiency policies that California has carefully crafted over decades. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Cap-and-trade-will-give-California-edge-3836997.php Cap and trade is a good thing. Re "Will jobs be lost with cap and trade?" (Dan Morain, Aug. 19): As a local businessman with strong community ties, I support California's efforts to implement AB 32, specifically the cap and trade program. Instead of buying into the opposition's sky-is-falling argument, let's focus on the facts. California's clean energy policies are attracting clean technology investments, creating jobs and reducing our reliance on imported energy. By putting a cap on carbon, we can reduce air pollution and other threats attributed to climate change including forest fires and sea level rise. The system is fair, flexible and is not a new or untested concept. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/08/25/4745427/response-to-dan-morains-editorial.html Cracking down on diesel. California can, and should, lead the world in ending the menace of soot and black carbon pollution from diesel engines. We've all choked on black smoke billowing from diesel trucks and buses. It's obviously polluting, but what's not obvious is much worse. Diesel emissions are a major health hazard… Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-pope-diesel-emissions-air-quality-20120813,0,6756831.story BLOGS Dems back global climate deal in platform. The Democrats’ official platform expected to be approved at the party's national convention on Tuesday calls for an international deal to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The platform says Democrats will pursue efforts to combat climate change through regulations and market solutions, setting up a continued battle with Republicans who argue such steps could hold back the economy. Posted. http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/247257-dem-platform-backs-climate-change-regulations ====================================================================== 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 Sep 2012 14:27:42 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 5, 2012 From: jbaxter@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 5, 2012. 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 Council candidates to discuss Santa Monica Airport issues. Air pollution and noise at the Santa Monica Airport will be among the issues discussed Sept. 13 at a Santa Monica City Council candidates forum. Fifteen council candidates, including two incumbents, vying for four open seats have been invited to participate, according to Martin Rubin, an airport opponent who will moderate the event. The health and safety effects of flight school operations and jet traffic will be among the topics. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/09/santa-monica-forum-on-airport-issues-planned.html EPA OKs air pollution permits for Shell's Arctic Ocean drilling. The Obama administration on Friday said that it would grant Royal Dutch Shell a one-year air pollution permit for an Arctic drilling rig, further bolstering the possibility that over the next two months Shell will start its controversial project to drill for oil off the Alaska coast. The Environmental Protection Agency granted the permit in response to a Shell request for a waiver from current air pollution regulations for the Noble Discoverer, an offshore drilling ship. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-epa-shell-arctic-20120831,0,6058124.story Caltech-led team creates device to weigh molecules. Scientists have created a tiny measuring scale 300 times smaller than the width of a human hair that can weigh a single molecule at a time. The device may one day help doctors diagnose disease and illuminate the complex inner machinery of cells, its makers say. An international team led by Caltech researchers built the device to measure the mass of large molecules that are difficult to analyze through conventional mass spectrometry methods. The scale features a long, bridge-like structure that vibrates at a specific frequency. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-molecule-scale-20120828,0,491029.story Pollution left in wake of Isaac. Weathered oil in the form of tar has washed up on some Louisiana beaches from Gulf waters churned by Hurricane Isaac, prompting restrictions of fishing in some waters and tests to determine whether the source is submerged oil from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. "I'd say there's a smoking gun," said Garret Graves, Gov. Bobby Jindal's top adviser on coastal issues. He said tests were being done to verify the source of the oil. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/04/4786697/pollution-left-in-wake-of-isaac.html#storylink=misearch Shell to Construct World's First Oil Sands Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Project. Shell today announced that it will go ahead with the first carbon capture and storage (CCS) project for an oil sands operation in Canada. The Quest project will be built on behalf of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project joint venture owners (Shell, Chevron and Marathon Oil[1]) and with support from the Governments of Canada and Alberta. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/05/4788501/shell-to-construct-worlds-first.html#storylink=misearch Canadian firm proposes new Neb. oil pipeline route. The company that wants to build a pipeline to transport crude oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries said Wednesday it has revised its proposed new route through Nebraska to avoid environmentally sensitive areas. The latest proposed Keystone XL pipeline route is TransCanada's second attempt to satisfy state environmental regulators. The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality said in July that the initial revised route crossed land that could erode easily and passed near unconfined aquifers that supply drinking water to residents and livestock. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21472208/canadian-firm-proposes-new-neb-oil-pipeline-route?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21472208/canadian-firm-proposes-new-neb-oil-pipeline-route?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/transcanada-revises-new-neb-route-for-oil-pipeline-that-company-says-avoids-sensitive-areas/2012/09/05/ab5ec2b8-f772-11e1-a93b-7185e3f88849_story.html CAP AND TRADE Carbon trading becoming global reality. Australia and the EU have agreed to fully integrate their respective cap and trade schemes by 2018 even as California’s scheme moves closer to reality with the State having held a trial auction on August 30 in anticipation of the first real auction for the purchase and sale of carbon permits on November 14. Andrew Sullivan of Stikeman Elliott, writing in the firm’s Canadian Energy Law blog, has more on both the Australian and the California developments. Posted. http://business.financialpost.com/2012/09/05/carbon-trading-becoming-global-reality/ CLIMATE CHANGE Democratic Party Platform: Climate Change Challenges And Other Environmental Issues Addressed. As the final weeks of the 2012 presidential campaign unfold, one of the starkest contrasts between the recently released Democratic and Republican party platforms is in climate change policy. While the 2012 Republican platform mentions the term "climate change" once (while downplaying the issue's severity), the 2012 Democratic platform uses the term "climate change" 18 times. "Our opponents have moved so far to the right as to doubt the science of climate change," it declares… Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/04/democratic-party-platform-climate-change-environment_n_1854579.html?utm_hp_ref=elections-2012 Turning off Energy, Not Climate Change, Is Biggest Threat, Doctors Say. Thousands of accused witches were burned at the stake in medieval times in an effort to protect their communities from bad weather, stated Jane Orient, M.D., president of Physicians for Civil Defense. It didn't work then, of course, as Europe continued to suffer greatly during the Little Ice Age. And human beings still do not have the power to control the climate, she said. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/04/4785572/turning-off-energy-not-climate.html#storylink=misearch Global warming ballot battle comes to Oakland. About 50 protestors converged upon a Valero gas station in Oakland’s Uptown section this morning to call attention to a proposed ballot measure backed by oil companies to roll back California’s landmark greenhouse gas emissions law. Activists from CREDO Action, the Courage Campaign, the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, the Environmental Defense Fund, the National Resources Defense Council and the Sierra Club were among the crowd, bearing signs with slogans such as “Texas oil $ go home,” “Don’t mess with California, Texas,” “Stop killing the solution to pollution,” and “Clean air now.” Posted. http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2010/04/22/global-warming-ballot-battle-comes-to-oakland/ Obama's 2nd-term agenda: Global warming, immigration, taxes. President Barack Obama says his Republican challenger has the "wrong vision" for the country. So what is his? Some of his agenda for a second term is a continuation of the first. He'd raise taxes on annual family incomes above $250,000. He'd continue to spend on education and green energy. He'd implement the health care law and financial regulations already enacted. And he'd continue to withdraw U.S. combat troops from Afghanistan with a goal of getting them all out by the end of 2014. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/04/4783625/obamas-2nd-term-agenda-global.html#storylink=misearch How Democrats have shifted on climate, energy since 2008. Four years ago, the backdrop for energy and environmental debates in the United States was quite different than it is today. Oil prices had just hit $140 per barrel, a spectacular new record. Climate change was a pressing concern for both parties. The resurgence of domestic oil and gas drilling, in places like North Dakota, had yet to reveal itself fully. Since then, however, things have changed. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/09/04/how-democrats-have-shifted-on-climate-energy-since-2008/ Is Romney warming up to global warming? One of the very best days to bury real news is on the first day of a political convention, when the entire class of political reporters and commentators is collected in a single room and sealed off from the rest of the world. Yesterday’s news concerned global warming — an issue that neither Mitt Romney nor Barack Obama seems anxious to highlight. Obama apparently believes it is among the most urgent and dangerous problems in the world — but not so urgent or dangerous to do much about it. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/is-romney-warming-up-to-global-warming/2012/09/05/1cd0c408-f775-11e1-8b93-c4f4ab1c8d13_blog.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Air Resources Board Recognizes FEV, Inc. as Independent Emission Test Laboratory. FEV, Inc., (FEV) a leading developer of advanced powertrain and vehicle technologies, announced today that California's Air Resources Board (ARB) has recognized FEV, Inc. as an independent laboratory properly equipped to perform various emissions testing in accordance with applicable federal and California regulations for heavy-duty diesel engines for on-road applications. Gary Rogers, president and CEO of FEV, Inc., made the announcement. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/05/4788271/air-resources-board-recognizes.html#storylink=misearch FUELS California’s Quiet but Crucial Role in Shaping Fuel Economy Standards. When the Obama administration completed the Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, standards for 2017 to 2025 last month, it was a milestone in a long and frequently contentious process, but not the last word. California, alone among the states with the power to set its own emissions policy, was at the negotiating table throughout the process and reserved the right to certify the results through its own legislative channels. The state consequently retains the authority to throw a monkey wrench into the agreement, which calls for automakers’ fleets to reach an average of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, but environmental advocates and industry leaders alike expect an easy approval. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/californias-quiet-but-crucial-role-in-shaping-fuel-economy-standards/ Democrats promote benefits of natural gas. In the party platform they unveiled Tuesday, Democrats draw a distinction between "Big Oil" and "cheap, abundant natural gas" they tout as "helping to bring jobs and industry back to the United States." At the same time, the Democratic platform tones down its assessment of the severity of global warming and what the United States should be doing to arrest it -- a big turnaround from four years ago, when the party warned that "the epochal, man-made threat to the planet" of climate change had to be halted. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Democrats-promote-benefits-of-natural-gas-3839620.php California’s Quiet but Crucial Role in Shaping Fuel Economy Standards. When the Obama administration completed the Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, standards for 2017 to 2025 last month, it was a milestone in a long and frequently contentious process, but not the last word. California, alone among the states with the power to set its own emissions policy, was at the negotiating table throughout the process and reserved the right to certify the results through its own legislative channels. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/04/californias-quiet-but-crucial-role-in-shaping-fuel-economy-standards/ GREEN ENERGY Dominion asks Va. regs to convert power plant. Dominion Virginia Power said Wednesday it is asking Virginia regulators for permission to convert its oldest coal-fired power station in Fluvanna County to natural gas as part of previously announced plans to close or convert some of its power stations and open new ones to meet growing energy demands in the state.The Richmond, Va.-based energy provider said it has filed an application with the Virginia State Corporation Commission for the conversion of its Bremo Power Station, a 227-megawatt, two-unit plant on the James River. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Dominion-asks-Va-regs-to-convert-power-plant-3841179.php Jurupa Unified School District to Save More Than $34 Million with Solar and Energy Upgrades. Jurupa Unified School District and Chevron Energy Solutions today announced the completion of a 2.7 megawatt solar and energy efficiency program expected to reduce energy costs at 27 school sites and save the District more than $34 million. The project added solar photovoltaic panels mounted on parking and shade structures at nine campuses; replaced 400 air conditioning units, most of them more than 20 years old; and upgraded more than 21,000 lighting fixtures. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/05/4788734/jurupa-unified-school-district.html#storylink=misearch Democrats and the energy industry ... it's complicated. Delegates and lawmakers attending the Democratic National Convention here could spend time this week perusing a 32-page publication promoting the Queen City's energy industry while riding natural-gas-industry-sponsored vehicles on their way to one of a dozen events sponsored by Duke Energy Corp. and other industry groups. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/09/05/1 VEHICLES Smart City San Diego & San Diego Zoo Unveil Solar To Electric Vehicle Charging Project. Smart City San Diego and the San Diego Zoo today announced they will install a solar photovoltaic canopy that will charge electric vehicles (EV) in the Zoo parking lot. Smart City San Diego is a collaboration that combines the resources of San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), City of San Diego, GE, UC San Diego and CleanTECH San Diego to drive projects forward that improve the region's energy independence, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and assert San Diego as a clean energy leader. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/05/4789853/smart-city-san-diego-san-diego.html#storylink=misearch Nissan Brings Ideas to Life by Kick-Starting Next Great Innovation. Computers, the electric car, music — some of the world's best ideas have been born in garages. To celebrate "everyday ideas" and inspire the creation of the next great innovation, Nissan is launching "Nissan Innovation Garage," a social movement that offers everyone an opportunity to showcase their best ideas. Beginning today, aspiring innovators will be asked "Wouldn't it be cool if____?" and Nissan could help bring their ideas to life. Each idea submitted online at www.NissanInnovationGarage.com will be reviewed and voted on by a panel of judges that will include established engineers from a variety of fields. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/05/4789617/nissan-brings-ideas-to-life-by.html#storylink=misearch Pope goes green with electric car. Pope Benedict XVI is now a bit greener. The 85-year-old pontiff was presented with his first electric car Wednesday, a customized white Renault Kangoo for jaunts around the gardens of the papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo. Benedict has been dubbed the "green pope" for his environmental concerns, which have been a hallmark of his papacy. He has written of the need to protect God's creation in his encyclicals, and raised the issue on his foreign trips and in his annual peace messages. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21472581/pope-goes-green-electric-car?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com VW launches lighter, more fuel-efficient Golf. Volkswagen is rolling out the latest version of its mainstay Golf hatchback in a key test of its ability to widen its lead over other mass market carmakers in Europe, lower manufacturing costs and overtake Toyota as the world's biggest carmaker. The new Golf looks much like the old one, but the key differences are on the inside. The car has been completely redesigned, based on a new common mechanical structure for the chassis, engine and other basic parts. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21471409/vw-launches-lighter-more-fuel-efficient-golf?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com MISCELLANEOUS IQAir's New Edition Redefines High-Performance Air Purification. - IQAir (www.iqair.com), the technology leader in high-performance air purification, today introduced its New Edition room air purifiers. This is IQAir's most significant upgrade yet to its line of residential high-performance air purifiers. The New Edition offers three advancements: Up to 25 percent more clean air, Up to 38 percent longer filter life, And 32% quieter – a new level of quietness never before achieved in high-performance home air purification. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/05/4788003/iqairs-new-edition-redefines-high.html#storylink=misearch Few environmental bills make it out of the California Legislature. Environmental groups and their supporters hoping for a new wave of green laws from the Legislature this year ended up with barely a ripple. From a statewide effort to ban plastic bags, to limits on foam food packaging, most of the top environmental bills of the 2012 session died. Environmental groups did score a few wins. They beat back an effort by industry to rewrite the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, the landmark law that requires environmental studies of major projects. And lawmakers passed a bill over the furious objections of hunters to ban the use of dogs in bear and bobcat hunting. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21468131/few-environmental-bills-make-it-out-california-legislature?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21468132/few-environmental-bills-make-it-out-california-legislature?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21468132/few-environmental-bills-make-it-out-california-legislature?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.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: Thu, 6 Sep 2012 14:45:53 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 6, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 6, 2012. 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 REGION: New environmental screening tool stirs debate. A state plan to rank communities by the cumulative effects of pollution on residents has raised objections among local business leaders, who say it would kill job development in areas identified as disadvantaged. The proposed California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool would use existing environmental, health and socioeconomic data to score areas by ZIP code. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/breaking-news-headlines/20120905-region-new-environmental-screening-tool-stirs-debate.ece EPA proposes new refinery rules, but not for greenhouse gases. U.S. EPA yesterday sent the White House a package of proposals that would limit emissions from oil refineries, but the long-awaited New Source Performance Standard for greenhouse gas emissions was not among them. In late 2010, EPA pledged as part of a settlement agreement with environmentalists that it would craft an NSPS rule for greenhouse gas emissions from refineries (Greenwire, Dec. 23, 2010). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/09/06/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE U.S. Emissions Reach 20-Year Low, but its not time to congratulate ourselves just yet! Climate scientists are getting their fair share of surprises this year, from the record-breaking ice melt in the Arctic to the fact that first-quarter U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions have hit their lowest point since 1992. CO2 emissions from energy consumption for the January-March period fell to 1.34 billion metric tons, down 8 percent from a year ago. While the depressed economy and rising renewable energy generation have contributed to emissions reductions in the past few years…Posted. http://www.enn.com/sustainability/article/44905/print FUELS Shell Places a Not-So-Green Bet on Natural Gas. Outside Royal Dutch Shell’s research laboratories here, a stack of tubes, tanks and dials four stories high percolates 24 hours a day. This bewildering-looking apparatus is a tiny prototype of one of Shell’s crown jewels: the huge Pearl gas-to-liquids plant in Qatar. Now gradually increasing production, Pearl sucks in huge volumes of natural gas from the gargantuan North Field under the aquamarine Gulf and — in a feat of seeming alchemy — transforms the gas into jet fuel and diesel and other liquids far more valuable than natural gas these days. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/business/energy-environment/06iht-green06.html Officials urge NY Gov. Cuomo to OK gas drilling. Town officials and landowners eager for shale gas drilling to begin in southern New York are pressing Gov. Andrew Cuomo to approve an environmental review that's been four years in the making. "This issue has been going on for four years," Town of Binghamton Supervisor Tim Whitesell said Thursday. "We understand the politics involved. But at the same time we are in a position where our residents are looking for this. It's very frustrating that we see this economic boom just south of us in Pennsylvania and we're not able to take part in it." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Officials-urge-NY-Gov-Cuomo-to-OK-gas-drilling-3844387.php#ixzz25iZCTtZZ Chevron: Small flash fire preceded massive Aug. 6 blaze at Richmond refinery. Richmond -- A "flash fire" was extinguished about 10 minutes before a massive blaze erupted Aug. 6 at Chevron's refinery here, the company revealed in a 30-day report on the accident that it submitted to Contra Costa County officials Wednesday. The revelation of the flash fire, which was not publicly known previously, is crucial to the investigation into the blaze caused by a leaking 8-inch pipe, said Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Chief Randy Sawyer. "There was a small fire that their fire department put out very quickly," Sawyer said. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_21476435/chevron-small-flash-fire-preceded-massive-aug-6?source=rss GREEN ENERGY California ISO marks 1,000-megawatt solar milestone. California surpassed a major milestone during a recent heat wave, hitting more than 1,000 megawatts of solar power generation. That's equal to the output of two large, gas-fired power plants. The threshold - driven by heavy air-conditioning use during recent, blistering-hot days - was surpassed multiple times, according to the Folsom-based California Independent System Operator Corp., which operates the state's wholesale transmission grid. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/05/4790076/california-iso-marks-1000-megawatt.html#mi_rss=Business NM regulators to consider clean energy standard. New Mexico regulators have set the stage for a discussion that could result in a novel program aimed at curbing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The Public Regulation Commission on Thursday agreed to schedule workshops to consider a proposal that would allow electric utilities to voluntarily opt to reduce carbon emissions from their generating stations by 3 percent a year starting as soon as 2014.The proposal was filed with the PRC by Western Resource Advocates on behalf of 33 environmental groups. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/NM-regulators-to-consider-clean-energy-standard-3843543.php#ixzz25imSzWuC MISCELLANEOUS Few environmental bills make it out of the California Legislature. Environmental groups and their supporters hoping for a new wave of green laws from the Legislature this year ended up with barely a ripple. From a statewide effort to ban plastic bags, to limits on foam food packaging, most of the top environmental bills of the 2012 session died. Environmental groups did score a few wins. They beat back an effort by industry to rewrite the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, the landmark law that requires environmental studies of major projects. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/environment/ci_21468132/few-environmental-bills-make-it-out-california-legislature OPINIONS Our View: Lawmakers push global warming cash grab. Among bills awaiting Gov. Jerry Brown's signature are at least four deserving vetoes because they would do more economic harm than good, at a time the state least needs it. Among legislation identified by the California Chamber of Commerce as "job killer bills" are four approved by the Legislature, which ended its 2011-12 session on Friday. The chamber's characterization is apt. But these bills would do more than kill jobs at a time when California unemployment is 10.7 percent, more than twice the rate during the summer of 2006. Posted. http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/chamber-119209-california-trade.html#ixzz25iaiYCbw Soot standard would improve our air, save lives. Most of us don’t need to look far to find someone we know and love who has lung disease. Perhaps it’s a grandmother with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or a child with asthma. For all of these people, particle pollution makes breathing even more difficult. On days when air is bad, those with COPD may need supplemental oxygen. People with asthma may need to take extra medicine and stay indoors. Poor air quality days can send those with lung diseases to emergency rooms. Posted. http://helenair.com/news/opinion/soot-standard-would-improve-our-air-save-lives/article_233d76c2-f722-11e1-a2bf-001a4bcf887a.html Support strong air quality rules. The recently announced gas mileage standards by the Obama administration will double fuel efficiency in cars and thus help reduce air pollution. However, we still have a ways to go for cleaner air. The air New Hampshirites breathe should not inflame our lungs or increase our chances of suffering a stroke or heart attack. Yet, air in the United States is still polluted with particles like soot from coal-fired power plants, which makes it toxic for us to breathe. Posted. http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/352767/support-strong-air-quality-rules?SESSe28c2d4e33ff93df39bf48cc31abfb4a=bing BLOGS The Baffling Nexus of Climate Change and Health. In 2004, a rare tropical fungus caused a string of respiratory failures and neural disorders along the Pacific Northwest coast, baffling the health community. That same year, Alaskan cruise ship passengers dining on local oysters fell sick with a gastric virus typically found in warm water estuaries. Now Texas, after an unusually wet spring and dry summer, is battling what may become the country’s worst recorded outbreak of West Nile virus. Meteorological and ecological shifts driven by climate change are creating a slow and often…Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/the-baffling-nexus-of-climate-change-and-health/?ref=science Climate Change and the Food Supply. A small bit of good news about food prices from the Food and Agriculture Organization, a United Nations agency in Rome: The price spiral seen earlier this summer as markets reacted to droughts and other bad news has leveled off, with the agency’s closely watched index of global food prices essentially unchanged in August compared with July. Prices are still up sharply from earlier in the year and remain high by historical standards, the F.A.O. said Thursday, but they have not reached the peaks seen in 2008 and 2011. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/climate-change-and-the-food-supply/?ref=business Shifting Views on Climate Change. President Obama and his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, have spelled out their views on climate change in a bit more detail than they usually do on the campaign trail in response to questions from a group of scientific organizations. In written statements posted on Tuesday at the Web site of Sciencedebate.org, the candidates added some clarity to their views on global warming, but in a way that also raised some questions about their consistency. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/05/shifting-views-on-climate-change/?pagewanted=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, 7 Sep 2012 12:16:10 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 7, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 7, 2012. 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 El Niño is coming, but weakly - sort of Thanks to a tiny but consistent warming of the Pacific Ocean half a world away, the Bay Area will experience an El Niño season this year, beginning this month. If that idea conjures up images of fearsome storms and tumultuous winds - as one infamous El Niño pattern caused in the late 1990s - fear not. At least, possibly not. The National Weather Service has identified a "weak" El Niño this year, as opposed to the "moderate" or "strong" varieties, suggesting that the weather pattern caused by El Niño won't last the entire winter. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/El-Ni-o-is-coming-but-weakly-sort-of-3844544.php#ixzz25o1g1OdT Court asks for EPA response on whether to rehear GHG regulations case. A federal appeals court has asked U.S. EPA to explain why it should not reconsider a recent ruling upholding the Obama administration's greenhouse gas regulations. The order issued yesterday indicates that at least one judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is interested in the possibility of the entire eight-judge court reconsidering the case, a process known as rehearing en banc. It still appears unlikely the court will rehear the case. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/09/07/14 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Obama blasts Republicans for calling climate change a 'hoax' President Obama sharply criticized Republican intransigence on climate change last night, rebuking those who disbelieve in man-made carbon effects in an effort to cast a clear choice between him and his opponent, Mitt Romney. His comments mark some of the strongest assertions on climate in the presidential race, coming as the campaigns sprint into the straightaway before November's election. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/07/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Too few state oil refinery-safety checks. California regulators have not been conducting the intensive workplace-safety inspections of Chevron's Richmond plant and the state's 14 other oil refineries that federal standards call for, a Chronicle investigation shows. The limited checks that California inspectors have performed over the last decade have not led to a single fine collected from a major oil company, according to inspection records. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Too-few-state-oil-refinery-safety-checks-3846415.php#ixzz25o0paCQ4 SRS scientists find bacteria on spent nuke fuel. Scientists at the Savannah River Site near Aiken have identified a bacteria growing on old nuclear fuel. The Augusta Chronicle reports (http://bit.ly/Q3igo8) the material looks like a cobweb. The senior technical adviser for the Savannah River National Laboratory, Christopher Berry, says genetic analysis shows it's mostly bacteria although some of the DNA strains are unknown. It was first observed about a year ago among old fuel assemblies submerged in a basin where nuclear materials from research reactors are stored. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/SRS-scientists-find-bacteria-on-spent-nuke-fuel-3847421.php#ixzz25nxlvLdG Bill Bars Corn Ethanol From State Alt Fuels Program. Among the flurry of action -- or inaction -- on renewable energy bills in the last days of the state's legislative session comes a striking but largely unheralded statement of policy from the state of California. Last week, Governor Brown signed into law a bill that excludes corn-derived ethanol fuel from the state's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. Assembly Bill 523, authored by Republican assembly member David Valadao, excludes ethanol made from the edible parts of corn from any loans, grants or incentives included as part of the alternative fuel program. Posted. http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/transportation/bill-bars-corn-ethanol-from-state-alt-fuels-program.html VEHICLES Electric cargo truck developers have to be ready for a long haul. The CEO of a Poway company says there is still much work to do to make electric trucks a viable alternative to those that run on gasoline or natural gas. Building an electric car is one thing. But move too fast in developing a heavy-duty electric cargo truck and bad things happen, according to the head of Southern California company that is trying to succeed where others have failed before. In the past, electric trucks ran out of juice less than halfway through an eight-hour shift at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-electric-truck-20120907,0,2311013.story GREEN ENERGY Asia-Pacific Forum to Cut Import Duties for Green Technologies. Asia-Pacific nations have made a breakthrough in promoting trade in green technologies, and the United States is pressing ahead with efforts to carve out a regional free-trade zone, a senior U.S. official said Friday. Speaking before a summit of leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, Demetrios Marantis, the deputy U.S. trade representative, said the group had agreed to cut import duties on technologies that can promote economic growth without endangering the environment. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/08/business/energy-environment/asia-pacific-forum-to-cut-import-duties-for-green-technologies.html?_r=1&ref=energy-environment&pagewanted=print California to launch task force on scrap metal recycling problems. Scrap metal operations have been loosely regulated and linked to environmental contamination and fires and explosions. The task force will coordinate oversight. State officials said Thursday that they will start a task force to target problems posed by scrap metal recycling operations across California, which have been loosely regulated and linked to environmental contamination and numerous fires and explosions in recent years. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-scrap-metal-20120907,0,7671089.story California's solar energy passes a milestone. California surpassed a major milestone during a recent heat wave, hitting more than 1,000 megawatts of solar power generation. That's equal to the production of two large gas-fired power plants. The threshold was surpassed several times, according to the Folsom-based California Independent System Operator Corp., which operates the state's wholesale transmission grid. California energy officials celebrated the solar-generation milestone this week at ISO's annual Stakeholder Symposium at the Sacramento Convention Center. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/07/4796127/californias-solar-energy-passes.html#storylink=cpy East Bay town hoping to save $4.4 million by going solar. Town officials are hoping for big savings from four solar power arrays that will be going up around town this fall. On Tuesday, the town council approved a $1.2 million energy prepayment to San Mateo-based SolarCity, which now has the go-ahead to build the arrays on town-owned properties. Town Manager Joe Calabrigo told the council the solar arrays are expected to save the town $4.4 million in energy costs over their 25-year lifetime. In addition to the savings, the arrays will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, he said. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21474944/danville-hoping-save-4-4-million-by-going LEDs most environmentally friendly bulbs – study. LED light bulbs do the least environmental harm when compared with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) and traditional incandescent bulbs, a study from a Department of Energy lab has found. In an in-depth study, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory examined the environmental effects of the three bulb types, taking into account mining of raw minerals, disposal, manufacturing and degree of electricity use. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/09/07/18 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Tests show no water pollution after oil breach. Officials say preliminary tests show no pollution to water near the Holly refinery in Woods Cross where a break in a fuel tank sent oil spraying onto buildings, cars, and streets. The Salt Lake Tribune reports (bit.ly/QpB0hh) the Utah Division of Water Quality found no detectable levels of dangerous chemicals in a first round of tests. However, John Whitehead, the agency's assistant director, says more detailed results have yet to come in. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Tests-show-no-water-pollution-after-oil-breach-3847001.php#ixzz25nvFlZgE Contest to depict clean air strategies. Young artists have a chance to showcase their artistic talents and help improve the Central Valley’s air through an annual calendar contest. Students from kindergarten through high school can enter the Healthy Air Living Kids’ Calendar contest, sponsored by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. Fourteen student illustrations will be selected to promote healthy air in the eight-county air basin the district covers. Posted. http://www.tracypress.com/view/full_story/20066236/article-Contest-to-depict-clean-air-strategies?instance=home_our_town NAVY CITED OVER TOXIC CHEMICAL EXPOSURE. Dangerous metals found in aircraft hangar in Coronado. The Navy has been cited for safety violations that exposed up to 350 employees at an aircraft hangar in Coronado to the toxic chemicals lead, cadmium and beryllium, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Thursday. OSHA inspectors found widespread contamination in one hangar at the North Island Naval Air Station aircraft maintenance facility, including in areas where employees worked on jets and stored and ate meals. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/07/tp-navy-cited-over-toxic-chemical-exposure/ OPINIONS Editorial: State must nail down off-road vehicle funds. California lawmakers and the governor need to immediately get to the bottom of funding within the Off-Highway Vehicle Trust Fund. If they don't, it will only further the public's doubts about the ability of state leaders to manage and track public funds. And that won't help Gov. Jerry Brown as he tries to persuade voters to approve the tax increase he seeks, Proposition 30 on the Nov. 6 ballot. At issue are the "hidden assets" that the Brown administration discovered within the state Department of Parks and Recreation. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/07/4795592/state-must-nail-down-off-road.html#storylink=cpy Eric Lauritzen: Salinas study to clear the air. As the state Department of Pesticide Regulation prepared to launch the nation’s first long-term, pesticide air monitoring project last year, DPR explained its plan this way: “The aim is to document pesticide levels in ambient air collected from communities with higher populations of children, persons over 65, persons who work on farms and close proximity to agricultural areas with high use of pesticides.” In my view, that description fit Monterey County perfectly. Posted. http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20120907/OPINION04/309070014/Eric-Lauritzen-Salinas-study-clear-air?odyssey=nav%7Chead BLOGS Obama Counterpunches on Climate Change. Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential nominee, took a not-too-subtle jab at President Obama in his convention speech last week, mocking Mr. Obama’s soaring 2008 campaign language about rolling back the rising seas and healing the planet. Mr. Romney’s gibe drew thunderous applause from the Republican delegates, many of whom express doubt about the existence of climate change. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/07/obama-counterpunches-on-climate-change/?ref=science Cooling a Computer Server With Mineral Oil. When they’re using their smartphones or tapping away on laptops, few people pause to think about the enormous amount of energy needed to power the data centers that store and deliver the information in all those e-mails and on Web sites and Facebook pages. But maybe we should. A recent study by Pike Research estimated that about 1.5 percent of all electricity generated worldwide goes to power data centers. The attendant greenhouse gas emissions, some 188 million tons of carbon dioxide per year, match the emissions of about 33 million passenger vehicles. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/cooling-a-computer-server-with-mineral-oil/?ref=energy-environment California hopes practice makes perfect for cap-and-trade; real carbon auction set for November. Just months away from the start of California's first effort to cap, trade, and reduce carbon, the stakes are high for state regulators to get it right. Hundreds of companies are involved, not to mention billions of dollars. Last week the California Air Resources Board ran a practice for November's big day: the auction that will set in motion a market for carbon emissions in California. (I was on vacation, failing to draft a useful wide receiver in the fantasy draft.) Posted. http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/2012/09/06/9742/california-hopes-practice-makes-perfect-cap-and-tr/ ====================================================================== 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 Sep 2012 16:14:48 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 10, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 10, 2012. 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 Foul odor reported in Simi Valley may have originated in Salton Sea. A foul odor reported in Simi Valley and other areas of Southern California might be coming from as far as the Salton Sea, officials said. Kevin Martin, a meteorologist with Southern California Weather Authority said strong thunderstorms in Yuma, Ariz. might have pushed the sulfuric smell through the Inland Empire and parts of the San Fernando Valley. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/10/simi-valley-residents-report-foul-smell-to-los/ UCR environment center celebrates 20th anniversary. An environmental research center at UC Riverside had its genesis in the concern about air pollution a couple of decades ago. State, federal and regional regulators were writing rules to scrub the smoggy skies that often obscured the region's mountain views. At the same time, manufacturers and automakers were worried about the financial impact on their industries. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/region-ucr-environment-center-celebrates-th-anniversary/article_3c28972e-1d38-569e-a853-97a05e236dae.html CLIMATE CHANGE Climate Scientists Face Organized Harassment in U.S. The harassment faced by U.S.-based climate scientists has been well documented in the media—but not the harassment of scientists in Europe, Canada or the rest of the world. That's because there hasn't been much to report. While outspoken scientists of human-caused climate change in the United States endure torrents of freedom of information requests, hate mail and even death threats from skeptics, their counterparts abroad have been free to do their work without fear. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-10/climate-scientists-face-organized-harassment-in-u-s-.html In U.S., 2012 so far is hottest year on record. The first eight months of 2012 have been the warmest of any year on record in the contiguous United States, and this has been the third-hottest summer since record-keeping began in 1895, the U.S. National Climate Data Center said on Monday. Each of the last 15 months has seen above-average temperatures, something that has never happened before in the 117 years of the U.S. record, said Jake Crouch, a climate scientist at the data center. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/10/usa-heat-idUSL1E8KACAR20120910 Big banks weigh risks, rewards of California's new CO2 market. Major banks are weighing whether to wade into the California carbon market, which experts believe could grow into a $40 billion a year market by 2020, but one that is also loaded with risk and uncertainty. Following last week's successful test of the state's auction platform, the reality is starting to settle in: California carbon trading has overcome legal and political challenges to position itself a mere 10 weeks away from its first official CO2 permit sale. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/07/us-california-carbon-idUSBRE88600S20120907 UN panel warns of climate credit market collapse. A U.N.-appointed expert panel says international efforts to boost investment in green technologies could collapse if countries don't boost the market for 'climate credits.' The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change says governments need to restore investors' faith in so-called carbon markets, including the U.N.'s Clean Development Mechanism. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21508886/un-panel-warns-climate-credit-market-collapse?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21508886/un-panel-warns-climate-credit-market-collapse?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/10/2986170/un-panel-warns-of-climate-credit.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/un-panel-warns-climate-credit-market-could-collapse-amid-uncertainty-over-emissions-targets/2012/09/10/4ed9f91a-fb76-11e1-98c6-ec0a0a93f8eb_story.html Climate change challenges power plant operations. Drought and rising temperatures are forcing water managers across the country to scramble for ways to produce the same amount of power from the hydroelectric grid with less water, including from behemoths such as the Hoover Dam. Hydropower is not the only part of the nation’s energy system that appears increasingly vulnerable to the impact of climate change, as low water levels affect coal-fired and nuclear power plants’ operations and impede the passage of coal barges along the Mississippi River. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/climate-change-challenges-power-plant-operations/2012/09/09/42b26b8e-f6a5-11e1-8b93-c4f4ab1c8d13_story.html Rising seas bring Pacific Rim leaders to UCSD. Climate researchers, social scientists and policy experts from across the Pacific Rim convened in La Jolla last week to get ahead of seas projected to rise so dramatically that they could create some of the most visible effects of global warming. Representatives from about 20 leading research universities and nonprofit groups in South Korea, Russia, Indonesia and elsewhere met at UC San Diego to prepare for “potentially catastrophic effects on 200 million people and trillions of dollars of coastal assets.” Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/08/pacific-rim-climate-experts-converge-ucsd/ Pacific Coast Producers worried about effects of global warming legislation. Owners of one of Lodi’s largest employers are worried that state requirements geared toward reducing carbon emissions and global warming could put a financial strain on their business and eventually even lead to layoffs. Pacific Coast Producers, which is based in Lodi, is concerned about having to participate in the cap-and-trade portion of the California Global Warming Solutions Act. Posted. http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_a174ae76-d0fc-5d0b-b258-56bf701cc5d7.html Passing the Baton on Climate Change. In his keynote to the Democratic National Convention, Julian Castro likened progress not to a sprint or a marathon, but a relay race going from one generation to the next. As seen through environmentalist eyes, you can't help but feel saddened. Future generations will be the ones to suffer for our failure to address climate change. Surely upcoming cohorts will be even more motivated than older generations to act. But as a reader pointed out to me and as study after study has shown, the reality is that the current generation refuses to have much to do with "climate change." Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carol-pierson-holding/passing-the-baton-on-clim_b_1862952.html?utm_hp_ref=green Climate change causing forest die-off globally. Already facing an onslaught of threats from logging and conversion for agriculture, forests worldwide are increasingly impacted by the effects of climate change, including drought, heightened fire risk, and disease, putting the ecological services they afford in jeopardy, warns a new paper published in the journal Nature Climate Change. he study, authored by William Anderegg of Carnegie Institution for Science at Stanford University and Jeffrey Kane and Leander Anderegg of Northern Arizona University, reviews dozens of scientific papers dealing with the ecological impacts of climate change. Posted. http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/44922 FUELS UPDATE 1-EU to limit use of crop-based biofuels -draft law. The European Union will impose a limit on the use of crop-based biofuels over fears they are less climate-friendly than initially thought and compete with food production, draft EU legislation seen by Reuters showed. The draft rules, which would need the approval of EU governments and lawmakers, represent a major shift in Europe's much-criticized biofuel policy and a tacit admission by policymakers that the EU's 2020 biofuel target was flawed from the outset. The plans also include a promise to end all public subsidies for crop-based biofuels after the current legislation expires in 2020. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/10/eu-biofuels-idUSL5E8KAIV820120910 U.S. to auction state shale for drilling. A nearly 18,000-acre stretch of land extending from California's Central Coast to the San Joaquin Valley is the setting for a brewing debate over an oil-extraction method that has little governmental oversight. The land, which spans Monterey, San Benito and Fresno counties, rests on a large chunk of the Monterey Shale, a formation of underground minerals long eyed by the energy industry for its potential to yield billions of barrels of oil. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/U-S-to-auction-state-shale-for-drilling-3850852.php#ixzz2663qUcjt Sacramento gas prices locked in above $4. For a third straight week, Sacramento-area gas prices stayed pretty much locked in place. The average price of gas in the area rose 0.7 to $4.08 a gallon over the past week, according to the today's weekly report by SactoGasPrices.com, a GasBuddy.com website. The previous week, prices were unchanged, and at-the-pump costs fell only 0.4 cents the week before that. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/10/4805869/sacramento-gas-prices-locked-in.html#storylink=cpy VEHICLES 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Preview. Diesel passenger cars have long been the domain of German carmakers, but that will change early next year with the launch of the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze diesel four-door compact sedan. The eagerly awaited model, the first GM (NYSE:GM) passenger-car diesel since the early 1980s, was confirmed more than a year ago by CEO Dan Akerson. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/cars/2014-chevrolet-cruze-diesel-preview/2012/09/06/dce67168-f85e-11e1-a93b-7185e3f88849_story.html UPDATE 1-INSIGHT-GM's Volt: The ugly math of low sales, high costs. General Motors Co sold a record number of Chevrolet Volt sedans in August - but that probably isn't a good thing for the automaker's bottom line. Nearly two years after the introduction of the path-breaking plug-in hybrid, GM is still losing as much as $49,000 on each Volt it builds, according to estimates provided to Reuters by industry analysts and manufacturing experts. GM on Monday issued a statement disputing the estimates. Cheap Volt lease offers meant to drive more customers to Chevy showrooms this summer may have pushed that loss even higher. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/10/generalmotors-autos-volt-upd-idUSL1E8KA9GM20120910 GM disputes claim it loses $49,000 per Volt sale. Is General Motors losing $49,000 on every Chevrolet Volt electric car it sells? If so, it could be bad news for taxpayers who helped bail out GM and now own a third of an automaker that has seen its shares plunge 30% since it went public in 2010. A Reuters report Monday said GM's plug-in hybrid was a big money-loser. GM, though, disputed the contention, saying Reuters' research "is grossly wrong" and accusing the news agency of bad math. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-auto-chevrolet-volt-losses-20120910,0,3613718.story August Plug-In Electric Car Sales: Volt Surges, Leaf Static. While car sales often lag during August, when family vacations take priority, the Chevrolet Volt proved an exception to the rule last month. During August, 2,831 of Chevy's range-extended electric car found buyers--along with 685 Nissan Leaf battery electric cars. The third high-volume plug-in car on sale in the U.S. is the Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid, for which sales will be reported later today. Following a grim year of adverse press, the Volt seems to be finding its stride. Posted. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1078919_august-plug-in-electric-car-sales-volt-surges-leaf-static Peugeot adding battery-electric version of Partner van. Peugeot is expanding its Partner vehicle range o include a battery-electric version. Equipped with an electric drive train fitted under the hood, the Partner Electric operates on two high-energy lithium-ion battery packs with a capacity of 22.5 kW/h. Fitted to the under body of the vehicle, either side of the rear axle, they preserve Partner’s road handling behavior as well as the useable dimensions of the load space. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/09/partner-20120910.html GREEN ENERGY Pa. to release Marcellus Shale impact fee data . Pennsylvania state officials will announce how much money drillers paid to offset the impact of natural gas wells sunk in 2011. A state law signed in February imposes a so-called "impact fee" on energy companies exploring the Marcellus Shale gas field. Drillers must pay $50,000 for each horizontally drilled well and $10,000 for each vertical well. The money was due Sept. 1. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21507756/pa-release-marcellus-shale-impact-fee-data?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com Russia and energy-scarce Japan agree to move ahead on liquefied natural gas project. Russia and Japan are putting energy cooperation ahead of a longstanding territorial dispute as they move ahead with a long-awaited liquefied natural gas project in this far eastern seaport. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda oversaw the signing of a memorandum for the $13 billion project with Japan’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy on Saturday, on the sidelines of a Pacific Rim summit, Russian oil and gas giant Gazprom said. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/russia-and-energy-scarce-japan-agree-to-move-ahead-on-liquefied-natural-gas-project/2012/09/08/31488234-fa1a-11e1-a0a1-b07778c66e04_story.html MISCELLANEOUS Santa Monica Ramps Up Its Bike Share Program. Bike share programs are becoming increasingly popular in Southern California, and our legs and hearts thank those cities implementing them. On the heels of Anaheim, Long Beach and Santa Monica, the city of L.A. will welcome 4,000 bikes to its new program. Today, the city of Santa Monica and Global Green USA announced that the city's future bike share program will include a few more pedals and bike kiosks than originally outlined. Posted. http://laist.com/2012/09/10/santa_monica_ramps_up_its_bike_share_program.php Calif. to form scrap metal oversight task force. California state officials are planning to launch a task force to crack down on the scrap metal recycling industry, which has been linked to environmental pollution and worker injuries. The state Department of Toxic Substances Control will form the panel with representatives of various regulatory agencies, including air, water and hazardous materials, as well as fire authorities, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/07/calif-to-form-scrap-metal-oversight-task-force/ EPA fines Calif. landfill for failure to check for PCBs. U.S. EPA has fined a Central Valley hazardous waste disposal facility for failing to analyze potentially PCB-contaminated material before its disposal, the agency said last week. The $9,375 fine is for a Chemical Waste Management Inc. employee's failure to check for polychlorinated biphenyls before disposing of liquid leaching from a company landfill on May 9, EPA said. PCBs have been linked to health problems, including cancer. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/09/10/18 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS INLAND: Pollution challenge. The Inland region’s future depends on ensuring an attractive place to live and work. So a new state attempt to identify pollution’s impact on communities is not a threat to the area, but a way to promote better understanding of some the region’s serious challenges. Knowledge can help focus public efforts; willful ignorance is a strategy for failure. The state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment is creating a new program to rank areas by the cumulative effects of pollution on residents. Posted. http://www.pe.com/opinion/editorials-headlines/20120909-inland-pollution-challenge.ece A presidential race low on energy. IN THE PAST two weeks, both President Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney claimed to possess farsighted plans for powering America’s economy. At their parties’ nominating conventions, the candidates and their surrogates described a future in which the country is more energy-independent, nearly everyone in the energy business succeeds and the energy-dependent economy hums along. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-presidential-race-low-on-energy/2012/09/09/3ca305dc-f90c-11e1-8b93-c4f4ab1c8d13_story.html TV Forecasters: Connect Climate and Extreme Weather! This summer, as the melting Arctic turned into an hourglass marking the time we have left to address climate change, it became obvious we have reached that "Pearl Harbor moment" on global warming. Actually, it's been more of a "Pearl Harbor year" -- unusually warm winter, destructive wildfires out West, corn-killing drought in the Midwest, record-breaking high temperatures, flooding from Hurricane Isaac. World Resources International has compiled a mind-blowing timeline on this year's extreme weather and climate events (below). Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-valk/climate-change_b_1865683.html?utm_hp_ref=green BLOGS Is there enough wind to meet the world’s energy needs? At the moment, wind power supplies about 4.1 percent of electric power in the United States. That’s not nothing, but it’s still fairly minor. Yet there’s still a whole lot of untapped wind in the world. Wind whipping through the Great Plains. Wind gusting off the shores. Wind way up high in the sky. So what would happen if we tried to harvest all of that wind? Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/09/10/is-there-enough-wind-energy-to-meet-the-worlds-needs/ When Heat Kills: Global Warming As Public Health Threat. The current poster child for global warming is a polar bear, sitting on a melting iceberg. Some health officials argue the symbol should, instead, be a child. That's because emerging science shows that people respond more favorably to warnings about climate change when it's portrayed as a health issue, rather than an environmental problem. Epidemiologist George Luber at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the most obvious risk from a warming world is killer heat. Posted. http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/09/10/160761974/when-heat-kills-global-warming-as-public-health-threat Hometown heroes: Three ways to win climate fights at the local level. These seem like truly dismal times for those seeking aggressive political action on the climate change crisis. As historic droughts sweep the U.S. and Arctic sea ice melt hits record extremes, governments across the globe still seem frozen in their tracks. The U.S. election features one political party in denial that there is a crisis and another seemingly unable to win support for even minor action. Posted. http://grist.org/article/hometown-heroes-three-ways-to-win-climate-fights-at-the-local-level/ Shell starts drilling, hasn’t ruined the Arctic yet. On Sunday, Shell began drilling in the Arctic, after the EPA granted a waiver to the company allowing it to exceed regulated air-pollution levels. As of this writing (Sept. 10, 2012, about 1:00 p.m. Eastern), the company has not yet experienced a massive accident spilling hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil on the Alaskan coastline. Posted. http://grist.org/business-technology/shell-starts-drilling-hasnt-ruined-the-arctic-yet/ A simple, useful guide to communicating climate change. There seems to be a subtle shift underway in the cultural valence of climate change. If the pendulum swung toward hyper-polarization and looney-tunery in 2009-2011, it seems to have reached its apogee and begun swinging back. It’s not just that a few politicians, including Obama, are daring to say the word, but that the public seems to have grown impatient with the squabbling and delay. Posted. http://grist.org/politics/a-simple-useful-guide-to-communicating-climate-change/ UCLA/UC Berkeley law schools release policy paper on actions required to stimulate long-term, mass-adoption of electric vehicles; leveraging California. The environmental law centers at UCLA and UC Berkeley Schools of Law today released a new policy paper on industry actions and federal, state, and local policies needed to ensure that California catalyzes mass adoption of electric vehicles by 2025, with the goal of building a long-term market in the US. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/09/ucla-20120910.html Berkeley Lab seeking licensees or research partners for microbial-electrocatalytic system for hydrocarbon fuels production. A Berkeley Lab team led by Steven Singer and funded by ARPA-E is developing a method to blend hydrogen-producing electrocatalytic materials with genetically modified Ralstonia eutropha, a common soil bacterium, to produce hydrocarbons in a reactor—requiring only CO2 and electricity. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/09/mec-20120910.html Study projects net cooling of climate from ship emissions through 2050. A recent study by an international team calculated that shipping causes a net cooling of climate across all parametrizations of the indirect aerosol effect (IAE) and scenarios throughout the period 1900−2050. This continued shorter-term cooling response caused by certain emissions does not negate the necessity for reductions in CO2 emissions, which are crucial to limiting the long-term warming impact of the sector, the researchers cautioned. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/09/lund-20120909.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 Sep 2012 11:52:14 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 11, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 11, 2012. 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 Officials: Mistakes made in warning public of fire. Mistakes were made by air quality officials in notifying the public about potentially dangerous pollution created by a huge fire at a Chevron Corp. refinery last month, regulators said Monday. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District held a public meeting in San Francisco to discuss its response and the myriad investigations into the Aug. 6 fire that started after a leak in an old pipe at the Richmond facility. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hbKQyoRBw8m4w16M2CsFSMA3YF0A?docId=35734cd5155841e6a6c8d30e7284cbd0 Other related articles: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/calif-air-regulators-look-to-improve-response-after-missteps-during-chevron-refinery-fire/2012/09/10/94347550-fb83-11e1-98c6-ec0a0a93f8eb_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Officials-Mistakes-made-in-warning-public-of-fire-3853963.php http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/10/air-district-to-improve-refinery-fire-response/ http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/10/2986266/calif-district-to-improve-refinery.html#storylink=misearch Chevron refinery fire aftermath: More air monitors to be added. The Bay Area air pollution board said Monday it will expand its system of air monitors near oil refineries to detect smoke and fumes that were largely missed in the Aug. 6 Chevron refinery fire in Richmond. "People have a right to know what's in the air they breathe," said John Gioia, a Contra Costa County supervisor and chairman of the nine-county air board. The extra monitors should be able to pick up routine long-term pollution as well as toxic releases during emergencies, or during accidental releases, members of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District board said. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_21509545/chevron-refinery-fire-aftermath-more-monitors-be-added?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21509549/chevron-refinery-fire-aftermath-more-monitors-be-added?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21509549/chevron-refinery-fire-aftermath-more-monitors-be-added?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Air Quailty District hosts informative session on refinery fire. A dozen Richmond residents, most donning shirts that read ‘Clean Air for All,’ rode a bus to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District office this morning to hear from the various agencies investigating the Aug. 6 Chevron refinery fire. Spectators filled the chairs and lined the wall of the quiet, wood-paneled room as each organization — including representatives from BAAQMD, the Environmental Protection Agency, Contra Costa Health Services, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, and California Air Resources Board — tried to define its role in the emergency refinery incident. The agencies also acknowledged shortcomings, especially lack of communication, both with residents and within the various agencies, and difficulties in monitoring air pollutants. Posted. http://richmondconfidential.org/2012/09/11/air-quailty-district-hosts-informative-session-on-refinery-fire/ Air district to improve refinery fire response. Air regulators say mistakes were made in communicating with the public during a fire at Chevron Corp.'s Richmond refinery, and are working to improve pollution monitoring during emergencies. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District on Monday held a public meeting to discuss its response and the myriad investigations into the Aug. 6 fire that started after a leak in an old pipe. Jack Broadbent, the district's executive officer, said the initial, incorrect assertion that all air quality samples taken near the refinery fire were safe "clearly fell short" since thousands sought medical attention after the fire. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21509271/air-district-improve-refinery-fire-response?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com CLIMATE CHANGE UN panel warns of climate credit market collapse. A U.N.-appointed expert panel says international efforts to encourage investment in green technologies could collapse if countries don't boost the market for 'climate credits.' The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change says governments need to restore investors' faith in so-called carbon markets, including the U.N.'s Clean Development Mechanism. The CDM allows developing countries to earn credits from measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They can then sell the credits to rich nations seeking to meet emissions reduction targets. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ilGZglaNvOra_qkm50tTwamWtGVg?docId=13d8b79d01ef499ea0c35afb3cc23bb8 Other related articles: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/10/2986170/un-panel-warns-of-climate-credit.html#storylink=misearch UN climate talks should stick with 2 degree goal: EU negotiator. United Nations' climate talks should continue pushing for more ambitious action to ensure global warming is kept under 2 degrees, an EU climate negotiator said on Tuesday, a month after the United States was accused of backtracking on the goal. Almost 200 nations agreed in 2010 to limit rising temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 F) above pre-industrial times to avoid dangerous impacts from climate change like floods, droughts and rising sea levels. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/11/us-un-climate-idUSBRE88A0Z720120911 Airbus ministers seek suspension of EU emissions plan. Aerospace officials of the European countries where Airbus makes its planes will push for a suspension of the European Union's Emission Trading System (ETS) for airlines to avert retaliation from China, officials said on Tuesday. "Airbus has left us with no doubt that the threat of retaliatory action is a clear and present danger to its order list," Michael Fallon, new business minister in Britain, said at the ILA Berlin Air Show on Tuesday. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/11/us-germany-airshow-emissions-idUSBRE88A12120120911 U.S. carbon emissions fell in three of last four years. The amount of carbon dioxide emitted from energy production declined in the U.S. in 2011 -- the third time in four years and the fourth time in the last six years that has happened, the Energy Department said Tuesday. As has been the case in previous years, there wasn't necessarily a lot of good economic news behind the positive result of reduced emissions. The Energy Department, for example, cited slower economic growth as one factor in the 2.4% drop in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions last year. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-carbon-emissions-20120911,0,3568947.story Only one-third of Americans think limiting climate change is a very important goal. Eleven years after 9/11 — if you can believe it has been that long — the Chicago Council on Global Affairs decided to gauge how Americans’ views on global security have evolved. First and foremost, concern over global terrorism has dropped precipitously, with more significant declines evident among younger populations. But we’re here to talk about the changing climate. How do Americans feel climate change ranks as an important foreign policy goal? Posted. http://grist.org/news/only-one-third-of-americans-think-limiting-climate-change-is-a-very-important-goal/ A simple, useful guide to communicating climate change. There seems to be a subtle shift underway in the cultural valence of climate change. If the pendulum swung toward hyper-polarization and looney-tunery in 2009-2011, it seems to have reached its apogee and begun swinging back. It’s not just that a few politicians, including Obama, are daring to say the word, but that the public seems to have grown impatient with the squabbling and delay. A recent survey from Yale [PDF] found that “a large majority of registered voters (88%) support action to reduce global warming, even if it has economic costs.” Big Democratic donors are pressuring Obama to do more. There are even Republicans sticking up their heads here and there. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/a-simple-useful-guide-to-communicating-climate-change/ West Nile virus may get worse as climate gets hotter, experts say. West Nile virus has caused symptoms in at least 1,993 Americans and killed 87 so far this year. And it’s unlikely that this virus, which humans contract from infected mosquitoes, will be getting any less dangerous in the near future. Though the CDC believes that this year’s caseload has probably peaked, a group of public health officials writing in the new edition of Annals of Internal Medicine explains why West Nile has been so deadly this year. West Nile virus made its first appearance in the United States in 1999, when the virus, which had previously affected people in Uganda, Algeria and Romania, arrived in New York City. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-west-nile-virus-outbreaks-may-get-worse-as-planet-gets-hotter-20120910,0,4629323.story White roofs and unintended consequences. Obama’s Energy Secretary Steven Chu once pitched painting roofs white as a solution to global warming. Maybe, but new research finds that there are unintended consequences: reduction of rainfall in the Southwest U.S. Researchers from Arizona State University have found that “warming resulting from megapolitan expansion is seasonally dependent, with greatest warming occurring during summer and least during winter. Among the most practical ways to combat urbanization-induced warming – the painting of buildings’ roofs white – was found to disrupt regional hydroclimate, highlighting the need for evaluation of tradeoffs associated with combating urban heat islands (UHI).” Posted. http://tucsoncitizen.com/wryheat/2012/09/11/white-roofs-and-unintended-consequences/ FUELS Exclusive: EU to limit use of crop-based biofuels - draft law. The European Union will impose a limit on the use of crop-based biofuels over fears they are less climate-friendly than initially thought and compete with food production, draft EU legislation seen by Reuters showed. The draft rules, which will need the approval of EU governments and lawmakers, represent a major shift in Europe's much-criticized biofuel policy and a tacit admission by policymakers that the EU's 2020 biofuel target was flawed from the outset. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/10/us-eu-biofuels-idUSBRE8890SJ20120910 Ky. company aims to build fuel plant near Corbin. A biofuel company is planning to build a new plant in southern Kentucky that would convert sugar beets into fuel over the next two years if it can get approval from the state. Patriot Bioenergy Corp., which has an office in Williamsburg, wants to locate the facility in Whitley County if the infrastructure is built and the Kentucky Economic Development or Energy Incentives boards approve of the project. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/10/ky-company-aims-to-build-fuel-plant-near-corbin/ Oil prices below $97 as traders await key events. Oil prices traded virtually flat below $97 a barrel Tuesday as traders awaited a raft of news in Europe and the U.S. over the rest of the week that could have a big bearing in financial markets. As well as a raft of scheduled events this week related to Europe's debt crisis, traders are waiting to see if the Federal Reserve will back another monetary stimulus on Thursday following a two-day policy meeting. Speculation that the Obama administration was preparing for a release of strategic oil reserves also kept the buying in check. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/11/oil-hovers-above-96-in-asia/ VEHICLES UCLA/UC Berkeley law schools release policy paper on actions required to stimulate long-term, mass-adoption of electric vehicles; leveraging California. The environmental law centers at UCLA and UC Berkeley Schools of Law today released a new policy paper on industry actions and federal, state, and local policies needed to ensure that California catalyzes mass adoption of electric vehicles by 2025, with the goal of building a long-term market in the US. At stake, the paper argues, is the future of the electric vehicle market. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/09/ucla-20120910.html EV market projections: Part II – Governments announcements. OEMs announced production capacities for PHEV/EVs, but market projections are also made by governments that are including PHEV/EV plans in their political campaigns. This second article summarises government announcements for 2015, 2020, 2025, 2030 that are linked to investments of billions of euros in supporting the industry and implementing temporary financial incentives for consumers. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4922 Prototype drive: Audi's A3 e-tron electric car. A small slice of Audi's future recently began testing on U.S. roads around the country, but if you look too hard for these prototypes, they'll probably drive right under your nose. That's because rather than spend precious development dollars on a uniquely-designed body that's more science experiment than it is a practical application, Audi went and hid an all-electric drivetrain under the skin of its well-known A3 hatchback. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-autos-audi-etron-a3-drive-20120911,0,6659300.story HIGH-SPEED RAIL Approved Construction Of The California High Speed Rail Paused. Construction on the first 25 miles of California's so-called California High Speed Rail project has already been approved. But its not a done deal. Phil Shuman is in the newsroom with the latest details on the project... And the opposition to it. The feds have yet to O.K. their own environmental impact report and that could hold everything up...the eventual plan is to link San Francsco and LA with high speed trains that travel 220 mph but the train, as they say is a long way from leaving the station. Posted. http://www.myfoxla.com/story/19512606/approved-construction-of-the-california-high-speed-rail-paused GREEN ENERGY Wind energy advocates push Senate for tax credit vote this week. Wind energy advocates call this week “Wind Week” as they push to get the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for wind energy extended before Congress takes another undeserved vacation before the election. Wind Week shows the urgency with the upcoming expiration of the PTC at year’s end. Bob Keefe, a spokesman with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), said in an interview with “The Hill” Monday that there is an eight-day window to get the incentive through the Senate. If the Senate does not act before Congress departs in 8 days, another wave of job losses might occur. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/wind-energy-advocates-push-senate-for-tax-credit-vote-this-week BLOGS The Growing Might of Solar Power. From California to New Jersey, the summer sun was hot this year — and so was the solar industry. While the business of solar energy is still small enough and young enough to record firsts at the fearsome pace that a toddler does, the milestones are getting more substantial. For instance, in mid-August California’s utility-scale solar generating stations combined to put out the same amount of energy — one gigawatt — as a substantial nuclear or coal-fired power plant. That moment occurred between 5 and 6 p.m., coinciding with peak demand, associated with the need to cool indoor air. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/the-growing-might-of-solar-power/?src=twr Climate Change On 'The Point' By The Young Turks. As the Senior Science Correspondent for The Huffington Post, I'm occasionally asked to appear on internet and television shows representing a scientific point of view. This past week, I was invited to host a special episode of "The Point," presented by "The Young Turks." The focus of the episode was global climate change, and we wanted to do something neither major political party seems willing or able to do during this heated election season: talk frankly about the science behind Earth's changing climate. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/11/climate-change-on-the-point_n_1873066.html?utm_hp_ref=green Need proof of September dirty air? Look in vacationland. After a long, smoggy summer, dirty air doesn't take a holiday in September. Look no further than vacationland to see that trend. The Ash Mountain entrance station at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is leading this region in ozone violations this summer with 70. And it already has five this month. It's all about dirty air drifting up the hills and baking into ozone. Truth is, you would find cleaner air for a hike at Los Angeles International Airport, where there hasn't been an ozone violation for seven years. In Southern California, the dirty air goes to a vacation spot called Crestline in the San Bernardino Mountain. Crestline leads the nation in ozone violations with 84 this year. And counting in September. Posted. http://fresnobeehive.com/news/2012/09/need_proof_of_september_dirty.html#storylink=misearch ====================================================================== 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 Sep 2012 15:33:13 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 12, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 12, 2012. 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 Lake Is Blamed for Stench Blown Across Southern California. Los Angeles — Across Southern California, as far afield as Ventura County to the north of here, Orange County to the south and San Bernardino to the east, residents awoke this week to an olfactory insult: a sulfurous smell, like rotten eggs, wafting across hundreds of miles, source unknown. Some people checked the eggs in their refrigerator; officials tested the air at landfills. In some places, the odor was so strong that people wondered if a sewer line had ruptured. “O.K., why does it smell like rotten eggs? I smelled it in Sylmar, San Fernando & Porter Ranch,” Jennifer Guzman wrote on Twitter before ending with a frustrated expletive. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/us/salton-sea-is-blamed-for-southern-california-stench.html?_r=1&ref=science http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-smell-20120912,0,6667164.story http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/rotten-egg-aroma-stretched-southern-california-salton-sea-air-quality-investigators-article-1.1157375#ixzz26HCTBoA9 http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Big-stink-in-L-A-may-be-dying-Salton-Sea-3858118.php http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/09/11/calif-officials-sniffing-out-source-stench-near-los-angeles-as-signs-point-to/ Slow economy, cleaner energy cut into carbon emissions. Los Angeles -- The amount of carbon dioxide emitted from energy production declined in the U.S. in 2011 - the third time in four years and the fourth time in the past six years that has happened, the Energy Department said Tuesday. As has been the case in previous years, there wasn't necessarily a lot of good economic news behind the positive result of reduced emissions. The Energy Department, for example, cited slower economic growth as one factor in the 2.4 percent drop in energy-related carbon dioxide emissions last year. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/11/4809936/slow-economy-cleaner-energy-cut.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Europe mulls suspending airline emissions charge. Berlin -- European officials signaled Tuesday that they may recommend the suspension of the continent's carbon emission fees for airlines to avert a trade war with major economic powers such as China and the United States, allowing time to forge a global agreement on climate charges for the aviation industry. China and India have prohibited their airlines from participating in the European Trading System because it will require airlines that fly to and from Europe to buy permits for all the carbon they emit en route…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/11/4809234/europe-mulls-suspending-airline.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy EPA approves Colorado plan to reduce pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given final approval to Colorado's strategy to reduce pollution, which relies on switching some coal-fired power plants to natural gas. Gov. John Hickenlooper announced the decision on the regional haze plan Tuesday, praising it as a collaborative effort by utilities, environmentalists, the oil and gas industry and others. "We embrace this success as a model for continuing to balance economic growth with wise public policy that protects community health and our environmental values," Hickenlooper said in a statement. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/EPA-approves-Colorado-plan-to-reduce-pollution-3856747.php#ixzz26HXjpxim Court weighs challenge to EPA action on hazardous emissions. A federal appeals court today tackled a Sierra Club claim that U.S. EPA hasn't done enough to set emissions standards for three hazardous air pollutants. At issue in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is EPA's 2011 issuance of what is known as the "90 percent notice," in which the agency says it has done its duty under the Clean Air Act to set standards for seven hazardous air pollutants. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/09/12/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE World's Top 10 Companies That Hide Their Emissions. The first step to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is to know where you're starting from. That's why the Carbon Disclosure Project works on behalf of investors to push companies to disclose their footprints. Today the CDP released its annual report, including a list of best performers and no-shows. First, the CDP's list of shame. Here are the world's largest companies that don't provide the requested emissions data: Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-09-12/world-s-top-10-companies-that-hide-their-emissions.html Climate group sees progress in U.S. board rooms. An organization promoting the reduction of greenhouse gases said its annual survey showed big U.S.-listed companies making progress in disclosure and in their carbon emission reduction goals, even as lawmakers hesitate to regulate. The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) said its 2012 survey showed a growing number of top-tier executives and company boards of the 500 top publicly traded U.S. companies were directly overseeing their firms' climate change strategies. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/11/usa-emissions-companies-idUSL1E8KBNVV20120911 UC Connect: Studying Sierra snowpack. From the white, sugary sands of Hawaii to the white, powdery slopes of the Sierra Nevada, natural sciences professor Stephen Hart has his eye on climate change. For the past two years, the professor, who's affiliated with the Sierra Nevada Research Institute, has worked with student researchers at remote sites in the mountains. They manipulate the snowpack to see the effects of early snowmelt on the forest, from how it affects the nutrients in the soil and plant growth to how greenhouse gases are emitted from the soil. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/12/4811473/uc-connect-studying-sierra-snowpack.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Tree Deaths Linked to Climate Change. Hot and dry conditions triggered by climate change are killing the world's trees, according to a new report which examines dozens of scientific articles on the subject. Stanford University graduate student William Anderegg has seen this forest die-off firsthand. His doctoral thesis documents the impact of drought on trembling aspen, the most common tree in North America. “Posted. http://www.voanews.com/content/tree-deaths-linked-to-climate-change/1505844.html DIESEL EMISSIONS ARB slaps truck rental firm with $1MM fine despite 53 year history of compliance. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) today announced that a fine of $1,031,000 was paid by Ryder System, Inc., a provider of transportation and supply chain management solutions, for failure to conduct annual testing and maintain associated test records. The penalty resulted after an ARB review of records for heavy-duty vehicles that were in service in 2008 and 2009. The large fine was imposed despite the fact that this was Ryder's first ever ARB violation since it began California operations 53 years ago. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/arb-slaps-truck-rental-firm-with-1mm-fine-despite-53-year-history-of-compliance FUELS Taxes Show One Way to Save Fuel. Just the other day, President Obama unveiled another example of how our hostility to anything that even remotely looks like a tax is leading us down the wrong path, ultimately making us worse off. The president proudly announced energy-efficiency standards negotiated with the nation’s carmakers, which will have to nearly double the average fuel economy of cars and light trucks sold, hitting 54.5 miles a gallon in 2025. “It’ll strengthen our nation’s energy security, it’s good for middle class families and it will help create an economy built to last,” he said in an official statement. The rules are a significant step in the battle against global warming. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/business/fuel-efficiency-standards-have-costs-of-their-own.html?pagewanted=all&pagewanted=print Board: Chevron failed to check bad pipe. There is no evidence that Chevron conducted a crucial inspection last year of the segment of the pipe that later ruptured at its Richmond refinery, leading to a fire that destroyed part of the plant, federal investigators said Tuesday. Given the deteriorated condition of the pipe - which had retained only 20 percent of its original wall thickness - Chevron would have been obligated to replace it to comply with the company's own standards, said Don Holmstrom, Western regional office director of the Chemical Safety Board. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Board-Chevron-failed-to-check-bad-pipe-3858143.php#ixzz26GmR5c4I Chesapeake Energy selling some assets for $6.9B. Oklahoma City -- Chesapeake Energy Corp. is selling the vast portion of its land and infrastructure in west Texas for nearly $7 billion as the company unloads debt and shifts more of its focus to drilling for oil, rather than natural gas. The assets in the oil and gas-rich Permian Basin are being sold in a series of deals to Royal Dutch Shell PLC, and Chevron Corp., and in a previously announced sale to affiliates of EnerVest Ltd. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/12/4811894/chesapeake-energy-selling-some.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy VEHICLES Supercar makers adjust to environmental concerns. Automakers, like Aston Martin and Lamborghini, respond to rising gas prices, awareness of global warming. As America scrambles to pay for ever-more expensive gas and abandons buying new SUV guzzlers in favor of smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, automakers are scrambling even harder to produce the high-mileage, lower-emissions vehicles they think people will buy. But how are the makers of supercars, whose engines environmental experts say emit about three times the amount of carbon dioxide as everyday passenger vehicles, responding? Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/supercar-makers-adjust-environmental-concerns-article-1.1157731#ixzz26Hj6vWG9 Coda Cranks Up Battery-Car Sales After ‘Soft’ Start. Coda Automotive Inc., a Los Angeles-based electric-car maker, is boosting production of its namesake sedan and building a 30-dealer network to compete with larger competitors in the slow-growing rechargeable vehicle market. The Coda sedan by next year will compete outside of California in states including Oregon and Florida with Nissan Motor Co. (7201)’s Leaf…Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-12/coda-cranks-up-battery-car-sales-after-soft-start.html HIGH-SPEED RAIL High-speed rail agency tries to ease farmers' fears. Sacramento -- Will high-speed trains blow away honeybees? Will the state's proposed rail system throw a monkey wrench into ag irrigation systems up and down the Valley? Will the roaring trains stress out cows so much they'll produce less milk? Those were some of the questions the California High-Speed Rail Authority took a shot at answering at Tuesday's board meeting. West side farmer John Diener, chairman of the Agriculture Working Group, an advisory panel for the authority, presented a series of six reports. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/11/2987804/high-speed-rail-agency-seeks-to.html#storylink=cpy GREEN ENERGY SF clean-energy program may profit Shell. In an ironic twist, San Francisco's effort to go green with its own clean-energy program could wind up adding tens of millions of dollars to the coffers of one of the biggest oil companies in the world - Shell. Under the terms of the CleanPowerSF program now before the Board of Supervisors, the city would contract with Shell Energy North America - a subsidiary of Shell Oil - to provide households and businesses with 100 percent renewable electricity. The original idea was simple enough: Buy five years of clean energy on the open market and resell it to locals who want to go green. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/SF-clean-energy-program-may-profit-Shell-3857981.php#ixzz26GmkKYZS Plasma Gasification Raises Hopes of Clean Energy From Garbage. David Robau tours the country promoting a system that sounds too good to be true: It devours municipal garbage, recycles metals, blasts toxic contaminants and produces electricity and usable byproducts — all with drastic reductions in emissions. Mr. Robau, an environmental scientist for the Air Force, has been promoting a method that was developed with the Air Force to dispose of garbage with neither the harmful byproducts of conventional incineration nor the environmental impact of transporting and burying waste. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/science/plasma-gasification-raises-hopes-of-clean-energy-from-garbage.html?ref=science E.P.A. creates mapping tool for renewables development in California. An online mapping tool which enables users to find contaminated or degraded properties that can be converted to renewable energy redevelopment has been launched by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Called the Renewable Energy Siting Tool, it screens an estimated 11,000 contaminated, degraded or cleaned up federal and state sites in California using aerial perspectives while overlaying streamlined information on the site’s clean energy development potential. Posted. http://www.ecoseed.org/politics/15582-e-p-a-creates-mapping-tool-for-renewables-development-in-california GE Recycles 100,000 Refrigerators Using Emissions-Busting Technology. Large appliances, like refrigerators, air conditioners, and freezers are considered hazardous because they contain refrigerants that can contaminate our air, water, and soil. These "white goods" are perfectly safe to use at home, of course, but when it comes time for them to be replaced, their chemical components make it hard to dispose of them safely. Recycling of white goods is a difficult process, as they must be broken down carefully to conserve reuseable parts while preventing the release of harmful substances. Posted. http://www.treehugger.com/clean-technology/ge-recycles-100000-refrigerators-using-emissions-busting-technology.html OPINIONS Doug McIntyre: Big stink has nothing to do with Salton Sea. I'm not buying it. The South Coast Air Quality Management District has a theory on what caused that horrible stench that wafted over Southern California for days. "A fish kill," they said. "From the Salton Sea," they said. Yeah, right. Dead fish from 160 miles away made the Valley stink? I have a different theory. One closer to home. Like Spring Street. The latest proposal from Richard "The Mustache" Alarcón to further embed illegal immigrants into the fabric of the city stinks to the high heavens, so of course it'll be quickly embraced by his colleagues on the council as well as the mayor should he ever find himself in Los Angeles. http://www.dailynews.com/columnists/ci_21518931/doug-mcintyre-big-stink-has-nothing-do-salton Editorial: Alarmism, not climate, grows more extreme. There have been fewer climate-related disasters; despite what the president says. For years, President Barack Obama has been curiously low-key about global warming, or climate change, as politically correct terminology now prefers. Perhaps that's because, when running for office in 2008 he overpromised, declaring that his nomination would mark "the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow, and our planet began to heal." It wasn't quite passing the buck, but the president altered his climate-change rhetoric slightly last week in accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for a second term. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/climate-371063-global-change.html Google's Business Is Booming, Its Carbon Emissions Are Not. Google’s carbon footprint is growing but not as fast as its business, the search giant said Wednesday. “Our carbon footprint per million dollars of revenue – a measure of carbon intensity commonly used to track corporate sustainability – has decreased by an average of 10% each year since 2009,” Rick Needham, Google’s director of energy and sustainability, wrote in a blog post disclosing the company’s 2011 carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/toddwoody/2012/09/12/googles-business-is-booming-its-carbon-emissions-are-not/ Climate Change Giveth and Taketh (But Mostly Taketh). Climate Denial World is a strange and wonderous place. The inhabitants of Climate Denial World live in an atmosphere unrestrained by facts, science, or statistical likelihood. Here on Planet Earth, our climate scientists are virtually unanimous in their assessment of climate change, and time proves their research to be eerily accurate. The effects of climate change are increasingly extreme and unprecedented. Residents of Climate Denial World have a sunnier disposition; climate change is a good thing. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/neil-wagner/climate-change-giveth-and_b_1869568.html?utm_hp_ref=green BLOGS Corporations Slow to Act on Climate Change, Report Says. While many continue to argue, along with Milton Friedman, that "the business of business is business," more and more publicly traded companies around the world have been embracing sustainability as a long-term strategic asset in the face of climate change. But not enough of them are doing so, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Carbon Disclosure Project, a British nonprofit group that gathers information for investors about the environmental policies of large companies and the environmental risks they face. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/corporations-slow-to-act-on-climate-change-report-says/?ref=science&pagewanted=print An Ounce of Prevention in New York City. As I note in my article about climate change, rising seas and the risks for New York City, many local governments in the United States are drafting contingency plans to address the prospect of more severe flooding in coming decades. “Different cities are ahead in different things,” said Vicki Arroyo, executive director of the Georgetown Climate Center, a think tank that assists cities in adapting to climate change. Still, she said, few municipalities feel fully prepared, and most struggle to come up with the funds they need to shore up their resistance. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/an-ounce-of-prevention-in-new-york-city/ The Growing Might of Solar Power. From California to New Jersey, the summer sun was hot this year — and so was the solar industry. While the business of solar energy is still small enough and young enough to record firsts at the fearsome pace of a toddler, the milestones are getting more substantial. For instance, in mid-August California’s utility-scale solar generating stations combined to put out the same amount of energy — one gigawatt — as a substantial nuclear or coal-fired power plant. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/11/the-growing-might-of-solar-power/ A 210-Million-Year-Old Puzzle. It is often said that geological and paleontological investigations are like trying to put together a puzzle with many of the pieces missing. Yet, while we can’t travel back in time to observe every detail, the geologic record contains a rich archive of past life and its environments. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, we’re interested in not only in the animals and plants that lived 210 million years ago, but also their physical and climatic surroundings. Posted. http://scientistatwork.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/a-210-million-year-old-puzzle/ ====================================================================== 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 Sep 2012 16:21:17 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for September 131, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 13, 2012. 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 Record loss of Arctic ice may trigger extreme weather. Arctic sea ice is shrinking at a rate much faster than scientists ever predicted and its collapse, due to global warming, may well cause extreme weather this winter in North America and Europe, according to climate scientists. Last month, researchers announced that Arctic sea ice had dwindled to the smallest size ever observed by man, covering almost half the area it did 30 years ago, when satellites and submarines first began measuring it. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-arctic-ice-melt-20120912,0,5522231.story?track=rss Obama Administration's Carbon Cap and Trade Program. The Obama administration is developing a cap-and-trade program for reducing carbon dioxide emissions. This is an important development for the renewable-energy industry because carbon credits created from the use of biofuels and wind energy will help meet established national goals. It also is of concern for the northern Plains because coal is used extensively for plant heating and electrical generation, so any reduction in emissions will raise user costs. Posted. http://www.agmrc.org/renewable_energy/climate_change/obama-administrations-carbon-cap-and-trade-program/ JUST ONE BREATH: Changing climate may expand valley fever's impact. Valley fever feeds on heat. And as the average temperature ticks up with each passing decade, experts are concerned that the fungus' footprint and impact are expanding, as evidenced by a rise in cases in areas far outside the hot spots of the Central Valley of California. In the soil, the cocci fungus lives on dead organic matter. Less rainfall and higher temperatures reduce overall vegetation, diminishing soil competition for the hardy fungus, scientists say. Cocci spores survive -- even thrive -- when the environment is drier and hotter since other competitors die off. BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/health/x246651198/JUST-ONE-BREATH-Changing-climate-may-expand-valley-fevers-impact?utm_source=widget_63&utm_medium=latest_entries_widget&utm_campaign=synapse Study: Sea otters' role in kelp forest health could aid in global warming prevention. Santa Cruz -- Monterey Bay's main mascot may turn out to be a secret agent in the fight against climate change. It has long been known that sea otters, nursed back from brink of extinction in the past several decades, provide huge benefits for the vitality of undersea kelp forests. But a pair of UCSC scientists recently found that those benefits extend into the atmosphere, finding a strong connection between otters, kelp and global warming. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21528927/study-sea-otters-role-kelp-forest-health-could?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com DIESEL EMISSIONS Ryder settlement with state includes $1 million payment. The California Air Resources Board said Ryder System Inc., the Miami-based transportation and supply company, has paid more than $1 million in a settlement for what ARB said was failure to conduct testing and maintain complete records of required annual "opacity" tests on heavy-duty vehicles in its California fleet in 2008-09.Opacity tests are performed to determine whether a truck produces visible smoke from its exhaust. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/12/4813518/ryder-settlement-with-state-includes.html#storylink=cpy http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2012/9/13/RyderSystempays1milliontoCARBoverfailuretotestmaintainrecords.aspx http://modbee.com/2012/09/12/2370226/ryder-settlement-with-state-includes.html#storylink=misearch Union Pacific to study low-emissions locomotives. Union Pacific said on Monday that it will spend $20 million testing low-emissions locomotives in California. The railroad may eventually test up to 25 locomotives with various low-emissions technology. They include one, to be based in Roseville, Calif., that will use several emissions-reducing technologies, including recirculating its exhaust gasses. The railroad and the California Air Resources Board will analyze the emissions reductions achieved by that locomotive over the next year and a half. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/aug/13/union-pacific-to-study-low-emissions-locomotives/ FUELS 4 Biofuels That Don't Take Food Off People's Tables. As the fuel versus food debate intensifies, Oilprice.com takes a look at the top four advanced, non-food biofuels that may have a long-term potential to become commercially, and hopefully environmentally, viable. The production of advanced biofuels was up this year by some 437 million gallons over last year, but economic challenges remain formidable and technology will be the key to unlocking potential. Perhaps things are so great right now for the advanced biofuels industry, but it will take time and patience to figure out how to appease both the market and Mother Nature. Posted. http://www.cnbc.com/id/49008405 VEHICLES Nissan chief pitches electric taxis to Hong Kong. Nissan President Carlos Ghosn met Wednesday with Hong Kong’s leader to pitch a proposal for the Japanese car maker to supply electric taxis to the southern Chinese city. Ghosn’s visit with Leung Chun-ying is part of an effort to sell Nissan’s electric taxi technology to cities around the world looking to upgrade their taxi fleets to more environmentally friendly models. Earlier this year, New York City chose Nissan’s van-like NV200 to replace older models starting October 2013, with an electric version on the cards for 2017. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-09-12/nissan-chief-pitches-electric-taxis-to-hong-kong Other related articles: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/nissan-chief-pitches-electric-taxis-to-hong-kong-as-it-debates-replacement-for-aging-fleet/2012/09/12/8242da68-fcc7-11e1-98c6-ec0a0a93f8eb_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/12/nissan-chief-pitches-electric-taxis-to-hong-kong/ http://www.rdmag.com/News/FeedsAP/2012/09/manufacturing-nissan-chief-pitches-electric-taxis-to-hong-kong/ GREEN ENERGY New study sheds light on dark energy. Dark energy—the mysterious and poorly understood force that scientists have proposed is somehow causing the universe to expand at an accelerating rate—is almost definitely real, according to a new study, which puts the likelihood of its existence at 99.996%. In the mid 1990s, two teams of scientists proposed the existence of dark energy when they observed, while examining distant exploding stars called supernovae, that some of them were less bright than expected. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/lat-sci-sn-new-study-sheds-light-on-dark-energy-20120913,0,7447402.story?track=rss MISCELLANEOUS Environmental Scientist Honored by California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board. Janet Arey, a professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and the Interdepartmental Program in Environmental Toxicology at University of California, Riverside, has been awarded the Haagen-Smit Clean Air Award for Air Pollution Research by the California Environmental Protection Agency Air Resources Board (ARB) in recognition of her lasting contributions to the health and well-being of Californians. Posted. http://ucrtoday.ucr.edu/8758 Pollution, Poverty, People of Color: Warnings about contaminated fish fail to reach people most at risk. Trey Mackey expertly baits his fishing hook with a live worm, sits down on a folding chair and casts a line into the waters of Monona Bay. He’s driven up from Chicago for a day of fishing that could provide a fresh, tasty dinner of blue gill. But unbeknownst to Mackey, consuming fish from the bay carries a significant health risk. Posted. http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2012/fish-advisories-and-environmental-justice OPINIONS On natural gas, green groups can’t make up their minds. Gas is the new coal. At least that’s what the Obama administration seems to think. In accepting his nomination to run for a second term, President Obama pledged to “continue to reduce the carbon pollution that is heating our planet,” and to create 600,000 new jobs in the natural gas industry. The two goals are directly related in the administration’s policies; in March 2012, the Obama EPA announced new emissions rules for power plants that meant no new coal plants will be built in the U.S. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/on-natural-gas-green-groups-cant-make-up-their-minds/ BLOGS San Onofre months from restarting reactors. The darkened San Onofre power plant will not restart even one of its two reactors for months, the head of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Wednesday. In the meantime, anti-nuclear advocates stepped up pressure to keep the plant shut down, with the release of an analysis showing that the issues with San Onofre’s steam generators are among the worst in the industry. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/09/san-onofre-restart-tube-wear-report.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lanowblog+%28L.A.+Now%29 Academy Finds Mixed Climate Impacts on Himalayan Glaciers, Water Supplies. Given all the oversimplified assertions over the years about Himalayan glaciers in a warming global climate, it’s great to see a committee assembled by the National Academy of Sciences weigh in on the question with some data-based findings in a new report, “Himalayan Glaciers: Climate Change, Water Resources, and Water Security.” The bottom line — in sync with other recent analysis — is that the region is seeing a mix of changes, with glaciers growing in some places and shrinking in others and impacts on water supplies mostly inconsequential for decades to come. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/12/academy-finds-mixed-climate-impacts-on-himalayan-glaciers-water-supplies/ Hybrids still account for fewer than 2% of new vehicles sold. It's either a drop in the bucket or a segment with lots of room to grow. Which aspect an advanced-powertrain vehicle advocate chooses depends on how he sees the challenge that hybrids face in the marketplace. Given a new study that once again shows that, after more than ten years on sale, gas-electric models still account for just a small fraction of the global light-duty vehicles made, we're inclined to see it both ways. Worldwide vehicle production could reach a record 80 million units this year, up at least 4.2 percent from 76.8 million last year, according to Washington, D.C.-based sustainable industry advocate Worldwatch Institute. But, hybrids will account for fewer than one in every 50 vehicles produced, according to the survey, or less than two percent. Electric vehicle production? That's at "barely perceptible levels," the report said. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/12/hybrids-still-account-for-fewer-than-2-of-new-vehicles-sold/ Biofuels supporters buoyed after meetings with lawmakers. Biofuels supporters who swarmed Capitol Hill offices this week feel confident they have sufficient congressional commitment to preserve a fuel rule critical to the industry. The meetings come after biofuels groups hired a lobby firm to deflect attacks from some lawmakers and livestock and poultry groups against the portion of that rule that buoys corn ethanol production. Tom Buis, the CEO of biofuels industry group Growth Energy, said the “170-some appointments” biofuels proponents held Monday through Wednesday assured him of bipartisan and administration commitment to the renewable fuel standard (RFS). Posted. http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/249095-biofuels-supports-flood-capitol-hill-plan-lobby-blitz Ford says consumer green attitude shift justifies drive to fuel efficient cars. Ford says the company's major push into high fuel efficiency vehicles is justified by market research showing consumers are already taking steps to increase fuel efficiency, and are willing to pay a bit more for higher MPG's. Buying an electric and hybrid cars generally means paying the "hybrid premium" bump in price for the vehicle. For example the 2013 Ford Fusion SE has an MSRP of $23,495 whereas the hybrid model carries a $4,000 price premium for an MSRP of $27,495. Ford Motors released a info from a survey today showing the majority of American's will pay more for green products, and a slightly smaller majority is taking measures to drive more efficiently. Posted. http://www.torquenews.com/1075/ford-says-consumer-green-attitude-shift-justifies-drive-fuel-efficient-cars How Are You Going Green? Study Suggests 25% Of Drivers Want Hybrids. Pretend for a moment that you're walking down the street, minding your own business, when a stranger approaches and offers you $1,000 cash. The money is yours for the taking -- no questions asked, no illicit activities involved -- but you have to spend it on energy savings. What would you do with it? That's the question that polling firm Penn Schoen Berland posed to consumers, and the results were interesting, to say the least. Given the circumstances, you might imagine that a substantial portion of respondents would choose to spend the money on savings to benefit their homes. And in fact, 25% did, saying that they'd use the $1,000 to replace old appliances with energy-efficient models or that they'd purchase solar panels to cut down on electric consumption. Posted. http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1079122_how-are-you-going-green-study-suggests-25-of-drivers-want-hybrids ====================================================================== 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 Sep 2012 13:05:27 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 14, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 14, 2012. 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 Let locals fix Salton Sea, Riverside County supervisor says. Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley, on Thursday, called for state officials to step aside and let the Salton Sea Authority lead efforts to restore the sea. “Foul odors emanating from the Salton Sea across the Inland Empire and Los Angeles area early this week serve as a pungent reminder of the state’s dereliction of duty toward this troubled ecosystem,” Ashley said in a two-page statement released Thursday. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012309140039 Chevron air monitoring program languishes. Six air monitoring stations that Chevron agreed to install at its Richmond refinery in 2010 were not put in place, which might have slowed warnings about the danger of pollutants released during the refinery’s disastrous August fire, city officials and air quality regulators say. The company pledged to install the equipment as part of a May 2010 agreement with the city of Richmond that settled a dispute over how much the refinery owed in utility taxes. Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/chevron-air-monitoring-program-languishes-18003 CLIMATE CHANGE Russia will not cut emissions under extended Kyoto climate pact. Russia confirmed on Thursday it would not make cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from 2013 under the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol, joining Canada and Japan in rejecting an extension of the plan for fighting climate change. The foreign ministry said Moscow would not join industrialized nations led by the European Union in signing up for cuts beyond a first round of commitments ending on December 31, 2012. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/13/us-russia-kyoto-idUSBRE88C0QZ20120913 DIESEL EMISSIONS IMO set to collide with EU over vessel CO2 emissions. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is making little headway on market-based measures to curb carbon dioxide emissions from international shipping, putting it on a policy collision course with the European Union, observers said. A committee of the 170-member United Nations shipping body was unable to make "tangible progress" after a week of talks that ended late on Friday, a delegate told Reuters. An IMO spokeswoman said discussions on market-based measures, such as a levy on CO2 emissions and a cap-and-trade scheme, will resume in October when the Marine Environment Protection Committee meets again. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/14/us-shipping-carbon-idUSBRE88D0Y520120914 Ryder $1 Million Settlement to CARB to Help Pay for Education, Natural Gas Service. The California Air Resources Board announced that Ryder System paid $1 million for failure to conduct testing and maintain complete records of required annual opacity tests on heavy-duty vehicles in its California fleet in 2008 and 2009. Annual opacity tests, performed to determine whether a truck produces visible smoke from its exhaust, and related record-keeping are required under California law. Records reviewed by CARB enforcement staff indicated that Ryder failed to conduct tests and maintain records of the tests on vehicles that were in service for four or more years. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=77999 FUELS Higher gas prices fueled retail sales and inflation in August. The gas pump helped the economy last month and also hurt it. Retail sales jumped 0.9% in August, the biggest increase in six months, driven by a rise in gasoline prices, the Census Bureau said Friday. But the spike in fuel costs also caused the cost of living to go up 0.6% last month -- the largest move since June 2009, according to the Labor Department. Gas stations saw their sales rise 2.5% because of higher gasoline prices, which boosted retail sales. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-retail-sales-autos-20120914,0,5781064.story VEHICLES Car2go, say it ain't so: Rates rise on anytime electric cars. San Diego's car2go network of anytime electric rental cars is increasing its rates by $1 an hour starting Sept. 17. In an email to customers, car2go cited rising operating costs for insurance and parking, as well as investments in electric charging infrastructure. Per minute rates will increase 11 percent to 38 cents a minute from 35 cents. Lengthier rentals will increase to $13.99 an hour, or $72.99 a day. The petite two-seaters can be rented on-demand and dropped off in public parking and some other spots within an area stretching from Mission Bay to Petco Park. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/14/san-diego-car2go-raises-rates/ How to reach EV mass market by 2025. “Increased adoption of electric vehicles will improve California’s environment and economy”, states the report. At stake is the future of the electric vehicle market. California accounts for 11 percent of the national market for annual new car sales, as well as more than 20 percent of non plug-in hybrid vehicle sales in the US. With such a significant market share and volume of cars, California can help launch a sustainable and more robust electric vehicle market, with the country and world benefitting as a result. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4933 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Fewer Californians Like High Speed Rail or Pension Law. The survey shows that more Californians are opposed to high speed rail and think the recently-signed pension legislation doesn't do enough to address unfunded costs. The survey was conducted by the California Business Roundtable and Pepperdine University. It showed that only 39-percent of voters support high speed rail. 43-percent oppose it. Voters were given arguments from both supporters and critics and asked to choose which one they agree with. Posted. http://www.capradio.org/articles/2012/09/13/fewer-californians-like-high-speed-rail-or-pension-law Farmers criticize high-speed rail plan. San Joaquin Valley farmers have told the California High-Speed Rail Authority that they are opposed to the planned transportation line. Residents have complained that the rail authority has ignored their concerns about the project's potential disruption of farms, businesses and neighborhoods. The county and others are suing in Sacramento to halt the project. The Fresno Bee (bit.ly/No04FI) says farmers told the authority board on Tuesday that high-speed rail threatens agriculture, including the irrigation networks, and they complained they are only getting vague answer to their questions. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/12/4812424/farmers-criticize-high-speed-rail.html GREEN ENERGY Energy officials plan for another summer without San Onofre. The organization that runs California's energy grid is planning ahead in case the San Onofre nuclear plant remains out of commission in the summer of 2013. The organization responsible for overseeing California's power grid is already developing plans to meet next summer's electricity needs in Southern California if the San Onofre nuclear plant remains offline. The plant's outage has now stretched for more than seven months, forcing energy officials to replace its 2,200 megawatts of power — enough to power about 1.4 million homes — in the heat of the summer. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0914-san-onofre-20120914,0,4575898.story House votes to end energy loan guarantee program. Republicans on Friday pushed a bill through the House shining a campaign-season light on the most conspicuous failure of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package. The bill would phase out federal loan guarantees like those that went to the now-bankrupt solar power company Solyndra LLC and left taxpayers on the hook for more than $500 million. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/House-votes-to-end-energy-loan-guarantee-program-3865745.php#ixzz26SsJINiF GreenVolts halts operations in a solar company meltdown. GreenVolts has suspended all manufacturing, marketing and sales operations, effective immediately, dealing a fresh blow to the Bay Area solar industry. Roughly three-quarters of the solar company's staff -- 60 out of 80 employees -- has been dismissed in the shutdown. The startup had been developing photo voltaic systems using a new kind of technology to concentrate sunlight onto solar cells. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21536586/greenvolts-halts-operations-solar-company-meltdown Faulty solar panels pulled from 24 schools. Solar panels were taken down from 24 San Diego Unified School District campuses over the summer after the products were found to have defects including premature corrosion causing a danger of roof fires. The manufacturer of the panels, Michigan-based Solar Integrated Technologies, has filed for bankruptcy protection. The district expects to pay $400,000 more annually for energy in the coming years because of the dismantling of the installations. The panels, installed in 2005, were expected to last at least 20 years. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/13/sun-sets-on-solar-panels-at-24-schools/ MISCELLANEOUS Body disposal technology widens green funeral choice. Burnt, buried or frozen and turned to powder are some of the options for dealing with the remains of a loved one whose last wishes include lessening death's environmental impact. Our demise can have a big environmental impact. Around three quarters of people in the United Kingdom alone are cremated after they die but cremation uses about the same amount of domestic energy as a person uses in a month. Globally, cremation emits over 6.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year, accounting for around 0.02 percent of world carbon dioxide emissions, experts estimate. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/14/us-death-funerals-idUSBRE88C0HA20120914 Death Valley takes hottest record. For exactly 90 years, it was thought El Azizia, Libya, had recorded the world's hottest temperature, a blistering 136 degrees on Sept. 13, 1922. Not so. A team of atmospheric scientists, after a comprehensive review, has concluded the reading is bogus. This means Death Valley's weather station at Greenland Ranch, now Furnace Creek Ranch, where the mercury soared to a scorching 134 degrees on July 10, 1913, now holds the distinction of having achieved the Earth's hottest temperature. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Death-Valley-takes-hottest-record-3864466.php#ixzz26StX5z92 SF car sharing revs up but hits bumps. San Francisco's quest to cut down on private car travel, car sharing is becoming increasingly important - and popular. While San Francisco may be a transit-first city, taking Muni or BART isn't always a viable option. Sometimes hauling groceries, making a trip to Ikea or just getting across the city quickly requires a car, even for people who don't want to own one. With a pioneering nonprofit operation - City CarShare - and two private car-sharing outfits - Zipcar and BMW's recently launched DriveNow…Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SF-car-sharing-revs-up-but-hits-bumps-3864454.php#ixzz26T4hhwiL OPINIONS S.F. floats risky bet on green power. San Francisco's persistent fascination with public power is up for another test. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors will consider an attractive but flawed plan to offer clean energy and shake up the utility landscape. At issue is a long-studied proposal that tests the public appetite for going 100 percent renewable on electric power, an option not offered by the city's only provider, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. The proposal is public-power-lite, afforded by a state law that allows a city to line up renewable energy as a consumer option. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/S-F-floats-risky-bet-on-green-power-3864288.php#ixzz26SrMTk5S Climate Change: Carbon market needs efficient global rules. The world stands at a ¬critical juncture. The effects of climate change are accelerating and the predicted rise in global temperatures will have an increasingly devastating impact on food security, human settlement and our ability to survive as a people and a planet. But global action to address this looming crisis falls far short of what is needed. This lack of action to cut carbon dioxide emissions (referred to as "mitigation" in climate jargon) is also having an impact on carbon markets. Posted. http://mg.co.za/article/2012-09-14-00-climate-change-carbon-market-needs-efficient-global-rules Energy democracy: Three ways to bring solar to the masses. Pollution is not the only thing wrong with the U.S. power system. It is also governed by inconsistent rules and opaque, unaccountable organizations. The average citizen has little understanding of how it works, who is in charge, or how it might change for the better. The financial benefits of electricity, like power generation itself, tend to be centralized, concentrating in the hands of shareholders and executives. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/energy-democracy-three-ways-to-bring-solar-to-the-masses/ BLOGS Why the recent plunge in U.S. carbon emissions may not last. Over the winter, the United States reached what seemed like an encouraging milestone. Carbon dioxide emissions from energy sources dropped to their lowest levels in 20 years. At first glance, the country looked like it was making progress in reining in its planet-warming greenhouse-gas emissions. But some experts now argue that the carbon drop might just be a blip, an aberration due to one-time factors such as a warmer winter and unsustainably cheap natural gas prices. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/09/14/why-the-recent-plunge-in-u-s-carbon-emissions-may-not-last/ An Argument Over Wind. With the wind industry facing the expiration of a production tax credit at the end of the year, the sector’s main trade association is facing off against Exelon, the big power generation company, over whether the tax break should be renewed. Last week, the Wind Energy Association expelled Exelon as a member because the company opposed a renewal of the credit. The association says that if the tax credit expires, some 17,000 jobs will be eliminated next year and that deliveries of new turbines will spiral to zero. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/an-argument-over-wind/ California Senate leader sets in motion reform of state environmental laws. A month after quashing a rushed attempt to overhaul the state’s environmental laws, Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) said Thursday he is convening meetings with all the parties involved in the issue in the months before the Legislature reconvenes in December. Steinberg also said he is appointing the author of last month’s environmental bill, Sen. Michael Rubio (D-East-Bakersfield), as chairman of the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality for the upcoming legislative session. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/09/california-senate-leader-pledges-reform-state-environmental-laws.html Social Innovation: First California Electric Vehicle Survey Shows Benefits. The California Centre for Sustainable Energy, with the California Air Resources Board, has conducted the largest social innovation plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) owner survey in the state's history. Recording date from more than 2,500 Californian PEV owners, the results have been released. The survey shows that nine out of ten owners said these vehicles represent their primary car though almost all had a second, conventional car. Posted. http://www.justmeans.com/Social-Innovation-First-California-Electric-Vehicle-Survey-Shows-Benefits/55900.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 Sep 2012 14:17:59 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 17, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 17, 2012. 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 Ventura County's air meets federal 1997 smog standards. Ventura County has met its deadline for cleaning up smog per 1997 standards, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced. It is one of nine areas in the state to do so, federal officials said. The county, however, still falls short of current smog standards, set in 2008. "It's a huge step in a positive direction. It's a big milestone," said Niloufar Glosson, policy analyst with the EPA. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/15/ventura-countys-air-meets-federal-1997-smog/?partner=RSS http://www.newsreview.com/chico/butte-county-meets-smog-standard/content?oid=7629042 http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/news/article_28b05860-fea5-11e1-8beb-0019bb2963f4.html CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Trading Heating Up. With California on Track to Implement Cap-Trade Laws, the Market Gets Active. After a series of false starts, the market for trading carbon-emission credits is showing new signs of life in California. Trading volumes for these carbon credits—which allow holders to emit as many greenhouse-gas emissions as they want, provided they acquire enough of them—are at a nine-month high. Prices are up 1% since the start of this year, even as prices on carbon allowances elsewhere in the world are plumbing lows. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443779404577643592149738280.html?KEYWORDS=carbon+trading+heating+up&_nocache=1347903912785articleTabs=article&user=welcome&mg=id-wsj#printMode BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Droughts latest wrinkle in climate debate. Climate change is here. Even those who differ over its cause agree that it’s happening. In the United States alone, 28,570 high-heat records have been set so far this year, more than ever before, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported this month. As if that weren’t problem enough, the world is also plunging into another major food crisis. And what most people don’t know is that the two issues are directly related. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81276.html#ixzz26kgO3wLN FUELS Drilling boom means compromises for eager oil companies. High petroleum prices are prompting a drilling boom in California, which in recent years has struggled with an oil production drop. But in July, about 53 rigs were searching for oil and gas in the Golden State -- that's the highest number per month in the past 22 years, industry data show. Oil companies find themselves having to negotiate difficult and complicated deals with residents who live near oil zones and local officials on how to tap the oil with little disruption. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/print/2012/09/17/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Car2go rates rise $1 an hour. San Diego's car2go network of anytime electric rental cars is increasing its rates by $1 an hour starting Sept. 17. In an email to customers, car2go cited rising operating costs for insurance and parking, as well as investments in electric charging infrastructure. Per minute rates will increase 9 percent to 38 cents a minute from 35 cents. Lengthier rentals will increase to $13.99 an hour, or $72.99 a day. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/14/san-diego-car2go-raises-rates/ GREEN ENERGY Japan Sets Policy to Phase Out Nuclear Power Plants by 2040. TOKYO — Japan said Friday that it would seek to phase out nuclear power by 2040 — a historic shift for a country that has long staked its future on such energy, but one that falls far short of the decisive steps the government had promised in the wake of the world’s second-largest nuclear plant disaster last year. Although the long-awaited energy policy was named the “Revolutionary Energy and Environment Strategy” by its authors, it extended the expected transition away from nuclear power by at least a decade and includes caveats that appear to allow some plants to operate for decades past even the new deadline. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/15/world/asia/japan-will-try-to-halt-nuclear-power-by-the-end-of-the-2030s.html?ref=earth Solar companies look to East Bay. Alameda County -- Even at the eastern edge of the Bay Area, where power lines crisscross a sprawl of nearby waterways and browning rural land, location is a hot commodity. Spurred by California's mandate that all utilities produce 33 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020, solar companies hoping to harness the sun's energy have eyes on flat land just west of Mountain House near the San Joaquin County line. It is a prime location next to transmission lines and substations. At least four applicants showed interest in that area of Alameda County last year. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/environment/ci_21547469/headline 'Bio-digester' seen as answer to problems from Ojai Valley manure. Bill O'Brien hears two questions most often: How much will it cost, and how bad will it smell? For several years, the Meiners Oaks man has championed an idea to develop a "bio-digester" that could turn horse manure into electricity. Sparked by concerns about pollutants in the Ventura River, the plans call for a facility to process horse and cattle manure, restaurant discards and other green waste into methane gas, fertilizer and compost. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/16/bio-digester-seen-as-answer-to-problems-from/ MISCELLANEOUS San Francisco officials to vote on public power. San Francisco officials on Tuesday are set to decide whether to fund an energy plan that will give city residents the option of getting 100 percent of their power from renewable sources. The city's Board of Supervisors will consider whether to approve $19.5 million for the contract with Shell Energy North America, the San Francisco Chronicle reported (http://bit.ly/S2xA52). Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/San-Francisco-officials-to-vote-on-public-power-3871752.php#ixzz26l5bUbm4 http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/San-Francisco-officials-to-vote-on-public-power-3871752.php http://www.modbee.com/2012/09/17/2377246/san-francisco-officials-to-vote.html#storylink=misearch Sharp joins composting program. San Diego ---- Sharp HealthCare will become first health care organization to join city of San Diego's Food Waste Composting Program. Two hospitals within Sharp HealthCare will divert more than 336,000 pounds of food waste from local landfills each year as part of the city of San Diego's Food Waste Composting Program. Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women and Newborns and Sharp Memorial Hospital expect to send about 7,000 pounds of food waste each week to the Miramar Greenery composting facility, located at the Miramar Landfill. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/sharp-joins-composting-program/article_b6c58295-85a6-51ad-95ce-a8af6546b371.html Century-old toxins complicate hotel project. A major component of a planned expansion of a downtown hotel will be delayed because of buried 19th century toxins. On Aug. 21, the Napa City Council approved plans for a 26-room expansion of the Napa River Inn, including a pool, fitness center and other amenities. The addition of a third floor to the inn’s Embarcadero building at the south end of the property can go ahead, but the construction of a new building in the parking lot of the Historic Napa Mill complex will be delayed, developer Harry Price said last week. Posted. http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/century-old-toxins-complicate-hotel-project/article_8ec1683a-feda-11e1-98f3-0019bb2963f4.html CORONA: Apartments planned for former toxic site. Owners of a former toxic dump site in west Corona say they plan to build apartments and an industrial park on 38 acres. The project could be considered by the Corona Planning Commission in November, but a date has not yet been set, said Sandra Yang, associate planner for Corona. Developer Rusty Turner, of Turner Real Estate Investments in Newport Beach, said his company is working to get entitlements to build 288 apartments and an industrial park on the site known as Thomas Ranch. Revisions to the project still are being made. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/corona/corona-headlines-index/20120914-corona-apartments-planned-for-former-toxic-site.ece OPINIONS Building a Green Consumer. Energy users need financial incentives. But money alone isn't enough. When it comes to saving energy, people aren't irrational. They just seem that way sometimes. Policy makers and executives sometimes think that if they just make it cost-effective for people to save energy, it will happen. But it hasn't—at least not in a big enough way. Households and businesses remain far less energy-efficient than they would be if their decisions followed standard economic principles. So why aren't more people making those investments? Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443792604577572852896507494.html BU SUBSCRIPTION ONLY The Presidential Politics of Climate and Energy. I know it shouldn't surprise me anymore, but the amount of disinformation about climate and energy that is blasted at us all the time still manages to inspire shock and awe. I'm old enough to have first read Orwell's 1984 when it was still a date in the future, and I find today's barrage of propaganda bringing to mind Orwell's protagonist, Winston Smith, and his struggle to distinguish fact from propaganda. The idea that climate science is continuing to be challenged by the fossil-fuel industry and its political beneficiaries is no longer news, but the credence given to these fringe views is scary. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-cohen/the-presidential-politics_b_1889725.html?utm_hp_ref=green Climate Change: 'Hoax' Or Crime Of The Century? Well, we had a warm summer here in the United States, and that brought some of the climate change alarmists out again. Looks like it’s time for another rebuttal! John Coleman, the founder of The Weather Channel, and various other critics have called the theory that human use of carbon-based fossil fuels will lead to catastrophic global warming or climate change a “hoax.” It is, but it’s more than that, it’s criminal. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/markhendrickson/2012/09/16/climate-change-hoax-or-crime-of-the-century/ A global warming duel blows into town. Newport Beach, Mark Tabbert: As the Arctic hourglass of melting sea ice marks the time we have left to address global warming, the Register sticks its head in the thawed-out permafrost [“Alarmism, not climate, grows more extreme,” Editorial, Sept. 12]. Ninety-eight percent of climate scientists – the people who do the peer-reviewed research – dispute Register’s contention on climate change. If 98 out of 100 doctors told you that you have cancer, you’d start the chemo treatment. If 98 out of 100 airplane mechanics said that a plane was unsafe to fly, you wouldn’t board it. Posted. http://letters.ocregister.com/2012/09/17/a-global-warming-duel-blows-into-town/ Farm bill a climate disaster in the making. FARMERS went to Washington last week. Members of a coalition representing more than 80 agricultural organizations rallied on Capitol Hill to demand passage of a new farm bill that has been stalled in Congress. The Democratic-led Senate has already passed its version of the bill; the Republican-controlled House is squabbling over a competing approach (one that sharply cuts food aid to the poor). Irate farmers want both sides to shut up and pass something that can replace the current farm bill, which expires Sept. 30. All of the parties, though, are focused on the wrong thing. The farm bill is not only the centerpiece of United States food and agriculture policy, it is also a de facto climate bill. And in this respect, both the Senate and House versions of the legislation are a disaster waiting to happen. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/opinions/ci_21551551/farm-bill-climate-disaster-making BLOGS Shell Stymied in 2012 Arctic Oil Quest. Saying that a spill response dome aboard a vessel has been damaged, Shell announced Monday that it would defer its plan to drill for oil in the Arctic off the Alaskan coast this year. In seeking approval to drill, the company fought a long battle against environmentalists and others who say that drilling in the icy region is too risky. In a statement, Greenpeace claimed vindication and called Shell’s high-stakes program a “monumentally reckless gamble.” But the company says it will press on and seek a safety permit for the vessel next year. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/17/shell-stymied-on-this-years-arctic-oil-quest/?ref=earth L.A.’s Transit Revolution. How a ballot initiative, a visionary mayor, and a quest for growth are turning Los Angeles into America’s next great mass-transit city. On a recent visit to Southern California, I began my day in Claremont, where I’d spoken the previous evening at a Pomona College event. I walked from a hotel near campus to the Claremont Metrolink station, where I grabbed a commuter rail train to Union Station in downtown Los Angeles. From there I transferred to the L.A. Metro’s Red Line and rode up to the Vermont/Santa Monica station and checked into a new hotel. Posted. http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_pivot/2012/09/l_a_metro_how_los_angeles_is_becoming_america_s_next_great_mass_transit_city_.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 Sep 2012 14:30:06 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 18, 2012.. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 18, 2012. 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: Sea otters' role in kelp forest health could aid in global warming prevention. Santa Cruz -- Monterey Bay's main mascot may turn out to be a secret agent in the fight against climate change. It has long been known that sea otters, nursed back from brink of extinction in the past several decades, provide huge benefits for the vitality of undersea kelp forests. But a pair of UCSC scientists recently found that those benefits extend into the atmosphere, finding a strong connection between otters, kelp and global warming. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21528927/study-sea-otters-role-kelp-forest-health-could Offsets slow to heat up in Calif. despite threat of shortage. Carbon offset providers are wary of investing in California's nascent emissions trading market, despite repeated warnings that the landmark cap-and-trade system will be short of the credits it may need. Offsets hold the potential to bring down the cost of complying with the state's economywide emissions market, set to begin with an inaugural auction of carbon allowances in November. But, analysts say, those who might develop forestry, agricultural methane and other projects approved for offsets appear hesitant to enter the market. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/18/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY The Arctic could be ice-free by 2016. Cambridge professor Peter Wadhams has a prediction. Wadhams has spent many years collecting ice thickness data from submarines passing below the Arctic Ocean. He predicted the imminent break-up of sea ice in summer months in 2007, when the previous lowest extent of 4.17 million square kilometres was set. This year, it has unexpectedly plunged a further 500,000 sq km to less than 3.5m sq km. “I have been predicting [the collapse of sea ice in summer months] for many years. The main cause is simply global warming: as the climate has warmed there has been less ice growth during the winter and more ice melt during the summer. Posted. http://grist.org/news/the-arctic-could-be-ice-free-by-2016/ Good news: 123 of the last 133 years have been cooler than 2012. Earlier today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its monthly assessment of our rapidly degrading climate. We’ll start with the good news: 2012 is on pace to be only the ninth-warmest year in recorded history! This is good news in the sense that, over the 133 years records have been kept, 2012 has so far been warmer than only 123 of them. Posted. http://grist.org/news/good-news-123-of-the-last-133-years-have-been-cooler-than-2012/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Thermo King 25-plus-hp engines for 2013 receive EPA, CARB certification. Thermo King is the first transport refrigeration manufacturer to receive US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification for 2013 model year engines greater than 25 horsepower and has done so without the use of a diesel particulate filter. Customers of Thermo King, a manufacturer of transport temperature control systems for various mobile applications and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, will now benefit from more sustainable systems, gain indefinite engine life in California, and achieve greater flexibility in trade cycles. Posted. http://refrigeratedtrans.com/fleet/engines/thermo_king_engines_receive_epa_carb_certification_0918/ Diesel prices rise only slightly. Once again this week, the price of diesel per gallon has gone up only marginally over last week. Prices rose only 0.3 cents per gallon on average to $4.14, which is an increase of approximately 30 cents over prices last year. The West Coast, typically the site of the nation's highest fuel prices, experienced a slight decline in diesel prices this week as well. Prices there fell an average 2.4 cents per gallon to land at $4.40. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=78053&news_category_id=42 FUELS New eBay for recyclable oils makes it way easier to power your biodiesel car. Recyclable oils are abundant — they naturally occur anywhere there are French fries, for example, or used motor oil, two things which, strangely enough, often exist side-by-side. The challenge is not that we are an economy with a dearth of disgusting grease; the problem is getting said disgusting grease from people who would otherwise throw it out to people who would like to put it into their old Mercedes diesels and drive around listening to the Decemberists. Posted. http://grist.org/list/new-ebay-for-recyclable-oils/ Diesel and other profitable midrange products could get squeezed as new crude rushes into market – report. Houston -- Engineering consultants to the oil and gas industry are worried that a rush of new crude oil from shale oil production and Canadian oil sands may harm the refining business in unexpected ways. New supplies of light, sweet crude from the Eagle Ford and Bakken shale formations are flooding the market at rates faster than even some of the most optimistic analysts had projected. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/print/2012/09/18/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Electric motor market expected to flourish in the next decade. Developments in the electric vehicle market are expected to boost growth in the electric motor market according to consulting and research organisations IDTechEX and Frost & Sullivan. As electric vehicles head towards mass production, the model of electric motor supply also require changes in the future. In its 2012 market forecast with a 10 year horizon, IDTechEX, a consulting and research organisation, argues that: “Any Motor manufacturer without a compelling line up of electric vehicles by 2025 is signing its death warrant.” Analysis by another research institute, Frost & Sullivan, also concludes that the booming EV market will bring business opportunities for suppliers of electric motors. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4934 Zipcar Adds Honda Fit EV To Car-Sharing Fleet In San Francisco. California residents who want to get behind the wheel of an electric car now have another option: Zipcar has added the Honda Fit EV to its car-sharing fleets in San Francisco. Like most other Zipcar vehicles, the Fit EV can be rented for $8 per hour. In April, Honda signed an agreement to provide Zipcar with new cars, including the Insight hybrid and CR-V crossover. Adding the Honda Fit EV in San Francisco expands on the two companies’ goal of adding more low-emission vehicles to the car sharing fleet. Posted. http://rumors.automobilemag.com/zipcar-adds-honda-fit-ev-to-car-sharing-fleet-in-san-francisco-170269.html GREEN ENERGY Lee wants more talk on clean power plan. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee on Monday asked city supervisors to rework a renewable power option for residents before a potential vote Tuesday. The mayor considers the plan financially risky, despite eight years spent getting the city to this point. "I'm going to ask them to spend time with me to see if we can find this alternative," Lee said. "If it ends up being an extension of time, we ought to give ourselves enough time to do that." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Lee-wants-more-talk-on-clean-power-plan-3872841.php#ixzz26q0rzDxf Soaring demand for natural gas in Middle East and North Africa may push prices higher – study. Soaring energy demand in North Africa and the Middle East will require an estimated $1.1 trillion in new natural gas facilities and electricity generation and distribution networks, according to a new research report from IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates. The report, titled "Thirst for Growth," projects that natural gas demand in the 18-country region will rise from 750 billion cubic meters in 2011 to 1,140 billion cubic meters by 2030, and that rising electricity demand will require an additional 310 gigawatts of capacity over the same period. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/18/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS World’s Top Environmental Success Stories. It's no wonder so many environmentalists sound like downers. Forests are being wiped out at the rate of one Costa Rica-size parcel a year. Cities such as Beijing and New Delhi choke on smog. Global temperatures and tides continue an unrelenting climb. Don't despair! Forty years after the environmental movement peaked, the world has some historic success stories that reduce pollution and save lives every day. This week marks the 25th anniversary of the Montreal Protocol, a model international agreement that reduced pollution-inflicted damage to the Earth's protective ozone layer. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/slideshow/2012-09-18/world-s-top-environmental-success-stories.html#slide1 Former EPA Administrator Russell Train dies. Former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Russell Train, a leading American conservationist who helped craft some of the nation's enduring environmental laws, died Monday at age 92. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said late Monday that as a leader with the federal agency at the time it was just starting under the Nixon administration, Train helped set the path for the ongoing work of the agency. Posted. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/former-epa-administrator-russell-train-dies OPINIONS Environmental Protection Up in Smoke. Dead wood fuels wildfires. Too bad lawsuits keep the Forest Service from thinning out the trees. When the wildfires that are burning millions of acres in the West are finally smothered by winter snows, environmentalists undoubtedly will blame climate change. They might look in the mirror instead. Environmental laws since the 1970s require public input into federal land-use decisions including logging on national forests. This has led to lawsuits challenging efforts by the U.S. Forest Service to prevent forest fires by thinning out trees (most of which are dead or diseased) and brush by machines and carefully controlled burns. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443884104577647903145409924.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion Econ 101: What you need to know about carbon taxes and cap-and-trade. I didn’t think it was possible for the climate change policy debate to drift even further from reality than it already had. But a series of posts by Maclean’s Aaron Wherry—most recently here and summarised here—has proven me wrong. The politics of climate change has always required a certain suspension of disbelief. But the Conservatives’ attempt to portray the NDP’s climate change policy as the equivalent of a carbon tax and the NDP’s indignant rebuttal to the effect that their policy is in fact a cap-and-trade model have advanced the transformation of the file into a form of kabuki. Posted. http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/09/17/why-the-difference-between-carbon-taxes-and-cap-and-trade-isnt-as-important-as-you-think/ Why Is San Francisco Trying to Outsource Green Investment to the "Dirtiest" Texas Corporation? The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote today on a contract with Shell Energy of Houston, Texas that would nearly double electricity costs for San Franciscans. Say what? Why would a city that prides itself on being on the forefront of energy policy sign a contract with a company that has been called one of the "dirtiest" in the world? The answer is that Shell Energy is falsely promising that the energy delivered to San Franciscans will be "100 percent green." Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-dalzell/san-francisco-shell-agreement_b_1892014.html BLOGS Climate change and extreme weather weren't the only reason to oppose Keystone XL and tar sands expansion this summer. This summer has shown that public opposition to tar sands pipelines and expansion projects continues to grow – and for good reason. As climate change caused damaging extreme weather events across the country, environmental groups submitted comments to the State Department presenting a strong case for a broad and rigorous review of TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline, including the impacts on climate change of the expansion of tar sands oil extraction that Keystone XL will drive. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/aswift/climate_change_and_extreme_wea.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, 19 Sep 2012 13:04:49 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 19, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 19, 2012. 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: Air Pollution From Grilled Burgers Worse Than Trucks. A UC Riverside study found that commercially cooked hamburgers cause more air pollution than diesel trucks. The study, which focused on commercial charbroilers found in burger restaurants, said the equipment generates grease, smoke, water vapors and combustion products, which emit a large amount of particulate matter into the air. Posted. http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/09/18/study-air-pollution-from-grilled-burgers-worse-than-trucks/ http://www.inlandnewstoday.com/story.php?s=25790 Pushback vs. Power plant. Their chances are slim to none, but a small, determined band of Coachella Valley residents have launched a last-minute campaign to stop work on a natural gas power plant now under construction in North Palm Springs. With six of its eight smoke stacks standing tall over a site off Dillon Road, Competitive Power Ventures’ 850-megawatt Sentinel power plant is more than two-thirds complete and on track to go online by next August. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012309190036&nclick_check=1 CLIMATE CHANGE Business groups plan protest over California's cap-and-trade plan. Business groups plan a major protest against California's cap-and-trade carbon market at a regulatory hearing Thursday. Manufacturers, oil refiners and others plan to testify against the controversial market during a meeting of the California Air Resources Board, which is in charge of the fledgling carbon market. These groups see the carbon market as a giant tax that will cost businesses upwards of $1 billion a year. They are urging the Air Resources Board, and Gov. Jerry Brown, to lighten the cost burden on businesses or do away with the program altogether. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/19/4835329/business-groups-plan-protest-over.html#storylink=cpy Arctic sea ice thaw may be accelerated by oil, shipping. Local pollution in the Arctic from shipping and oil and gas industries, which have expanded in the region due to a thawing of sea ice caused by global warming, could further accelerate that thaw, experts say. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) said there was an urgent need to calculate risks of local pollutants such as soot, or "black carbon", in the Arctic. Soot darkens ice, making it soak up more of the sun's heat and quickening a melt. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/18/us-arctic-idUSBRE88H15A20120918 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/science/earth/arctic-resources-exposed-by-warming-set-off-competition.html?_r=1&ref=science U.S. West should expect bigger wildfires more often: report. A warming trend has contributed to a sharp rise in the number and size of wildfires on forest lands in the U.S. West, where big burns are likely to become the norm, according to a report released on Tuesday by a climate research group. The average annual number of fires that cover more than 1,000 acres has nearly quadrupled in Arizona and Idaho and doubled in California, Colorado and six other Western states since 1970, the study by Climate Central showed. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USBRE88I03G20120919 Targets to cut carbon lag nuclear phase-out: Gerard Wynn. Developed countries are increasingly bold in planning to reduce nuclear power but hesitant in announcing clear plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions, leaving themselves wriggle room to replace low carbon nuclear generation with fossil fuel gas. It is particularly tempting to be vague about timetables for cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions as countries have failed to explain how lost nuclear capacity could be matched by a ramp-up in carbon capture and storage (CCS), which remains untested on gas and coal-fired power. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/column-wynn-nuclear-ccs-idUSL5E8KH8BL20120919 Davis updating greenhouse emissions report. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is investing more than $15,000 to provide the city of Davis with an intern to help update the city’s energy and greenhouse gas inventories at no cost to the city, Melanie Turner writes. PG&E’s Green Communities program also will help Davis incorporate its updated inventory and forecasts into the city’s existing Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, adopted in 2010. The inventories will help the city track and analyze energy consumption and fuel use, and identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2012/09/19/pge-davis-to-update-emissions-report.html Climate change rifts appear in U.K. coalition government over future uses of gas, wind and nuclear energy. A warning by the U.K. government's climate change advisers that it risks breaking its own laws if it makes a dash for gas-powered electricity generation at the expense of renewable energy has revealed a deepening rift within the center-right coalition. The Committee on Climate Change, an independent body set up by law to advise the government, made the accusation to Ed Davey, the Liberal Democratic minister of state for energy and climate change. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/19/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Reducing carbon emissions is going to cost something. Heather Scoffield explores three options for reducing carbon emissions—a carbon tax, cap-and-trade and regulation—and explains that each involve costs. The federal policy of regulating emitters sector by sector — “command and control,” as business likes to call the approach — also carries hidden costs. Buried deep in federal regulations to restrict emissions in the coal-fired electricity sector, officials explain that the costs of those new rules is about $16 billion in today’s terms. Posted. http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/09/19/reducing-carbon-emissions-is-going-to-cost-something/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Superyachts Clean Up in Drive for Efficiency. Superyachts are built for luxury. Sustainability and energy efficiency have tended not to be among their top design requirements. “Superyachts are the most backward form of transportation on Earth. Even roller skates are more efficient,” said the naval architect Richard Sauter, head of design at Sauter Carbon Offset Design in Bali, Indonesia. Steel, the material in which most luxury yachts have traditionally been built, “is the worst hull you can have,” added Mr. Sauter…Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/19/sports/superyachts-clean-up-in-drive-for-efficiency.html?pagewanted=all&pagewanted=print FUELS Fuel use in new cars could halve by 2030: IEA. Fuel consumption in new vehicles could be slashed by half in the next 20 years, helping the world curb its dependency on oil, provided governments set up bold policies to boost the use of available technologies, the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday. The transport sector, which consumes around one fifth of global primary energy, will account for nearly all the future growth in oil use, said the Paris-based agency, which advises industrial nations on energy policy. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/us-fuel-economy-iea-idUSBRE88I0Q720120919 Japan gets cold feet on total nuclear phase-out. Japan's Cabinet on Wednesday stopped short of committing to phase out nuclear power by 2040, backtracking from an advisory panel's recommendations in the face of opposition from pro-nuclear businesses and groups. The decision came the same day Japan launched a new regulatory body to replace the agency whose lack of independence from the nuclear industry was blamed for contributing to last year's disaster. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21580067/japan-gets-cold-feet-total-nuclear-phase-out?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21580067/japan-gets-cold-feet-total-nuclear-phase-out?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21580067/japan-gets-cold-feet-total-nuclear-phase-out?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/19/2997849/japan-gets-cold-feet-on-total.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/japan-launches-new-nuclear-regulatory-agency-following-fukushima-disaster/2012/09/18/69da749e-01ff-11e2-bbf0-e33b4ee2f0e8_story.html Fairbanks cooperative, BP, sign natural gas deal. Golden Valley Electric Association says it has agreed on a contract with BP to purchase North Slope natural gas. The power cooperative serving rural Fairbanks customers will now decide whether it's financially viable to truck liquefied gas south for power generation and distribution to homesPosted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21581345/fairbanks-cooperative-bp-sign-natural-gas-deal?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com- www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21581345/fairbanks-cooperative-bp-sign-natural-gas-deal?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com VEHICLES Sales of plug-in electric vehicles may miss ambitious estimates. Sales of plug-in electric vehicles will reach 400,073 units nationwide by 2020, according to an estimate released Tuesday by Pike Research, a number far short of the Obama administration's goal of seeing 1 million EVs on the road by 2015. California, New York, Florida and Texas will lead the way as consumers slowly adopt to the new technology, according to the report. The top five metropolitan areas for plug-in electric vehicle sales are expected to be New York City, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle and Portland, Ore. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21574044/sales-plug-electric-vehicles-reach-400073-by-2020 http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_21574044/sales-plug-electric-vehicles-reach-400073-by-2020?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com- www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_21574044/sales-plug-electric-vehicles-reach-400073-by-2020?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Greenest car of them all? Which car is the greenest of them all? An influential guide to low-pollution, fuel-sipping cars by the Automobile Club of Southern California has a new favorite. The Lexus GS 450h. The $62,000 sedan is something of a souped up, luxurious cousin to the Toyota Prius. “What Lexus has done over the years is to take a little different tack,” said Steve Mazor, manager of the Automotive Research Center in Diamond Bar, where cars were tested for emissions and fuel efficiency.” Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/18/greenest-car-them-all-lexus-hybrid/ Fiat flourishes with natural gas, propane cars. Against the backdrop of an ailing Italian economy, one business is booming. Deliveries of cars powered by natural gas and propane have grown 90 percent to 114,226 vehicles through August, softening the blow of the recent 20 percent plunge that brought the Italian car market to its lowest level in more than 30 years. Italy's Fiat says it has 90 percent of the market for natural gas cars and 47 percent of the market for propane vehicles in its home country -- a blessing for a company that lacks an advanced electric vehicle strategy. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/print/2012/09/19/9 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Power Plan Is Closer For Bay City. San Francisco moved a step closer Tuesday toward a plan that would change the way residents of one of California's largest cities buy electricity, and deal a victory to Royal Dutch Shell PLC's power business, with a potential loss for PG&E Corp. The city's Board of Supervisors voted to move forward with the plan, called "CleanPowerSF." The plan needs the approval of Mayor Ed Lee before the city can proceed. Under the plan, San Francisco would buy electricity from Shell's North American power business to serve residents and businesses who join the program. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443816804578004910591745132.html?mod=WSJ_Energy_leftHeadlines BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21580264/san-francisco-moves-provide-green-power?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21580264/san-francisco-moves-provide-green-power?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/19/2997934/san-francisco-moves-to-provide.html#storylink=misearch MISCELLANEOUS Residents vent over Treasure Island contamination. Treasure Island radiation levels are not known to be dangerous for those living on the former Navy base, officials reiterated Tuesday night at a meeting with concerned residents. But even as speaker after speaker presented a highly technical recap of cleanup assessments revealing no major health danger, island dwellers remained uneasy — many of them vocally angry. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/local/2012/09/residents-vent-over-treasure-island-contamination#ixzz26wNOoWNZ OPINIONS Earth Log: Is China's ozone a big problem? Scientists are exploring a game-changer in the battle over cleaning up the San Joaquin Valley's air: China might make bigger contributions to the ozone problem than anyone knows. Researchers already have established that pollution is floating eastward high above the Pacific Ocean to the U.S. Accounting for that pollution is becoming more important as California struggles to meet federal standards. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/18/2997640/earth-log-is-chinas-ozone-a-big.html#storylink=cpy MILLOY: GOP needs to start talking about EPA reform now. Regulations are stifling U.S. economy. One issue that has been noticeably absent from the Republican platform this election season is any discussion of the Obama Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It didn’t even come up at the Republican National Convention a couple of weeks ago. If the omission was an oversight, it was a big one. If it was intentional, it’s cause for concern. The EPA has spent the better part of its 42-year existence trying to put America out of business, but especially under the Obama administration. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/sep/18/gop-needs-to-start-talking-about-epa-reform-now/ Renewable standards boosted 'green' energy. Are storage standards next? California is eyeing utility requirements for energy storage large enough to serve an electric grid. In the cleantech sector, pretty much everyone knows the acronym RPS, for Renewable Portfolio Standards. Since the first RPS policy in the U.S., implemented in Iowa in the late 1990s, 30 states have passed similar policies to promote the installation of renewable energy projects and expedite penetration (overcoming the ambivalence or outright opposition of utilities) of renewable energy in electric power supply. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2012/0918/Renewable-standards-boosted-green-energy.-Are-storage-standards-next BLOGS How would a carbon tax work? Let’s ask British Columbia. It’s not hard to see why so many tax wonks find the idea of a carbon tax alluring. Slap a fee on oil, gas and coal use. Use the revenue to cut taxes elsewhere, such as income or corporate taxes. In theory, economists have argued, this sort of “tax swap” could help reduce carbon pollution without much harming the economy. But how do carbon taxes actually work in practice? One place to look is the Canadian province of British Columbia, which has had a modest carbon levy in place since 2008. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/09/19/how-would-a-carbon-tax-work-lets-ask-british-columbia/ Controversy Persists Over EPA's Four-Gallon Rule. Under a new rule, the EPA will require you to buy a minimum of four gallons of gas from any pump that sells E15, or gasoline that's 15% ethanol. Most stations sell E10, or 10% ethanol. But the handful of stations that sell E15, which made its debut two months ago , generally dispense it from the same pump as E10. Problem is, anyone who fills up with E10 after an E15 buyer could get as much as a quart of residual E15, American Motorcycle Association spokesman Peter Terhorst told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/kicking-tires/post/controversy-persists-over-epas-four-gallon-rule/2012/09/19/65cbc1b6-0275-11e2-9132-f2750cd65f97_blog.html The Social Cost of Carbon: How to Do the Math? This year’s presidential campaign has shown that a gulf exists between the two candidates on America’s energy future — at least in theory. Mitt Romney opposes renewal of the federal wind energy tax credit and champions the exploitation of fossil fuels. President Obama advocates an “all of the above” strategy on energy but — after a period of silence on the issue — implicitly evoked the dangers of runaway emissions at the Democratic convention by warning that climate change is indeed a threat. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/18/the-social-cost-of-carbon-how-to-do-the-math/ CLIMATE CHANGE: Wildfires have grown larger, more frequent. An analysis of fire records going back to 1970 found that the largest fires have occurred in the last decade, a finding that points in part to the effects of climate change, researchers said. What’s more, according to the Climate Central study of U.S. Forest Service data, the fire season is now 75 days longer than it was in the 1970s, it was reported in the Press-Enterprise today. This is an interactive map of active wildfires from Climate Central. Posted. http://blog.pe.com/environment/2012/09/19/climate-change-wildfires-have-grown-larger-more-frequent/ Blog: Biodiesel use reduces harmful emissions. I know how much time I spend around diesel-powered vehicles, equipment and machinery, and I'd bet that most farmers around the United States spend similar amounts. That's why I'm so alarmed at the recent news from the World Health Organization and its International Agency for Research on Cancer, which now considers diesel fuel exhaust to be a carcinogen as dangerous as secondhand smoke. Farmers and ranchers make up the third-largest category of diesel fuel users behind truck drivers and heating oil users. Posted. http://www.starcourier.com/article/20120918/BLOGS/120819081 Toyota reduces fuel consumption and emissions across the new Auris range; 13% average reduction in CO2 compared to predecessors; gasoline, diesel and hybrid. Toyota is unveiling its new Auris for the European market (earlier post), representing its first step in a product offensive in the European C-Segment. Aerodynamic improvements, weight savings and engine enhancements have reduced fuel consumption and CO2 emissions across the range. Toyota anticipates a 1/3 full hybrid, 1/3 gasoline, 1/3 diesel engine mix. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/09/auris-20120919.html New Federal-Mogul coated diesel piston reduces friction up to 13%; reduced fuel consumption and CO2. Federal-Mogul Corporation has developed a new coated diesel piston that reduces frictional losses in both light and heavy-duty engine applications. This improves fuel economy, CO2 emissions, noise and refinement. Currently undergoing development with two leading engine manufacturers, the EcoTough Diesel piston skirt coating is expected to enter production in 2013. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/09/ecotough-diesel-20120919.html After 40,000 miles EVs break even with traditional fuel cars on cost. One year after the launch, data collected in the Scotland’s largest electric vehicle project prove that electric vehicles make perfect economic sense for short journeys. Comparing the cost of using an EV and a traditional fuel-powered car show that after 40,000 miles (64,373.8 km) an EV becomes a cheaper option. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/news/view/4947 IEA: Government support 'crucial' for electric cars roll-out. Public subsidies, legislative innovations and consumer education are vital for the development of Europe’s fledgling electric cars industry, an energy analyst at the International Energy Agency (IEA) has told EurActiv. He was speaking as the European Commission issued a transport and technology communication calling for EU governments to “break away from conventional thinking” in the paradigm shift to alternative propulsion systems, and embrace “new financial instruments to increase the leverage of public budgets”. Posted. http://www.euractiv.com/specialreport-electric-vehicles/iea-government-support-crucial-e-news-514877 ====================================================================== 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 Sep 2012 12:12:17 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 20, 2012 From: jbaxter@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 AIR POLLUTION UL AQS Achieves Accreditation for Indoor Air Quality Emissions Testing to the Newest Blue Angel Standard for Electronic Imaging Devices. UL Air Quality Sciences, Inc. (UL AQS), a pioneer and provider of product emissions testing, announced today that it has earned approval as the only U.S. commercial laboratory to provide laboratory testing for the Blue Angel Program's newest standard for printers, copiers and multifunctional peripherals, RAL-UZ-171. Recently updated, the new 171 standard calls for more stringent reporting of individual VOCs as well as evaluation of ultrafine particle emissions from these electronics during operation. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4838144/ul-aqs-achieves-accreditation.html#storylink=misearch Air board hoses down San Lorenzo Valley's backyard burns: Strict limits go in place immediately. Moving firmly to clear the layer of smoke that often hangs over the San Lorenzo Valley during cooler months, a regional air quality agency on Wednesday voted without dissent to enact tough new controls on backyard burns. The rules prohibit burning yard waste on properties smaller than an acre, and would require one of a limited number of permits for burns on larger parcels. Officials expect the regulations, which go into effect immediately, to curtail outdoor fires at least 75 percent. "Our neighbors are killing us with this smoke," pleaded Rod Jensen, a valley resident who spoke in favor of the rules at a meeting of the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District in Monterey. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21586771/air-board-hoses-down-valleys-backyard-burns-strict UL Reminds Parents To Look For UL's Greenguard Certification Mark When Choosing Nursery Products For Their Home. In recognition of Baby Safety Month, UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a world leader in advancing safety science, is reminding all parents to safeguard their children's health by focusing on the indoor air quality (IAQ) of their homes. It may surprise parents to learn that indoor air can be five times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which also reports that the average person receives 72 percent of his or her chemical exposure at home. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4838101/ul-reminds-parents-to-look-for.html#storylink=misearch SC Johnson Honored with Clean Air Excellence Award for Long-Standing Environmental Commitment. SC Johnson announced today that it has received a 2012 Clean Air Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The annual award recognizes and honors outstanding innovative efforts to help make progress in achieving cleaner air. "SC Johnson has long been committed to doing the right thing for both people and the planet. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4837965/sc-johnson-honored-with-clean.html#storylink=misearch New Research Links Greenhouse Gas Reduction Efforts With Public Health Benefits In Low-Income And Minority Communities. Expanding climate change mitigation approaches beyond greenhouse gases to also target related pollutants would have enormous public health benefits in the nation's most disadvantaged communities, according to a report released today by E3 Network and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4837950/new-research-links-greenhouse.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy CLIMATE CHANGE Businesses plead for changes to California's new cap-and-trade market. Heavyweight business groups are staging a last-ditch protest against California's new cap-and-trade carbon market, demanding changes to a program they've labeled a job killer. Manufacturers, oil refiners and others are lining up to testify today before the California Air Resources Board, which will run the carbon market. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4836719/businesses-plead-for-changes-to.html#mi_rss=Business 4 countries discuss climate change in Brazil. Representatives of Brazil, South Africa, India and China are meeting to define a common position ahead of November's United Nations' climate change conference in Doha. The four countries form the bloc known as BASIC that acts jointly in international climate change meetings. Brazilian negotiator Luiz Alberto Figueiredo says one of the main topics being discussed in the meeting that ends on Friday is the future of the 1997 emission- limiting Kyoto Protocol that requires industrialized countries to slash emissions. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4838693/4-countries-discuss-climate-change.html#storylink=misearch Top emitter China agrees to work with EU to cut carbon. The European Union and China have frequently clashed over climate policy and Beijing has flouted EU law requiring all airlines using European airports to pay for their emissions through the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme ETS.L. At the same time, the two sides have maintained an uneasy dialogue, including an EU-China summit in Brussels this week. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/20/uk-eu-china-carbon-idUSLNE88J00P20120920 http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/20/column-wynn-nuclear-ccs-idUSL5E8KK36220120920 EU U-turn spells doom for food-based biofuels boom. Industry sources and analysts predict the plan could trigger a wave of plant closures across Europe while questioning whether so-called advanced biofuels, often made from waste products, can play the greater role now envisioned by the European Commission. The European Commission announced a major shift in biofuel policy on Monday, saying it plans to limit crop-based biofuels to 5 percent of transport fuel, after campaigners said existing rules take food out of people's mouths. Posted.http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/20/us-biofuels-europe-idUSBRE88J0R820120920 Ending Its Summer Melt, Arctic Sea Ice Sets a New Low That Leads to Warnings. The drastic melting of Arctic sea ice has finally ended for the year, scientists announced Wednesday, but not before demolishing the previous record — and setting off new warnings about the rapid pace of change in the region. The apparent low point for 2012 was reached Sunday, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, which said that sea ice that day covered about 1.32 million square miles, or 24 percent, of the surface of the Arctic Ocean. The previous low, set in 2007, was 29 percent. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/20/science/earth/arctic-sea-ice-stops-melting-but-new-record-low-is-set.html?_r=1&ref=earth Businesses plead for changes to California's new cap-and-trade market. Heavyweight business groups are staging a last-ditch protest against California's new cap-and-trade carbon market, demanding changes to a program they've labeled a job killer. Manufacturers, oil refiners and others are lining up to testify today before the California Air Resources Board, which will run the carbon market. Their goal: To get the Air Resources Board to reduce the costs of participating in the market. The program is set to begin Nov. 14, when the state agency will auction off millions of carbon emission allowances. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4836719/businesses-plead-for-changes-to.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/09/19/2380211/business-groups-plan-protest-over.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/20/2999375/business-groups-set-to-blast-calif.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21590242/business-groups-set-blast-calif-carbon-market?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21590242/business-groups-set-blast-calif-carbon-market?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Forests and Climate Change: a Combustible Combination. Smokey Bear’s advisories aside, wildfires are a normal part of forest ecology. Fire serves to clear out old trees and excess underbrush so younger trees can grow. You know, textbook “circle of life.” But the cumulative list of manmade alterations to forests, to land, and to climate is rendering the benefits of forest fires all but moot in many places, as this Nature piece illustrates: Across the American west, the area burned each year has increased significantly over the past several decades (see ‘Bigger blazes’), a trend that scientists attribute both to warming and drying and to a century of wildfire suppression and other human activities. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnmcquaid/2012/09/20/forests-and-climate-change-a-combustible-combination/ DIESEL EMISSIONS J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Medium-Duty Truck Fuel Efficiency Improves While Principal Maintainers Are Skeptical of Alternative Fuel Powertrains. Although reported fuel economy and quality improve for medium-duty trucks, the impact on satisfaction with new engines meeting the 2010 EPA emission regulations is negligible even as fuel prices rise, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 U.S. Medium-Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction StudySM released today. The study finds that reported fuel economy for medium-duty trucks increases 12 percent in 2012, compared with 2011. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4838657/jd-power-and-associates-reports.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy FUELS Jordan says Iraq will boost oil exports to kingdom. Jordan has signed a deal with Iraq to increase oil exports and other derivatives to the kingdom. The state-run Petra New Agency says Jordanian Energy Minister Alaa Batayneh and Iraq's Oil Minister Abdul-Karim Elaib agreed during a meeting Thursday that Iraq will initially increase daily exports of crude to its neighbor by 5,000 barrels. Jordan currently imports 10,000 oil barrels a day from Iraq. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Jordan-says-Iraq-will-boost-oil-exports-to-kingdom-3880702.php Inhofe, Pryor partner on bill to ease EPA rules. U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma and Mark Pryor of Arkansas are teaming up on legislation to ease regulatory rules on fuel tanks for farmers. The two introduced a bill this week to amend the Environmental Protection Agency's Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure rule. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Inhofe-Pryor-partner-on-bill-to-ease-EPA-rules-3880639.php VEHICLES After 40,000 miles EVs break even with traditional fuel cars on cost. One year after the launch, data collected in the Scotland’s largest electric vehicle project prove that electric vehicles make perfect economic sense for short journeys. Comparing the cost of using an EV and a traditional fuel-powered car show that after 40,000 miles (64,373.8 km) an EV becomes a cheaper option. Five EVs involved in the project were monitored closely and data was collected from every journey they made in 12 months. With the initial funding of £25,000 (€31,147) by SEStran (the South East Scotland Transport Partnership) and additional contribution by Midlothian Council, the project was launched in August 2011 and the results after one year are very positive. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4947 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Feds approve first leg of Calif. high-speed rail. The Federal Railroad Administration gave its approval Wednesday for construction on the first phase of California's high-speed rail system, clearing the final technical hurdle for construction to start next year on a 65-mile span from Merced to Fresno. The decision supports the California High-Speed Rail Authority's so-called hybrid alternative, which state officials say is the least costly approach and the one that is least harmful to the environment. Rail authority Chief Executive Officer Jeff Morales said the federal decision will allow the project to break ground next year. "This is now a statewide rail modernization plan which will not only deliver high-speed rail but also will invest billions of dollars of improvements to local and regional rail systems around the state immediately," Morales said. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5heRvyJqLRz1WKyv8V0B5IbE_xBgA?docId=c7611c9a9d3042e2894b8a69770095ee Other related articles: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/20/usa-california-rail-idUSL1E8KK07920120920 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/19/california-high-speed-rai_n_1898611.html GREEN ENERGY Tortoises Manhandled for Solar in Mojave Roils Environmentalists. It’s a 106-degree Fahrenheit day in the Mojave Desert. Heat devils dance off chocolate-hued Clark Mountain on the horizon. Air-conditioned cars zip along Interstate 15 toward Las Vegas. And inside a chain-link pen covered to keep out predators are scores of rare, threatened, sand-colored desert tortoises. Their captivity helps show how complicated it is to combat climate change without collateral damage. The foot-long (30- centimeter) creatures are being removed from their burrows for a project to harvest solar energy in the California desert. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Tortoises-Manhandled-for-Solar-in-Mojave-Roils-3880323.php East Bay Solar Heating Company Green Air Heating & Air Conditioning Splits into Comerford Solar. Green Air Heating & Air Conditioning has been known in East Bay for its green energy solutions for heating and cooling both residential and commercial venues. Based on its continuous growth, the East Bay solar installation company is now spinning off its renewable energy division, Comerford Solar. "The split is mainly to give us the ability to focus on each division individually, which allows us to better serve our clients," Jason Reynolds of Comerford Solar said. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/East-Bay-Solar-Heating-Company-Green-Air-Heating-3879867.php Phoenix Transport (Japan) Ltd., Prepares for Uptick in Business as Japan Accelerates Smart City Revitalization. As mega-solar, wind and other city-revitalization projects come on line, with full initiation expected around April 2013, Phoenix Transport (Japan) Ltd., Managing Director Martin Giles is preparing his team for quick response. “Our company was privately owned for about 25 years and thanks to the legacy of our Japanese owners and our strong client base in Japan, we have the perfect foundation to accept what we expect to be a significant inflow of traffic over the next 8 months. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Phoenix-Transport-Japan-Ltd-Prepares-for-3879459.php FORE Launches The First And Only LEED Gold Designed Apartment Community In Owings Mills Area. Fore Property Company (FORE) is pleased to announce its latest creative development, Groveton Green Apartments located in Owings Mills, Maryland. This $35 million, 226-unit community combines contemporary luxury living in an eco-friendly setting. "At Groveton Green, we worked hard to make it easy for you to love where you live," said Jim Sullivan, Vice President of Fore Property Company. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4837748/fore-launches-the-first-and-only.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Carnegie Mellon Launches Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. Carnegie Mellon University launched the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation today, a major research and education initiative focused on improving energy efficiency and developing new, clean, affordable and sustainable energy sources. The institute was made possible by a lead gift from CMU alumni Sherman Scott (E'66), president and founder of Delmar Systems, and his wife, Joyce Bowie Scott (A'65), a trustee of the university. The institute is named for Sherman's father, Wilton E. Scott. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4837908/carnegie-mellon-launches-wilton.html#storylink=misearch Renewable Energy for Military Applications. the largest single consumer of energy in the world, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is one of the most important drivers for the cleantech market today. The DOD has developed a comprehensive strategy to reduce energy consumption, improve battlefield effectiveness, increase energy security, and reduce costs. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps are each implementing detailed plans to achieve ambitious renewable energy and energy efficiency targets that, in most cases, are likely to be achieved by 2025, including 3 gigawatts (GW) of renewable power generation at military facilities, primarily via third-party financing. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4837525/renewable-energy-for-military.html#storylink=misearch Feds approve California high-speed rail construction. The federal government on Wednesday approved the start of construction for California's $69 billion high-speed rail line, capping years of planning on the first leg of tracks in the Central Valley and likely kicking off a new round of lawsuits from opponents. The state has been eagerly awaiting the Federal Railroad Administration's endorsement of the Merced-to-Fresno section of the bullet train line since Gov. Jerry Brown and the Legislature gave the go-ahead two months ago. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california-high-speed-rail/ci_21583533/feds-approve-california-high-speed-rail-construction http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5heRvyJqLRz1WKyv8V0B5IbE_xBgA?docId=c7611c9a9d3042e2894b8a69770095ee http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-aeg-stadium-20120920,0,6963983.story OPINIONS Viewpoints: Offsets for state's cap-and-trade plan need clarity fast. This November, with its economy struggling, California plans to conduct its first auction of carbon permits as it launches an ambitious cap-and-trade program as part of its AB 32 legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The program will be the second largest program of its type in the world, behind the European Union's, and the largest in the United States. The program creates a market where facilities that emit carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases like methane can buy and sell credits that enable them to meet their obligations under AB 32's "cap" on emissions. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4836657/offsets-for-states-cap-and-trade.html BLOGS Feds want public comments on EV Everywhere, lower-cost plug-in vehicle project. The cost of plug-in electric vehicles is right up there with perceived loss of convenience as a stumbling block for mass adoption of electric vehicles. To help figure out what it will take to climb over the cost hurdle, the U.S. Dept. of Energy would like to hear from you. In March, President Obama introduced the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, with the goal of enabling, within 10 years, U.S. companies to produce plug-in electric vehicles that are as affordable to families as other cars on the market. And to be first in the world to do it. Public comments on the EV Everywhere Initial Framing Document must be received by October 29, 2012 at the latest. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/19/feds-public-comments-ev-everywhere-lower-cost-plug-in-vehicles/ Carnegie Endowment says more plug-in incentives are needed. While many GOP leaders bang the drum against government subsidies for both makers and buyers of advanced-powertrain vehicles, the Carnegie Endowment has just put out a new report that says more federal and local incentives will be needed to ensure electric-drive vehicle sales gain momentum. As it stands, plug-in vehicle battery costs will need to fall from about $700 per kilowatt hour to something like $325 in order for battery-electric vehicles to become price-competitive with conventional vehicles, the study said. The report also listed about two-dozen U.S. "vanguard cities" for plug-in vehicle progressiveness, including usual suspects San Francisco, Boston and Austin, as well as cities like St. Louis, Atlanta and Columbus, OH. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/20/carnegie-endowment-says-more-plug-in-incentives-are-needed/ Infographic: California hydrogen fuel cell group lays out H2 vehicle roadmap. If you're interested in learning more about the future of fuel cell vehicles in the Golden State, the California Fuel Cell Partnership would like to present you with a couple of options: an infographic with facts and figures or a report called "A California Road Map: The Commercialization of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles" (which you can get either as an overview and technical versions). CaFCP's infographic has got more visual appeal and is more likely to reach consumers than the white papers. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/09/19/infographic-california-hydrogen-fuel-cell-group-lays-out-h2-veh/ ====================================================================== 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 Sep 2012 14:52:42 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 21, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 21, 2012. 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 REGION: Finding a cure for burger smog. Sandwiched between paved-road dust and diesel truck emissions is the second-biggest producer of particle pollution in Southern California: the char-broiled burger. While it may be hard to imagine the all-beef patty as an environmental menace, air quality regulators have long known that the smoke from burgers cooked on grills can spew 14 tons of microscopic, lung-damaging particles each day into the region. That’s more than double the daily output from big rigs. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/breaking-news-headlines/20120920-region-finding-a-cure-for-burger-smog.ece Butte County's winter air meets federal standards ... for now. Butte County might soon be off the hook for breaking federal pollution rules, but that could be short-lived. Wintertime air quality in the county has improved to the point that it no longer violates the Clean Air Act, according to the Butte County Air Quality Management District. But a good winter is needed this year to stay under the standard, under the complicated math used by the Environmental Protection Agency. Posted. http://www.orovillemr.com/news/ci_21598100/butte-countys-winter-air-meets-federal-standards-now SEPTEMBER 20, 2012, ARB BOARD MEETING California regulator defends CO2 market design. California's top air regulator offered a stern defense of the state's forthcoming carbon cap-and-trade system, battling back against complaints from industry that it will cost jobs and drive up consumer prices at a hearing on Thursday. Industry and manufacturing groups that have opposed the carbon market said at a meeting held by the state's air regulator in Sacramento that the program was poorly designed, and complained that their input has been ignored. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/21/us-california-carbon-idUSBRE88K0A820120921 Businesses plead for changes to California's new cap-and-trade market. Heavyweight business groups are staging a last-ditch protest against California's new cap-and-trade carbon market, demanding changes to a program they've labeled a job killer. Manufacturers, oil refiners and others are lining up to testify today before the California Air Resources Board, which will run the carbon market. Their goal: To get the Air Resources Board to reduce the costs of participating in the market. The program is set to begin Nov. 14, when the state agency will auction off millions of carbon emission allowances. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4836719/businesses-plead-for-changes-to.html Air pollution chief rejects calls to change California's new greenhouse gas program. California's top air pollution regulator issued a spirited defense today of the state's new cap-and-trade greenhouse gas market, rejecting pleas from businesses to make significant changes to the program. Mary Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board, said the carbon market is designed to minimize the impact on businesses. Big business groups, like the California Chamber of Commerce, were scheduled to testify later today about their objections to the cap and trade market, the centerpiece of the state's global warming law, AB 32. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/20/4839024/air-pollution-chief-rejects-calls.html Business groups protest Calif. carbon market. A key component of California's landmark greenhouse gas emissions law would impose enormous costs on businesses at a time when the state's economy is sputtering, oil refiners, manufacturers and others said Thursday. Fees from the state's pending cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions amount to a $1 billion-a-year tax increase on about 500 businesses in the state, the California Air Resources Board was told. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/20/business-groups-set-to-blast-calif-carbon-market/#ixzz278YJXwVR http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120920/WIRE/120929939/-1/NEWS01?Title=Business-groups-protest-state-s-cap-and-trade-law California Air Resources Board asked to ease cap-and trade program. Dozens of people, some wearing red "Save Our Jobs" T-shirts, packed a public meeting Thursday to testify that a key component of California's landmark greenhouse gas emissions law will impose enormous costs on them and consumers. Manufacturers, oil refiners and others appeared before the California Air Resources Board to protest the state's pending cap-and-trade program for carbon emissions. The program's fees amount to a $1 billion-a-year tax increase on about 500 businesses in California at a time when the state's economy is sputtering, they said. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_21596947?source=rss Calif. air regulator scolds resisting businesses as cap-and-trade program nears launch. California's Air Resources Board chief yesterday defended the state's upcoming cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions and chastised businesses still fighting to change what will become the first economywide emissions trading program in the United States. ARB Chairwoman Mary Nichols said it is clear Californians want action on global warming, with voters in 2010 rejecting a ballot measure that would have suspended the climate law known as A.B. 32. That quashed initiative, Proposition 23, was backed in part by oil companies. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/21/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change threatens nature from coffee to Arctic fox-forum. Climate change is a threat to everything from coffee plantations to Arctic foxes and even a moderate rise in world temperatures will be damaging for plants and animals in some regions, experts said on Wednesday. Habitats such as coral reefs or the Arctic region were among the most vulnerable to global warming, scientists said at a conference in Lillehammer, south Norway, organized by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/19/us-climate-species-idUSBRE88I0ZB20120919 Brazil, South Africa, India and China want stronger commitments to reduce global warming. Brazil, South Africa, India and China are urging developed countries to adopt more ambitious goals to reduce global warming. The four countries form the bloc known as BASIC and representatives on Friday ended a two-day meeting to define a common position ahead of November’s United Nations’ climate change conference in Doha. BASIC acts jointly in international climate change meetings. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/brazil-south-africa-india-and-china-want-stronger-commitments-to-reduce-global-warming/2012/09/21/8c9e07c4-0426-11e2-9132-f2750cd65f97_story.html NOAA predicts warmer-than-usual fall with weaker El Niño system. Much of the country will continue to experience higher-than-normal temperatures this autumn, including the drought-stricken central United States, federal forecasters said yesterday. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's latest three-month climate outlook calls for a toasty fall from the Southwest to the Northeast, with notable exceptions along the West Coast, Gulf Coast and Southeast. Northern Alaska is also expected to be warmer than normal -- and wetter than normal -- through the beginning of December, forecasters said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/21/4 BY SUBSCRIPTON ONLY Report links health, economic benefits to carbon price. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from a power plant or refinery to slow global climate change can have tremendous positive benefits for surrounding communities, a fact that should be incorporated into climate change mitigation strategies, according to a report released yesterday. Carbon dioxide is rarely the only thing coming out of smokestacks and exhaust pipes; pollution associated with combustion, like particulates and nitrogen oxides, can have immediate and profound effects on regional air quality and health. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/21/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Fuel efficiency increasing across the sector as need rises. Aviation is reaching new heights in fuel efficiency at a time of increasing need thanks to public and private efforts across the globe to make air travel quieter, cleaner and more environmentally friendly. Michael Huerta, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, announced yesterday that the United States is rolling out a new phase of its Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) program intended to modernize national air travel through 2025. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/21/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Will a new bill jump-start carbon capture? A bipartisan group of coal-state senators introduced legislation yesterday that supporters said could provide a breakthrough for the struggling U.S. carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) industry. The measure from Sens. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) aims to provide clarification to an existing tax credit that many carbon capture developers say they need for financing. Some developers say they cannot decipher the requirements surrounding the Section 45Q tax credit and cannot get a guarantee that money will be forthcoming. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/21/9 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES GM announces big recall of Chevrolet, Pontiac and Saturn sedans. General Motors Co. announced on Friday a big recall of Chevrolet, Pontiac and Saturn mid-size sedans to fix a transmission problem that could cause the cars to roll away after the driver has left the vehicle. The recall affects more than 426,000 model year 2007-2010 Saturn Aura and model year 2008-2010 Chevrolet Malibu and Pontiac G6 vehicles, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission and sold in the U.S. GM will be contacting the owners to tell them how to get their cars fixed. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-auto-general-motors-recall-20120921,0,2536363.story As automakers are pushed toward better fuel efficiency, they are rolling the dice. Imagine stepping into a casino, but instead of picking numbers on a roulette wheel or rolling a pair of dice, you're an automaker putting down billions of dollars' worth of chips on expensive vehicle technologies, some of them untried. You don't have enough money to evenly spread your bets across the table, so you have to take some big risks. You will face competition from automotive manufacturers around the world and then the unknowns of consumer acceptance, cost and government policy changes. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/21/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Taxpayers, ratepayers will fund California solar plants. A new breed of prospectors -- banks, insurers, utility companies -- are receiving billions in subsidies while taxpayer and ratepayers are paying most of the costs. Critics say it's a rip-off. Driven by the Obama administration's vision of clean power and energy independence, the rush to build large-scale solar plants across the Southwest has created an investors' dream in the desert. Taxpayers have poured tens of billions of dollars into solar projects — some of which will have all their construction and development costs financed by the government by the time they start producing power. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bigsolar-20120921,0,7995250.story OPINIONS Editorial: New laws could boost business climate in state. Who says that the Capitol doesn't try to help business? The Legislature passed and Gov. Jerry Brown this week signed two significant bills that could improve California's business climate. On Wednesday, he signed Senate Bill 1186, which is supposed to prevent predatory claims against small-business owners while encouraging compliance on disabled access. California accounts for about 40 percent of all lawsuits under the Americans with Disabilities Act, but has only 12 percent of the country's disabled population. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/21/4840334/new-laws-could-boost-business.html#storylink=cpy Democrats Derail Their Own AB 32. We all know about roads paved with good intentions. Here’s another old saying: power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. These adages are taking on brand new relevance these days thanks to our Democrat-dominated state government, which is using its single-party rule to undermine its own well-intentioned law. The case at hand is the 2006 California Global Warming Solutions Act, more commonly known as AB 32. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/09/democrats-derail-their-own-ab-32/ How to Solve the Climate Problem. Our friends over at Skeptical Science typically just tackle the issue of climate science, and spend their time tirelessly debunking global warming or climate change denier myths. As I think you all know, there are a lot of climate science myths out there. However, as clean energy grows and threatens the existence of dirty energy industries (which is where a lot of those climate science myths originate), more and more of that negative spin is directed at clean energy sources rather than just global warming and climate change. Posted. http://cleantechnica.com/2012/09/21/how-to-solve-the-climate-problem/ BLOGS ‘Stop the War on Coal’ Act. Russell Train, a lifelong Republican and one of the country’s foremost conservationists of the last half-century, died this week at the age of 92. He served Richard Nixon as the first chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and later as administrator of the fledgling Environmental Protection Agency – helping shape landmark statutes like the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act. Posted. http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/20/stop-the-war-on-coal-act/ CARB Chair: cap-and-trade’s coming, like it or not. You don’t often hear a government regulator publicly berate the businesses he or she regulates. Which makes Thursday’s comments from Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the powerful California Air Resources Board, so notable. CARB has spent years devising America’s first full-fledged cap-and-trade plan for cutting the carbon dioxide emissions behind global warming. The system finally goes live on Nov. 14, when the state will conduct its first auction for carbon “allowances” — basically, permits that allow businesses to spew a ton of carbon into the air. Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/energy/2012/09/20/carb-chair-cap-and-trades-coming-like-it-or-not/ ARB Chair Mary Nichols to manufacturers: fight climate change, not California's cap-and-trade plans. California Air Resources Board chief Mary Nichols, whose agency oversees state climate policy efforts under AB 32. I wrote earlier about how manufacturers and refiners hate cap-and-trade. Well, based on the just-released statement from California Air Resources Board chair Mary Nichols, they're getting a little tired of hearing that over at the agency that's been implementing AB 32 for the past six years. Nichols zinged the businesses who came to today's CARB hearing to protest the cap-and-trade market. Posted. http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/2012/09/20/10084/arb-chair-mary-nichols-manufacturers-fight-climate/ Air pollution monitoring project for LA wins Knight News Challenge grant. Wildwood School science teacher Ariel Levi Simons will lead Safecast's work developing an air pollution monitoring network. The idea's modeled on a global radiation monitoring network Safecast built after the Fukushima Daiichi meltdown. A group that organized a global sensor network for radiation after last year’s 9.0 earthquake in Japan has gotten a grant to develop a monitoring network for air pollution in L.A. Safecast came together after the quake and tsunami that broke the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor. Posted. http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/2012/09/20/10085/air-pollution-monitoring-project-la-wins-knight-ne/ ====================================================================== 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 Sep 2012 15:32:36 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 24, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 24, 2012. 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 Breathing European air shortens lives: report. Air pollution is shortening lives by almost two years in parts of the European Union, the European Environmental Agency (EEA) said, strengthening the case for a tightening of emissions restrictions in the bloc. Legislation had managed to cut the amount of some toxins belched out by exhaust fumes and chimneys across Europe, an EEA report published on Monday said. But there were still dangerous levels of microscopic particles, known as particulate matter and linked to diseases such as lung cancer and cardiovascular problems, it added. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/24/us-eu-air-idUSBRE88N08V20120924 Senate votes to shield US airlines from EU's carbon scheme. The Senate unanimously passed a bill on Saturday that would shield U.S. airlines from paying for their carbon emissions on European flights, pressuring the European Union to back down from applying its emissions law to foreign carriers. The European Commission has been enforcing its law since January to make all airlines take part in its Emissions Trading Scheme to combat global warming, prompting threats of a trade fight. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/24/uk-usa-carbon-airlines-idUSLNE88N00K20120924 Ex-EPA official says Texas court wins won't last. A former Environmental Protection Agency administrator who resigned after using the word "crucify" to describe his approach to violators says recent court decisions striking down federal pollution rules are delaying the inevitable. Al Armendariz, who was the Obama administration's top environmental official in the oil-rich south before resigning in April under pressure from Republicans, says the EPA will simply rewrite and reapply cross-state air pollution rules on coal plant emissions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Ex-EPA-official-says-Texas-court-wins-won-t-last-3887427.php#ixzz27PSbTIAt Smoke remains problem in E. Washington. Major wildfires on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Range are relatively calm, but smoke continues to blanket Eastern Washington communities. The two biggest fires were reported as bigger in size on Monday, but officials say that was due mostly to better mapping and the use of burnouts to create fire lines. The Wenatchee Complex of fires was reported Monday morning at 82 square miles, while the Table Mountain fire was reported at nearly 57 square miles in size. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Smoke-remains-problem-in-E-Washington-3889652.php#ixzz27PKebevV Criminal investigation at Chevron refinery. Federal authorities have opened a criminal investigation of Chevron after discovering that the company detoured pollutants around monitoring equipment at its Richmond refinery for four years and burned them off into the atmosphere, in possible violation of a federal court order, The Chronicle has learned. Air quality officials say Chevron fashioned a pipe inside its refinery that routed hydrocarbon gases around monitoring equipment and allowed them to be burned off without officials knowing about it. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Criminal-investigation-at-Chevron-refinery-3886927.php#ixzz27Pnzn3zl http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/23/epa-probes-bypass-pipe-at-chevron-calif-refinery/ Air-quality changes bring mixed reviews. The Valley's summertime air is dangerous at times -- 91 ozone violations and counting this year. And you're paying a $29 million annual fine for failing to clean it up faster. So are you any better off now than you were 10 years ago? Yes, say government watchdog agencies. Not really, say environmentalists, health advocates and community activist groups. More than 40% of a key ozone-making gas -- NOx -- is gone now. Also gone are terrible years like 2002 when smog sieges created a lung-searing 158 violations. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/23/3004309/air-quality-changes-bring-mixed.html#storylink=cpy CLIMATE CHANGE Acidifying seas threaten island nations' food security –study. Food security problems caused by climate change and ocean acidification will hit small island and coastal nations hardest, environmental group Oceana said on Monday. The Comoros islands in the Indian Ocean headed the non-profit group's rankings of nations most vulnerable to the combined effects of higher carbon dioxide emissions and ocean temperatures, and the increasing acidity of the world's water. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/24/us-usa-environment-oceans-idUSBRE88N0BB20120924 Boost for carbon capture from new non-toxic absorber. Researchers have created a new material that could solve some of the problems holding back projects to combat global warming by capturing and burying carbon emitted from power stations. The material, made from aluminium nitrate salt, cheap organic materials and water, is non-toxic and requires less energy to strip out the carbon when it becomes saturated, the scientists said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/23/science-carbon-emissions-idUSL5E8KM1S420120923 COLUMN-U.S., China climate standoff returns: Gerard Wynn. Major developing countries have dampened prospects for agreement on international carbon emissions reduction targets by insisting on distinguishing between the responsibilities of industrialised and emerging economies to act on climate change beyond 2020. At a meeting in Durban, South Africa, last December, ministers agreed to negotiate a deal, for implementation from 2020, in which all countries participated, boosting prospects for agreement on medium-term climate targets. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/24/column-wynn-climate-un-idUSL5E8KO3N820120924 Climate change will shift marine predators’ habitat, study says. The top ocean predators in the North Pacific could lose as much as 35 percent of their habitat by the end of the century as a result of climate change, according to a study published Sunday in the journal Nature Climate Change. The analysis, conducted by a team of 11 American and Canadian researchers, took data compiled from tracking 4,300 open-ocean animals over a decade and looked at how predicted temperature changes would alter the areas they depend on for food and shelter. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/climate-change-will-shift-marine-predators-habitat-study-says/2012/09/23/3dbc5ae8-0507-11e2-8102-ebee9c66e190_story.html http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/24/ocean-grocery-store-moving-north/ Antarctic marine sanctuary plans falter. Antarctica's Ross Sea is often described as the most isolated and pristine ocean on Earth, a place where seals and penguins still rule the waves and humans are about as far away as they could be. But even there it has proved difficult, and maybe impossible, for nations to agree on how strongly to protect the environment. The United States and New Zealand have spent two years trying to agree on an Alaska-size marine sanctuary where fishing would be banned and scientists could study climate change. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Antarctic-marine-sanctuary-plans-falter-3886953.php#ixzz27PQRf1Id AB 32 and Cap and Trade Design Basics. California, the world’s fifth-largest economy and 18th in total carbon emissions if it were a separate country1, is rapidly moving forward with the development of its cap and trade program scheduled to be implemented in 2013. This has drawn a lot of attention from businesses generating high quantities of carbon emissions or who consume large amounts of energy or fuel. Carbon futures linked to Californian’s cap and trade program slipped recently2, but after a test auction in late August 2012, news articles reported that major banks are weighing whether to wade into the California carbon market, which experts believe could grow into a $40 billion-a-year market by 2020. Posted. http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/ab-32-and-cap-and-trade-design-basics-73042/ DIESEL EMISSIONS Trucks Will Roll Down an E-Highway In California Test. Trolley-like system could let people breathe easier amid congestion. Los Angeles-area officials are betting that one route to cleaner air in the smog-choked region might be a so-called e-highway for commercial trucks. Within the next few years they plan to test a trolley-like system developed by Siemens AG that relies on overhead electric wires to power specially equipped freight trucks down roadways. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444506004577613523952540182.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution BY SUBSCRIPTION FUELS Gas drilling protests held in US, other countries. Demonstrators in the United States and other countries protested Saturday against the natural gas drilling process known as fracking that they say threatens public health and the environment. Participants in the "Global Frackdown" campaign posted photos on social media websites showing mostly small groups. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/AP35ecfda5ca724dbbbff47444f9455284.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/22/gas-drilling-protests-held-in-us-other-countries/ Mine closings not likely to turn Va. Elections. In southwestern Virginia's hardscrabble coal fields, the closure of three mines announced last week is like a death in the family. Yet try as they will, Republicans will have a hard time making it the potent issue they hope it will be in this swing state. Coal giant Alpha Natural Resources is closing three mines in Virginia and five elsewhere in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Company officials ascribed the shutdowns and a 16 million ton reduction in domestic production to electrical utilities converting coal-fired generating plants to cheaper…Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Mine-closings-not-likely-to-turn-Va-elections-3887255.php#ixzz27PT1Y5dB Decades of federal dollars helped fuel gas boom. It sounds like a free-market success story: a natural gas boom created by drilling company innovation, delivering a vast new source of cheap energy without the government subsidies that solar and wind power demand. "The free market has worked its magic," the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council, an industry group, claimed over the summer. The boom happened "away from the greedy grasp of Washington," the American Enterprise Institute, a think tank, wrote in an essay this year. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/decades-of-federal-dollars-helped-fuel-gas-boom/article_95135a3f-9676-54f3-aeea-81a4414f10be.html VEHICLES Battery overheating stalls Chrysler plug-in hybrid tests. Chrysler Group LLC said it has temporarily sidelined 109 trucks and 23 minivans in plug-in hybrid test fleets due to overheating batteries in some of the pickup trucks. Three of the Ram Truck 1500 pickup trucks in a fleet of 109 equipped with plug-in hybrid powertrains sustained damage when their prototype lithium-ion batteries overheated, Chrysler said. There were no fires or injuries and the incidents occurred when the trucks were unoccupied, the automaker said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/24/chrysler-batteries-idUSL1E8KO8RK20120924 Toyota drops plan for widespread sales of electric car. Toyota Motor Corp has scrapped plans for widespread sales of a new all-electric minicar, saying it had misread the market and the ability of still-emerging battery technology to meet consumer demands. Toyota, which had already taken a more conservative view of the market for battery-powered cars than rivals General Motors Co and Nissan Motor Co, said it would only sell about 100 battery-powered eQ vehicles in the United States and Japan in an extremely limited release. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/24/us-toyota-electric-idUSBRE88N0CT20120924 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444358804578015543548693774.html?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_business BY SUBSCRIPTION http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Toyota-plans-expanded-range-of-hybrids-3888271.php#ixzz27PSISLz4 http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21618355/toyota-revving-up-its-hybrid-efforts Silicon Valley electric car show leaves the hobbyists behind. On National Plug In Day, the newest in electric vehicles were on display Sunday at De Anza College in Cupertino. What used to be a gathering of geeks who built eccentric vehicles in their garages has become more like a regular, commercial car show. "I don't know where all the hobbyists went," said Frank Bletsch, who sat quietly behind his hand-built "Electric Urban Micro Hauler," a tall, three-wheeled contraption with a short cargo bed. "It's become more commercial." Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_21615258/silicon-valley-electric-car-show-leaves-hobbyists-behind?source=rss TEMECULA: City holds first Electric Vehicle Expo. Someday finding a place to charge an electric car may be as common as spotting a gas station, and less scary. "These people don't worry about gas prices," said organizer Taylor York, city captain for the Western Riverside County Clean Cities Coalition, pointing to a row of six gleaming electric cars parked, hoods up and trunks open, as part of Temecula's first-ever Electric Vehicle Expo, held Sunday in Old Town in conjunction with National Plug-In Day. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/temecula/temecula-city-holds-first-electric-vehicle-expo/article_759cde45-6ae4-513e-9aca-d072a2882866.html National Plug In Day comes to Santa Rosa. Odie Weir asked the car salesman to pop open the little gas-cap-type door so he could see the strange-looking plug for charging the 2013 Toyota RAV4 all-electric vehicle. Weir, of Angwin, was checking out the new vehicle at a special gathering of car dealers and electric vehicle owners Sunday at Santa Rosa's Coddingtown Shopping Center. "I want to be less dependent on the Middle East," Weir said of his interest in the electric vehiclesPosted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20120923/ARTICLES/120929805 GREEN ENERGY Power, Pollution and the Internet: If it’s really bad, let’s tell it like it is. The New York Times has published an in-depth piece today that purports to document how wasteful the Internet industry is, but some critics say the report is misleading. The industry’s data centers “consume vast amounts of energy in an incongruously wasteful manner,” the Times writes, summarizing the findings of its year-long investigation. “Online companies typically run their facilities at maximum capacity around the clock, whatever the demand. As a result, data centers can waste 90 percent or more of the electricity they pull off the grid,” it said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/23/idUS74435997420120923 Energy Upgrade falls far short of goal. Backed by $146 million from President Obama's stimulus, California last year launched an effort to help as many as 100,000 homeowners save energy by providing rebates for new insulation, windows and furnaces. The stimulus money has been spent, but as of July, just 5,130 homes received upgrades or qualified for rebates, according to the California Energy Commission. The money also funded 3,728 energy-efficiency projects at businesses through May - mostly improvements to ventilation systems and lighting controls. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Energy-Upgrade-falls-far-short-of-goal-3886924.php#ixzz27PR7ElKh ENERGY: Sun ready to set on state solar subsidy in San Diego County. California's solar panel subsidy will end for San Diego County residents by the end of the year, but Southwest Riverside homeowners will get two more years to bask in its glow, utility and program officials said this week. The California Solar Initiative, launched in 2007, provided a declining scale of subsidies to people who bought solar panels for their homes or businesses. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/energy-sun-ready-to-set-on-state-solar-subsidy-in/article_85901dae-0297-5556-8027-79d176661d33.html MISCELLANEOUS How ‘Silent Spring’ Ignited the Environmental Movement. On June 4, 1963, less than a year after the controversial environmental classic “Silent Spring” was published, its author, Rachel Carson, testified before a Senate subcommittee on pesticides. She was 56 and dying of breast cancer. She told almost no one. She’d already survived a radical mastectomy. Her pelvis was so riddled with fractures that it was nearly impossible for her to walk to her seat at the wooden table before the Congressional panel. To hide her baldness, she wore a dark brown wig. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/23/magazine/how-silent-spring-ignited-the-environmental-movement.html?ref=greenhousegasemissions House moves to quash Obama coal, gas rules. House Republicans voted Friday to cramp President Barack Obama's environmental policies in favor of increased coal production, in a parting jab before returning home to campaign. The bill would bar the Environmental Protection Agency from restricting greenhouse gases, quash stricter fuel efficiency standards for cars and give states control over disposal of harmful coal byproducts. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/21/house-moves-to-halt-obama-coal-gas-rules/#ixzz27PgafiHc OPINIONS Is It a Car? Is It a Boat? Well, Yes. The quest to mass produce a successful amphibious automobile has been going on since Volkswagen first rolled its Schwimmwagen into the water more than 70 years ago during World War II. The vehicle, used by the German army, cruised on land and in water, where the wheels acted as rudders and a three-blade propeller pushed the vehicle along. More than 15,000 Schwimmwagens are said to have been built, making it the most-produced amphibious car in history. Trouble was, the cars took a long time to build and had a life span of only six weeks. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443864204577623590933540030.html?KEYWORDS=emissions EDITORIAL: Sunday pops. Writing at Forbes.com, James Taylor notes that Antarctic sea ice continues to set records -- not for melting but for increasing. In fact, he says such sea ice "has been growing since satellites first began measuring the ice 33 years ago and the sea ice has been above the 33-year average throughout 2012." Throw another log on the fire, honey, it's getting cold outside. ... From the University of California, Riverside, Department of We Have Nothing Better to Study: Commercially cooked hamburgers cause more air pollution than diesel trucks. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-mct-editorial-sunday-pops-20120923,0,5263437.story EDITORIAL: Energy: Sunshine patriots. We had to laugh when we read some of the gripes about Dominion Virginia Power's new solar-generation project. The company is planning to build 30 to 50 facilities that will, combined, generate about 30 megawatts of power. Dominion says it will add about 20 cents to the cost of a monthly residential bill. A Sierra Club honcho says the group is "in favor of it," but "we think the price is too high." Another Sierra Clubber said the utility "must do more." Talk about wanting to have your cake and eat it, too. No matter which source you go to, you'll find that solar power ranks among the most expensive of energy sources. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-mct-editorial-energy-sunshine-patriots-20120924,0,6227622.story EDITORIAL: Ameren gets a pass from cowed Illinois regulators. The Illinois Pollution Control Board's decision to let Ameren Corp. slide until 2020 on its promise to cut sulfur dioxide emissions from its coal-fired power plant in Newton, Ill., is a glowing example of what lawyers, money and power will get you. Ameren, via its retinue of lawyers, began backpedaling soon after agreeing in 2006 to spend $1.6 billion to cut emissions of key pollutants at the plant, about 126 miles east of St. Louis, by 2015. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-mct-editorial-ameren-gets-a-pass-from-cowed-illinois-20120924,0,702031.story Ignore polluting industries on cap-and-trade Re "California businesses want changes to cap-and-trade market" (Business, Sept. 20): Old manufacturing and dirty energy industries, represented by their high-paid lobbyists, are doing their best to derail AB 32, the state's clean energy law. Voters said "no" when they made similar attempts in 2010 with the defeat of Proposition 23. Lawmakers said "no" when they tried to pass a law to get more freebies. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/23/4838663/who-are-the-real-heavyweight-businesses.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy WHY IT MATTERS: Global warming. The issue: People love to talk about the weather, especially when it's strange like the mercifully ended summer of 2012. This year the nation's weather has been hotter and more extreme than ever, federal records show. Yet there are two people who aren't talking about it, and they both happen to be running for president. Where they stand: In 2009, President Barack Obama proposed a bill that would have capped power plant carbon dioxide emissions and allowed trading of credits for the right to emit greenhouse gases…Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/WHY-IT-MATTERS-Global-warming-3887260.php#ixzz27PPwn22k http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21613468/why-it-matters-global-warming http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/23/3003281/why-it-matters-global-warming.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/why-it-matters-global-warming/article_ab8ba711-256b-5afd-85d0-be0be37b858e.html Carbon Taxes: A Bipartisan Threat to Liberty That Won't Stay Dead. With the economy sputtering toward what can at best be described as a meager recovery, it seems like an obviously poor time to consider raising taxes on any form of energy. That’s particularly true when it comes the gasoline which fuels not only our cars, but also the nation’s economic engine. Yet that is also precisely what an unholy coalition of big spending liberals and misguided conservative economists is proposing – to raise taxes on carbon and send the economy spiraling toward another recession. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/09/23/carbon-taxes-a-bipartisan-threat-to-liberty-that-wont-stay-dead/ BLOGS Wind Sprints to the Cliff. The wind industry’s main trade association is predicting that new installations will fall to zero without a renewal of the production tax credit, which applies only to projects finished by New Year’s Eve. Since renewal is iffy, some wind machine factories are already shutting down, as my colleague Diane Cardwell reported on Friday. From another perspective, this is the moment for the feast before the famine: the impending deadline means that a surge of projects are approaching completion. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/22/wind-sprints-to-the-cliff/ Al Gore Sees ‘Dirty Weather’ Ahead. On Sunday, Al Gore was in New York — well, he appeared in a video screened there — to promote the second iteration of “24 Hours of Reality,” an event streamed online to help people connect the dots between climate change and its diverse impacts around the globe. This year’s version, scheduled for Nov. 14-15, is titled “24 Hours of Reality: The Dirty Weather Report.” “The weather’s just that – dirty,” Mr. Gore said in the video, which was shown at the three-day Social Good Summit conference. “It’s fueled by dirty fossil fuel and misinformation.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/24/al-gore-sees-dirty-weather-ahead/ Scientists: Climate bias at Fox, WSJ ‘far exceeded’ rest of media. The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has just published a study criticizing Fox News Channel and the Wall Street Journal’s opinion section for misleading coverage of the climate change issue. Jumping straight to the key findings: • Over a recent six-month period, 93 percent of Fox News Channel’s representations of climate science were misleading (37 out of 40 instances). • Similarly, over the past year, 81 percent of the representations of climate science in the Wall Street Journal’s opinion section were misleading (39 out of 48 instances). Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/post/scientist-climate-bias-at-fox-wsj-far-exceeded-rest-of-media/2012/09/24/588b4fcc-0661-11e2-a10c-fa5a255a9258_blog.html Greenpeace questions California's global carbon offset plans. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks as US governors and international leaders convene at the Governors' Global Climate Summit 2 on September 30, 2009 in Century City, California. A collaboration of 14 states and provinces from 5 countries, including officials from California, will meet in the Mexican state of Chiapas this week. They’re trying to develop ways to cut carbon pollution together. But some people are skeptical about the project. Posted. http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/2012/09/24/10117/californias-been-trying-trade-carbon-other-regions/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+893KpccSouthernCaliforniaNews-Environment+%2889.3+KPCC%3A+Southern+California+News+-+Environment%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, 25 Sep 2012 12:16:17 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 25, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips September 25, 2012. 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 regulators probe Phillips 66 refinery in Wilmington. The Phillips 66 refinery in Wilmington had a flare Saturday afternoon that produced a header that could be seen all over the Los Angeles basin. State air quality regulators are investigating whether a daylong burn-off at the Phillips 66 oil refinery in Wilmington could have been avoided, officials said Monday. The Sept. 15 burnoff of petroleum products lasted for about six hours after a power outage caused a sudden shutdown of all refinery operations at about 2 p.m. Black smoke billowing out of the refinery's flare could be seen for miles. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_21620536/air-pollution-regulators-probe-phillips-66-refinery-wilmington http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_21620536/air-pollution-regulators-probe-phillips-66-refinery-wilmington RICHMOND REFINERY Chevron: Failed pipe had unknown weakness. A corroded pipe that failed and triggered a leak and massive fire at Chevron Corp.'s Richmond refinery had a low silicon content that went undetected during the company's tests and therefore was unaddressed, the manager in charge of the facility said Monday. Nigel Hearne, general manager of Chevron Richmond, described the chemical composition of the decades-old, eight-inch pipe section as a contributing factor to the Aug. 6 blaze that sent thousands of people to the hospital with smoke-related complaints and knocked offline one of the nation's largest refineries. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_REFINERY_FIRE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Other Related Stories http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/25/us-refinery-operations-chevron-richmond-idUSBRE88O05220120925 http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Chevron-says-pipe-low-on-key-protectant-3890861.php#ixzz27Ur7sVRN http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_21620306/public-meeting-into-chevrons-richmond-fire-expected-draw?source=rss CLIMATE CHANGE Stratospheric winds influence ocean currents, scientists say. Changes in wind direction 15 to 30 miles above Earth's surface can affect mile-deep currents in the North Atlantic by striking an oceanic "Achilles' heel," according to atmospheric scientists. The discovery, published Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience, carries implications for the study of Earth's climate and how we predict its change. Scientists have long understood that events in Earth's stratosphere -- Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-stratosphere-ocean-link-20120924,0,3280093.story?track=rss NRCC uses Solyndra, cap and trade in attack ads. The National Republican Congressional Committee has rolled out a trio of ads seizing on two of the GOP’s favorite attack points: Solyndra and cap and trade. The nearly $1 million ad buy against Democratic Reps. Jerry McNerney of California, Nick Rahall of West Virginia and Bruce Braley of Iowa goes after votes the three lawmakers took in previous Congresses when House Democrats were in control. Posted. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0912/81621.html#ixzz27VWS0X8b Meeting Calif. goal of 80% GHG reduction possible, but difficult – study. California cannot reach its goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050 without major advancements in technologies, a new report says. "Existing technologies, off the shelf technologies" and ones likely to be available in the near future are insufficient to power the Golden State to the finish line on reductions mandated by its climate law, A.B. 32, an analysis from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory released yesterday says. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/25/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Coal exports make U.S. cleaner, EU more polluted. Shale gas has jolted traditional roles in the planet's climate drama, giving cleaner fuel to the United States, whose displaced coal has headed to Europe to pollute the old continent. It is an ironic twist for the European Union, whose energy policy is largely based on promoting renewables and a target to cut emissions by 20 percent by 2020. The U.S. did not ratify the Kyoto Protocol to combat global emissions and its national goals are far less ambitious than Europe's. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/25/europe-emissions-shale-idUSL5E8KO4V320120925 VEHICLES Tesla unveils faster electric car charging station. Tesla Motors Inc. unveiled a solar-powered charging station on Monday that it said will make refueling electric vehicles on long trips about as fast as stopping for gas and a bathroom break in a conventional car. CEO Elon Musk said at a news conference at the company's design studio that the company's roadside Supercharger has been installed at six highway rest stops in California. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TESLA_SUPERCHARGER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/electric-car-maker-tesla-unveils-solar-powered-charging-stations-to-promote-longer-trips/2012/09/24/93ffd800-06c2-11e2-9eea-333857f6a7bd_story.html Honda pledges to double global sales in five years. Honda is aiming to double down. It plans to produce twice as many vehicles as it does today. That will take it to more than 6 million vehicles over the next five years as the Japanese automaker gears up for ambitious growth after bouncing back from last year's disasters. "We have now reached the stage of going on the offensive," Honda President Takanobu Ito told reporters Friday, as he announced his worldwide target for the fiscal year ending March 2017. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/09/23/honda-double-sales/70000937/1#.UGHuEdVp33U Calif. governor to sign bill to OK driverless cars. Gov. Jerry Brown plans to sign legislation that will pave the way for driverless cars in California. The bill by Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla, of Los Angeles, would establish safety and performance regulations for autonomous vehicles. Representatives for Brown say the governor is expected to sign the legislation on Tuesday at the Mountain View headquarters of Google, which has been developing autonomous car technology and lobbying for the California legislation. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Calif-governor-to-sign-bill-to-OK-driverless-cars-3892470.php#ixzz27UtumogR http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120925/A_NEWS/120929944 GREEN ENERGY U.S. poised to hand over $197 million to San Jose solar panel startup. A tiny San Jose solar company named SoloPower will flip the switch on production at a U.S. factory Thursday, a major step toward allowing it to tap a $197 million government loan guarantee awarded under the same controversial program that supported failed panel maker Solyndra. SoloPower has initiated a strategy to differentiate it from struggling commodity players in the solar panel industry. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_21619883/san-jose-solar-startup-solopower-197-million-loan-guarantee?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com MISCELLANEOUS Longtime activists worry California government is softening on Santa Susana Field Lab cleanup. A community group that has fought for 20 years to get the Santa Susana Field Laboratory cleaned up, blasted California's Department of Toxic Substances Control on Monday for appearing to soften its stance on decontamination efforts of the former rocket engine testing site. In a strongly worded letter sent to the DTSC on Monday…Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21622170/longtime-activists-worry-california-government-is-softening-santa?source=rss SAN ONOFRE: Regulators had questions about dome repairs at nuke plant. Nuclear regulators a year ago questioned the strength of concrete used to repair San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station's two containment domes, but still haven't said whether those repairs were up to snuff. A nuclear watchdog group, the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility, says it has been trying to get more information on the matter since October, but the Nuclear Regulatory Commission hasn't released a final report on the concrete that plugged a 28-foot hole in each of San Onofre's two iconic domes. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/san-onofre-regulators-had-questions-about-dome-repairs-at-nuke/article_09d8cc31-4206-53e6-ab65-5478a1a66a46.html OPINION Fracking lessons from Beverly Hills High: John Kemp. Both supporters and critics of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (together usually known as "fracking") usually portray the technique as novel, with unknown but potentially large risks, and certainly disruptive for surface communities. It might be possible in far-away places like the north plains of the Dakotas and Montana, they say, but is not appropriate in populated areas, especially ones with sensitive geology and prone to earthquakes. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/25/us-column-kemp-fracking-losangeles-idUSBRE88O0FH20120925 Letters: Inaction on climate change will be costly. I was stunned to read the article "Midwest drought belt: A changed world emerges" and not see a single mention of climate change. The question to be posed is, "If Republicans got it wrong about climate change, who will pay for the clean up?" Answer: You and I will, with higher taxes and higher commodities prices. It is irresponsible to print this article without mention of the likely causation of the possible "third-costliest natural disaster in U.S. history." Instead, it ends with a rosy idea: What goes around comes around. Ridiculous. Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/letters/story/2012-09-24/drought-climate-change-heat/57838368/1 Pushing the Green Button. Knowledge is power, they say, but when it comes to knowing how much electricity their home is using, most consumers are in the dark. In fact, consumers, on average, spend about 6 minutes per year interacting with their electric utility. Because of that, they're missing out on opportunities to save some power -- and money. That's beginning to change. A year ago, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy launched the Green Button initiative. The premise was to make it easy and fun for consumers to learn how much electricity their home was using. So far, it's working according to plan. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-wood/green-energy_b_1912992.html?utm_hp_ref=green BLOGS Are the U.S. and Europe headed for a trade war over airline carbon fees? Are the United States and Europe poised for a trade war over airline fees? Suddenly, that’s not such a ludicrous question. Late last Friday night, the Senate unanimously passed a bill to try to block a European Union plan to cap carbon emissions on all flights in and out of Europe. The bill sets the stage for a cross-Atlantic showdown that could get unruly. The tempest started back in January, when a new E.U. law went into effect requiring all flights that take off from or land in Europe to buy allowances for their carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/09/25/could-the-u-s-and-europe-start-a-trade-war-over-airline-carbon-fees/ How California is planning growth for a prosperous economy and clean environment. A thorough new report developed by my colleagues at the Natural Resources Defense Council, together with Move LA, a transportation and smart development partnership in southern California, documents the impressive progress made over the last four years to ensure that our nation’s most populous state will absorb future growth in a sensible way. Called Bold Plans for California Communities, the report traces the history and implementation of the state’s landmark planning framework, adopted by the state legislature and signed by then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2008. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/how_california_is_planning_gro.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 Sep 2012 12:50:56 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 26, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 26, 2012. 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 won't reconsider ruling that upheld NO2 rule. A federal appeals court has rejected industry petitions seeking reconsideration of a July decision that upheld U.S. EPA's most recent nitrogen dioxide air quality standards. The American Petroleum Institute and Interstate Natural Gas Association asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to rehear the case. The February 2010 rule set new one-hour maximum National Ambient Air Quality Standards at 100 parts per billion, a move aimed at tackling short-term elevated levels near roads. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/09/26/15 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Lawsuit seeks full implementation of EPA lead standard. Environmentalists this week filed a lawsuit seeking to force U.S. EPA to fully implement its air standards for lead. The Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) and Center for Environmental Health say EPA was supposed to make sure that all states were in compliance with the 2008 lead National Ambient Air Quality Standard earlier this year by reviewing state plans. But 12 states have yet to comply, the groups say in a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/09/26/16 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE 100 million to die by 2030 if world fails to act on climate. More than 100 million people will die and global economic growth will be cut by 3.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030 if the world fails to tackle climate change, a report commissioned by 20 governments said on Wednesday. As global average temperatures rise due to greenhouse gas emissions, the effects on the planet, such as melting ice caps, extreme weather, drought and rising sea levels, will threaten populations and livelihoods, said the report conducted by humanitarian organization DARA. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/26/us-climate-inaction-idINBRE88O1HG20120926 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/26/climate-change-deaths_n_1915365.html Factbox: Carbon trading schemes around the world. Carbon trading schemes are emerging all over the world as governments try to meet greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets in the fight against climate change. Thailand and Vietnam this week announced plans to launch emissions trading schemes. The European Union has agreed to link its own carbon market with Australia's scheme in 2018 and has struck a deal with China to help with the design and implementation of its emissions trading schemes. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/26/us-carbon-trading-idINBRE88P0ZN20120926 California Carbon Auction May Trigger Price Drop, BNEF Says. Companies may be particularly reluctant to buy permits that aren’t valid until 2015 if they can hold off and buy them later, William Nelson, a Bloomberg New Energy Finance analyst in New York, said in an e-mailed statement. The state Air Resources Board on Nov. 14 will sell at least 21.8 million allowances to be used during the first compliance phase of the cap-and-trade program, designed to help curb California’s greenhouse-gas emissions by 2020 to 1990 levels. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-09-25/california-carbon-auction-may-trigger-price-drop-bnef-says Climate Change Reducing Global GDP by 1.6% a Year, Report Finds. Climate change and pollution related to carbon-dioxide emissions are reducing the world’s gross domestic product by 1.6 percent a year, about $1.2 trillion, according to a report. If unchecked, rising temperatures may cut global GDP by 3.2 percent a year by 2030, according to the Climate Vulnerability Monitor, released today by the Madrid-based humanitarian group DARA and the Climate Vulnerable Forum. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-26/climate-change-reducing-global-gdp-by-1-6-a-year-report-finds.html FUELS Qatar natural gas firm to send more fuel to Japan. Qatari state-backed natural gas producer Qatargas says it has signed a long-term supply deal with a Japanese power company as the Asian nation increasingly relies on fossil fuels after a nuclear meltdown last year. Qatargas said Wednesday the deal with Kansai Electric Power Company covers shipments of half a million tons of liquefied natural gas annually for 15 years, beginning next year. Financial details were not disclosed. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21634583/qatar-natural-gas-firm-send-more-fuel-japan?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21634583/qatar-natural-gas-firm-send-more-fuel-japan?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21634583/qatar-natural-gas-firm-send-more-fuel-japan?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/26/3007338/qatar-natural-gas-firm-to-send.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/state-backed-qatargas-to-supply-more-gas-to-japanese-power-company-under-long-term-deal/2012/09/26/268a31a2-07e5-11e2-9eea-333857f6a7bd_story.html VEHICLES Gov. Brown gives green light to driverless cars in California. California took the fast lane to the future on Tuesday when Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law that lets self-driving cars onto public roads. Brown rode to the signing ceremony at Google Inc headquarters in the passenger seat of a vehicle that steered itself, a Prius modified by Google. Google co-founder Sergey Brin and State Sen. Alex Padilla, who sponsored the bill, were along for the ride. An engineer for the technology company, Chris Urmson, sat in the driver's seat, but the car drove itself. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/25/us-google-robotcars-law-idINBRE88O1FJ20120925 http://www.siliconvalley.com/ci_21627191/google-driverless-robot-car-law-jerry-brown-signs-law-sergey-brin Chinese ministries test-drive China-made electric cars –Xinhua. Eleven Chinese ministries and government agencies are test-driving China-made electric cars and more will follow suit, state news agency Xinhua said, in the latest show of state support for the country's fledging green vehicle industry. Staff at the ministries will drive a fleet of 23 electric cars from Warren Buffett-backed BYD Co Ltd and Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Co, or JAC Motors, as their official vehicles in a one-year trial, Xinhua said on Wednesday. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/26/china-automobiles-idINL4E8KQ73A20120926 Hyundai to introduce world's first production fuel-cell electric vehicle. Hyundai, which has lagged its rivals in battery-powered electric cars, aims to leapfrog that technology and roll out what it calls the world's first production fuel-cell electric vehicles at this week's Paris auto show. The South Korean automaker is betting that fuel-cell electric vehicles will be a more realistic future auto technology than pure battery electric cars such as Nissan Motor's Leaf. Those models have struggled to win over drivers as the batteries are expensive, take hours to recharge and can only drive short distances. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21628374/hyundai-introduce-worlds-first-production-fuel-cell-electric Tesla's Model S production behind schedule; company cuts revenue forecast and stock slides. Hours after unveiling plans for a nationwide network of "Superchargers," Tesla Motors (TSLA) on Tuesday quietly cut its revenue forecast for 2012 and admitted that production of its all-electric Model S sedan is "slower than we had earlier anticipated." Tesla also revealed plans to shore up its balance sheet and raise at least $128 million through the sale of an additional 4.3 million shares of stock, and to make changes to the terms of its $465 million loan from the U.S. Department of Energy. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/cars/ci_21625792/tesla-cuts-revenue-forecast-due-slow-model-s-sales-supercharger Tesla Motors unveils 'Superchargers' at event near Los Angeles. Addressing a key concern consumers have about electric cars -- their range between charges -- Tesla Motors (TSLA) on Monday unveiled an aggressive plan to build a nationwide network of high-speed "Superchargers" to make it possible for drivers of its all-electric Model S sedan to go on long road trips without having to make long stops to recharge their batteries. Posted. http://www.siliconvalley.com/green-energy/ci_21622079/tesla-motors-unveils-superchargers-at-event-los-angeles http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21633276/tesla-motors-unveils-superchargers-at-event-near-los?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21630298/cassidy-teslas-model-s-supercharger-puts-buzz-gilroy?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Fisker Karma 'plagued with flaws,' says Consumer Reports. An influential consumer magazine said Fisker Automotive's Karma plug-in hybrid has a variety of flaws, from limited visibility to a poorly designed touch-screen system that amounts to an "ergonomic disaster." The less-than-glowing report from Consumer Reports magazine is the latest blow for Fisker, which is looking to raise funds after being denied access to more than half of a $529 million government loan that was the cornerstone of its business plan. Posted. http://www.siliconvalley.com/green-energy/ci_21626072/fisker-karma-plagued-flaws-says-consumer-reports Do 'game-changing' fuel cell cars have a powerful ally in natural gas? Only movie stars and select consumers have been able to get their hands on hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the United States over the past few years, but now these zero-emissions cars are poised to bust onto the scene in a big way around 2015 to 2017. A limited number of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are available for lease today, and nearly all of them in California, where refueling stations are slowly cropping up. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/26/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Yingli Green Energy Denies Allegations of Receiving Illegal Subsidies. Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. (YGE) said it "strongly rejects" accusations contained in an anti-subsidy complaint that was submitted at the European Commission Tuesday. The complaint was filed by EuProsun, an initiative of European solar companies led by SolarWorld AG(SWW.XE). Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. (YGE) said it "strongly rejects" accusations contained in an anti-subsidy complaint filed by EuProsun, an initiative of European solar companies led by SolarWorld AG(SWW.XE), which was submitted at the European Commission Tuesday. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120926-703558.html BY SUBSCRIPTION Upstate NY residents voice opposition to pipeline. Residents of two rural upstate New York counties have voiced their opposition to a plan to build a natural gas pipeline through their hometowns. Several hundred people turned out for public hearings held this week in Chenango and Schoharie (skoh-HAYR'-ee) counties, part of the upstate region a 120-mile pipeline from northeastern Pennsylvania would traverse. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21633773/upstate-ny-residents-voice-opposition-pipeline?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21633773/upstate-ny-residents-voice-opposition-pipeline?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21633773/upstate-ny-residents-voice-opposition-pipeline?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com MISCELLANEOUS U.S. carbon tax could halve deficit in 10 years: report. Imposing a $20 per metric ton carbon tax in the U.S. could reduce the country's budget deficit by 50 percent over the next 10 years, a report by the Congressional Research Service said on Tuesday. Such a tax would generate approximately $88 billion in 2012, rising to $144 billion by 2020, the report said, slashing U.S. debt by between 12 and 50 percent within a decade, depending on how high the deficit climbs. Posted. http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/26/us-carbon-idINBRE88P0DV20120926 S.F. startup offers scooter rentals. Michael Keating loves cities. But getting around them can be a pain. All the usual options - cars, buses, bikes, taxis and walking - have their drawbacks, especially in dense urban areas such as San Francisco. So Keating and a small group of like-minded entrepreneurs have created one possible solution: a company that lets people rent electric scooters on the fly. Scoot Networks launches Wednesday in San Francisco, with 60 scooters available at four stations in the city's SoMa neighborhood. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/S-F-startup-offers-scooter-rentals-3895387.php#ixzz27ap635Sh Jaco Oil to pay out $400,000. Company did not properly monitor facilities throughout state including in SLO County. A Bakersfield-based gasoline marketer has agreed to pay $400,000 for monitoring and testing violations at 14 underground storage tank facilities, including in San Luis Obispo County. The violations involved facilities in Kern and Merced counties also. According to the state Water Resources Control Board, the company, Jaco Oil, did not properly monitor, test and construct underground tanks at its facilities for the past several years. Posted. http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/09/25/2242042/jaco-oil-to-pay-out-400000.html#storylink=cpy OPINIONS Cap-and-trade auction is yet another government money grab. Re "State's carbon auction assailed" (Page A1, Sept. 21): Satellite imaging has been capable of measuring the volume of ice that exists at our poles for 33 years. It was recently announced that, contrary to the claims of government power mongers of near spa conditions, the amount of ice in the Antarctic is the highest ever recorded in those 33 years. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/25/4850794/ice.html#storylink=cpy Earth Log: No study of diesel traffic for large warehouse in Visalia. A 500,000-square-foot distribution center is supposed to open this fall in Visalia, and I do not know how much diesel pollution will be created by the truck traffic. There was no environmental review for the center, according to a Fresno Bee story written last week by reporter Pablo Lopez. How could a warehouse of this size escape the California Environmental Quality Act? Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/25/3006914/earth-log-no-study-of-diesel-traffic.html#storylink=cpy Using Carbon Credits To Pay For Energy Retrofits. One of the signal achievements of the Obama administration is a success hidden in plain view. Scorned by Republicans and rarely mentioned by Democrats, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), or simply “the stimulus,” was many things at once – tax cut, lifeline for cash-strapped states and local governments, and, as noted by Michael Grunwald in his important new book The New New Deal, “the biggest and most transformative energy bill in U.S. history.” Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/justingerdes/2012/09/25/using-carbon-credits-to-pay-for-energy-retrofits/ Republicans have a medieval mindset about climate change. On an early morning flight coming out of the clouds above the North Sea, the first objects that come into view as the coast of the Netherlands approaches are the windmills. No, not the quaint, creaking, wooden windmills that, along with wooden shoes and the little boy with his finger in the dike, are the cliches of Dutch culture; these windmills are sleek and modern and so huge they dwarf the container ships passing by. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/topoftheticket/lat-na-tt-medieval-mindset-20120925,0,6709952.story?track=rss BLOGS Imagining a Warmer Arctic. What Will Ice-Free Arctic Summers Bring? On Sunday, September 16, the sun did not rise above the horizon in the Arctic. Nevertheless enough of the sun's heat had poured over the North Pole during the summer months to cause the largest loss of Arctic sea ice cover since satellite records began in the 1970s. The record low 3.41 million square kilometers of ice shattered the previous low—4.17 million square kilometers—set in 2007. All told, since 1979, the Arctic sea ice minimum extent has shrunk by more than 50 percent—Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/ice-free-arctic-summers-bring-100100621.html Charbroiling Burgers: An Air-Quality Scourge That May Be Worse Than Diesel Trucks. In Freakonomics-like fashion, researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have concluded that producing a charbroiled hamburger emits the same mass particulate matter as a heavy-duty diesel truck traveling 143 miles. It may seem counterintuitive, but Bill Welch, the school’s principal investigator for a study financed by two air-quality districts in California, said the hamburger’s role in air pollution stands out as other sources of particulate emissions, like cars and trucks, have undertaken heavy regulatory diets. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/25/charbroiling-burgers-an-air-quality-scourge-that-may-be-worse-than-diesel-trucks/ How certain can we be about climate change? The question that headlines this post has caused great confusion and strife ever since climate change first entered the public consciousness. >From the very beginning, climate deniers set about to exaggerate the degree of uncertainty. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/how-certain-can-we-be-about-climate-change/ ====================================================================== 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 Sep 2012 12:59:12 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 27, 2012 From: aleaks@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 27, 2012. 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 Sacramento region gets seat on state air board. The Sacramento region will get a seat on the California Air Resources Board under legislation signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown this week. Assembly Bill 146 will expand the ARB from 11 to 12 members, with the new seat reserved for a representative from the Sacramento, Placer, Yolo-Solano, El Dorado or Feather River air districts. Sacramento Democratic Assemblyman Roger Dickinson, who proposed AB 146, noted that the Sacramento region had been the largest major metropolitan area in California not assured a seat on the state air board. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/27/4858814/sacramento-region-gets-seat-on.html#storylink=cpy AIR POLLUTION EASTVALE: Sewage treatment plant odors trigger lawsuit. For nearly 15 years, a treatment plant in Eastvale went nearly unnoticed as it performed one of the dirtiest and most vital jobs in the city: collecting and treating the sewage for Eastvale’s estimated 56,000 residents. Now, the residential growth made possible by the plant has triggered a lawsuit from home builder Meritage Homes of California, which alleges noxious fumes from the plant have caused property values to plummet and potential buyers to walk away from purchase contracts on homes across the street from the plant. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20120926-eastvale-sewage-treatment-plant-odors-trigger-lawsuit.ece DuPont's DeLisle plant pays $117K pollution fine. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has fined DuPont Co.'s DeLisle plant $117,000 after pollution control equipment broke down, allowing a smokestack to emit too much during a March 2011 test. DuPont Co., based in Wilmington, Del., makes titanium dioxide, a whitening agent used in paint, paper and plastics, at the Harrison County plant. More than 800 employees and contractors work at the complex, which is Mississippi's largest single releaser of toxic chemicals. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/26/duponts-delisle-plant-pays-117k-pollution-fine/ CLIMATE CHANGE Australia issues 6.37 million CO2 units. Australia on Thursday issued 6.37 million free carbon units to companies seeking compensation from the country's CO2 pricing mechanisms, the government said, the first ever emission rights to be issued under Australia's carbon scheme. The units were issued via Australia's emissions unit registry to alumina refiner Alcoa and ammonia and ammonium nitrate producer Queensland Nitrates, said the Clean Energy Regulator, the government body administering the scheme. Alcoa got just over 5.9 million of the units. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/27/us-australia-carbon-idUSBRE88Q0HS20120927 Alcoa Gets First Free Carbon Permits From Australian Regulator. Alcoa (AA), the largest U.S. aluminum producer, and Queensland Nitrates are the first to get free carbon permits from Australia through an A$8.6 billion ($8.9 billion) program to help businesses facing global competition. The companies are getting permits under the Jobs and Competitiveness Program, according to a statement today from Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator. Businesses such as aluminum smelters and steelmakers, which face constraints in their ability to pass through costs in global markets, can apply for free units over three years, according to the regulator. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-09-27/alcoa-gets-first-free-carbon-permits-from-australian-regulator Valley farmers examine climate change issues. New science and research has San Joaquin Valley farmers taking a harder look at the effect that climate change may have on their industry. If researcher's predictions hold true, the Valley's multi-billion dollar agriculture industry will be hit with longer stretches of hot temperatures, fewer colder days and shrinking water supplies. What that means for agriculture is potentially lower yields, a loss of revenue and fewer acres being farmed. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/27/3008118/valley-farmers-examine-climate.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/09/27/2391605/california-farmers-examine-climate.html#storylink=misearch AB 32 draws fire from businesses. Manufacturers, oil refiners and other business groups are protesting California’s cap-and-trade carbon market before the California Air Resources Board. The groups are demanding last-minute changes to AB 32, the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act, which they have labeled a “job killer” due to the cost of participating in the carbon market, according to The Sacramento Bee. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/chico/ab-32-draws-fire-from/content?oid=7873690 State's greenhouse gas law drives city planners away from urban sprawl – report. Major regions of California are shifting away from urban sprawl because of a law that mandates cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, a green group report says. Sacramento, San Diego and the greater Los Angeles region have passed long-range plans that emphasize public transit, walking and biking, the analysis released this week from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) says. The new strategies plan very different futures from what exists now, said Amanda Eaken, deputy director of sustainable communities for NRDC. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/27/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Australia, moving ahead with cap and trade, talks to Calif. about linkage. Australia is "keen" to link its new emissions trading system to California's, a top Australian climate official said yesterday. Mark Dreyfus, Australia's parliamentary secretary for climate change and energy efficiency, said that he met earlier this week with California officials and that the government is eager for more conversations. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/27/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Analyst warns Calif. auction could drive down prices. An analysis of California's first-in-the-nation economywide auction of greenhouse gas allowances is warning that prices could be lower than current advance trading is fetching. Bloomberg New Energy Finance says there is a "real risk" that the Nov. 14 auction for at least 61 million carbon allowances will fetch prices near or at the minimum of $10 per ton, particularly for the batch of 39.5 million allowances that will be turned in starting in 2016. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/27/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY STUDY: TV News Covered Paul Ryan's Workout 3x More Than Record Arctic Sea Ice Loss. TV News Covered Paul Ryan's Workout Over Three Times More Than Arctic Sea Ice Loss. Since June, the major TV news outlets have devoted seven full segments to Paul Ryan's physical fitness and P90X workout routine, and only one to Arctic sea ice loss. ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC have each covered Paul Ryan's workout routine as much or more than Arctic sea ice loss. In total, TV outlets have discussed Ryan's fitness 66 times -- more than three times as much as Arctic sea ice. Posted. http://mediamatters.org/research/2012/09/27/study-tv-news-covered-paul-ryans-workout-3x-mor/190165 Venice Lagoon research indicates rapid climate change in coastal regions. Researchers believe that this is partly as a result of a process known as the 'urban heat island effect'; where regions experiencing rapid industrial and urban expansion produce vast amounts of heat, making the area warmer than its surroundings. Professor Carl Amos of Ocean and Earth Sciences at the University of Southampton, will be making a speech at the Estuarine & Coastal Sciences Association's Research & Management of Transitional Waters international symposium, in Lithuania on Thursday 27 September. Posted. http://phys.org/news/2012-09-venice-lagoon-rapid-climate-coastal.html#jCp DIESEL EMISSIONS Governor moves to help Port of Hueneme pay for power system. Gov. Jerry Brown took action this week to help California's ports avoid needing to borrow money for costs associated with a state mandate to build land-based power systems to reduce pollution. The systems are being developed to comply with new regulations requiring that ships anchored at California ports turn off their engines to limit emissions. Vessels will plug into equipment at the shore, allowing them to shut down their diesel engines and keep from emitting nitrogen oxides and particulate matter into the air. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/26/governor-moves-to-help-port-of-hueneme-pay-for/?print=1 California Lower-Emission School Bus Program Issues Revisions to Implementation Dates. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) said it is adjusting the implementation deadline for the 2008 Lower-Emission School Bus Program Guidelines. A "Mail Out" posted on the CARB website, announces new statutory changes tied to Senate Bill 1018 (Chapter 39, Statutes of 2012), which include an extension of the expenditure deadline for Lower-Emission School Bus Program Proposition 1B (the Highway Safety, Traffic Reduction, Air Quality, and Port Security Bond Act of 2006) funds from June 30 of this year to June 30, 2014. Posted. http://www.stnonline.com/home/latest-news/4758-california-lower-emission-school-bus-program-issues-revisions-to-implementation-dates Freight Wing Offers New Side Skirt for Box Fairing Trailers. For truckers and fleets hauling van trailers with drop down storage boxes, aerodynamic fairings that improve fuel economy up to 5% are now available from Freight Wing. Attached to the storage box on each side of the trailer, the fairings are made of automotive grade plastic. A full fairing starts at the beginning of the trailer and connects to the belly box directing airflow around the storage container. The belly box profile is then extended downward with the Freight Wing fairing to about 8 inches from the ground. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=78098 FUELS Biofuel startups turn to cosmetics, health supplements for profits. Once a promising source of green energy, high-tech biofuel is being eclipsed by skin cream and food products as manufacturers shift to more lucrative products. After Congress enacted a renewable fuel standard in 2005, more than a dozen Bay Area companies joined the race to design new biofuels. The idea was to use genetically engineered microorganisms or other novel techniques to convert renewable crops into fuel with half the carbon emissions of gasoline. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/energy/story/biofuel-startups-turn-cosmetics-health/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/biofuel-startups-turn-to-cosmetics-health-supplements-for-profits/article_74e1c3b9-51ff-5629-8d24-00923c5aaae3.html Fight over canola pits biofuels vs. organics. Wet winters and cool, dry summers make Oregon's Willamette Valley one of the best places on the globe to produce seeds for organic broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and a variety of other vegetables known as brassicas. That means the fields south of Portland are also an ideal place to grow canola, another brassica whose seeds can be pressed to extract oil for food or renewable fuel. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/27/fight-over-canola-pits-biofuels-vs-organics/ Qatar natural gas firm to send more fuel to Japan. Qatari state-backed natural gas producer Qatargas says it has signed a long-term supply deal with a Japanese power company as the Asian nation increasingly relies on fossil fuels after a nuclear meltdown last year. Qatargas said Wednesday the deal with Kansai Electric Power Company covers shipments of half a million tons of liquefied natural gas annually for 15 years, beginning next year. Financial details were not disclosed. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/qatar-natural-gas-firm-to-send-more-fuel-to-japan/article_2558edfd-76e9-5d64-979c-dff366f3f330.html REGION: Supervisors green light expansion of financing program. Riverside County Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize expansion of a program that provides financing for homeowners to make houses energy- and water-efficient. Through the Western Riverside Council of Governments program, homeowners have secured $51 million in loans to install solar panels, tankless water heaters, efficient air conditioners, drip irrigation systems and other improvements. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/region-supervisors-green-light-expansion-of-financing-program/article_d5479e2a-dbf0-5b22-84b9-9c929e3e8796.html Builders aim for super-energy-efficient homes. Crowned with three gables and painted in hues of gray and white, the suburban home in Lake Forest, Calif., doesn't look much like the domicile of the future. But as summer heat radiates off the fresh asphalt outside, the home runs comfortably at full tilt indoors. Recessed lights shine, radios blare and air-conditioned splendor greets hot skin. Despite all systems going, the property is producing more electricity than it can consume on a warm summer day - and that's the goal. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/09/27/2391394/builders-aim-for-super-energy.html#storylink=misearch GREEN ENERGY British utility to burn wood for fuel. Drax Group PLC will convert part of the United Kingdom's biggest coal-fired power plant to biomass-burning units, which will require harvesting forests four times the size of Rhode Island each year. "We see a key part of our future as converting from essentially a coal station to a biomass station," said Drax CEO Dorothy Thompson. "It will take Drax from being the largest carbon emitter by site in the U.K. to being, probably, one of the largest renewable plants in the world." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/27/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Latest on energy storage and charging infrastructure - Electric Japan Weekly No46. This Japan column reports on promising developments in energy density of EV batteries from Toyota, wireless charging experiments, which are part of a Smart City Project, and the growing charging infrastructure in the Kanto area. Also, the end of the Eco Car subsidy program was marked by a total government assistance of €2.7bil. Last week at an event in Tokyo, Toyota presented its latest achievements in energy storage technology. In the prototype battery the lithium-ion battery electrolyte was replaced by all solid electrolyte improving overall compactness. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4954 Walnut Creek's County Connection Free Ride trolley buses to go electric. The green trolley buses are about to get more green. Thanks to a $4.3 million federal grant, the "Free Ride" will soon run on electrically charged batteries rather than by diesel power. It will make the downtown route the first in the county operated by all-electric powered buses. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21636047/walnut-creeks-county-connection-free-ride-trolley-buses?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Automakers explore 'lightweighting,' another route to boost gas mileage. When it comes to improving fuel economy, engines, powertrains, fuels and batteries seem to get all the attention. But what about the car's traditional steel side panel or rooftop? Using advanced lightweight materials on even the most basic car parts can improve overall fuel efficiency, too. According to the Department of Energy, reducing a vehicle's weight by 10 percent can improve fuel economy by 6 to 8 percent. Steel has traditionally made up about 60 percent of a vehicle's total weight. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/27/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Self-Regulating Tires Inflate While Rolling. We all know the consequences of driving on under-inflated tires: faster wear, increased potential for popping, and decreased gas milage. About half of all commercial vehicle breakdowns result from tire problems, according to the American Trucking Association, and tires are the single biggest expense for fleet operators. Since 2011, Goodyear has been working on self-regulating tires, and next year the company will begin testing its new self-inflating technology on commercial vehicles. Posted. http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/09/self-inflating-tires/ HIGH-SPEED RAIL Jerry Brown Tells Californians They Can 'Eat High Speed Rail'. California has long been a national leader. In industries such as aerospace, entertainment, agricultural and hi-tech, to name just a few, the Golden State has historically led the way. Today, however, California is the trendsetter in such statistics as unemployment, foreclosures, deficits, unfunded pension liabilities and government workers. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/09/26/jerry-brown-tells-californians-they-can-eat-high-speed-rail/ Judge will high-speed rail injunction request. A Sacramento judge will consider a motion for a preliminary injunction that could derail California's high-speed rail project in the central San Joaquin Valley. Judge Timothy Frawley ordered Friday that three separate lawsuits against the California High-Speed Rail Authority will be combined for future hearings in Sacramento Superior Court. The cases are challenging the rail authority's final approval of environmental reports and a route between Merced and Fresno -- one of the first sections of tracks that the authority hopes to begin building next year. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/26/3007787/judge-will-consider-request-for.html GREEN ENERGY Taxpayers, ratepayers will fund California solar plants. Driven by the Obama administration's vision of clean power and energy independence, the rush to build large-scale solar plants across the Southwest has created an investors' dream in the desert. Taxpayers have poured tens of billions of dollars into solar projects -- some of which will have all their construction and development costs financed by the government by the time they start producing power. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_21636897/taxpayers-ratepayers-will-fund-california-solar-plants?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_21636897/taxpayers-ratepayers-will-fund-california-solar-plants?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com GE 'betting big on gas' with new turbines. The world's largest gas turbine manufacturer unveiled a new natural gas-fired power plant yesterday, expressing confidence in long-term cheap gas supplies and the need to supplement increasing amounts of renewable electricity. Flanked by California regulators and international customers, General Electric Co. executives announced 19 orders for the turbines totaling $1.2 billion. The company has spent close to $750 million on research and development, including a $170 million testing center in South Carolina. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/print/2012/09/27/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Resort’s Snow Won’t Be Pure This Year; It’ll Be Sewage. Klee Benally, a member of the Navajo tribe, has gone to the mountains just north of here to pray, and he has gone to get arrested. He has chained himself to excavators; he has faced down bulldozers. For 10 years, the soft-spoken activist has fought a ski resort’s expansion plans in the San Francisco Peaks that include clear-cutting 74 acres of forest and piping treated sewage effluent onto a mountain to make snow. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/us/arizona-ski-resorts-sewage-plan-creates-uproar.html?ref=earth County contests billion-dollar stormwater rules. Regulations designed to reduce chronic pollution problems that close beaches after rainstorms are projected to cost far more than county officials say they can afford. Expensive regional plans for cleaning up bacterial contamination are creating a backlash against stormwater regulators, forcing long-running questions about the costs and benefits of environmental rules back into the spotlight. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/26/county-challenges-billion-dollar-stormwater-rules/ Pollution-busting laundry additive gets set to clean up September 26, 2012 Within just two years, we could all be wearing clothes that purify the air as we simply move around in them. Plans are now proceeding to commercialise a revolutionary liquid laundry additive called 'CatClo', which contains microscopic pollution-eating particles. The new additive is the result of collaboration between the University of Sheffield and London College of Fashion, with initial support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Posted. http://phys.org/news/2012-09-pollution-busting-laundry-additive.html#jCp OPINION Will Surging Oil Prices Prevent Environmental Doom? In the 21st century, burning hydrocarbons is critical to achieving the economic expansion that is needed to support the billions of new people who are projected to inhabit the planet. Yet chasing that growth could throw so much carbon into the atmosphere that it may undermine humanity’s very survival. Thankfully, there is another way to look at this dilemma. If the abundance of hydrocarbons has brought us to the brink of catastrophic climate change…Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-26/will-surging-oil-prices-prevent-environmental-doom-.html A Climate Success Story to Build On. In the early 1970s, scientists discovered the first human threat to the Earth’s atmosphere — the threat from chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, to the stratospheric ozone layer. The ozone layer shields plants and animals, including humans, from deadly ultraviolet radiation. If the ozone layer were depleted as a consequence of human activities, millions of Americans would develop skin cancer and U.S. health care costs would reach several trillion dollars later this century. Worldwide it would be a catastrophe. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/26/opinion/montreal-protocol-a-climate-success-story-to-build-on.html?ref=greenhousegasemissions Cap-and-Trade: Investing in California’s Future. California is poised to launch a new wave of investment and economic growth. In November, the state will conduct its inaugural auction of emission allowances under California’s Cap-and-Trade program. This market-based program is an important component of the Global Warming Solutions Act, and part of a portfolio of smart strategies that will transition California to a clean energy economy under AB 32. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/26/3007787/judge-will-consider-request-for.html http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/09/cap-and-trade-investing-in-californias-future/ First carbon permits issued as emissions market dawns. CARBON trading has officially begun in Australia, with the government yesterday issuing the first permits under its carbon price. Nearly three months since the scheme began, two companies have been given permits worth a total of nearly $150 million - aluminum firm Alcoa, and Queensland Nitrates, which supplies chemicals to the mining industry. The issue of the permits is significant because it marks the point at which carbon permits start to be bought and sold among the roughly 300 companies that pay the carbon price. Posted. http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/first-carbon-permits-issued-as-emissions-market-dawns-20120927-26o0w.html#ixzz27h2NIaQm BLOGS How Rachel Carson Spurred Chemical Concerns by Highlighting Uncertainty. Rachel Carson‘s work and legacy are being actively assessed at the moment, given that her landmark book, “Silent Spring,” was published 50 years ago this week. A good starting point is “How ‘Silent Spring’ Ignited the Environmental Movement,” a fascinating feature by Eliza Griswold in last Sunday’s New York Times Magazine. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/27/how-rachel-carson-spurred-chemical-controls-by-highlighting-uncertainty/ The Domino Effect in Nature, and Visual Storytelling. My friend Randy Olson, the filmmaker and science-communication evangelizer devoted to prodding folks out of the “nerd loop,” has been at it again — this time running one of his three-day video-making boot camps for graduate students in the TerreWEB program (on communication of global-change science) at the University of British Columbia. One student, Megan Callahan, came up with a particularly effective video on the interconnections in ecosystems. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/26/the-domino-effect-in-nature-and-visual-storytelling/ ELEMENTS: Summer of Extremes. Summer of 2012 was the most extreme in U.S. history, the non-profit science organization Climate Communication concluded, after reviewing data compiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. For instance, the report stated, more than 10,000 record high temperatures were recorded between June and August. And about 80 million people - about 10 million more than in 2011-experienced heat waves of 100 degrees or higher. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/news/environment/elements-summer-of-extremes/article_8fb4c654-8c7e-5bec-884a-96a502696970.html Climate Policies that Deliver What Communities Need. What if the stroke of a pen could direct more resources to disadvantaged communities? What if we could double health benefits from measures that reduce greenhouse gas emissions? And what if we could move the biggest toxic polluters to the top of the list for facility upgrades and efficiency improvements? All of these are possible as part of a comprehensive climate strategy that focuses action where the added benefits to society are greatest. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dbailey/climate_policies_that_deliver.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, 28 Sep 2012 15:33:13 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 28, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for September 28, 2012. 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 UCLA researchers say last year's Carmageddon improved air quality. The reprieve lasted for only one weekend, but UCLA researchers say that last year's Carmageddon closure of the 405 Freeway rid Los Angeles of both traffic and another notorious problem: pollution. Air quality near the closed 10-mile portion of the freeway reached levels 83% better than typical weekends, according to research released Friday by a team at UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-carmageddon-air-quality-20120928,0,3656316.story Fairbanks warned of sanctions for lack of air plan. The Environmental Protection Agency says Fairbanks could lose highway money and see federal regulations imposed if it doesn't meet a December deadline for a plan that will meet clean air standards. Agency officials voiced concerns in a letter to Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (http://bit.ly/Q84gI8) reports state and the borough officials are completing a State Implementation Plan. The document will outline steps the borough and the state will use take to decrease borough air pollution by 2014. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/28/4863089/fairbanks-warned-of-sanctions.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21652628/fairbanks-warned-sanctions-lack-air-plan?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com CLIMATE CHANGE California May Adjust Carbon Permit Allocations to Companies. California’s air resources board may adjust the number of carbon permits it plans to give to specific companies before the first auction of allowances in November under the state’s cap-and-trade program, Mary Nichols, the board’s chairman, said during a conference in San Francisco. Industry allocations wouldn’t change, just the distribution to companies within the sectors, she said. The agency hasn’t officially assigned the permits yet to most of the companies regulated under the program and may reconsider allocations based on new data. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-27/california-may-adjust-carbon-permit-allocations-to-companies.html New Zealand Curbs Gas Emissions as Polluters Use More Renewables. New Zealand’s energy industry reduced its greenhouse gas emissions for the third straight year in 2011 as polluters decreased their reliance on coal and gas in favor of renewable sources. Companies cut their emissions by 1.9 percent last year, according to a report on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s web site. The fall was largely driven by a 10 percent drop in electricity emissions after high rainfall and increased use of wind and geothermal power curbed natural gas emissions, the report said. New Zealand is seeking to harness more of its renewable power sources after the energy industry’s emissions surged by a third in the last two decades from population growth and more cars and road freight. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-09-28/new-zealand-curbs-gas-emissions-as-polluters-use-more-renewables.html Australia joins U.N.-led climate coalition. Australia on Friday announced it will join the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, a U.N.-led initiative to cut short-lived climate pollutants such as soot and methane. The initiative, launched in February this year, targets emissions that contribute to climate change and cause local air pollution that can threaten human health. "The science suggests that acting quickly to reduce short-lived climate pollutants, which are more potent than carbon dioxide, has the potential to slow down warming by 2050," Mark Dreyfus, Australia's parliamentary secretary for climate change, said in a statement. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/28/us-australia-climate-idUSBRE88R0ZQ20120928 Clinton Urged to Support ‘Robin Hood’ Tax to Fund Climate. Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace joined 61 other charities, unions and campaign groups to urge U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to support a financial transaction tax to help fund the fight against climate change. A transaction levy, or “Robin Hood Tax,” could help fund $100 billion of climate change aid that developed countries have pledged by 2020, and extend to health care and education as well, the 63 groups said in a letter yesterday to Clinton that was e-mailed today by Friends of the Earth. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-09-28/clinton-urged-to-support-robin-hood-tax-to-fund-climate.html Changing Calif. climate a threat to crops. Farmers have always been gamblers, long accustomed to betting on the probabilities of the weather. But for the Napa Valley, where temperatures have been ideal for the wine industry, shifts in the Earth's climate could be a game-changer. "They're used to rolling the dice every year," said Stuart Weiss, a conservation biologist and chief scientist at the Creekside Center for Earth Observation in Menlo Park, which assists growers and municipalities dealing with the disruptions caused by the changing climate. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Changing-Calif-climate-a-threat-to-crops-3901021.php#ixzz27mmetOOf Air resources board may tweak cap and trade. California's air resources board may adjust the number of carbon permits it plans to give to specific companies before the first auction of allowances in November under the state's cap-and-trade program, Mary Nichols, the board's chairman, said during a conference in San Francisco on Thursday. Industry allocations wouldn't change, just the distribution to companies within the sectors, she said. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Air-resources-board-may-tweak-cap-and-trade-3900342.php Newly signed Lieu bill will allow coastal agency to fund climate change projects. The California Coastal Conservancy, the state agency charged with protecting and restoring coastal resources, can soon designate public funds to directly address climate change issues under a South Bay legislator's bill signed into law Thursday. Senate Bill 1066 - authored by Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Redondo Beach - allows the conservancy to fund and undertake projects that affect climate change, prioritize such projects, and award grants to public agencies to do similar work. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_21646385/newly-signed-lieu-bill-will-allow-coastal-agency Deadly connection: New report on extreme weather and climate change. Climate change is having a steroidal effect on extreme weather. A summer featuring the hottest July on record in the continental United States punctuated a series of costly and deadly weather events. This week, we released a new report, “Going to Extremes: Climate Change and the Increasing Risk of Weather Disasters” [PDF]. The report looks at the impacts of 2012’s record-breaking heat on agriculture, wildfires, storms, and water levels. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/deadly-connection-new-report-on-extreme-weather-and-climate-change/ Air chief defends cap-and-trade program, exhorts businesses to innovate. California's top greenhouse gas regulator defended the state's landmark cap-and-trade program against attempts to weaken it, saying it would deliver emissions reductions at a low cost to businesses. Speaking at a renewable finance conference in San Francisco, Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols said that some businesses' stated support for cap and trade is a "fig leaf" that hides an antipathy to carbon regulations. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/09/28/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS California leaders hail Caltrain milestone. Politicians amassed on the southbound platform of the Millbrae Caltrain Station on Thursday to celebrate a major milestone toward the transformation of the commuter line from a 20th century relic into a modern, more energy-efficient system. "We are here to reboot Caltrain," said Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, after the California Transportation Commission voted earlier in the day to release $39.8 million for work designing a new electronic brain to manage Caltrain's fleet, a critical first step in the roughly $1.5 billion project to overhaul the rail line. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21646312/speier-state-and-local-leaders-hail-caltrain-milestone?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21646312/speier-state-and-local-leaders-hail-caltrain-milestone?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com FUELS 'Nemesis' breaks electric car land speed record. A battery-powered Lotus Exige breaks the UK land speed record for electric cars at an airfield in North Yorkshire Link to this video. A battery-powered car designed to "smash the boring, Noddy stereotype of the green car" broke the UK electric land speed record on Thursday. The Nemesis, a Lotus Exige modified by utility company Ecotricity, reached an average speed of 151mph near York today. It was driven by 21-year-old Nick Ponting, who started racing go-karts at the age of 12, and first broke the record by hitting 148mph earlier today at Elvington airfield in North Yorkshire. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/sep/27/nemesis-electric-car-land-speed-record?newsfeed=true 2012 Paris Motor Show: EV Premieres. The 2012 Paris Motor show, taking place from 29 September to 14 October 2012, is the scene of an incredible 80 World Premieres. With the catastrophic time that Europe is going through at the moment in Europe automotive sector, the Paris Motor show and its Premieres is a good way to see what international brands have changed with regards to European market. "In developing our electric vehicles we accord top priority to customer benefits," says Professor Dr Thomas Weber, Member of the Board of Management at Daimler AG responsible for Group Research and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars Development. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4957 VEHICLES Honda finds the right fit with Fit EV. Honda has traditionally held back in coming to market with a competitive vehicle in any given category, until they're sure they have it right. They want not only to be able to compete, but to dominate. Welcome the 2013 Honda Fit EV to the electric vehicle marketplace, which boasts a world-leading energy efficiency of 29kWh per 100 miles and a gasoline miles per gallon equivalent of 118 MPGe (combined city/highway, adjusted). The Fit EV is capable of delivering an EPA-certified unadjusted driving range of 132 miles on a single charge. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/cars/article/Honda-finds-the-right-fit-with-Fit-EV-3902151.php#ixzz27msmdsvy Buyers, automakers raise doubts about electric cars. Having largely exhausted a pool of electric-car devotees as buyers, automakers are facing headwinds in trying to make plug-in cars a mass-market product. Nissan joined General Motors last week in offering deeper lease discounts on its premier electric car. The latest deal on the all-electric Leaf brings the lease payment closer to the level of a comparable non-electric car, not counting the gas savings, an analysis for USA TODAY by Edmunds.com finds. Posted. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/09/Buyers-automakers-raise-doubts-about-electric-cars-70001305/electric-cars-have-a-bad-week/70001305/1 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Caltrain Receives First Chunk Of CA High Speed Rail Bond Money. Caltrain has received its first big chunk of high-speed rail bond money, which will be used to electrify and modernize the system. Adrienne Tissier, the chair of Caltrain’s Joint Powers Board, said the release of the $40 million in state funds is an important step in the process. “Caltrain is engaged in reinvention and it’s going to mean more service, faster service, less pollution and fewer cars on our roads and highways,” said Tissier. Posted. http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2012/09/27/caltrain-receives-first-chunk-of-ca-high-speed-rail-bond-money/ OPINIONS The G.O.P. and the Environment. To the Editor: Re “Calling Teddy Roosevelts” (Taking Note, editorial page, Sept. 23): Robert B. Semple Jr. is correct that the Republican Party has repudiated the tradition of environmental stewardship. What is most shocking is that so many of the upstate New York Republican members of Congress have gone along. In the mid-1990s, we saw these extreme measures in the House of Representatives led by Newt Gingrich. But during that time, Representative Sherwood Boehlert of Utica led the New York delegation in standing up for clean air and clean water. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/opinion/the-gop-and-the-environment.html?pagewanted=print Back-seat Driver: Driverless cars face many questions. This week's futuristic law allowing companies to test driverless cars on California roads is being heralded by tech aficionados and some safety advocates as a breakthrough moment. But it has the auto insurance industry saying: Wait, what? If no one is driving, and the car gets in a crash, who is at fault? The car occupant, who may be sitting with his head down doing a Sudoku puzzle? The car manufacturer? The other car? Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/28/4862060/back-seat-driver-driverless-cars.html#storylink=cpy BLOGS Don’t Blame Trade for Climate Change. Could limiting trade, perhaps through emissions tariffs, combat global warming? Some people think so, since Western nations typically import items that produce significant greenhouse emissions in developing countries. But two European climate change experts are doubtful such tariffs would do much good. In fact, in a new paper, they suggest that, absent international trade, developing nations such as China might emit even more greenhouse gases than they already do. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/ideas-market/2012/09/28/dont-blame-trade-for-climate-change/ California Issues 10,000th Rebate for Zero-Emissions Incentive Program. Start undressing California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, a program intended to spur the sales and leases of zero-emission vehicles, and front-page topics come into view — reduction of greenhouse gases and job creation chief among them. So when the program recorded its 10,000th rebate earlier this month, it merited some pomp. Courtesy of the Air Resources Board Natasha Casteel, with her 2012 Nissan Leaf. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/california-issues-10000th-rebate-for-zero-emissions-incentive-program/#more-174125 Reality Check: California’s Ultra-Low-Greenhouse Gas Future. What will it really take to meet the state’s aggressive carbon reduction goals? As the centerpiece of California’s climate strategy, the law known as AB 32 gets all the attention. But a little-known component of the state’s plan to mitigate climate change, Executive Order S-3-05, is even more ambitious. A new report from the independent California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) takes aim at its aggressive greenhouse-gas-reduction goal for 2050, and shows just how difficult it will be to reach it. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2012/09/27/reality-check-californias-ultra-low-greenhouse-gas-future/ ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 14:30:53 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 1, 2012 From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 1, 2012. 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 UCLA researchers say last year's Carmageddon improved air quality. Air quality near the closed 10-mile portion of the 405 Freeway reached levels 83% better than typical weekends, according to a team at UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. The reprieve lasted for only one weekend, but UCLA researchers say that last year's Carmageddon closure of the 405 Freeway rid Los Angeles of both traffic and another notorious problem: pollution. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-carmageddon-air-quality-20120928,0,3656316.story Utah taking public comment on clean-air plans. State regulators are calling for stricter controls on industrial emissions along the heavily populated Wasatch Front. The Utah Air Quality Board will start taking public comment Monday on three sets of plans to reduce air pollution in northern Utah. Up for consideration are new emission standards for industrial baking ovens, dry cleaners, furniture makers and other operations. One of the three plans calls for expanding vehicle emission tests to Cache County. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Utah-taking-public-comment-on-clean-air-plans-3908087.php#ixzz283p3RTqn Fairbanks warned of sanctions for lack of air plan. The Environmental Protection Agency says Fairbanks could lose highway money and see federal regulations imposed if it doesn't meet a December deadline for a plan that will meet clean air standards. Agency officials voiced concerns in a letter to Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Luke Hopkins. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21652628/fairbanks-warned-sanctions-lack-air-plan Spare the Air continues through Monday. A Spare the Air alert will continue through Monday, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The district, which was also declared an alert for the weekend, forecasts concentrations of ground-level ozone pollution that will be unhealthy. Residents are encouraged to drive less and reduce their energy use to lower the levels of pollution. A heat wave expected to send temperatures into the triple digits in some parts of the East Bay is a contributing factor, the district said. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21668920/spare-air-continues-through-monday Drive as little as possible, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District officials advise. With temperatures expected to be well in the 90s this week, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District advises residents to reduce their driving. The pollution district advises you to take the following steps through Wednesday: Carpool or vanpool. Ride your bicycle, walk or use mass transit. Eliminate vehicle idling and reduce the number of vehicle trips. Employers making employee telecommuting available. http://www.lodinews.com/news/article_220b7f5c-0b6c-11e2-946c-0019bb2963f4.html CLIMATE CHANGE Fish to shrink as global warming leaves them gasping for oxygen. Fish are likely to get smaller on average by 2050 because global warming will cut the amount of oxygen in the oceans in a shift that may also mean dwindling catches, according to a study on Sunday. Average maximum body weights for 600 types of marine fish, such as cod, plaice, halibut and flounder, would contract by 14-24 percent by 2050 from 2000 under a scenario of a quick rise in greenhouse gas emissions, it said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/30/environment-fish-idUSL6E8KU1QZ20120930 Nichols Says Rail ‘Legitimate’ Use of Some Carbon Revenue. The construction of a high-speed rail line connecting California’s biggest cities would be a “legitimate” use of some revenue generated from the state’s auctions of carbon allowances, the state’s air chief said. Using all of the money generated from the sale of carbon permits for the rail project is “not the intent” of California’s carbon program, Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the state’s Air Resources Board, said during a renewable energy conference in San Francisco today. Each permit allows for the release of one metric ton of emissions in the state. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-09-27/nichols-says-rail-legitimate-use-of-some-carbon-revenue Heat keeps rising in Northern California - for now. It's been more than a decade since Sacramento experienced 100-degree weather in October, but the city could broil under century-mark heat today or Tuesday. The National Weather Service is forecasting 99 degrees for today and 100 on Tuesday, very hot weather for early autumn. The toasty temps are courtesy of a high-pressure system parked over Northern California. The hot temperatures come in the wake of 26 days of 90-degree weather or hotter in September - breaking the previous September record of 24 set in 1974. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/01/4870247/heat-keeps-rising-in-northern.html#storylink=cpy Different green energy ideas from McKenna, Inslee. Climate change may have faded as a national issue, but it remains prominent in the Washington governor's race. When it comes to incentives and regulations to help green-energy producers, the two main candidates for Washington governor see things differently, The News Tribune (http://is.gd/J0pESP) reported in Sunday's newspaper. Democrat Jay Inslee made reducing greenhouse-gas emissions his signature issue as a congressman. He said it should be an all-out effort in the style of the Apollo project that put a man on the moon. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Different-green-energy-ideas-from-McKenna-Inslee-3906976.php#ixzz283rFEIBx Higher temperatures bring new struggles in Calif. wine country. Farmers have always been gamblers, long accustomed to betting on the probabilities of the weather. But for the Napa Valley, where the temperatures have been ideal for the wine industry, the changes could be significant. "They're used to rolling the dice every year," said Stuart Weiss, a conservation biologist and chief scientist at the Creekside Center for Earth Observation, which assists growers and municipalities dealing with the disruptions caused by the changing climate. "Now, though, climate change is stacking the dice." Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/business/x485099552/Higher-temperatures-bring-new-struggles-in-Calif-wine-country?utm_source=widget_160&utm_medium=latest_entry_images_widget&utm_campaign=synapse Kern County farmers not convinced climate change is issue. The farming community in Kern County is split in its views on climate change with a chunk saying it's not an issue and others saying it profoundly affects their crops. The weather has been off in recent years, but whether that's because of climate change and if farmers will need to change their practices is up for debate among Kern County farmers. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x371314823/Kern-County-farmers-not-convinced-climate-change-is-issue?utm_source=widget_63&utm_medium=latest_entries_widget&utm_campaign=synapse Calif.'s air chief to discuss global cap-and-trade linkage at Australia conference. California's top greenhouse gas regulator will go to Australia next month to discuss the state's cap-and-trade system with other governments, including those of China and the European Union. Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols will attend the World Bank Partnership for Market Readiness meeting Oct. 24 in Sydney, agency staff said last week. The partnership includes the United States, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom and other governments that contribute funds to countries developing market-based greenhouse gas systems, including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/01/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS EU to monitor shipping emissions from next year. Global steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping industry are moving too slowly so the European Union will introduce its own system next year in a bid to accelerate reform, its executive body said on Monday. International shipping accounts for around 3 percent of the world's emissions of carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas widely blamed for global warming, and this share could go to 18 percent by 2050 if regulation is not in place, according to the International Maritime Organization. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/01/us-shipping-emissions-idUSBRE8900HH20121001 FUELS Hydrogen Fuels Autorickshaws and Dreams of Cleaner Air. Across India, small three-wheeled autorickshaws ferry people and goods from place to place, with tens of thousands in Delhi alone buzzing and chugging through the traffic alongside buses, cars, taxis, trucks and motorbikes. In January, the world’s first hydrogen-powered autorickshaws took to the road on the grounds of Pragati Maidan, the sprawling exposition center on the capital’s east side. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/02/business/energy-environment/hydrogen-fuels-autorickshaws-and-dreams-of-cleaner-air.html?ref=greenhousegasemissions VEHICLES Soft Sales Crimp Outlook for Electric Cars. Many auto executives were not that enthusiastic about battery-powered cars at their outset, and now that sales of electric vehicles made by Tesla and Renault have been disappointing, some carmakers are playing down the technology. Martin Winterkorn, the chief executive of Volkswagen, said last week, on the eve of the Paris Motor Show, that the company would instead focus on plug-in hybrids, which can travel short distances on battery power alone and switch to gasoline or diesel fuel for longer trips. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/business/global/electric-vehicles-a-low-priority-for-automakers.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print Self-driving cars are approaching fast — and safely. As Google has worked on a fully self-driving car, some automakers have already employed autonomous safety features that are reducing crashes. Having a hard time parallel parking? Press a button on a touch screen and let the car park itself. Want to stay a safe distance from the car ahead while traveling 65 mph? Switch on adaptive cruise control and let a radar-linked computer handle the accelerator, slowing and speeding your vehicle to keep pace. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-self-driving-cars-20120930,0,7404524.story Governor OKs free toll lane access for clean cars. Gov. Jerry Brown announced Friday that he signed a bill that will allow the next generation of clean-energy vehicles to access California carpool lanes for free if they are converted to toll lanes. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego are experimenting with high-occupancy toll lanes - or HOT lanes - to help reduce congestion. Brown signed AB2405 by Assemblyman Bob Blumenfield, D-Woodland Hills, which seeks to encourage Californians to buy plug-in hybrids and certified zero-emission vehicles, such as those that run on electricity, hydrogen fuel cells or compressed natural gas. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/28/governor-oks-free-toll-lane-access-for-clean/ Tesla pulls into San Diego. Tesla is pulling into San Diego. The luxury plug-in electric car maker has begun outfitting a showroom store at the Westfield UTC shopping center on La Jolla Village Drive. A spokeswoman for the car maker declined to how soon the University City store might open. A boarded-over storefront already bears the Tesla logo. Like Tesla's cars or not, U.S. taxpayers have a stake in the future of the Palo Alto-based upstart, whose ongoing expansion is backed by a Department of Energy loan. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/01/tesla-pulls-san-deigo/ Tesla unveils faster electric car charging station. Tesla Motors Inc. unveiled a solar-powered charging station on Monday that it said will make refueling electric vehicles on long trips about as fast as stopping for gas and a bathroom break in a conventional car. CEO Elon Musk said at a news conference at the company’s design studio that the company’s roadside Supercharger has been installed at six highway rest stops in California. The innovation is “the answer to the three major problems that are holding back electrical vehicles, or at least people think are holding back electrical vehicles,” Musk said before a curtain was lifted from a giant model of one of the devices. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/viewart/20120930/BUSINESS0301/309300018/Tesla-unveils-faster-electric-car-charging-station GREEN ENERGY Obama and Romney find little common ground on energy production. Romney embraces greater reliance on fossil fuels — the greatest contributors to climate change. Obama sees a future increasingly tied to renewable energy. No matter who wins the 2012 election, the next president will take office as the United States faces vast new opportunities in energy production and profound challenges to environmental protection. After decades of growing dependence on imported oil, the U.S. is moving to energy self-sufficiency, thanks to greater domestic supplies of oil and natural gas and reduced demand. Coal…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-election-energy-20120929,0,7774789.story San Jose solar company opens factory, headed for Solyndra-type loan. San Jose solar startup SoloPower opened the doors of its first factory on Thursday, a key milestone toward allowing the company to collect on a $197 million government loan guarantee. The 225,000-square-foot facility in Portland, Ore., will one day accommodate two of the company's planned four production lines. Only the first line is producing panels so far. The remaining three lines will be built with the help of its loan guarantee, SoloPower said. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21647158/solopower-san-jose-solar-company-opens-factory-headed-solyndra-loan Energy proposal raises debate over costs, jobs. A proposal to require that Michigan utilities steadily boost their use of renewable energy sources over the next dozen years is stirring a whirlwind of competing claims about costs, jobs and spinoff issues that could leave voters dizzy with confusion. The measure on the Nov. 6 election ballot would require electricity suppliers to generate 25 percent of their power from wind, solar, biomass or hydropower by 2025. If approved, the policy would be added to the state constitution, meaning the legislature couldn't overturn it. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/sep/29/energy-proposal-raises-debate-over-costs-02/ New law limits permit fees for rooftop solar. Legislation limiting local permitting fees for rooftop solar installations was among a raft of green energy bills signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday. The law limits fees that cities and counties may charge for solar permits to about $400 or slightly more, depending on the size of the rooftop system, under the legislation from Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco. To exceed those limits, a local agency must provide detailed evidence of administrative costs and its efforts to streamline permit requests and approvals. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/28/new-law-limits-permit-fees-rooftop-solar/ Obama's blocking of wind farm adds to U.S.-China tension. President Obama's decision to block a Chinese-owned firm's plan to build wind farms demonstrates growing tensions around the international competition to develop clean energy technology and joins a list of disputes between the United States and China that observers say could have lasting implications for the two countries' relationship. The president last week blocked Ralls Corp., which is owned by two executives of a Chinese energy firm, from developing four wind farms in Oregon. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/01/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Environmentalists oppose PG&E plans for undersea air blasts. PG&E plans to use underwater 'air cannons' emitting 250-decibel blasts every 15 seconds for 12 straight days to map earthquake fault zones near Diablo Canyon nuclear plant. Over objections of Central Coast residents and environmental groups, Pacific Gas & Electric plans to map earthquake fault zones near its Diablo Canyon nuclear plant by blasting high-decibel air cannons under the surface of the ocean. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sonic-20120929,0,7977891.story Toxics cleanup dispute at former railyards in Sacramento. Workers in Sacramento's downtown railyard this summer unearthed a disconcerting find: a large container of contaminated soil, likely buried by the Southern Pacific railroad company, which once used the property to build and fix locomotives. It wasn't the first such surprise. A few months before that, they had dug up an old tank. The discoveries are adding fuel to a behind-the-scenes disagreement over how much contamination remains in the 240- acre property – once known as the biggest industrial complex west of the Mississippi – and who will pay to get rid of it. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/30/4866721/toxics-cleanup-dispute-at-former.html#storylink=cpy Uranium Plant Using Laser Technology Wins U.S. Approval. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A nuclear power partnership of General Electric and Hitachi has received federal approval to build the first plant to enrich uranium for use in commercial reactors using a classified laser technology. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a license to General Electric-Hitachi Global Laser Enrichment this week to build and operate a uranium enrichment plant near Wilmington, N.C., deploying the laser technology instead of costlier centrifuges. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/business/energy-environment/uranium-plant-using-laser-technology-wins-us-approval.html?ref=earth RIVERSIDE: Low electric rates being used as business magnet. Looking to capitalize on one of its assets — the city-owned water and power utility — Riverside is offering lower electricity rates as a way to lure new companies to the city. The Riverside City Council on Sept. 11 approved a temporary economic development electrical rate aimed at new commercial and industrial customers. “We’re looking at bringing in new jobs and filling empty buildings,” Councilman Mike Gardner said Friday, Sept. 28. New commercial ventures would receive discounts of 30 percent, 20 percent and 10 percent through the end of 2013, 2014, and 2015 respectively. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20120928-riverside-low-electric-rates-being-used-as-business-magnet.ece The clunky, lagging transition to renewable energy. History suggests that it can take up to 50 years to replace an existing energy infrastructure, and we don't have that long, Cobb writes. No doubt you've heard people speak of an energy transition from a fossil fuel-based society to one based on renewable energy--energy which by its very nature cannot run out. Here's the short answer to why we need do it fast: climate change and fossil fuel depletion. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2012/1001/The-clunky-lagging-transition-to-renewable-energy OPINIONS COLUMN-You can count on new burst of infrastructure spending. As global economies from Beijing to Berlin struggle to keep their heads above water, a new wave of stimulus spending is under way. Given that infrastructure spending is almost always a function of population growth - which does not seem to be slowing down in emerging markets - this is a potent trend if you are a long-term investor. While any nascent U.S. plan depends upon the outcome of the November election, the agenda for other countries is full speed ahead. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/01/column-wasik-infrastructure-idUSL1E8L181I20121001 A Dirty Internet: How Data Centers Waste Energy. “Power, Pollution and the Internet” (“The Cloud Factories” series, front page, Sept. 23) exposes the problem with data centers and unnecessary energy waste. While “cloud” data centers are in the spotlight because of their huge energy appetites, they should not obscure the millions of smaller server rooms in American businesses wasting about $2 billion in electricity a year. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/28/opinion/a-dirty-internet-how-data-centers-waste-energy.html?ref=greenhousegasemissions Green Desert: Answers sought at energy summit. As an energy reporter, going to conferences can get a bit ho-hum. You go, you see the energy reporters from other papers or green websites, you hear a lot of the same talking heads saying a lot of the same things over and over. What you really want is for someone to say something that will shake things up, get folks looking at things from a different angle and take the conversation to a new level. That certainly is what I hope happens when officials from across the Inland Empire and beyond converge on Palm Springs on Thursday and Friday for the Southern California Energy Summit. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012309300026 Bad air hurts parks. While recent news and opinions present myriad positions about who's to blame and what needs to be done to fix the Valley's dirty air, the fact remains that we suffer from some of the worst air pollution in the world, according to the World Health Organization. Dirty air is dangerous for our health and quality of life in the Valley and iconic national wonders such as Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon national parks. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, through the approval of its governing board, is responsible for cleaning up stationary sources of air pollution. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/09/29/3009941/bad-air-hurts-parks.html#storylink=misearch Believe it or not, climate change is a reality ag must face. Today: cherries and the Valley mind. In the past few days, the media reported that climate change threatens Valley crops. What is interesting about this is most Valley farmers don't believe in climate change. Farmers are realists; but most Valley farmers reject (what I believe to be) global warming reality. Something in the Valley's conservative mindset impels them to. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120930/A_NEWS0803/209300317&cid=sitesearch BLOGS Was climate change responsible for the Mongol hordes? Was climate change responsible for the Mongol hordes? First scientists told us that a “distinct drying” during the third century might have encouraged the fall of the Roman Empire, prompting critics to decry the idea as the “latest global warming scare tactic.” Now the journal Science is highlighting similar speculations that wet and warm conditions in the central Asian steppe in the 13th century help explain the exceptionally rapid expansion of the infamously cruel Mongols under Genghis Khan. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/was-climate-change-responsible-for-the-mongol-hordes/2012/09/28/33405d1c-0994-11e2-858a-5311df86ab04_blog.html “Spare the Air” Alert Issued for Monday. A Summer Spare the Air Day has been issued for Monday October 1, 2012. The following is from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District: During these summer months when ground-level ozone, or “smog,” becomes a pollution problem, the Air District issues Spare the Air Smog Alerts on days when air quality is forecast to be unhealthy. All summer long, we urge residents to cut back on any activities that cause pollution – such as driving, using oil-based paints, gasoline-powered lawn mowers, or household aerosol products like hair sprays. Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/incontracosta/2012/09/30/%E2%80%9Cspare-the-air%E2%80%9D-alert-issued-for-monday/ ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 11:38:55 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 2, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 2, 2012. 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 Metro Phoenix enters winter air-pollution season. The winter air-pollution season began Monday for metropolitan Phoenix. Environmental regulators say they will issue no-burn-day advisories when particulate pollution levels are expected to reach unhealthy levels. Such advisories mean people and businesses must refrain from burning wood in fireplaces, woodstoves or outdoor fire pits. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Metro-Phoenix-enters-winter-air-pollution-season-3911154.php#ixzz289jkU2TF Valley walkers brave heat, foul air to promote asthma awareness. Walkers facing unexpected October heat and warnings about air quality made their way from Turlock to Modesto to raise awareness about asthma in the valley. The Central Valley Asthma Walk, which started in Fresno on Thursday, is sponsored by the SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West union. The group is winding its way up the valley and will finish Thursday in Sacramento. Walkers had to deal with high temperatures as the mercury rose across the valley, peaking at 95 in Modesto. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/01/2396395/heat-could-threaten-record-high.html BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Air board to launch discount program. In another step to alleviate air pollution, a regional air quality agency is launching an incentive program to get hundreds of homeowners spread across three counties to convert their wood-burning stoves and fireplaces to their cleaner counterparts. Income-qualified residents in Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties get the first chance at the program, which is being funded by the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21675070/air-board-launch-discount-program BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CORONA: Battery company to pay EPA settlement. A lead acid battery manufacturer in Corona has reached a settlement to pay a federal agency for air violations. U.S. Battery Manufacturing Company has agreed to pay the Environmental Protection Agency more than $167,000 and install additional air filters to capture lead particles to satisfy federal Clean Air Act violations, a press release from the federal agency said. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/corona/corona-headlines-index/20121001-corona-battery-company-to-pay-epa-settlement.ece CLIMATE CHANGE California on track to link CO2 scheme with Quebec in 2013. California is on track to link its forthcoming emissions trading scheme to Quebec's in 2013, pushing the state one step closer to its goal of connecting to a wider carbon market, the state's chief air regulator said on Monday. Mary Nichols, chairperson of the California Air Resources Board (ARB), said that California Governor Jerry Brown will sign off on rules that would enable linkages for the state's CO2 market after review by the attorney general.The governor must within 45 days find that the other jurisdiction has adopted a greenhouse gas reduction program that is equivalent or stricter than California's program and that any linking failure will not impose significant liability on the state. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/us-california-quebec-idUSBRE89108E20121002 Changing Calif. climate a threat to crops. Farmers have always been gamblers, long accustomed to betting on the probabilities of the weather. But for the Napa Valley, where temperatures have been ideal for the wine industry, shifts in the Earth's climate could be a game-changer. "They're used to rolling the dice every year," said Stuart Weiss, a conservation biologist and chief scientist at the Creekside Center for Earth Observation in Menlo Park, which assists growers and municipalities dealing with the disruptions caused by the changing climate. "Now, though, climate change is stacking the dice." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Changing-Calif-climate-a-threat-to-crops-3901021.php#ixzz289vt2l8l California governor signs cap-and-trade revenue bills. California Governor Jerry Brown has signed two bills related to the use of revenue raised through the sale of carbon allowances, although details of how the money will be spent won't be determined until next year. The bills are the first to address the estimated $660 million and $3 billion in revenue that will be generated during the first year of California's carbon cap-and-trade scheme, which begins in January. The first bill creates a new account for the revenue to be deposited into, and directs the Department of Finance and the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to develop an investment plan for the funds. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/us-california-carbon-idUSBRE89108C20121002 http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/02/4872539/new-california-laws-set-up-framework.html#storylink=cpy http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/02/2397243/new-california-laws-set-up-framework.html#storylink=misearch U.N. climate chief urges greater ambition in Doha. The U.N. climate chief said Monday that countries have not backed off what they had agreed in climate talks in Durban last year but said current actions and pledges are not enough to avert a dangerous rise in global temperatures. Speaking at the Carbon Forum North America in Washington, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres said although both developing and developed countries are making "good progress in the right direction" toward a legal agreement, current global efforts are insufficient. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/us-un-climate-idUSBRE89108M20121002 Energy rift on the campaign trail. No matter who wins the 2012 election, the next president will take office as the United States faces vast new opportunities in energy production and profound challenges to environmental protection. After decades of growing dependence on imported oil, the U.S. is moving to energy self-sufficiency, thanks to greater domestic supplies of oil and natural gas and reduced demand. Coal, which once fired most American power plants, is being edged out by natural gas, renewable energy and stricter efforts to cut pollution - a trend that has touched off bitter political fights. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/02/4873559/energy-rift-on-the-campaign-trail.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Drought? Maybe, maybe not; but heat's been undeniable. When Californians suffer under oppressive heat, as they have for weeks, another concern is sure to follow: drought. Long-term weather outlooks for the Golden State do not provide much reassurance. While the stubborn heat gripping the state is expected to ease starting Wednesday, there is zero rain in the forecast. Indeed, drought conditions have worsened across California compared with one year ago, and are expected to get more severe through December. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/02/4872831/drought-maybe-maybe-not-but-heats.html#storylink=cpy VEHICLES GM sales rise 1.5 pct. on strong car performance. General Motors says its U.S. sales rose 1.5 percent last month as a big jump in car sales was offset by falling truck sales. The company says new models boosted car sales by 29 percent. But sales of the Chevrolet Silverado, GM's top-selling vehicle, fell almost 17 percent from a year ago. Still, GM says last month was its best September since 2008. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_AUTO_SALES_GENERAL_MOTORS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/us-chrysler-sales-idUSBRE8910IY20121002 http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-autos-september-auto-sales-20121001,0,1390056.story Fisker looking to form alliances to share costs. Electric car maker Fisker Automotive is talking with other car companies about sharing parts and technology. The company, based in Anaheim, Calif., is also preparing for a public offering of stock that would help it raise money for new vehicles, Fisker's new CEO Tony Posawatz said Monday during a speech to the Automotive Press Association. Posawatz didn't say when an offering might happen, but he said the company is watching the stock performance of electric carmaker Tesla Motors, which had an IPO in 2010. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/01/fisker-looking-to-form-alliances-to-share-costs/ Concept: modular EV-hybrid features battery and engine swapping. A Romanian team—Dan Scarlat (automotive journalist), Marian Cilibeanu (designer) and Cristian Ionescu (engineer)—are proposing the SCI hyMod modular concept car. For clean daily operation, hyMod is exclusively a battery-electric car. For longer-range interurban travels, it can transform into a hybrid car with the assistance of a special change center (“hyMod STATION”). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/scihymod-20121001.html IBM and ESB to pioneer IT system for smarter electric vehicle charging across Ireland. IBM and ESB are set to work together to deploy a smarter, more integrated charging IT system for electric vehicles in Ireland. With 1,000 such public charging points now installed around the country, drivers will also be able to access all charging stations using an ID card. ESB Networks, which is currently rolling out the public charge points around Ireland, will be using IBM's 'Intelligent Electric Vehicle Enablement Platform' to operate and manage these charge points. Apparently, Ireland will be the first country globally to implement such an integrated platform. Posted. http://www.siliconrepublic.com/clean-tech/item/29457-ibm-and-esb-to-pioneer-it/ Toyota begins testing optimized urban transport system. Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), in cooperation with the Toyota City municipal government, transportation companies and others, began testing of an optimized urban transportation system called “Ha:mo” (“harmonious mobility”). The system will select optimal means of transport for users based on the operational status of public transport systems and traffic conditions. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/hamo-20121001.html Smaller EV manufacturers and charging solutions at Paris Motor Show. The 2012 Paris Motor show, taking place until 14 October 2012, is not only the scene of many EV Premieres, including PHEVs, BEVs and FCEVs, but also an opportunity for smaller manufacturers and infrastructure suppliers to make their way in a very competitive automotive market. In this article, we look at some of these companies and how they approach the EV market. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4966 GREEN ENERGY Energy engineers to meet this week. Smart ways to manage energy and the technological advances that enable them will be discussed Thursday in Westlake Village. The Buenaventura chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers will host its 2012 Energy Efficiency Symposium at the Westlake Village Inn from 3-8 p.m. with local exhibitors and guest speakers. The association, which has about 800 members in Ventura County, is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and held its first Energy Efficiency Symposium last year. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/01/energy-engineers-to-meet-this-week/ Survey says: Keep San Onofre shut. Public opposition to restarting the troubled San Onofre nuclear plant well outweighs support, according to an independent poll commissioned by an international environmental organization. The telephone survey of registered voters in areas served by San Onofre operator Southern California Edison found 50 percent of respondents supported keeping the plant shut for good, while replacing its power with renewable energy and conservation. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/02/survey-says-keep-san-onofre-shut/ MISCELLANEOUS FTC issues revised green marketing guidelines. Expect to see fewer products pitched as "environmentally friendly" if the government has its way. Hoping to limit the number of deceptive claims, the Federal Trade Commission on Monday released an updated version of its green marketing guidelines that hold companies to truthful standards in marketing their products. The revision to the Green Guides is the first since 1998, when phrases like "carbon offset" and "renewable energy" were not widely used. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/01/ftc-issues-revised-green-marketing-guidelines/ Energy rift on the campaign trail. No matter who wins the 2012 election, the next president will take office as the United States faces vast new opportunities in energy production and profound challenges to environmental protection. After decades of growing dependence on imported oil, the U.S. is moving to energy self-sufficiency, thanks to greater domestic supplies of oil and natural gas and reduced demand. Coal, which once fired most American power plants, is being edged out by natural gas, renewable energy and stricter efforts to cut pollution - a trend that has touched off bitter political fights. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/02/2397575/energy-rift-on-the-campaign-trail.html#storylink=misearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Three climate and energy debate questions for Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. In the 2008 presidential debates, moderators Tom Brokaw (second debate) and Bob Schieffer (third debate) asked presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain about climate change and reducing American dependence on oil. Both candidates vigorously supported reductions in carbon pollution, though the means to that end differed. Since that election, the scientific evidence that climate change is real and human-caused has only grown. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/three-climate-and-energy-debate-questions-for-mitt-romney-and-barack-obama/ CA Air Resources Board hearing in Redding. It’s time for CARB to meet rural America THIS THURSDAY! October 4, 2012 1:00 – 3:00 PM Shasta County Administration Center, 1450 Court Street. Redding, California 96001(this is where the Shasta County Board of Supervisors meets) Ladies and Gentlemen, These are the unelected bureaucrats inventing CA Cap & Trade regulations that you’ll be paying for next month. Posted. http://pienpolitics.com/?p=12187 OPINIONS Don't let industry weaken regulations. After years of wrangling, state legislators have stitched together an agreement to protect consumers from dangerous chemicals in the products they buy. Under a state law passed in 2008, regulations were supposed to be beefed up by January 2011. Now, despite bipartisan support from lawmakers, the pact is in danger of unraveling at the hands of the powerful chemical industry, which is lobbying every state official it can corner. To dilute this legal protection would be a disservice to California consumers. That law required the state to make a list of "chemicals of concern," identify possible alternatives and regulate the substances to reduce or eliminate public exposure to them. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Don-t-let-industry-weaken-regulations-3907474.php#ixzz28AEE3XI5 California’s cap-and-trade auction: Are we ready? That could be a $3 billion dollar question for the first year of the cap-and-trade auction. The answer is a resounding “NO”. If the California Air Resources Board (CARB) starts the cap-and-trade auction scheme without fixing a critical flaw in the regulation, there will be serious damage to California’s economy and we will lose our leadership role on climate change. The AB 32 Implementation Group (AB 32 IG) represents the interests of companies who will be subject to cap-and-trade regulation. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=10weg8bpqemhajx Safer Consumer Products Regulation Reflects Consumer Concern. Editor’s Note: This article is in response to Assembly Member Jeff Miller’s piece published on August 30th, “State’s Green Chemistry Rules Could Have Californians Seeing Red” When California’s “Green Chemistry” law passed with bipartisan support in 2008, industry, health advocacy groups and consumer organizations applauded its broad vision of a systematic approach to reducing toxic chemicals in consumer products. In the ensuing four years, those parties engaged in a vigorous discussion over the specifics of implementing the law. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/10/safer-consumer-products-regulation-reflects-consumer-concern/ BLOGS How organized crime groups are destroying the rain forests. The phrase “organized crime” typically conjures up images of drug trafficking or stolen-car rings. But it turns out that the illegal logging trade is just as lucrative — and far more destructive. Between 50 to 90 percent of forestry in tropical areas is now controlled by criminal groups, according to a new report (pdf) from the United Nations and Interpol. Across the globe, deforestation is a major contributor to climate change, responsible for one-fifth of humanity’s emissions. Farming and logging both play big roles. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/02/report-most-tropical-deforestation-now-caused-by-the-mafia/ Out With the New, In With the Newer. Light-emitting diodes are tiny electronic devices that emit far more light per unit of electricity than incandescent lamps or even compact fluorescents. But in the move to replace energy-gobbling incandescents, LEDs face a steeper climb in the marketplace than compact fluorescents do because they are more expensive. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/01/out-with-the-new-in-with-the-newer/?ref=earth The Supposed Decline of Green Energy. Here's a surprising new fact about energy in the United States: the percentage of our electricity coming from the greenest sources -- that is, the non-hydroelectric renewables such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass -- has doubled in just four years to nearly 6 percent. (Thanks to climate uberblogger Joe Romm for uncovering this data from the Energy Information Agency). This significant win for clean energy has gone mostly unnoticed in the press. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-winston/the-supposed-decline-of-g_b_1928982.html?utm_hp_ref=business&ir=Business A Decade of Progress at Southern California Ports. This month marks the 10th anniversary of a landmark legal victory against the Port of Los Angeles. In 2002, two environmental groups teamed up with San Pedro and Wilmington residents and forever changed how the Port of Los Angeles conducts business by successfully halting one of the Port’s largest expansion projects. NRDC’s lawsuit, which included the Coalition for Clean Air and two San Pedro homeowners groups, challenged the City and Port of Los Angeles’ decision to expand the China Shipping container terminal under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/mlinperrella/a_decade_of_progress_at_southe.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, 3 Oct 2012 11:59:03 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 3, 2012. From: aleaks@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 3, 2012. 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 ban borough home heating device oversight. Voters in the Fairbanks North Star Borough have approved an initiative that bans borough officials from regulating air pollution from home heating devices, including hydronic heaters that burn wood. The decision strips the borough of enforcement powers connected to air quality and wood-burning devices. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (http://bit.ly/VgxjOt) reports the decision comes a few months before state and local officials must submit a plan telling the Environmental Protection Agency how the area will correct its perennially polluted air. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21688315/voters-ban-borough-home-heating-device-oversight?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21688315/voters-ban-borough-home-heating-device-oversight?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Plan calls for shuttering part of NM power plant. Months of wrangling over the best way to curb pollution from a coal-fired power plant that serves more than 2 million customers in the Southwest have given way to a proposal that could see New Mexico transition to cleaner sources of energy to meet its electricity demands. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's administration on Tuesday unveiled details of a proposed settlement involving pollution controls at the San Juan Generating Station in northwestern New Mexico. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21682641/plan-calls-shuttering-part-nm-power-plant?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Air pollution agency investigating possible violation at Thousand Oaks plant. The Ventura County Air Pollution Control District is investigating gas venting from an anaerobic digester at the Thousand Oaks Hill Canyon Wastewater Treatment Plant. City officials reported four incidents last month in which raw digester gas was released into the air. The venting violates the plant's air pollution control district permit, which could result in fines. Kerby Zozula, engineering manager with the district, said the agency will look into whether the venting was unintentional or negligent. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/02/air-pollution-agency-investigating-possible-at/#ixzz28FcSsd8u Plan calls for shuttering part of NM power plant. Months of wrangling over the best way to curb pollution from a coal-fired power plant that serves more than 2 million customers in the Southwest have given way to a proposal that could see New Mexico transition to cleaner sources of energy to meet its electricity demands. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's administration on Tuesday unveiled details of a proposed settlement involving pollution controls at the San Juan Generating Station in northwestern New Mexico. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/02/plan-calls-for-shuttering-part-of-nm-power-plant/#ixzz28Fd07Q18 Plan calls for shuttering part of PNM power plant. Months of wrangling over the best way to curb pollution from a PNM Resources Inc. coal-fired power plant that serves more than 2 million customers in the Southwest have given way to a proposal that could see New Mexico transition to cleaner sources of energy to meet its electricity demands. Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's administration on Tuesday unveiled details of a proposed settlement involving pollution controls at the San Juan Generating Station in northwestern New Mexico. Posted. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57525195/plan-calls-for-shuttering-part-of-pnm-power-plant/ CLIMATE CHANGE Candidates ignore climate change debate. When President Obama and Mitt Romney square off Wednesday in their first debate, global warming may be the biggest topic that neither wants to touch. Obama devoted all of four sentences to climate change in his speech at the Democratic National Convention last month. Romney rarely mentions it at all. It's a stark change from the 2008 presidential race, when both Obama and his Republican opponent, John McCain, preached the need to reduce greenhouse gases. And environmentalists are furious. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Candidates-ignore-climate-change-debate-3914294.php#ixzz28GCOqHbC Water forecast mixed following dry year. The new “water year” for California started Monday with officials hoping 2012-13 provides more wetness than the past 12 months. But the forecast is mixed, and the state Department of Water Resources said precipitation patterns over the rainy season remain “anyone’s guess.” That lines up with recent statements by the National Weather Service, which said to expect “near normal” weather in coming months as a weak El Niño weather phenomenon influences Southern California. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/01/water-forecast-mixed-following-dry-year/ Business Groups Oppose Cap and Trade Auction. California business leaders say they are being mischaracterized as opposing the state’s pending cap and trade program. They say they simply want the California Air Resources Board to cancel the planned auction part of the program. Under cap and trade, a company that pollutes must buy one "allowance" for every ton of carbon dioxide it emits. The Air Resources Board plans to sell those allowances at an auction with part of the proceeds going to clean air programs. Posted. http://www.capradio.org/articles/2012/10/02/business-groups-oppose-cap-and-trade-auction FUELS Lithuania hits Gazprom with $1.9 billion claim. Lithuania's government said Wednesday it planned to file a (EURO)1.45 billion ($1.9 billion) claim against Russia's Gazprom, alleging that the world's largest natural gas company has hiked prices unfairly. Government ministers said the size of the claim covers what the country has overpaid for natural gas since 2004, when Gazprom obtained a major stake in Lietuvos Dujos, the country's largest gas importer, and changed the formula for determining the gas price. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21687221/lithuania-hits-gazprom-1-9-billion-claim?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com Penn State stops work on Marcellus gas report. Penn State University won't participate this year in an industry-funded Marcellus Shale natural gas study that has been criticized in the past. Previous reports on the economic impacts of the gas boom had appeared under the Penn State logo, though they were funded by the Marcellus Shale Coalition. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21688385/penn-state-stops-work-marcellus-gas-report?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21688385/penn-state-stops-work-marcellus-gas-report?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Albania sells state oil company to Vetro Energy. Albania has sold its state-owned Albpetrol oil company for (EURO)850 million ($1.1 billion) to the U.S.- and Singapore-based Vetro Energy consortium. Prime Minister Sali Berisha says the deal will also allow Vetro Energy to explore and exploit offshore oil and gas fields, build a refinery, and transport and distribute natural gas in Albania for 25 years. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21687893/albania-sells-state-oil-company-vetro-energy?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/03/3015801/albania-sells-state-oil-company.html#storylink=misearch VEHICLES Tracy company building, outfitting natural gas trucks for PG&E. American Truck & Trailer Body Co. Inc. is on a roll as it builds and outfits a full range of work trucks and vehicles for Northern California's largest utility. That includes the Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s first newly designed natural gas crew truck in 30 years, which was delivered Tuesday to the utility's maintenance workers in Stockton. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121003/A_BIZ/210030305&cid=sitesearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Pike report ranks Chevrolet as current leader in the plug-in vehicle market. A new report by Pike Research assessing the plug-in vehicle (PEV) strategy and execution of 16 leading vendors ranks Chevrolet as the current leader in the PEV market, due to its high ratings in both strategy and execution, closely followed by Renault. Pike rates Toyota and Nissan as very close contenders for leadership, though both have either product portfolio or pricing issues that limited their scoring in Pike’s evaluation. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/pikepev-20121003.html Domestic automobile manufacturers take centre stage in China’s EV market - ELECTRIC CHINA WEEKLY No14. On September 26, 11 Chinese ministries and agencies of the central government initiated a project to test-drive China-made electric cars among government departments in Beijing. Staff of the 11 ministries and agencies will drive a fleet of 23 electric cars from two domestic automobile manufacturers BYD and Anhui JAC Motors as their official vehicles in a one-year trial. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4968 GREEN ENERGY Exclusive: AT&T becomes Bloom Energy's largest corporate customer. AT&T became Bloom Energy's largest corporate customer Tuesday when it announced plans to more than double its existing contract with the Sunnyvale-based fuel cell startup. Last year, AT&T signed an initial contract with Bloom for 7.5 megawatts. On Tuesday, the telecommunications giant added an additional 9.6 megawatts. Bloom Energy's fuel cells will power 28 AT&T facilities in California and Connecticut, including two facilities in San Jose. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21678877/exclusive-att-becomes-bloom-energys-largest-corporate MISCELLANEOUS Assemblymember Dickinson and Supporters Celebrate Sacramento Area’s New Seat on the California Air Resources Board. At a press conference today at the California State Railroad Museum, Assemblymember Roger Dickinson’s (D-Sacramento) along with a large group of supporters celebrated the signing of AB 146. The bill, signed into law on September 25, will add an additional member to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) representing the Sacramento region. “The Sacramento region is the largest major metropolitan area in the state currently without designated representation on the Air Resources Board. Posted. http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/74146/Assemblymember_Dickinson_and_Supporters_Celebrate_Sacramento_Areas_New_Seat_on_the_California_Air_R REGION: Final green light given for fast-track mines. As expected, a narrow majority of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors gave final approval Tuesday for a measure that makes surface mines eligible for fast-track review. For the second week in a row, a bitterly divided board voted 3-2 to extend that privilege to quarries, as well as solar and wind power plants. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/region-final-green-light-given-for-fast-track-mines/article_3e488762-eb7c-5951-89d2-22b230f02294.html California Agency Seeks Enforcement Assistance for Recycling Operations Legislation & Regulations, Metallics. Departments plan to cooperate to ensure scrap metal recyclers meet state environmental regulations. The California Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) is seeking to improve intra-agency coordination when it comes to the inspection of scrap recycling facility operations in the state. While recognizing the value of the scrap metal industry for the state, the DTSC notes that some scrap metal operations can create significant environmental and public health threats. In many cases the problems are beyond the regulatory authority of a single state agency. Posted. http://www.recyclingtoday.com/department-toxic-substance-control-scrap-recycler.aspx OPINIONS Editorial: UP must step up on toxic legacy of the railyard. Union Pacific's theme this year is "Building America for 150 years," marking President Abraham Lincoln's signing of the Pacific Railway Act and creation of the company in 1862. Evidence of this iconic company's role in building the nation was on display in Old Sacramento this past weekend – from the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific (No. 844) to the latest advanced, experimental, low-emissions locomotive (No. 9900). Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/03/4876287/up-must-step-up-on-toxic-legacy.html#storylink=cpy LOIS HENRY: So you want better air? Avoid those drive-thrus. Do you really want cleaner air? Really and truly? Then make your dang coffee at home and take it to work! In case you haven't heard we are under an AIR ALERT. The weather is so hot, stagnant and downright crappy that there's nothing more businesses can do (short of shutting down) to reduce emissions. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/lifestyle/health-beat/x371315051/LOIS-HENRY-So-you-want-better-air-Avoid-those-drive-thrus BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Forrest Shearer: Snowpack a victim of climate change. AS a professional snowboarder lucky enough to ride mountains around the world, I have seen the impacts of climate change firsthand. I've seen once-famous slopes now with zero snow, ski resorts that have shut down, and glaciers that are disappearing. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21683923/forrest-shearer-snowpack-victim-climate-change?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com Clean energy showdown in Arizona. National politics, with all its sturm und gaffe, tends to suck up all the attention. But there are several state fights going on that could have huge effects on the future of clean energy. A while back I highlighted the impending vote over Michigan's renewable energy standard. Now let's have a look at Arizona. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/one-of-the-years-most-important-clean-energy-fights-is-happening-in-arizona/ Why We Need to Fight for Cape Wind. Now. 11 years. That's how long we've been waiting for the promise of Cape Wind: clean, renewable energy; new, green jobs; reduced air emissions and carbon pollution; energy at a predictable price over the long-term; and energy security. At a time when the evidence of global warming is overwhelming, and the need for jobs critical, unleashing the potential of this home-grown offshore wind project can only be a good thing. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-b-kassel/cape-wind_b_1930878.html?utm_hp_ref=green BLOGS Why the new U.S. battery industry is still struggling. One of the more intriguing—and controversial—parts of the 2009 stimulus bill was a $2.4 billion provision to kick-start a domestic battery industry in the United States. As Michael Grunwald described in his book, “The New New Deal,” the Obama administration was hoping that these battery funds could help make the widespread adoption of electric cars a reality: Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/03/why-the-brand-new-u-s-battery-industry-is-struggling/ Drop in Emissions Not a Trend Set in Stone, Study Says. A report released today by Climate Central asks a provocative question: Can United States carbon emissions keep falling? This comes with the year 2050 in mind, by which time climate scientists have said there needs to be a major reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if the worst impacts of climate change are to be avoided. The report by Eric D. Larson from the Energy Systems Analysis Group at Princeton shows that American carbon emissions have dropped by nearly 9 percent since 2005. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/02/drop-in-emissions-not-a-trend-set-in-stone-study-says/?ref=earth Championing Solar Power, on Land and Sea. He recently circumnavigated the globe in his solar-powered boat, but Raphaël Domjan’s mission is far from over. “The goal was not to go around the world, but to spread the message that we can change, that it is not too late,” he said in an interview in Barcelona, where he participated in the Global Clean Energy Forum. During the 585-day, 60,000-kilometer journey, described by my colleague Bettina Wassener in May, Mr. Domjan and his crew were subjected to all the rigors of an around-the-world sailing trip, except that lack of sun was the most daunting problem — not lack of wind. Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/championing-solar-power-on-land-and-sea/?ref=world Feeling The Economic Impact Of Climate Change. Everyone knows that the weather this summer in the United States was a disaster. Temperature records fell faster than knickknacks off a broken bookshelf across much of the country. Vast swaths of the nation were facing "extreme" or "exceptional" drought conditions. And while it is impossible to say with certainty if any particular weather event is caused by climate change, the events of the summer are pretty much exactly what climate scientists have been predicting for decades. Posted. http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/10/02/162140665/feeling-the-economic-impact-of-climate-change ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 12:26:29 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 4, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 4, 2012. 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 High court asked to throw out oil refinery permit. Opponents of a proposed $10 billion oil refinery in southeastern South Dakota on Wednesday asked the state Supreme Court to strike down a state permit that would let a Texas company to begin construction. Gabrielle Sigel, an attorney for three groups fighting the Hyperion Energy Center, said the Board of Minerals and Environment erred when it approved an air quality permit last year because its study did not include a full-blown environmental impact statement. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SD_HYPERION_REFINERY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/03/high-court-asked-to-throw-out-oil-refinery/ CLIMATE CHANGE UPDATE 1-El Niño seen weak into Northern Hemisphere winter – CPC. The U.S. national weather forecaster still expects the much-feared El Niño phenomenon, which can wreak havoc on global weather, to remain weak into the Northern Hemisphere winter, even after its development slowed last month. In its monthly assessment, the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) said on Thursday it is still not clear whether a fully-fledged El Niño would emerge, although there is a "possibility" it will strengthen over the next few months. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/04/weather-elnino-cpc-idUSL1E8L4A8Q20121004 Romans, Han Dynasty were greenhouse gas emitters: study. A 200-year period covering the heyday of both the Roman Empire and China's Han dynasty saw a big rise in greenhouse gases, according to a study that challenges the U.N. view that man-made climate change only began around 1800. A record of the atmosphere trapped in Greenland's ice found the level of heat-trapping methane rose about 2,000 years ago and stayed at that higher level for about two centuries. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/03/us-climate-romans-idUSBRE89212020121003 DIESEL EMISSIONS Tehama County Board rallies against tractor emission plan. The Tehama County Board of Supervisors voiced its disapproval Tuesday regarding proposed emission reductions from the California Air Resources Board targeting agricultural tractors across the state. The Air Resources Board will be holing a public workshop at the Shasta County Supervisors Building 1 p.m. Thursday to discuss the in-use off-road mobile agricultural equipment rule that is still in the concept stage, but may be adopted as early as December 2013. Posted. http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/ci_21687829/tehama-county-board-rallies-against-tractor-emission-plan Cummins Westport begins development on new mid-range natural gas engine; production by 2015. Cummins Westport Inc. has begun development on the ISB 6.7G, a mid-range 6.7-liter natural gas engine designed to meet the increasing demand for on-highway vehicles powered by natural gas. The ISB6.7 G engine will be based on the Cummins ISB6.7 diesel engine and will use Cummins Westport’s proven spark-ignited, stoichiometric cooled exhaust gas recirculation (SEGR) technology. Exhaust aftertreatment will be provided by a simple, maintenance-free three-way catalyst (TWC). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/cw-20121004.html FUELS OPIS: California Low-Carbon Fuel Will Mean Higher Pump Prices. Californians could face even higher gasoline and diesel costs when new low carbon fuel regulations gain traction Jan. 1, warn fuel experts at the Oil Price Information Service, which says studies show price hikes of as much as $1 per gallon for gasoline and $2 per gallon for diesel could be on the way. The California Low Carbon Fuel Standard aims to cut greenhouse-gas producing emissions from motor fuel by 10% between now and 2020. It was part of Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32), the Global Warming Solutions Act. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=78191&news_category_id=42 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Lawsuits seek injunction to halt rail work. High-speed rail opponents that include Madera County filed a motion Wednesday in Sacramento asking a judge to order work on California's proposed bullet train to stop until their lawsuits over the Merced-Fresno stretch are decided. A hearing will be held Nov. 16 by Sacramento Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley on the motion for a preliminary injunction. The court is combining three different lawsuits that challenge the California High-Speed Rail Authority's approval in May of an environmental-impact report and selection of a route between Merced and Fresno. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/03/3016859/lawsuits-seek-injunction-to-halt.html GREEN ENERGY NRC needs months to review San Onofre reactor restart. U.S. nuclear regulators said Thursday they would take months to review Southern California Edison's (SCE) plan to restart a reactor at the long idled San Onofre nuclear power plant in California. "Our primary focus now must be on analyzing SCE's response ... before addressing the restart question. The agency will not permit a restart unless and until we can conclude the reactor can be operated safely," U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Allison Macfarlane said in a release. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/04/us-energy-edison-sanonofre-idUSBRE89311Y20121004 http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/04/4880528/future-of-damaged-calif-nuke-plant.html Deepwater to build first U.S. offshore wind farm. Deepwater Wind is racing to build the first U.S. offshore wind farm off Rhode Island and hopes to parlay that into a string of East Coast farms, the company's chief executive told Reuters. The privately held U.S. wind power developer plans to begin construction of the $250 million, 30-megawatt (MW) Block Island project by early 2014, ahead of a farm proposed by Cape Wind long expected to be the nation's first offshore facility. "The Block Island project is on target to become the nation's first offshore wind project," Deepwater CEO William Moore said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/03/us-deepwater-wind-idUSBRE8920ZX20121003 Warren Buffett Buys California Wind Facility. MidAmerican Wind, a division of natural gas tycoon Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Renewables, has bought 300 megawatts-worth of wind turbines in the Tehachapi mountains. The company announced late last week that it would buy the Alta Wind VII and IX projects from developer California Highwind Power, a subsidiary of Terra-Gen Power. The two components of the massive Alta Wind Energy Center (AWEC) began construction in April 2012. Posted. http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/wind/warren-buffett-buys-california-wind-facility.html MISCELLANEOUS Milpitas sues San Jose over landfill expansion. City of Milpitas filed a lawsuit against City of San Jose last week for "critical errors" in the environmental impact report related to odor impacts governing the planned expansion of Newby Island Landfill and Resource Recovery Park on the Milpitas-San Jose border. Filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court Sept. 27, the lawsuit follows San Jose City Council's denial of Milpitas' appeal in August to thwart plans to raise the height of Newby Island Landfill by about 95 feet. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_21697689/milpitas-sues-san-jose-over-landfill-expansion Oildale joins the green scene with fair. A group dedicated to improving life in Oildale is holding a green fair -- its first-ever event -- on Saturday. Suzanne Lange, an Oildale Leadership Alliance board member, spoke with The Californian last week about the resurgence of the north-of-the river community, which is getting a facelift along North Chester Avenue as well as a morale boost from a series of community events like the one this weekend. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/entertainment/community/x371315090/Oildale-joins-the-green-scene-with-fair New computer shutdown rules designed to save energy, money. To help save energy — and money — new rules are now in place that require everyone who uses a military computer to shut down the system at the end of each day and to turn off power strips before leaving for the weekend. Doing this is expected to save Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) a substantial sum, according to Tom Santoianni, installation energy manager. “A conservative estimate puts roughly 10,000 NMCI computers in operation at NBVC,” he said. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/03/new-computer-shutdown-rules-designed-to-save/ State lawmakers, industry call for delay of Calif. consumer protection program. Industry officials and some state legislators this week ramped up opposition to a landmark California program aimed at protecting consumers from harmful chemicals, arguing that regulators have yet to study the economic impact of the plan. At issue are California's "Safer Consumer Products" regulations, which the Department of Toxic Substances Control, or DTSC, rolled out over the summer after years of drafts and revisions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/04/27 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS Climate-change denial getting harder to defend. It was a long hot summer. The United States experienced the warmest July in its history, with more than 3,000 heat records broken across the country. Overall, the summer was the nation's third warmest on record and comes in a year that is turning out to be the hottest ever. High temperatures along with low precipitation generated drought conditions across 60% of the Lower 48 states, which affected 70% of the corn and soybean crop and rendered part of the Mississippi River nonnavigable. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-macdonald-climate-change-20121004,0,5256621.story Air pollution health risks not as dire as claimed. Contrary to what some may think, AB 32, the “Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006,” has nothing to do with air pollution as it has been classically defined. AB 32 is the California Legislature’s attempt to deal with the worldwide problem of global warming by using regulations and market mechanisms (“cap-and-trade”) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California to 1990 levels by 2020. A recent U-T San Diego commentary, “Clean air and AB 32 help to keep us healthy,” presents a highly inaccurate view of air pollution health effects in San Diego County and California. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/03/air-pollution-health-risks-not-as-dire-as-claimed/ The World According to CARB: Not Clobbering Businesses with a Huge Hidden Energy Tax is a ‘Windfall?’. The recent statement by a California Air Resources Board (CARB) spokesman that not charging major California employers a billion dollars a year or more for emissions allowances would be a “windfall” for the businesses was breathtaking in its audacity. Business leaders held a news conference Tuesday reiterating their support for the goals of AB 32 (Global Warming Solutions Act) and a well-designed cap-and-trade carbon program as a tool to get there. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/10/the-world-according-to-carb-not-clobbering-businesses-with-a-huge-hidden-energy-tax-is-a-windfall/ The World According to CARB: Not Clobbering Businesses with a Huge Hidden Energy. The recent statement by a California Air Resources Board (CARB) spokesman that not charging major California employers a billion dollars a year or more for emissions allowances would be a “windfall” for the businesses was breathtaking in its audacity. Business leaders held a news conference Tuesday reiterating their support for the goals of AB 32 (Global Warming Solutions Act) and a well-designed cap-and-trade carbon program as a tool to get there. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/10/the-world-according-to-carb-not-clobbering-businesses-with-a-huge-hidden-energy-tax-is-a-windfall/ Voters may care about climate change — but not nearly enough to make a difference. Our partners at Climate Desk have an overview of a series of recent polls that lead to one conclusion: People are increasingly concerned about climate change. And “people” obviously means “undecided voters” — since those are the people who count for the next 34 days. The findings, in summary: [I]t is not that any type of climate communication is a guaranteed win—just that it is far from a guaranteed loser. Posted. http://grist.org/news/voters-may-care-about-the-environment-but-not-nearly-enough-to-make-any-difference/ BLOGS Debating the Facts on ‘Green Energy’. The first debate between Mitt Romney and President Obama only passingly touched on issues that are a focus of this blog, in several references by the candidates to energy independence (an unattained goal of presidents since the Nixon era) and Romney’s assertion about billions spent propping up “green energy” startups. The Times has produced a very helpful fact checking tool in which passages in the debate (video and transcript) are linked to assessments by reporters on relevant beats. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/debating-the-facts-on-green-energy/?ref=earth A Tug of War Over Solar Tariffs. The United States trade case against Chinese manufacturers of solar panels took a step toward completion Wednesday with a final hearing before the International Trade Commission on whether cheap Chinese imports have injured or threatened to injure the domestic solar industry. The Commerce Department found earlier this year that Chinese companies, which dominate the global panel business, were benefiting from unfair government subsidies and were selling their products below the cost of production on the American market. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/a-tug-of-war-over-solar-tariffs/?ref=earth Inquiry Finds No Proof That Federal Biologist Falsified Data. An internal investigation of allegations that a government biologist omitted critical data to “advance a global warming agenda” has yielded no evidence that he did so. The scientist, Charles Monnett of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, is known for four 2004 sightings of dead polar bears in the Beaufort Sea that helped turn the bear into a symbol of the impacts of climate change. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/inquiry-finds-no-proof-that-federal-biologist-falsified-data/?ref=earth A Thousand Words on Global Warming. Luis Prado has created what he hopes will become an international symbol for global warming. “When I searched for a global warming icon, nothing appeared,” said Luis Prado, a graphic designer who illustrates publications and creates interpretive signs at his job at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. “So I made one.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/03/a-thousand-words-on-global-warming/?ref=earth ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 15:08:17 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 5, 2012 From: jbaxter@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 AIR POLLUTION Greenhouse gases from centuries ago. Centuries before the Industrial Revolution or the recognition of global warming, the ancient Roman and Chinese empires were already producing powerful greenhouse gases through their daily toil, according to a new study. The burning of plant matter to cook food, clear cropland and process metals released millions of tons of methane gas into the atmosphere each year during several periods of pre-industrial history, according to the study, published Thursday in the journal Nature. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Greenhouse-gases-from-centuries-ago-3921058.php http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Greenhouse-gases-from-centuries-ago-3921058.php EPA asks full court to rehear air pollution case. The EPA filed an "en banc" petition in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which in August ruled 2-1 to suspend the agency's cross state air pollution rule and ordered it rewritten. The EPA rule targeted sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from power plants, ensuring that emissions in one state do not travel downwind to increase pollution in neighboring states. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/05/us-epa-air-pollution-power-plant-idUSBRE89413620121005 Study reveals ancient greenhouse gas emissions. Centuries before the Industrial Revolution or the recognition of global warming, the ancient Roman and Chinese empires were already producing powerful greenhouse gases through their daily toil, according to a new study. The burning of plant matter to cook food, clear cropland and process metals released millions of tons of methane gas into the atmosphere each year during several periods of pre-industrial history, according to the study, published Thursday in the journal Nature. Posted. http://articles.latimes.com/2012/oct/03/science/la-sci-humans-climate-change-20121004 http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/environment/study-reveals-greenhouse-gas-emissions-eons-ago-656213/ http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-climate-romansbre892120-20121003,0,1510687.story Humans added plenty greenhouse gases before industrialization. Humans were big emitters of greenhouse gases long before the Industrial Revolution, a finding that raises worrying questions about the benchmark for measuring global warming, a study published on Wednesday said. For 1,800 years before industrialization took off in the 19th century, emissions of methane rose in line with expanding populations, human conquest and agricultural techniques, it said. Posted. http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/humans-added-plenty-greenhouse-gases-before-industrializa Should There Be a Price on Carbon? What price carbon? That question is splitting even those who agree that government should be pursuing policies to promote clean energy. Supporters say making industries that burn fossil fuels pay to spit out carbon dioxide would encourage a shift to cleaner, alternative-energy sources by making it more expensive to burn coal, gasoline or natural gas. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444450004578004074034640026.html EPA appeals court ruling that overturned border-crossing pollution rule. The Obama administration is appealing a federal appeals court ruling that overturned its regulation clamping down on power plant pollution that contributes to unhealthy air in neighboring states. A divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said in August the Environmental Protection Agency’s cross-state air pollution rule exceeded EPA’s authority. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/epa-appeals-court-ruling-that-overturned-border-crossing-pollution-rule/2012/10/05/adcfdf16-0f1c-11e2-ba6c-07bd866eb71a_story.html CHEVRON CLIMATE CHANGE Climate-change denial getting harder to defend. It was a long hot summer. The United States experienced the warmest July in its history, with more than 3,000 heat records broken across the country. Overall, the summer was the nation's third warmest on record and comes in a year that is turning out to be the hottest ever. High temperatures along with low precipitation generated drought conditions across 60 percent of the Lower 48 states, which affected 70 percent of the corn and soybean crop and rendered part of the Mississippi River non-navigable. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/05/4884278/climate-change-denial-getting.html#storylink=misearch Introducing the Sidebreeze™ from Blu Homes. California and Massachusetts-based green, precision homebuilder Blu Homes (www.bluhomes.com) today announced the Sidebreeze™, the company's largest and most luxurious home design to date. With the introduction of the Sidebreeze, Blu Homes now offers eight home models, giving homebuyers a wide range of environmentally-friendly, beautifully-designed options. The Sidebreeze is available now at http://www.bluhomes.com/homes/sidebreeze. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/04/4883024/introducing-the-sidebreeze-from.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy UPDATE 2-US natural gas futures mixed, fronts slip on weather. U.S. natural gas futures turned mixed on Friday, with front-month contracts lightly pressured by Thursday's bearish storage report and forecasts for mild mid-month weather, while colder days expected next week helped limit the downside. Recent gains - the front contract has climbed 20 percent over the previous eight sessions - had been backed by forecasts for much cooler weather for the Midwest and East late this week and next week. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/05/markets-nymex-natgas-idUSL1E8L548020121005 Warming Lakes: Barometers of Climate Change? News reports about warming lake temperatures began to trickle into my world lakes news feed as the summer heated up this year. I read stories about warmer than normal lakes in North America and Europe, including lakes in Kansas, California, and Washington. By the end of July, the Large Lakes Observatory at the University of Minnesota Duluth reported that Lake Superior’s average surface temperature was 8-10°F above average and expected to stay above normal through the remainder of summer. Posted. http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/05/warming-lakes-barometers-of-climate-change/ Is Climate Change the Sleeper Issue of the 2012 Election? It was quite the messaging turnaround. In his September 6 acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, President Obama -- whose reticence about so much as mentioning global warming has flummoxed environmental activists -- used the subject to launch an unexpected attack on his opponent. "Climate change is not a hoax," the president declared. "More droughts and floods and wildfires are not a joke. They are a threat to our children's future." In the after-speech gabfest, Politico cited the moment as one of Obama's top applause lines. Posted. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/10/is-climate-change-the-sleeper-issue-of-the-2012-election/263187/ Climate change may force evacuation of vulnerable island states within a decade. One of the world's foremost climate scientists has warned that vulnerable island states may need to consider evacuating their populations within a decade due to a much faster than anticipated melting of the world's ice sheets. Michael Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, said the latest evidence shows that models have underestimated the speed at which the Greenland and west Antarctic ice sheets will start to shrink. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/blog/polar-arctic-greenland-ice-climate-change?newsfeed=true UN: Polar bears among species to be hotly debated. Nations will be asked to decide whether the polar bear should be considered an endangered species because of global warming. The U.S. proposal to increase the protection given to polar bears was among 67 proposals submitted before Friday's deadline for consideration by CITES, the Geneva-based International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/05/3018465/un-polar-bears-among-species-to.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/un-anticipates-heated-trade-debates-over-future-of-polar-bears-elephants-rhinos-sharks/2012/10/05/e814e422-0f04-11e2-ba6c-07bd866eb71a_story.html DIESEL Farmers, ranchers, loggers fume over proposal to replace old diesel engines. Farmers, ranchers and loggers told California Air Resources Board officials Thursday that a proposed rule to phase out old diesel engines will hurt their businesses. Many of those who spoke during an air resources board workshop in Redding asked state officials to not make a one-size-fits-all policy where businesses in Shasta County have to follow the same rules as those in areas with worse air pollution, such as the San Joaquin Valley. Posted. http://www.redding.com/news/2012/oct/04/farmers-ranchers-loggers-agree-proposed-diesel/ FUELS Gas prices suddenly skyrocket in California. Skyrocketing gasoline prices caused some local service stations to shut off their pumps Thursday while others shocked customers with overnight price increases of 30 cents or more. California's fuel industry isn't running out of gasoline — supplies are only 2.5% lower than this time last year — but recent refinery and pipeline mishaps sent wholesale prices to all-time highs this week. As a result, some station owners weren't buying fuel for fear they couldn't sell it. Those who did buy simply kicked prices higher and bet customers would understand. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gas-prices-20121005,0,2326954.story http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/05/4883639/gas-prices-suddenly-skyrocket.html#storylink=misearch http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_21706045/california-gas-prices-jump-by-up-20-cents?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/04/gas-shortage-headed-our-way/ http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21698765/gas-shortage-shutters-costco-stations-simi-northridge-and?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com EU probe finds no sign of U.S. bioethanol dumping: documents. The European Commission opened a case last November and in August began registering U.S. imports. A document on the anti-subsidy proceedings seen by Reuters said because the United States had stopped the main subsidy scheme, the Commission had decided that any retaliatory measures "would not be appropriate at this stage". Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/05/us-eu-trade-bioethanol-idUSBRE8940TA20121005 US natural gas futures mixed early, front slips slightly. U.S. natural gas futures traded mixed early on Friday, with front-month contracts pressured by the previous day's bearish inventory report and milder mid-month weather forecasts despite cool temperatures over the next week that should stir demand. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/05/markets-nymex-natgas-idUSL1E8L4LD220121005 US releases estimate of Utica Shale reserves. Government geologists say the Utica Shale formation holds about 38 trillion feet of recoverable natural gas. The Utica lies beneath the Marcellus Shale in parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, New York and Maryland. It's the first assessment of the Utica by the U.S. Geological Survey. The agency said Friday it estimates the formation holds about 940 million barrels of oil and 9 million barrels of natural gas liquids. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/APc934cd53dae74046a2a26d0a9812958a.html?KEYWORDS=natural+gas http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21707581/us-releases-estimate-utica-shale-reserves?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com The Energy Journal: Oil Companies Push Ahead With Alaska Pipeline Proposal. Oil companies are pushing ahead with a proposal to build a natural gas pipeline in Alaska, a long-discussed project that would become part of an effort to export liquefied natural gas to Asia. Soaring U.S. production has depressed prices to the lowest levels in a decade, and companies are racing to export to more profitable markets. The price tag: potentially as much as $65 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal, meaning it would be among the costliest gas-export projects in the world. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2012/10/05/the-energy-journal-oil-companies-push-ahead-with-alaska-pipeline-proposal/?KEYWORDS=natural+gas Should Washington Block the Keystone Pipeline? The proposal for a pipeline to carry oil extracted from tar sands in Canada to refineries on the Gulf Coast of the U.S. is likely to remain a focus of political debate in this election season. President Obama rejected the Keystone XL pipeline early this year, saying it needed further study amid concerns about the possible environmental impact. It is expected to be months from now, at least, before a fresh application from TransCanada Corp., the company that would build the pipeline, completes the review process and is acted on. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443995604578001901362643448.html?KEYWORDS=greenhouse+gas US drops 11 to 1,837 rigs exploring for oil, gas. The number of rigs actively exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. dropped this week by 11 to 1,837. Texas-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes Inc. reported Friday that 1,398 rigs were exploring for oil and 437 were searching for gas. Two were listed as miscellaneous. A year ago, Baker Hughes listed 2,012 rigs. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21707460/us-drops-11-1-837-rigs-exploring-oil?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com&IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/us-rig-count-drops-11-to-1837-actively-exploring-for-oil-natural-gas/2012/10/05/52c152ca-0f13-11e2-ba6c-07bd866eb71a_story.html With fuel prices spiking in southern California, gas stations close up shop. That's an 11 percent spike in the past week. The problem is a massive drop in California's gasoline supply, particularly in the southern part of the state. Gas stations are literally running out of fuel. And without fuel, they're closing up shop. From Bloomberg: Posted. http://grist.org/news/with-fuel-prices-spiking-in-southern-california-gas-stations-close-up-shop/ Alaska Pipeline Project partners progressing on massive LNG export project; total cost between $45 to 65+ billion. The partners in the Alaska Pipeline Project (APP)—ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, BP, and TransCanada—submitted a letter to Alaska Governor Sean Parnell describing their companies’ progress in advancing an Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/app-20121005.html VEHICLES GM to move fuel cell research from NY to Michigan. General Motors says it will close its hydrogen fuel-cell research operation near Rochester, N.Y., and move it to Michigan. The company says most of the 220 salaried workers in Honeoye (Hun-ee-OY) Falls, N.Y., will be offered the chance to move to GM's engine and transmission research unit in Pontiac, Mich. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/GM-to-move-fuel-cell-research-from-NY-to-Michigan-3922052.php http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/05/4884680/gm-to-move-fuel-cell-research.html#storylink=misearch http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21706407/gm-move-fuel-cell-research-from-ny-michigan?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com Hydrogenics awarded US$90+ million contract for integrated fuel cell power propulsion systems for OEM; largest single order yet. Hydrogenics Corporation has been awarded the largest single order in its company history by a major OEM. Secured by Hydrogenics’ Power Systems division, based in Toronto, Canada, the follow-on contract includes a firm-fixed-price exclusive design and manufacture contract valued at more than US$36 million. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/hydrogenics-20121005.html BorgWarner expanding variable cam timing technology for I4 engines; OEM diesel and gasoline applications in 2015. BorgWarner is expanding its variable cam timing (VCT) technology with a new family of cam phasers for inline-4 engines. The modular design supports a variety of cam phasing technologies, including cam torque actuated (CTA) and torsional assist (TA) phasers with optional mid-position lock technology. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/bw-20121005.html Sendyne awarded second patent for active cell balancing technology for large battery arrays. Sendyne, a developer of semiconductor components and advanced circuits for the management of battery systems used for grid storage and EVs, was awarded a new patent for its active balancing technology. Patent number 8,269,455 was issued by the US Patent Office for a Charge Balancing System with high efficiency and the ability to provide continuous and bi-directional charge transfers among cells in a large battery array. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/sendyne-20121005.html Guide to the UN Requirements for Lithium Battery Testing Prior to Transportation. Whether you are deeply entrenched in lithium technology or planning on using these batteries in the near future, you will likely face the challenge of transporting them. The sometimes complex prospect of transporting lithium cells or batteries from one country to another has stumped even the largest of manufacturers, but it is very common that transportation regulations are not considered during the battery development or sourcing cycle. At Intertek, we are often approached by parties who never considered the resources, safety, and logistical issues involved in the transport of lithium batteries. Posted. http://cars21.com/knowledge/papersView/300 GREEN ENERGY SimpleRay Now Offers Affordable Financing Options. SimpleRay is pleased to announce they are now an approved FHA/HUD contractor and will now be offering financing options. The company can offer FHA-backed Home Improvement loans for anyone interested in installing a solar PV system on their home. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/SimpleRay-Now-Offers-Affordable-Financing-Options-3921534.php Clean Wind Energy Tower, Inc. Provides Update on Previously Filed Patent Application "Atmospheric Energy Extraction Devices & Methods". Clean Wind Energy Tower, Inc. (OTCBB: CWET, the "Company") provides an update on a previously filed patent application that is of significant importance to the Company. Last year, Clean Wind Energy Tower, Inc. announced that the Company had filed with the United States Patent & Trademark Office "A Petition to Make Special under the Accelerated Examination Program" a patent application titled Atmospheric Energy Extraction Devices and Methods. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/05/4884289/clean-wind-energy-tower-inc-provides.html#storylink=misearch Brattle Group Economists to Manage Large Purchase of Solar Alternative Energy Credits by FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania Utilities. Economists at The Brattle Group announced today that they will administer the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the purchase of 14,500 Solar Photovoltaic Alternative Energy Certificates (SPAECs) annually over a ten-year period on behalf of FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania Utilities. Specifically, FirstEnergy seeks to purchase 2,000 SPAECs annually for Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power), 7,000 SPAECs annually for Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), and 5,500 SPAECs annually for Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed). Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/05/4884863/brattle-group-economists-to-manage.html#storylink=misearch CalSTRS will invest in solar power plant. CalSTRS said Thursday it's investing $42.8 million in a solar-power plant near Sacramento and three other California infrastructure projects. The California State Teachers' Retirement System said the investments are part of its 2-year-old commitment to infrastructure. The pension fund has $750 million invested in the field. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/05/4883616/calstrs-will-invest-in-solar-power.html# Analysis: Cold, calm and cloudy may mean power cuts for Western Europe. Tight power supply may spark local blackouts in the event of a severe cold spell and could also trigger price spikes at a time industry, bruised by the economic slowdown, badly needs to save energy costs. As winter nears, policymakers and the energy industry are under high pressure to implement pre-emptive remedies to avoid any disruption. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/05/us-france-germany-supply-idUSBRE8940KT20121005 Europe Power-German spot climbs on wind lull. Forecasts showing a sharp fall in wind power capacity for Monday sent German spot electricity prices sharply up on Friday, countering the impact of more sun power in the region. More delayed restarts at French nuclear power reactors also had a upward impact on prices. Traders pointed to forecasts for lower wind power production in Germany, the Netherlands and France on Monday. Forecasts showing more solar output did not outweigh the trend. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/05/markets-europe-electricity-idUSL6E8L5IF020121005 More jobs lost as wind tax credit nears expiration. Congress, you listening? The slowdown in the wind industry due to the imminent expiration of a key tax credit is spreading beyond manufacturers of turbines. From Reuters: Kaydon Corp, a maker of specialty ball bearings for wind turbines, said it would shut a South Carolina plant and record a charge of $47 million to $52 million due to the impending expiration of a renewable energy tax credit and weak markets. Posted. http://grist.org/news/more-jobs-lost-as-wind-tax-credit-nears-expiration-congress-you-listening/ MISCELLANEOUS A closer look at Obama’s “$90 billion for green jobs”. At last night’s presidential debate, Mitt Romney criticized the Obama administration for putting “$90 billion into green jobs,” saying the money could have been spent instead on things like teachers. Romney also claimed that half the companies funded by these energy programs have “gone out of business” — an untrue statement that was quickly rebutted by fact-checkers. (The real figure so far is less than 1 percent.) Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/04/a-closer-look-at-obamas-90-billion-for-clean-energy/ OPINION Viewpoints: California must get serious about its business climate. Last week was a very bad week for California's and Sacramento's economies. Unfortunately, it was just the latest evidence that a serious problem exists and must be addressed. Comcast is closing all of its California call centers, with a loss of 300 jobs from its Natomas site alone. Vision Service Plan announced it is putting 150 new jobs on hold until a dispute is resolved with state officials and has threatened to move all of its operations out of the state. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/05/4883497/viewpoints-california-must-get.html#storylink=misearch BLOGS Ross Clark, Earth Matters: CaliforniaFIRST, innovative financing for your business's energy future. Solar power systems are cheaper than ever, and with electricity being a significant cost for many California businesses, commercial rooftop solar should be widespread. Monday, local banks, businesses and solar installers met to discuss the hurdles facing businesses and how CaliforniaFIRST, a new public/private partnership, can help companies make commercial solar systems pencil out. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_21700676/ross-clark-earth-matters-californiafirst-innovative-financing-your?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.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: Mon, 8 Oct 2012 16:08:27 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 8, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 8, 2012. 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 Release of ‘winter-blend’ gas in Calif could reduce prices; air quality not expected to worsen. State air pollution regulators say they do not expect California’s air quality to worsen appreciably after the governor ordered the release of a dirtier blend of gasoline to help slash record-high pump prices. The California Air Resources Board on Monday said the last time the state made an early shift to so-called “winter-blend” gasoline was in 2005, in response to supply disruptions caused by Hurricane Katrina. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/release-of-winter-blend-gas-in-calif-could-reduce-prices-air-quality-not-expected-to-worsen/2012/10/08/8beedd1c-1178-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_story.html http://www.startribune.com/nation/173156021.html?refer=y Beijing completes air quality monitoring network after public pressure and US Embassy tweets. Beijing authorities have completed a network of monitors that will more accurately measure air quality in the smog-ridden city after being pushed into it by public pressure and pollution reports from the U.S. embassy. The Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center said Saturday that another 15 monitoring stations had begun releasing real-time data on small particulates known as PM2.5. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/beijing-completes-air-quality-monitoring-network-after-public-pressure-and-us-embassy-tweets/2012/10/07/a102dd5c-104c-11e2-ba6c-07bd866eb71a_story.html AIR QUALITY: Palms Springs area golf-cart paths could get $17.4 million. Despite taking some heat for the idea earlier this year, Southern California air quality officials recommend spending $17.4 million to build a nine-city network of paved pathways in the Coachella Valley for golf carts, bicyclists and pedestrians. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20121005-air-quality-palms-springs-area-golf-cart-paths-could-get-17.4-million.ece CLIMATE CHANGE EU Power, Gas Market Coordination Can Help Cut CO2, Exxon Says. Closer integration of the European Union’s natural gas and power markets can encourage a shift to less-polluting fuels in the bloc’s member states and help reduce carbon-dioxide emissions, according to Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM). The 27-nation EU needs to make sure that the importance of natural gas “is not lost” in the debate about the bloc’s climate and energy policies, Linda DuCharme, director of Europe, Russia and the Caspian at Exxon Mobil International Ltd. said in an interview in Brussels on Oct. 5. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-08/eu-power-gas-market-coordination-can-help-cut-co2-exxon-says.html UN Regulator May Need Expanded Global Carbon Role: Marcu. The United Nations emissions regulator in Bonn will probably need expanded authority to approve new national markets for UN compliance, according the Carbon Market Forum in Brussels. With few nations expected to agree on extending the 1997 Kyoto Protocol when its targets for industrialized nations expire this year, national governments will probably take the lead in creating carbon markets over the next few years, Andrei Marcu, head of the Centre for European Policy Studies’ Carbon Market Forum in Brussels, said in an Oct. 5 paper. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-08/un-regulator-may-need-expanded-global-carbon-role-marcu.html Palm Oil Seen Clearing Tropical Forest in Borneo in Yale Study. Expanding palm-oil production is driving rain-forest destruction in the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo, also known as Kalimantan, according to a study by researchers at Stanford and Yale universities. The area converted to palm oil increased 35-fold between 1990 and 2010, with 90 percent of the land covered with forest prior to conversion, according to the study published in the journal Nature Climate Change. Indonesia’s palm oil and palm-kernel oil production generated about $11.1 billion in 2010, the researchers wrote. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-08/palm-oil-seen-clearing-tropical-forest-in-borneo-in-yale-study.html Greenhouse gases rise with GDP, slower to fall in recession. Greenhouse gas emissions rise when economies expand but don't fall as quickly when recession strikes, perhaps because people stick with a higher-emitting lifestyle from the boom times, a study showed. The report in Monday's edition of the journal Nature Climate Change dents many governments' hopes that recession can at least bring the consolation of a sharp contraction in greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, rose by an average of 0.73 percent for every 1 percent growth in gross domestic product (GDP) per capita…Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/07/us-climate-emissions-idUSBRE8960DK20121007 Climate linked to California ER visits. The risk of heading to the emergency room for certain conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, stroke, kidney disease and low blood pressure rises slightly as temperature and humidity increase, according to a new study from California. Researchers also found that for a few conditions, including aneurysm and high blood pressure, higher temperatures were tied to a drop in ER visits. "What we know about climate change is that heat waves in California and throughout the world are going to become more severe and more intense," said Rupa Basu, the study's lead author and an epidemiologist at the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Posted. http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-rt-us-climate-linked-to-california-bre8941fi-20121005,0,1395566.story CALIFORNIA GAS PRICES More pain at pump as Calif. gas prices rise again. The statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in California rose to an all-time high Monday, the third record-setting day in a row that is prompting calls for a federal investigation into the price spike. The average price in the state hit $4.668, according to AAA. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate, saying residents need to be protected from "malicious trading schemes." Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CALIFORNIA_GASOLINE_PRICES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT California governor orders state begin move to winter-blend gasoline. California Governor Jerry Brown ordered state pollution regulators on Sunday begin taking steps to move up the sale of winter-blend gasoline to reduce supply shortages and reduce high retail prices, according to a statement issued by Brown's office. California gasoline prices hit a record this week, selling as high as $5 a gallon in some locations, because of refinery and pipeline shutdowns with some retail stations running out of supply. Retailers had asked the state to move up the start date for sale of winter-blend gasoline from October 31 to boost supply. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/07/us-california-gasoline-brown-idUSBRE8960L420121007 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-08/california-facing-5-gasoline-stirs-brown-to-relax-rules.html http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/08/us/jerry-brown-moves-to-reduce-gas-prices-in-california.html http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-gov-brown-gas-prices-20121007,0,2291534.story http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/More-pain-at-pump-as-Calif-gas-prices-rise-again-3924470.php http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_21720239/california-gas-prices-hit-new-high-brown-orders http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_21720916/gas-prices-rise-gov-jerry-brown-orders-early?source=rss http://www.ocregister.com/news/prices-373866-gallon-refinery.html http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x1184066736/Gas-prices-hit-new-high BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.pe.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20121007-gas-gov.-brown-orders-up-winter-blend-early.ece http://www.pe.com/local-news/transportation-headlines/20121006-gas-inland-pumps-climb-to-record-average-price.ece http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/06/gas-price-pain-persists-in-ventura-county-as/?partner=popular#ixzz28jR2KK4r http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/07/gas-prices-hit-record-high-2nd-straight-day/?partner=popular http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/08/calif-gov-takes-action-as-gas-prices-keep-rising/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/state-gov-brown-takes-emergency-action-to-try-to-reduce/article_7a4a2d3f-b786-59a7-b8f9-0e585a7256e2.html http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121007/WIRE/121009590 http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121006/ARTICLES/121009653 http://247wallst.com/2012/10/07/california-governor-moves-to-cut-gas-prices/ Feinstein wants federal probe of record California gas prices. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is calling for a federal investigation to determine whether “an illegal short squeeze” is responsible for the soaring price of gasoline in California, which hit another record high Monday. With a regular gallon now costing $4.669, the third all-time high in a row, Feinstein is urging the Federal Trade Commission to look into doubts that “the price spike and supply disruption are related to supply and demand,” she said. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-feinstein-ftc-gas-prices-investigation-20121008,0,3032803.story?track=rss http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/08/4891217/calif-gov-takes-action-as-gas.html Analysts: California gas-price surge could end today. Analysts said that the record-breaking climb of California gasoline prices could end as early as today, if the state manages to avoid any new refinery problems. Analysts said the price jump was already slowing down even as Gov. Jerry Brown decided Sunday to ease the state's gas-blend requirements to allow refiners to process the less expensive winter blend of fuel three weeks early. Today, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California is up just 1.3 cents overnight, to $4.668 a gallon, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-california-gas-price-surge-end-20121008,0,5109416.story?track=rss Spike in gasoline prices slows. California pump prices showed new signs of stability the day after Gov. Jerry Brown took emergency measures to contain a gasoline price spike. The statewide average price for regular crept up by a penny to $4.67 on Monday, according to AAA’s daily fuel gauge report. That’s up 50 cents from $4.17 a week ago. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/08/spike-gasoline-prices-slows/ $5 gas sends California drivers to hybrids, bikes, Vegas. The inexorable surge of gas prices is adding a brand new layer to California road rage. Already irascible drivers are swearing off their cars, dusting off their bicycles, forgoing meals and extending trips to Las Vegas, where gasoline is far cheaper. On social media, they’re cursing at the increases – which in parts of Southern California have resulted in prices well over $5 a gallon – as “ridiculous,” “insane,” “out of control” and a variety of other colorful terms. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-high-gas-prices-drivers-20121008,0,6282346.htmlstory FUELS More US coal plants to retire due to green rules-study. More U.S. coal-fired power plants could retire due to environmental regulations and weaker-than-expected electric demand, costing the industry up to $144 billion, economists at consultancy Brattle Group said. In a new study, Brattle's economists forecast 59,000 to 77,000 megawatts (MW) of coal plant capacity would likely retire over the next five years. That was about 25,000 MW more than the firm had estimated in 2010, Brattle said in a release. There is about 317,000 MW of coal-fired capacity now in the United States. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/08/utilities-brattle-coal-idUSL1E8L851620121008 BP sells Texas City refinery to Marathon Petroleum. BP has finally found a buyer for its Texas City refinery, one of the largest and most complex in the U.S. The total value of the deal could reach $2.5 billion. Marathon Petroleum Corp. will pay $598 million for the refinery and other nearby pipelines and fuel terminals, plus $1.2 billion for the inventory of oil and petroleum products owned by the plant. Marathon may have to pay another $700 million over 6 years if certain unspecified conditions are met, the company said Monday. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/08/bp-sells-texas-city-refinery-to-02/ VEHICLES Chevy Sonic-to-Fiat 500 Surge in Big Year for Small Cars. Small cars are selling big for brands from Chevrolet and Fiat to Toyota, Volkswagen and Honda, on pace to capture the largest share of the U.S. auto market since 1993 and driving the best sales month in four years. High gasoline prices coupled with the best crop of compact and subcompact cars that the market has ever seen drove a 50 percent increase in sales of small sedans, coupes and wagons last month. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-08/chevy-sonic-to-fiat-500-surge-in-big-year-for-small-cars.html Mercedes, BMW recall sports cars; Chrysler recalls trucks. Mercedes-Benz is recalling one of its fanciest cars because the air conditioning refrigerant could explode under certain crash conditions. The German luxury automaker will recall 432 of its 2013 model year SL-Class cars to fix the problem, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Monday. The sticker price of the SL, a two-door sports car, starts at more than $100,000 and ranges up to nearly $150,000 depending on options and equipment. Mercedes isn't the only German automaker with a problem in some high-end cars. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-auto-mercedes-bmw-chrysler-recall-20121008,0,1837128.story Regulator argues California EV targets exceed rules. Regulators, undaunted by sluggish sales of electric vehicles, will stick with aggressive clean-car sales targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, California Air Resources Board chairwoman Mary Nichols said. California regulators believe policies, including incentives to encourage builders to include charging stations in new construction and working with utilities, are going to expand the market for electric and hydrogen fuel-cell cars, Nichols said in an interview with Bloomberg in Washington, D.C., this week. Posted. http://www.thestarphoenix.com/cars/Regulator+argues+California+targets+exceed+rules/7347710/story.html HIGH-SPEED RAIL Delays may threaten Valley high-speed rail funds. Federal money for California's high-speed rail program could be jeopardized if the start of construction is significantly delayed in the San Joaquin Valley. And there are signs that might happen. Court records suggest the California High-Speed Rail Authority's schedule continues to slip for building the project's first stages in Madera and Fresno counties. In its legal battle arguing that an injunction to block construction is unnecessary, the authority said major work is unlikely to start before next fall. Originally, construction was expected to start last month. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/06/3020211/delays-could-compromise-valley.html#storylink=cpy GREEN ENERGY Jobs Blow Away as Congress Fails to Act on Wind Energy. Leeco Steel LLC’s fortunes rose even during the Great Recession thanks to a single customer: the burgeoning U.S. wind-energy industry. Leeco had 50 employees when it started selling 7 ton steel plates to wind-tower makers in 2004. It now has 125, and wind accounts for about 40 percent of the Lisle, Illinois-based Company’s business. “We’ve done extremely well,” John Purcell, Leeco’s vice president for wind energy, said in an interview. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-08/jobs-blow-away-as-congress-fails-to-act-on-wind-energy.html Battle brews at Pearl Harbor over Navy solar plan. Veterans and historians worry that solar panels on Ford Island in Pearl Harbor would mar a World War II historic site. There is perhaps no greater American monument to the War in the Pacific than Ford Island in Hawaii's Pearl Harbor. The naval base there with its old hangars, runway and control tower — some still showing damage from the Japanese attack that brought the United States into World War II — is on the National Register of Historic Places. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ford-island-20121008,0,6915865.story Rampant recycling fraud is draining California cash. Fraud rings bring cans and bottles from other states and illicitly 'redeem' deposits that were never paid. And some private recycling centers might claim bigger reimbursements than they deserve. Just over 8.5 billion recyclable cans were sold in California last year. The number redeemed for a nickel under California's recycling law: 8.3 billion. That's a return rate of nearly 100%. That kind of success isn't just impressive, it's unbelievable. But the recycling rate for certain plastic containers was even higher: 104%. California's generous recycling redemption program has led to rampant fraud. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-can-fraud-20121007,0,6241851.story MISCELLANEOUS Puma launches biodegradable shoes to aid nature, lift sales. German sportswear company Puma announced a range of biodegradable shoes and clothes on Monday, seeking to lead in protecting nature as it tries to catch up with rivals Nike and Adidas in sales. The company, praised by United Nations reports as a corporate leader in trying to limit environmental damage, also said it would widen its accounting for the costs of its air pollution, greenhouse gases, waste, land and water use. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/08/us-puma-idUSBRE8970YI20121008 CicLAvia brings 'sea of bicycles' to L.A. streets. Cyclists, pedestrians and skateboarders abound during the festival, which encourages Angelenos to explore and enjoy the city without their cars. Traffic was heavy in and around downtown Los Angeles on Sunday, but not for the reasons one might expect in a city known for freeways, angry drivers and bumper-to-bumper frustration. Organizers estimate about 100,000 bicyclists, pedestrians and skateboarders flooded much of Spring, Figueroa, West 7th and East 4th streets and beyond as part of the city's fifth CicLAvia festival, which bills itself as the city's biggest block party. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1008-ciclavia-20121008,0,4967907.story Romney’s Goals on Environmental Regulation Would Face Difficult Path. Mitt Romney vowed in a campaign appearance earlier this year to “take a weed whacker” to the thicket of federal regulations adopted by the Obama administration and promised to impose a rigid freeze and cost cap on all new government rules. He has pledged to reverse a half-dozen major Environmental Protection Agency pollution and public health rules, to swiftly approve the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada…Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/07/us/politics/romney-weed-whacker-on-environmental-rules-may-falter.html?ref=earth INLAND: Construction deadline bearing down on Inland rail-crossing projects. The Inland area is about to get overwhelmed with work on overpasses and underpasses, as local transportation planners race to finish about a half-billion dollars of projects before state deadline. As part of the Prop. 1B transportation program voters approved in 2006, all projects funded through the Trade Corridors Improvement Fund must start construction by the end of 2013. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/transportation-headlines/20121007-inland-construction-deadline-bearing-down-on-inland-rail-crossing-projects.ece OPINIONS The other side of the fracking fight. NEW YORK STATE has become the country’s most intense battleground in the fight over unconventional natural-gas drilling, known as fracking. Now anti-fracking activists in the Empire State are claiming a victory. They ought to think twice about what they are wishing for. Those who would ban fracking or regulate it into oblivion ignore the exceptional benefits that inexpensive natural gas can provide in the biggest environmental fight of our time — against climate change. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-other-side-of-the-fracking-fight/2012/10/05/016fdf14-0c15-11e2-a310-2363842b7057_story.html A forecast for the American West: hot and hotter. Climate change will mean more and larger fires in 11 Western states. Over the summer and on into the fall, images of flames, smoke plumes, firefighting teams and ruined homes have been on replay, and with good reason: As of Aug. 31, this year tied the record for total acreage burned by wildfires, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. More than 8.4 million acres have burned to date — an area larger than the state of Maryland up in flames. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-1004-kenward-fire-climate-change-20121004,0,3266044.story Does $5 gas = buy a hybrid or electric car? A cost/benefit analysis [Updated]. This post has been updated from its original version. A new paragraph, marked by an asterisk, has been added. Walking the dog the other morning, I heard an odd whistle and hum behind me; it was one of my neighbors returning home (I happened to be standing in front of his driveway at the time), driving his new Nissan Leaf electric car. "How do you like your Leaf?" I asked, while dragging the pooch out of his path. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-gas-prices-electric-cars-20121005,0,5048496.story Another View: Bee should report business support for AB 32. Hundreds of thousands of California businesspeople are enthusiastic supporters of Assembly Bill 32; our state's pioneering climate and clean energy law. They know the carbon market and other elements of the AB 32 framework are good for the economy and for the state as a whole. But you wouldn't know that from reading The Bee lately, including news stories such as "Who will get carbon money?" Oct. 2; "State's carbon auction assailed," Sept. 21; and "Businesses urge changes in cap-and-trade market," Sept. 20). Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/07/4886168/bee-should-report-business-support.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy A Checkup for Natural Gas. Just as New York State seemed ready to allow drilling upstate to extract a rich supply of natural gas, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a delay. Officials will now take another look at the potential health risks of hydraulic fracturing — a technique for extracting natural gas from deep shale formations, like the Marcellus Shale that lies beneath the states’s southern tier. Such caution makes sense, especially when approval of full-scale drilling could mean tens of thousands of gas rigs dotting the landscape over the next 30 years. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/06/opinion/a-checkup-for-natural-gas-in-new-york.html?ref=airpollution Roadshow: California's special blend of gas is one reason for highest prices in the nation. Q Just like every other leftist in the media, you fail to report why our gas prices are higher than any other state. While the refineries are indeed part of the problem, the California Air Resources Board is the real problem with their requirements of custom blends that other states don't have to do in their fuel distribution. Remember MTBE? Thanks, Air Resources Board and Mary Nichols. Now, do some reporting, unless you are afraid you will be rejected at the cocktail parties. Good luck, dummy. Jimmy Williams Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadshow/ci_21707507/roadshow-californias-special-blend-gas-is-one-reason BLOGS Why California’s gas prices are going haywire. Gasoline at the pump in California is typically about 40 to 50 cents more expensive than it is anywhere else in the country. The state’s gas taxes are significantly higher than the national average and many of its retailers have to sell a higher-quality blend of gasoline in order to reduce smog and other pollutants. That all raises prices. But over the past week, things have really gotten out of whack. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/08/why-gasoline-prices-are-going-haywire-in-california/ Jerry Brown calls for switch to winter-blend fuel to ease gas prices. Gov. Jerry Brown called on state regulators today to allow the early sale of less expensive, winter-blend gasoline in California, a measure he said could bring down spiking fuel prices. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/10/jerry-brown-calls-for-switch-to-winter-blend-fuel-to-ease-gas-prices.html http://www.ibabuzz.com/politics/2012/10/07/brown-feinstein-seek-action-on-gas-prices/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PoliticalBlotter+%28Political+Blotter%29 GAS: Another day, another increase, another record price. Come Monday, a lot more people might be hopping on the bus rather than pay $4.60 or more for gas. Rising pump prices continue pushing the average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline in the Riverside-San Bernardino are upward. The average price Sunday, Oct. 7, climbed to a record $4.67, a nickel hike overnight, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California. The jump broke Saturday’s hold as the costliest gas day in Inland history. The state average, a penny less than the local price, also set a record. Posted. http://blog.pe.com/transportation/2012/10/07/gas-another-day-another-increase-another-record-price/ ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 14:03:31 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 9, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 9, 2012. 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. CALIFORNIA GAS PRICES Rise in California gas price slows, remains record. The rise in California gasoline prices has slowed after recent jarring increases, but nonetheless the cost of a gallon inched up to another record high, even as officials hope their emergency action will help ease the sticker shock. The average price for regular gas in the state on Tuesday was a bit over $4.67 a gallon, according to the AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report. The price was a state record and the highest in the nation. The cost increased only a fraction of a cent overnight, however — compared to nearly 50 cents in the past week. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jITAQRpREYk4TKuLIX-Rp90S_9BQ?docId=1d4f0b7f3ac0426e85a12d3e8db2d6be Other related articles: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/officials-hope-release-of-winter-blend-gas-in-california-will-lower-prices-at-the-pump-soon/2012/10/09/6fd101c0-11e4-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Gasoline-price-spike-may-be-slowing-down-3930546.php#ixzz28p5njXaf http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21731151/gas-prices-set-california-record?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21731151/gas-prices-set-california-record?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/09/tp-gasoline-prices-leveling-off/ http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/09/officials-hope-winter-blend-gas-will-drop-prices/ http://www.nctimes.com/business/rise-in-california-gas-price-slows-remains-record/article_90f796df-b57a-5163-97f7-96c4255d6444.html http://www.sbsun.com/ci_21728093/southern-california-gas-prices-should-get-lower One more new gas price record in California -- and perhaps the last. For the fourth straight day, California has a new record for gasoline prices, but the rise has apparently lost nearly all of its momentum. The average cost of a gallon of regular gasoline in California today is $4.671 a gallon, up just 0.3 cents overnight, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report, which tracks prices from 100,000 retail outlets across the U.S. That's still 48.9 cents a gallon higher than it was a week ago and 86.6 cents a gallon above last year's price. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-california-gas-prices-one-more-new-record-20121009,0,6234697.story California politicians pressing for gas-price relief and probe into possible market. With gas prices hovering near $5 a gallon in California, the state's politicians are simultaneously pressing for relief and questioning whether the oil industry is manipulating the market. The California Air Resources Board said Monday that it had granted Gov. Jerry Brown's request over the weekend to allow refineries to switch early to making cheaper winter-grade fuel. The idea is to boost the supply of gasoline, but analysts said it's unclear how quickly the change will bring prices down, or by how much. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/09/v-print/4893565/california-politicians-pressing.html California gas prices hit yet another record high. California gas prices hit an all-time high for the fourth day in a row today. AAA put the average price of unleaded regular this morning at $4.671 a gallon, up from yesterday's record of $4.668. However, national gas price tracker GasBuddy.com had the average price of a gallon of gas in California at $4.65, down a penny from Monday. GasBuddy also said the statewide trend is for falling prices. Energy analysts blame the weeklong surge in prices on a perfect storm of supply disruptions at refineries throughout California. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/09/4895245/california-gas-prices-hit-yet.html#storylink=cpy S.F. has state's 2nd-priciest gas at $4.73. Number of the day $4.738 That's the average price of a gallon of gasoline in San Francisco, the second-highest in the state, AAA said Monday. Regular unleaded is 22 percent more expensive in California than the rest of the nation and hit an all-time high, thanks to outages at Chevron's refinery in Richmond and Exxon Mobil's facility in Torrance (Los Angeles County). Prices began to fall on Monday after Gov. Jerry Brown ordered regulators to relax smog controls so refineries can switch to cheaper winter-blend gas. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/S-F-has-state-s-2nd-priciest-gas-at-4-73-3930279.php#ixzz28p6FvPGc 'Winter-Blend' Gasoline Could Reduce Prices In California. State air pollution regulators said Monday that California's air quality is not expected to worsen appreciably after the governor ordered the release of a dirtier blend of gasoline to help slash record-high pump prices. The California Air Resources Board issued a regulatory advisory a day earlier after Gov. Jerry Brown ordered them to allow so-called "winter-blend" gasoline to be sold in California earlier than usual to increase supply. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/08/winter-blend-gasoline_n_1949723.html?view=print&comm_ref=false CLIMATE CHANGE CO2 emissions go up fast when economy booms, drop more slowly when it doesn't. Carbon dioxide emissions grow more when the economy is healthy than they decline when global markets falter, a new study finds. The disparity is likely a result of cars, roads, buildings and other infrastructure that are built or bought during good times and continue pumping out CO2 even when growth slows, said Richard York, a sociologist at the University of Oregon whose work was published Sunday in the journal Nature Climate Change. His research suggests that, for each 1 percent of growth in a nation's gross domestic product per capita, CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement manufacturing grow 0.733 percent to 0.752 percent. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/09/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS AGC: Changes to Off-Road Diesel Emissions Rules Will Save Construction Employees Billions. A series of changes California officials made to their off-road diesel emissions rule, made to correct the significant errors in the measure discovered by the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), will save construction employers as much as $9 billion, according to the AGC. Association officials outlined the changes and their potential impacts during a federal hearing Sept. 20 on whether California can start enforcing the revised measure in 2014. Posted. http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/AGC-Changes-to-Off-Road-Diesel-Emissions-Rules-Will-Save-Construction-Employees-Billions/18991/ FUELS Natural Gas Drops as Mild Weather to Reduce Heating-Fuel Demand. Natural gas futures dropped in New York for the second time in three days on forecasts for mild weather that would crimp demand for heating fuels. Gas fell as much as 1.6 percent as MDA EarthSat Weather in Gaithersburg, Maryland, predicted above-normal temperatures from the East Coast to the Midwest and Texas over the next six to 15 days. The Energy Department predicted last month that stockpiles will reach an all-time high by the end of October, before demand increases with colder weather. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-08/u-dot-s-dot-natural-gas-futures-gain-on-forecast-showing-cooler-weather Compressed natural gas site opens for Okla. Trucks. A truck stop chain has opened its first compressed natural gas facility for heavy-duty trucks in Oklahoma. Love's Travel Stops opened the facility Monday on Interstate 40 at the Morgan Road exit in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City-based company says the CNG filling station demonstrates its commitment to offering natural gas as an alternative fuel for the trucking industry. Love's says compressed natural gas costs about $2 less per gallon than diesel fuel, on which most big rigs run. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/09/compressed-natural-gas-site-opens-for-okla/ IEA optimistic about future of Iraq oil industry. The International Energy Agency predicted Tuesday that Iraq will consolidate its position as a global oil power _ allowing it to rebuild the economy of a nation ravaged by war and decades of Saddam Hussein's autocratic rule. The leading global energy monitor reported that Iraq's annual revenues from energy exports could double to an average of $200 billion annually over the next 20 years. That optimistic scenario would make Iraq's economy the same size as that of Saudi Arabia now by 2035. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/iea-optimistic-about-future-of-iraq-oil-industry/article_6b540b42-58bb-5e20-a9b8-dd0915013a93.html The road to more sustainable fuels remains ill-defined – report. Businesses have difficult decisions to make when it comes to producing and purchasing transportation fuels, from cost to long-term supply to environmental impacts. The corporate sustainability group BSR unpacked these concerns in a report released today on the total sustainability implications of commercial transportation fuels. A number of the 300 companies BSR works with are large-scale fuel users confronting ever more complicated and sometimes controversial decisions on which fuels to use, said Eric Olson, senior vice president with BSR. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/09/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Honda sees record gasoline prices as opening for natural gas Civic. Record gasoline prices got you down? Honda thinks it has a deal for you. Honda is offering a $3,000 debit card good at Clean Energy natural gas filling stations with the purchase of a 2012 model year Civic Natural Gas vehicle. That is about three years' worth of fuel for most drivers at today’s natural gas prices. There are about 40 Clean Energy filling stations in Southern California and about 160 nationwide. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-honda-civic-natural-gas-incentive-20121009,0,1767074.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fmostviewed+%28L.A.+Times+-+Most+Viewed+Stories%29 Dealers call Tesla factory stores illegal. After opening several stores without much pushback, Elon Musk's ambition to replicate the Apple experience in Tesla factory stores is now facing potential roadblocks. Dealer associations in a handful of states, and state regulators in at least one case, say Tesla's stores violate state franchise laws that prohibit factory ownership of dealerships. Electric-vehicle maker Tesla now operates 17 stores in 10 states and the District of Columbia, most in shopping malls. Another six are scheduled to open this fall. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/article/20121008/RETAIL07/310089952#ixzz28pJzGMzB GREEN ENERGY NRC vows review of San Onofre restart plan. Federal regulators will make a detailed analysis over “several months” of Southern California Edison’s plan to restart one of two idled reactors at the San Onofre nuclear plant, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission administrator said Monday in San Juan Capistrano. Federal regulators will make a detailed analysis over “several months” of Southern California Edison’s plan to restart one of two idled reactors at the San Onofre nuclear plant, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission administrator said Monday in San Juan Capistrano. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/nrc-373997-thorough-onofre.html MISCELLANEOUS Clothes That Clean The Air While You Wear. Fight air pollution and look fabulous? CatClo, a new designer fabric conditioner, could make it possible in as little as two years from now. This innovation is down to The Catalytic Clothing project, a collaboration between the University of Sheffield and the London College of Fashion. Together, they have engineered a new substance that, when added to clothing in the same way you might use fabric conditioner, would clean the air as you go about your daily business. It could dramatically cut pollution and pollution-related illnesses like asthma. Posted. http://www.care2.com/causes/clothes-that-clean-the-air-while-you-wear.html OPINIONS Behind California's gas spike. Gov. Brown was right to act to reduce prices. But are more than market factors at work? California's record-breaking rise in gasoline prices over the last week was so sudden, and so apparently unjustified by the supply-and-demand factors that usually control markets, that it's natural to suspect some kind of conspiracy at play. Among the suspicious is Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who sent a letter to the chairman of the Federal Trade Commission on Monday calling for an investigation. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-gasoline-20121009,0,7222847.story California gas prices to tumble? Just my luck. Darn it, I missed out again. You know when the iPhone came out? Well, I didn’t buy one. Same with the iPod and the iPad. I also didn’t buy a Mini Cooper when they were such hot sellers. And now I’ve missed the big gasoline price run-up in California. My habit of missing out, or being late to the party, goes way back, unfortunately. When disco was all the rage, I liked oldies rock. I stuck with film cameras way too long. I don’t have a smartphone. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-california-gas-prices-go-tumbling-down-20121008,0,3488923.story Q&A: When will gas prices start to fall? At least gas prices aren't spiking up any longer. The average statewide price for regular Tuesday morning remained at a record $4.67, according to AAA’s daily fuel gauge report. That's the same as on Monday. San Diego hovered around $4.722, down ever so slightly from $4.725, also a record. Now the question is -- when will we see relief at the pump? Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/09/questions-answers-gasoline-prices/ GAS: Pain at the pump worst in the desert. Patrick Matthews’ decision to fill his gas tank somewhere near the middle of his trip across the Mojave Desert cost him dearly. Matthews, returning to his El Centro Navy base after visiting with family in Las Vegas, said he stopped at Vidal Junction at the crossroads of highways 62 and 95 because he was halfway between the two points. He paid $27.65 for 4.85 gallons at the junction’s only station and joined a growing number of Southern Californians paying well past $5 per gallon as gas prices go up like a rocket launch. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/transportation-headlines/20121008-gas-pain-at-the-pump-worst-in-the-desert.ece Where is outrage? EDITOR: I am happy that Gov. Jerry Brown is helping California car commuters and other users of gas by releasing the gas held for winter (“Brown tries to drive down gas prices,” Monday). What I fail to understand is why our people have to pay for the failures and mistakes at the oil company refineries. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121009/OPINION/121009542 BLOGS On Our Radar: Mock Candidates Go Head to Head on Energy. Surrogates for President Obama and Mitt Romney debate the future of federal energy policy. [E&E News] Siemens begins testing the world’s largest wind-turbine rotor, with blades measuring 505 feet. [Clean Technica] A growing majority of Americans — 74 percent, up 5 points from a survey in March — say that global warming is affecting weather in the United States. [Yale Project on Climate Communication]. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/09/on-our-radar-mock-candidates-go-head-to-head-on-energy/ Aid Groups Push for Clean Energy. When Samantha Smith started working for the World Wildlife Fund more than a decade ago, she was stationed in the Arctic, where her work focused on the species she was trying to protect in that habitat. ‘‘I had my encounters with polar bears,’’ she said.Now, she is working on a much broader set of problems. ‘‘We started out looking at animals, species and the places where they lived, but we are finding that a lot of this is about natural resources,’’ she said. Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/08/aid-groups-push-for-clean-energy-policies/ Climate Change Threatens Maize and Bean Farmers in Central America. Climate change is real, and it is going to have real effects on real people in Central America. That is evident in a new report that for the first time takes a specific look at the impact of climate change on a local level. "Tortillas on the Roaster" exposes the risks of climate change to the cultivation of maize and beans -- the two most-important food crops in Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/catholic-relief-services/central-america-climate-change_b_1947838.html Fox's Solution To CA Gas Price Spike: Drill, Baby, Drill. Fox News is seizing on high gas prices in California to push for opening up new areas, including the California coast, to drilling, ignoring the real factors driving up prices at the pump. But experts say increasing U.S. production will have no impact on gas prices, and that the only way to protect against price spikes is to reduce consumption. Gas prices in California hit near-record highs this week as a result of supply disruptions at several key refineries in the state as well as the shutdown of a contaminated pipeline. Posted. http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/10/09/foxs-solution-to-ca-gas-price-spike-drill-baby/190482 ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 13:55:35 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 10, 2012 From: jbaxter@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 AIR POLLUTION Inglewood Oil Field fracking study finds no harm from the method. A long-awaited study released Wednesday says the controversial oil extraction method known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, would not harm the environment if used at the Inglewood Oil Field in the Baldwin Hills area. The yearlong study included several issues raised by residents living around the field, such as the potential risks for groundwater contamination, air pollution and increased seismic activity. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fracking-baldwin-hills-20121010,0,5707434.story Pesticides blamed by report for illnesses. Pesticides pervade the environment, from the air we breathe to the food we eat, and they are making children sicker than they were a generation ago, a new report warns. More than 1 billion pounds of pesticides used annually nationwide have contributed to an array of health problems in youth, including autism, cancer, birth defects, early puberty, obesity, diabetes and asthma, the Pesticide Action Network North America, an environmental group in Oakland, said in a report released Tuesday. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Pesticides-blamed-by-report-for-illnesses-3933168.php Jakarta's Air-Quality Conundrum JAKARTA—As Indonesia posts near-record rates of economic growth, its mega-city capital faces an unsavory side effect: worsening air quality.Long among the most-polluted cities in the world, Jakarta had in recent years shown some signs of improvement, as periods of weaker economic growth and new environmental policies led to a slowdown in some activities that create the worst pollutants. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444897304578046713405298742.html BY SUBCRIPTION ONLY Worth noting in business: Small Business University set, more. Featuring discussions on a wide variety of issues of interest to small business owners, the free event is being presented by the Business & Entrepreneurship Center of Ken Community College District, UC Merced Regional SBDC Network and the Central Valley Business Incubator. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/business/x1250041907/Worth-noting-in-business-Small-Business-University-set-more BY SUCSCRIPTION ONLY Port Commission president meets with residents GULFPORT, Miss. — GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - Port Commission President Lenny Sawyer says the Port of Gulfport is studying its options regarding elevation issues. The Sun Herald reports (http://bit.ly/Tvx8ya ) that Sawyer told a group of local residents that the port will announce Nov. 15 what direction the port expansion will take. He says Gov. Phil Bryant, a critic of the elevation project, has been invited to the meeting. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/10/port-commission-president-meets-with-residents/ China vows to improve "lagging" urban transport system The move aims to relieve worsening traffic congestion and air pollution in cities, the State Council, or China's cabinet, said at the meeting chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, according to a statement published on the government's website. China has announced a number of new infrastructure spending plans to help shore up a slowing economy, but has provided little detail on how they will be funded. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/10/china-economy-transport-idUSL3E8LA3EP20121010 CALIFORNIA GAS PRICES No easy answer to fixing California's record gas prices. As Californians fume over the latest record-setting spike in gas prices, there's a big question at the pumps: Is there any way out? Not really, say industry officials, environmentalists and state regulators. Skyrocketing gas prices over the past week have been blamed on two key issues: outages at California refineries and the fact that the state requires a unique type of clean-burning summer gasoline that can't be easily replaced or imported from other places during shortages. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21735517/no-easy-answer-fixing-californias-record-gas-prices http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21738115/southern-california-gas-prices-should-get-lower?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com Related stories: http://www.insidebayarea.com/bay-area-news/ci_21739677/wednesday-gas-prices-at-bay-area-pumps-remain?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/bay-area-news/ci_21739677/wednesday-gas-prices-at-bay-area-pumps-remain?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Gasoline price in California sets record; pace of rise is slowing. For the fourth day in the row, California broke the state's record on gasoline prices, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. The only good news, analysts said, was that the rise continued to lose momentum Tuesday. According to the AAA, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in California reached $4.671. That was an increase of just 0.3 cent overnight. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-gas-prices-20121010,0,2130342.story http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-gas-spike-over-20121010,0,5133677.story http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21739169/calif-gas-prices-finally-begin-fall?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com&IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21739169/calif-gas-prices-finally-begin-fall?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21739169/calif-gas-prices-finally-begin-fall?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.pe.com/local-news/transportation-headlines/20121009-gas-prices-costs-plateau-but-that-brings-little-relief.ece CLIMATE CHANGE Exit Sign Warehouse Announces Town Hall Series On How To Prepare Your LED Exit Signs For Inclement Weather. Experts in the lighting want consumers to know that not all Exit signs are equal. If signs are exposed to rain, snow or sleet, even the best made standard Exit signs can experience electrical failures, which puts the public at risk for injury, and business owners at risk for costly lawsuits or government fines. According to the US governments Office of Compliance, “The answer may seem obvious, but people often do not appreciate the importance of exit signs. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Exit-Sign-Warehouse-Announces-Town-Hall-Series-On-3935113.php Common ground: State rep candidates in broad agreement on enviro issues. All four candidates in Westport's two state representative races this year touted their commitment to environmental protection and sustainable economic development during a forum Tuesday night at the Earthplace natural history center. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Common-ground-State-rep-candidates-in-broad-3934692.php LG Electronics and DoSomething.org Recognize Youth for Energy-Saving Efforts on ENERGY STAR® Day 2012. LG Electronics USA and DoSomething.org today announced the 25 youth winners of the "2012 Team ENERGY STAR Challenge." The organizations are using EPA's first ENERGY STAR Day, Oct. 10 (celebrating ENERGY STAR's 20th anniversary), to recognize the efforts of today's youth in saving energy and protecting the climate. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/10/4898196/lg-electronics-and-dosomethingorg.html#storylink=misearch ISOS To Raise The Bar For Non-Financial Disclosure, As Carbon Disclosure Project Silver Consultancy Partner. ISOS Group, LLC is pleased to announce its recent status as a Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Silver Consultancy Partner in the U.S. As the world's largest voluntary greenhouse gas emissions reporting organization, CDP works on behalf of 655 institutional investors representing US78 trillion in assets to assess risk across a broad spectrum of sustainability considerations, including climate change risk in their investment portfolios. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/10/4898132/isos-to-raise-the-bar-for-non.html#storylink=misearch Oceans' rising acidity a threat to shellfish and humans. Peering into the microscope, Alan Barton thought the baby oysters looked normal, except for one thing: They were dead. Slide after slide, the results were the same. The entire batch of 100 million larvae at the Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery had perished. It took several years for the Oregon oyster breeder and a team of scientists to find the culprit: a radical change in ocean acidity. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/10/4898054/oceans-rising-acidity-a-threat.html# Political storms threaten Europe's offshore wind goals BRUSSELS/LONDON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Political wavering in Britain, the world's biggest offshore wind market, is casting doubt on European ambitions to build a fleet of gigantic turbines out at sea, desperately needed to meet legally binding climate change targets. The increasing scale of offshore wind means it is the one green energy source able to make up for the phase-out of nuclear generation - especially in the EU's largest economy Germany - and for the closure of ageing and polluting coal plants in other countries such as Britain and France. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/10/eu-power-offshore-idUSL6E8L8M1R20121010 Most Americans link weather to global warming: survey Conducted by Yale and George Mason universities, the survey found 74 percent of Americans believe that global warming is affecting weather, up 5 percentage points since March 2012, the last time the two organizations asked these questions. Seventy-three percent of Americans said global warming made the record-high temperatures of summer 2012 worse, and 61 percent said weather in the United States has been worsening over the past several years, an increase of 9 percentage points since March. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/10/us-weather-usa-idUSBRE89910Q20121010 FUELS Record Heating Bills Seen in U.S. as Colder Winter Forecast. U.S. households that use heating oil will face record prices this winter as weather forecasters predict colder temperatures in the Northeast that will drive up demand, according to a government report. The Energy Information Administration, which tracks and analyzes energy data, projects households will spend 19 percent more on average for heating oil and 15 percent more for natural gas from Oct. 1 to March 31, the period covered in its short- term energy and winter fuels outlook released today. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Record-Heating-Bills-Seen-in-U-S-as-Colder-3935781.php http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21739635/heating-costs-rise-this-winter-cold-returns?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21739635/heating-costs-rise-this-winter-cold-returns?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21739635/heating-costs-rise-this-winter-cold-returns?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/at-a-glance-which-types-of-fuels-are-used-for-heating-by-us-households/2012/10/10/5c2b55ca-12f8-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_story.html http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_WINTER_HEATING_COSTS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/10/us-eia-outlook-winter-usa-idUSBRE8990XM20121010 Oil prices rise on encouraging economic data. The price of oil rose slightly Wednesday on another encouraging sign for the U.S. economy. The government reported wholesalers' sales were up for the first time in four months. Benchmark crude gained 42 cents to $92.81 per barrel at midday in New York. The price of oil rose more than 3 percent Tuesday on concerns about supplies from the Middle East and the North Sea. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Oil-prices-rise-on-encouraging-economic-data-3934159.php U.S. regulators struggle to police shale energy boom: report egal limitations and a lack of key data have hampered the Environmental Protection Agency's oversight of shale production, said the report from the Government Accountability Office, Congress' non-partisan investigative arm. "Officials at EPA reported that conducting inspection and enforcement activities for oil and gas development from unconventional reservoirs is challenging due to limited information, as well as the dispersed nature of the industry and the rapid pace of development," the report said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/10/us-usa-shale-regulation-idUSBRE8981CU20121010 VEHICLES C-Max Hybrid: A Ford challenges Prius. Ford's newest gasoline-electric vehicle, the C-Max Hybrid, is so roomy, stylish and smart, it's likely to attract buyers before they see the noteworthy 47 miles-per-gallon fuel rating on the window sticker. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/10/4899065/c-max-hybrid-a-ford-challenges.html# http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/10/2408411/c-max-hybrid-a-ford-challenges.html# BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY More details on work supporting NEC prototype 4.5V Li-ion battery; modified LiNiMnO cathode and fluorinated electrolyte. NEC Corporation has developed a prototype next-generation manganese lithium-ion battery featuring cathodes that support higher voltage operations (4.5V rather than 3.8V) and an electrolyte solution that improves the stability of the higher voltage operations. (Earlier post.) The new cathode and electrolyte solution improve battery energy density by approximately 30%. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/nec-20121010.html Carmakers join forces to kick start Nordic fuel cell vehicles market. Carmakers Honda, Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai are joining forces to introduce fuel cell vehicles to the market in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland. The memorandum of agreement signed by the carmakers and Nordic associations promises to support the introduction of fuel cell vehicles and a hydrogen refuelling infrastructure between 2014 and 2017. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4976 New Chinese White Paper explores new business model for EVs - Part I. On 25 September 2012, the Development Research Center Enterprise Institute of China’s State Council released a policy White Paper that analyses the possible business model for electric vehicles in China with a view help materialise the country’s ambitious EV development goal. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4975 GREEN ENERGY German renewable surcharge to rise by 47 percent: source The 47 percent increase reflects the fact that renewable sources are providing increasing amounts of electricity, which is bought from producers at guaranteed prices above market rates. Coming a year ahead of a federal election in which Chancellor Angela Merkel will seek a third term, the sharp rise in the surcharge is politically charged. The so-called 'Umlage' -- charges levied on German consumers to support renewable power -- will rise to 5.3 euro cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) in 2013 from 3.6 cents in 2012, the source said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/10/us-germany-energy-renewables-idUSBRE8990PC20121010 Hundreds attend contentious forum on San Onofre's future. The troubles at the San Onofre nuclear power plant brought out hundreds of people Tuesday night for a forum held by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Plant workers and anti-nuclear activists formed warring cheering sections in a ballroom at the St. Regis Monarch Beach hotel in Dana Point as a panel of regulators, ratepayer advocates and residents of nearby communities fielded questions and debated the merits of restarting one of the plant's reactors. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1010-san-onofre-20121010,0,1308276.story?track=rss http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/san-onofre-environmentalists-demand-stronger-review-of-nuke-plant/article_7ef506bf-c5d1-515f-a29f-14674ebeb253.html Agriculture Chairwoman Sen. Stabenow, State and Local Officials Help NOVI Energy Celebrate Startup of Fremont Community Digester. "Fremont Community Digester is a great example of how innovative Michigan businesses and West Michigan agriculture are partnering to develop new clean energy, which will create new jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, to a group of Fremont community supporters and government officials as they celebrated the startup of the $22 million Fremont Community Digester (FCD) plant, which produces electric power by processing organic wastes. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/10/4898878/agriculture-chairwoman-sen-stabenow.html#storylink=misearch DEP Approves First Natural Gas-Fired Power Plant in Pennsylvania. The Department of Environmental Protection today issued an air quality plan approval to Moxie Liberty LLC of Vienna, Va., for construction of the first power plant in Pennsylvania to run on natural gas, including gas from the Marcellus Shale. The plant, which will generate up to 936 megawatts of electricity, will be built in Asylum Township, Bradford County, and create 500 construction jobs at its peak. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/10/4898873/dep-approves-first-natural-gas.html#storylink=misearch Frost & Sullivan: Energy Storage is the Answer to Looming Power Shortages. The significant shortfall in electricity supply within the next three years highlighted by Ofgem in its latest report presents a strong case for energy storage technologies as they can de-couple production and consumption of electricity by creating a buffer. Electrical power generation in the UK has been facing many challenges in the last decade. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/10/4897624/frost-sullivan-energy-storage.html#storylink=misearch KYOCERA Supplies Solar Power Generating Systems to Medical Facilities in Tajikistan. Kyocera Corporation along with Marubeni Corporation and Marubeni Protechs Corporation announced that the companies have supplied a total of 160kW of solar power generating systems to the Diakov Hospital and Research Institution of Obstetrics Gynecology and Perinatology in Dushanbe, the capital city of the Republic of Tajikistan. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/10/4898395/kyocera-supplies-solar-power-generating.html#storylink=misearch Wärtsilä-led Consortium Wins Major Contract to Build World's Largest Tri-Fuel Power Plant in Jordan. A consortium headed by Wärtsilä has been awarded a turnkey contract to build a 573 MW tri-fuel power plant in Jordan. When completed, it will be the world's largest tri-fuel power plant capable of utilizing natural gas, heavy fuel oil and light fuel oil as its main fuels. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/10/4898183/wartsila-led-consortium-wins-major.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy ReneSola to Launch Optimized Virtus II (R) Plus 250 Solar Module to the Australian Market at All Energy Australia 2012. As Chinese manufacturer ReneSola looks to upgrade and optimize its product line, the Company will launch its optimized Virtus II ® module, Virtus II ® Plus 250, at All Energy Australia 2012, which will be held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, October 10 – 11, 2012. Following the successful launch of quasi-mono product Virtus I in the first half of 2012, ReneSola has grown its presence in a number of key PV markets around the world. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/10/4898097/renesola-to-launch-optimized-virtus.html#storylink=misearch http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/10/australia-solar-idUSL3E8L994R20121010 Midtown Developer Accuses Con Ed of Overcharging It is not easy being green and trying to keep the electric company from raising your rates. The owner of the Bank of America Tower in Midtown Manhattan is learning that lesson. For the second time in less than a year, it has accused Consolidated Edison of trying to overcharge for the sophisticated power plant in the building, which it has heralded as the most environmentally advanced skyscraper in the country. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/nyregion/con-ed-is-accused-of-overcharging-in-midtown-skyscraper.html MISCELLANEOUS Pacifica Environmental Family candidates' forum focuses on environmental issues. In a well attended forum designed to air candidates' views about environmentally sensitive issues that affect Pacifica, City Council candidates showed they stood united about key issues. They all support a ban on fireworks on the beach. They would all ban the use of plastic bags in Pacifica. They all support maintaining Sharp Park Golf Course as a golf course, but by adding an ongoing habitat management plan. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_21735295/pacifica-environmental-family-candidates-forum-focuses-environmental-issues OPINION Insurer: Hey, these climate-related disasters are getting expensive. There is no industry less enthusiastic about climate change than the insurance industry. After all, if something bad happens to a house or a business or a person, it's the one that has to pay out -- and its entire business model is predicated on minimizing how often it has to pay out. More and more floods and fires and derechos and who-knows-what means more and more checks flowing out of corporate headquarters. Not a pleasant prospect. Posted. http://grist.org/news/insurer-hey-these-climate-related-disasters-are-getting-expensive/ Fracking oversight: With regulators hobbled, good samaritans step in. Friends (allies? sweethearts? paramours? hot erotic lovers?) of the fossil fuel industry have done a hell of a good job shutting down official government observation of what it is they're up to. Not as good as the industry would like, mind you, but a very, very good job in the eyes of those skeptical that their stewardship of the Earth is sincere. Posted. http://grist.org/news/fracking-oversight-with-regulators-hobbled-good-samaritans-step-in/ EDITORIAL: Who to thank for pump prices? As gas prices spiked to record highs Monday in California, with the state average hitting $4.67 for a gallon of regular, here are a few people motorists can thank (besides the bad luck of a couple of refinery outages). Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-who-to-thank-for-pump-prices/article_ed9ca07b-2b4c-57da-ba7c-a4013d3b0c24.html BLOGS United States: AB 32 And GHG Market And Auction Basics. On August 30, 2012, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and about 150 market participants held a test auction for the purchase and sale of California carbon allowances (CCAs). The California state legislature passed Assembly Bill 32 (AB 32) in September 2006 requiring the state to reduce greenhouse gases emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, a 17 percent reduction. California's auction is part of a cap and trade program designed by CARB. Posted. http://www.power-eng.com/news/2012/10/09/united-states-ab-32-and-ghg-market-and-auction-basics.html A Coffee Seller Seeks to Cut Hunger Among Coffee Growers There’s perhaps no habit that more firmly illustrates the global nature of the modern human enterprise than drinking coffee. For centuries, trade in beans came with scant concern at the consumer end for the conditions on the plantations or small farms where coffee is harvested. That’s changing, of course, with growing, and sometimes controversial, efforts to certify good labor or environmental standards in coffee regions. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/09/a-coffee-seller-seeks-to-cut-hunger-among-coffee-growers/?ref=earth Is Online Communication an Asset or Liability in Sustaining the Human Journey I’m overdue to post this video of a lecture I delivered while teaching a weeklong course on climate and communication at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. It’s one variant on my stump speech on the power of the emerging “Knowosphere” — the fast-expanding menu of ways to share and shape ideas — to smooth the human journey. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/is-online-communication-an-asset-or-liability-in-sustaining-the-human-journey/?ref=earth Those Snowy Slopes, Sprayed With Wastewater As I wrote in The Times recently, a ski resort in northern Arizona will become the first in the world to make artificial snow totally out of sewage effluent this winter. Last February, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of the resort, Arizona Snowbowl, ending a 10-year legal battle waged by environmental and Native American groups that warned that the wastewater snow would damage wildlife, human health and a mountain considered sacred by 13 Indian tribes. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/do-not-publish-on-the-slopes-gliding-on-wastewater/?ref=earth On Our Radar: Visualizing Your City’s Emissions Relying on public data mining, traffic simulations and building-by-building energy consumption, researchers develop software capable of estimating greenhouse gas emissions across entire urban landscapes. [Phys.org] An ethics watchdog group files a complaint with the Federal Election Commission over an Ohio coal company’s alleged requirement that employees donate to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign. [Mother Jones]. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/on-our-radar-visualizing-your-citys-emissions/?ref=earth U.S. Car Makers Benefit from Fuel-Efficient Fleet A move toward more fuel-efficient vehicles has helped American car manufacturers navigate the latest surge in fuel prices with relative strength. Researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, in a new report, consider three recent periods of surging gasoline prices occurring in the summer of 2008, the spring of 2011, and from February until April of this year. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/10/10/u-s-car-makers-benefit-from-fuel-efficient-fleet/?KEYWORDS=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: Thu, 11 Oct 2012 13:32:06 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for October 11, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 11, 2012. 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 Researchers describe the “where” and “when” of life cycle emissions from gasoline and ethanol in the US. Researchers from the University of Minnesota have produced a spatially and temporally explicit life cycle inventory (LCI) of air pollutants from gasoline, ethanol derived from corn grain, and ethanol from corn stover for the contiguous US (the lower 48 states). A paper on their work is published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. Life cycle inventories have typically been presented at global, national, or regional levels…Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/tessum-20121011.html CLIMATE CHANGE Experts: Global warming means more Antarctic ice. The ice goes on seemingly forever in a white pancake-flat landscape, stretching farther than ever before. And yet in this confounding region of the world, that spreading ice may be a cockeyed signal of man-made climate change, scientists say. This is Antarctica, the polar opposite of the Arctic. While the North Pole has been losing sea ice over the years, the water nearest the South Pole has been gaining it. Antarctic sea ice hit a record 7.51 million square miles in September. That happened just days after reports of the biggest loss of Arctic sea ice on record. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hZjexMwx4JtHEl19ni3lJCOQHx2Q?docId=71ccc50ef7674d1ea661a3d0b51fb757 Other related articles: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/as-strange-as-it-seems-scientists-say-increase-in-antarctic-ice-may-be-sign-of-climate-change/2012/10/10/ae41f494-1312-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_story.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/10/3024531/experts-global-warming-means-more.html#storylink=misearch http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2012/10/11/antarctic-ice-global-warming-climate-change/1626795/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/experts-global-warming-means-more-antarctic-ice/article_46b903fd-620d-508b-96ad-b7602f41d850.html China’s Emissions Trading May Spur Global Accord, Report Says. China, the world’s biggest emitter of greenhouse gases linked to climate change, may create the impetus for a global carbon market as it begins pilot trading programs, according to the Climate Institute. “China’s emerging schemes can dovetail with other global schemes as a stepping stone towards a global climate change agreement by 2015,” John Connor, chief executive officer of the Sydney-based institute that commissioned a report released today, said in an e-mailed statement. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-11/china-s-emissions-trading-may-spur-global-accord-report-says.html Climate-Proofing The Insurance Industry. The world’s largest reinsurer has examined the recent rise in the number and severity of natural disasters worldwide, and finds the trend bears the unmistakable fingerprints of climate change. What’s more, America is bearing the brunt of that change. “North America is the continent with the largest increases in disasters,” Munich Re’s Peter Hoppe told USA Today yesterday. Take a look at the map of the most costly extreme weather events in 2011 and so far in 2012 for a snapshot that begins to show what he’s talking about. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/mindylubber/2012/10/11/climate-proofing-the-insurance-industry/ Majority of Americans believe Climate Change is worsening extreme weather. According to a new poll, 74 percent of Americans agree that climate change is impacting weather in the U.S., including 73 percent who agreed, strongly or somewhat, that climate change had exacerbated record high temperatures over the summer. The findings mean that a large majority of Americans agree with climatologists who in recent years have found increasingly strong evidence that climate change has both increased and worsened extreme weather events. Posted. http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/45068 Greenhouse gas emissions mapped to street level for U.S. cities. An ASU study released on October 9, 2012, utilizes extensive public databases and combines these with traffic simulation and building-by-building energy consumption modeling to estimate greenhouse gas emissions from urban landscapes. Scientists have until now quantified carbon dioxide emissions at a much broader level. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/greenhouse-gas-emissions-mapped-to-street-level-for-u-s-cities http://www.npr.org/2012/10/11/162656583/software-calculates-city-specific-carbon-footprint?sc=tw&cc=share Obama allies and opponents stage crossfire over climate change issues. Mitt Romney attacked the president yesterday for threatening to revive carbon-capping legislation. Meanwhile, climate advocates pressed the White House to take a stronger, and smarter, role in confronting rising temperatures. The Romney campaign is increasingly pointing to President Obama's past support for limiting emissions at large utilities and industrial plants, what Republicans successfully branded as "cap and tax" in the 2010 midterm elections. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/11/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CALIFORNIA GAS PRICES California gasoline prices declining in slow motion. Gasoline prices barely moved overnight. AAA put the statewide average price of unleaded regular this morning at $4.659, down a tiny bit from $4.666 on Wednesday and just a short hop from Tuesday's all-time record of $4.671. National gas price tracker GasBuddy.com had the average price of a gallon of gas in California at $4.63, down a penny from Wednesday. In Sacramento, AAA said the average for unleaded regular today is $4.53 a gallon, also down a penny from Wednesday. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/11/v-print/4903191/california-gasoline-prices-declining.html No easy answer to fixing California's record gas prices. Not really, say industry officials, environmentalists and state regulators. Skyrocketing gas prices over the past week have been blamed on two key issues: outages at California refineries and the fact that the state requires a unique type of clean-burning summer gasoline that can't be easily replaced or imported from other places during shortages. As a result, California is a "fuel island," vulnerable to disruptions and price spikes. Even temporary solutions pose problems. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21735517/no-easy-answer-fixing-californias-record-gas-prices STATE: Gas prices drop by a half-penny. California gas prices dipped a half-penny Wednesday, the first drop after a week that saw prices surge a record 50 cents. The statewide average for regular unleaded was just under $4.67 a gallon, still the highest in the nation, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/state-gas-prices-drop-by-a-half-penny/article_10219f0f-708a-5abb-99a2-640ffc9ff791.html California gasoline prices down for 2nd day. California's reign of pump pain is easing as prices drop for the second day in a row. The AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report for Thursday says the average price of regular is just under $4.66 a gallon—down more than a penny in two days. However, it's still the highest price in the nation. The highest state price is $4.75 a gallon in the San Luis Obispo area. San Francisco has $4.73, with Los Angeles and San Diego reporting around $4.70. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21748218/california-gasoline-prices-down-2nd-day http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21748218/california-gasoline-prices-down-2nd-day?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121011/WIRE/121019941/1350?Title=-California-gas-prices-down-for-2nd-day California gas prices drop by a half-penny. California gas prices dipped a half-penny Wednesday, the first drop after a week that saw prices surge a record 50 cents. The statewide average for regular unleaded was just under $4.67 a gallon, still the highest in the nation, according to AAA's Daily Fuel Gauge Report. Gas prices rose more than 50 cents a gallon between Oct. 1 and Oct. 8, from $4.168 to a record $4.671, the largest one-week price spike in California history, AAA spokesman Avery Ash said. The previous record was 26.2 cents a gallon in February. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21739169/calif-gas-prices-finally-begin-fall Chevron’s damaged Crude Unit 4 to remain shut through the winter as gas prices soar. The stoppage of operations at Chevron’s damaged Crude Distillation Unit, which supplied units at the Richmond refinery responsible for 38 percent of the Bay Area’s total refining capacity, has been partially blamed for soaring gas prices across the state. California’s Air Resources Board, which granted refineries a waiver to start refining crude with higher emission this week in an effort to reduce the impact of declining refinery output on fuel prices…Posted. http://richmondconfidential.org/2012/10/10/chevrons-damaged-crude-unit-4-to-remain-shut-through-the-winter-as-gas-prices-soar/ Democrats ask for probe into high Calif. gas prices. Top California Democrats this week are asking federal investigators to examine what is behind record-high gasoline prices in the Golden State. Although national averages are also high for this time of year, the average price in California was $4.67 per gallon of regular gasoline as of this morning, compared with $3.81 nationally, according to data compiled by AAA. Rep. Henry Waxman and Sen. Dianne Feinstein are asking the Federal Trade Commission for an investigation, while Sen. Barbara Boxer is targeting the Justice Department's Oil and Gas Price Fraud Working Group. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/10/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Inglewood Oil Field fracking study finds no harm from the method. Yearlong study, conducted by firms chosen by the oil field owner and L.A. County, was meant to address fears about potential groundwater contamination, air pollution and increased seismic activity. A long-awaited study released Wednesday says the controversial oil extraction method known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, would not harm the environment if used at the Inglewood Oil Field in the Baldwin Hills area. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fracking-baldwin-hills-20121010,0,2556088,print.story Roadshow: California's clean-burning gas has supporters. Q Does the current special blend of gas really significantly help pollution? Or is this just another liberal feel-good thing that costs the taxpayers a lot of money but has only a minimal or even a negative benefit? Arlen StoneMorgan Hill A Well, some folks think the benefit is huge, despite the fact that gas is uncomfortably close to $5 a gallon. Read on. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadshow/ci_21749848/roadshow-californias-clean-burning-gas-has-supporters California Advanced Energy Coalition calls for E15 accommodation. The California Advanced Energy Coalition has proposed immediate action by the California Air Resources Board to adjust its fuel regulations to accommodate increased amounts of low cost clean burning fuels on the market. By implementing a recent ruling by the U.S. EPA allowing E15 into the market place, CARB could reduce California gasoline prices immediately as wholesale ethanol is selling at more than $1.00 per gallon below the price of gasoline. An emergency update of the CARB compliance model to include levels of ethanol up to 15 percent will mitigate the need for such waivers in the future, while increasing the supply of the lowest cost fuel in the market, and enhancing California's air quality. Posted. http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/9199/california-advanced-energy-coalition-calls-for-e15-accommodation Fracking oversight: With regulators hobbled, good Samaritans step in. Friends (allies? sweethearts? paramours? hot erotic lovers?) of the fossil fuel industry have done a hell of a good job shutting down official government observation of what it is they’re up to. Not as good as the industry would like, mind you, but a very, very good job in the eyes of those skeptical that their stewardship of the Earth is sincere. We’ve been sucking oil out of the ground for a century, so the two sides…Posted. http://grist.org/news/fracking-oversight-with-regulators-hobbled-good-samaritans-step-in/ Discovering the keys to improved biofuel catalysts. Nanospheres, tiny spheres of silica with a honeycomb of tunnels, or pores, throughout their structure and embedded with catalytic groups, were developed in the last decade as a solution to finding a reusable catalyst for converting biomass into fuel. While scientists are now able to produce these nanospheres in ways that control the size of the pores and the type and position of the catalytic groups, understanding precisely how these chemical reactions take place will allow further fine-tuning and predictable control of catalytic processes. Posted. http://phys.org/news/2012-10-keys-biofuel-catalysts.html VEHICLES For Some Drivers, an Electric Motorcycle Could Be the Best of Both Worlds. Zipping around on a motorcycle can be fun, but being in a downpour or an accident on one is not. Driving a car is safer and more comfortable, but traffic and parking can be annoying. What if you got rid of the bad parts of both? You might end up with something like the C-1, an electric motorcycle that looks as if it came out of the movie “Tron.” For protection, the bike is encased in a metal shell, and it is controlled like a car, with a steering wheel and foot pedals. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/technology/start-ups/for-some-drivers-electric-motorcycle-could-be-the-best-of-both-worlds.html?ref=earth California Grants Tesla $10 Million To Build The Model X Electric SUV. California regulators on Wednesday approved a $10 million grant to Tesla Motors to help manufacture its next electric car, the Model X sport utility vehicle. Tesla will pony up $50 million to match the California Energy Commission grant, which will be used to expand manufacturing capacity at its factory in Fremont, Calif., and to purchase equipment to make components for the Model X. It was something of a love fest for Tesla at the energy commission meeting in Sacramento as commissioners and other regulators praised Tesla as an innovator that has brought automotive manufacturing back to California while creating clean cars and more than 1,500 jobs. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/toddwoody/2012/10/10/california-grants-tesla-10-million-to-build-the-model-x-electric-suv/ California Energy Commission approves more than $20M for clean transportation projects; Tesla, Quallion, other EV, battery and alt-fuel vehicles projects. The California Energy Commission approved funding of more than $20 million to support low carbon transportation projects; about half went to Tesla Motors. These awards, totaling $20,093,718, are made through the Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program, created by Assembly Bill 118. The investments of public money through this program require matching-funds from awardees, and by making payments on a reimbursement basis. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/cec-20121011.html GREEN ENERGY China rejects US solar tariffs as protectionism. China demanded Thursday that Washington repeal steep tariffs on solar panels that Chinese producers fear will shut their equipment out of the American market. The tariffs upheld Wednesday by the U.S. Commerce Department add to financial pressure on struggling Chinese solar panel manufacturers that are suffering heavy losses due to weak demand and a price-cutting war. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hllddSR0beXQ-2x8U-0O8dr1A0lA?docId=2f31c25a4c784f95bc62f6678b1f6a63 Other related articles: http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21745821/china-rejects-us-solar-tariffs-protectionism?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/10/3025001/china-rejects-us-solar-tariffs.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/business/china-rejects-us-solar-tariffs-as-protectionism/article_b7aa347d-62cd-5fcb-8f79-ca5bc45e0e53.html California's renewable-energy plans may hinge on presidential race. Players big and small in the state's rapidly growing industry worry a Romney win will strip them of federal subsidies they say are key to clean energy's future. On 7,300 isolated acres in eastern Kern County, a plan for dozens of wind turbines 20 stories high to generate enough electricity for tens of thousands of homes may hinge on who is elected president. Millions of dollars have been spent laying the groundwork. Permits are in order, contractors are lined up, government planners are on board. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-election-energy-20121011,0,4154109.story In Fighting Coal Pollution, Nevada Tribe Will Sell Solar Power to L.A. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (DWP) has agreed to buy all the power produced by a 250-megawatt solar facility on the Moapa River Paiute Reservation northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada. The Moapa Solar Energy Center, being built by K Road Power, will place photovoltaic arrays and a concentrating solar power tower on about 1,000 acres of tribal land about 35 miles northeast of Las Vegas. Posted. http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/solar/dwp-will-buy-solar-power-from-nevada-indian-reservation.html MISCELLANEOUS Chevron stock plummets on weak forecast, disclosure of Richmond refinery unit outage for rest of 2012. Shares of San Ramon-based Chevron plunged on Wednesday, the first trading day after the oil company said its third quarter would be weaker than the second quarter. Chevron's shares sank 4.2 percent, or $4.91, and finished at $112.45. The energy giant was hobbled by the Richmond refinery fire, which slashed the company's refining capacity by 92,000 barrels a day. The fuel factory has a capacity of 245,000 barrels a day. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21745814/chevron-stock-plummets-weak-forecast-disclosure-richmond-refinery?source=rss . Noisy crowd gathers at San Onofre nuclear plant meeting. More than 850 people crowded into a public meeting on the San Onofre nuclear power plant Tuesday night, the sometimes-boisterous crowd cheering or jeering as panelists spoke of problems that have kept the plant's two reactors offline for nearly nine months. The meeting in Dana Point was organized by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, but speakers also included plant operator Southern California Edison, anti-nuclear activists, a union representative for San Onofre workers and state utility and energy regulators. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/nuclear-374117-plant-san.html BLOGS In California, High Gas Prices and Incentives for Fuel-Efficient Cars Go Hand in Hand. With a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline flirting with $5 through much of California, many people might expect a reprise of 2008, when the state joined much of the country in turning away from gas guzzlers and toward compact cars and hybrids. But according to some dealers around the Bay Area, though gas prices are pushing consumers toward the greener sections of their showrooms, a number of incentives are doing their part, too. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/in-california-high-gas-prices-and-incentives-for-fuel-efficient-cars-go-hand-in-hand/ Director lauds short-term bullet train benefits. With unemployment still above 12 percent in the Inland area, local officials are turning to any and all options for job creation — including a planned statewide bullet train system that won’t link Los Angeles and the Bay Area for a decade. And it’ll probably be even longer for fast trains to reach Riverside County or San Bernardino County. Posted. http://blog.pe.com/transportation/2012/10/10/high-speed-rail-director-lauds-short-term-bullet-train-benefits/ ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 12:26:25 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 12, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 12, 2012. 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 James Hansen, Climate Change Scientist, Suggests Price On Carbon. Prominent climate scientist James Hansen has been warning that humans have brought the planet to a tipping point, after which changes, such as melting ice, can pick up momentum with potentially devastating effects. At a discussion today (Oct. 11), Hansen suggested society has reached its own tipping point. "We are at a fork in the road. We can either continue with business as usual and addiction to fossil fuels, or we can put an honest price on carbon that makes fossil fuels pay their cost to society,"…Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/11/james-hansen-climate-change-carbon_n_1959268.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003 FUELS Dems in coal states diverge on Obama policies. Friends of coal are certain they know the enemy. They fault President Barack Obama and his Environmental Protection Agency for new clean air rules they deride as a devastating blow to a multibillion-dollar industry that has been the lifeblood of Appalachia for generations. The agency standards imposed earlier this year tightened limits on existing coal powered-plant emissions while guidelines on restricting greenhouse gases could affect new plants as early as 2013. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_COAL_POLITICS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Tesoro offers to sell Calif. plant if regulators balk on BP buy. As gasoline prices in California spike and consumer watchdog groups weigh in, Tesoro Corp. is facing tough regulatory scrutiny of its planned $1.18 billion acquisition of BP Plc’s refinery in Carson, Calif. — and it’s got a proposal. Bloomberg reports that the oil refiner offered in an Aug. 13 regulatory filing to sell its 97,000-barrel-a-day refinery in Wilmington, Calif. — which is next door to BP’s larger plant in the Los Angeles area – to ease government opposition on antitrust grounds, if it materializes. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/news/2012/10/11/tesoro-offering-to-divest-california.html?s=print California Wholesale Gasoline Prices Drop on Winter Blend Switch. California wholesale gasoline prices fell up to 12% Monday after the state government allowed the early adoption of winter-blend gasoline to help ease California's supply crunch. Gov. Jerry Brown directed the state's Air Resource Board Sunday to immediately allow refiners to sell the winter blend, which costs less to manufacture and isn't normally sold until Oct. 31. Board members will follow the governor's direction and tell refineries and importers that they can start selling the cheaper gasoline right away, said Stanley Young, a spokesman for the board. Posted. http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stockmarketnewsstoryprint.aspx?storyid=california-wholesale-gasoline-prices-drop-on-winter-blend-switch-20121008-00624 VEHICLES GREEN ENERGY Report: Mid-Atlantic offshore wind industry would create 70,000 jobs, generate billions. The large-scale development of wind power off the Mid-Atlantic coast would create more than 70,000 jobs from New York to Virginia, an industry-sponsored study concludes. The study released Wednesday said those jobs would be created by a new industrial base needed to manufacture, build, operate and maintain the towering wind turbines, and an additional 40,000 jobs would be needed to serve the supply chain. The job growth would be realized over a 10-year build out of the offshore industry. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/report-mid-atlantic-offshore-wind-industry-would-create-70000-jobs-generate-billions/2012/10/10/ab391dd2-12bc-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_story.html For Solar Panel Industry, a Volley of Trade Cases. The solar panel manufacturing industry in the United States and Europe has begun a volley of trade cases against imports, following the same track as the steel industry before it — and for many of the same reasons. “Back in the ’60s and ’70s, all over the world, governments were investing in steel mills,” said Nicholas Tolerico, a retired American trade official and steel executive. “These days, they invest in solar panels, and you end up with the same overcapacity and cutthroat pricing.” BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/12/business/global/us-places-tariffs-on-imports-of-chinese-solar-panels.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 State water system buys green energy. Landfill gas and geothermal energy will soon power a portion of the state's massive water pumping infrastructure. The California Department of Water Resources announced Wednesday it has signed contracts to purchase 33 megawatts of electricity from the two source through 2016. The majority will come from The Geysers geothermal field near Middletown, Calif., operated by the Northern California Power Agency. The landfill gas energy supply comes from a gas-to-energy plant at Ox Mountain Landfill in Half Moon Bay. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/12/v-print/4906350/state-water-system-buys-green.html Energy Commission Awards More Than $20 Million for Clean Transportation Projects. Moving California closer to a clean energy transportation sector, the California Energy Commission today approved funding of more than $20 million for innovative transportation projects. "These investments in clean vehicles will reduce petroleum use, improve air quality, and create jobs, while demonstrating California's commitment to a greener transportation future," said Energy Commissioner Carla Peterman. Posted. http://www.imperialvalleynews.com/index.php/news/california-news/1926-energy-commission-awards-more-than-20-million.html MISCELLANEOUS Corcoran meeting tonight to focus on high-speed rail comments. Kings County Supervisor Richard Valle and Corcoran Mayor Raymond Lerma will host a town hall meeting on the high-speed rail project tonight at Corcoran City Hall. Organizers of the meeting, which will begin at 6 p.m., said the purpose is to collect public comments on the draft environmental impact report issued for the Fresno-to-Bakersfield portion of the project. Posted. http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/corcoran-meeting-tonight-to-focus-on-high-speed-rail-comments/article_36e9c7e4-13c8-11e2-8d94-001a4bcf887a.html California industry group says economic analysis of proposed regulation is inadequate. Report estimates regulation could cost billions, environmental health advocates say the benefits are not fully accounted for. A report released this week by the California Foundation for Commerce and Education says the state's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has not provided “a meaningful economic analysis of the safer consumer products Regulations", and has thus failed to meet its obligations under the state’s administrative procedures Act. Posted. http://chemicalwatch.com/12571/california-industry-group-says-economic-analysis-of-proposed-regulation-is-inadequate OPINIONS How to refuel California. $5-a-gallon gas is a wake-up call. Let's change the way oil companies operate here. How can a power outage at a refinery spark $5-a-gallon gasoline at some L.A. stations? Why would the fact that California had to switch to the winter-blend fuel at the end of October — a fact known all year — raise gasoline prices to record levels? This price surge is not a freak phenomenon or the result of a convergence of refinery problems, as the oil industry has argued. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-court-california-gas-prices-20121012,0,1450818.story Our Voice: Spike in gas prices is a scary reminder. Last week’s sudden spike in gasoline prices reminded California motorists of just how vulnerable we are. We’re at the mercy of volatile changes in oil prices as traders try to second-guess the future, of flaring hot spots in the Middle East and of disruptions in the delivery system. Industry officials contend the most recent surge was caused by a power failure at a Torrance refinery and closure of a pipeline in Northern California on Oct. 1. AAA reported that since Sept. 11 average California gas prices increased 50 cents a gallon to $4.49, highest in the nation — even Hawaii. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012310110012 BLOGS How a Green Fuel Turned Slimy. How did the oil industry and the Environmental Protection Agency end up with a system for tracking the production of biodiesel that was vulnerable to fraud? As I report in The Times, the agency is working on new rules to rescue the program after a yet-to-be-determined number of swindlers manufactured more than100 million credits tied to the manufacture of biodiesel that did not actually exist. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/12/how-a-green-fuel-turned-slimy/ ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 14:32:38 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 15, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 15, 2012. 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: LA sues over Owens Lake dust control. The powerful Los Angeles Department of Water and Power sued air regulators Friday over demands to control dust from Owens Lake nearly a century after the exploding metropolis siphoned water to quench its growing thirst. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Fresno, marks the latest salvo in a bitter back-and-forth over water rights in the arid region that was set in motion in 1913, when Los Angeles began diverting water from the lake 200 miles to its north. The lake went dry in 1926 and has since been plagued with massive dust storms and poor air quality. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CALIFORNIA_WATER_WARS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1013-dwp-dust-20121013,0,57296.story Pollution issue divides desert town as deadline nears. Residents of Hinkley, made famous by "Erin Brockovich," weigh an offer by PG&E to buy homes near chromium-tainted water. Animosity is high between residents wanting to sell and those opting to stay. The high desert town of Hinkley is being torn apart, neighbor by neighbor, as homeowners grapple with a plume of carcinogenic pollution made famous by a Hollywood movie. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1014-hinkley-buyout-20121014,0,6073012.story Plan would tighten rules on burning in valley. Cozy wintertime fires made scarce in recent times by air pollution rules would become even more rare under a valleywide proposal aimed at easing respiratory ills. If the San Joaquin Valley falls short of new federal air quality standards, funding for some big-ticket road projects — specifically, a remake of Highway 99's interchange with Kiernan Avenue in Salida and widening Claribel Road northeast of Modesto — could be in jeopardy. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/14/2414191/plan-would-tighten-rules-on-burning.html# BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Handful of Arvin residents protest composting firm. A handful of people marched in circles in a dirt lot across from Community Recycling & Resource Recovery Inc. outside Arvin on Sunday. They were holding signs reading "Why can't you be a good neighbor and stop polluting our homes," "Community Recycling stop polluting our air," and "Shame on you Community Recycling, you lie to Arvin." Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x1526555418/Handful-of-Arvin-residents-protest-composting-firm BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY LIBERTY QUARRY: Temecula sues to stop fast-tracking. Temecula is suing to prevent Riverside County from adding surface mines to the list of projects eligible for a fast-tracked review. That could help the proposed Liberty Quarry gain a quicker approval. City officials vigorously oppose the mine, saying it would destroy the area’s quality of life and cause massive air pollution. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/temecula/temecula-headlines-index/20121010-liberty-quarry-temecula-sues-to-stop-fast-tracking.ece CLIMATE CHANGE World matched record for hottest September _ again. Something about September keeps bringing out the record heat in the world. The globe last month matched a record for the hottest September, set in 2005. It was the third time since 2000 that the world set or tied a heat record for September. In addition to 2012 and 2005, previous hot September records were set in 2003. And these records go back to 1880. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_HOT_SEPTEMBER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-10-15-13-19-36 OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/15/climate-heat-idUSL1E8LFC7P20121015 http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/World-matched-record-for-hottest-September-3949784.php http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21776257/world-matched-record-hottest-september South Korea doubles 2013 emissions reduction target. South Korea has doubled a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by local industrial and power sectors in 2013 to enhance competitiveness prior to a new cap-and-trade scheme starting in 2015, the economy ministry said on Monday. Asia's fourth-largest economy aims to cut 17.2 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent or 3 percent of next year's expected emissions, compared with 8 million metric tons of CO2 reduction or 1.42 percent of this year's level, it said in a statement. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/15/us-korea-emissions-idUSBRE89E03Z20121015 China Carbon Debut Defies Emission Doubters. China’s first steps to build what is destined to be the world’s second-biggest emissions market are boosting the prospects for fledgling programs from Australia to California. Four cement makers in China, the world’s biggest emitter, bought 1.3 million pollution permits for 60 yuan ($9.55) a metric ton last month in Guangdong. The province plans the largest of seven pilot programs for a proposed national market within three years. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-12/china-carbon-debut-defies-emission-doubters-energy-markets.html A Grand Experiment to Rein In Climate Change. Braced against a steep slope, Robert Hrubes cinched his measuring tape around the trunk of one tree after another, barking out diameters like an auctioneer announcing bids. “Twelve point two!” “Fourteen point one!” Mr. Hrubes’s task, a far cry from forestry of the past, was to calculate how much carbon could be stored within the tanoak, madrone and redwood trees in that plot. Every year or so, other foresters will return to make sure the trees are still standing and doing their job. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/science/earth/in-california-a-grand-experiment-to-rein-in-climate-change.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121015/WIRE/210151082 California greenhouse gas rules face major court test. Having fended off a challenge to groundbreaking emissions standards for new cars, California now finds itself in a legal tug-of-war to preserve some of its unprecedented regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of fuels. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday will hear arguments in a legal challenge to the 2006 regulations, which a Fresno federal judge last year struck down as unconstitutional. The judge sided with an array of gas, trucking and farming industry interests aligned against the complex effort to curtail the carbon footprint of transportation fuels. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_21772831/california-greenhouse-gas-rules-face-major-court-test?source=rss http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_21772831/california-greenhouse-gas-rules-face-major-court-test http://www.insidebayarea.com/oakland-tribune/ci_21772832/california-greenhouse-gas-rules-face-major-court-test CALIFORNIA GAS PRICES Gas prices will jump again, critics say. For years, California has suffered sudden jumps in the price of gasoline. The latest price spike, which peaked this week, briefly saw some stations charging $5 for regular. Now critics warn that one of the state's policies to fight global warming could make the situation worse. Business groups are taking aim at California's "low carbon fuel standard," which is designed to cut the greenhouse gas emissions that come from making and burning fuel. Created in 2007, the standard forces fuel producers to lower the "carbon intensity" of their products 10 percent by 2020. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Gas-prices-will-jump-again-critics-say-3944166.php#ixzz29OQWyvku SPIKE REMINDER OF CALIFORNIA ‘FUEL ISLAND’ State’s more-stringent environmental laws can separate it from rest of U.S. As gas prices spiraled out of control over the past few weeks, the historic run-up reminded residents that California is a “fuel island” separated from the rest of the nation by environmental laws that are more stringent and costly. And it’s not just gasoline. California’s penchant for eco regulations covers everything from light bulbs and cancer-causing chemicals to genetically engineered foods and greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/14/tp-spike-reminder-of-california-fuel-island/ Governor's leadership needed to prevent future fuel snafus. Governor Brown demonstrated real leadership in addressing the recent fuel supply shortage by essentially suspending the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) summer boutique gasoline mandate through the end of October. This unprecedented action has the potential to keep California moving and help alleviate impact to businesses and consumers alike from an energy cost-driven economic meltdown. If the Governor had not acted there would have been prolonged the pain at the pump. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=10xknqgmjgupq9b&xid=10xkn35hgn9lhzh&done=.10xknqgmjguxq9b Gas prices retreat from record highs. Gasoline prices are dropping across the Coachella Valley after rising sharply over the past few weeks. From Saturday to Sunday, the price for a gallon of regular gas fell eight cents to $4.479 at the ARCO station at Sunrise Way and Vista Chino in Palm Springs. Gas prices, which set a record high on Oct. 8 at $4.688 per gallon, eased Sunday to $4.639 in the Riverside-San Bernardino metro area, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report. One month ago, the average price for a gallon of regular gas was $4.136 in the Inland Empire. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20121015/NEWS/310150008/Gas-prices-retreat-from-record-highs?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage O.C. gas prices drop 2 cents. Orange County motorists are finding a small, albeit welcomed reprieve at the gas pump today as the average price of gas dropped to $4.64 a gallon Saturday. Today's AAA fuel gauge report shows a 2-cent drop in average gas prices for O.C. from Friday's $4.66 average. That's 83 cents pricier than last year's gas prices. Statewide, the average gas price also dropped roughly two cents to $4.63, still ranking California as the priciest state for gas in the nation, according to AAA. The second-priciest state for gas price averages is Hawaii at $4.43. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/gas-374478-average-price.html Southern California Gas Prices Should Get Lower. As Los Angeles-area gas prices hit another record high on Monday, the less expensive "winter blend" fuel began flowing from California refineries, meaning lower prices are expected at the pump soon, officials said. The fuel switch over began on Sunday when Gov. Jerry Brown told the California Air Resources Board to authorize use of the winter fuel to alleviate a shortage of the "summer blend." That shortage sent wholesale prices soaring last week and pushed retail prices to record levels. But it's unclear how soon lower prices will hit the street and how low they'll go. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21774829/southern-california-gas-prices-should-get-lower Why did CA gas prices spike? A mystery remains behind the history-making October spike in California retail gasoline prices. The run-up in wholesale and retail prices was touched off by a power outage at Exxon Mobil’s Torrance refinery. What happened next was unprecedented even for California’s isolated and volatile gasoline markets, and comparable only to a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/13/gas-price-mystery-endures/ FUELS Corrosion linked to 2011 Chevron refinery fire. Corrosion that went unchecked - the suspected cause of a fire at Chevron Corp.'s Richmond refinery in August - has been linked to a fire at the plant in October 2011, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Sunday (http://bit.ly/OzFQcu ). According to state inspection documents obtained by The Chronicle, a state Division of Occupational Safety and Health inspector who investigated the smaller 2011 fire documented allegations from two workers of corrosion at the refinery. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_REFINERY_FIRE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Industry seeks to weaken EU cap on crop-based fuels. The European Commission is under strong pressure from industry groups and some of its own departments to weaken a planned cap on the use of biofuels made from food crops such as rapeseed and wheat. Last month, the two EU Commissioners responsible for biofuel policy said they planned to limit the share of crop-based fuels in the transport sector to 5 percent up to 2020, which would effectively halve the bloc's existing target. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/14/eu-biofuels-idUSL5E8LD3RR20121014 Last-Ditch Bid in Texas to Try to Stop Oil Pipeline. Deep within the oak and pine forests that blanket this stretch of East Texas, the chug of machinery drones on late into the day, broken only by the sounds of a band of activists who have vowed to stop it. Here, among the woods and farmland, what might be one of the last pitched battles over the Keystone XL oil pipeline has been unfolding for weeks now, since construction of the controversial project’s southern leg began in August. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/13/us/protesters-gather-at-keystone-xl-site-in-texas.html?ref=earth Report on Baldwin Hills fracking raises community ire. Despite its findings, the environmental impact study has deepened tensions between an oil field owner and those opposed to the controversial hydraulic fracturing technique used to extract oil. The environmental impact report on hydraulic fracturing at the Inglewood Oil Field was supposed to address key concerns raised by residents of the Baldwin Hills area. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fracking-study-20121015,0,4459928.story?track=rss Natural gas eyed as fuel for trains. On a 300-mile stretch of railroad in the plains of eastern Alberta, a test train chugs across the landscape burning a fuel that once made sense only to environmentalists. It runs on natural gas. And today, that makes sense to business leaders whose top priority is cutting costs. Over the past two weeks, train industry executives and others have been talking more about natural gas, as meetings in Houston and the Chicago area highlighted bubbling interest in a fuel that could slash one of railways' top costs. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Natural-gas-eyed-as-fuel-for-trains-3948140.php#ixzz29OAxZdnA VEHICLES Lincoln's 2013 MKZ Hybrid tops in fuel economy. Lincoln is several weeks away from introducing its all-new MKZ sedan, which means you can expect bits of information to begin trickling out now. Like today. Ford's luxo-nameplate announced Monday morning that the hybrid version of the 2013 MKZ had been rated by the EPA at 45 mpg in the city, highway and combined. This should come as no surprise as the car the MKZ is largely based on, the 2013 Ford Fusion, was recently rated at 47 mpg across the board. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-mo-autos-lincoln-mkz-hybrid-epa-20121015,0,3673417.story Tesla receives $10 million from state energy commission for electric auto manufacturing. The California Energy Commission voted this week to grant $10 million to Tesla Motors, Inc., to help produce an electric-powered vehicle at its Fremont plant. The project is expected to create more than 500 new manufacturing jobs at the plant, said Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski, D-Fremont. "This is great news for Tesla and great news for the Fremont community," he said. "Not only will it lead to cleaner vehicles improving our environment, it also will lead to more manufacturing jobs here at home." Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_21762001/tesla-receives-10-million-from-state-energy-commission GREEN ENERGY A Plan to Go Halfway Around the World, Fueled by Plastic Trash. Sometime in the next few months, a single-engine Cessna will fly from Sydney to London. Converted to be able to carry extra amounts of fuel, the small plane will take 10 days for its journey, making 10 or so stops along the way. What will make this journey special is not the route or the identity of the pilot — a 41-year-old British insurance industry executive who lives in Australia — but the fuel that the aircraft will be using: diesel processed from discarded plastic trash. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/business/energy-environment/halfway-around-the-world-fueled-by-plastic-trash.html?pagewanted=all State signs alternative energy deals. Landfill gas and geothermal energy will soon power a share of the state's massive water pumping infrastructure. The California Department of Water Resources announced Wednesday it has signed deals to buy 33 megawatts of energy from the two sources through 2016. The majority comes from The Geysers geothermal field near Middletown, operated by the Northern California Power Agency. The rest comes from a gas-to-energy plant at Ox Mountain Landfill in Half Moon Bay. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/13/4908119/state-signs-alternative-energy.html#storylink=cpy Public land set aside for solar plants. Federal officials approved a plan Friday that sets aside 285,000 acres of public land for the development of large-scale solar power plants, cementing a new government approach to renewable energy development in the West after years of delays and false starts. At a news conference in Las Vegas, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar called the new plan a "roadmap ... that will lead to faster, smarter utility-scale solar development on public lands." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/nation/article/Public-land-set-aside-for-solar-plants-3944807.php#ixzz29OBiTEcR Solyndra files $1.5 billion lawsuit against Chinese solar firms, claims conspiracy. Solyndra, the bankrupt Fremont solar-panel maker that received a $535 million U.S. government loan guarantee, filed a blockbuster lawsuit this week that accused Suntech and other Chinese panel makers of driving it out of business by running an illegal cartel. Solyndra, which filed for bankruptcy protection in August 2011, is seeking compensation "for the loss of the $1.5 billion value of its business and more which defendants destroyed," according to a complaint filed Thursday in San Francisco federal court. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21759661/solyndra-files-1-5-billion-lawsuit-against-chinese Eye on the Environment: Leases, rebates, group purchasing help homeowners go solar. Sometimes being "environmental" has the connotation of giving up something or doing without. With solar, however, the only thing to give up is high electricity bills. In the past 18 months, the reality of solar electricity has changed, costs have come down and homeowners can save money immediately on their electricity bills. More than 125,000 Californians have found solar energy to be an affordable and reliable alternative, and they are regularly generating 1.3 megawatts of power. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/13/leases-rebates-group-purchasing-help-homeowners/ Germans face hefty bill to end nuclear power. There were cheers around Germany when Chancellor Angela Merkel announced last year, in the wake of the Fukushima disaster in Japan, a swift end to nuclear power in favor of renewable energy sources like wind and solar. But only 18 months into the plan, the cost of the switchover is beginning to sink in. Some politicians, fearful of losing popular support for the transition, are demanding an overhaul of the way it is financed. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/germans-face-hefty-bill-to-end-nuclear-power/article_03d1f98c-2782-5203-b0ec-5c53d5296abc.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/germanys-tax-financing-renewable-energies-expansion-skyrockets-by-almost-50-percent-on-year/2012/10/15/1b0ac946-16a3-11e2-a346-f24efc680b8d_story.html REAL ESTATE: Powering up for solar. When Daniel Sullivan, president of Sullivan Solar Power, turned the key recently to open the new Riverside branch office of a company posting $16.8 million in revenues in 2011, he couldn’t help but bask in it all. Standing in the midst of 50 VIPs, the entrepreneur who got his start in 2004 with $2,500 in the bank, a beat-up Ford Ranger, a set of tools and space in a garage warmed by a space heater said solar installation is no pipe dream. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20121010-real-estate-powering-up-for-solar.ece MISCELLANEOUS John S. Hoffman, developer of Energy Star efficiency program, dies at 62. John S. Hoffman, a former federal environmental official whose innovative program to identify and reward energy-efficient practices became the Energy Star program, a voluntary international rating system for “green” products, died Sept. 24 at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He was 62 and a Washington resident. He had complications after surgery for a perforated peptic ulcer, said his wife, Lucinda McConathy. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/2012/10/13/cd06f73a-14b6-11e2-bf18-a8a596df4bee_story.html What to know about California's consumer programs to combat smog. In an effort to reduce smog, the state of California will buy your old clunker car and will pay certain motorists to fix their polluting vehicles. To fight smog, the state of California is giving out cash. It will buy your old clunker car and will pay certain motorists to fix their polluting vehicles. Here's how the programs work: • The Bureau of Automotive Repair will pay $1,000 for any running car, SUV, van or truck weighing less than 10,000 pounds. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-five-smog-20121014,0,3914910.story Valley air district to help farmers buy tractors. Valley farmers can get help replacing older tractors with newer, cleaner-burning equipment through a grant program starting today, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District announced. The program operates on a first-come, first-serve basis and applications for funding will be accepted beginning at 7:30 a.m. today at the district's office in Fresno. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/14/3029578/valley-air-district-to-help-farmers.html#storylink=misearch Green Desert: Latino voters opt for green initiatives. With a little more than three weeks until Election Day, two polls have been released almost simultaneously, heralding Latino Americans as the next big voting block to go green. The Natural Resources Defense Council released a new poll earlier this week, surveying Latino voters in four key swing states — Florida, Nevada, New Mexico and Virginia. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012310140025 As gas price soar, city cycling more attractive. With an autumn chill in the air on a gray San Francisco morning, the five-member Ades family rubbed the sleep from their eyes, strapped on their bike helmets and rode right past their two cars to the kids' elementary school about a mile away. "It's good exercise, and there's an environmental aspect to it as well," said Stan Ades, of his decision to start his kids - ages 6, 8 and 10 - bike commuting to school. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/13/as-gas-price-soar-city-cycling-more-attractive/ OPINIONS Don't Block the Sun. Picture the good news: a third industrial revolution, powered by decentralized energy and massive digital connectivity. Picture the bad news: the residual institutions of the second industrial revolution, powered by oil and 20th century transportation habits, threaten to hold this third revolution back, maybe kill it. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/opinion/dont-block-the-sun-encourage-solar-industry.html Who's paying for San Onofre? For months, Southern California Edison's customers have been paying for the San Onofre nuclear plant even though it is delivering no electricity. The Public Utilities Commission hasn't been much help. For more than eight months, ratepayers of Southern California Edison have been paying $54 million a month — a per-customer average of more than $10 — for a nuclear power plant that has been delivering no electricity. This situation should never have been allowed to drag on for so long. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/la-ed-san-onofre-20121014,0,588366.story Editorial: CalRecycle has to limit fraud, collect its debt. CalRecycle, the state's quarter-century-old beverage container recycling program, is in big trouble. While the number of bottles and cans diverted from landfills in California is up dramatically, rampant fraud and mismanagement is depleting the state's recycling fund. In recent years the state has paid out $80 million to $100 million more to consumers and others who turn in used bottles and cans than it has taken in from beverage distributors. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/15/4911504/calrecycle-has-to-limit-fraud.html#storylink=cpy Head to Head: Should the FTC investigate potential manipulation of the gasoline market? THE ISSUE: California gas prices jumped 49 cents in a week, according to AAA, to an all-time high of $4.67 per gallon for regular gas. There has been no similar spike in gas prices nationwide. Join Ben and Pia as they continue the debate online at www.sacbee.com/opinion. Pia Lopez: Yes Californians normally have higher gas prices than the national average. Our topography – mountains trapping air in valleys – means we have severe air quality problems. Nine of the nation's 10 smoggiest cities for ozone pollution are in California. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/11/4900727/should-the-ftc-investigate-potential.html#storylink=cpy Obama vs. Romney: The energy debate. The first televised debate between President Barack Obama and challenger Mitt Romney showcased their very divergent views of what makes America work. Yet despite those differences, their respective platforms are surprisingly similar on an all-important topic – energy. While health care, abortion and public education spending all affect each of us on a very personal basis, what happens on the energy landscape will drive the economy in terms of job creation. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/14/4907715/obama-vs-romney-the-energy-debatewhos.html#storylink=cpy Climate Law Is Good Business for California. It may be hard for many Californians -- hell, it's hard for many in my office -- to follow the ins and outs of AB32, the state's landmark Global Warming Solutions act, which requires a reduction of our carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. But here's one thing we all do know: gas prices in California went up this week. Gas stations near my house in the East Bay are posting prices around $5 per gallon, and it's a price spike found throughout the state, as this L.A. Times editorial makes clear. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kate-gordon/california-green-energy-_b_1962033.html Another Tax Proposal by California’s Air Regulators. Not satisfied with a $60 billion new energy tax, disguised as a cap-and-trade auction and pegged to increase gasoline prices by 70 cents a gallon. Not satisfied with an untested “low-carbon” fuels regulation that will likely reduce refinery capacity in California (and we just saw how well that works out for California). Now, the Air Resources Board is considering a new regulation (sub. req’d, posted 10/4/2012) creating a “border adjustment fee” on California fuels. Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/10/another-tax-proposal-by-californias-air-regulators/ BLOGS Norway Increases Carbon Tax on Domestic Production. Norway will nearly double the carbon dioxide tax rate for its offshore oil and gas production in 2013, the country’s environment ministry announced last week. By raising the tax rate from 210 Norwegian Krone to 410 Krone (or €28 to more than €55) per ton of CO2, the Norwegian government is setting one of the highest carbon tax rates in the world. “The commitment to the environment must be followed up on in the budget and resolutions,” said Bård Vegar Solhjell, minister of the environment. Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/norway-increases-carbon-tax-on-domestic-production/?ref=greenhousegasemissions >From dream to reality: Rhonda and Nigel Farrar's journey to an organic home. The odyssey of Rhonda and Nigel Farrar to build an environmentally friendly "green" home is one of those stories that fascinated me. The Farrars built the dream home on a two-acre site to the north of Lake Hodges. I learned of their quest in 2009, when I heard Rhonda Farrar talk about the project. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/business/morning/business-briefing-from-dream-to-reality-rhonda-and-nigel-farrar/article_ee3be576-5cf8-51e7-8758-253fa8096497.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, 16 Oct 2012 14:34:26 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 16, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 16, 2012. 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 Credible offset projects crucial to success of state's cap-and-trade program. On Jan. 1, California will become the first state to charge industries for the greenhouse gases they emit. Central to the success of the state's cap-and-trade program is ensuring that projects allowing polluters to invest in emissions-reduction efforts actually lead to verifiable cuts in pollution. The projects, which award credits for carbon offsets that can then be sold, allow polluters to invest in initiatives that reduce emissions elsewhere instead of reducing emissions at their own factory, refinery or power plant. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/16/9 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Linking Calif., E.U. emissions trading systems feasible, study finds. While California's landmark greenhouse gas system is still a month away from launching its first auction of carbon credits, a new study finds that linking markets is feasible for California and the European Union. The report by the Swedish Environmental Research Institute and the liberal think tank Forum for Reforms, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability explores the potential of the two systems. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/16/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Poorer countries move more quickly to adapt to climate change. Some of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries have made steady progress in protecting themselves from the impacts of disaster, according to a sweeping new index. The once war-torn country of Rwanda and the small island nation of Cape Verde top the Global Adaptation Institute's (GAIN) list of countries that have substantially improved their ability to adapt to climate change over the past five years. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/16/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Diamond Bar air quality agency gets $1 million grant to replace older diesel trucks. A local smog-fighting agency received a $1 million grant Monday from the federal government to remove older, diesel trucks from Southern California highways and freeways. As part of the federal Diesel Emission Reduction Act of 2005, the Diamond-Bar based South Coast Air Quality Management District will spend grant money to replace 50 diesel-powered, medium-duty urban delivery trucks with fully electric trucks, said Michael Ardito, spokesman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_21779377/diamond-bar-air-quality-agency-gets-1-million CARB says it’s sending ‘clear message’ to truckers with 4,000-truck inspection. The California Air Resources Board announced today that its month-long multi-agency campaign to ensure that trucks traveling on California’s roadways are obeying state air pollution laws was a huge success. With assistance from the California Highway Patrol, Caltrans and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, CARB staff inspected 4,053 trucks at roughly 40 locations throughout the state during August, noting an overall compliance rate of more than 80 percent. Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2012/10/16/CARBsaysitssendingclearmessagetotruckerswith4000-truckinspection.aspx EPA Awards $30 Million for Clean Diesel Projects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $30 million for clean diesel projects as part of its ongoing campaign to reduce harmful diesel exhaust. The Diesel Emission Reduction Program, also known as DERA, is designed to replace, retrofit or repower older diesel-powered engines like marine vessels, locomotives, trucks and buses. While today's diesel engines are durable, fuel-efficient workhorses, older diesel engines pre-dating newer, cleaner standards emit large amounts of air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=78307&news_category_id=3 FUELS California Asks Court to Reinstate Carbon Fuel Standard. California’s low-carbon fuel standard, which is tougher on ethanol produced in the Midwest, was questioned today by a panel of federal appeals court judges who said it appeared to discriminate against out-of-state fuel producers. Attorneys for the California Air Resources Board, which monitors and regulates air quality, are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco to reverse a judge’s ruling that struck down portions of carbon fuel standards on grounds that they’re unfair to out-of-state ethanol producers and illegally regulate businesses outside of California. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-16/california-asks-court-to-reinstate-carbon-fuel-standard.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/court-to-hear-arguments-in-calif-clean-fuels-case/article_dde453c9-2359-550a-b073-8e6df99e7cfb.html http://www.wbtv.com/story/19828659/court-to-hear-arguments-in-calif-clean-fuels-case http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21781658/biden-due-at-funeral-tuesday-ex-sen-specter?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21781658/biden-due-at-funeral-tuesday-ex-sen-specter?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/16/3030783/court-to-hear-arguments-in-calif.html#storylink=misearch Amid protests, report finds no harm from fracking. Baldwin Hills residents challenge study that found no significant environmental impact from method used to extract oil trapped in rock formations. A new report on hydraulic fracking at the Inglewood Oil Field found that the controversial oil extraction method used at two wells did not have significant effects on the environment or on the health of those living near the 1,200-acre site. More than 200 residents of the Baldwin Hills area turned out Monday evening to hear the findings and question the author of the environmental impact study. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fracking-baldwin-hills-20121016,0,4915390,print.story Saving transportation fuel is a key to boosting U.S. energy security. American energy independence is a hot topic among policymakers, particularly leading up to the election. But a new report by the consulting firm Deloitte says independence may not be necessary to meet the United States' key energy needs. The report, "Energy Independence and Security: A Reality Check," released yesterday, argues that U.S. energy policy should focus instead on supply security with a focus on fuel savings in the transportation sector. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/16/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CALIFORNIA GAS PRICES Gas prices declining, but not as fast as they rose. Gasoline prices in Sacramento and statewide continue to fall, but not very quickly. AAA put the statewide average price of unleaded regular this morning at $4.60 a gallon, down from $4.64 on Friday. National gas price tracker GasBuddy.com had the average price of a gallon of gas in California at $4.58, compared with $4.62 on Friday. In Sacramento, AAA said the average for unleaded regular today is $4.48 a gallon, down from $4.52 on Friday. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/15/4914057/gas-prices-declining-but-not-as.html# Ever so slowly, gas prices fall. San Diego gasoline prices are creeping downward, but remain 50 cents higher than a month ago. The average price for a gallon of regular was $4.64 on Monday, down from an all-time record of $4.73 a week prior, according to AAA's daily fuel price gauge. An unprecedented spike in California gasoline prices prompted state regulators to accelerate the switch over to cheaper and more available winter gasoline blends. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/15/ever-so-slowly-gas-prices-fall/ More expensive gas pushes US consumer prices up. Higher gas costs drove up U.S. consumer prices in September for the second straight month. Outside energy, there was little sign of inflation. The Labor Department said Tuesday that the consumer price index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent last month, matching the August increase. In the past 12 months, prices have increased 2 percent. That's in line with the Federal Reserve's inflation target. Excluding volatile food and energy costs, prices rose just 0.1 percent. In the past year, so-called core prices have increased 2 percent. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/more-expensive-gas-pushes-us-consumer-prices-up/article_14586506-1048-5e2a-a6fb-eb1e610815ff.html VEHICLES SAE approves new EV fast-charging standard. SAE International approved on 15 October 2012 a new technical standard that will, according to the global engineering group, dramatically reduce charging times for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles. SAE said the new charging standard, developed with the cooperation of more than 190 global experts representing the automotive, utilities and charging equipment business, ensures charging times can be reduced from as long as eight hours to as short as 20 minutes. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4992 Nissan-Renault Goal of 500,000 EVs Sold By 2015 Gone. Now 1.5 Million By 2016. For most of us who follow the LEAF in the United States, we just assumed Nissan-Renault’s original stated goal of “selling 500,000 plug-in electric vehicles by 2015″ from back when they first introduced the 73 mile EV would have to fall at some point. 41,000 LEAFs Sold Worldwide Through September. Who knew the number would go up? Posted. http://insideevs.com/nissan-renault-goal-of-500000-evs-sold-by-2015-gone-now-1-5-million-by-2016/ HIGH SPEED RAIL Bakersfield may sue High Speed Rail. The city of Bakersfield will ask city council members to vote on suing High Speed Rail at their next meeting. The city says the High Speed Rail Authority is not following California Environmental Quality Act requirements and is keeping the city in the dark. Opponents say if California's bullet train is built it could put city owned land, infrastructure, and taxpayer money at risk, along with private property lining the proposed routes. But the city claims they have no clue to what extent because the Rail Authority is not being crystal clear, which is required by law. Posted. http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/Bakersfield-may-sue-High-Speed-Rail/VEeIUVLAN0e4czP0JtR07w.cspx GREEN ENERGY FuelCell Gets U.S. Funds to Advance Carbon-Capture Project. FuelCell Energy Inc. (FCEL), the Danbury, Connecticut-based maker of fuel-cell power plants, qualified for $800,000 in U.S. government funding to develop systems that capture carbon-dioxide emissions at coal-fired generators. The funding is the second phase of a $3 million award from the U.S. Energy Department announced in October 2011, FuelCell said in a statement today. FuelCell is one of 16 companies that will share as much as $41.3 million in Energy Department funding over three years to develop carbon-capture technology. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-10-16/fuelcell-gets-u-s-funds-to-advance-carbon-capture-project-1-.html MISCELLANEOUS Incentive program could help replace tractors. Starting today, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District will offer money for the replacement of tractors and loaders. The incentive program provides up to 80 percent of the cost for replacement of in-use, off-road tractors that are engaged in agricultural operations as defined by the California Air Resources Board. It is first come, first served. As more money becomes available, more tractors will be funded. Posted. http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20121015/NEWS01/310150016/Incentive-program-could-help-replace-tractors Grants available to reduce air pollution in Eastern Kern. The Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District (EKAPCD) is requesting proposals for on-road vehicle emission reduction projects for the eastern portion of Kern County. EKAPCD's 2013 Motor Vehicle Emission Reduction Program (MVERP) awards grants to projects that reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx), reactive organic gas (ROG) and particulate matter emissions from on-road motor vehicles. Posted. http://www.tehachapinews.com/news/local/x1250042468/Grants-available-to-reduce-air-pollution-in-Eastern-Kern OPINIONS California Policy and Gas Shortage. Your editorial "California's Green Gas Shortages" (Oct. 8) succinctly answers the questions raised in "Should There Be A Price On Carbon?" (Journal Reports, Oct. 8) by the remark that California's cap-and-trade program set to take effect in November will result in oil companies passing on the costs to consumers. We consumers have to understand it won't just be the increased cost of gas at the pump that we will be noticing (making it an economic decision between fuel, hybrid or electric cars), but our entire cost of living. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443749204578052590372409984.html BY SUBSCRIPTION Solar power, and tortoises too. A plan for big plants in the Mojave Desert balances renewable energy and conservation needs. Should we save the desert tortoise, or plow over its habitat to build solar power plants that can help us save ourselves? It's a question that has arisen frequently in recent years as solar developers have flocked to California's Mojave Desert in search of generous federal incentives to turn the sun's heat into electricity, raising conflicts with conservationists and Native American tribes who think all this "progress" will ravage natural and cultural resources. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-solar-20121016,0,4231220.story DOWNEY: No conspiracy in surging gas prices. It seems like everyone wants to weigh in when gasoline prices spike. This last week's record-shattering surge was no different. A Riverside County lawmaker ---- Republican Assemblyman Jeff Miller of Corona ---- proposed suspending the 35-cent-a-gallon state gas tax for the rest of the year. Miller, who is locked in a tight race for a state Senate seat, didn't exactly gain traction with Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/columnists/downey/downey-no-conspiracy-in-surging-gas-prices/article_7659c742-5c5a-5379-9d2b-42195961d7ac.html California residents feel pain at the pump. A recent peak in gas prices in California over the past week has drivers throughout the state fuming. The state claims that prices will go back down soon. It seems, though, that promises of lowering gas prices are never kept because they fluctuate so often. These empty promises are becoming exhausting to the average consumer. The cost of gas is sometimes raised in order to promote environmentally friendly practices and to encourage people to buy fuel-efficient cars. Posted. http://www.thepolypost.com/opinion/california-residents-feel-pain-at-the-pump/article_1e28bb5c-172e-11e2-9897-0019bb30f31a.html What would it mean to treat climate change like a security threat? Climate change is a serious security risk to the United States — the Department of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the White House have affirmed as much in various reports and proclamations. It’s become a popular talking point among climate hawks. Nonetheless, there hasn’t been enough thinking, at least outside nerd circles, about what it would it mean to approach climate change as a security problem. What exactly would that look like? Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/what-would-it-mean-to-treat-climate-change-like-a-security-threat/ BLOGS No Indian Point + No Fracking = More Coal Burning? Even if energy conservation were pursued more aggressively in the state (a perennial opportunity), scratching off New York natural gas and nuclear power would clearly lead to more reliance on coal-generated electricity (or gas extracted in other states unlikely to have the safeguards that are inevitable in environment-minded New York). Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/no-indian-point-no-fracking-more-coal-burning/?ref=earth Could Visualizing Greenhouse-Gas Emissions Help Combat Climate Change? One of the first steps in tackling climate change is to curb greenhouse-gas emissions. The trouble is, both the public and policymakers have been slow to act on a problem they cannot physically see. It's easy to blame harmful emissions on China, coal companies or the next-door neighbor. But people would likely do more to reduce their carbon footprint if they could visualize the damage they are doing. Historically, scientists have measured greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), on a broad scale. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dimugno/could-visualizing-greenho_b_1964007.html?utm_hp_ref=green ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 14:11:00 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 17, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 17, 2012. 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 funds asthma management in San Diego schools. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded $39,327 to the American Lung Association of California to improve air quality, as well as student asthma self-management skills in low-income schools in San Diego. With this funding, indoor environmental asthma trigger training will be provided for more than 300 children with asthma in 20 schools that bear the greatest asthma burden in San Diego. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/test/epa-funds-asthma-management-in-san-diego-schools/article_5aeef5c6-2faa-563d-bc36-2bab3103bde2.html Speakers criticize air pollution rules at local oil conference. Consumers may end up paying the price when pending state and federal air regulations hit California's energy industry, a pair of speakers warned at Tuesday's 2012 Oil & Gas Conference in Bakersfield. The two speakers -- one a leading West Coast oil industry representative, the other the Central Valley's top air quality regulator -- said there is little chance that refiners and industry in general will be able to comply with rules pending at the state and federal levels. http://www.equities.com/news/headline-story?dt=2012-10-16&val=598773&cat=energy http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/business/x1526555552/Speakers-criticize-air-pollution-rules-at-local-oil-conference BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Court weighs challenge to soot standards implementation. Federal appeals court judges appeared skeptical today about U.S. EPA's argument that it is required under the Clean Air Act to use a less stringent implementation regime for fine particulates than it is for more coarse -- and less dangerous -- particles. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit is considering the legality of EPA's rules for implementation limits on air pollution from power plants, boilers and car tailpipes. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/17/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Scientists increasingly linking climate change to weather phenomena. Somewhere, someone is sitting in a dimly lit room, looking anxiously at a calendar and thinking, "Which of the last 20 days of this campaign will be the one in which the candidates address climate change?" Bad news, straw man. It ain't going to happen. Part of the reason it's not going to happen is that voters don't prioritize the issue. Another large part is that climate scientists aren't usually in the business of making climate science a political issue. Posted. http://grist.org/news/scientists-increasingly-linking-climate-change-to-weather-phenomena/ LOW CARBON FUEL STANDARDS Court hears arguments in Calif. clean fuels case. In a case seeking to stop California's first-in-the-nation mandate requiring fuel producers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, federal justices on Tuesday focused their questions on whether the law discriminates against out-of-state businesses. A three-justice panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments about the constitutionality of California's "Low Carbon Fuel Standard," a piece of the state's landmark global warming law, AB 32. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_LOW_CARBON_FUELS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Court-hears-arguments-in-Calif-clean-fuels-case-3951664.php#ixzz29a3Htj00 http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/16/4914924/court-to-hear-arguments-in-calif.html http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121016/A_NEWS/121019929&cid=sitesearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/16/court-to-hear-arguments-in-calif-clean-fuels/ California defends greenhouse gas regulation for fuels. California attorneys advocating for a program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fuels came under stern questioning from a three-judge panel on Tuesday, in a case that threatens a key component of the state's ambitious effort to combat climate change. A packed courtroom at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday heard arguments from attorneys on both sides of the debate over California's low carbon fuel standard which…Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/16/us-california-emissions-idUSBRE89F1TP20121016 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/17/california-greenhouse-gas-carbon-fuel-standards_n_1972116.html?utm_hp_ref=green http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/16/california-low-carbon-fuel-standard_n_1971819.html http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/16/3052086/court-to-hear-arguments-in-calif.html http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Court-to-hear-arguments-in-Calif-clean-fuels-case-3951662.php Environment: California greenhouse gas rules on shaky ground in appeals court. California greenhouse gas rules face major court test. California's unprecedented regulations to reduce the carbon footprint of transportation fuels appears to face a smoggy future in the courts. During nearly an hour of arguments here Tuesday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals expressed concerns that California's aggressive approach to curtailing greenhouse gas emissions goes too far, conflicting with federal law by reaching into the business practices of other states. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_21784536/environment-california-greenhouse-gas-rules-shaky-ground-appeals?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com California Asks Court to Reinstate Carbon Fuel Standard. California’s low-carbon fuel standard, which complements the state’s first-in-the-nation economy-wide cap and trade program, appears to favor in-state fuel producers over Midwest ethanol makers, two U.S. appeals court judges said. Two members of a three-judge panel questioned state lawyers today about why the standard is tougher on ethanol produced in the Midwest and whether California’s method of assessing a higher “carbon-intensity” for Midwest ethanol because of the energy expended to make and then transport it to California was unfair to out of state producers. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/printer/articles/345086?type=bloomberg Appeals court focuses on whether clean fuels law discriminates against non-Calif. Businesses. Court hears arguments in Calif. clean fuels case. A three-justice panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments about the constitutionality of California's "Low Carbon Fuel Standard," a piece of the state's landmark global warming law, AB 32. The California Air Resources Board, the agency in charge of implementing the law, said the standard will cut California's dependence on petroleum by 20 percent…Posted. http://www.newser.com/article/da1uqsr83/appeals-court-focuses-on-whether-clean-fuels-law-discriminates-against-non-calif-businesses.html#continuedBelow Judges ask whether Calif. low-carbon fuels rule hurts other states' businesses. Federal judges probed California's low-carbon fuel standard yesterday, focusing on whether the rule clearly protects the state's economic interests at the expense of Midwestern and other fuel producers. Judge Mary Murguia -- at 52, the youngest of the three judges by at least 30 years -- led the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' questioning in yesterday's hearing, in a closely watched case that 14 other states have joined (ClimateWire, June 20). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/17/16 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Diesel price spikes may be the new norm. Diesel and heating oil users in Europe and the United States may wonder why they are paying near record prices when recession has cut fuel demand and the price of crude is well below record highs. But while the world has enough crude, shrinking refinery capacity in Europe and on the U.S. East Coast means consumers will need to get used to regular price spikes as increasing dependence on imports reduces supply security. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/17/distillate-supply-crunch-idUSL5E8LCEXP20121017 US East Coast distillate imports at record low, winter looms. Imports of diesel and heating oil into the East Coast of the United States have fallen to the lowest level since records began eight years ago, prompting concerns about the state of fuel supplies ahead of the coldest winter months. Figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration on Wednesday showed distillate imports averaged 49,000 barrels per day over the past four weeks, well below the norm for the time of year. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/17/distillates-usa-eastcoast-imports-idUSL1E8LHBKF20121017?type=marketsNews Halliburton 3Q profit falls on drilling slowdown. Halliburton Co. said Wednesday its third-quarter net income fell 12 percent as drilling activity declined and costs rose in its core North American business. The Houston energy services company earned $602 million, or 65 cents per share, down from $683 million, or 74 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue rose 9 percent to $7.11 billion. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21791082/halliburton-3q-profit-falls-drilling-slowdown?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/halliburton-3rd-qtr-profit-down-12-percent-on-north-american-drilling-slowdown-higher-costs/2012/10/17/2b290854-184e-11e2-a346-f24efc680b8d_story.html Richmond may look to Chevron for compensation for Aug. 6 refinery fire. Chevron's refinery showered the city in black soot when a crude unit burst into flames on Aug. 6. At least one city leader thinks it should shower the city in some cash as compensation. "The fire set us back," said Councilman Jeff Ritterman, who may propose a resolution at Tuesday's City Council meeting urging the global energy giant to volunteer a community compensation package. " Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_21778785/richmond-look-chevron-compensation-aug-6-fire?source=rss Beckett company sues over endangered ocelot. A company owned by Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett is suing a pipeline builder on claims that habitat for the endangered ocelot was destroyed on a South Texas ranch. The lawsuit filed Tuesday in Laredo says Eagle Ford Midstream LP violated the federal Endangered Species Act by clearing land to build a natural gas pipeline. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21791517/beckett-company-sues-over-endangered-ocelot?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/17/3032289/beckett-company-sues-over-endangered.html#storylink=misearch EU mulls ways to reduce use of food-based biofuel. As a U.S. drought pushes up food prices worldwide, the European Union is considering limiting the amount of food-based biofuels that can count toward its mandatory renewable fuel targets. The bloc previously decided that 10 percent of fuel used by its transport sector must come from renewable sources by 2020. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21791939/eu-mulls-ways-reduce-use-food-based-biofuel?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/17/3032506/eu-mulls-ways-to-reduce-use-of.html#storylink=misearch http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/eu-considers-limiting-percentage-of-biofuels-made-from-food-that-count-toward-renewable-target/2012/10/17/7d42385c-1873-11e2-a346-f24efc680b8d_story.html Texas landowners take a rare stand against Big Oil. Oil has long lived in harmony with farmland and cattle across the Texas landscape, a symbiosis nurtured by generations and built on an unspoken honor code that allowed agriculture to thrive while oil was extracted. Proud Texans have long welcomed the industry because of the cash it brings to sustain agriculture, but also see its presence as part of their patriotic duty to help wean the United States off "foreign" oil. So the answer to companies that wanted to build pipelines has usually been simple: Yes. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/texas-landowners-take-a-rare-stand-against-big-oil/article_70300ac6-7c51-5b15-bd92-98b1493cb0ab.html Solyndra sues Chinese competitors for $1.5 billion. When Solyndra declared bankruptcy last year, the company identified a few reasons why the action was necessary: oversupply, regulatory issues, problems raising capital. But the main culprit, it said, was China, which it argued had undercut $1.2 billion in contracts. Last week, the company filed a lawsuit against three U.S.-based, Chinese-owned solar companies. Posted. http://grist.org/news/solyndra-sues-chinese-competitors-for-1-5-billion/ Green groups sue to block new permits for oil and gas wells. Environmental groups yesterday filed a lawsuit seeking to bar California from issuing any more permits for oil and gas drilling until it toughens state oversight. The Center for Biological Diversity, Earthworks, the Environmental Working Group and Sierra Club California charged that California too often exempts new wells from environmental review or issues a declaration finding no significant negative effects. Both practices violate the state's environmental protection law, the suit claims. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/print/2012/10/17/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Battery maker A123 files for bankruptcy protection. After years of struggling with weak sales and mounting losses, electric-car battery maker A123 Systems filed for bankruptcy protection and reached a deal to sell its automotive assets Tuesday. Auto parts maker Johnson Controls will pay $125 million for A123's auto business, which includes two Michigan factories and the lithium-ion battery technology used in cars like the Fisker Karma and upcoming Chevrolet Spark. A123's demise as an independent business reflects the problems of the electric-car industry. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/cars/ci_21786099/battery-maker-a123-files-bankruptcy-protection Nissan shows safety features, electronic steering. Electronically managed steering that completely bypasses the mechanical link of a clutch is among the new safety technology from Japanese automaker Nissan. Other vehicles are smart enough to park themselves. And some swerve automatically to avoid pedestrians. Nissan Motor Co. Executive Vice President Mitsuhiko Yamashita said the latest safety advancements are proactive, unlike air-bags and other "passive" features that are triggered by a crash. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/nissan-shows-safety-features-electronic-steering/article_d8b1ec60-e2ce-5606-9c1b-be75de6b9555.html Study finds households manage charging of PHEVs without help from online tools. Households with plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) and smart meters actively managed how, when and where they charged their cars based on electricity rates but rarely took advantage of online feedback, according to a two-year study by a team at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/rasei-20121017.html Harvard team finds that the phase of atmospheric secondary organic material affects chemical aging; may require revision of regional and global climate models. Atmospheric chemists at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have found that the phase of secondary organic materials (SOM) in the atmosphere—solid, semisolid, or liquid—can effect their chemical reactivity (chemical aging) in the atmosphere. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/mikinori-20121017.html Nissan introducing independent control electric steering technology; to be deployed on select Infiniti models within a year. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled the first steering technology that allows independent control of a vehicle’s tire angle and steering inputs. This next-generation steering technology was developed by Nissan and will be deployed on select Infiniti models on sale within one year. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/nissan-steering-20121017.html LanzaTech exploring lipids production as part of its CO2 to acetic acid plans; pathways to renewable fuels. Earlier this week, LanzaTech announced a partnership with Malaysia’s Petronas to extend the core LanzaTech proprietary CO gas fermentation process to include CO2-containing gases from a variety of sources—including refinery off-gases and natural gas wells—to produce acetic acid, a high-value chemical with applications in the polymers and plastics markets— as well as a possible intermediate for the formation of lipids. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/lanzatech-20121017.html Cadillac ELR due in late 2013. General Motors plans to build the all-new Cadillac ELR extended-range electric vehicle at its Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant. The automaker expects to start production of the luxury coupe in late 2013, GM North America President Mark Reuss announced Tuesday at the Society of Automotive Engineers' Convergence conference in Detroit. The ELR will vault Cadillac into direct competition with other luxury electric vehicles such as Fisker Automotive's Karma and Tesla Motors' Model S. Posted. http://www.freep.com/article/20121017/BUSINESS01/310170026/Cadillac-ELR-due-in-late-2013 GREEN ENERGY Energy Price Increases Pose Challenge for Merkel. In the aftermath of the tsunami and nuclear meltdown in Japan last year, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced perhaps her most sweeping domestic ambition, a plan to shutter Germany’s 17 nuclear reactors and switch to 80 percent reliance on wind, solar and other renewable sources by 2050. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/world/europe/energy-price-increases-pose-challenge-for-merkel.html NORCO: Officials could shelve controversial manure project. Norco may again delay its decade-long study of a manure-to-energy project. For more than 15 years, the city has been exploring what to do with tons of horse manure produced daily in its boundaries. “I was on the animal-keeping ad hoc committee that first floated this,” in the late 1990s, Norco Mayor Kevin Bash said. “People were just leaving the manure on their property and the runoff was going into the street.” Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/corona/corona-headlines-index/20121016-norco-officials-could-shelve-controversial-manure-project.ece S.J. supes OK solar facility. The San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave the go-ahead to a plan to build a 20-acre solar power facility in an eastern, rural area of the county, overturning a decision by the county Planning Commission to deny the project. The 1.5-megawatt facility is small compared to solar farms on hundreds of acres found elsewhere in the state, but it's on a larger scale than any other solar project in the county, according to planning staff. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121017/A_NEWS/210170315/-1/A_NEWS14 MISCELLANEOUS CPUC readies probe of San Onofre, its costs. State utility regulators are preparing a possible investigation in to whether Southern California utilities can continue to bill customers for a nuclear plant that has not produced electricity for nearly nine months. The San Francisco-based California Public Utilities Commission on Tuesday published a draft investigation order regarding the idled San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. It will take up the matter at a public meeting Oct. 25 in Irvine. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/17/cpuc-readies-probe-san-onofre-its-costs/ OPINIONS Letters: The Golden State's pricey gas. Re "Refueling California," Opinion, Oct. 12. Jamie Court's idea for oil refiners to keep a reserve of gasoline on hand is probably a good idea, but it's a stopgap. What we really need is ample energy availability that isn't subject to gaming by suppliers and speculators and that can't be exported to the highest bidder. That's why wind and solar are so vital — not only because the energy stays local but also because the utility companies are more directly accountable to the consumer. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-1016-tuesday-gas-california-20121016,0,3354847.story Fuel Industry Incites Fear of CA's Low Carbon Fuel Standard. You think 50 cents in one week is bad - wait till the state adopts the Low Carbon Fuel Standard", warns one critic, predicting increases three times as much. The regulation was devised by the CA Air Resources Board to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Energy reporter David Baker writes on the business opposition facing California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) "which is designed to cut the greenhouse gas emissions that come from making and burning fuel. Posted. http://www.planetizen.com/node/58846 BLOGS Obama-Backed Battery Maker Files for Bankruptcy. An electric car battery maker that President Obama touted as part of a vanguard of a new American electric car industry has filed for bankruptcy and is selling its major assets, the company announced on Tuesday. A123 Systems, which produces lithium ion batteries for the electric car maker Fisker and the truck manufacturer Navistar, received a $249 million Department of Energy grant that was financed by Mr. Obama’s stimulus program. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/obama-backed-battery-maker-files-for-bankruptcy/ Environmentalists sue California oil regulators over fracking. A coalition of environmental advocates has filed suit against California oil regulators over the controversial method of oil extraction called hydraulic fracturing, accusing state officials of illegally "rubber-stamping" drilling permits without performing key environmental reviews. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday, environmentalists allege that regulators are breaking state law by routinely exempting oil projects from the California Environmental Quality Act…Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/10/fracking-lawsuit-california.html Fighting Climate Change and Air Pollution With One Swat. I've just arrived in Moscow for a meeting -- the subject will be soot. You may hear it called black carbon or even elemental carbon. Scientists getting technical will call it the "light-absorbing part of particles suspended in the atmosphere." Let's just keep it simple and call it soot.* (More on black carbon.) Soot: pollution that is prehistoric, pollution that sits. It's almost certainly the most visible air pollutant. You have seen it in the black smoke of old diesel engines or a smoldering campfire. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-chameides/fighting-climate-change-a_b_1971770.html?utm_hp_ref=green ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 14:14:02 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newswclips for October 18, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 18, 2012. 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 Chevron fire spurs air board to increase toxic pollution monitoring after releases from refineries. A strategy for increasing toxic air pollution monitoring after refinery releases like the Aug. 6 Chevron fire in Richmond was approved Wednesday by the Bay Area's air pollution board. The plan sets out an 18-month schedule for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to complete a series of reports and actions and adopt a new rule to track pollution from refineries. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_21796183/chevron-fire-spurs-air-board-increase-toxic-pollution?source=rss http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21796181/chevron-fire-spurs-air-board-increase-toxic-pollution http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21796183/chevron-fire-spurs-air-board-increase-toxic-pollution?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com The worst everyday air pollutants -- and what they do to our bodies. The Clean Air Act of 1970 has gone a long way toward improving the air we consume, but we still have a long way to go. According to the American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2012 report, 127 million people — or 47 percent of the nation — live with air pollution levels that are too dangerous to breathe at various times. As the Clean Air Act celebrates another benchmark, let’s take a look at some of the worst air pollutants continuing to make their mark on our atmosphere — and our lungs. Posted. http://www.mnn.com/health/healthy-spaces/stories/the-worst-everyday-air-pollutants-and-what-they-do-to-our-bodies CLIMATE CHANGE Business group asks Gov. Brown to delay cap and trade. A business coalition has appealed to California's governor to delay the state's pending cap-and-trade program, arguing that without adjustments it will hobble the economy. The A.B. 32 Implementation Group -- which represents nearly 200 companies and trade associations -- on Monday sent Gov. Jerry Brown (D) a letter urging intervention. It arrived as the California Air Resources Board (ARB) finalizes plans for cap and trade. The agency meets today in Sacramento, its last planned session before the Golden State holds its inaugural auction of carbon allowances on Nov. 14. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/18/14 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Cutting Carbon Emissions the Cap-and-Trade Way. Speaking of climate change, one of the best ways of reducing carbon emissions is to implement a cap-and-trade scheme. Basically, the government sets a nationwide cap for carbon emissions and then auctions off permits on a quarterly basis. Companies can buy permits at auction, and they can later trade them on the open market as their needs vary. The government caps and companies trade. It's a pretty elegant solution to reining in carbon pollution. Of course, the whole point of these permits is that they raise the cost of energy…Posted. http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/10/cutting-carbon-emissions-cap-and-trade-way China's carbon trading debut defies doubters. China’s first steps to build what is destined to be the world’s second-biggest emissions market are boosting the prospects for fledgling programs from Australia to California. Four cement makers in China, the world’s biggest emitter, bought 1.3 million pollution permits for 60 yuan ($9) a metric ton last month in Guangdong. The province plans the largest of seven pilot programs for a proposed national market within three years. Posted. http://www.smh.com.au/business/carbon-economy/chinas-carbon-trading-debut-defies-doubters-20121012-27hti.html#ixzz29fcu1W3g PORT OF LOS ANGELES Port of Los Angeles: Authorities conduct surprise pollution inspections of heavy trucks. Authorities Wednesday conducted surprise inspections of heavy-duty trucks traveling in and around the Port of Los Angeles to check for compliance with state air pollution laws. The operation took place at New Dock Street and Pier S Avenue from 10:30 a.m. to noon, according to the California Air Resources Board. "The measures aimed at cleaning up diesel vehicles include requirements to report fleet information to the ARB…Posted. http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_21796314/authorities-conduct-surprise-pollution-inspections-heavy-trucks-at DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB Says "Gear Up for Clean Truck Month" a Success. The California Air Resources Board announced that its month-long multi-agency campaign to ensure that trucks traveling on California's roadways are obeying state air pollution laws was a huge success. With assistance from the California Highway Patrol, Caltrans and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, CARB staff inspected 4,053 trucks at roughly 40 locations throughout the state during August, noting an overall compliance rate of more than 80%. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=78321&news_category_id=3 CSA Scrutiny Intensifies. Scrutiny of the CSA truck safety program went up a notch this week with a congressional request for an audit and the launch of a review by a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration advisory group. Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., asked Calvin Scovel, the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, to audit CSA concerning issues raised in a recent congressional hearing. DeFazio wants the Inspector General to look into the accuracy, reliability and significance of CSA scores, in light of testimony that the system does not accurately rate carrier performance. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-print.asp?news_id=78328 Johnson Matthey CRT Particulate Filter wins CARB extension 17th October 2012. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has extended its verification of the Johnson Matthey CRT Particulate Filter system to include 13-inch diameter systems. These will work on large bore, high horsepower 1994 to 2006 model year on-road engines. Johnson Matthey's CRT filter has revolutionized modern diesel emissions reduction since it became the first filter verified by the US Environmental Protection Agency and CARB. Posted. http://www.platinum.matthey.com/media-room/news-room/johnson-matthey-crt-particulate-filter-wins-carb-extension/801471064.html FUELS California Will Regulate Fracking After All. State's Top Oil and Gas Administrator says regulation and oversight coming to industry after decades of no fracking rules. Despite inaction in the state legislature this year, California will proceed with tighter regulation and oversight of hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as ‘fracking,’ to recover oil deposits throughout the state. Posted. http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/California-Will-Regulate-Fracking-After-All-174408581.html Taking a stand against oil pipeline. Oil has long lived in harmony with farmland and cattle across the Texas landscape, a symbiosis nurtured by generations and built on an unspoken honor code that allowed agriculture to thrive while oil was extracted. Texans have long welcomed the industry because of the cash it brings to sustain agriculture, but they also see its presence as part of their patriotic duty to help wean the United States off "foreign" oil. So the answer to companies that wanted to build pipelines has usually been simple: yes. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Taking-a-stand-against-oil-pipeline-3958395.php#ixzz29fZ2pzDe California Energy Commission selects 7 biofuel companies for almost $27M in funding. The California Energy Commission (CEC) has selected seven companies as proposed recipients for $26,896,373 in Round 2 of awards from a solicitation released under the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP) to provide funding for the development of new, California-based biofuel production facilities that can sustainably produce low-carbon transportation fuels. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/cec-20121018.html VEHICLES Toyota Prius is best selling car in California; domestics lag. When it comes to auto brands, Californians like their passenger cars from Japan, their luxury cars from Germany and their muscle cars from Detroit. The Toyota Prius beat out all other cars, trucks and sport-utility vehicles to be the best selling passenger vehicle of any type in California through the first nine months of this year. Toyota sold 46,380 of the hybrids in the Golden State, according to a report from AutoCount, the car data division of Experian Co., and the California New Car Dealers Assn. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-auto-california-car-sales-20121018,0,1693565.story Tesla starts Roadster buyback program. Say you're one of those lucky, well-compensated few who owns a Tesla Roadster. The $109,000 electric sports car may turn plenty of heads, but it has its limitations. No trunk, no backseat, no power steering. And let's face it - after production ended last year, the Roadster is no longer the newest, coolest thing. Tesla's latest car, the Model S sedan, has a better claim on that title. So Tesla has created a buyback program for Roadster owners who want to trade in their old ride for a Model S. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Tesla-starts-Roadster-buyback-program-3957536.php#ixzz29fXIy4Se California ZEV Mandate — Would a Gas Tax Be Better? California's zero-emissions vehicle mandate, law since 1998 and generally thought responsible for the introduction of hybrids and electric vehicles in the U.S., is ratcheting up the stakes as it enters its third phase. The requirements are aimed at slashing petroleum use and the resulting pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and trucks, and if unaltered would require automakers doing business in California to achieve sales of 1.5 million hydrogen fuel-cell and battery-electric vehicles in the state by 2025. Posted. http://www.insideline.com/toyota/california-zev-mandate-would-a-gas-tax-be-better.html HIGH SPEED RAIL Bakersfield battle looms over high-speed rail. The Bakersfield City Council voted Wednesday to hire an outside attorney to file a lawsuit against the California High Speed Rail Authority. The city would argue the authority's environmental impact reports don't meet the standards of state law. City officials say they've tried to get the Authority to provide details about potential impacts, but they're not getting answers. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/Bakersfield-battle-looms-over-high-speed-rail-174682371.html High Speed Rail - to sue or not to sue? To sue or not to sue, that's the decision the Bakersfield City Council will have to make Wednesday night regarding the High Speed Rail project. City officials say the High Speed Rail Authority glossed over California Environmental Quality Act standards and that could cost the city millions and create problems for residents. Residents who live near 16th Street, right next to one of the proposed high speed rail lines, have many concerns. "More worried about the noise, more worried about the demolition. Posted. http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/High-Speed-Rail-to-sue-or-not-to-sue/7Ht_-nR250aZ1O_F4Cpkug.cspx GREEN ENERGY DOE invests in a fuel cell technology to help remove CO2 from power plant emissions. Armed with new Department of Energy money, a Connecticut company announced this week it is moving forward with a carbon capture project that it thinks could revolutionize the technology. FuelCell Energy is one of a handful of companies investigating how to address one of the biggest barriers in trying to capture carbon dioxide from coal plants for later storage underground, an unproved concept. The problem is called parasitic load. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/18/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Americans remain confused and misinformed on energy and climate – poll. Americans hold contradictory views about the power of the president to bring down the cost of energy and are ill-informed about the drivers of global warming, according to a new opinion survey. The University of Texas at Austin Energy Poll was conducted between Sept. 6 and 17. Weighted to reflect U.S. Census Bureau demographics, 2,092 people responded to the online survey, which focused on energy policy and the elections. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/18/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS Presidential debate: What climate crisis? A lot of hot air on energy. Watch news clips of Tuesday night's presidential debate and chances are that the back-and-forth between President Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney on energy policy will loom large -- not because of the policies under discussion, which were a rehash of old talking points, but because of the playground-style sniping ("Did not reduce drilling on federal lands!" "Did so!") that might have marked a new low point in the history of such debates. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-obama-romney-energy-climate-20121017,0,858686.story?track=rss&dlvrit=104530 Ethanol relief vital to state's cows. Attempts to clean up our air and to ensure that the nation has enough milk to drink are on a collision course. As a result, the future of California's dairy industry looks sour. Around 100 farms are expected to go bankrupt this year alone, and the trend seems likely to continue if nothing is done. Because of the demand for grain to produce the gasoline additive ethanol - which was supposed to reduce air pollution - plus a nationwide drought, many of the state's cash-strapped farmers are selling their cows for slaughter because they can't afford to feed them. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Ethanol-relief-vital-to-state-s-cows-3958138.php#ixzz29fYQxodf Victor Davis Hanson: Obama's vision is already present in California, and it's not working. I thought of my fellow Californian, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, last week, when I paid $4.89 a gallon in Gilroy for regular gas -- and had to wait in line to get it. The customers were in near revolt, but I wondered against what and whom. I mentioned to one exasperated motorist that there are estimated to be more than 20 billion barrels of oil a few miles away, in newly found reserves off the California coast. He thought I was from Mars. California may face the nation's largest budget deficit at $16 billion. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_21796434/victor-davis-hanson-obamas-vision-is-already-present Relief at the pump? A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals was heard arguments Wednesday in San Francisco in a legal challenge to a California regulation that imposes a low-carbon standard for transportation fuels within the state. The first-in-the-nation regulation, an offshoot of Assembly Bill 32, the state’s 2006 global warming law, was ruled unconstitutional last year by U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence O’Neill, in a case brought by farming, oil and transportation industry groups against the California Air Resources Board. Posted. http://www.vvdailypress.com/opinion/state-37152-regulation-assembly.html The EPA Is Moving The Goalposts, Even After The Game Has Started. Football fans would be outraged if every time one team was preparing to kick a field goal the officials moved the goalposts further back, making it harder to score. And yet the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) frequently moves the goalposts further away for companies and industries trying to abide by countless federal regulations. One of President Obama’s top agenda items was to pass cap-and-trade legislation intended to limit the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/merrillmatthews/2012/10/18/the-epa-is-moving-the-goalposts-even-after-the-game-has-started/ BLOGS For Hybrid Drivers, a Gas Pump Allergy? Although electric vehicles have not taken off as some had hoped, there are now enough of them on the road that some behavioral differences between drivers of all-electric models and plug-in hybrids have become evident, in addition to those between E.V. users and owners of conventional models. Data on drivers’ habits has been harvested by href=”http://www.ecotality.com/”>ECOtality, a start-up that is struggling to help build up the nation’s charging infrastructure. Many say that a core apparatus is needed to spur mass demand for electric vehicles. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/for-hybrid-drivers-a-gas-pump-allergy/ Another Debate Postscript: Voters and Gasoline Prices. Gasoline prices are as predictable a political issue in a presidential election campaign as taxes or unemployment, even though presidents have little if any control over them. So it’s hardly news that Mitt Romney noted in Tuesday night’s debate that gas prices are roughly twice as high as they were when President Obama came to office. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/another-debate-postscript-voters-and-gasoline-prices/ One Last Energy Fact From the Presidential Debate. One assertion by President Obama about energy achievements in Tuesday night’s campaign debate drew little notice. Refuting Mr. Romney’s charge that he had jeopardized American energy security by vetoing the Keystone XL pipeline for carrying crude oil from Canada, the president said: “And with respect to this pipeline that Governor Romney keeps on talking about, we’ve — we’ve built enough pipeline to wrap around the entire earth once. So I’m all for pipelines; I’m all for oil production.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/one-last-energy-fact-from-the-presidential-debate/ Obama and Romney, Oil and Science. It’s not surprising that the first substantive energy exchange between the two candidates dealt with gas prices, given — as a national poll by the University of Texas just found — that this is by far the most pressing energy issue on voters’ minds (to the consternation of climate hawks). Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/17/obama-and-romney-oil-and-science/ What we can learn from Europe’s cap-and-trade system. We know, we know. No one in Washington wants to talk about climate change. Neither Barack Obama nor Mitt Romney mentioned the subject in the second presidential debate on Tuesday. And there’s a widespread belief that a cap-and-trade program to cut carbon emissions won’t resurface in Congress anytime soon. Still, that hasn’t stopped our friends on the other side of the Atlantic from tackling the issue. And there’s a new report (pdf) out today from the analysts at the Environmental Defense Fund, looking at the track record of Europe’s cap-and-trade system over the past seven years. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/17/what-we-can-learn-from-europes-cap-and-trade-system/ How climate change disappeared from the debates. Over at the New Yorker, Elizabeth Kolbert laments the fact that neither President Obama nor Mitt Romney had anything to say about climate change during the second presidential debate Tuesday. Oh, sure, they talked about energy — about oil leases, about coal, a few quick nods toward renewable energy. But nothing about this warming planet of ours. Nothing about the summer’s droughts or wildfires or the rapidly melting Arctic. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/18/how-climate-change-disappeared-from-the-debates/ Natural Disaster Trends Report Cites Link To Climate Change 'Footprint'. North America has seen the world’s sharpest increase in the number of natural catastrophes during the past 32 years, a trend that in some respects is linked to manmade global warming, according to a report released Wednesday from the global reinsurance giant Munich Re. The study, which has not undergone scientific peer review, examined natural disaster losses between 1980 and 2011…Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/18/natural-disaster-trends-report_n_1975190.html EPA invests $30 million to reduce diesel pollution. Last week EPA awarded $30 million in funding to diesel clean-up projects across the nation through the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA). The program has invested in more than 500 diesel clean-up projects since it began in 2008, reducing hundreds of thousands of tons of air pollution and saving millions of gallons of fuel. It is especially exciting to see these smart investments continue since DERA has seen threats to its funding in these lean economic times. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dbailey/epa_invests_30_million_to_redu.html Californians: Here Are Your Clean Vehicle Choices! Few states in the U.S. can match California’s generosity when it comes to clean vehicle rebate programs. In fact, back in September, the California Air Resources Board and the Environmental Protection Agency awarded the state’s 10,000th Clean Vehicle Rebate to a Nissan Leaf owner from Meadow Vista, California. But which cars are eligible, and how much rebates can you claim if you live in California? Thanks to a comprehensive web page from the Center for Sustainable Energy in California, the answers are just a click away. Posted. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1079877_californians-here-are-your-clean-vehicle-choices Five Turbocharged Green Cars You Need To Drive. There was a time when a turbocharger under the hood meant one thing and one thing only: that the car you were driving was a performance-oriented, sporty beast with that oh-so-addictive turbo whine. Today, the turbocharger has become the biggest thing in green car technology since the hybrid drivetrain, with everything from minicars to luxury sedans switching to smaller, turbocharged engines in the pursuit of higher gas mileage. But with so many cars to choose from, which turbocharged green cars are the best? Posted. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1079910_five-turbocharged-green-cars-you-need-to-drive ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 14:30:36 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 19, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 19, 2012. 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 Officials to beef up air monitors near refineries. Local air quality officials have approved a new plan to more tightly monitor pollution near refineries after gaps in the system were exposed during a fire at Chevron's Richmond refinery. The Contra Costa Times reports ( http://bit.ly/R5uuwU) that the Bay Area Air Quality Management District approved the plan at its meeting Wednesday. The new strategy sets an 18-month timetable for creating a new rule to more accurately measure toxic air pollution from refineries. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_21801644/officials-beef-up-air-monitors-near-refineries http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Officials-to-beef-up-air-monitors-near-refineries-3962214.php http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21801644/officials-beef-up-air-monitors-near-refineries?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com WHY IT MATTERS: Clean air and water, but at what price? The issue: Everyone wants clean air and water. But people also want to drive their cars whenever they wish and light up a room by flipping a switch. It’s a never-ending balancing act for government as it tries to protect health and the environment while promoting economic growth and jobs. Where they stand: President Barack Obama achieved historic increases in fuel-economy standards that would save drivers money at the pump while raising the cost of new vehicles. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gf8yYp4eptVyvHDfqt8QOWc03AMQ?docId=32f0df95e9404d76b1034ff4133e1eff Other related articles: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/why-it-matters-clean-air-and-water-but-at-what-price/2012/10/19/c6a90d94-19c3-11e2-ad4a-e5a958b60a1e_story.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/govt-and-politics/why-it-matters-the-environment/article_30682f95-2776-54e0-9764-7a0813d2fc52.html CLIMATE CHANGE REFILE-In climate puzzle for crops, ancient tree offers clues. On a windswept Swedish mountain, a 10,000-year-old spruce with a claim to be the world's oldest tree is getting a new lease of life thanks to global warming, even as many plants are struggling. Scientists are finding that the drift of growing areas for many plants out toward the poles is moving not in a smooth progression but in fits and starts, causing problems for farmers aiming to adapt and invest in cash crops that are more sensitive to climate than is this ancient conifer known as "Old Tjikko". Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/19/climate-plants-idUSL5E8LJ3QC20121019 A Rogue Climate Experiment Outrages Scientists. A California businessman chartered a fishing boat in July, loaded it with 100 tons of iron dust and cruised through Pacific waters off western Canada, spewing his cargo into the sea in an ecological experiment that has outraged scientists and government officials. The entrepreneur, whose foray came to light only this week, even duped the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States into lending him ocean-monitoring buoys for the project. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/science/earth/iron-dumping-experiment-in-pacific-alarms-marine-experts.html?_r=0 Ocean scientists condemn iron-dumping experiment. A California businessman chartered a fishing boat in July, loaded it with iron dust and cruised through Pacific waters off western Canada, spewing 100 tons of his cargo into the sea in an ecological experiment that has outraged scientists and government officials. The entrepreneur, whose foray only came to light this week, even duped the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States, which lent him ocean-monitoring buoys for the project. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/19/v-print/4923239/ocean-scientists-condemn-iron.html Americans increasingly believe in global warming, Yale report says. For the first time since the United States entered a deep recession five years ago, 70% of Americans now say they believe global warming is a reality, according to researchers. In a report released Thursday by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, authors wrote that America’s concern about global warming is now at its highest level since 2008, and that 58% of Americans expressed worries about it. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-change-poll-20121018,0,5956821.story?track=rss 7 in 10 Americans say they believe in climate change. Following months marked by drought, floods, wildfires and violent storms, a new national survey by Yale and George Mason universities shows that seven in 10 Americans now believe in climate change. Figures jumped by 13 percentage points over the last two and a half years, from 57 percent in January 2010 to 70 percent in September 2012, according to the poll. The number of Americans who say climate change is not happening fell from 20 percent to 12 percent over the same period. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/19/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY As waters warm, predators may go hungry. Predators of the North Pacific Ocean - among them many sharks, whales, seals and sea turtles - will be forced to swim farther from their food supplies or go hungry as the world's warming climate shifts their normal habitats, a marine scientist has concluded. Yet the changes pushed by ocean warming may benefit some seabirds and fast-swimming tuna, which are built to forage farther than their competitors…Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/As-waters-warm-predators-may-go-hungry-3961643.php#ixzz29lGOZYr6 Activists want climate change on presidential debate agenda. Despite a year that has produced unprecedented ice melts in the Arctic and Greenland, a devastating drought across much of the country and hundreds of record high temperatures around the world, the subject of climate change has managed to remain in the deep freezer of presidential politics. At a small rally in Miami Beach on Thursday, environmentalists took one last longshot at making global warming a meaningful campaign issue…Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/19/3034877/activists-want-climate-change.html#storylink=misearch http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/19/2420205/activists-want-climate-change.html#storylink=misearch Environmentalists worry California's cap-and-trade plan will hurt national efforts. REDD, Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation, the United Nations plan to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation, is an attractive idea: have rich countries pay tropical forest nations to keep trees standing and soaking up carbon. With the international Kyoto Climate Treaty stalled, Norway has done some REDD deals on its own in Brazil and Indonesia, and now California is getting ready to follow suit. Posted. http://www.pri.org/stories/science/environment/environmentalists-worry-california-s-cap-and-trade-plan-will-hurt-national-efforts-11830.html Hillary Clinton puts clean energy, climate change on State's marching orders. A global clean energy transformation is key to economic development, national security and fighting climate change, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said yesterday. In a major speech at Georgetown University on energy diplomacy, Clinton called the transformation to greener pathways "essential to reducing the world's carbon emissions and at the core of a strong 21st-century global economy." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/19/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS British engineers create petrol from air and water. A small British company has developed a way to create petrol from air and water, technology it hopes may one day contribute to large-scale production of green fuels. Engineers at Air Fuel Synthesis (AFS) in Teeside, northern England, say they have produced 5 liters of synthetic petrol over a period of three months. The technique involves extracting carbon dioxide from air and hydrogen from water, and combining them in a reactor with a catalyst to make methanol. The methanol is then converted into petrol. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/19/us-science-petrol-idUSBRE89I0V720121019 U.S. officials to visit Indonesia for palm oil emissions talks. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will visit Indonesia next week, officials said on Friday, in what may prove a crucial step in the battle to meet green standards and open up a potentially huge market for the world's top palm oil producer. Indonesia is seen as a key player in the fight against climate change and is under intense international pressure to curb its rapid deforestation rate and destruction of carbon-rich peatlands. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/19/us-indonesia-epa-palm-idUSBRE89I0F520121019 Pump prices continue slide in capital, state. Gasoline prices in Sacramento and statewide fell 3 cents a gallon on Thursday, and the pace of declining at-the-pump costs seems to be picking up speed. After falling about a penny a day late last week, prices fell a nickel a gallon over a two-day period. In Sacramento, AAA said the average for unleaded regular Thursday was $4.41 a gallon, down from $4.44 on Wednesday and $4.53 one week ago. Gas prices soared shortly after Oct. 1, when a series of production disruptions at refineries throughout California lowered statewide supplies. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/19/4922965/pump-prices-continue-slide-in.html#storylink=cpy Alternative fuels are the best remedy for gas prices. This week, a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that high gas prices may have reduced drunken driving among American kids. "Teens are especially sensitive to increases in gasoline prices and declines in economic conditions, which might have decreased their miles driven since 2007." Reducing drinking and driving among teenagers is a public good. But I am not sure, and neither is the report sure…Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/gas-375064-prices-gasoline.html Growing biofuels on 'surplus' land may be harder than estimated – study. There's money to be made in the barren corners of the world. From the California desert to the badlands around Chernobyl, Ukraine, bioenergy is taking root in the form of moss and algae. In Ireland and Denmark, farmers are planting switchgrass and miscanthus in low-grade soil, hoping to turn a profit on biofuels markets. Surplus land, or land unused in either conservation or agricultural production, offers an elegant solution to the food versus fuel arguments that have plagued bioenergy since its inception. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/19/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY HIGH-SPEED RAIL Fresno looks to smooth the high speed rail route. The city council approved seeking some changes to the high speed rail route through the city. The public works department is asking for an underpass to be built at Ventura and G Street, and for an overpass to be built at Church and East. Both moves would ease traffic flow after the project is built, and during construction. Scott Mozier said, "Also to phase the construction to keep roads open, not close them all at the same time." Posted. http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8852256 GREEN ENERGY AES says energy storage business is unfazed by A123's fall. Despite a key battery supplier's filing for bankruptcy this week, the head of AES Energy Storage LLC said the developments would not affect his company's current and future grid-scale projects. A123 Systems Inc., which develops lithium iron phosphate batteries for cars and grid-level storage, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Tuesday (Greenwire, Oct. 16). The firm's batteries power several of AES's energy storage projects, including a 32-megawatt storage system at the Laurel Mountain Wind Farm near Belington, W.Va. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/19/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Hybrid vehicle battery creator Ovshinsky, 89, dies. Stan Ovshinsky, the self-taught inventor who developed the nickel-metal hydride battery used in the hybrid vehicle industry, has died at his home in suburban Detroit after a fight with cancer. He was 89. Ovshinsky, who ran Energy Conversion Devices, a car battery development company, also created a machine that produced 9-mile-long sheets of thin solar energy panels intended to bring cheaper, cleaner power to homes and businesses. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBIT_OVSHINSKY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-10-18-21-19-23 Challenge the 3,000-mile oil-change habit. Local oil filter exchange event on Saturday. Should motorists change their vehicle’s oil every 3,000 miles? Not necessarily, according to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). Their “Check Your Number” campaign encourages drivers to rethink current habits and only change motor oil as recommended in your vehicle’s owner manual. Posted. http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20121019/LIFESTYLE/310190020/Challenge-3-000-mile-oil-change-habit California DTSC stands by Safer Consumer Products Regulation. DTSC director describes economic analysis criticism as "pinnacle of misinformation". California's Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has defended the economic arguments used in the state's proposed Safer Consumer Products Regulation. “Economic impacts have always been front and centre of this regulation, “DTSC director Debbie Raphael told Chemical Watch. Posted. http://chemicalwatch.com/12639/california-dtsc-stands-by-safer-consumer-products-regulation OPINIONS Climate change activists beg more attention from Romney, Obama. With just 2 1/2 weeks left before election day, there’s an urgency on all fronts in the presidential race. For activists, it’s not just about whether President Obama or Mitt Romney will win, but whether either man will pay attention to their issue. Perhaps no interest community has been as disappointed as those who worry about global climate change. They have repeatedly called for more attention to the issue and, for the most part, failed to get it. This week’s presidential debate prompted a new round of regret and demands for Romney and Obama to address the topic, as both candidates spent their most notable time arguing about how much coal they would extract from federal lands. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-climate-change-romney-obama-20121018,0,5707469.story Why aren't candidates debating climate change? The following editorial appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News on Friday, Oct. 19: The past 12 months have been the hottest on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Throughout the nation, drought, wildfires, floods and other extreme weather have made global warming a visible reality. So it was maddening - and tragic - that both presidential candidates spent significant time during Tuesday's debate trying to one-up each other on how much more fossil fuels they plan to extract, burn and allow into the atmosphere. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/19/4923972/why-arent-candidates-debating.html#storylink=cpy BLOGS Toward a Hip Solar Historic Landmark. Solar panels on an 1850’s building? In New York City, where most buildings were built before the Second World War, owners of historic rowhouses and brownstones have special considerations to deal with when it comes to installing solar panels or green roofs or undertaking efficiency retrofits that have the potential to interfere with some distinctive architectural feature. But preservation officials said there’s no reason why historic buildings can’t be part of the city’s efforts to rein in fossil fuel consumption to adapt to climate change. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/toward-a-hip-solar-historic-landmark/ With Tight Research Budgets, Is There Room for the Eternal Promise of Fusion? Moving beyond the country’s, and the world’s, existing energy menu, which is still by far dominated by abundant and relatively cheap fossil fuels, is hard, whatever your preferred path. To use a sports analogy (and setting aside, for the moment “stasists” locked into the status quo), the debate tends to break down to those pushing the ground game…Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/18/with-tight-research-budgets-is-there-room-for-the-eternal-promise-of-fusion/ Sign-ups open for catalytic converter etching event in Rocklin. The Rocklin Police Department and Sierra College Auto Club will team up to offer free catalytic converter etching Nov. 3. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the auto shop on the Sierra College campus, 5000 Rocklin Road, Rocklin. Participants' vehicle license plate number will be etched on the converter and the etching painted for easy recognition. Each vehicle also will receive a small window decal indicating "This vehicle's catalytic converter has been etched by Rocklin PD" Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/crime/archives/2012/10/sign-ups-open-for-catalytic-converter-etching-event-in-rocklin.html#storylink=cpy Will Obama and Romney Address Climate Change in Florida Debate? What a difference four years makes. In 2008, during the second presidential debate--a town hall format similar to what we witnessed a few days ago--an audience member asked the two candidates: "I want to know what you would do within the first two years to make sure that Congress moves fast as far as environmental issues, like climate change and green jobs?" In response, John McCain and Barack Obama both acknowledged the reality of global warming. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elliott-negin/third-debate-climate-change_b_1982523.html Gettin' down with cap 'n trade. Next month, California will hold the first auction as part of its carbon cap and trade program. The program, which will be the second largest CO2 emissions trading system in the world, has been in the works since 2006, when the Golden State passed the Global Warming Solutions Act, a piece of legislation that mandated chiseling down greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. A cap and trade system puts a limit on the total amount of carbon dioxide polluters can emit – that’s the cap. For its initial cap, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) set a CO2 limit of 162 million tons. Posted. http://www.hcn.org/blogs/goat/gettin-down-with-cap-n-trade Amp stops conversion SUV plans, shifts focus to electric delivery trucks. It's a turn in the road for Amp Electric Vehicles. The conversion electric vehicle (EV) company announced this week that it was no longer planning on making or selling EVs based on passenger vehicles like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Mercedes-Benz ML. Instead of the SUVs, Amp will now put all of its focus into delivery trucks, like the recent conversions for Navistar and FedEx. On a conference call yesterday, CEO Steve Burns said Amp will convert medium-sized step vans from 10 miles per gallon diesel beasts into quiet electric-drive trucks. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/18/amp-stops-conversion-suv-plans-shifts-focus-to-electric-deliver/ ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 14:52:52 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 22, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 22, 2012. 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’s record: Environmental agenda pushes sweeping attack on air pollution. The day after the November 2010 elections made clear President Obama’s greenhouse-gas legislation was doomed, he vowed to keep trying to curb emissions linked to global warming. There’s more than one way of “skinning the cat,” he told reporters. Since then, Obama has used his executive powers — including his authority under the 1970 Clean Air Act — to press the most sweeping attack on air pollution in U.S. history. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/obamas-record-environmental-agenda-pushes-sweeping-attack-on-air-pollution/2012/10/21/44173f74-f603-11e1-8398-0327ab83ab91_story.html Pollution drop from building rail yard near L.A. harbor disputed. Public health and environmental experts dispute predictions that air pollution will be significantly cut if a giant rail yard is built in the L.A. harbor area. Public health and environmental experts are disputing predictions that air pollution would be significantly reduced if a giant rail yard is built next to schools, parks and hundreds of homes in the Los Angeles harbor area. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rail-yard-20121020,0,7931999.story Air-monitor spat could cost Valley millions. People in the San Joaquin Valley are paying a $30 million annual penalty for air pollution until the air clears up. At least, that was the deal until the state's spat with a landowner got in the way. No matter how clean the air gets, the penalty might remain until the state can smooth things over with the miffed landowner -- Arvin-Edison Water Storage District, which booted a key air-monitoring site off its land. The state and the Valley need an air monitor back on that land. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/21/3037749/air-monitor-spat-could-cost-valley.html#storylink=cpy California Groups Sue EPA Over Vehicle Fees For Smog. California environmental groups have filed a lawsuit protesting a decision to combat San Joaquin Valley smog by increasing automobile registration fees instead of fining industrial polluters. The lawsuit filed Friday in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals accuses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of violating federal environmental laws by waiving the fines. The EPA adopted the region’s air district plan to charge an additional $12 on each auto registration to replace the money lost by waiving the fines in August, though motorists have been paying the new fee since last year. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/19/calif-groups-sue-epa-over-vehicle-fees-for-smog/ http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2012/10/22/267433.htm CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon Plan Hurts EU Credibility as Regulator, Traders Say. A plan by the European Commission to prevent emitters from using some Emission Reduction Units issued after the end of this year damages the regulator’s credibility, said a lobby group representing traders. The proposal does not follow due process and the commission should have proposed a change to the emissions trading system law instead of the carbon registry regulation, Jeff Swartz, Geneva-based international policy director at the International Emissions Trading Association, said today. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-22/carbon-plan-hurts-eu-credibility-as-regulator-traders-say-1-.html SKorea picked to host $100B global climate fund. South Korea says it has been chosen to host a new U.N. climate fund that aims to channel $100 billion a year in aid to developing nations. Seoul's Finance Ministry says the decision was made Saturday in a vote by the fund's 24-member board in Songdo, South Korea. The Green Climate Fund is envisioned as the world's biggest financier for helping developing nations adapt to climate change and move toward low-carbon economic growth. It would draw and distribute $100 billion that rich nations have pledged annually by 2020. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21815214/skorea-picked-host-100b-global-climate-fund More Americans believe in global warming. For the first time since the United States entered a deep recession five years ago, 70 percent of Americans now say they believe global warming is a reality, according to researchers. In a report released Thursday by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, authors wrote that America's concern about global warming is now at its highest level since 2008, and that 58 percent of Americans expressed worries about it. "Historically Americans have viewed climate change as a distant problem…Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/california/ci_21821873/more-americans-believe-global-warming NGOs Square Off Over REDD in California. Indigenous groups across Latin America are exploring the use of carbon finance to save their forests and provide income. Some NGOs, however, fear mechanisms like REDD will backfire – resulting in higher rates of both deforestation and poverty. The two opposing views are converging this week in California, and each side accuses the other of not playing fair. Posted. http://www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/pages/dynamic/article.page.php?page_id=9375§ion=news_articles&eod=1#.UIGG9YuyFLw.facebook Rice agriculture accelerates global warming, new research finds. Plant scientist Chris van Kessel says without additional measures, the total methane emissions from rice agriculture will strongly increase. (International Rice Research Institute/photo ) More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, coupled with rising temperatures, is making rice agriculture a larger source of the potent greenhouse gas methane, according to a study published today in Nature Climate Change by a research team that includes a University of California, Davis, plant scientist. Posted. http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=10382 FUELS Study: 20 million acres of federal oil, gas leases in Gulf of Mexico idle. Oil and natural gas companies are not exploring, developing or producing on more than 20 million acres of federal leases in the Gulf of Mexico, 40 percent of them owned by the five biggest private oil giants, according to a study by the office of Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/study-20-million-acres-of-federal-oil-gas-leases-in-gulf-of-mexico-idle/2012/10/22/d764031a-1c47-11e2-9cd5-b55c38388962_story.html After the Boom in Natural Gas. THE crew of workers fought off the blistering Louisiana sun, jerking their wrenches to tighten the fat hoses that would connect their cement trucks to the Chesapeake Energy drill rig — one of the last two rigs the company is still using to drill for natural gas here in the Haynesville Shale. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/21/business/energy-environment/in-a-natural-gas-glut-big-winners-and-losers.html?ref=earth&_r=0 California gasoline consumers hurt by few suppliers, outages. California has about half the number of refiners it had in the early 1980s. Gasoline price spikes, such as the one this month, hurt independent stations too. For nearly two decades, Santosh Arya has pumped some of the San Diego area's cheapest gas at his three Homeland Petroleum stations. But his streak ended early this month, when wholesale prices started rising sharply, then shot up 40 cents a gallon overnight. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-california-gas-prices-20121022,0,7205542.story Building gas stations with flair. Carson-based gas station operator United Oil Co. is aiming to stand out from the pack with its eye-catching architecture. Remember when gas stations were cool? In the decades after World War II, gas was cheap and operators competed on service. Every time a car rolled in, a bell would ring and uniformed pump jockeys dashed out to fill the tank, wash the windshield and check the oil level. Sagging tires got a whoosh of air. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-commre-gas-stations-20121021,0,2484748.story Canada blocks Petronas' bid for Progress Energy. Canada has blocked the Malaysian state-owned oil firm Petronas' US$5.2 billion (CA$5.17 billion) bid for gas producer Progress Energy Resources, saying the proposed investment would not provide a net benefit to Canada. Federal Industry Minister Christian Paradis did not explain his decision in a statement released just before midnight Friday, saying only that it was made after a careful and thorough review of the proposed transaction. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/20/canada-blocks-petronas-bid-for-progress-energy/ GREEN ENERGY Colton looks to green energy to cut electric costs. Utility rates remain a sore subject from living rooms to City Hall as election season heats up and candidates promise to reduce energy costs. Monthly bills totalling in the hundreds are commonplace, despite a 10 percent rate reduction passed by the City Council last year, one that affects roughly 70 percent of Colton residents. Add in the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, or AB 32, which aims to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels…Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/breakingnews/ci_21823410/colton-looks-green-energy-cut-electric-costs#ixzz2A3PwQX3Y http://www.sbsun.com/ci_21823410/colton-looks-green-energy-cut-electric-costs $60 million to rehab Don Pedro plant. Hydroelectric plants are like athletes. After 40, their parts can get creaky.So it is at Don Pedro Reservoir, completed in 1971 to provide power and water for the Modesto and Turlock irrigation districts. The districts face estimated costs of up to $60 million over the next few years to upgrade or replace generators and related equipment. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/21/2423306/60m-to-rehab-don-pedro-plant.html# Without buyer, Dominion to close Wis. power plant. Dominion Resources Inc. said Monday that it plans to close and decommission its Kewaunee Power Station in Wisconsin after it was unable to find a buyer for the nuclear power plant. The Richmond, Va.-based energy provider said that the 556-megawatt facility in Carlton, Wis., is expected to stop producing power in the second quarter of 2013 and move to safe shutdown status. Dominion plans to record an after-tax $281 million charge in the third quarter related to the closing and decommissioning of the station. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/22/2423712/without-buyer-dominion-to-close.html# Calif. measure to defund major clean energy lobby sparks money battle. Environmental groups are teaming with labor unions to fight a California ballot measure that they fear could undermine the Golden State's push for clean energy. The Golden State's Proposition 32 would ban political contributions that come directly from workers' pay and would block using that money for political activities. Labor and environmental organizations argue that the measure is a direct attack on unions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/22/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Arizona coal-fired power emissions ignored? The Arizona Electric Power Cooperative will receive $34 million in guaranteed loans from the US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) according to a USDA announcement made Friday, October 19, 2012. Of course, providing reliable, affordable electricity is essential to the economic well-being of the nation’s rural residents, and this is a primary goal of the RUS electric program. There are approximately 700,000 people living in rural areas in Arizona. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/arizona-coal-fired-power-emissions-ignored MISCELLANEOUS California to start new smog check program. Few drivers may realize it, but their car’s onboard computer is busily collecting all sorts of data as they drive. And soon, the state of California will be picking those little under-the-hood brains. The California Air Resources Board is readying plans for a new smog check program that eliminates sticking a probe up the tailpipe to measure emissions while simulating driving conditions in a shop. Instead, for 2000 model-year and newer vehicles, the new test siphons off the data stored in the on-board diagnostic systems that are standard equipment on all newer vehicles. Posted. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=22124 Scientists convicted of manslaughter for failing to warn of earthquake. A court in L'Aquila, Italy, has sentenced defendants to six years in prison despite lack of any reliable way to predict quakes. An Italian court convicted seven scientists and experts of manslaughter on Monday for failing to adequately warn citizens before an earthquake struck L'Aquila in central Italy in 2009, killing more than 300 people. The court in L'Aquila sentenced the defendants to six years in prison. Each is a member of the country's Grand Commission on High Risks. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/oct/22/scientists-convicted-manslaughter-earthquake OPINIONS Dianne Feinstein: U.S. can't halt progress on fuel economy. While economic and foreign policy issues have rightly dominated this year's presidential contest, one area that deserves more scrutiny is where the candidates stand on a key energy security issue: vehicle fuel efficiency. In 2007, I joined Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe in authoring the Ten-in-Ten Fuel Economy Act, which will increase fleetwide fuel economy to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. This landmark bill was signed by President George W. Bush. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_21810677/dianne-feinstein-u-s-cant-halt-progress-fuel Our View: Recycling program fraud. CalRecycle, the state's quarter-century-old beverage container recycling program, is in big trouble. While the number of bottles and cans diverted from landfills in California is up dramatically, rampant fraud and mismanagement is depleting the state's recycling fund. In recent years, the state has paid out $80 million to $100 million more to consumers and others who turn in used bottles and cans than it has taken in from beverage distributors. If something is not done soon to restructure the program, the fund could run out of money within two years. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/10/20/2602770/our-view-recycling-program-fraud.html#storylink=cpy Come on, put that air monitor back. The Arvin-Edison Water Storage District should allow the California Air Resources Board to reinstall an air quality monitor on its land. Air quality is one of the biggest health issues facing the San Joaquin Valley and Arvin is ground zero for that battle, recording some of the highest levels of pollution in the nation over the years. Having reliable and long-running data from one location is critical to the health of the community and the region's challenge to meet clean air standards. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/our-view/x1250042818/Come-on-put-that-air-monitor-back BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Air quality funding needs to help Coachella Valley. Every once in a while, in the midst of a bureaucratic meeting, you get a sudden moment of clarity that refocuses the whole proceeding. That happened at Tuesday’s meeting of the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s Administrative Committee in Palm Desert, when Jim Rothblatt, a local bicyclist, got up to speak in favor of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments’ proposed cross-valley parkway. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012310210032 BROOKS: Green technology in America: A sad story. The period around 2003 was the golden spring of green technology. John McCain and Joe Lieberman introduced a bipartisan bill to curb global warming. I got my first ride in a Prius from a conservative foreign policy hawk who said that these new technologies were going to help us end our dependence on Middle Eastern despots. You’d go to Silicon Valley and all the venture capitalists, it seemed, were rushing into clean tech. From that date on the story begins to get a little sadder. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121021/WIRE/121019473 Editorial: Brown asked to cool it on cap-and-trade. A group of employer and taxpayer organizations has formally asked Gov. Jerry Brown to delay the scheduled Nov. 14 auction of greenhouse gas allowances long enough to "fix" the state's cap-and-trade program. The auction would sell to regulated businesses the right to emit greenhouse gases in a scheme that would lower annually the permissible total emissions. The theory is that, over time, companies would switch to technology that emits less, reducing greenhouse gases emitted in California. Of course, ramped-up use of coal in China and other expanding industries worldwide would more than offset any savings, generated at great cost, in California. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/brown-375171-ab32-auction.html They don't listen. Congratulations and thanks to Fresno County Supervisor Susan Anderson, whose courageous stance kept the Board of Supervisors' eligible voting members Phil Larson, Henry Perea and Debbie Poochigian from unanimously approving "giant" Gerawan Farms' rock mining application. Fresno County will now have increased air pollution, increased drain on our precious water, a serious and non-reversible impact on aquifers, a worsening of our two-lane county roads due to increased traffic, a potential of an annual $29 million in federal fines (air pollution violations), not to mention subsequent ugliness of the terrain. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/21/3035586/they-dont-listen.html#storylink=misearch Nobody Mentions Climate Change. But Somebody Did Something About It. I constantly whine about the Beltway media, and I believe global warming is the most important issue facing humanity. So I was infuriated but not surprised to hear Candy Crowley explain after the last debate that she considered a question for “you climate change people,” but ditched it because “we knew the economy was still the main thing.” Actually, the technical term for people affected by climate change is “people. Posted. http://swampland.time.com/2012/10/22/nobody-mentions-climate-change-but-somebody-did-something-about-it/#ixzz2A3Iel5Bo BLOGS Valero Shopping Its Two California Refineries. Valero Energy Corp. is putting its two California refineries on the block, attempting to exit the state ahead of a ratcheting up of air-pollution regulations, people familiar with the matter said. San Antonio-based Valero has enlisted Citigroup Inc. to help find a buyer for the facilities, these people said, adding that the process is in the early stages. Valero, one of the largest refiners in the U.S., operates a 78,000-barrel-a-day refinery in Wilmington outside Los Angeles and a 132,000-barrel-a-day refinery in Benicia, in the San Francisco Bay area. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2012/10/19/valero-shopping-its-two-california-refineries/ Did Obama promise a ‘war on affordable energy’? “Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.” “So, if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, it’ll bankrupt them.” -- Excerpts of Barack Obama interview featured in an American Energy Alliance ad. This ad uses cropped comments from a January 2008 interview between then-Sen. Barack Obama and the San Francisco Chronicle’s editorial board. The president’s critics have cited these same comments as proof that the current administration is bent on destroying the fossil-fuel industry and the jobs that go along with it. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/did-obama-promise-a-war-on-affordable-energy/2012/10/19/d1fa0156-1975-11e2-aa6f-3b636fecb829_blog.html Q&A: Back to the Future With Environmental Bipartisanship. Last month a new conservation pledge , the American Eagle Compact, was propounded by the leaders of the National Audubon Society and ConservAmerica. Its purpose, like that of some earlier alliances, is to counter the political polarization that now characterizes most debates about clean air, clean water, habitats for plants and animals and, in particular, climate change. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/22/q-and-a-back-to-the-future-with-environmental-bipartisanship/ A Fresh Start on Global Warming. Next month, the curtain rises on the next round of international talks on global warming. Never before has diplomacy on this important topic been in a worse state. There are dozens of exciting new ideas for how governments could tackle the dangers of warming, but no idea and no government is clearly dominant. Outside of Europe, no major world economy is actually doing much to control its emissions. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-victor/fresh-start-global-warming_b_2000838.html?utm_hp_ref=world Global Warming At The Presidential Foreign Policy Debate: The Elephant In The Room. A quick quiz: Which presidential or vice presidential candidate said the following at one of the three previous debates? "Energy is essential to how we will power our economy and manage our environment in the 21st century. We therefore have an interest in promoting new technologies and sources of energy -- especially including renewables -- to reduce pollution, to diversify the energy supply, to create jobs and to address the very real threat of climate change." Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-zeller-jr/global-warming-presidential-debate_b_2001532.html?utm_hp_ref=green The Attack on Green Energy. Conservative critics of the Obama administration's move to promote renewable energy typically make the argument that government is ill-equipped to "pick winners" and invest in or subsidize new businesses. In his recent New York Times column, David Brooks acknowledges the climate problem and advocates a carbon tax, but devotes most of his piece to an attack on Obama's renewable energy program and the difficulties faced by this emerging industry. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-cohen/the-attack-on-green-energ_b_2000268.html?utm_hp_ref=green ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 12:35:40 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips of October 23, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 23, 2012. 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 Tribe near Vegas appealing EPA coal plant air rule. An American Indian tribe living in the shadow of a NV Energy Inc. coal-fired power plant outside Las Vegas is heading a legal push for more stringent emissions and air quality standards for the facility. The Moapa Band of Paiute Indians, National Parks Conservation Association and Sierra Club is asking the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to order the federal Environmental Protection Agency to beef up standards approved in August for the Reid Gardner Generating Station. Posted. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57537994/tribe-near-vegas-appealing-epa-coal-plant-air-rule/ CLIMATE CHANGE EU needs to decide carbon reform "without delay”: draft. A rapid rise in surplus EU carbon credits is expected to slow from 2014 onwards, but to tackle a short-term glut member states need to decide before the end of the year on a temporary fix, a European Commission draft document said. The draft report on the carbon market also called on the member states to discuss and explore options for more lasting changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) after allowance prices hit a record low in April. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/23/us-eu-ets-idUSBRE89M0KX20121023 EU to Sell 197 Million of CO2 in Early 2013, New Energy Says. The European Union will probably sell about 197 million metric tons of carbon allowances in the first two months of next year, even as it seeks to complete details of a supply-glut fix, said Bloomberg New Energy Finance. That volume will “almost certainly” be sold in auctions over that period while the bloc seeks to complete details of its plan to temporarily delay supply, James Cooper, an analyst in London for New Energy Finance, said today in an e-mailed response to questions. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-19/eu-to-sell-197-million-of-co2-in-early-2013-new-energy-says-1-.html Climate linked to conflict in East Africa, study finds. A study relating climate to conflict in East African nations finds that increased rainfall dampens conflict while unusually hot periods can cause a flare-up, reinforcing the theory that climate change will cause increased scarcity in the region. The study was published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Politicians and many scientists have called climate change a security risk…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-change-linked-to-conflict-in-east-africa-20121022,0,7901739,print.story Climate change will increase methane emissions from rice paddies – study. Both warming and increased carbon dioxide in the air will nearly double the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions from rice paddies, a new study has found. "We're pushing these ecosystems to become more of a source of this potent greenhouse gas," said Bruce Hungate, a researcher at Northern Arizona University and co-author of the report. Researchers from the University of California, Davis, Northern Arizona University and Trinity University in Dublin analyzed journal articles on greenhouse gas emissions from rice cultivation in fields, growth chambers and glass houses. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/23/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Candidates spar over energy; climate's a no-show. Despite weeks of protests and public campaigns, advocates for a discussion of climate change policy saw their efforts fall short last night when neither President Obama nor GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney broached the topic at their final debate of the campaign cycle. Obama and Romney met at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., in their third and final matchup last night, in an event largely keyed to foreign policy. Various environment organizations had lobbied for weeks -- submitting petitions, purchasing national television ad time and staging protests at each of the debate sites -- for candidates to be asked to address their positions on climate change science. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/23/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Diesel fumes more polluting than gas, new California study finds. A chemical analysis of air samples taken from California's San Joaquin Valley and an Oakland traffic tunnel show that diesel fuel emissions are more polluting than previously thought, according to researchers. The study, which appeared Monday in the journal PNAS, focuses on a specific form of pollutant known as secondary organic aerosol, or SOA. The pollutant is a major element of smog and can contribute to heart and respiratory problems. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-diesel-pollution-20121022,0,5516594,print.story CARB: How do you know your PM filter is legal? That diesel particulate filter a shop or parts dealer talked you into may fit onto your after-exhaust system – but it won’t keep you from getting a citation issued by the California Air Resources Board. As part of CARB’s diesel truck inspection blitz in September, the air quality agency found many trucks that had particulate filters installed, though some weren’t CARB approved and left truck owners vulnerable to expensive fines. In a news release, CARB says “some companies are advertising and attempting to sell devices that cannot be used to comply with Air Resources Board diesel engine regulations.” Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=24313 Air pollution study clears the air on diesel versus gas emissions. Are gasoline-fueled cars or large diesel trucks the bigger source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA), a major component of smog? UC Berkeley researchers have stepped into this debate with a new study that says diesel exhaust contributes 15 times more than gas emissions per liter of fuel burned. The study, published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, elucidates the contributions to air pollution from the two types of fuel emissions. The authors estimate that diesel exhaust is responsible for 65-90 percent of a region’s vehicular-derived SOA, depending upon the relative amounts of gasoline and diesel used in the area. Posted. http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2012/10/22/diesel-vs-gas-contributing-to-smog/ FUELS When prices spike, do gas stations make money? Consumers took a beating when gas prices jumped this month, but the price spike also gashed independent station owners too, leaving many bleeding red ink. Branded stations like Shell, BP, or Exxon typically charge more for gas than the unbranded stations, but they’re insulated from shortages like the one that struck California earlier in the month. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/when-prices-spike-do-gas-stations-make-money/article_365b23a2-300e-5708-baa0-8ca97655a613.html Oil price below $88 on global growth concerns. The price of oil fell below $88 a barrel Tuesday as the impending reopening of a key pipeline in North America and concerns about slowing economic growth overcame rising Middle East supply risks. By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for December delivery was down $1.04 to $87.61 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange after briefly venturing above $89 earlier in the day.The contract fell $1.32 to finish at $88.73 per barrel in New York on Monday, reaching a three-week low as a major North American pipeline got set to reopen. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/world/oil-price-below-on-global-growth-concerns/article_005799b2-822e-5a54-9237-3e47bf27fa0c.html GREEN ENERGY Green buildings on the rise in Persian Gulf states. With massive steel Sidra trees sprouting from the base of the building and a 9-meter (yard) high sculpture of a spider in the lobby protecting a sack of grey and white eggs, Qatar National Convention Center is hard to ignore. But it's what most visitors don't see that may become the building's lasting legacy in a region far better known for over-the-top excesses than conservation. >From the sustainably logged wood used in its construction to the 3,500-square-meters of solar panels on the roof…Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_GULF_GREEN_BUILDINGS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT IKEA to move to clean energy by 2020, protect forests. IKEA, the world's largest furniture retailer, will shift to renewable energy by 2020 and grow more trees than it uses under a plan to safeguard nature that has won support from environmentalists. The Swedish-based group, which wants to build on many customers' desire for a greener lifestyle, also said on Tuesday it would limit sales by 2016 to energy-efficient products including induction cookers and LED light bulbs. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/23/us-ikea-idUSBRE89L1LZ20121023 Billboards Urge L.A. Mayor to Up City's Renewable Energy. Given the last renewable energy-related billboard that mentioned Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa -- a well-placed sign on the 10 near its entrance to the Coachella Valley slamming the mayor for his support of the proposed "Green Path North" transmission line -- you might expect him to be a little jumpy to hear there are new ones. Posted. http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/utilities/billboards-urge-los-angeles-mayor-to-up-citys-renewable-energy.html MISCELLANEOUS As unconventional U.S. oil, gas boom, so do jobs: report. The U.S. oil and gas rush is cutting into jobless numbers, supporting a total of 1.7 million jobs this year, a number that will swell to almost 3 million by 2020, a leading consultant said in a study released on Tuesday. The report by forecaster IHS Global Insight (IHS.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is part of a series attempting to quantify the impact that booming production of so-called "unconventional" oil and gas has had on the American economy. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/23/us-usa-oil-economy-idUSBRE89M05Y20121023 OPINIONS The Promise of Renewable Energy. David Brooks’s Oct. 19 column, “A Sad Green Story,” unfairly brands clean technology subsidies as wasteful corporate welfare. He does not mention the numerous subsidies, in the form of research grants, sweetheart resource extraction contracts and costly foreign policy interventions, that have benefited fossil fuels for decades. The reluctance of both political parties to eliminate these subsidies puts clean technologies at a competitive disadvantage. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/23/opinion/the-promise-of-renewable-energy.html?_r=0 Michael Shellenberger to climate activists: It’s not the end of the world. Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus have a real knack for stirring the pot. In 2004, the duo, founders of an Oakland, Calif.-based think tank called the Breakthrough Institute, published a paper called “The Death of Environmentalism: Global Warming Politics in a Post-Environmental World.” Much to the chagrin of many old-school greens, they argued that the institution of environmentalism was unable to deal with the global crises knocking at our door, because environmentalists were pigeonholed by what they called “the politics of limits”…Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/michael-shellenberger-to-climate-activists-its-not-the-end-of-the-world/ Obama and Romney ignore climate, could learn from Hillary Clinton. The climate silence is complete: Climate change got not a single mention in any of the three presidential debates nor in the vice presidential debate this year. That hasn’t happened for 24 years. In the final debate on Monday night, focused on foreign policy, moderator Bob Schieffer didn’t ask anything about energy or climate, but he posed a couple of open-ended questions that would have given easy entrée to either candidate had they any inclination to bring up the topic: “What is America’s role in the world?” and “What do you believe is the greatest future threat to the national security of this country?” Posted. http://grist.org/politics/obama-and-romney-ignore-climate-could-learn-from-hillary-clinton/ BLOGS Obama won the third presidential debate, but what about climate change? In their last presidential debate Monday night, the two presidential candidates began with Libya and stayed in the Islamic world for almost the entire evening. They talked about “divorcing” Pakistan, arming Syrian rebels and rallying allies against Iran. In this exchange, Romney offered few serious counterproposals to Obama’s current policy, and Obama offered little more about his vision for the next four years. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/obama-won-the-third-presidential-debate-but-what-about-climate-change/2012/10/23/1842c0c4-1cc0-11e2-ba31-3083ca97c314_blog.html One Reason for Debate Climate Silence. Below you can see my two-slide Powerpoint explanation for the presidential debates’ resounding #climatesilence (that’s the Twitter hashtag for the failed push to get global warming on the debate agenda). Try to find slide one — depicting the online tussle over climate science and policy — within slide two, which places the first issue in the flow of the moment’s news. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/23/one-reason-for-debate-climate-silence/?ref=earth Invasive Grasses as Biofuel? Scientists Protest. More than 200 scientists from across the country have sent a letter to the Obama administration urging the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider a rule, in the final approval stages, that would allow two invasive grasses, Arundo donax and Pennisetum purpureum, to qualify as advanced biofuel feedstock under the nation’s renewable fuel standard. “As scientists in the fields of ecology, wildlife biology…Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/23/invasive-grasses-as-biofuel-scientists-protest/ A New Sustainability Chief for New York. New York City’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability is about to see a changing of the guard. In a few weeks Sergej Mahnovski, the current director of energy policy for Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, will take over the sustainability office, which puts changes into effect related to the mayor’s PlaNYC environmental agenda. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/23/a-new-sustainability-chief-for-new-york/?ref=earth Food and Climate: A New Warning. As we have noted many times, one of the major questions about climate change is what it will do to the world’s food supply. Competing factors are at work. On the one hand, the rising level of carbon dioxide in the air significantly bolsters the growth of plants, potentially raising yields. Conversely, rising heat and, in some places, additional weather extremes like drought and heavy rains threaten to reduce yields. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/23/food-and-climate-a-new-warning/?ref=earth Sustainable Innovation: The Ethanol Stove. Many of the 1.2 million people living in Maputo, Mozambique’s capital, have a clean energy problem. Charcoal, the main source of fuel, harvested from the old-growth forests in the north of the East African country, is slowly running out. Because the forests are receding, the cost of a bag of cooking charcoal is rising. The fuel — used in many places in sub-Saharan Africa — has other drawbacks, of course. Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/22/sustainable-innovation-the-ethanol-stove/ Hydrogen leak at San Onofre poses no risk, Edison says. Workers discovered a hydrogen leak in a pipe on the non-nuclear side of the shuttered San Onofre nuclear plant over the weekend. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission issued a non-emergency notice of the leak on Sunday, after plant operator Southern California Edison reported it. Edison also notified the California Emergency Management Agency and the San Diego Department of Environmental Health. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/hydrogen-leak-san-onofre.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lanowblog+%28L.A.+Now%29 Cap-and-Trade, Carbon Taxes, and My Neighbor's Lovely Lawn. The recent demise of serious political consideration of an economy-wide U.S. CO2 cap-and-trade system and the even more recent resurgence in interest among policy wonks in a U.S. carbon tax should prompt reflection on where we've been, where we are, and where we may be going. Almost 15 years ago, in an article that appeared in 1998 in the Journal of Economic Perspectives, "What Can We Learn from the Grand Policy Experiment? Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-stavins/cap-and-trade-carbon-taxes_b_2003791.html Mind your sign language. A FARMER from Corcoran, California, has come up with a rather unsubtle way to draw attention to Not-In-My-Back-Yard objections to the route planned for America's first true high-speed rail (HSR) line. A sign erected on his farm at the side of the road suggests, "To All High Speed Rail Advocates—Eat Sh** And Die" [his asterisks, not ours]. California's high-speed rail plans, which Gulliver has covered before, have long been a subject of controversy in the state. Posted. http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2012/10/high-speed-rail-california ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 14:50:50 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 24, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 24, 2012. 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 EU: Spain, Italy putting EU emissions cuts at risk. Debt-ridden Spain and Italy could hinder the European Union from achieving its goal of cutting greenhouse emissions under an international climate pact, the EU's environmental agency said Wednesday. The EU considers itself at the forefront of the fight against climate change and as a bloc it's on track to meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, which limits the emissions of gases that warm the planet. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/eu-spain-italy-putting-eu-emissions-cuts-at-risk/article_2b90eac5-57d0-5e27-81bd-a08a2f4933cc.html http://www.dailynews.com/ci_21842358/eu-spain-italy-putting-eu-climate-target-at?IADID=Search-www.dailynews.com-www.dailynews.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21842358/eu-spain-italy-putting-eu-climate-target-at?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/24/3040486/eu-spain-italy-putting-eu-climate.html#storylink=misearch EU May Weigh Carbon Price Support, Offset Limit, Draft Shows. The European Union may consider introducing mechanisms to support carbon prices and limit the use of offsets in its emissions trading system after 2020 to strengthen the market, according to a draft EU document. Other options for the 27-nation bloc to strengthen the world’s biggest cap-and-trade program are tightening the EU emissions-reduction target, canceling a number of carbon permits to alleviate an oversupply and expansion of the system into new industries, according to the draft report on the state of the European carbon market obtained by Bloomberg News. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-23/eu-may-weigh-carbon-price-mechanisms-offset-limits-draft-shows.html Blown away by the attacks on wind-power subsidy. Mitt Romney and oil, gas and nuclear interests want to end a tax credit for wind-energy producers. Never mind that old-energy firms are heavily subsidized too. To hear business leaders and political candidates talk, proper industrial policy comprises only three elements: a fair tax system, a level playing field and "certainty." So why is it that all three are about to be thrown out the window as a sop to oil, gas and nuclear interests determined to fillet the wind-power industry? Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20121024,0,1784468,print.column Presidential debates offered nothing on climate change. For the first time since the topic surfaced in a presidential race in 1988, nominees made no mention of climate change during the prime-time television debates this year between the presidential contenders themselves or their running mates. Debate moderators also chose not to ask President Barack Obama or former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney about the issue, despite a clamor by climate activists and some not-so-gentle prodding on the part of pundits and scientists. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/23/3040117/presidential-debates-offered-nothing.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Related articles: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/24/the-five-biggest-issues-left-out-of-the-debates/ Judge's death brings new twist in high-stakes climate case. The outcome of a prominent climate case has become even more shrouded in mystery after one of the three judges considering the matter died this week. Judge Betty Binns Fletcher, who died Monday at the age of 89, was on the three-judge panel of the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that is weighing the lawfulness of California's new low carbon fuel standard, which is aimed at lowering the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by about 10 percent by 2020. It's part of the state's landmark climate change law, commonly known as A.B. 32. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/24/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY U.S. likely to come just shy of emissions reduction target in 2020 – report. The United States is likely to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 16.3 percent from 2005 levels by 2020, falling just shy of the 17 percent target pledged by President Obama at the 2009 climate talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, according to a new study. "With the failure to pass comprehensive climate legislation in the 2010-2011 Congress…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/24/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY EU Plans To Ban Kyoto-Era Carbon Credits. The European Commission has proposed an Emissions Trading System (ETS) ban on €440 million of Kyoto-era carbon credits from non-EU countries such as Russia, which have not signed up to a second Kyoto commitment period. The document, which EurActiv has seen, says Emission Reduction Unit credits, or ERUs, “issued from 1st January 2013 in respect of projects in host Parties without new quantified emissions targets in place shall not be held in accounts in the Union registry.” Posted. http://www.thegwpf.org/eu-plans-to-ban-kyoto-era-carbon-credits/ FUELS In Oil-Rich Iran, Natural Gas Turns Wheels. HOW’S this for a paradox? Iran, an oil power seeking to become a nuclear power, has instead become a natural gas power. According to the latest figures from the Natural Gas Vehicle Knowledge Base, Iran, with the world’s second-largest natural gas reserves after Russia, in 2011 became the world leader in natural gas vehicles with some 2.9 million on the road, narrowly edging Pakistan, which is trailed by Argentina, Brazil and India, respectively. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/business/energy-environment/to-lower-pollution-iran-becomes-a-natural-gas-leader.html California gas prices plunging. California gas prices are plunging from record highs set two weeks ago as refineries come back on line, motorists drive less and the cheaper winter blend of fuel reaches neighborhood filling stations. That was expected. But here's a surprise -- a pleasant one: Prices may fall an additional 10 to 15 cents a gallon a week through Thanksgiving to about $4 a gallon, and they could drop to $3.75 a gallon or lower before the end of the year. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/traffic/ci_21838669/california-gas-prices-plunging?source=rss# Valero tightlipped about rumored sale of Benicia oil refinery. Rumors are swirling that Valero is putting its two California oil refineries on the market, including one in Benicia that is the city's largest employer. The speculation follows a Wall Street Journal report last week that said the San Antonio-based company has enlisted Citigroup Inc. to help find a buyer for the facilities. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_21843877/valero-tightlipped-about-rumored-sale-benicia-oil-refinery?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_21843877/valero-tightlipped-about-rumored-sale-benicia-oil-refinery?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com US may soon become world's top oil producer. U.S. oil output is surging so fast that the United States could soon overtake Saudi Arabia as the world's biggest producer. Driven by high prices and new drilling methods, U.S. production of crude and other liquid hydrocarbons is on track to rise 7 percent this year to an average of 10.9 million barrels per day. This will be the fourth straight year of crude increases and the biggest single-year gain since 1951. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121023/A_NEWS/121029973&cid=sitesearch Pump prices should continue to dip as wholesale gas prices tumble. California motorists are getting a reprieve at the pump as wholesale gasoline prices continue to tumble. Although California's average price for regular unleaded gasoline is still 75 cents above the national average, prices have gone down a few cents every day for the past two weeks. Wholesale prices became so high that they finally plateaued and began to decline sharply as demand slowed, said Denton Cinquegrana, senior West Coast market editor for Oil Price Information Service. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/23/pump-prices-should-continue-to-dip-as-wholesale/ Delta 3Q profit surges on fuel contract gains. Delta Air Lines said Wednesday that its third-quarter profit nearly doubled mostly due to the increasing value of its fuel contracts. The world's second-largest airline earned $1.05 billion, or $1.23 per share, compared with $549 million, or 65 cents, a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, it earned $768 million or 90 cents _ just shy of Wall Street expectations of 91 cents. Revenue rose 1 percent to $9.92 billion, also just under analysts' estimate of $9.93 billion, according to FactSet. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/delta-q-profit-surges-on-fuel-contract-gains/article_2206ab93-679f-5f42-b504-8fc2052767e4.html VEHICLES PSA Peugeot Citroën and GM confirm key steps in global strategic alliance; four vehicle projects, joint purchasing. PSA Peugeot Citroën and General Motors confirmed important steps toward the execution of their Global Strategic Alliance. (earlier post) This alliance is structured around two main pillars: the sharing of vehicle platforms, components and modules; and the creation of a global purchasing joint venture for the sourcing of commodities, components and other goods and services from suppliers with combined annual purchasing volumes of approximately $125 billion. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/gmpsa-20121024.html Univ. of Maryland team develops promising sodium-ion cathode material: FePO4/nanotube composite. Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a nanocomposite material of amorphous, porous FePO4 nanoparticles electrically wired by single-wall carbon nanotubes as a potential cathode material for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/liu-20121024.html Damen launches its first hybrid tug. Netherlands-based Damen Shipyards has launched its first hybrid tug—the ASD Tug 2810 Hybrid; Iskes Towage & Salvage will be the launching customer. The signing ceremony took place at the Offshore Energy conference in Amsterdam. The Dutch shipyard group is building hybrid tugs for stock; the second hybrid vessel will be available from stock end-2013. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/damen-20121024.html Sell Electric Cars Like Smartphones. Three big barriers are slowing electric vehicles. One can be fixed by the auto industry tomorrow -- and if it is, the other two will melt away as the electric vehicle sector expands. Start with a simple but surprising... Posted. http://www.cars21.com/news/view/5010 2014 Fiat 500E Electric Car To Be Launched At LA Auto Show. Organizers of the Los Angeles Auto Show have confirmed that Fiat will launch its electric 500 at the show. The 2014 Fiat 500E ditches the regular car's 1.4-liter gasoline engine, in favor of a battery-electric drivetrain. Beyond that, we don't know many details about the 500E. Fiat and Chrysler have never really been happy about launching an electric 500 due to the expense involved. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/news/view/5009 EV charging plugs in Europe: towards one unique solution for Type 2. So far, the EV charging standardisation process has been tough as policy and standards came after first commercially available products. In Europe, several solutions emerged because of the requirement to comply with different national regulations. However, it seems that one company just revealed what could be “THE” solution for Type 2 charging in Europe. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/news/view/5006 GREEN ENERGY U.S. to study cancer risks near 6 nuclear plants. San Onofre is among the facilities to be studied in the $2-million pilot program conducted by the National Academy of Sciences. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced plans Tuesday to launch a pilot epidemiological study of cancer risks near six nuclear power plants, including San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in north San Diego County. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1024-san-onofre-cancer-20121024,0,4821976.story Sacramento ranks No. 4 in clean tech index. Lots of energy-efficient buildings and hybrid vehicles. A sizable crop of workers engaged in green and clean-tech industries. Add it all up, and Sacramento ranks No. 4 in a nationwide index of clean tech metro areas released Tuesday. The first-ever U.S. Metro Clean Tech Index, assembled by Oregon consulting firm Clean Edge Inc., gives the Sacramento area high marks for its workforce, hybrid and electric vehicles and buildings that qualify for the federal government's Energy Star certification. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/24/4933782/sacramento-ranks-no-4-in-clean.html#storylink=cpy Industry group says energy storage still going strong despite troubles with key players Officials from the energy storage industry yesterday gave a sunny outlook for their sector despite financial trouble among some players, citing new projects, growing markets and advances in storage technology. "My goal here is to tell you that this works," said the Electricity Storage Association's (ESA) policy director, Katherine Hamilton, speaking at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill. "These are technologies that are really important that we need to make sure are included in our energy policy." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/24/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Celebrating 100 years of the garbage truck. Last week, Waste and Recycling News (WRN) announced the 100th Anniversary of the Garbage Truck. “The story of the garbage truck is one that truly goes unnoticed,” said Frank Guercio, Director of Fleet for Waste Management of Southern California. “Garbage trucks today are modern miracles on wheels.” According to WRN, the first garbage truck appeared in 1912. From the mechanical arms to the massive compactors inside, the modern garbage truck has come a long way. However, two of the most significant achievements are advanced safety features and the reduction of its environmental impact. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/23/celebrating-100-years-of-the-garbage-truck-6159/ Judge bans GMOs in national wildlife refuges. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg made what couldn't have been a very tough call yesterday. Until an environmental analysis is done, no one can plant genetically modified crops in National Wildlife Refuges. Posted. http://grist.org/news/judge-bans-gmos-in-national-wildlife-refuges/ California’s biggest climate hawk comes under fire. There may be no state legislative race this year more freighted with significance for clean energy than the contest in California's 27th state Senate district. That's where Democrat Fran Pavley, a long-time champion of clean energy, is facing off against Todd Zink, a Republican first-timer backed by a torrent of dirty-energy, and just dirty, money. Posted. http://grist.org/politics/californias-biggest-climate-hawk-comes-under-fire/ BLOGS >From ‘Frontline,’ a Look at the Skeptics’ Advance. Less than 24 hours after the final presidential debate ended with the words “climate change” left unsaid, PBS aired a report that essentially explains the omission. “Climate of Doubt,” a “Frontline” documentary presented on Tuesday night, probably allots the biggest single block of national airtime to climate skeptics like Myron Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, Tim Phillips of Americans for Prosperity and S. Fred Singer than we’ve seen in a long time. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/from-frontline-a-look-at-the-skeptics-advance/?ref=earth The Issue That Dare Not Speak Its Name. A mountain of scientific evidence points to climate change as a serious risk for the human future. The Pentagon sees it as a threat to national security. Arctic sea ice hit a record low this summer. In some low-lying countries threatened by sea level rise, evacuation planning has already begun. Yet the presidential debates are now over, and not once did climate change surface explicitly as an issue. This campaign is the first time that has happened since 1988, and environmental groups – and environmentally minded voters – are aghast. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/23/the-issue-that-dare-not-speak-its-name/?ref=earth ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 11:52:22 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 25, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 25, 2012. 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 Kellogg agrees to pay $500K in emissions case. The government says Kellogg Co. has agreed to pay a $500,000 penalty to resolve Clean Air Act violations at manufacturing facilities in Battle Creek and Grand Rapids. The agreement with the Battle Creek-based company was announced Thursday by the U.S. attorney's office in Grand Rapids. Kellogg also agreed to improve emission levels at the facilities and replace a cooling and dehumidifying system, a project that's expected to cost more than $435,000. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Kellogg-agrees-to-pay-500K-in-emissions-case-3981261.php#ixzz2AKaoiiui California day care centers exceed standards for formaldehyde, study reveals. UC Berkeley researchers found nearly nine out of 10 local day care centers exceeded state safety guidelines for formaldehyde, according to a new study, heightening concerns because children can be especially vulnerable to such chemicals. An ingredient in some furniture glue, carpet, paints and fabrics, formaldehyde can trigger breathing difficulties and, at very high levels, has been identified as a cancer-causing agent. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21848311/california-daycare-centers-exceed-standards-formaldehyde-study-reveals http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_21848314/california-daycare-centers-exceed-standards-formaldehyde-study-reveals?source=rss http://www.ksee24.com/video/Day-Care---AGR-175699501.html First-offense wood burners: Go to smoke class. Light a fire on a bad air day and you may be going to smoke school -- or pay a $100 fine if you refuse. The Bay Area's air pollution district is getting tougher this year on scofflaws, violators of its four-year-old»¿ rule banning home or business owners from burning wood fires in chimneys and stoves during Spare the Air alerts. First-time violators used to get off with a written warning, but they won't anymore. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21844803/first-offense-burners-go-smoke-class http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21844803/first-offense-burners-go-smoke-class?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21844803/first-offense-burners-go-smoke-class?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com How Bay Area no-burn rules work. If you burn a wood fire in your home or business fireplace or stove during a 24-hour Spare the Air alert, you can be cited by the Bay Area Air Quality Management for violation of their smoke rule. An air district inspector must personally observe the smoke to write up a violation notice. Inspectors' patrol routes are based on priorities that consider areas with a history of high smoke concentrations or complaints about illegal burning. Inspectors don't give people violation notices. The air district mails them to violators. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21844807/how-bay-area-scofflaw-get-caught-smoking?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Report: More Chinese cities need to come clean on air pollution. Several Chinese cities have shown improvements with air quality information -- a politically-sensitive issue in China -- but improvements are still needed, according to a Beijing-based non-profit environmental group. The report by the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs assessed air quality monitoring in 113 cities across China. Posted. http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/25/world/asia/china-air-quality-disclosure/index.html Enviros push EPA to make industry report toxic releases. Oil and gas companies should be required to report releases of toxic chemicals to a U.S. EPA database of environmental pollution, according to a petition filed yesterday with the agency by a coalition of green groups. Industries that must file annual reports of environmental pollution to EPA's Toxic Release Inventory divulge information only about the 682 listed chemicals, which means such reporting, …Posted. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/print/2012/10/25/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE U.S. looks to old Arctic ship logs for climate change clues. A project to help track Arctic climate change using volunteers to transcribe U.S. ship logs online was launched on Wednesday by the National Archives and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Using citizen scientists to transcribe thousands of pages of logbooks from Navy, Coast Guard and other ships from 1850 to World War Two will fill a big data gap, NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/24/us-usa-climate-arctic-idUSBRE89N1CU20121024 Cap-and-Trade Failure Aided U.S. to Cut Carbon Emissions. The failure by Congress to pass cap- and-trade legislation in 2010 had one unanticipated impact: It helped to cut greenhouse gas emissions. U.S. carbon-dioxide emissions are likely to be lower by 2020 because of regulatory measures and market changes than they would have been under legislation backed by President Barack Obama and Democrats, said Dallas Burtraw, a senior fellow at Resources for the Future in Washington. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-25/cap-and-trade-failure-aided-u-dot-s-dot-to-cut-carbon-emissions Smithsonian launches marine effort with $10M gift. The Smithsonian is launching a new initiative to study coastal waters and create the first global network monitoring climate change and human impacts on ocean life with a $10 million gift. Los Angeles hedge fund manager Michael Tennenbaum is announcing the donation Thursday. He says long-term data is needed to raise the level of dialogue about climate change and biodiversity. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/25/2428082/smithsonian-launches-marine-effort.html#storylink=misearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Many Calif. companies shun offsets as cap-and-trade system nears launch. As California prepares to launch its carbon cap-and-trade program, fear persists about buying offsets because they can be ruled invalid retroactively, a market insider said yesterday. Buyer liability for problems with offsets "has been the No. 1 thing that people have been worried about," said Joel Levin, vice president for business development at Climate Action Reserve, a nonprofit that issues credits for offset projects. "It's scared them off of the program." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/25/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Indigenous leaders rejecting California REDD hold governor responsible for their safety. As California lawmakers prepare to launch the state’s cap and trade program as part of its Global Warming Solutions Act, or AB32, indigenous leaders traveled to Sacramento to urge officials not to include an international forest-based carbon offset mechanism, known as REDD, in the law. REDD, which stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, is a controversial market-based policy mechanism that proposes to protect tropical forests in order to capture and store carbon dioxide pollution. Posted. http://www.foe.org/news/news-releases/2012-10-indigenous-leaders-rejecting-california-redd-hold-go Brown asked to cool it on cap-and-trade. A group of employer and taxpayer organizations has formally asked Gov. Jerry Brown to delay the scheduled Nov. 14 auction of greenhouse gas allowances long enough to “fix” the state’s cap-and-trade program. The auction would sell to regulated businesses the right to emit greenhouse gases in a scheme that would lower annually the permissible total emissions. Posted. http://www.vvdailypress.com/opinion/brown-37269-asked-trade.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Speed limit on ships urged for air quality. Setting a speed limit for cargo ships sailing near ports and coastlines could cut their emission of air pollutants by up to 70 percent, a U.S. study says. David R. Crocker III of the University of California, Riverside, and colleagues say their evaluation of the impact of vessel speed reduction policies such as those proposed by the California Air Resources board suggests they would help reduce the impact of marine shipping on Earth's climate and human health. Posted. http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2012/10/24/Speed-limit-on-ships-urged-for-air-quality/UPI-93481351106336/#ixzz2AG8kH6Oo FUELS Algae biofuel not sustainable now-U.S. research council. Biofuels made from algae, promoted by President Barack Obama as a possible way to help wean Americans off foreign oil, cannot be made now on a large scale without using unsustainable amounts of energy, water and fertilizer, the U.S. National Research Council reported on Wednesday. "Faced with today's technology, to scale up any more is going to put really big demands on ... not only energy input…Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/24/usa-biofuels-algae-idUSL1E8LODXX20121024 Oil Refining’s Fortunes Rise. The refinery business has long been the difficult stepchild of the oil industry, expensive to run, prone to accidents and a low-margin headache for executives who preferred drilling for gushers. But signs of the improving fortunes for the industry can be seen at Valero Energy’s Three Rivers refinery here, about 70 miles south of San Antonio at the doorstep of a giant new shale oil field. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/business/energy-environment/cheaper-oil-and-gas-give-a-lift-to-the-refining-business.html?pagewanted=all Hearing planned on alternative fuel tax break. The revenue department is holding a public hearing on proposed regulations that spell out limits on the state's alternative fuel vehicle tax credit. The tax break program's cost has grown much larger than estimated and has become a headache for Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration because of differing interpretations about what should be included. Proposed regulations, set for discussion at Thursday's hearing, would limit the tax credit program costs to an estimated $10 million…Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/25/hearing-planned-on-alternative-fuel-tax-break/ Southland gas prices falling; drivers say it's still not low enough. Just how far the region's gasoline prices have dropped from the sudden, scary peak of nearly three weeks ago could be seen Wednesday at an unbranded station in Calabasas. Attracting unwanted national attention during the spike, Low-P on Calabasas Road had been charging $5.79 for regular unleaded - and customers were still buying. On Wednesday, the station was charging $3.999 - about a 30 percent drop. Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/ci_21848252/southland-gas-prices-falling-drivers-say-its-still VEHICLES China's BYD sending electric cabs to London. Chinese automaker BYD Co. is sending 50 electric cabs to London in a boost to China's struggling makers of all-electric vehicles. BYD and cab company Green Tomato Cars Ltd. announced this week they will start trial use of 50 of BYD's e6 sedans in late 2013. They said it will be the British capital's first all-electric fleet. BYD, one of whose investors is Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Corp., is seen by industry analysts as China's most advanced competitor in the infant electric vehicle industry. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/25/chinas-byd-sending-electric-cabs-to-london/ GREEN ENERGY Green energy would save EU trillions by 2050: report. A green revolution to make EU energy almost totally carbon-free by 2050 would generate 3 trillion euros ($3.9 trillion) in fuel savings, a report commissioned by environmental campaigners said. The energy shift would already create around half a million extra jobs by 2020, researchers from German aerospace center DLR, which also specializes in energy and transport, found. The European Union has legislated to ensure that 20 percent of the energy mix is green by 2020, as part of a set of three main environmental goals. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/24/us-eu-greenpeace-idUSBRE89N0F120121024 U.K. Renewables Make Up 2% of Energy Bill Increases, Lobby Says. U.K. programs promoting the use of renewable power accounted for just 2 percent of the increase in consumer bills over two years, an industry lobby said, after Centrica Plc (CNA)’s British Gas and RWE Npower Plc raised charges. Renewables contributed 4 pounds ($6.40) to the average jump in a dual-fuel energy bill of about 205 pounds in the two years to July, the Renewable Energy Association said today, citing data from energy regulator Ofgem and the government. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-10-24/u-k-renewables-make-up-2-of-energy-bill-increases-lobby-says.html Cities Enticed by Pay-if-You-Save Energy Deals. WHEN the city of Brea, Calif., about 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles, set out to reduce its carbon emissions and save money on energy costs, the challenge was the same faced by many other cities nationwide: allocating the funds to pay for the program. Finding projects to make city buildings more energy efficient was far easier. So the city turned to a form of financing that has become common among government agencies at all levels: …Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/24/business/energy-environment/energy-service-contracts-a-boon-for-public-agencies.html?ref=earth&_r=0 Guess where all of our new energy came from last month? (Hint: Not coal). Last month, the United States added 433 megawatts of new electricity generation. And according to SustainableBusiness.com, all 433 of those megawatts came from renewable sources. Five wind projects totaling 300 megawatts (MW) and 18 solar projects for 133 MW were added, according to the latest “Energy Infrastructure Update” from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Energy Projects. Posted. http://grist.org/news/guess-where-all-of-our-new-energy-came-from-last-month-hint-not-coal/ MISCELLANEOUS New recycling program to start at KU football game. As Blaine Bengtson walked around outside Memorial Stadium following the Kansas University football game against Rice last month, he didn't like what he saw in the trash cans. "So many just plastic bottles and things that were totally recyclable were being thrown away," Bengtson said. For Bengtson, a KU junior from Salina, it was an assessment that confirmed the need for a project on which he was already hard at work: a new KU football gameday recycling program, which will kick off at Saturday's homecoming game against Texas. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/New-recycling-program-to-start-at-KU-football-game-3980784.php#ixzz2AKbH4It0 Medical pot growers hurting California forest habitat. California's annual medical marijuana harvest is just about done, but this year brings a new revelation sweeping the nascent industry: The feel-good herb may not, in fact, be so good for the environment. From golden Sierra foothills to forested coastal mountains, an explosion of pseudo-legal medical marijuana farms has dramatically changed the state's landscape over the past two years. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/25/4937606/medical-pot-growers-hurting-california.html#storylink=cpy Treasure Island sites called safe from radiation. Health officials find no health risks at 24 areas after contamination fears raised. State health officials have declared day care and youth centers, ballfields, some residential backyards and other sites on Treasure Island safe from radiation in response to fears about the area’s nuclear past. The surveys taken from 24 publically accessible locations were not part of the Navy’s scheduled cleanup program, but were prompted by public concern about exposure to radioactivity on the former Treasure Island Naval Station. http://www.baycitizen.org/health/story/treasure-island-areas-declared-safe/ Facing onslaught over climate position, Lungren struggles to hold onto his House seat. When it comes to Democrats' and environmentalists' efforts to chip away at the Republican House majority on Election Day, no Republican has a bigger target on his back than California's Rep. Dan Lungren. And he wants you to know it. "It is nice to be here to prove to you that I am the same person you voted for in the past; I am not that guy on television," Lungren said at a recent forum here hosted by the local Chamber of Commerce. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/25/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS COLUMN-European biofuel push hard to reverse: Wynn (The author is a Reuters market analyst. The views expressed are his own.) European policymakers are discovering the difficulty of curbing a biofuel industry they weaned five years ago as a low-carbon alternative to crude oil but which is increasingly at odds with the environment and food production. To halt or put into reverse a $22 billion European biofuel industry requires a sound justification. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/24/column-wynn-biofuel-carbon-idUSL5E8LN8G620121024 Re "California gas prices and reality" (Dan Walters, Oct. 16): Dan Walters fails to recognize the tremendous benefits of California's cleaner gasoline blends. The state's gasoline rule cuts smog-forming emissions that contribute to health emergencies like asthma attacks, chronic bronchitis and other lung and heart illnesses. Given our severe smog problems, California is right to require these tighter standards to protect public health. Walters also doesn't acknowledge the benefits that will come from kicking our addiction to dirty petroleum fuels altogether. Pursuing clean fuel alternatives will make the biggest public health impact in our state. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/24/4935581/california-gas-rule-cuts-smog.html#storylink=cpy The big bottle and can rip-off. California's recycling program is turning into a pot of gold for fraudsters. The state's billion-dollar recycling fund is being raided by out-of-state hustlers who are loading up trucks with bottles and cans to redeem here. Little oversight and few rules have invited abuse. Next-door states, which don't offer redemption fees, are a ready source for empties that can be packed up, driven across the border, then turned in for cash at any of the state's 2,300 recycling centers. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/The-big-bottle-and-can-rip-off-3976013.php#ixzz2AKcSCnNs John Horgan: Broadway rail crossing decision a tough call. The Burlingame City Council found itself in a pickle last week. It was nearly four years in the making. Ever since California voters approved Proposition 1A in November 2008, cities along the Peninsula have been struggling to deal with that bond measure which provides moneys to begin construction of a high-speed rail project in the Golden State. That's because fast-train planners have been preparing to use the local Caltrain right of way (which is to be electrified in the bargain) for their new system. . Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/john-horgan/ci_21848005/john-horgan-broadway-rail-crossing-decision-tough-call Is the Carbon Market Just Hot Air for the Environment? As California, environment stewards and the sixth largest economy in the world, prepares to launch the most extensive carbon market in North America Nov. 14, stakeholders can look to Europe to learn the dangers from selling too many unverifiable emission credits and permits. The state plans to auction off 10 percent hand of the credits and hand out the others free of charge. California anticipates that businesses will pay some $1 billion over the next five years for the credits. Posted. http://business.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981721610 How Does Climate Change Factor into Decision 2012? Last election season, presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and John McCain agreed that climate change was a critical issue demanding urgent attention. Four years later, both candidates Obama and Mitt Romney barely discuss climate change. In fact, the words were never uttered during any of the three presidential debates. Coral Davenport has been investigating what’s behind the change as the energy and environment correspondent for The National Journal. Posted. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/environment/climate-of-doubt/how-does-climate-change-factor-into-decision-2012/ BLOGS An Airline Fleet Fueled by Natural Gas. At the end of next year, Qatar Airways is scheduled to open a new airport that will include a 25-meter swimming pool and squash courts, among other amenities. But it will also be extraordinary from an energy standpoint because it will pump airline fuel made from natural gas. Qatar has relatively little oil and vast supplies of natural gas. Oil goes on tankers to distant destinations, but moving natural gas is much harder for the Persian Gulf emirate. So Royal Dutch/Shell built a gas-to-liquids plant called Pearl that makes a variety of liquid fuels. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/25/an-airline-fleet-fueled-by-natural-gas/?ref=earth An inside look at California's cap-and-trade program. California is gearing up to set in motion cap-and-trade, its market-based program for curbing greenhouse gas emissions, with the state’s first auction for carbon allowances next month. The program was created by the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, which aims to reduce emissions in the state to its levels in the 1990s by 2020. The way it works: Businesses, utilities, refineries and manufacturers in California that spew more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year are required to obtain allowances to emit greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2012/10/25/inside-look-at-california-cap-and-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: Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:13:46 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 26, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 26, 2012. 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 Distant air pollution might bite Butte County farmers. Local farmers might have to replace their tractors and other diesel equipment in a few years, because of how bad the air pollution is in the San Joaquin Valley and Los Angeles basin. The Butte County Air Quality Management District board got that news Thursday morning at the end of a board-requested review of the history of air pollution controls imposed on farmers. County Air Pollution Control Officer Jim Wagoner told the board the so-called "tractor rules" …Posted. http://www.dailybreeze.com/california/ci_21860018/distant-air-pollution-might-bite-butte-county-farmers http://www.orovillemr.com/news/ci_21859949/air-pollution-might-bite-local-farmers DAY CARE CENTERS Treasure Island sites safe, state says. State health officials have declared day care and youth centers, ball fields, some residential backyards and other sites on Treasure Island safe from radiation in response to fears about the area's nuclear past. The state surveyed the 24 locations in response to public concern about exposure to radioactivity at the former Treasure Island Naval Station. Health department technicians found negligible levels of radiation posing no health threat at those locations, according to reports produced in response to a Bay Citizen public records request. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Treasure-Island-sites-safe-state-says-3982610.php#ixzz2AQCl0vm3 http://www.mercurynews.com/health/ci_21848311/california-daycare-centers-exceed-standards-formaldehyde-study-reveals http://www.kqed.org/news/story/2012/10/25/110104/study_finds_elevated_chemical_levels_in_day_care_centers?category=science http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49569430#.UIq6E9Vp33U http://www.healthcanal.com/environmental-health/33291-Study-finds-elevated-levels-formaldehyde-other-contaminants-day-care-centers.html http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/state&id=8859403 http://news.softpedia.com/news/High-Levels-of-Contaminants-Formaldehyde-Found-in-Californian-Day-Care-Centers-302171.shtml?http://tinyurl.com/3ts4jsg+utm_source=dlvr.it http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=164334 http://www.kionrightnow.com/story/19909050/day-care-centers-may-expose-children-to-contaminants http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-10-elevated-formaldehyde-contaminants-day-centers.html CLIMATE CHANGE Cost of CO2 rules risk more UK energy price hikes. Britain's utilities face a 2-billion-pound ($3.2 billion) bill in 2013 from schemes to cut carbon dioxide emissions, Reuters data show, risking higher prices for consumers and more discomfort for a government anxious to keep energy costs down. Prime Minister David Cameron threw Britain's energy policy into confusion last week when, amid rising prices, he gave an unexpected pledge to parliament that energy suppliers would be forced to give customers their cheapest tariffs. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/26/britian-power-carbon-idUSL5E8LQANM20121026 Calif.'s cap-and-trade system is tested and ready to launch, regulators say. California's landmark carbon cap-and-trade system is set to start next month without delay, a state air board official assured market participants yesterday. "We are ready to go," said Michael Gibbs, assistant executive officer at the California Air Resources Board (ARB). He added, "We're really excited to get the program up and going." Speaking at the Environmental Markets Association's annual fall meeting, Gibbs addressed traders…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/26/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Cap-and-trade system likely to survive lawsuits – experts. California's pending cap-and-trade system is likely to survive most legal challenges, court experts said yesterday. The Golden State's landmark program is designed in ways that should allow it to steer clear of problems that have tripped up other green rules, said panelists at the Environmental Markets Association's fall meeting here. "The cap-and-trade program will likely go forward without significant tinkering by the courts," said Cara Horowitz, executive director of the Emmett Center on Climate Change and the Environment at the UCLA School of Law. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/26/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Pay-to-save programs help cities cut their carbon emissions. Brea, Calif., about 25 miles southeast of Los Angeles, set out to cut its carbon emissions but had trouble finding cash to pay for projects. So the city turned to an energy-savings performance contract that requires no upfront costs and allows the city to pay for the project over time using the savings on utility bills. It's becoming a popular method among other cities. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/26/10 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Climate skeptics, seeing rising prospects for a carbon tax, vow to make it 'toxic' Climate skeptics concerned about the rise of conservative groups favoring a carbon tax are preparing a response that seeks to make the policy politically "toxic" for Republicans who might consider it. The pre-emptive effort, still in its early stages, is designed to discredit the idea that taxing carbon emissions is a good trade-off for lower corporate and individual tax rates, as the nation lurches toward, perhaps, a wide-ranging overhaul to its tax system. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/26/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Ports eye LNG as marine fuel but shift will be slow. Ports around the world are considering liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a ship fuel in a drive to reduce carbon emissions, but the shift will be slow due to the high capital costs of fitting ports and vessels and a lack of investors, industry players say. The Rotterdam and Singapore ports, both major international sea transportation hubs, recently announced plans to invest in facilities that would allow ships to take LNG as fuel instead of oil-based fuel products, known as bunker fuels. osted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/26/lng-ports-fuel-idUSL5E8LPH9620121026 Mexico clashes with auto industry over fuel efficiency. Carmaker Toyota and Mexico's auto industry have sued the Mexican government to try to block proposed regulations to align the fuel efficiency standard of cars and light trucks with that of the United States to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Toyota last month obtained a federal court injunction to stop the government's work on Nom-163, a rule that would require the fleet of new cars and light trucks to achieve a fuel economy rate of 14.9 kilometers per liter, or 35 miles per gallon…Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/26/mexico-auto-idUSL1E8LQ8AU20121026 Shale Glut Becomes $2 Diesel Using Gas-to-Liquids Plants. Drivers are next in line to benefit from the U.S. shale boom. Technologies that create motor fuels from raw materials other than oil, some drawing on techniques first commercialized in Nazi Germany, are poised to turn the glut of U.S. natural gas into energy for cars, trucks and planes. A Chesapeake Energy Corp.-backed company and Oxford Catalysts Group Plc are planning U.S. factories to make diesel, gasoline and jet fuel from gas, which fell to a decade-low price this year. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-10-24/nazi-technology-turns-cheap-shale-gas-into-sub-2-diesel-energy.html Judge's death may alter fuel standard ruling. The future of California's low-carbon fuels standard, requiring suppliers to cut tailpipe emissions of greenhouse gases, may be shaped by a random drawing to replace a federal appeals court judge who died after hearing arguments in the case last week. Judge Betty Binns Fletcher, part of a three-judge panel of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that held a hearing Oct. 16 on a lawsuit by fuel companies, truckers and out-of-state farmers, died Monday in Seattle. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Judge-s-death-may-alter-fuel-standard-ruling-3982612.php#ixzz2AQCFyPiq Westerly students donate $25K worth of bioheat. Westerly youth group that hopes to expand its grease and oil recycling project into Providence is presenting $25,000 worth of bioheat to five charities. Students on the Junior WIN Team of the Westerly Innovation Network are in Providence on Friday to formally announce the donation and demonstrate how households can recycle their oil waste. Mayor Angel Taveras (tuh-VEHR'-us) will welcome them to Veazie Street Elementary School. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Westerly-students-donate-25K-worth-of-bioheat-3984314.php#ixzz2AQDpLxvs Drilling waste soars with ND oil output. The state Health Department says waste from drilling activity in western North Dakota has grown exponentially with the output of oil, and more special landfills are proposed to keep pace. Data obtained by The Associated Press show the amount of so-called oilfield special waste has increased nearly 5,100 percent in the past decade, to more than 512,000 tons last year. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Drilling-waste-soars-with-ND-oil-output-3984334.php#ixzz2AQDU2H6K Lack of competition in Calif. gasoline market sends prices soaring. Earlier this month, gasoline prices in California hit a record high of $4.67 a gallon. The share of that price going to refiners, known as the margin, jumped to $1.22 a gallon -- up 75 percent from the week before and nearly triple the average margin of 42 cents a gallon, according to California Energy Commission data. That led to huge protests from consumers and calls for investigations by senators, and it left gasoline station owners raising prices while making little profit. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/26/19 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY BP shelves plans for cellulosic plant and focuses on research center and demonstration plant. BP Biofuels is shelving a plan to build a 36-million-gallon plant for ethanol from sugar cane, the company announced yesterday. Instead, the company will be shifting resources from its proposed plant in Florida to a research facility in San Diego and a demonstration plant in Jennings, La., to continue developing and testing its technology. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/26/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Novozymes cuts its U.S. ethanol production forecast further. Novozymes, the world's biggest maker of enzymes used in ethanol production, slightly reduced its forecast for the U.S. ethanol market this year amid falling gasoline prices and high raw material costs. The Danish company now expects full-year 2012 U.S. ethanol production to end at around 13.3 billion gallons, a decrease of approximately 5 percent compared with 2011 and slightly lower than the 13.4 billion gallons Novozymes forecast in August. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/26/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Methane destabilizing off East Coast may add to global warming – study. Temperature changes in the Gulf Stream off the East Coast have destabilized frozen methane hydrate deposits trapped under nearly 4,000 square miles of seafloor. Researchers estimate that 2.5 metric gigatons of frozen methane hydrate could separate into gas and water. It is not clear whether that is happening yet, but that methane gas would have the potential to rise up through the ocean and into the atmosphere, where it would add to the greenhouse gases warming Earth. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/26/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Electric-car maker Tesla bucks traditional dealership network. Tesla opens its own stores to sell its flagship Model S directly to consumers. Some auto dealers and regional associations have sued the automaker. When electric-car company Tesla Motors Inc. started selling its flagship Model S luxury hatchback earlier this year, it eschewed the traditional dealership network to open its own stores. But that's not sitting well with U.S. auto dealers, who have controlled new-vehicle sales for nearly a century. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-tesla-20121026,0,3280317.story GREEN ENERGY California PUC launches probe of San Onofre outage. The probe will look at the costs already incurred in the long-running outage at the nuclear power plant resulting from defective replacement steam generators. The California Public Utilities Commission has launched an investigation into the nine-month outage at the San Onofre nuclear plant, which could result in rates eventually being lowered or money refunded to utility customers. The five commissioners voted unanimously to launch the investigation at a meeting Thursday in Irvine, the first such probe in California in a decade. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-san-onofre-20121026,0,2195924.story Obama Agrees: Wind Generators Make More Than Just Energy. eMarine Systems, a Southwest Wind Power master distributor, is benefiting from this new interest in wind generators. President Obama visited the highly endorsed Southwest Wind Power in Flagstaff, AZ because they are the largest worldwide manufacturer of small wind generators (100 KW and below). It is difficult to truly appreciate how emerging technologies impact our economy. It is not just about manufacturing of wind generators. The generators require poles to mount them plus wires and controls for proper connectivity and installation. Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/obama-agrees-wind-generators-more-just-energy-130624184.html MISCELLANEOUS Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District set to start restrictions. The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District has announced that the 2012-13 season of its Don't Light Tonight program will launch on Nov. 1. Wood smoke is a significant contributor to wintertime air pollution in Yolo and Solano counties, air district officials said, adding that the smoke contains fine particulate pollution, which has been shown to have serious health effects when breathed, particularly for children, the elderly and those with respiratory ailments such as asthma. Posted. http://www.dailybreeze.com/california/ci_21860502/yolo-solano-air-quality-management-district-set-start Going green: Preschool tries nontoxic pest control. When the directors and staff at Peregrine Early Childhood Center in Davis decided to take a completely green approach to pest management this year, they were fortunate to have in their midst Belinda Messenger. Messenger’s twin daughters, 3-year-olds Charlotte and Margaret, attend Peregrine. And Messenger herself is an environmental scientist with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, which has developed an integrated pest management program specifically for child care facilities emphasizing non-chemical pest management. Posted. http://www.davisenterprise.com/local-news/going-green-at-peregrine-preschool-tries-nontoxic-pest-control/ OPINIONS Green energy’s top foe: Other greens. ‘Think globally, act locally”: Amazingly often, that principle leaves the environmental movement fighting environmental projects. And a major case of it may be coming soon to New York. Indeed, New York City’s already gotten a taste of it: Just last year, Park Slope residents’ leveraged environmental-review requirements to sue the city to remove bike lanes by Prospect Park. Enough copycat lawsuits could mean big bills for the city: In 2006, an environmental suit against San Francisco’s bike-lane plan kicked off a five-year legal battle that cost the city over $1 million…Posted. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/green_energy_top_foe_other_greens_zTGyVtTZumohb1OrpHDuiJ Italy blames the messengers. Scientists shouldn't be jailed because they can't precisely predict the future. I used to say, during doctoral examinations in theoretical physics, that the stakes were a bit more relaxed than passing or failing a medical student. After all, granting a doctorate was unlikely to result in life or death for anyone. Well, an Italian court decided this week that I was wrong. Six scientists were convicted of manslaughter because their data did not allow them to predict a 6.3-magnitude temblor in the city of L'Aquila in 2009 with enough certainty to issue a safety warning. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-krauss-earthquake-manslaughter-italy-20121026,0,449027,print.story Editorial: Californians stranded on a 'fuel island'. State motorists vulnerable to price spikes. Prices at gasoline pumps in California have receded from the record highs recorded two weeks ago and may well drop below $4 a gallon, on average, by Thanksgiving. The development is welcomed by the state's motorists, who, in some cases, saw gasoline prices rise by as much as 20 cents a gallon overnight, and, in some locations, fuel prices top $5 a gallon. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/state-375727-california-gasoline.html Carbon Tax: Will Tweedle Dum Snatch Defeat From the Jaws of Victory? Are carbon taxes an idea whose time has come? That’s what some Republicans are saying, including former Secy. of State George Schulz, former South Carolina Rep. Bob Inglis, and several economists advising Gov. Mitt Romney: Greg Mankiw, Glenn Hubbard, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, and Arthur Laffer. Romney opposes a carbon tax, though he has not made a compelling case against it. He should do so, because carbon taxes are political poison for the GOP. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/10/25/carbon-tax-will-tweedle-dum-snatch-defeat-from-the-jaws-of-victory/ BLOGS Is U.S. climate policy better off without cap-and-trade? When negotiations over a cap-and-trade bill in the Senate collapsed back in April 2010, environmentalists despaired. The legislation to reduce U.S. carbon emissions, wrote Ryan Lizza,”perhaps the last best chance to deal with global warming in the Obama era, was officially dead.” But a surprising thing happened next. Even though cap-and-trade died, U.S. carbon emissions kept dropping. Since 2006, the United States has cut its carbon-dioxide emissions by 7.7 percent — comparable to what Europe is achieving under its cap-and-trade system. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/25/was-u-s-climate-policy-better-off-without-cap-and-trade/ Toward a Tougher Cap and Trade Program. The multistate carbon trading system known as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is undergoing its first comprehensive review since it was first put into effect in 2009. While the nine participating Northeastern and mid-Atlantic states, including New York, have found that RGGI (pronounced reggie) has succeeded in producing almost $1 billion for energy efficiency programs and in encouraging reliance on renewable energy, they are considering making some changes. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/26/toward-a-tougher-cap-and-trade-program/?pagewanted=print Reports of Clean Energy's Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated. If the notion "he who lives by the subsidy dies by the subsidy" is true, then oil, gas and nuclear companies must be dying a thousand deaths. "A Sad Green Story," the recent New York Times article by David Brooks, is way off the mark with where we need to go as a country and as an entire planet. Now is not the time to malign investments in our health, welfare and a sustainable energy future. The idea that our energy industry should be a free market, without "government interference," is regrettably mistaken. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-cowell/reports-of-clean-energy_b_2024115.html?view=print&comm_ref=false Stavins: Cap-and-Trade, Carbon Taxes, and My Neighbor’s Lovely Lawn. Speaking of externalities associated with energy use, Robert Stavins throws cold water on "current enthusiasm about carbon taxes in the academic and broader policy-wonk community": Cap-and-Trade, Carbon Taxes, and My Neighbor’s Lovely Lawn, by Robert Stavins: …my conclusion in 1998 strongly favored a market-based carbon policy, but was somewhat neutral between carbon taxes and cap-and-trade. Indeed, at that time and for the subsequent eight years or so, I remained agnostic regarding what I viewed as the trade-offs between cap-and-trade and carbon taxes. Posted. http://www.favstocks.com/stavins-cap-and-trade-carbon-taxes-and-my-neighbor%E2%80%99s-lovely-lawn/25915823/ ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 14:24:08 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 29, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 29, 2012. 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 DWP sues air district over Owens Valley dust rules. The department accuses the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District and one of its officials of issuing unreasonable and unlawful orders. As a boy, Ted Schade couldn't get enough of old westerns with heroes standing alone in defense of towns that wouldn't stand up for themselves. Now a 55-year-old man, Schade believes he is experiencing his own version of "High Noon." As air pollution control officer in the 110-mile-long Owens Valley…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-owens-dust-20121028,0,6699539.story CLIMATE CHANGE New UN "atlas" links climate change, health. Two U.N. agencies have mapped the intersection of health and climate in an age of global warming, showing that there are spikes in meningitis when dust storms hit and outbreaks of dengue fever when hard rains come. Officials said Monday that their "Atlas of Health and Climate" is meant to be a tool for leaders to use to get early warning of disease outbreaks. Though the data or conclusions aren't necessarily new, the way in which they are presented may sharpen governments' ability to respond to the threats posed by rising temperatures and changing climate. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_UN_HEALTH_AND_CLIMATE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Other Related Articles http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/new-un-atlas-links-evidence-for-climate-change-on-spread-of-disease/2012/10/29/aaa7f6a2-21be-11e2-92f8-7f9c4daf276a_story.html http://fremonttribune.com/news/world/europe/new-un-atlas-links-climate-change-health/article_93704498-c633-5720-829d-6416c4f9413f.html Rule Tweaks May Dissuade California Carbon Bidders, RBC Says. Tweaks to the rules governing the California carbon market may dissuade bidders in the state’s first auction next month, said a trader at RBC Capital Markets. California’s air resources board on Aug. 17 suspended a rule requiring companies to pledge annually that they haven’t engaged in “shuffling” electricity resources to comply with state emissions limits. The board may propose regulatory amendments by the middle of next year to change supply of free allowances to factories at risk of shifting their emissions to regions outside the state, according to a Sept. 20 statement on the board’s website. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-29/rule-tweaks-may-dissuade-california-carbon-bidders-rbc-says Calif. price-capping proposal doesn't raise industry's eyebrows. California regulators have vowed to figure out how to keep prices in their economywide greenhouse gas market from rising above predetermined levels, but it's unclear what political or practical implications the move will have. With the state's first auction of carbon dioxide permits less than a month away, the Air Resources Board on Oct. 18 directed its staff to come up with ways to keep prices from rising above a small set-aside of allowances that will be sold at a maximum price of $50 per ton in 2013… Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/29/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Weather and climate scientists need to work more with medical officials on environmental disasters – experts. Meteorologists need to reach out to public health officials to address medical issues that arise from extreme weather events and climate change, according to experts. Droughts, floods and heat waves have profound impacts on the health sector in many countries, but communicating the potential of these disasters to doctors, first responders and officials is often challenging, said Wayne Elliott, an international relations specialist at the World Meteorological Organization. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/29/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS California gas drops by 26.3 cents in last week, but remains high. The average price of a gallon of gasoline in California dropped by the biggest amount yet for a one-week period after the recent new record, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Report. The state's average declined 26.3 cents, to $4.164 a gallon. That's the good news. The bad news is that California prices remain far above 2011 levels. The state's average has dropped 50.7 cents a gallon since reaching a record $4.671 a gallon on Oct. 9. But that's still 32.3 cents a gallon higher than it was on Oct. 29 last year. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-california-gas-drops-20121029,0,3660909.story Free falling: gasoline prices. San Diego gasoline prices are back to where they were on Oct. 1, at the outset of a record breaking spike. The average price Monday for a gallon of regular unleaded was $4.16, down from $4.44 a week ago, according to AAA's daily fuel gauge report. Local prices reached an all-time peak of $4.73 on Oct. 8. The arrival of Hurricane Sandy on the East Coast was unlikely to have an immediate effect on West Coast fuel supplies and pricing. Major refineries in New Jersey and Pennsylvania had closed or significantly reduced capacity, the Department of Energy reported. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/29/free-falling-gasoline-prices/ VEHICLES Tesla stores challenge auto dealerships. Inspired by Apple electronics stores, Tesla Motors is taking the pitch for its new luxury plug-in electric car to high foot-traffic malls and shopping areas, expanding a small network of sleek stores and "galleries" across the country. Opening its all-glass doors on Friday, a Tesla store at an upscale shopping mall in San Diego extolled the aesthetic, engineering and environmental prowess of the back-ordered Model S hatchback sedan. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/26/tesla-auto-stores-galleries-challenge-auto-dealers/ Ford Sells Climate-Control Unit. The Ford Motor Company said on Monday that it was selling a climate-control unit to a joint venture between Valeo of France and V. Johnson Enterprises, completing Ford’s plan to sell off a collection of auto parts manufacturing businesses. The climate-control unit, which was sold for an undisclosed price, was one of 17 facilities Ford took over in 2005 from Visteon, its struggling former car parts arm. The idea was to ensure that Ford would have access to crucial components even if Visteon failed. Ford organized those businesses into Automotive Component Holdings, or A.C.H., with the aim of selling off the divisions over time. Posted. http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/ford-to-sell-climate-control-unit/ GREEN ENERGY S.Africa okays $5.4 bln in clean energy projects. South Africa has given the green light to an initial $5.4 billion worth of clean energy projects that will allow it to procure 1,400 MW of electricity and help reduce reliance on coal-fired plants, the energy minister said on Monday. The government has selected 28 wind and solar projects in the first stage of the programme, with the contracts expected to be signed on Nov. 5, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said. "These bidders will be investing about 47 billion rand ($5.4 billion) in power generation and will create a number of jobs during construction and operation of these power plants," Peters said in a statement. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/29/safrica-power-idUSL5E8LTD8K20121029 Homeowners make green upgrades that pay for themselves. Jan Shomaker doesn't have to look far to find the benefits of going green. She remodeled her three-bedroom, two-bathroom Mission Viejo house to add energy-efficient lighting and appliances and natural ventilation to reduce summer cooling costs. Solar panels partially cover her roof, and solar tubes shoot light into dark rooms. Homebuyers are more likely to pay extra for "green" upgrades that save money. Green-designated Realtors and others said these components provide the most bang for your buck. Her average electric bill? Just 91 cents. A month. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/green-375982-homes-home.html Green not a panacea for sellers. Not all sales of "green" homes have happy endings. At least two green-certified homes in Orange County have yet to sell during the past 21/2 years, even after steep price cuts. The 5,000-square-foot home at 1811 Gisler Ave. in Costa Mesa came on the market in April 2010 for nearly $3 million with the highest LEED rating for an Orange County home. (The U.S. Green Building Council requires that properties meet special eco-friendly criteria to get an LEED rating.) Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/green-376030-home-million.html MISCELLANEOUS Obama and Romney on environmental issues: A Grand Canyon of difference. Two months after taking office, President Barack Obama signed a historic wilderness bill that banned logging, mining and oil drilling across 2 million acres of scenic federal lands, including the Sierra Nevada, wildflower meadows on Oregon's Mount Hood and vast vistas of California desert. But today, with less than two weeks until Election Day, the environment as a campaign issue is as quiet as some of those remote landscapes. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/presidentelect/ci_21858644/obama-and-romney-environmental-issues-grand-canyon-difference New environmental curriculum corrects plastic bag information. The state’s Environmental Protection Agency finalized a revision of a controversial K-12 environmental curriculum on plastic bags Friday. California Watch, sister site of The Bay Citizen, reported last year that whole sections of an 11th-grade teachers' edition guide for a new curriculum had been lifted almost verbatim from comments and suggestions submitted by the American Chemistry Council, the chemical and plastics industry trade group. Posted. http://www.baycitizen.org/environment/story/new-environmental-curriculum-corrects/ CalRecycle launches ‘Check Your Number’ campaign. Would you like to help reduce the rate of pollution of our waterways by almost half and, in the process, save a lot of money in car maintenance at the same time? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), nearly 40% of the pollution in America’s waterways is from used motor oil and that just a gallon of used motor oil can pollute up to a million–a million–gallons of natural water. Posted. http://globalnation.inquirer.net/54316/calrecycle-launches-check-your-number-campaign OPINIONS Election Campaigns Prove Global Warming Crisis Skeptics Won The Climate Debate. Evidenced by public cooling towards global warming peril as a hot campaign issue, it is apparent that the Democrat party has been encountering a political climate change. The subject obviously hasn’t been viewed as a winning issue, nor has the anti-carbon “alternative energy” rationale supported by that contrived hysteria. Nope, you’d hardly know from the presidential and V.P. debates that, as the 2012 Democrat party platform warns: “We know that climate change is one of the biggest threats of this generation…an economic, environmental, and national security catastrophe in the making.” Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2012/10/28/election-campaigns-prove-global-warming-crisis-skeptics-won-the-climate-debate/ SILVA: Sacramento politicians to blame for closure of Builders Supply. On Tuesday, the Town of Paradise is hosting an event for local contractors who do business with Builders Supply, which is closing at the end of the month. The idea is to introduce those contractors to both ACE Thomas Hardware and Foothill Lumber – obviously in an effort to keep those sales tax dollars in Paradise instead of losing them to valley lumber companies. But it's an event that need not be happening if politicians in Sacramento – namely, legislative Democrats who have run this state nearly unchecked since 1959 – had listened to the GOP to simply delay AB32. Posted. http://www.paradisepost.com/opinion/ci_21863840 BLOGS Talk of a Wind Subsidy ‘Phaseout’. The wind industry, fighting to hold onto a generous tax credit set to expire in December, has been arguing that it does not need the support forever - just a little while longer, until it can compete with fossil fuels on its own. The tax break subsidizes wind power by 2.2 cents a kilowatt hour to bring its cost closer to that of conventional fuels, and it has periodically been renewed by Congress with support from both parties. But like other subsidies for alternative energy…Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/talk-of-a-wind-subsidy-phaseout/?pagewanted=print For New York, the Issue of Steps Not Taken. With the last hurricane to hit New York dating back to the 1800's, residents have so far lacked the impetus to demand concrete strategies for dealing with the potential devastation to housing, the subway system and the electrical infrastructure from a major modern-day storm. Now Hurricane Sandy threatens major flooding from a storm surge that could reach up to 14 feet above the average sea level here. Some scientists suggested Monday that once New Yorkers have moved to higher ground and weathered the hurricane, they should begin to take more decisive steps to adapt to more of the same. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/for-new-york-the-issue-of-steps-not-taken/?pagewanted=print The #Frankenstorm in Climate Context. As communities from the Carolinas to Maine brace for high storm surges, winds and downpours, there’s a growing climate discussion building around #Frankenstorm, which is the favored Twitter handle for the extraordinarily vast and potent nor’easter that is evolving as Hurricane Sandy, already a killer, collides with an Arctic cold front. You can track specific developments in and around New York here and follow the details of the storm’s track and impacts via Jeff Masters, the Capital Weather Gang and Weather.gov. But what is the role, if any, of greenhouse-drive global warming in this kind of rare system? Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/the-frankenstorm-in-climate-context/ Frankenstorm: Has Climate Change Created A Monster? t was not a good year for people, weather and climate. The winter was strangely warm in many places and the summer ridiculously hot. As a large fraction of the country suffered through extreme or even extraordinary drought many folks naturally wondered, "Is this climate change?" Then along came a presidential election in which the words "climate change" disappeared from the dialogue. Posted. http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/10/28/163812770/hurricane-csi-frankenstorm-sandy-and-climate-change ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 12:32:06 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 30, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 30, 2012. 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 Niland air quality reaches unhealthy level for some. Air quality levels in the Niland area have reached unhealthy levels for sensitive groups, according to an alert from the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children are the groups most at risk, especially when they are physically active, according to the alert. It is because levels of particulate matter 10 reached levels of 101 on the air quality index. Posted. http://articles.ivpressonline.com/2012-10-29/people-with-cardiopulmonary-disease_34802071 Clearing the air: What an HVAC cleaner should really do in your home. Those statistics about indoor air pollution and it’s relation to respiratory problems convinced you it was time to get your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (HVAC) cleaned. You were even looking forward to the increased energy efficiency that a clean system can provide. But $49 and one very noisy service call later, you’re still sneezing and you haven’t seen any dip in your energy bill. What happened? Posted. http://www.egcitizen.com/ara/real_estate/c2da5ff8-b49c-5bb1-baf0-bb9143d3c922.txt CLIMATE CHANGE South Korea to Accelerate HCFC Emissions Phase Out by 10 Years. South Korea plans to phase out emissions of hydrochlorofluorocarbons, or HCFCs, by 2030, 10 years faster than agreed to under the Montreal Protocol on the reduction of ozone-depleting substances. The Korean government, adhering to the ozone-protection rules of the Montreal Protocol, will next year start imposing ceilings on the production and consumption of HCFCs, gases that gained favor in the early 1990s as an alternative to chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said in an e-mailed statement. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-30/south-korea-to-accelerate-hcfc-emissions-phase-out-by-10-years.html Rule Tweaks May Dissuade California Carbon Bidders, RBC Says. Tweaks to the rules governing the California carbon market may dissuade bidders in the state’s first auction next month, said a trader at RBC Capital Markets. California’s air resources board on Aug. 17 suspended a rule requiring companies to pledge annually that they haven’t engaged in “shuffling” electricity resources to comply with state emissions limits. The board may propose regulatory amendments by the middle of next year to change supply of free allowances to factories at risk of shifting their emissions to regions outside the state, according to a Sept. 20 statement on the board’s website. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-29/rule-tweaks-may-dissuade-california-carbon-bidders-rbc-says If New York’s carbon emissions were solid, they’d bury the Empire State Building within a day. It’s pretty hard to visualize air pollution. Smog at least was smoggy, but carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are invisible to the naked eye. Carbon Visuals took a crack at showing people exactly how much carbon dioxide New York City dumped in the atmosphere in 2010, and their concept — in which a blue ball 33 feet across represents the metric ton of carbon dioxide gas released by the city every 0.58 seconds — actually does a great job of bringing home the gigantic amounts of waste we’re creating. Posted. http://grist.org/list/if-new-yorks-carbon-emissions-were-solid-theyd-bury-the-empire-state-building-within-a-day/ Countdown to California's "Cap and Trade" Carbon Credit Auction. After a series of setbacks, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) now seems poised to host its historic initial auction for California carbon emission credits on November 14. The auction is a key part of the greenhouse gas (GHG) cap and trade regulation, which, in turn, is a central component of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (also known as Assembly Bill 32), signed into law by former California Governor Schwarzenegger. AB 32 requires California to reduce its GHG emissions to 1990 levels by the end of 2020. Posted. http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/countdown-to-californias-cap-and-trade-23856/ US actions on climate change in the next administration. For over two decades the EU has established a track record in global leadership on climate change. While producing mixed results, the EU remains committed to regional and global policies and actions advancing energy sustainability. Although sovereign debt, financial and other economic distresses have rocked the EU since 2008, these difficulties have not lessened the prominence of climate change on the EU’s political agenda. Posted. http://www.iss.europa.eu/publications/detail/article/us-actions-on-climate-change-in-the-next-administration/ Climate change powers "Frankenstorm" Sandy. A record-smashing superstorm is expected to slam into the eastern seaboard of the United States today. After rampaging though the Caribbean islands, hurricane Sandy has swelled into a massive storm system as it plows along the east coast. Tropical force winds span over 1,500 km -- making it the "largest hurricane in Atlantic history." An expanse of open ocean more than 2,500km across is frothing with waves greater than 12 feet high. Posted. http://www.vancouverobserver.com/print/node/13351 VEHICLES Pike Research US consumer survey finds decreasing fundamental interest in plug-in electric vehicles. A new Pike Research survey assessing US consumer demand, preferences, and price sensitivity for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and electric vehicle charging equipment (EVCE) has found a decline in the fundamental interest in PEVs among survey participants between 2011 and 2012. In 2012, 35% of respondents stated that they would be extremely or very interested in purchasing a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or battery electric vehicle (BEV) with a range of 40 to 100 miles and an electricity cost equivalent to $0.75 per gallon. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/pikepev-20121029.html Japan, US, France, Germany and China are top 5 markets in EV readiness. In an EV market report by McKinsey, Japan, the United States, France, Germany and China are ranked as the top 5 countries in terms of EV market maturity level in 2012. Sales numbers in the five countries indicate that the EV market is taking off in US and Europe, while in China and Japan the market is shrinking. The sales of electric vehicles witnessed positive growth in the United States and Europe in the second quarter of 2012. The sales of electric vehicles amounted to 7,931, a 28% growth compared to the first quarter. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/5022 GREEN ENERGY Microgrids could bring big green changes to power systems. Sandy may look bad now, but could it (and the other Frankenstorms before it) actually inspire change? If enough power goes down, if enough damage is done, if enough people demand it — well, maybe. But that change would be small. Micro, in fact. Millions of East Coasters have already lost power this week and millions more stand to lose it in the coming days. Our reliance on central power plants and large grids has a lot to do with this. Posted. http://grist.org/news/microgrids-could-bring-big-green-changes-to-power-systems/ MISCELLANEOUS At polluted Santa Susana lab site, sacred cave attracts tribe's bid. The Chumash are seeking a parcel that includes Burro Flats Painted Cave, which has some of the best preserved pictographs in the state. The Chumash tribe has expressed interest in buying a 450-acre slice of a contaminated nuclear research facility in the hills between the Simi and San Fernando valleys, hoping to preserve a cave that its members consider sacred. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-chumash-rocketdyne-20121030,0,6013343.story OPINIONS Ethanol suit hints at climate split between states. SINCE THE SENATE failed to pass a climate bill in 2010, environmentalists have looked to the states to cut the country’s greenhouse-gas emissions, and their gaze has been fixed most firmly on California. Continuing its tradition of pioneering green policies that others copy, the Golden State is implementing a landmark greenhouse-gas law that would do what Congress didn’t — put a price on carbon-dioxide emissions through a cap-and-trade program, at least in California. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ethanol-suit-points-to-split-between-states-over-climate-policy/2012/10/29/1786dc40-17d6-11e2-8792-cf5305eddf60_story.html Herhold: A San Jose gas station corner is ground zero in environmental fight. When the Silicon Valley Leadership Group wants to show legislators the flaws of California's 42-year-old environmental quality act (CEQA), the bus halts at Moe's Stop gas station at 33rd and McKee streets in San Jose. Four years ago, Moe's began a laborious attempt to add three pumps under a canopy on the east side of its property. No big deal, right? Wrong. It took Moe's more than three years and a blizzard of legal and consultant bills before it got permission. What held it up? Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/scott-herhold/ci_21882452/herhold-san-jose-gas-station-corner-is-ground Was Hurricane Sandy Caused by Global Warming? As widespread power outages and flooding affect millions on the East Coast, speculation continues as to whether or not climate change caused the storm. Millions were paralyzed by Hurricane Sandy as the storm swept up the East Coast Monday night into Tuesday. The storm made landfall in New Jersey but shut down federal government offices, public transportation systems, and schools in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Posted. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2012/10/30/was-hurricane-sandy-caused-by-global-warming BLOGS Yes, Hurricane Sandy is a good reason to worry about climate change. Every time a major natural disaster barrels along, people want to know whether it has anything to do with global warming. Is climate change causing this storm? That drought? Will we see more disasters like it if the planet keeps warming? When it comes to tropical cyclones like Hurricane Sandy, the climate links can be somewhat difficult to pin down. On the one hand, humans have warmed the planet about 0.8°C since the Industrial Revolution. As Kevin Trenberth of the National Center for Atmospheric Research likes to say…Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/29/yes-hurricane-sandy-is-a-good-reason-to-worry-about-climate-change/ A year of extreme weather — and little climate change talk. So far this year we’ve seen: The first nine months of 2012 have been the hottest in the United States on record. (Globally, this has been the eighth-warmest year on record.) — The wildfire season this year was the second-largest by area since records began in the 1960s, topped only by 2006. In Colorado, 600 homes were destroyed in the Waldo Canyon fire. — The biggest drought in half a century parched the Midwest, sent food prices climbing and knocked 0.4 percentage points off third quarter GDP growth. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/30/a-year-of-extreme-weather-and-little-climate-change-talk/ Gettin' down with cap 'n trade. Next month, California will hold the first auction as part of its carbon cap and trade program. The program, which will be the second largest CO2 emissions trading system in the world, has been in the works since 2006, when the Golden State passed the Global Warming Solutions Act, a piece of legislation that mandated chiseling down greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. A cap and trade system puts a limit on the total amount of carbon dioxide polluters can emit – that’s the cap. For its initial cap, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) set a CO2 limit of 162 million tons. Posted. http://www.hcn.org/blogs/goat/gettin-down-with-cap-n-trade/ ====================================================================== 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 Oct 2012 16:21:55 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 31, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for October 31, 2012. ARB Newsclips for October 31, 2012 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 rules to aid air quality start Thursday in Sacramento County. Rules that limit wood burning in Sacramento County start Thursday to protect air quality. This is the sixth year for the rules, which have helped the region meet federal particulate standards. Imposed by the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, the rules restrict heating with wood in homes and businesses from Nov. 1 through Feb. 28, when fine particulate pollution is high. The rules apply to fireplaces, wood stoves, outdoor firepits and chimneys whether they burn firewood, pellets, manufactured logs or any other solid fuel. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/31/v-print/4950301/wood-burning-rules-to-aid-air.html http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/31/2435914/wood-burning-rules-to-aid-air.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Earth Log: Lawsuit challenges Valley's dirty-air penalty. Environmental watchdogs filed suit this month to stop that $12 dirty-air fee now attached to your vehicle registration. Keep your eye on this one, folks. It's all about the $30 million ozone fine that the San Joaquin Valley pays each year for missing a cleanup deadline in 2010. You are paying most of that fine, and the lawsuit says that's wrong. This is also about who pollutes and who pays in the Valley -- where there have been more ozone violations in the past 12 years than any other place in the country. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/30/3049000/earth-log-lawsuit-challenges-valleys.html#storylink=cpy Yuba-Sutter meets clean air standard. Much of Yuba-Sutter is in compliance with federal standards for how much fine particulate matter is in the air. In a notice published Tuesday in the Federal Register, the Environmental Protection Agency said the region had, on average from 2009-11, particulate matter at or below the federal standard adopted in 2006. Dave Valler, air pollution control officer for the Feather River Air Quality Management District, said the finding means the district and its residents won't be subject to more stringent requirements to improve air quality. Posted. http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/air-120661-attainment-quality.html#ixzz2Au9KG9Ka L.A. utility feuds with local official over Owens Lake dust. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is suing the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District over what it considers unreasonable and unlawful orders related to the management of the dry bed of Owens Lake. Los Angeles drained the lake in central California to meet the water needs of its residents, and subsequently, its customers have had to pay $1.2 billion for vegetation, gravel and flooding at Owens Lake. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/31/28 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE EU Nations Said to Vote on Carbon Registry Rules in December. European Union member states will vote in December on a draft proposal to revise the bloc’s carbon registry rules, in which the EU regulator seeks to include a provision to limit the use of certain international credits. The agenda for the next meeting of the EU Climate Change Committee on Nov. 15, composed of representatives of national governments, includes a “state of play” point on the registry regulation, without a vote on the draft measure, according to a document obtained by Bloomberg News. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-31/eu-nations-said-to-vote-on-carbon-registry-rules-in-december-1-.html UN May Supply Record Number of Carbon Offsets in November. Supply of United Nations carbon offsets, known as Certified Emission Reductions or CERs, may jump 95 percent in November to the highest total since the mechanism began, according to UN data compiled by Bloomberg. The executive board of the UN’s Clean Development Mechanism, the body responsible for regulating CERs, is scheduled to deliver more than 52 million metric tons of credits from Nov. 1 through Nov. 29, the UN data show. The schedule for the month isn’t yet complete. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-31/un-may-supply-record-number-of-carbon-offsets-in-november-1-.html Climate change, or crap shoot? Experts weigh Sandy's causes. A huge storm barrels down on the United States, wreaking havoc with punishing winds, record flooding, heavy snowfall and massive blackouts. Is the main culprit climate change or a freak set of coincidences? Sandy wiped out homes along the New Jersey shore, submerged parts of New York City, and dumped snow as far south as the Carolinas. At least 50 people were reported killed in the United States, on top of 69 in the Caribbean, while millions of people were left without power. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/31/storm-sandy-climate-idUSL1E8LUCF320121031 Scientists see extent of storm's damage linked to climate change. For many, reports of Hurricane Sandy's massive reach and destructive potential raised a simple question with a complex answer: Is this climate change? The answer, experts say, is a qualified "yes." Late-season hurricanes like Sandy aren't unusual. That the hurricane melded with a blast of Arctic air as it moved ashore, transforming into a powerful "post-tropical" nor'easter, is rare but not unprecedented. And scientists are quick to point out that they cannot yet definitively link an individual storm, like Sandy, to climate change. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/31/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Tehama County Supes balk at tractor emissions. The Tehama County Board of Supervisors continued its opposition Tuesday to a proposed rule that targets agricultural equipment for emission reductions across the state. The board authorized Chairman Bob Williams to sign a letter crafted by Air Pollution Control Officer Alan Abs that formally lists the concerns with the proposed regulations. Although still in the concept stage, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has been preparing regulations for off-road mobile agricultural equipment it hopes to have in place by December 2013. Posted. http://www.dailybreeze.com/california/ci_21895352/tehama-county-supes-balk-at-tractor-emissions FUELS RIVERSIDE: City’s fleet wins award. Riverside’s fleet was named best in North America at the fifth annual Government Green Fleet Awards & Expo in Chicago. The Government Green Fleet Awards is sponsored by Government Green Fleet Magazine in partnership with Tom Johnson, author of the 100 Best Fleets program. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20121030-riverside-citys-fleet-wins-award.ece Backers of 30-year gas-purchase deal to press on. The Indiana Finance Authority and Indiana Gasification LLC said Tuesday that they plan to amend their 30-year contract in which the state agency is buying the company's synthetic natural gas to satisfy an appeals court ruling that reversed regulators' approval of the deal. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/30/ind-appeals-court-throws-out-30-year-gas-buy/#ixzz2AtWZiyA8 Glut of natural gas buffers the blow from refinery closures. When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita slammed into the Gulf of Mexico in 2005, the storms destroyed hundreds of oil and natural gas rigs and pipelines along the Gulf Coast. It triggered the nation's first major price shock in decades. As it turns out, Hurricane Sandy isn't Katrina, but there's also this: The vast U.S. energy system is better equipped today to handle a natural disaster stretching the length of a coastline. Oil, gasoline and natural gas prices will see some effect...Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/31/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Enzyme maker says it can get more ethanol out of corn. Enzyme maker Novozymes A/S yesterday said it has found a way to eke more ethanol out of corn. The Denmark-based company unveiled its Avantec enzyme, a molecule that it says can help produce ethanol using 2.5 percent less corn and 2.5 percent less energy. The enzyme could save the typical U.S. ethanol plant 22,500 tons of corn a year, Novozymes said. Avantec is a "vitamin shot" for the industry, said Peder Nielsen, Novozymes' executive vice president. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/31/23 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY First jet flies on 100% biofuel. The aviation biofuels industry hit a major landmark Monday with the flight of the first civilian plane powered completely by biofuels. The jet, a Falcon 20, was developed by Canada's National Research Council and flew over Ottawa on the fuel derived from oilseed crops. It was followed by a second plane that collected emissions data that will later be analyzed by the Canadian NRC. While there have been commercial test flights on biofuel blends, including a United flight last year that flew on an algae-derived fuel blend, this is the first civilian flight to run 100 percent on plant oil, according to the NRC. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/10/31/24 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY REGION: Landfill offers tips for an eco-friendly Halloween. This Halloween, after all of the little ghosts and goblins have tricked for their last treat, compost jack-o-lanterns instead of throwing them out in the garbage. Composting is just one of the ways Waste Management El Sobrante Landfill wants to remind customers to Think Green by adopting eco-friendly habits this holiday season. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20121030-region-landfill-offers-tips-for-an-eco-friendly-halloween.ece Scientists Build the First All-Carbon Solar Cell. Stanford University scientists have built the first solar cell made entirely of carbon, a promising alternative to the expensive materials used in photovoltaic devices today. The results are published in the Oct. 31 online edition of the journal ACS Nano. "Carbon has the potential to deliver high performance at a low cost," said study senior author Zhenan Bao, a professor of chemical engineering at Stanford. "To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a working solar cell that has all of the components made of carbon. Posted. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121031125037.htm MISCELLANEOUS Romney Seen Scuttling EPA Proposals, Letting Rules Stand. On the campaign trail, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has pledged to halt environmental regulations such as auto-mileage standards, mercury pollution limits for power plants and mandated cuts in greenhouse-gas emissions. But the reality is that repealing a rule already in place would require help from lawmakers or the courts, or years of bureaucratic effort, former officials and lawyers say. Posted. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-10-31/romney-seen-scuttling-epa-proposals-letting-rules-stand.html Utah high court turns back coal mine challenge. The Utah Supreme Court rejected arguments Tuesday that state regulators failed to assess the full environmental impacts of a coal mine outside Bruce Canyon National Park. The high court turned back a challenge brought by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups that asserted the state ignored a host of drawbacks from a strip mine operating a dozen miles from a corner of the national park. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/30/utah-high-court-turns-back-coal-mine-challenge/#ixzz2AtX2VUda OPINIONS Editorial: Sandy vs. climate change politics. Put the perfect storm atop the nation's most populous region, and the result is the human misery and havoc that Sandy wrought in the Northeast: Nearly 40 people dead so far, and more than 7 million without power. An estimated $20 billion in property damage. Record flooding in New York City that shut down the stock exchange and the subway. Devastation along the New Jersey coast. And, to boot, a blizzard along the spine of the Appalachian mountains. EDITORIAL: Superstorm forecasting feat, with a catch. Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2012/10/30/sandy-climate-change-politics/1670073/ ROGER HEDGECOCK: THE BANANA MIND. I’m confused by today’s environmental movement, although in the past it made some sense. Popular appreciation for the need to conserve and protect the natural environment became a mass movement and therefore a popular political movement after Earth Day 1970. Led by membership and volunteer groups like the Sierra Club, sensitivity to the environmental effects of human activity was incorporated into law at the local, state and federal level. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/30/tp-roger-hedgecock-the-banana-mind/ BLOGS Climate change predictions foresaw Hurricane Sandy scenario for New York City. Hurricane Sandy’s stunning storm surge practically marooned the Big Apple. But for years, forecasters saw this as a possibility in both the present and more distant future. In my somewhat whimsical post of February 9, 2011, I speculated about what life would be like during the year 2076, our tercentennial, both weatherwise and otherwise. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/climate-change-predictions-foresaw-hurricane-sandy-scenario-for-new-york-city/2012/10/31/b78de428-2374-11e2-ac85-e669876c6a24_blog.html Sandy shows the U.S. is unprepared for climate disasters. There are two main strategies involved in tackling climate change. First, we could try to slow or stop the pace of global warming by curbing our greenhouse-gas emissions. And second, there’s adaptation — we can try to revamp our existing infrastructure to protect ourselves against some of the effects of a warmer planet. Many experts say we’ll need to do both. Even if the world could zero out its emissions tomorrow, scientists have found…Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/10/31/why-the-united-states-is-so-unprepared-for-climate-disasters/?Post+generic= Two Views of a Superstorm in Climate Context. In the hours before Hurricane Sandy thundered ashore, igniting power stations and Queens neighborhoods and darkening urban and rural communities alike, I filed two pieces for Dot Earth. The first, “The #Frankenstorm in Climate Context,” was on the storm in the context of climate history and the science pointing to greenhouse-driven climate change. The second was on the impact of our tribal nature on climate communication, including my own. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/two-views-of-a-superstorm-in-climate-context/ Sandy Dominates European Headlines. Four thousand miles away — and more — in Europe, the winds from Hurricane Sandy were strong enough to blow most other news off front pages and news bulletins on Tuesday. Newspapers that closed their print runs before the storm struck the eastern seaboard of the United States in the early hours of the European day provided live updates on their Web sites to bring news of casualties, flooding and blackouts. Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/30/sandy-dominates-european-headlines/?partner=rss&emc=rss Climate Change And Natural Disasters Related, Most Americans Say: Poll. Climate scientists have warned that more frequent hurricanes may be related to climate change, and a new HuffPost/YouGov poll finds that half of Americans think that climate change is indeed related to more frequent and severe natural disasters, although they are more divided on whether Hurricane Sandy specifically was related to global warming. According to the new survey, conducted Oct. 29-30, 51 percent of Americans say climate change is related to more frequent and severe natural disasters, while 23 percent say it is not. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/31/climate-change-natural-disasters-poll_n_2049236.html?utm_hp_ref=green Fleets and consumers now see practical alternative-fuel vehicle options. Automakers and fans of alternative fuel vehicles have been waiting for years for consumers to start rolling off dealer lots driving green cars. It is slowly starting to happen, with the number of vehicles that don't run exclusively on standard gasoline nearly doubling from 534,000 on US roads in 2003 to almost 940,000 in 2010, according to US Energy Information Administration. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/31/fleets-and-consumers-now-see-practical-alternative-fuel-vehicle/ Honda uses hydro power because "Every Drop Counts". A little water power can pull about seven gas-powered cars off the road. That's the gist of an effort by Honda to cut emissions by equipping a plant with a little hydro-electric power plant. The Japanese automaker outlined its recent efforts in a two-minute video with the tagline "every drop counts." In the video, Honda engineers talk about how capturing falling waste water using a turbine-type device can produce electricity for the vehicle factory. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/31/honda-uses-hydro-power-because-every-drop-counts/ What changes might green car policies see under a Romney presidency? A downward-revised Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standard and a push away from electric-drive vehicles and towards alt-fuel types such as natural gas may be some of the transportation measures in store if Mitt Romney beats Barack Obama in the US presidential election next month, Automotive News reports. A removal of tax credits for electric-vehicle buyers could also be on the table, says Hybrid Cars. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/10/30/changes-green-car-policies-romney-presidency/ ====================================================================== 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 Nov 2012 14:49:19 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 1, 2012 From: jbaxter@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 AIR POLLUTION Carmeuse Lime fined for air violations in Chicago. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says a lime manufacturer will pay a $350,000 fine to resolve air pollution violations at a Chicago plant. The consent decree announced on Wednesday also requires Pittsburgh-based Carmeuse (KAR'-moos) Lime to spend $125,000 to replace windows in homes near the plant. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Carmeuse-Lime-fined-for-air-violations-in-Chicago-3999084.php SAE International Book Details Onboard Diagnostics and Measurement for Vehicles on Land, Sea and in the Air. Direct (OBM) and indirect (OBD) determination of emissions in transportation is the focus of a book from SAE International. "Onboard Diagnostics and Measurement in the Automotive Industry, Shipbuilding and Aircraft Construction" offers the reader a state-of-the-art report on the recent developments on the determination of emissions and the estimation of concentration of pollutants in the exhaust pipe, using technologies such as intelligent micro controllers, micro sensors and micro actuators systems on board. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/01/4954219/sae-international-book-details.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Moscow steps up war on congestion to boost business. Chaos has ruled on Moscow's roads since cars became more affordable after the collapse of the Soviet Union two decades ago. Traffic often grinds to a halt and drivers resort to double parking or block pavements, making them impassable. Until now, drivers have often been able to bribe their way out of traffic or parking offences, and many foreign investors cite the congestion and pollution among the reasons they find Moscow an unattractive place to live and work. Posted http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/01/russia-moscow-parking-idUSL5E8M1BF820121101 Rules spark a slow burn. Wedged between walnut and olive orchards off Alpine Road is a different kind of farmer - 69-year-old Dave Smith, whose "crop" consists of towering piles of firewood. This is where downed trees and orchard trimmings from across Stockton find a new purpose, as they're stacked, seasoned and sold to homeowners to provide heat and ambience during those long, gray San Joaquin County winters. There's enough oak, elm and eucalyptus on Smith's 3-acre lot to fill 500 pickups. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121101/A_NEWS14/211010316 CLIMATE CHANGE Sandy: Act of God or act of man? Is global warming to blame for Sandy the "Frankenstorm"? Pundits and politicians were arguing about that even before the massive storm struck the Atlantic coast; now that it has moved on, after killing 50, flooding the New York subway system, ripping away chunks of New Jersey's coastline and causing myriad other damage that will place Sandy among the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history, it's a more pressing question. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-sandy-climate-change-20121101,0,4601297.story Related articles: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/01/4953069/storm-climate-here-jsdlk-fjlksd.html#storylink=misearch http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/01/us-storm-sandy-climate-idUSBRE89U1SE20121101 http://blogs.wsj.com/ideas-market/2012/11/01/was-hurricane-sandy-the-fat-tail-of-climate-change/?KEYWORDS=climate+change http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/science/earth/scientists-unsure-if-climate-change-is-to-blame-for-hurricane-sandy.html?ref=earth Rule Tweaks May Dissuade California Carbon Bidders, RBC Says. Tweaks to the rules governing the California carbon market may dissuade bidders in the state’s first auction next month, said a trader at RBC Capital Markets. California’s air resources board on Aug. 17 suspended a rule requiring companies to pledge annually that they haven’t engaged in “shuffling” electricity resources to comply with state emissions limits. The board may propose regulatory amendments by the middle of next year to change supply of free allowances to factories at risk of shifting their emissions to regions outside the state, according to a Sept. 20 statement on the board’s website. The market starts Jan. 1. “Here we are a month or two away from the market’s start and we are relaxing the rules,” said Anthony D’Agostino, director of emissions markets at RBC. “I don’t see where the demand for the auction is going to come from. If they start changing rules, it gives traders pause.” Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-29/rule-tweaks-may-dissuade-california-carbon-bidders-rbc-says.html California offset supply hit by strict rules: expert. Suppliers of offset credits to California's carbon emissions market will only be able to meet a third of demand unless the state approves more project types, a move that could drive up the cost of complying with the scheme, an expert said Tuesday. Companies that have their carbon dioxide emissions capped under the cap-and-trade scheme are allowed to use up to 200 million offset credits this decade to meet their targets. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/01/us-california-carbon-idUSBRE8A00EO20121101 N.Y.'s Cuomo links storm, climate change. Prominent climate scientists were unwilling Wednesday to do what New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo did: blame climate change for the devastating storm known as Sandy that wreaked havoc along the Eastern Seaboard. They said, nevertheless, that the gargantuan storm might very well have been made worse by the increased rainfall and sea level rise that global warming has caused. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/N-Y-s-Cuomo-links-storm-climate-change-3998876.php#ixzz2AzKI1xc7 Sandy and Irene may be the new normal. Nearly a year ago, Paul Kirshen told Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's Two Storm Panel studying the two disastrous weather events of that year to start preparing for what is to come. Kirshen, a professor of civil engineering at the University of New Hampshire, is also an expert on climate change. Posted. http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Sandy-and-Irene-may-be-the-new-normal-3998239.php#ixzz2AzKc5pGf Harris-Mann Climatology Predicts More 'Extreme' Weather. Harris-Mann Climatology, a long-range weather and commodity forecasting service since 1991, continues to predict more extreme weather across the globe for at least the next 25 years. Based upon climatological history, it was discovered that the Earth’s weather becomes more extreme about every 500 years. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/Harris-Mann-Climatology-Predicts-More-Extreme-3999678.php#ixzz2AzPWTgdJ Expect storms like Hurricane Sandy with global warming. Re "Unthinkable devastation" (Page A1, Oct. 31): It is remarkable that there has been no mention in the media of global warming, yet the immensity of Hurricane Sandy has been acknowledged to be the exceptionally warm waters off the Atlantic coast. Nor have the presidential candidates mentioned it. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/01/4952410/global-warming.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Long-Term Sea Level Rise In Washington, D.C. Could Have Significant Impact. The nation's capital is likely to face flooding and infrastructure damage in both the short- and long-term brought about by sea level rise (SLR), current trends and predicted increases suggest. The rise is linked to thermal expansion of the oceans and melting of global ice sheets as a result of global warming, researchers say in a new study focused on real-estate property and government infrastructure impacts in Washington, D.C. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/01/4954229/long-term-sea-level-rise-in-washington.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Baseline Time Accounting Significantly Improves the Climate Impact Assessment of Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC). Indirect land use models that forecast the global warming impact of biofuels production incorporate time accounting in a very simplistic way to allocate total carbon emitted from affected land to the volume of fuel produced. The accuracy of accounting for time in these models is severely limited by the currently employed annualization approach… Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/01/4953390/baseline-time-accounting-significantly.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy AGL Resources Reports Third Quarter 2012 Earnings. AGL Resources Inc. (NYSE: GAS) today reported third quarter 2012 net income of $9 million, or $0.08 per basic and diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3 million, or $(0.04) per basic and diluted share, reported for the same period last year. Excluding merger-related expenses of $0.01 per share in 2012 and $0.06 per share in 2011, adjusted EPS was $0.09 for the third quarter of 2012 and $0.02 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2011. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/01/idUS124769+01-Nov-2012+HUG20121101 Nations fail to agree plan to protect seas around Antarctica. Major nations failed to reach agreement on Thursday to set up huge marine protected areas off Antarctica under a plan to step up conservation of creatures such as whales and penguins around the frozen continent. The 25-member Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) agreed, however, to hold a special session in Germany in July 2013 to try to break the deadlock after the Oct. 8-Nov. 1 meeting in Hobart, Australia. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/01/environment-antarctica-idUSL5E8M18ZS20121101 DIESEL EMISSIONS Air pollution from cargo equipment drops at Puget Sound ports. Over the past six years, air pollution from cargo-moving equipment at Puget Sound ports has dropped significantly, according to a report released this week by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. The emissions update showed a 16 percent drop in diesel particulates, perhaps the most critical local pollutant, said Andrew Green, director of air quality programs for the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. These particulates are important because they can cause cancer when inhaled and because they tend to be most concentrated near emissions sources, such as truck exhausts. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2012/10/31/truck-related-diesel-particulate.html Diesel is worse pollutant than gasoline, UC Berkeley study says. The hotly contested debate over whether gasoline or diesel contributes more to smog continues with new findings from UC Berkeley showing that diesel is worse than gasoline. In a paper published Oct. 22 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers examined how both fuels contributed to air pollution and found that diesel contributes more to a primary component of smog. Drew Gentner, lead author of the paper and a graduate student in the campus department of civil and environmental engineering, said researchers analyzed 52 total gas and diesel samples collected across California, took field measurements of vehicular emissions at the Caldecott Tunnel and looked at results from a 2010 field study conducted by the Nexus of Air Quality and Climate Change that measured contributions to air pollution in places like Bakersfield and Pasadena. Posted. http://www.dailycal.org/2012/10/31/diesel-worse-pollutant-than-gasoline-uc-berkeley-study-says/ HIGH-SPEED RAIL No Money for High-Speed Rail. The high-speed rail is truly a train to nowhere. It goes from Madera to Bakersfield with little chance of getting any further, leaving the Central Valley torn up and $6 billion wasted. The rail authority, in effect, was in a hurry to break ground in order to meet a federal deadline so they could get their hands on $3.3 billion of stimulus money . I guess the Central Valley seemed like an easy target. Then it all became a slippery slope, because once they secured the federal money under Proposition 1A—the High-Speed Rail Act—they could then authorize $2.7 billion from California taxpayers. Okay. So let's do some math. We still need over $60 billion more to finish the project. That's the low-cost estimate. And our research shows, there's no money coming in from the feds or private industry. Without more money, it can't be completed and then it's just a big wasteful project with taxpayers getting nothing but the bill. Posted. http://www.myfoxla.com/story/19929326/no-money-for-high-speed-rail FUELS Cohen disappointed with Delta Air Lines. U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen is expressing frustration with Delta Air Lines after the company decided not to restore its Memphis-to-Amsterdam flight next summer. Cohen, a Memphis Democrat, says he has requested a meeting with Delta to discuss its decision to eliminate the Amsterdam flight. A Delta spokesman tells The Commercial Appeal that the airline scrapped the plan for seasonal service because it wasn't going to be profitable with continuing high fuel prices and weak passenger demand. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/01/cohen-disappointed-with-delta-air-lines/ EPA grants 16 states clean gas waivers after Sandy. The Obama administration is temporarily waiving some Clean Air Act requirements in 16 states and the District of Columbia to reduce fuel disruptions from Superstorm Sandy. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson says in a letter to governors that extreme circumstances related to Sandy will prevent enough gasoline from reaching consumers. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/oct/31/epa-grants-16-states-clean-gas-waivers-after/ EnerTech energy plant in Rialto closes. A renewable energy plant once touted as a cutting-edge facility that would bring jobs and revenue to the city has closed. Atlanta-based EnerTech Environmental Inc. will no longer turn biosolids into a coal substitute at a landfill on the south edge of town. Geoff Berman, a vice president of Los Angeles-based Development Specialists Inc., which is working with EnerTech on a liquidation process, said the company closed Oct. 5. "We have not determined what the process is going to be for the liquidation of the plant," Berman said. Posted. http://www.sbsun.com/ci_21902660/enertech-energy-plant-rialto-closes Worthington Energy's I-1 Well on Continuous 24 Hour Production. Worthington Energy, Inc. (OTCBB: WGAS) ("Worthington" or the "Company"), an energy company engaged in the acquisition, exploration, development and drilling of oil and natural gas properties, reports that the Company's I-1 Well is currently operating on a continuous, unmanned, 24 hour production schedule. "I am pleased to report that we are once again operating on a 24 hour production schedule," stated Worthington Energy, Inc. President & CEO, Mr. Tony Mason. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/01/4954180/worthington-energys-i-1-well-on.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Face the Facts USA: Natural gas boom driven by fracking, horizontal drilling. Each day in the 100 days leading up to Election Day, MercuryNews.com and Face the Facts USA will be partnering to bring you one exhaustively researched and vetted, non-partisan fact about a major issue facing our nation. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/elections/ci_21904254/fracking-horizontal-drilling-natural-gas-us-face-facts?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com Shell Sets Sights on Natural Gas to Fuel Growth. As weak U.S. gas prices drag down its earnings Royal Dutch Shell RDSB.LN +2.33% is planning to bolster its profits by converting natural gas into road fuels like diesel, which it can sell at much higher prices. Many energy companies are seeking to capitalize on low U.S. natural gas prices by exporting the fuel to Asia or Europe or burning it directly in specially converted trucks or buses. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2012/11/01/shell-sets-sights-on-natural-gas-to-fuel-growth/?KEYWORDS=diesel VEHICLES 2013 Audi Allroad steers toward yuppies with an active lifestyle. If anecdotal evidence gleaned from trips through L.A.'s moneyed coastal enclaves like Malibu, Pacific Palisades and Manhattan Beach is any indication, there's a new automotive trend for the outdoorsy yuppie. It's a station wagon. Too culturally sensitive to be caught in an SUV, yet ever mindful of the curbside erratum that is the minivan, those with an active lifestyle or projection thereof clearly seem to be finding solace in the 2013 Audi Allroad. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-autos-audi-allroad-review-20121101,0,6101855.story GREEN ENERGY W. Pa. duo uses solar, recycling to live off grid. How great would it be to have all the conveniences of modern life without most of the bills -- or worries about power outages? It may sound too good to be true, but that's life for Ted and Kathy Carns of Ligonier Township, who have managed to build a 21st century success story of zero waste, astonishing inventiveness and self-reliant living. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/W-Pa-duo-uses-solar-recycling-to-live-off-grid-4000245.php#ixzz2AzLGyetH International Rafting Federation Delivers First Certified Carbon Neutral World Sports Event with the Costa Rica 2011 World Rafting Championships: How They Did It - A Model For the World. The organizers of the 2011 WRC realized they could successfully deliver a first-ever Carbon Neutral event, with over 600 participating athletes from 35 countries in host country Costa Rica. They contacted the Carbon Neutral Commission of EARTH University to plan how to certify the seven day event. Event certification efforts were led by Rafael Gallo, who has transformed Rios Tropicales into Costa Rica’s top geotourism adventure company and sustainability advocate – and owner/manager of Costa Rica’s largest private native rainforest reserve for carbon mitigation. Posted. http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/business/press-releases/article/International-Rafting-Federation-Delivers-First-3999297.php#ixzz2AzPz3fcj Vt. utility gets approval for solar project. A Vermont utility has received approval to start a solar project on the site of a former coal-to-gas plant in Rutland. The Rutland Herald reports Green Mountain Power said Public Service Board approved the project and that construction was to start "immediately." The project is the first one proposed under the utility's solar city initiative, in which it has pledged to make Rutland the city with the most solar capacity in the Northeast. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Vt-utility-gets-approval-for-solar-project-3999718.php#ixzz2AzQIgqqT UPDATE 1-China launches trade probes on EU solar products. China said on Thursday that it would launch anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into imported European Union solar-grade polysilicon, in the latest instance of tit-for-tat trade tensions in the global solar industry. The move comes as the EU's executive body mulls duties targeting Chinese solar producers, a probe launched in September after companies accused Chinese rivals of "dumping", or deliberately selling products for less abroad than at home. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/01/china-eu-solar-idUSL3E8M117Z20121101 MISCELLANEOUS Honolulu rail project up in the air, again. For all those visitors to Waikiki Beach who see Honolulu as a South Sea paradise, Maeda Timson would like to invite them to climb into her minivan and drive for a moment in her world. She leaves her home in this fast-growing suburb every morning at 6:20 for what has become an hour and a half commute to her job as vice president at Bank of Hawaii in downtown Honolulu. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-honolulu-mayor-rail-20121101,0,1733863.story U.S. Sunlight is Pleased to Announce A Break-Through in Attic Moisture Management with the All Purpose Ventilator, Designed to Actively Ventilate and Reduce Risk of Mold. Contrary to popular belief, a warm attic in the winter months is more harmful than beneficial for the health and energy efficiency of a home. When warm attic air collides with the cold underside of roof sheathing, condensation is formed; the combination of condensation and warm attic temperatures can cause numerous problems for a home… Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/U-S-Sunlight-is-Pleased-to-Announce-A-3998776.php#ixzz2AzQkI3Np Camfil Farr APC Unveils "Remembering Tree" Sculpture. Camfil Farr Air Pollution Control (APC) unveiled a unique art piece to representatives, distributors and employees gathered for an international sales meeting at the company's corporate headquarters here. Called "The Remembering Tree", the 30-ft (9.14 m) tall steel sculpture has been designed and created by metal artist Kelly Stevens, a production welder at the Jonesboro plant. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/01/4954298/camfil-farr-apc-unveils-remembering.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy OPINIONS Will Climate Get Some Respect Now? President Obama and Mitt Romney seemed determined not to discuss climate change in this campaign. So thanks to Hurricane Sandy for forcing the issue: Isn’t it time to talk not only about weather, but also about climate? It’s true, of course, that no single storm or drought can be attributed to climate change. Atlantic hurricanes in the Northeast go way back, as the catastrophic “snow hurricane” of 1804 attests. But many scientists believe that rising carbon emissions could make extreme weather — like Sandy — more likely. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/opinion/kristof-will-climate-get-some-respect-now.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=0 BLOGS Shell Ends Alaska Offshore Drilling for the Year. Shell Oil had its problems this year drilling off the Arctic coast of Alaska, but on Wednesday it declared success on the final day of operations for the season. (Only a brief autumn exploration season is allowed by regulators because of ice flows.) Thick ice delayed operations in the spring. Then, one of the drilling ships dragged its anchors and nearly collided with the coast. And finally an oil spill containment barge was damaged during certification tests. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/31/shell-ends-alaska-offshore-drilling-for-the-year/?ref=earth Afif El-Hasan: Tighter soot standards could save children. As a pediatrician, I take great joy in seeing my patients enjoying exercise and healthy outdoor activities. However, some of my patients may be denied even the most basic childhood rite of trick-or-treating if the air quality is poor. For kids with asthma, unhealthy air days are filled with caution. Parents must check the local air quality forecast to determine whether it is safe enough for their kids to go outside. While people tend to worry more about pollution during summer ozone episodes, there can be spikes of soot pollution on cool fall and winter days also. Checking air quality is a daily necessity for many, especially here in Southern California, which experiences some of the worst air quality in the country. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/air-376372-quality-soot.html World’s ‘cleanest coal-fueled power plant’ is a climate bait-and-switch. A few years back, Robert Redford narrated a documentary, Fighting Goliath, that told the epic Texas tale of how a coalition of ranchers, environmentalists, and others banded together in the mid-2000s against a giant power company’s plans to build 11 coal plants that would have belched pollution across the state. The film includes scenes of billowing smoke, militant big-city Texas mayors, and protesters carrying signs crying, “No more coal.” One farmer tells an interviewer, “’Til this thing came about, I always looked the other way when I saw an environmentalist.” Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/worlds-cleanest-coal-fueled-power-plant-is-a-climate-bait-and-switch/ BLOGS Climate Change and Its Influence On Investing: A New Perspective. Welcome and thank you for allowing me to share some of my views on climate change's influence on investing: most particularly, the opportunities which I believe it creates for economic gain. How many of you take climate change into consideration in your investment decisions? My goal, today, is to convince you that climate change needs to be considered. And to show that investment decisions should be driven by science, and the basic needs of life. My talk will first speak to climate change; give you some examples of why science should drive investment decision making; then point out why the basic needs of life should be considered; concluding with some specific examples of potential investments. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bernard-david/post_3960_b_2051945.html Electric Car Sales Increase 228 Percent. Automakers operate on a different calendar, in which the 2012 model year recently came to a close. As my colleague, Luke Tonachel, explains, this was the year of the green car, with record new fleet fuel efficiency, a 55 percent increase in hybrid sales, and more than a three-fold increase in plug-in electric car sales. The last of those three records might come as a surprise to some, given the prevalence of stories pronouncing the electric car dead on arrival. While it’s true that plug-in electric car sales still represent a very small fraction of total auto sales, model year 2012 saw about 38,000 Americans buying plug-in cars.* That’s a 228 percent increase over model year 2011.* Not bad for a new technology, introduced as the country recovers from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/mbaumhefner/electric_car_sales_increase_22.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 Nov 2012 14:49:55 -0700 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 2, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 2, 2012. 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 Bloomberg Backs Obama, Citing Fallout From Storm. In a surprise announcement, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said Thursday that Hurricane Sandy had reshaped his thinking about the presidential campaign and that as a result, he was endorsing President Obama. Mr. Bloomberg, a political independent in his third term leading New York City, has been sharply critical of Mr. Obama, a Democrat, and Mitt Romney, the president’s Republican rival, saying that both men had failed to candidly confront the problems afflicting the nation. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/nyregion/bloomberg-endorses-obama-saying-hurricane-sandy-affected-decision.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0 Sandy puts climate change back in the conversation. You know that mom cliche of yesteryear about the kid who lacks the sense to come in out of a good hard rain? As a country, we’ve been that clue-free child for decades, determined to pretend that whatever “freak storm” we’ve just been through is nothing we’ll ever have to worry about again. Vice-presidential nominees Lloyd Bentsen and Dan Quayle debate in 1988. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/decision2012/sandy-puts-climate-change-back-in-the-conversation/2012/11/01/685da046-2487-11e2-9313-3c7f59038d93_story.html?wprss=rss_national Bloomberg Backs Obama, Citing Fallout From Storm. Mr. Bloomberg, a political independent in his third term leading New York City, has been sharply critical of Mr. Obama, a Democrat, and Mitt Romney, the president’s Republican rival, saying that both men had failed to candidly confront the problems afflicting the nation. But he said he had decided over the past several days that Mr. Obama was the better candidate to tackle the global climate change that he believes might have contributed to the violent storm, which took the lives of at least 38 New Yorkers and caused billions of dollars in damage. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/nyregion/bloomberg-endorses-obama-saying-hurricane-sandy-affected-decision.html?ref=science Hurricane Sandy prompts Calif. to push back auction deadline. Hurricane Sandy has prompted California to push back a deadline for bidders to participate in the state's first greenhouse gas auction. The state Air Resources Board has extended the deadline for bid guarantees to Nov. 7 to account for the state of emergency in New York. Deposits were originally due to Deutsche Bank National Trust Co.'s Wall Street office by this afternoon at 5 p.m. EDT, but the hurricane has disrupted power to much of Lower Manhattan. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/02/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Gasoline Runs Short, Adding Woes to Storm Recovery. Widespread gas shortages stirred fears among residents and disrupted some rescue and emergency services as the New York region continued to struggle on Friday to return to a semblance of normalcy after being ravaged by Hurricane Sandy. Tiny increments of progress, including a second day of limited subway and bus lines, have been made in the aftermath of what officials are calling the worst storm to hit New York City. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/03/nyregion/recovery-efforts-after-hurricane-sandy.html?pagewanted=all Estimate of Economic Losses Now Up to $50 Billion. With fuel in short supply in many areas and utilities warning that power may not be back for a week or more in some areas, businesses found themselves preparing for the equivalent of a long siege. FedEx, for example, was trying to rent fuel tankers for its trucks in New York and New Jersey as commercial gas stations ran dry. “We’re reaching out to everyone who has a gasoline tanker that we can move to these areas,” said Shea Leordeanu, a spokeswoman for the company. While FedEx had stocks of oil in advance of the storm for generators, it was not prepared for the gas shortages that caused long lines at stations on Wednesday and Thursday. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/business/estimate-of-economic-losses-now-up-to-50-billion.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0 Chevron sued in Argentina over Ecuadorean spills. Lawyers for Amazonian Indians are seeking the seizure of $2 billion of Chevron Corp.'s assets in Argentina as they try to collect an $18.7 billion environmental judgment won in Ecuador last year. Argentine lawyer Enrique Bruchou said Thursday that his seizure request should send a strong signal to foreign investors that they must apply the same environmental standards wherever they do business. Similar lawsuits were filed this year in Canada and Brazil. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/01/chevron-sued-in-argentina-over-ecuadorean-spills/ Issue of U.S. exporting fuel is absent from presidential campaign. While President Barack Obama and Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney trumpet the need for lower fuel prices and American energy security, the United States has exported petroleum products at a record pace. There’s sharp argument over how these exports affect the price that Americans now pay for fuel. But analysts and members of Congress say it’s only a matter of time before the nation will have to grapple with how much it sells abroad of the resources that power America, for which other countries are increasingly thirsty. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/11/01/2438610/issue-of-us-exporting-fuel-is.html#storylink=misearch SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Cuomo: 'No reason to panic' over gas shortages. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he's signed an executive order waiving a requirement that fuel tankers register and pay tax before unloading. He also is threatening utility companies' rights to operate in the state in the future if they don't immediately put power restoration work into high gear. The governor says there's "no reason to panic" about gas shortages. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/11/02/2439642/cuomo-no-reason-to-panic-over.html#storylink=misearch SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Car leases let more motorists ditch gas. Getting off gasoline has never been easier. Record breaking October gasoline prices in Southern California have boosted the value of plug-in electric and alternative-fuel vehicles by allowing drivers to save more money. Vehicles like the all-electric Nissan Leaf or a Honda Civic powered by natural gas operate for a fraction of the cost of traditional gasoline and diesel models. But day-to-day fuel savings are only part of the equation. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/01/leases-let-more-motorists-ditch-gasoline/ EPA finds Hyundai, Kia overstated gas mileage. Hyundai and Kia overstated the gas mileage on most of their models from the past three years in an embarrassing blunder that could bring sanctions from the U.S. government and millions of dollars in payments to car owners. Because of the inflated mileage, discovered during an audit by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Korean automakers must retrofit the window stickers on the cars, reducing their fuel economy figures by one-to-six miles per gallon depending on the model, the agency said Friday. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/epa-finds-hyundai-kia-overstated-gas-mileage/article_86b800b0-68c1-578e-ad86-70caf0f31b72.html MISCELLANEOUS Costs for San Onofre outage: $317 million. Costs connected with problems at the shuttered San Onofre nuclear plant so far have topped $317 million, mostly for the purchase of replacement power, according to a quarterly report from Edison International released Thursday. Costs connected with problems at the shuttered San Onofre nuclear plant so far have topped $317 million, mostly for the purchase of replacement power, according to a quarterly report from Edison International released Thursday. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/steam-376479-edison-power.html What we throw away. City study looks at composition of Miramar landfill waste, to pinpoint ways to recycle more. Among the piles of crumpled paper, old bottles and rotten vegetables at the Miramar Landfill, city environmental officials are compiling a record of what San Diegans use, and what they throw away. “You can see a snapshot of their lives,” said recycling program manager Kenneth Prue. “You can see the different things they’re purchasing or consuming.” Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/31/trash-study-looks-at-what-san-diegans-throw-away/ TEMESCAL VALLEY: Landfill sends cash to university. Each year Riverside County transforms tons of waste from the El Sobrante Landfill into pay dirt for conservation and research programs at UC Riverside. This year the county gave $294,500 to support research activities at UCR’s Center for Conservation Biology and Center for Environmental Research Technology. The school has received more than $2.7 million from the landfill since 2001. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20121101-temescal-valley-landfill-sends-cash-to-university.ece City launches paint recycling. Consumers can drop off leftover household paint at retail stores starting this month, under a new state program that aims to make paint disposal more convenient. Thirty paint stores throughout San Diego County are offering the service. Until now, residents could drop off unused paint only during specific times at hazardous waste disposal sites, leading many to leave it in garages, or dump it with trash. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/01/city-launches-paint-recycling/ OPINIONS Viewpoints: Cap and trade should look to broader goals. It is election season and no one is talking seriously about cap-and-trade programs for greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Congress has not touched this issue since the Waxman-Markey national cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases was killed in 2010. President Barack Obama is pointing fingers at Republicans for originating the idea way back in the 1990s. And Mitt Romney now says he is opposed to it. Only the state of California is bucking this trend. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/02/4956023/cap-and-trade-should-look-to.html#storylink=cpy Editorial: Sandy's wrath shows threat to California coast. The death and devastation on the East Coast should be another wake-up call for Californians on how vulnerable our coast is to storm surges and high waves. The threat is rising along with sea levels, a global phenomenon being accelerated by climate change. Sandy's wrath brings to real life the warnings from two major studies this year. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/02/4956016/sandys-wrath-shows-threat-to-california.html#storylink=cpy BLOGS Bloomberg endorses Obama over climate change. Does Obama deserve it? For a day or two, global warming might actually become a big issue in the presidential race. On Thursday, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg came out and endorsed President Obama’s re-election bid, arguing that Hurricane Sandy had brought climate change to the forefront — and commending Obama’s record on this front. “Our climate is changing,” Bloomberg wrote. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/11/01/bloomberg-endorses-obama-over-climate-change-does-he-deserve-it/?wprss=rss_business A Hard Look at U.S. Reactor Hardware After Fukushima. Over the objections of the nuclear industry, the staff of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is planning to recommend the adoption of a new rule requiring American reactors similar to the ones at Fukushima Daiichi to install emergency vents with filters on them. The filtered vents would be required on two of the oldest reactor designs sold by General Electric. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/a-hard-look-at-u-s-reactor-hardware-after-fukushima/ Mystery at Port Newark: Why Did 17 Plug-In Cars Burn? Amid all the damage left in Hurricane Sandy’s wake is an automotive whodunit, or rather, what-dunit? What caused more than a million dollars-worth of plug-in hybrid vehicles, including 16 Fisker Karma luxury sedans, to catch fire Monday night at Port Newark? Fisker, based in Anaheim, Calif., has had problems with vehicle fires in the past, including one incident this year that prompted the recall of more than 2,000 Karmas to replace a faulty cooling fan. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/mystery-at-port-newark-why-did-17-plug-in-cars-burn/ San Onofre outage costs now more than $300 million [Updated]. The costs of the outage at the San Onofre nuclear plant continue to soar, but it remains unclear who will ultimately foot the bill. Edison International, the parent company of plant operator and majority owner Southern California Edison, reported its third quarter earnings Thursday, including new details on the costs of the troubles at the plant. The company reported that inspection and repair costs relating to the outage totaled $96 million as of Sept. 30, and the costs of replacing its power had risen to $221 million. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/11/san-onofre-costs.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lanowblog+%28L.A.+Now%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: Mon, 5 Nov 2012 14:23:26 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 5, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 5, 2012. ARB Newsclips for November 5, 2012. 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 WILDOMAR: Families suspect houses in illnesses. PART ONE: Four families walk away from their homes after an array of illnesses that some suspect was caused by contamination. Jennifer and Javier Muñiz moved out of their 3,000-square-foot dream home in Wildomar in January, fearful that staying would harm their daughter soon to be born. They gave up five bedrooms and a spacious yard at the end of cul-de-sac for a 900-square-foot, two-bedroom apartment that’s a tight fit for the couple and their four children. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/wildomar/wildomar-headlines/20121102-wildomar-families-wonder-if-their-houses-made-them-sick.ece CLIMATE CHANGE Sandy a galvanizing moment for climate change? Hurricane Sandy images and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's endorsement of Obama based on his climate change policies could bring attention to the issue of global warming, political observers say. One Sunday afternoon in 1969 the filthy, oil-coated Cuyahoga River in Ohio caught fire and quickly became a potent symbol of industrial pollution, helping galvanize public opinion and set the stage for passage of national environmental laws the following decade. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-climate-politics-20121105,0,234626.story http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/vergano/2012/11/03/bloomberg-climate-sandy-sea/1677463/ http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2012/11/05/hurricane-sandy-may-turn-the-tide-on-climate-change/ West Coast at risk for hybrid storms, too. The California coast probably will never see a storm as violent as the one that pounded the East Coast, but the future for Westerners will be rife with environmental problems caused by global warming, including torrential rain, flooding, fire and drought, climate experts say. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/West-Coast-at-risk-for-hybrid-storms-too-4005146.php#ixzz2BNLEHy5w SLV Water District tables decision on possible carbon credits. With the state's first greenhouse gas permit auction less than two weeks away, local water district officials will soon have a better idea of how much their own carbon credits could yield. The California Air Resources Board will hold the auction Nov. 14, then four times each year through 2020. The cap-and-trade program is part of the 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act, which requires the state to develop regulations to bring greenhouse gas emissions down to 1990 levels by 2020…Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21917539/slv-water-district-tables-decision-possible-carbon-credits Carbon trade program goes before planners in Napa. Developers concerned about higher costs of local mitigation. As planners in Napa County continue development of a strategy to address state-mandated reductions to greenhouse gas emissions, industry groups have expressed concern that a proposed local market for carbon credits will increase costs for developers and suppress new vineyard and agricultural projects in the region. Posted. http://www.northbaybusinessjournal.com/64039/countywide-carbon-trade-program-goes-before-planners-in-napa/ Gas Flaring is Wasting Fuel and Fueling Climate Change. Gas flaring in 20 of the world's leading oil-producing countries contributes as much to climate change as a major economy like Italy, new estimates show. While flaring has been cut by 30 percent since 2005, $50 billion worth of gas is still wasted annually, the World Bank said. New satellite analysis of the flares – that are a by-product of oil drilling and which commonly light the night skies in oil fields around the world. Posted. http://www.climatecentral.org/news/gas-flaring-is-wasting-fuel-and-fueling-climate-change-15163 REDD+ carbon projects are losing ground – report. Initiatives that pay landowners to keep forests standing saw a two-thirds decline from 2010 to 2011 due to high costs and uncertainty, according to a survey of forest carbon projects. Ecosystem Marketplace's "State of the Forest Carbon Markets" report, a survey of 215 forest carbon projects in 40 countries, found that the complexity of new methodologies to verify credits, as well as lower demand from a financially strapped Europe and legal issues with land ownership in forests, reduced the volume of transactions in 2011.Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/05/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Tesla shares rise as company says production grew. Shares of Tesla Motors Inc. rose more than 3 percent Monday as the electric vehicle maker said it was now making enough cars to generate positive operating cash flow. But the Palo Alto, Calif., company's third-quarter net loss grew almost 70 percent, to $110.8 million, or $1.05 per share, compared with a loss of $65.1 million, or 63 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue was $50.1 million, down 13 percent from a year earlier. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/11/05/2442693/tesla-shares-rise-as-company-says.html#storylink=misearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY The other 'chargers'. Among the nation's small-but-growing cadre of electric car drivers, San Diego motorists stand out for their enthusiasm and savvy, according to a major study of driving and charging practices for plug-in vehicles. They recharge batteries more during cheap off-peak hours, capitalize more often on public infrastructure and put their cars to greater use all-around, according an analysis by ECOtality, the administrator of a public-private project designed to smooth the adoption of electric vehicles. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/04/other-chargers/ GREEN ENERGY Jobs dwindle during green power debate. An eerie quiet has settled over the Walker Components plant, which assembles custom cables for a global wind turbine company. Orders are down from earlier in the year and one-third of its employees have been laid off this year. "At the beginning of this year we just didn't feel we had enough time, and now we've got too much time on our hands," said one of its workers, 25-year-old Calvin Huddleston. "I really thought wind would be a sustainable business." Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/jobs-dwindle-during-green-power-debate/article_58d478f2-0735-56b9-98ec-8761d03c7b8f.html OPINIONS November surprise: An EPA crackdown on coal. On the eve of the 2012 election, more than 50 of President Obama's EPA staffers are crashing to finish new greenhouse gas emission standards. The rules would make the construction of new coal-fired power plants nearly impossible. A government-imposed switch from coal to other forms of energy would cost the economy about $700 billion over several years, according to the Manhattan Institute. The bureaucrats are clearly in a hurry to get this done. Never before has the EPA devoted so many staffers to a single regulation. Posted. http://washingtonexaminer.com/november-surprise-an-epa-crackdown-on-coal/article/2512571#.UJgQvdVp33U The brawl over who or what caused climate change is beside the point. The challenge is to deal with the kind of savage storms that have hit N.Y. twice in 14 months. The debate over whether humans are responsible for melting ice caps, and whether this demands new policies at the national level, will continue for years in the halls of academia and in Congress. It is irrelevant to this far more urgent reality staring New Yorkers in the face: Extreme weather is here, and it’s threatening people previously thought immune to its ravages. Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/flood-article-1.1196580#ixzz2BNF7hm3c A Climate Change To-Do List for the Next President. In the 2008 campaign, both candidates for president called for comprehensive action on climate change through a declining cap on carbon. This time around, the economy has taken center stage; while Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have presented different visions on energy policy, climate change has largely been relegated to the sidelines. Nonetheless, the magnitude and urgency of the challenge have not diminished. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-11-05/a-climate-change-to-do-list-for-the-next-president There's no more denying climate change. New York must face the truth, or else more storms like Sandy will come our way. When terrorists attacked our city more than a decade ago, New Yorkers insisted that politicians do everything in their power to prevent another similar massacre. In the wake of the vicious assault from Sandy, we should similarly be demanding that changes be made, federally and locally, to mitigate another disaster like this — because the likelihood that we’ll have one is high. Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/denying-climate-change-article-1.1196554#ixzz2BN0SFhCY Editorial: State air rules an overreach. Our view: The air is dirty in the San Joaquin Valley and Los Angeles. The rules needed there shouldn't be imposed everywhere in California. You'd think the people charged with keeping California's air clean would realize it isn't as dirty in some places as it is in others. Apparently not, as the state Air Resources Board is in the process of drafting yet another set of one-size-fits-all regulations, this one covering diesel ag equipment. The so-called "tractor rules" actually cover far more than just tractors. Posted. http://www.chicoer.com/opinion/ci_21911835/editorial-state-air-rules-an-overreach Letter: Criticism and climate change. Some of your readers have, no doubt, stopped to help an able-bodied person get his, or her, vehicle out of a ditch. Imagine that — while you did — the driver had stood idly by criticizing your efforts to retrieve the car! Imagine how President Obama feels about his efforts to get the nation’s economy back on the road to recovery under similar circumstances. On another subject, I have little doubt that those who have denied climate change science for the past 30 years will keep right on denying. ”Sandy,” I am sure, is just an aberration. Posted. http://thedailynewsonline.com/opinion/article_fcf3ad54-2770-11e2-bb25-001a4bcf887a.html LOIS HENRY: Air monitor problems go way beyond location. If the Arvin-Edison Water Storage District board of directors doesn't want to put the infamous "lost" air monitor back on district land along Bear Mountain Boulevard, it absolutely should not. Arvin-Edison should stick to its guns no matter how much Mary Nichols, California Air Resources Board (CARB) chairman, stamps her little feet and tries to blame the water district for a $30 million fine valley motorists are now paying. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/health/x1250044056/LOIS-HENRY-Air-monitor-problems-go-way-beyond-location BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Camarillo residents say their neighborhood stinks and is causing illness. There's no pretty way to describe what some Camarillo residents say they are living with — the smell of rotten eggs. Residents of the Palm Colony housing area off West Ponderosa Drive, near the new Springville/Highway 101 exit, blame the well water used at a nearby agricultural field to grow strawberries. Henry Scanzio, 69, said the smell was so bad when he woke up early one morning that he thought the plumbing in his house was broken. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/03/camarillo-residents-say-their-neighborhood/ Letters: alternative fuels, yoga. I greatly appreciate the coverage by your reporter Bradley Fikes of famed genomics researcher J. Craig Venter’s insights into developing alternative fuels and the prices that their development would have on petroleum fuels and alternative fuels (“Venter says federal mandate needed for alternate fuels,” Business, Nov. 1). In my view his expertise ends, and his vent begins, when he gets into politics insisting on a carbon policy seemingly in the near future. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/letters/letters-alternative-fuels-yoga/article_2104224f-eb4f-52d5-9cd4-cc6a5c127d6b.html?print=true&cid=print BLOGS Study Finds Fuel Thrift in U.S. Vehicles at All-Time High. Here’s a quick note on driving and fuel trends from one of my go-to analysts of transportation and energy issues (as well as air conditioning trends!), Michael Sivak, who directs the project on sustainable worldwide transportation of the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute: The average fuel economy (window-sticker value) of new vehicles sold in the U.S. in October was 24.1 miles per gallon — the highest level yet, and up 4.0 miles per gallon from October 2007. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/study-finds-fuel-thrift-in-u-s-vehicles-and-driving-at-all-time-high/?ref=earth Laying Down Stakes to Measure Glacier Melt. Finally, after months of planning, six days of trekking and days of reconnaissance work, on Oct. 5 we found ourselves poised to begin collecting important information that will help us to identify links among glaciers, climate and water resources in Bhutan. On the day after the successful scouting mission to the glacier, our teams snapped into action. Posted. http://scientistatwork.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/laying-down-stakes-to-measure-glacier-melt/ Short on Gasoline and Running Low on Patience. WHERE are drivers struggling to find gasoline for their vehicles? According to motorist Tony Kurasz, WHEN was the last time this problem occurred? HOW have governors of the affected states and officials from the Pentagon tried to solve the problem? HOW long are the lines for gas in some places? WHO is the mayor of New York City? WHY will some of the gas stations need generators along with fuel? WHY do you think National Guard troops will operate the pumps when the fuel arrives? Posted. http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/short-on-gasoline-and-running-low-on-patience/ Environmentally Correct Europe Turns to Coal. You may think that coal is fading away as a fuel, but it isn’t. It’s booming. As I write in my latest Green Column, last year coal as a proportion of world energy was at its highest since the 1960s. A lot of the growth in coal use is happening in Asia, particularly China. But coal — the largest CO2 emitter among fossil fuels — is also in demand in Europe, including in ultra-green Germany. One reason: The U.S. shale gas boom has encouraged American power plants to switch from coal to gas, cutting energy-related CO2 emissions in the U.S. to their lowest in 20 years. Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/environmentally-correct-europe-turns-to-coal/ Delhiites: Why Don’t You Use Public Transportation? The foreboding omen that winter is coming to the country’s capital is back: a thick gray blanket of smog has smothered Delhi for days. The smog, referred to by city romantics as the “fog,” or more deceivingly as the “mist,” is a pack-a-day mix of smoke, car exhaust and construction dust. On Monday afternoon, air quality at various spots in the city was deemed “very unhealthy” by a government Web site, which frequently measures particulate matter in the air. Posted. http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/delhiites-why-dont-you-use-public-transportation/ Climate Change and Sandy's Impact in the Age of Inequality. One clear lesson in the wake of Hurricane Sandy is that extreme weather in the age of climate change and global warming knows no class, race and privilege boundaries. Many, many communities in the New York metropolitan area need help, but as David Rohde wrote this week in The Atlantic, "Sandy humbled every one of the 19 million people in the New York City metropolitan area. But it humbled some more than others in an increasingly economically divided city." Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/hugh-hogan/hurricane-sandy-recovery_b_2067605.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, 6 Nov 2012 14:11:16 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 6, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 6, 2012. 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 Minnesota company to pay for violating California air rules. The California Air Resources Board said Birchwood Laboratories, a Minnesota-based distributor of various consumer products, has agreed to pay $500,000 for violating rules that protect air quality. ARB said Birchwood sold Casey Gun Scrubber Solvent/Degreaser in California, and the product exceeded state limits for chemicals known as volatile organic compounds which contribute to the formation of smog. The product also contained trichloroethylene, a toxic air contaminant. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/05/4962469/minnesota-company-to-pay-for-violating.html http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2012/11/05/2285631/minnesota-company-to-pay-for-violating.html Former EPA air chief calls for factoring compliance costs into ozone standards. Former U.S. EPA air chief Jeff Holmstead called on the agency's advisory panel to take cost into consideration when recommending a new ozone air standard next year. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA is forbidden from considering costs when developing national ambient air quality standards. The law requires that the agency focus solely on protecting public health. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/2012/11/06/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Indian monsoons may fail more often due to climate change-study. The Indian monsoon is likely to fail more often in the next 200 years threatening food supplies, unless governments agree how to limit climate change, a study showed on Tuesday. The monsoon rains could collapse about every fifth year between 2150 and 2200 with continued global warming, blamed mainly on human burning of fossil fuels, and related shifts in tropical air flows, it said. "Monsoon failure becomes much more frequent" as temperatures rise…Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/climate-monsoon-idUSL5E8M5COP20121106 Cooling gases must fall to curb global warming. F-gases, used in refrigeration and linked with high levels of global warming, need to be cut substantially by 2030, Europe's climate boss said on Tuesday. She added that she would be pushing for a global plan on cutting fluorinated gases at U.N. climate change talks in Doha beginning later this month. "F-gases should be two-thirds reduced from today's levels by 2030," Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard told an audience representing the refrigeration industry. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/eu-fgas-idUSL5E8M6BGD20121106 EU to Propose Tighter Rules on Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases. The European Union aims to propose “in the coming days” tighter rules on fluorinated greenhouse gases as a part of the bloc’s sustainable development drive, Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said today. Hedegaard said she hoped national governments and the European Parliament will give “a high priority” to the planned draft revised regulation on the so-called F-gases. EU regulation already in place would lead to the stabilization of fluorinated gas emissions at current levels…Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-11-06/eu-to-propose-tighter-rules-on-fluorinated-greenhouse-gases-1-.html EU Carbon for December Erases Gains as Auctions List Published. European Union carbon erased gains after reaching its highest in almost two months as a list of EU allowances auctions for the third phase of the bloc’s market showed less volume than expected was to be sold this year. The European Energy Exchange AG yesterday published an updated list of auctions that showed twelve of 25 EU member states will sell at least 4.48 million tons of permits in each of nine sales from Nov. 20 through Dec. 18. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-06/eu-carbon-for-december-trades-near-two-month-high-on-auctions.html Climate policy advances in the states, but slowly. While Tuesday’s election may not break the national logjam over how to address climate change, a few states will take decisive action on energy policy in the coming week. On Nov. 14, California will hold the nation’s largest-ever auction of carbon pollution allowances, requiring many of the state’s biggest utilities and manufacturers to either cut their greenhouse-gas output or buy permits to compensate for it. Michigan residents vote Tuesday on whether the state will require that 25 percent of its electricity be produced from renewable energy by 2025. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/climate-policy-advances-in-the-states-but-slowly/2012/11/05/89380eee-1eb7-11e2-ba31-3083ca97c314_print.html California's first auction of greenhouse-gas credits nears. Some industrial businesses are still fighting the cap-and-trade program, which requires big polluters to either reduce their emissions or buy credits to cover the difference. The auction is Nov. 14. After six years of preparation, California is poised to become the first state to combat global warming by capping greenhouse gas emissions and making major polluters pay to release more of these gases into the atmosphere. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-calif-pollution-credits-20121106,0,2129447.story Live Oak looking at greenhouse gas emissions. A report by the Sierra Business Council on greenhouse gas emissions in Live Oak, part of an effort to address climate change that the group says will continue unless emissions are reduced, goes before the Live Oak City Council when it meets Wednesday. "The next step for the city is whatever we choose," said Jim Goodwin, city manager. "We don't have any next step planned." He described the report as simply a starting point to see what policy choices Live Oak may make. All such studies point to vehicles as the primary contributor to emissions, Goodwin said. Posted. http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/emissions-120834-oak-live.html Carbon buried in soil doesn't stay there. Carbon buried in soil rises again as carbon emissions, a clue to understanding past and future global climate change, U.S. and European scientists say. Researchers, including plant scientist Johan Six of the University of California, Davis, say that while earlier studies have found erosion can bury carbon in the soil, acting as a carbon sink or storage, part of that sink is only temporary. They estimated roughly half of the carbon buried in soil by erosion will be re-released into the atmosphere within about 500 years, and possibly faster due to climate change. Posted. http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2012/11/05/Carbon-buried-in-soil-doesnt-stay-there/UPI-53441352167158/#ixzz2BSsYprfV Clouded future for climate change negotiators. While many of Washington's armchair election watchers speculate which Cabinet secretaries might stay or go if President Obama wins a second term today, international environmental advocates have their eyes on the lower-tier, yet critical, post of climate ambassador. U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern, the United States' point person on global warming, has given little indication of his future plans. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/06/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Carbon benefits of soil erosion wear off over time – study. The net benefits of soil erosion could only be a temporary fix for mitigating climate change in the long run, a study finds. While erosion is often pointed to as a process that unearths carbon in the soil and releases it into the atmosphere to accelerate climate change, the opposite is also true, said Johan Six, a professor of plant sciences at the University of California, Davis, and author of a study in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/06/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY World must cut carbon intensity by 5% every year – report. Carbon intensity will have to be cut by 5 percent per year till 2050 to limit global temperature rise to below 2 degrees Celsius, according to a report by the London office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). That's a far cry from the 0.8 percent yearly cut in carbon intensity seen between 2000 and 2011. In its annual Low Carbon Economy Index, PwC examined the progress of developed and emerging economies toward reducing their carbon intensity, or their emissions per unit of gross domestic product. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/06/11 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS South Coast AQMD Awards $34.2M to Replace, Clean Up Diesel School Buses. The South Coast Air Quality Management District awarded $32.9 million to Southern California school districts on Friday to help them purchase clean-burning buses to replace older diesel school buses in their fleets. The AQMD also awarded $1.3 million to enable districts to retrofit their diesel school buses with particulate matter traps that reduce diesel emissions. Posted. http://www.stnonline.com/home/latest-news/4867-south-coast-aqmd-awards-342m-to-replace-clean-up-diesel-school-buses CARB-approved DPF recalled after another brush fire. The recent product recall of a diesel particulate filter was issued after a three-acre brush fire in early August – the second fire started by a particular make and model built by Cleaire Advanced Emission Controls. According to the California Air Resources Board, which announced the recall last week, a three-acre brushfire was ignited Aug. 4 after the failure of a LongMile diesel particulate filter. LongMile is made by San Diego-based Cleaire. Posted. http://www.landlinemag.com/Story.aspx?StoryID=24384 FUELS Alternative fuel delivery approved for New Jersey after Sandy. U.S. biofuel providers are being allowed to reroute critical supplies to New Jersey to help alleviate shortages caused by Hurricane Sandy, two U.S. Senators said Tuesday. A barge bearing 17.6 million gallons of fuel should arrive into New Jersey by Thursday following an easing of rules approved by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson that had been requested by U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and Sen. Robert Menendez, both Democrats from New Jersey. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/storm-sandy-biofuels-idUSL1E8M66GG20121106 Food waste from Marin restaurants may soon be generating electricity. A big chunk of the commercial food waste that central Marin County produces could soon be diverted from landfills and converted into methane gas for electricity generation. The Central Marin Sanitation Agency in San Rafael expects to complete about $250,000 in upgrades to its treatment plant by January to allow it to process food waste and more caustic fats, oil and grease. An on-site power station at the plant already produces enough electricity from sewage-generated methane to run the plant for 12 hours a day. Adding food waste would make the plant's methane digester more efficient. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_21935299/food-waste-from-marin-restaurants-may-soon-be Pacific Ethanol to separate corn oil at Stockton plant. Low-carbon ethanol producer and marketer Pacific Ethanol Inc. announced Monday it will implement a high-tech system to separate out corn oil at its plant in Stockton. Pacific Ethanol (NASDAQ: PEIX) has awarded a contract to Edeniq Inc. to implement the Visalia-based company’s patented oil separation technology at the plant by the second quarter of 2013. In June, Sacramento-based Pacific Ethanol said it intends to implement corn oil separation at each of its ethanol plants. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2012/11/05/pacific-ethanol-corn-oil-separation.html Fuel economy of new vehicles sold hits record high. The average fuel economy of new vehicles purchased in the United States hit a record-breaking high last month, according to research by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). The average window-sticker value of all new cars, light trucks, minivans and SUVs purchased in October was 24.1 mpg, up from 23.8 mpg in September. Last month's fuel economy levels mark a 20 percent increase, or a 4 mpg improvement, from October 2007, when UMTRI began its recording project. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/06/9 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY HIGH-SPEED RAIL State panel vote may clear path for high-speed rail land deals. A vote today at the state Capitol could clear the way for buying land needed for high-speed rail right of way through the central San Joaquin Valley. The state Public Works Board, which includes the directors of the state's Finance, General Services and Transportation departments, will meet at 10 a.m. to consider streamlining the purchase of about 1,100 parcels along the California High-Speed Rail Authority's proposed train route between Madera and Bakersfield. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/05/3055711/state-panel-vote-may-clear-path.html GREEN ENERGY Calif. initiative could send $2.5B to clean energy. California voters will decide today whether to approve a ballot measure that would change how some businesses are taxed and use half of an expected $1 billion annually in new state revenues to fund clean energy. Proposition 39 would mandate that all businesses operating in California pay taxes based on their in-state sales. Under current law, companies can chose that method or one that also factors in buildings and workers in the Golden State. The change is expected to produce that $1 billion yearly in new proceeds. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/06/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Diablo Canyon nuke plant quake study is opposed. California Coastal Commission staff members have opposed an offshore earthquake survey near the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, saying it could disturb and even kill marine animals. The commission was expected to vote Nov. 14 on a request by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to conduct the survey over hundreds of square nautical miles off the San Luis Obispo County coast. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/Diablo-Canyon-nuke-plant-quake-study-is-opposed-4012753.php#ixzz2BTEKuo3n State receives federal grant for Santa Susana field lab cleanup. The California Department of Toxic Substance Control, tasked with overseeing the cleanup of the polluted Santa Susana Field Laboratory, received a $5.6 million grant from the Energy Department to aid in the work. The DOE owns the part of the land at the 2,850-acre former test site that was home to 10 experimental nuclear reactors. Rocket engine testing took place in different areas on the property that sits in the hills south of Simi Valley. The land is now contaminated with chemical and radiological materials. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/05/state-receives-federal-grant-for-santa-susana/?print=1 Brazilian, U.S. firms to launch world's largest biofuel marketer. Brazil's Copersucar and U.S. Company Eco-Energy announced Monday that they are linking their ethanol operations to create the largest biofuel marketer in the world. The two firms together control 12 percent of the global market for ethanol, with a combined supply capacity of 2.6 billion gallons (10 billion liters) of biofuel per year, the partners said in a press release. Brazil makes ethanol from sugar, while U.S. producers use corn as raw material. http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2012/11/05/brazilian-us-firms-to-launch-world-largest-biofuel-marketer/#ixzz2BSzb2dR9 OPINIONS Geoengineering is the answer to climate change. Unless it isn’t. Is it time to get serious about geoengineering our way out of climate change? Dozens of schemes have been devised to cool the planet. We could launch a vast fleet of ships to whiten the clouds by spraying salt mist, or squirt sulfuric acid into the stratosphere to reflect the sun. Send a swarm of mirrors into deep space. Engineer paler crops. Fertilize the oceans. Cover the world’s deserts in shiny mylar. Spread cloud-seeding bacteria. Release a global flock of micro-balloons. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/geoengineering-is-the-answer-to-climate-change-unless-it-isnt/2012/11/05/aef1c418-073d-11e2-858a-5311df86ab04_story.html Letters: The war on global warming. Re "Where the shore used to be," Nov. 4. The decade from 2001 to 2010 holds the record for the most Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes: eight. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of New Orleans and severely damaged other cities on the Gulf Coast. Now we have Sandy, which has caused tens of billions of dollars in damage in New York and New Jersey. Will this decade break the previous record? How many more hurricanes and tornadoes must occur before the governments of the world admit that "we have met the enemy, and he is us," as Pogo famously proclaimed? Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-1106-tuesday-sandy-jersey-shore-20121106,0,7309883.story Frankenstorms fed by climate change triple whammy. It was the day the ocean came ashore. As Hurricane Sandy lurched into the East Coast, we watched in horror as floodwaters crippled Manhattan and inundated more than 70 percent of Atlantic City. This Frankenstorm has given us a hair-raising look at the power of nature - and the harm and heartbreak it can inflict. But as a scientist, I think it's critical to understand these disasters are becoming more unnatural. The terrifying truth is that we face a future full of Frankenstorms because of manmade climate change. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/06/4964132/frankenstorms-fed-by-climate-change.html#storylink=cpy Nov. 6 Readers' letters: Cap and trade, Hurricane Sandy and voting by mail Clean energy doesn't have to be a trade-off. Our region didn't get to the top of the cleantech sector by accident. ("San Jose ranks No. 1 in cleantech," Page 2C, Oct. 25) Silicon Valley boasts savvy entrepreneurs and forward-looking venture capital firms. We also have a valuable asset that cities outside the state lack: policies aimed at strengthening the clean-energy economy while cleaning up the environment. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_21935946/nov-6-readers-letters-cap-and-trade-hurricane?source=rss BLOGS Prepare for Warm World, Says PwC. One of the main goals of the international efforts to fight to climate change is to prevent global temperature from rising over two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Such a temperature change would cause dramatic changes to the earth’s climate and have deadly consequences by way of increased extreme weather recurrences. Governments recognized that goal at the United Nations-sponsored Copenhagen meeting three years ago –one of the minor outcomes of a summit that had triggered huge expectations for a global, binding treaty to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/brussels/2012/11/06/prepare-for-warm-world-says-pwc/ How Natural Gas Kept Some Spots Bright and Warm as Sandy Blasted New York City. As New York City and other communities buffeted, flooded or darkened by the remains of Hurricane Sandy consider steps beyond the immediate recovery, officials, business owners and residents would be wise to spend time examining places where the power did not fail. That's the essence of the approach to post-disaster review suggested last week by the meteorologist William Hooke, a senior policy fellow at the American Meteorological Society. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/05/how-natural-gas-kept-some-spots-bright-and-warm-as-sandy-blasted-new-york/?src=twr&pagewanted=print U.S. Fuel Economy Is at All-Time High, Researchers Say. University of Michigan researchers said Monday that new cars and light trucks sold in the United States in October had the highest average fuel economy ever recorded on American vehicles — 24.1 mpg combined. Michael Sivak, one of the researchers, said in a telephone interview that new vehicle sales showed a four mile-per-gallon gain from October 2007 to October 2012, an improvement of about 20 percent. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/06/u-s-fuel-economy-is-at-all-time-high-researchers-say/ ====================================================================== 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 Nov 2012 14:12:10 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 7, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 7, 2012. 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 LIBERTY QUARRY: Fast tracking approved. Riverside County supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday, Nov. 6, to approve a “fast-track” review process for the revamped gravel mine planned on 414 acres south of Temecula. Supervisors John Benoit, Marion Ashley and John Tavaglione voted for fast tracking. Jeff Stone, who represents the area, and Bob Buster voted no. The decision came after more than two hours of testimony, mostly by Temecula-area residents and civic leaders who said that the blasting, air pollution, truck traffic and …Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20121106-liberty-quarry-fast-tracking-approved.ece All eyes on EPA reg writers for Obama's second term. President Obama's re-election last night has environmentalists and public health advocates already looking ahead to a second term and wondering whether U.S. EPA will pursue an aggressive air pollution regulatory effort. At the top of the agenda, they hope, will be stricter limits on ozone emissions as well as on sulfur in gasoline, which allows fuel to burn more cleanly. The agency also must finalize a host of regulations, including standards for boilers and cement makers. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/11/07/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Obama could put heat on drillers but stall gas exports. Barack Obama could toughen regulations on producing and burning natural gas, coal and oil early in his second term, raising some costs for energy companies, analysts said. The president likely will take far longer to decide whether the United States should export its newfound shale oil and gas bounty. Opponents warn that exports would spike fuel costs for consumers and undermine a domestic manufacturing recovery. Obama slowed regulation of fossil fuels during his campaign against Republican challenger Mitt Romney…Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/07/usa-campaign-energy-idUSL1E8M5BXP20121107 Ethanol powerhouse Brazil dabbles in biodiesel. International firms are investing in biodiesel production in Brazil, a country on the verge of becoming the world's top grower of soybeans, the main source of the biofuel. They are betting on increasing domestic demand, rather than export potential, in an emerging power that uses more diesel than gasoline. Many also believe Brazil's government soon will raise the amount of biodiesel required in diesel blends. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/07/brazil-biodiesel-idUSL1E8LPF7P20121107 Oil jumps as US picks a president. The price of oil jumped the most in a month Tuesday as investors, along with voters across the country, awaited the results of the U.S. presidential election. Benchmark crude rose $3.06, or 3.5 percent, to finish at $88.71 in New York. But it's still a far cry from the rise in oil the last time U.S. presidential ballots were cast in the midst of the financial crisis. Crude gained more than 10 percent on Nov. 4, 2008, as the Dow Jones industrial average rallied 305 points. On election day in 2000, the most hotly contested election in U.S. history, oil gained a more modest 1.6 percent. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/06/oil-jumps-as-us-picks-a-president/ US crude oil supplies grew by 1.8 million barrels. The nation's crude oil supplies rose last week, the government said Wednesday. Crude supplies grew by 1.8 million barrels, or 0.5 percent, to 374.8 million barrels, which is 10.9 percent above year-ago levels, the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report. Analysts expected an increase of 1 million barrels for the week ended Nov. 2, according to Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos. Gasoline supplies grew by 2.9 million barrels, or 1.4 percent, to 202.4 million barrels. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/07/3057359/us-crude-oil-supplies-grew-by.html#storylink=misearch VEHICLES Fuel economy of cars sold in October at record level. Americans continue to look for fuel-efficient vehicles when they go car shopping. The average fuel economy -- what is on the window sticker of a new car -- of new vehicles sold in the U.S. in October was 24.1 miles per gallon, the highest level yet. It was up 4 mpg, or 20 percent, from October 2007, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. The 24.1 mpg is up from 23 mpg in October a year ago and from 22.3 mpg in the same month in 2010. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/cars/ci_21943178/fuel-economy-cars-sold-october-at-record-level?source=autofeed# Ford has prettiest, affordable hybrid car. Who says that fuel-thrifty gasoline-electric hybrid cars have to be snub-nosed, rounded and ho-hum to look at? Not designers at Ford Motor Co., whose 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid is arguably the prettiest hybrid car in the U.S. market. Most people won't recognize this new, curvaceous model as a relative of last year's Ford Fusion. Some sports car enthusiasts thought the test 2013 Fusion Hybrid had styling cues from an Aston Martin luxury sedan. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/07/3057501/ford-has-prettiest-affordable.html#storylink=misearch FERC approval paves the way for Calif. charging stations. Federal regulators have approved a settlement between California and NRG Energy Inc. that paves the way for the construction of more than 10,000 electric vehicle charging stations across the Sunshine State. EVgo, a subsidiary of New Jersey-based NRG Energy, will pay the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) $102.5 million to install the "freedom stations," according to the pact that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/11/07/20 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Harsher energy regulations coming in Obama's second term. Energy companies likely will see more regulation during President Barack Obama's second term, with less access to federal lands and water even as the administration promotes energy independence. With a pledge to cut oil imports by half by 2020, Obama advocated during the campaign for what he called an "all of the above" approach to developing a range of domestic energy sources. He said, however, that he would roll back subsidies for oil companies and reduce the nation's reliance on oil by mandating production of more fuel-efficient vehicles. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/07/us-usa-campaign-energy-companies-obama-idUSBRE8A60N920121107 Trade panel upholds U.S. solar sanctions against China. A federal trade panel found China responsible Wednesday for harming the U.S. solar panel industry, clearing the final hurdle for U.S. attempts to impose steep tariffs on Chinese solar companies. The U.S. International Trade Commission voted unanimously that Chinese companies have materially injured U.S. manufacturers, affirming its 2011 vote that launched a yearlong inquiry into low-cost Chinese products that U.S manufacturers blame for putting them on the brink of collapse. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21948288/trade-panel-upholds-u-s-solar-sanctions-against http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/07/3057379/us-trade-panel-finds-harm-from.html#storylink=misearch Calif. approves billions for clean power, rejects limiting green energy lobby. California voters yesterday passed a ballot measure that would generate as much as $2.75 billion for clean energy projects and rejected one that would have hobbled a green power ally. With 81 percent of ballots counted, the Golden State by a vote of 60 to 40 percent approved Proposition 39, which changes how multi-state businesses are taxed. It is expected to generate $1.1 billion annually in new revenue, money for the general fund and green energy. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/07/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Enviros claim election results boost green issues. Environmentalists joined President Obama this morning in taking a victory lap after winning the vast majority of races they targeted yesterday. Green groups were quick to point out that they were significantly outspent by oil and other energy interests, but nevertheless prevailed in many high-profile contests. The results, they contested, show that clean energy and environmental issues resonate with voters and should be on the top of lawmakers'…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/11/07/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Airships of the future take shape in Tustin. Imagine a blimp that works like a submarine. To go up, the pilot releases compressed helium, filling the hull and making the craft lighter than air. To go down, the skipper takes on air as ballast, making the ship heavy enough to land. Airships may sound like a pipe dream, a fanciful vision from a bygone era. But a real-life submarine of the sky is taking shape right now at one of the World War II-era blimp hangars in Tustin. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/cargo-376922-airships-airship.html More retailers offer customers alternative e-receipts. The “paper or plastic” mantra at store checkouts is getting a digital twin: “Paper or email?” As smartphones proliferate, more stores and banks are offering to email shoppers receipts rather than giving them a printed copy. These electronic or digital receipts, touted as green for saving paper and convenient for saving time, enable retailers to market directly to customers. “It’s a growing trend,” said John Talbott at Indiana University’s Center for Education and Research in Retailing. He said companies are rushing to mimic what Apple started in 2005. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012311060017 Voters OK tax hike to spare enviro programs. California voters yesterday approved Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) proposed tax increases, saving about $30 million in state-run environmental programs from the chopping block. Proposition 30 sought to raise the sales tax by one-quarter cent and boost income taxes for people making more than $250,000 per year, a move primarily aimed at raising $6 billion annually for education. Voters approved it 54 percent to 46 percent. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/11/07/10 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS EDITORIAL: Climate-change crybabies. Liberals are hot under the collar, but this has more to do with the election than the planet warming up. The presidential candidates didn’t say a word about global warming during the debates, so advocates of that theory are looking for a bit of attention. Late last month, Penn State climate professor Michael Mann turned to the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to sue several individuals who dared satirize his work. Mr. Mann became famous three years ago when leaked Climategate emails referenced Mr. Mann’s “trick” used to “hide the decline” in global temperatures, inspiring countless parodies and scathing commentary. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/6/climate-change-crybabies/ Air rule foes all fired up. So, now, before you and your loved one can cozy up at home beside a romantic fire, you have to say, "Excuse me, darling. I have to call the air board." The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District imposed a few no-burn days on home fireplaces years ago. New rules may ratchet up the days to 47. One out of three winter days. You find out if it's OK to have a fire by calling (800) BIGBROTHER or by visiting the air board's website, www.reallyintrusive.com. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121107/A_NEWS0803/211070313&cid=sitesearch Basu: Climate shift cost harder to deny. Even those who don't believe in global warming are now forced to acknowledge its power. For the first time, it became the decisive issue in a high-profile presidential endorsement. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg last week endorsed President Barack Obama, saying that Superstorm Sandy had reshaped his thinking about the race and that climate change was the main reason. The mayor, a Republican turned independent, referred to efforts Obama has made to curb greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/06/basu-climate-shift-cost-harder-to-deny/ Earth log: New bad-air time arrives in Valley. Ready for some weather whiplash? You probably know forecasters say San Joaquin Valley days should edge into the mid-80s this week and then back down by the weekend. By Saturday morning, the Valley may see its first widespread frost. That's what private meteorologist Steve Johnson wrote in his forecast. He said the lowest of the low temperatures don't appear headed much below 30 degrees. I'm interested in the whiplash mostly because of air quality -- the possibility of both ozone and particle pollution in the same week. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/06/3056892/new-bad-air-time-arrives-in-valley.html#storylink=misearch BLOGS A New Approach to Military Nuclear Waste. The United States has many pressing nuclear waste problems, but the worst may be the leftovers from the manufacturing of nuclear weapons. Unlike the wastes from civilian reactors, the military wastes are liquids and sludges stored in underground tanks in environmentally sensitive areas. Scores of tanks have leaked some of the material into the dirt. And there is no debate about how the wastes might be repurposed; they have already been scavenged for useful materials like uranium and plutonium. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/06/a-new-approach-to-military-nuclear-waste/ Why Climate Disasters Might Not Boost Public Engagement on Climate Change. There has been an intense rush to use Hurricane Sandy as a teachable moment to focus the public (and politicians) on the risks of an unabated buildup of greenhouse gases and resulting global warming. The climate campaigner Dan Miller epitomized that approach in a discussion here last week. But it’s important, always, to consider the other contexts to events, however dramatic, in judging whether they provide a real opportunity for engagement on the momentous challenge of getting the carbon out of the world’s energy system. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/06/why-climate-disasters-might-not-boost-public-engagement-on-climate-change/ Hyundai’s Fuel Economy Admission Leaves Some Car Owners Cold. Last Friday, following an investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency, Hyundai Motor Group admitted it had overstated the fuel economy of 900,000 vehicles sold in the United States over the last two years. But for many Hyundai and Kia owners, the company was merely stating the obvious. There had been grumbling in online forums, like Edmunds.com and others, that Hyundai was playing games with the E.P.A. testing cycle. One reads: “Bought 2012 Elantra based on 33 m.p.g. average. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/07/hyundais-fuel-economy-admission-leaves-some-car-owners-cold/ Obama finally talks climate change. Now what will he do about it? “We want our kids to grow up in an America… that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.” That was the president in his acceptance speech Tuesday night. Now that Obama has won reelection, apparently, he feels free to talk about climate change — a topic notably absent during the campaign. Now what does he actually plan to do about it? Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/wp/2012/11/07/obama-finally-talks-climate-change-but-what-will-he-do-about-it/ Voters reject green energy, other issues. Same-sex marriage and marijuana ruled the day, but voters fielded a range of ballot issues Tuesday — some of them less probable than others. Missourians narrowly voted against a measure to raise the state’s cigarette tax, which pitted the American Cancer Society against cigarette manufacturers in the lead-up to Election Day. The state’s cigarette taxes are the lowest in the country, according to St. Louis’s KSDK News; the measure would have raised them from 17 to 90 cents per pack. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/wp/2012/11/07/voters-reject-green-energy-other-issues/ California voters approve corporate tax hike for budget, clean energy. California voters approved a complex corporate tax change that would result in out-of-state firms paying an estimated $1 billion more annually for the state budget and clean energy programs. The initiative was leading 59 percent to 41 percent late Tuesday with 43 percent of the vote counted. Proposition 39 was backed almost entirely by billionaire hedge fund manager Tom Steyer, who spent $32 million on the campaign. Posted. http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2012/11/voters-approve-corporate-tax-hike-for-budget-clean-energy.html#storylink=cpy ====================================================================== 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 Nov 2012 13:54:46 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 8, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 8, 2012. 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 Auction to kick-start California carbon market. California will next week sell more than 60 million CO2 emission permits in a move that will get the world's second biggest carbon market off the ground. More than 350 of the state's biggest emitters, including utilities Pacific Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, will be bound by the scheme, which aims to help California bring greenhouse gas emissions back down to 1990 levels by 2020. "We're ready to go, we're ready to launch," Mary Nichols, the chair of California Air Resources Board (ARB), the agency that administers the program, said at Stanford University this week. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/08/us-california-carbon-idUSBRE8A70O620121108 Australia Promotes Carbon Market With First Trading Licenses. Australia’s Securities and Investments Commission granted the first 11 licenses to trade emission permits in Australia, a sign that a carbon market is taking shape despite a political threat to end the program. “A market is beginning to develop, premised on the steady flow of issuance of carbon units,” Craig McBurnie, a senior specialist for the commission, said today at the Carbon Expo in Melbourne. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-07/australia-promotes-carbon-market-with-first-trading-licenses.html Obama to continue efforts to curb greenhouse gases, push energy efficiency.President Obama’s reelection, along with key wins by Senate Democrats, ensures that the federal government will press ahead with efforts to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency and to curb greenhouse gas emissions linked to climate change. But the scope of these policies could be constrained by congressional opposition and by concern over their economic impact, making it likely that a second Obama term will deliver some, but not all, of environmentalists’ top priorities. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/obama-to-continue-efforts-to-curb-greenhouse-gases-push-energy-efficiency/2012/11/07/06c70c66-28f9-11e2-96b6-8e6a7524553f_print.html FUELS Oil back above $85 a barrel after largest drop of year fueled by fears of US fiscal trouble. Oil prices rose above $85 per barrel on Thursday as postelection volatility continued. Crude oil rose 75 cents to $85.19 in afternoon trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. That followed a decline of 5 percent on Wednesday, when traders were spooked by worries about budget negotiations in the U.S. Analysts also say that oil supplies and production are high, which tends to drive down prices. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/oil-recoups-some-lost-ground-after-biggest-drop-of-year-as-global-economy-jitters-continue/2012/11/08/85628bda-2968-11e2-aaa5-ac786110c486_story.html OPEC report sees strong future fossil fuel demand with coal use growing, oil decreasing. OPEC says that fossil fuels will remain the main energy source in the coming decades with coal’s share growing and oil’s falling. In its annual World Oil Outlook, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries also projects that a barrel of benchmark crude will cost $155 by 2035, compared with under $100 now. The report, published Thursday, says the use of fossil fuels as a percentage of world energy use will decrease only marginally from 87 percent now to 82 percent by 2035. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/opec-report-sees-strong-future-fossil-fuel-demand-with-coal-use-growing-oil-decreasing/2012/11/08/ba391b68-29ad-11e2-aaa5-ac786110c486_story.html Stockton Ethanol plant to upgrade facility. Pacific Ethanol Inc. this week announced it would install a corn oil extraction system at its Stockton plant, the company's second such upgrade, and put it into operation before the end of the first quarter. The new technology, which has become widespread in the corn ethanol industry, provides additional value in the production of ethanol and byproducts, including wet distillers grain, which is commonly used as animal feed. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121108/A_BIZ/211080319&cid=sitesearch Argentine judge embargoes Chevron assets on spill. An Argentine judge embargoed Chevron Corp.'s assets in Argentina to carry out an Ecuadorean court order that awarded $19 billion to plaintiffs in an environmental damage lawsuit in the Amazon, a lawyer said Wednesday. Judge Adrian Elcuj Miranda ordered the freezing of Chevron's assets in Argentina as plaintiffs try to collect the judgment won in Ecuador last year, Argentine lawyer Enrique Bruchou told reporters in a conference call. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/07/argentine-judge-embargoes-chevron-assets-on/ Prices still falling, a month after SoCal gasoline crisis. What a difference a month can make. Southern California gasoline prices have fallen 82 cents since hitting an all-time high on Oct. 8. A gallon of regular grade gas sold for $3.91 on average in San Diego on Thursday, down from $4.73 a month ago. The Energy Information Administration is forecasting a continuing decline in retail gasoline prices nationwide through the end of this year. The agency, a statistical arm of the Energy Department, expects global oil markets to loosen, as supplies slightly outstrip demand. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/08/prices-still-falling-month-after-socal-gasoline-cr/ VEHICLES California gets 200 EV charging stations in settlement. Federal energy regulators have approved a legal settlement between California and a New Jersey energy company that will see more than 200 electric vehicle charging stations get built around the state. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the settlement between the California Public Utilities Commission and a subsidiary of Princeton, N.J.-based NRG Energy Inc. The settlement came in response to lawsuits filed after California's energy crisis, when NRG and other companies overcharged Californians for power. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21948838/california-gets-200-ev-charging-stations-settlement GREEN ENERGY Swiss firm says its new switch to aid green energy. A Swiss engineering group said Wednesday it has developed a new circuit breaker that will help utilities transfer power over longer distances, making for more efficient and reliable electric supplies. Zurich-based ABB Group announced it developed the world's first circuit breaker for high-voltage direct current, which will facilitate the long-distance transfer of hydropower, wind and solar power. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/07/swiss-firm-says-its-new-switch-to-aid-green/ Election results: What it means for energy in CA. Energy took the stage in Tuesday's elections, from the presidential race to California's long list of ballot propositions, and the results hold immediate and long-term implications for Southern California. The approval of Proposition 39 should funnel an estimated $500 million a year for five years into energy efficiency retrofits on buildings, starting with public schools and universities. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/08/election-and-energy/ Berkeley research facility tackles renewable energy issue. A futuristic GPS device, given the task of locating a solution for today's transportation-energy versus environmental-sustainability battle instead of an address, might very well lead to the new, five-story, $133 million biofuels research building located near the northwest edge of the UC Berkeley campus. There, the Energy Biosciences Institute, established in 2007 by international oil and gas company BP as a public-private partnership with UC Berkeley and now including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, is leading the race to develop nonfood, liquid biofuels. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21956937/berkeley-research-facility-tackles-renewable-energy-issue KiOR starts production at Mississippi biorefinery. Alternative fuel firm KiOR says it started production in October in Mississippi and plans to make its first commercial shipment before November's end. Based in Pasadena, Texas, KiOR built a $222 refinery in Columbus, Miss., to extract the equivalent of light crude oil from wood chips. It refines the oil into gasoline and diesel fuel. KiOR said researchers have found a way to increase how much oil it can extract from wood. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21957056/kior-starts-production-at-mississippi-biorefinery OPINIONS Guarding Against Solar Storms. Regarding “Not ready for a ‘Solar Sandy’” (Views, Nov. 3): Solar storms do pose a great threat. That’s why NOAA operates the Space Weather Prediction Center. It has provided warnings and alerts for grid operators, airlines and other vulnerable sectors since 1970. But Yousaf Butt errs when he says there is no plan to replace the aging Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) satellite, which provides warnings. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/opinion/guarding-against-solar-storms.html Green Goals Without Rancor. Energy and climate change, two issues that deeply divide the country, stand out as major pieces of unfinished business for the Obama administration. Sadly, it is not clear how many disasters it will take and how many billions we will have to spend before we take the potential consequences of climate change seriously. But as the president has said, even for those who don’t believe climate change is real, the benefits of clean energy -- cleaner air, energy independence, American jobs and enhanced global competitiveness -- are just too important to ignore. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/11/07/a-to-do-list-for-president-obamas-next-four-years/obama-needs-green-goals-without-rancor BLOGS Climate change is making your coffee more expensive. Climate change has already been blamed for major storms and melting arctic ice, but now it may be coming after your morning cup of joe. Researchers have found that climate change will reduce the number of suitable growing locations for the Arabica coffee plant, which provides about 70 percent of the world’s coffee supply, according to a new study in the journal PLOS ONE. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/11/08/climate-change-is-making-your-coffee-more-expensive/ First Things First: An Efficient Abode. At the beginning of our build project, Mr. Tobe lent us a simple low-tech device called a Solar Pathfinder. It’s designed to figure out where to place solar panels for maximum effect, but we used it to site the house on the property for optimal passive solar performance. The pathfinder is essentially a reflective plexiglass dome and a stack of circular black pieces of paper called sun path diagrams. The diagrams are covered with a series of white arcs delineating the path of the sun at different times of year for different latitudes. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/first-things-first-an-efficient-abode/?ref=earth ====================================================================== 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 Nov 2012 12:30:48 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 9, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 9, 2012. 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 Maya civilization's collapse linked to climate change: study. For a clue to the possible impact of climate change on modern society, a study suggests a look back at the end of classic Maya civilization, which disintegrated into famine, war and collapse as a long-term wet weather pattern shifted to drought. An international team of researchers compiled a detailed climate record that tracks 2,000 years of wet and dry weather in present-day Belize, where Maya cities developed from the year 300 to 1000. Using data locked in stalagmites - mineral deposits left by dripping water in caves - …Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/09/us-maya-climate-idUSBRE8A71DE20121109 Australia to sign up to new Kyoto climate commitment, NZ out. Australia will sign up to the second round of Kyoto climate commitments, Climate Change Minister Greg Combet said on Friday, but the push for global emissions cuts remained divided with New Zealand joining major countries to opt out of the Kyoto scheme. With new U.N. climate negotiations due to start in Qatar this month, Australia joins Europe and a handful of other nations engaged in the second phase of emissions reductions. The first Kyoto period is due to end on Dec. 31, with the new commitment period starting on Jan. 1, 2013. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/09/kyoto-climate-australia-newzealand-idUSL3E8M90S620121109 U.S. weather forecaster drops El Niño watch. The U.S. national weather forecaster has called off its El Niño watch five months after raising the alert as it is now less likely that the much-feared phenomenon that can wreak havoc on global weather will emerge. Since June, the weather forecaster had predicted that El Niño conditions, essentially a warming of waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that can cause a major drought in Asia, would develop gradually during the Northern Hemisphere winter. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/08/weather-elnino-cpc-idUSL1E8M85SP20121108 Long-shot carbon tax suddenly part of fiscal cliff debate. A potential tax on big polluters, a taboo subject in the United States in recent years, has come back into the spotlight as some sense potential for a revenue windfall at a time lawmakers look for ways to the so-called "fiscal cliff" of tax rises and spending cuts due in early 2013. The aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, which devastated parts of the U.S. East Coast last week, has raised fresh questions about the links between climate change and extreme weather events, which also makes the idea of a carbon tax more appealing. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/08/us-carbon-tax-fiscal-cliff-idUSBRE8A71IU20121108 California Carbon ‘Crippled’ by Buyer Hesitation: Energy Markets. California carbon is trading at a record low as legal threats, political opposition and rule changes plague the days leading up to the first auction of permits under the state’s greenhouse-gas program. Less than a week before the first allowance sale, the program is facing scrutiny from legislators, economists and companies such as San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp., whose chief executive officer described the regulations last week as being “hijacked” by academics and extremists. Posted. http://sfgate.ldc.bloomberg.wallst.com/SFChronicle/Story?docId=1376-MD4UFL6TTDUG01-6V0HVGMN1KULUUJV9SF3K2GAEH UN: Sandy shows need for action on climate change. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says one of the lessons from Superstorm Sandy is the need for global action to deal with future climate shocks. A new round of global climate talks starts in Doha, Qatar on Nov. 27, and Ban urged nations to reach a binding agreement by 2015 to curtail emissions of heat-trapping gases in order to stop the planet from overheating. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/09/4973684/un-sandy-shows-need-for-action.html#storylink=cpy Climate change may come faster than predictions made by most computer models. Climate change is likely to be worse than many computer models have projected, according to a new analysis. The work, published yesterday in Science, finds evidence that Earth's climate is more sensitive to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than some earlier studies had suggested. If the new results are correct, that means warming will come on faster, and be more intense, than many current predictions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/09/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY California Carbon Credits May Benefit Vt. In January, California will begin enforcing a carbon cap and trade system. Polluters in that state will be able to buy carbon offset credits from landowners anywhere in the U.S. and some forest owners in Vermont are already signing up for this new marketplace. Others are watching very closely. Bill Keeton is a professor of Forest Ecology and Resources at the University of Vermont. He spoke with Vermont Edition about how Vermonters could take advantage of a California program. Posted. http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/96469/california-carbon-credits-may-benefit-vt/ VEHICLES Electric vehicle prices must fall for sales to take off –study. U.S. sales of plug-in electric and hybrid vehicles are rising, but they won't gain real traction until manufacturers lower prices and demonstrate clear economic benefits, market researcher J.D. Power and Associates said in a study released on Thursday. Sales of plug-in vehicles, such as General Motors Co's Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Motor Co's Leaf, rose to 37,361 through October, but that represents only 0.3 percent of total industry sales. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/08/autos-ev-study-idUSL1E8M8DE820121108 GREEN ENERGY LightSail raises $37 million from Bill Gates and others to back company's cleantech energy storage system. LightSail Energy, a developer of new technologies for energy storage, has landed $37.3 million in Series D venture capital financing. Investors Bill Gates, Peter Thiel. Khosla Ventures, and Innovacorp were among the notable financiers that participated in the venture funding round. Founded in 2009, LightSail Energy has developed technologies to make renewable energy such as solar and wind power available at times when the power is needed, rather than only when they are available. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21960863/lightsail-raises-37-million-from-bill-gates-and What will the election mean for renewable energy? Tuesday’s election was a pivotal moment for renewable energy in America. During President Barack Obama’s first term, the amount of electricity generated through renewable sources doubled. On Tuesday the President was re-elected; Democrats increased their numbers in the Senate; and in many states Democrats won governorships and took control of state legislatures. What will that mean for renewable energy? Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/what-will-the-election-mean-for-renewable-energy MISCELLANEOUS Salinas Valley man faces prison time for falsely labeling chemical-based fertilizer as organic. The former president of Salinas Valley farming company has been sentenced to nearly a year in prison after pleading guilty to falsely labeling chemical-based fertilizer as organic. Federal officials say Peter Townsley, who formerly operated California Liquid Fertilizer in Gonzales, was sentenced to 364 days in prison and fined $125,000 Wednesday in federal court. He had earlier pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/green-living/ci_21964230/salinas-valley-man-faces-prison-time-falsely-labeling New judge appointed in low-carbon fuel case. A federal appeals court has appointed a judge to sit on a panel considering the lawfulness of California's low-carbon fuel standard after one died and her replacement recused himself. Judge Ronald Gould, who was appointed by President Clinton, will replace the late Judge Betty Binns Fletcher, the President Carter pick who died at age 89 just days after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in the case Oct. 16 (Greenwire, Oct. 24). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/print/2012/11/08/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Air Force ships Calif. radioactive waste to Idaho landfill. After California regulators refused to allow the U.S. Air Force to label residue from radioactive aircraft instruments as “naturally occurring” – declaring it unsuitable for a Bakersfield-area dump – the military turned to Idaho with the same story. There, military officials met with success. The Air Force is now sending radioactive waste from Sacramento County’s McClellan Air Force Base to a Grand View, Idaho, hazardous waste landfill. This solution involved a bit of legal semantics rejected in California despite 10 months of Air Force lobbying: Posted. http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/air-force-ships-calif-radioactive-waste-idaho-landfill-18655 OPINIONS U.S. carbon tax works, with support: Wynn. Academics and lawmakers have proposed a U.S. carbon tax to curb carbon emissions and trim the debt pile, but the idea depends on prominent Republican support, so far absent. Without a deal on cutting the fiscal deficit the United States faces a $600 billion package of automatic tax increases and spending cuts which could tip the country back into recession. While that is clearly a step too far, the consensus is that a more gradual combination of spending cuts and/or tax hikes is required to avoid a borrowing crisis. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/09/us-column-wynn-carbon-tax-idUSBRE8A80WJ20121109 California's Model Climate Policies Will Maintain Momentum in Obama Second Term. A second Obama White House guarantees California a federal supporter in its crusade to slow global warming. For decades, California has been the engine of growth behind America's sputtering clean energy economy—adopting groundbreaking clean air and climate policies as federal efforts lagged behind. The hope was that California's initiatives would become the template for a national law to slow global warming. Posted. http://insideclimatenews.org/news/20121108/obama-second-president-epa-california-cap-and-trade-low-carbon-fuels-global-warming-greenhouse-gases-solar-energy?page=show BLOGS Science Panel Warns Spy Agencies Are in the Dark on Risks from Warming. For years, there’s been a building chorus of warnings on the looming prospect of “climate conflict” and “global warring” that might be set off as greenhouse-driven warming disrupts longstanding weather patterns in already-turbulent parts of the world (think sub-Saharan Africa) or rising seas dislocate coastal populations (think Bangladesh). Solmon Hsiang of Princeton and Matthew Burke of the University of California, Berkeley, generated a graph of data showing a relationship between conflict rates (vertical axis) and periods of unusual warmth in East Africa (horizontal). Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/09/science-panel-warns-spy-agencies-are-in-the-dark-on-risks-from-warming/?ref=science Will Storm’s Wall Street Impact Influence U.S. Carbon Policy? I encourage you to read Tina Rosenberg’s Fixes post, “A Change in the Weather on Wall Street.” The piece nicely summarizes why this storm, unlike other recent weather disasters with a climate-change component, has prompted so many politicians, including President Obama, to end their self-imposed silence on global warming. One reason, she writes, is that it disrupted the lives of Wall Street titans along with the common folk in the region. That cut through the reality of the rich-poor “climate divide.” Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/will-storms-wall-street-impact-influence-u-s-carbon-policy/ Turning Wood Chips into Gasoline. KiOR, a renewable fuel start-up based in Pasadena, Tex., said Thursday that it had produced a crude oil made from wood chips at a plant in Mississippi and expected to refine it into gasoline and diesel and sell it commercially later this month. That would be a first for the cellulosic biofuel sector. In a conference call with investment analysts, company executives would not say just how much they had made at the conversion plant, in Columbus, Miss., or how well it was running. But they said the remaining step, refining the oil into products, would involve standard technology. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/turning-wood-chips-into-gasoline/ Warmer still: Extreme climate predictions appear most accurate, report says. Climate scientists agree the Earth will be hotter by the end of the century, but their simulations don’t agree on how much. Now a study suggests the gloomier predictions may be closer to the mark. “Warming is likely to be on the high side of the projections,” said John Fasullo of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo., a co-author of the report, which was based on satellite measurements of the atmosphere. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/warmer-still-extreme-climate-predictions-appear-most-accurate-study-says/2012/11/08/ebd075c6-29c7-11e2-96b6-8e6a7524553f_story.html How to press for climate change progress. The past week has been huge for people who want to see the United States go big on climate change. First Hurricane Sandy vaulted climate change back into the public debate. Now the reelection of Barack Obama means that there will be someone in the White House who cares strongly about the issue. The combination creates an opportunity to press for climate action. That makes it all the more critical for people who care about climate change to get things right. If they remember one thing, it should be this: they will need to build coalitions if they want to go big. Posted. http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/09/how-to-press-for-climate-change-progress/ Voters Chose Leaders Who Will Confront Climate Change. This election was a resounding victory for climate action. Americans were presented with the clearest choice yet on global warming, and they chose the presidential candidate who confronted the climate threat, not the one who turned it into a punch line. Voters made the same choice in Congressional races across the country. They overwhelmingly favored leaders who called for more clean energy and other climate solutions. Let's be clear here. The issue of climate change appeared throughout this election. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-lehner/voters-chose-leaders-who-_b_2094688.html Delhi Journal: Five Ways to Avoid the Pollution. Air pollution in New Delhi has reached “unheard of” levels, experts say. The air quality index for PM10 (particles with a diameter of 10 microns or less) touched 1,000 in areas of the city earlier this week. To put that in perspective: PM10 levels above 301 are considered “hazardous” to health, by U.S. government standards. In 2010, the capital’s PM10 averaged 249, making it the most polluted city in India. Early Friday, PM10 levels in Delhi ranged from 600 to 800, with a few areas in the north of the city exceeding 900, according to government data. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2012/11/09/delhi-journal-five-ways-to-avoid-the-pollution/ California leads in green car sales, but there are surprises on the lists. A recent study of new car registrations by Edmunds reveals that some big car-buying states aren't as interested in electric or gas-electric hybrids as other states. It's no surprise that California – the Number One car-buying state – is the top green car buyer as well. A large number of "early adopters," strong local incentives and access to High Occupancy Lanes with a single person in the cab likely tilted a large number of buyers into alternative power trains, experts said. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/11/09/california-leads-in-green-car-sales-but-there-are-surprises-on/ ====================================================================== 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 Nov 2012 16:22:55 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 12-13, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 12-13, 2012. This is a service of the California Air Resources Board’s Office of Communications. You may need to sign in or register with individual websites to view some of the following news articles. CAP AND TRADE California poised to begin ‘cap-and-trade’ system to limit greenhouse gas pollution. California’s largest greenhouse gas emitters will begin buying permits in a landmark “cap-and-trade” system designed to control emissions of heat-trapping gases and to spur investment in clean technologies. The program is the most wide-ranging of its kind in the nation and a key part of California’s 2006 climate-change law that dictates standards for cleaner-burning fuels, more efficient automobiles, and increased use of renewable energy. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/california-poised-to-begin-cap-and-trade-system-to-limit-greenhouse-gas-pollution/2012/11/12/c4f68cbe-2d06-11e2-b631-2aad9d9c73ac_story.html Calif. to officially launch greenhouse gas system. California's largest greenhouse gas emitters will begin buying permits in a landmark "cap-and-trade" system designed to control emissions of heat-trapping gases and to spur investment in clean technologies. The program is the most wide-ranging of its kind in the nation and a key part of California's 2006 climate-change law that dictates standards for cleaner-burning fuels, more efficient automobiles, and increased use of renewable energy. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/Calif-to-officially-launch-greenhouse-gas-system-4030209.php#ixzz2C81BGvzo Do cap-and-trade systems work? Europe already has a carbon cap-and-trade system similar to the one California will launch on Wednesday. The northeastern United States does too, albeit in a far more limited form. Do they work? Do they cut the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming and do so at a reasonable price? Both follow the same basic principles, setting an overall limit on emissions and forcing companies to buy and sell permits to release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Do-cap-and-trade-systems-work-4028494.php#ixzz2C7zk0klK Cap and trade: division over economics. To some business leaders, California's new cap-and-trade system for curbing greenhouse gases represents nothing less than the road to economic ruin. "This is kind of 'Recession: The Sequel,' “said Dorothy Rothrock, vice president of the California Manufacturers & Technology Association. "It's going to have a horribly negative effect on jobs and manufacturing investment." To environmentalists and some of their green-tech allies, cap and trade is a way to spur innovation and fight global warming in one stroke. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Cap-and-trade-division-over-economics-4028546.php#ixzz2C87x0LwT California's cap-and-trade auction starts Wednesday. Despite fierce opposition from much of the business community, California's grand experiment in taming global warming begins in earnest Wednesday. State officials are set to auction tens of millions of dollars' worth of carbon-emission allowances to scores of oil refiners, cement manufacturers and other large industrial polluters. The computerized auction marks the beginning of California's "cap-and-trade" market. The market is the centerpiece of Assembly Bill 32, the state's 2006 law aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, and Wednesday's kickoff is being closely watched. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/13/4981311/californias-cap-and-trade-auction.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy http://www.modbee.com/2012/11/13/2453605/californias-cap-and-trade-auction.html#storylink=misearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/13/3064304/californias-cap-and-trade-auction.html#storylink=misearch California's landmark global warming law becomes real this week with first cap-and-trade auctions. For more than 40 years, California has led the nation in environmental regulation, from passing the toughest coastal protection laws to America's first rules banning leaded gasoline. Now, this week -- after Hurricane Sandy pushed the issue of climate change back into the national spotlight -- California will become the first state to begin requiring a broad range of businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas pollution. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_21972739/californias-landmark-global-warming-law-becomes-real-this State to officially launch greenhouse gas system. California's largest greenhouse gas emitters will begin buying permits in a landmark "cap-and-trade" system designed to control emissions of heat-trapping gases and to spur investment in clean technologies. The program is the most wide-ranging of its kind in the nation and a key part of California's 2006 climate-change law that dictates standards for cleaner-burning fuels, more efficient automobiles, and increased use of renewable energy. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121112/A_NEWS/121119982&cid=sitesearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/calif-to-officially-launch-greenhouse-gas-system/article_bde223e8-32ad-5c44-b20c-68e5b082bddc.html Cap-and-Trade: The Glossary. You can’t navigate the new world of carbon trading unless you know the lingo. Here are some key terms. AB 32 The Global Warming Solutions Act, passed by the California legislature and signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, is the authorizing legislation for cap and trade. It seeks to reduce total carbon emissions in the state to 1990 levels, by 2020. That's about 30% below where emissions would likely be absent substantial reduction efforts. The law requires a further 80% reduction by 2050. Posted. http://science.kqed.org/quest/2012/11/09/cap-and-trade-the-glossary/ CA Companies Will Soon Pay to Release Greenhouse Gases During 'Cap & Trade' Auction. A first push of its kind to reduce pollution will force some California companies to shell out extra cash. Essentially the state is telling company officials if they want to pollute, then they have to pay up. Elizabeth Jonasson, Coalition for Clean Air says, "Reducing greenhouse gases is definitely important for our planet, for the Valley, for our way of life. It's critical that we do our part to reduce climate change." Posted. http://www.ksee24.com/news/local/Cap--Trade---AGR-179018481.html California prepared for first GHG allowance auction: Nichols. The California Air Resources Board is on track to hold its first auction of greenhouse gas allowances Wednesday, launching the world's second-largest cap-and-trade program, CARB Chairwoman Mary Nichols said Monday at a Platts conference in San Francisco. The auction will offer about 23.126 million vintage 2013 allowances and 39.45 million vintage 2015 allowances. The minimum price that a GHG allowance can be sold for is $10. Each GHG allowance represents one metric ton of emissions. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/8907210 California testing cap and trade. Come Wednesday, California will take its boldest, riskiest step yet to fight global warming, opening a market that for the first time will put a price on greenhouse gas emissions in the state. The cap-and-trade system, six years in the making, will force owners of power plants and factories to buy and sell permits to spew carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If trimming emissions without trashing the state's economy works, it could be a model for the nation. Posted. http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/California-testing-cap-and-trade-4030612.php#ixzz2C803i1Zk AIR POLLUTION E.U. Postpones Charges for Airline Emissions. The European Commission said Monday that it would seek to delay a plan to charge foreign airlines for greenhouse gas emissions for one year, potentially removing one of the most contentious issues clouding trade relations with China, India and the United States. The system, which requires airlines using an airport in Europe to obtain or buy permits corresponding to the amount of gases they emit, had generated intense opposition among foreign governments. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/business/global/eu-postpones-charges-for-airline-emissions.html?_r=0 With China and India Ravenous for Energy, Coal’s Future Seems Assured. Last summer, nearly half of India’s sweltering population suddenly found the electricity shut off. Air-conditioners whirred to a stop. Refrigerators ceased cooling. The culprits were outmoded power generation stations and a creaky electricity transmission grid. But another problem stood out. India relies on coal for 55 percent of its electric power and struggles to keep enough on hand. Coal remains a critical component of the world’s energy supply despite its bad image. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/business/energy-environment/china-leads-the-way-as-demand-for-coal-surges-worldwide.html No major pollution upgrades expected at refinery. Chevron does not plan to increase production at its fire-damaged Richmond refinery after repairs are made, allowing it to forego requirements to install the newest clean-air technologies, the company said. A section of the refinery was damaged in an Aug. 6 fire, which sent a cloud of black smoke into the air and spurred thousands to seek medical treatment. The cause of the fire was a leaky, decades-old pipe that failed due to corrosion. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/12/no-major-pollution-upgrades-expected-at-refinery/ CLIMATE CHANGE Q+A: How will U.S. climate negotiators approach Copenhagen? When U.S. negotiators show up in Copenhagen next month to work on a deal to tackle global warming, they probably won't have in their pockets what they most wanted: a law enacted by Washington committing the country to carbon pollution reductions. With legislation hung up in the Senate, developed and developing countries alike might be skeptical of the United States' commitment to addressing climate change problems. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/11/12/us-climate-usa-copenhagen-idUSTRE5AB4X420091112 Climate change may explain Maya rise and fall, study says. Evidence of abundant rainfall early in the Maya civilization and drought later could explain its fate, scientists suggest. Argument has raged for decades over what doomed the ancient Maya civilization and spurred its people to abandon their awe-inspiring temples and pyramids in the rain forests of Mexico and Central America. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-maya-climate-change-20121117,0,3474592.story Warming climate may starve bamboo-eating pandas. Already endangered by deforestation, poor reproductive rates and hunting, China's giant pandas may now face a new threat: global warming. According to a study published online Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change, rising temperatures could eliminate much of the bamboo that pandas rely on for sustenance in China's Qinling Mountains. In the wild, giant pandas are notoriously finicky eaters. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-giant-panda-20121112,0,1607423.story Satellites and space debris disrupted by climate change. Climate change from greenhouse gas emissions might threaten spacecraft as well as people, a scientists suggested on Sunday, providing direct evidence that carbon dioxide from human activity is affecting the outermost portion of the Earth's atmosphere. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-change-satellites-debris-20121112,0,3501663.story Calif. snowpack outlook grim for water. The future of water for drinking and irrigation looks increasingly bleak throughout California and the world's northern regions as the changing global climate shrinks mountain snowpacks and speeds early runoffs, Stanford researchers forecast. Decreases in winter snowpacks are likely to be most noticeable during the next 30 years and will continue to shrink through the century, according to an analysis of future climate trends by a team of specialists led by Noah…Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Calif-snowpack-outlook-grim-for-water-4027794.php#ixzz2C89OKPXP EU Commission offers airlines a carbon tax freeze. The European Commission on Monday proposed freezing the imposition of carbon emission charges on non-EU flights for a year, a move that could prevent an international airline dispute from turning into a global trade war. The Commission said after the announcement that it quickly obtained support of key member states, including Germany and Britain, and was expecting quick approval of the measure by all 27 European Union nations. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/EU-Commission-offers-airlines-a-carbon-tax-freeze-4029857.php#ixzz2C87J6nyU Ignored on campaign, global warming talk heats up. Climate change is suddenly a hot topic again. The issue is resurfacing in talks about a possible new tax. Superstorm Sandy, the rare and devastating Northeast storm, and an election that gave Democrats gains have put global warming back in the picture. So has the hunt for answers to a looming budget crisis. What was once an unlikely solution is now being discussed unofficially- a carbon tax. People would pay the tax whenever they use fossil fuels like coal and oil that produce heat-trapping carbon dioixide. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/13/3064722/ignored-on-campaign-global-warming.html#storylink=misearch DIESEL EMISSIONS Auto industry dodges tougher EU emission rules: sources. New European Union emissions rules for vehicles have been put on hold or are being delayed, EU sources and campaigners said, citing pressure from the hard pressed auto industry. The downgrading of green priorities is another example of policy falling victim to industry arguments against environmental regulation, a trend marked on Monday by concessions to airlines. A plan published last week to prop up the European auto sector made no mention of carbon regulations for heavy goods vehicles…Posted. http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USBRE8AC0O920121113 FUELS RPT-U.S. study sees 59,000 MW of coal output too costly to run. A new report on the economic viability of U.S. coal-fired power plants shows as much as 59,000 megawatts may be ripe to retire in the next few years, the Union of Concerned Scientists said on Tuesday. That's in addition to an estimated 40,000 MW of coal generation scheduled to shut or be converted to another fuel in the next few years, said UCS, a science-based nonprofit organization based in Washington DC. The combined closure of 99,000 MW of coal capacity would represent nearly one third of U.S. coal generation output. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/13/utilities-coal-idUSL1E8MD5E720121113 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/business/energy-environment/report-sees-us-as-top-oil-producer-in-5-years.html?smid=tw-share http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/business/energy-environment/making-an-energy-boom-work-for-us.html?pagewanted=all http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-us-saudi-oil-20121113,0,5693478.story http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/U-S-oil-production-rising-4031125.php http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21981874/united-states-will-be-top-energy-producer-within http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121112/A_NEWS/121119990&cid=sitesearch Russia Anticipates Boom in Oil Extracted From Shale. For decades, a little-known Cold War technological race played out in the oil fields of the United States and Russia: a race not into space, but deep underground. The superpowers were searching for a means of extracting oil and natural gas from highly impermeable geological formations like shale rock, a potentially abundant source of petroleum, as the shale boom in the United States today is showing. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/business/energy-environment/russia-anticipates-boom-in-oil-extracted-from-shale.html?pagewanted=all Shell Bets on a Colossal Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Factory Off Australia. At a shipyard on a South Korean island called Geoje, an army of welders and metal cutters is beginning to assemble what is by many measures the largest ship ever made. It will span 488 meters, or about 1,600 feet — about one-third longer than the longest United States aircraft carriers. The vessel, the first of its type, will spend much of its time in one place, over a natural gas field called Prelude, about 120 miles off the coast of Australia. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/business/energy-environment/betting-on-gas-shell-floats-plan-on-high-seas.html Alaska ice tested as possible new energy source. A half mile below the ground at Prudhoe Bay, above the vast oil field that helped trigger construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline, a drill rig has tapped what might one day be the next big energy source. The U.S. Department of Energy and industry partners over two winters drilled into a reservoir of methane hydrate, which looks like ice but burns like a candle if a match warms its molecules. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/texas/article/Alaska-ice-tested-as-possible-new-energy-source-4027684.php#ixzz2C88s9p7S http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/alaska-ice-tested-as-possible-new-energy-source/article_fd15324e-2e95-5547-a604-3a0da6078444.html Montana coal railroad line faces federal review. Eastern Montana residents will weigh in this week on a proposed 83-mile coal railroad with the potential to usher in a dramatic expansion of mining in the state and increase exports of the fuel to Asia. The Surface Transportation Board is hosting a series of public meetings beginning Monday in Lame Deer for its environmental review of the proposed Tongue River Railroad. The $490 million line from Miles City to south of Ashland would haul up to 20 million tons of fuel annually. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/Montana-coal-railroad-line-faces-federal-review-4030082.php#ixzz2C85V9DYx NJ ends gasoline rationing from storm. Gasoline rationing imposed in New Jersey after Superstorm Sandy has ended. The odd-even rationing began Nov. 3 because some gas stations couldn't get fuel while others didn't have electricity to pump it. Gov. Chris Christie says gas supplies are plentiful and there are no more lines of motorists waiting for fuel. Rationing was put in effect in 12 counties in central and northern New Jersey. It ended at 6 a.m. Tuesday. Rationing continues in New York City and on Long Island. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/13/nj-ends-gasoline-rationing-from-storm/ VEHICLES Tesla electric sedan snags Motor Trend's 'Car of the Year' award. Tesla Motors's (TSLA) battery-powered Model S sedan was named 2013 "Car of the Year" by Motor Trend magazine, a first for the maker of electric vehicles led by Elon Musk that's working to accelerate production. Tesla's 2013 Model S, with a $57,400 base price, beat out competitors including BMW's new 3-Series sedan, Ford Motors Fusion sedan, Honda Motor's revamped Accord and Toyota Motor's 2013 Lexus GS, Motor Trend said Monday in a statement. The magazine said it's the first time the award went to an electric vehicle. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21983615/tesla-model-s-electric-sedan-motor-trend-car-year LAKE ELSINORE: CITY OFFERS REBATES FOR CLEAN-AIR CAR BUYS RESIDENTS CAN GET CASH FOR GREEN VEHICLES. Lake Elsinore residents who buy environmentally friendly vehicles from local dealers could be reimbursed as much as $2,000 each through a program launched by the city. Under the Clean Air Vehicle Incentive Program, a resident can apply at City Hall for a rebate of $2,000 if he or she buys a new alternative-fuel vehicle that is easy on gas and air quality. A used vehicle that meets the qualifications could reap a $1,000 rebate. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/12/tp-lake-elsinore-city-offers-rebates-for-clean/ HIGH-SPEED RAIL Bullet-train planners face huge engineering challenge. The 141-mile section from Bakersfield to L.A. will travel over two mountain ranges and more than half a dozen earthquake faults. Experts see it as the project of the century. Civil War veteran William Hood arrived at the mosquito-infested swamps near Bakersfield in 1874 to build a rail line that would soar through the Tehachapi Mountains, linking the Bay Area and Southern California for the first time. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-bullet-mountains-20121113,0,4082877.story?track=rss GREEN ENERGY In Europe, Green Energy Takes a Hit From Debt Crisis. When Enel Green Power, the clean energy unit of the Italian utility Enel, raised €2.6 billion in an initial public offering in 2010, its focus was squarely on Europe. The company envisaged building more than two-thirds of its new wind, solar and other renewable energy projects in Europe after the $3.4 billion I.P.O. to capitalize on lucrative subsidies from local governments that guaranteed high returns for investors. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/business/energy-environment/in-europe-green-energy-takes-a-hit-from-debt-crisis.html Calif. company to bring solar to military housing. Thousands of military homes in southern New Mexico and West Texas will be fitted with solar panels as part of a $1 billion plan by a California company to bring solar to military installations across the country. SolarCity on Tuesday announced it will be installing photovoltaic panels on homes at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and Texas' Fort Bliss. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Calif-company-to-bring-solar-to-military-housing-4031318.php#ixzz2C82f68R8 German utility E.ON lowers 2013 outlook. German electricity and gas supplier E.ON AG on Tuesday lowered its earnings forecast for next year because of economic uncertainty and rapid changes in the energy industry, an announcement that caused its shares to tumble. The reduced forecast came as the utility, which is based in Duesseldorf, reported a €179 million ($228 million) loss for the third quarter. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/German-utility-E-ON-lowers-2013-outlook-4031411.php#ixzz2C83j1cO5 'Green' building slow to catch on in South Dakota. Four years ago, the South Dakota Legislature passed a bill requiring all new government buildings and major renovations to be certified under a program that encourages environmentally friendly construction. Since the law went into effect, 13 state projects — eight new buildings and five renovations — have attained at least a silver designation in LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, as the law requires. Ten have been registered and await certification. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Green-building-slow-to-catch-on-in-South-Dakota-4032624.php#ixzz2C84DWa8z REAL ESTATE: Wind, water, green energy. There’s a new sliver of green for Nestlé Waters North America’s bottling operation in Cabazon. Two wind turbines have been assembled on the grounds over the past few weeks — as part of a plan by Nestlé Waters to integrate alternative energy into its bottling and distribution plants. Nestlé Waters communications director Jayne Lazgin said full details of the project will be released in about a month when the wind energy turbines are activated. Posted. http://www.pe.com/business/business-headlines/20121112-real-estate-wind-water-green-energy.ece LED replacements hit stores empty of 100W bulbs. Sorry to see 100-watt bulbs disappear from stores because they were energy hogs? You can now get LED bulbs that roughly match the 100-watters for size and brightness, but use far less energy. Until recently, your only alternative was a compact fluorescent bulb, which has several drawbacks compared with light-emitting diodes. Most people see the light quality as less pleasing, and the bulbs contain a small amount of mercury that's released if the glass breaks. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/led-replacements-hit-stores-empty-of-w-bulbs/article_f5da2a33-79ce-52c1-981f-9e14a4879c9c.html Green jobs face doldrums. Green job growth slowed in the third quarter of the year, with the impending end of a key federal incentive for the wind industry driving a loss of 3,240 jobs in the sector, mostly in manufacturing. Environmental Entrepreneurs, a nonprofit group that monitors jobs in the clean-tech sector, sees the decline in wind energy jobs as directly linked to Congress’ failure to extend the production tax credit. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2012311110011 MISCELLANEOUS NRC postpones public discussion of San Onofre reactor restart. Federal nuclear safety regulators have postponed indefinitely a public meeting about restarting the Unit 2 reactor at the San Onofre Nuclear Generating station, originally scheduled for Friday night at Dana Point. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission confirmed the delay Tuesday in a one paragraph statement. Plant operator Southern California Edison will use the meeting, once rescheduled, to describe the technical basis for its plans to restart one of two reactors sidelined by faulty new steam generators. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/12/nrc-postpones-public-discussion-san-onofre-reactor/ Considering driving electric? Find out about it Saturday in San Juan. Weary of wild swings in gasoline prices and maybe thinking of going electric? You can find out more about plug-in electric vehicles and hear local owners discuss their everyday experiences with them during a presentation from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the San Juan Capistrano Community Center, 25925 Camino del Avion. You'll also have a chance to test-drive an electric CODA and Chevrolet Volt. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/news/electric-377498-pevs-san.html OPINIONS Organic vs. conventional farming: Which uses less energy? A few weeks ago, after a major study showed that organically grown food offers little or no nutritional benefit over the cheaper, conventionally grown equivalent, I began investigating the other major reason people buy organic: saving the environment. The environmental impact of a product is too complex to cover comprehensively in a few hundred words, so I began with one aspect of it, land use, and looked at how recently released data shows that conventional farming produces more food on less land than organic farming. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/organic-vs-conventional-farming-which-uses-less-energy/2012/11/12/776ad970-2769-11e2-b4f2-8320a9f00869_story.html Climate Change: Lessons From Ronald Reagan. THE re-election of President Obama, preceded by the extraordinary damage done by Hurricane Sandy, raises a critical question: In the coming years, might it be possible for the United States to take significant steps to reduce the risks associated with climate change? A crucial decision during Ronald Reagan’s second term suggests that the answer may well be yes. The Reagan administration was generally skeptical about costly environmental rules, but with respect to protection of the ozone layer, Reagan was an environmentalist hero. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/opinion/sunday/climate-change-lessons-from-ronald-reagan.html?hp The pros and cons of trying to adjust the global thermostat. According to David Keith, a physicist at Harvard, it's a fairly straightforward proposition to reduce the rate of warming on earth, and not all that expensive in the grand scheme of things. One possibility: fly a couple of customized corporate jets into the stratosphere every day and dump a lot of sulfur, creating thin clouds that reflect away some of the sunlight. "The hard questions here really aren't technical," Keith said Monday. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-geoengineering-political-consequences-20121112,0,1660936.story Letters: Transit and its toll. Re “Leaders tout 110 toll lanes, but some grumble,” Nov. 11, and “L.A. enters era of toll roads,” Nov. 10. Now that we have to pay money to drive on some lanes of the “free” way in Los Angeles, it seems we need to find a new name. How about “Let's-rip-off-the-middle-class roads” or maybe “Pay-again-for-roads-you-already-funded-through-gas-taxes?” Or perhaps, “Poor-people-can-ride-in-transit highways.” As usual, people with plenty of money will have favorable treatment; the tolls will not really matter to them. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-letters-transit-and-its-toll-20121112,0,3010001.story Letters: Superstorm Sandy, energy policy and climate change. Re “Obama finally talks climate change; green industry wants more,” Nov. 7. While the climate system has many tipping points, Superstorm Sandy may have marked one of the more important in terms of public opinion. At the very least, it has blown away the absurd political taboo against talking about a subject we can easily do something about. For instance, action in the form of a 100% revenue-neutral carbon fee…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-letters-superstorm-sandy-energy-policy-and-climate-change-20121109,0,5036674.story Viewpoints: State’s well-designed cap-and-trade plan will defy cynics. California on Wednesday will take a big step forward to promote clean air, as it holds its first auction to sell permits for carbon emissions in a move that will get the world's second-biggest carbon market off the ground. Known as cap-and-trade, the program is the nation's first to extend economy-wide and will eventually encompass the electrical, industrial and transportation sectors responsible for 85 percent of California's carbon pollution. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/13/4980666/viewpoints-states-well-designed.html#storylink=cpy California's model climate policies will maintain momentum in Obama 2nd term. For decades, California has been the engine of growth behind America's sputtering clean energy economy - adopting groundbreaking clean air and climate policies as federal efforts lagged behind. The hope was that California's initiatives would become the template for a national law to slow global warming. That hasn't happened yet - and it isn't likely to over the next four years. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/11/4977154/californias-model-climate-policies.html#storylink=cpy Wind farms. The winds and ocean currents control the earth’s weather and climate. The monsoonal winds bring moisture from the oceans for rain. If there were no wind, the moisture released by the oceans through evaporation would remain over the oceans. The land would become deserts. If the monsoonal winds are weakened, monsoons will not bring as much rain. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/12/wind-farms/ Cap and trade auction will bring pain at the pump. California is heading for an energy crisis of potentially epic proportions, and it won’t be because of OPEC, hostile foreign governments or big oil companies. No, as Pogo famously said, “we have met the enemy and it is us.” Or in this case, the “us” is the California Air Resources (CARB) and its crusade to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at any cost. The price will be high and all of us will wind up paying. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/perspective/cap-and-trade-auction-will-bring-pain-at-the-pump/article_4cef5f6b-ccd3-558e-9530-68b9ac4c1a95.html Wendell Cox: Global warming bill could become big pork barrel. One of the principal justifications for the California High Speed Rail line planned from Anaheim to San Francisco is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Gov. Jerry Brown and the California Air Resources Board seem poised to spend "cap and trade" revenue from Assembly Bill 32 (the "Global Warming Solutions Act" of 2006) on building the train. Yet, there are strong indications that the GHG emission reductions be exceedingly costly and contrary to the spirit of AB32. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/ghg-377482-high-speed.html BLOGS African Science Academies Miss a Big Factor in Climate Statement. I was encouraged to see a joint statement released by 15 African academies of science on climate issues on the continent. You can read it below. But I was discouraged when I dug in and found they’d missed a vitally important point. The entire statement was centered on the need to clarify and respond to risks posed by greenhouse-driven climate change. This is indeed important. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/12/african-science-academies-miss-a-big-factor-in-climate-statement/ 3 Southern California students compete in high-stakes science contest. Emily Tao of Placentia hopes her research on the atmospheric formation of sulfuric acid, a major component of acid rain, will influence predictions for air pollution and acid rain. Tony Dong of Newbury Park and Brandon Kao of Placentia believe their research on the mechanism of the reaction between formic acid and ammonia in the atmosphere will shed light on how clouds are formed. All three researchers have high hopes for their studies. And they're all still in high school. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/11/-southern-california-students-science-contest.html AB 32 Status Report. California Hitting Clean Energy Targets. California has a track record of implementing pioneering clean energy policies that provide direct economic and public health benefits to the state's residents. AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, continues this legacy by committing California to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 -- roughly a 20 percent reduction -- through a suite of complementary policies. Under AB 32, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) has developed the Scoping Plan, a blueprint for achieving AB 32's goal of reducing carbon pollution statewide. Posted. http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/ab32-status-report.asp California's Cap-and-Trade May Solve State's Budget Problems. By electing a supermajority of Democrats to the California Assembly and Senate, Californians may have found an easy way to free up as much as $14 billion a year for the general fund without any new tax increases. Why? Because auction money raised from California's cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gases may soon become available to fund education and other programs devastated by the Great Recession. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ann-carlson/californias-capandtrade-m_b_2110306.html California’s cap-and-trade starts Wednesday. Will feds follow? On Wednesday, California is slated to launch its cap-and-trade program with its first auction for carbon allowances. The state often leads the way of trying to clean up its air by reducing emissions. Getting utilities such as Southern California Edison and Imperial Irrigation District to get at least 20 percent of all of its power from renewable energy has also been part of that equation. Posted. http://greenenergy.blogs.mydesert.com/2012/11/12/californias-cap-and-trade-starts-wednesday-will-feds-follow/ ====================================================================== 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 Nov 2012 14:31:28 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 14, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 14, 2012. This is a service of the California Air Resources Board’s Office of Communications. You may need to sign in or register with individual websites to view some of the following news articles. CAP AND TRADE California to debut landmark cap-and-trade system. California is debuting its new, landmark cap-and-trade program with an auction of greenhouse gas pollution permits, despite an eleventh-hour lawsuit filed by the state's largest business group. The cap-and-trade plan is a central piece of the state's 2006 global warming law, AB32, a suite of regulations meant to reduce dramatically the state's emissions of heat-trapping gases. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CALIFORNIA_GREENHOUSE_GASES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/business/energy-environment/california-to-hold-auction-of-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html?_r=0&pagewanted=print http://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/Lawsuit-filed-over-cap-and-trade-system-4035293.php#ixzz2CDlkrvKo http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/14/4983998/california-chamber-of-commerce.html http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/13/4983241/california-chamber-of-commerce.html?storylink=lingospot_related_articles http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/14/3065403/california-to-debut-landmark-cap.html http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21990016/california-cap-trade-program-is-good-news-cleantech?source=rss http://www.news10.net/capitol/article/217141/525/State-readies-cap-and-trade-auction-businesses-sue http://www.ocregister.com/news/cap-377649-program-california.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21992891/california-debut-landmark-cap-and-trade-system?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21992891/california-debut-landmark-cap-and-trade-system?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/california-to-debut-landmark-cap-and-trade-system-with-pollution-auction/2012/11/14/935cf4c2-2e32-11e2-b631-2aad9d9c73ac_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/14/business-group-sues-to-invalidate-ca-cap-and/ http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_21988475/california-kicks-off-first-its-kind-cap-and http://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/nov/13/california-launches-pay-pollute-carbon-market/ http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/14/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/14/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY RPT-California takes big step in limiting greenhouse gases. California is set to unveil a new weapon in its fight against global climate change on Wednesday when it holds its first sale of carbon emissions permits - a landmark experiment that it hopes will serve as a model for other U.S. states and the federal government. The state's carbon auction is a key step in the initiation of its "cap-and-trade" program, a policy where the state sets a limit, or cap, on the amount of heat-trapping gases released by manufacturers, oil refineries, electric utilities and other large emitting businesses. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/14/california-carbon-auction-idUSL1E8MDGLQ20121114 European Official Presses for Action on Carbon Program. The European Union’s climate commissioner demanded Wednesday that E.U. member states reach agreement before the end of the year on a stop-gap measure to tackle the virtual collapse of the bloc’s main instrument for cutting carbon emissions. The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, proposed on Monday to defer the auction of 900 million carbon allowances that would have been sold between 2013 and 2015, the first three years of the next phase of the E.U. Emissions Trading Scheme. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/15/business/global/european-official-presses-for-action-on-carbon-program.html Latest tool to fight global warming: an auction. With the outcome potentially driving how much consumers will pay for gas and groceries, California on Wednesday plans to launch the latest in a series of historic directives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming. This initiative, known as cap and trade, involves the state’s first-ever live auction of millions of pollution permits. It’s part of regulators’ mandate for industry to comply with an emissions limit by 2020. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/13/latest-tool-fight-global-warming-auction/ AIR POLLUTION What's the Big Stink About La Jolla Cove? Something stinks in La Jolla. The odor is so foul that diners near the La Jolla Cove are known to leave restaurants before their meals arrive. Tourists have told some hoteliers they won’t be returning until “that smell” goes away. If only it were so simple. Years ago, La Jolla residents and tourists frequented the bluffs that surround the cove but the rocky areas have since been fenced off. Cormorants, seagulls and seals have taken over, leaving behind piles of feces. Posted. http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/environment/article_3cdaca12-2dcd-11e2-b5c2-0019bb2963f4.html Congress protects airlines from EU emissions tax. Congress on Tuesday stepped in to protect U.S. airlines from having to pay into a European Union program to cut emissions that its critics say is unilateral and illegal. House action to pass the bill came a day after the EU, facing protests from numerous countries and a possible trade war, said it was postponing enforcement for non-EU airlines. Lawmakers, while welcoming the EU action, said it was still necessary for Congress to ensure that U.S. airlines won't get taxed by the EU in the future. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/14/congress-protects-airlines-from-eu-emissions-tax/ Greenhouse gas emissions down again in Sonoma County. Greenhouse gas emissions declined in Sonoma County in 2011 for the third straight year, reflecting an expansion of renewable energy sources and a down economy, which lowered demand for power and transportation. Still, Sonoma County’s goal of reducing emissions 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2015 remains elusive, officials said Tuesday. The annual report card by the Climate Protection Campaign was presented at the Sonoma County Strategies for Sustainability, a conference that drew 160 people from government, industry and the public to discuss better environmental practice. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121114/COMMUNITY/121119797 CLIMATE CHANGE Global warming talk heats up, revisits carbon tax. Climate change is suddenly a hot topic again. The issue is resurfacing in talks about a once radical idea: a possible carbon tax. On Tuesday, a conservative think tank held discussions about it while a more liberal think tank released a paper on it. And the Congressional Budget Office issued a 19-page report on the different ways to make a carbon tax less burdensome on lower income people. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_SUPERSTORM_CLIMATE_TALK?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/14/global-warming-talk-heats-up-revisits-carbon-tax/ South Korea Restricts Carbon Offsets, Sets Rules for Giveaways. South Korea asked its largest emitters to make cutbacks at home before giving them credit for overseas spending to reduce greenhouse gases, and it will begin charging for about 3 percent of pollution allowances in 2018. The nation won’t allow so-called global carbon offsets until after 2020, according to an e-mailed statement today from the prime minister’s office and other government agencies. South Korea agreed in May to start a cap-and-trade system in 2015 to…Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-13/south-korea-asks-for-carbon-cuts-at-home-before-allowing-offsets.html Glacier melt cited as main cause of rising seas. Austrian experts say melting glaciers have been the single greatest cause of rising sea level over the past century. Scientists at the respected University of Innsbruck say that between 1902 and 2007, glaciers contributed 11 centimeters (4.33 inches) to a total sea level rise of about 20 centimeters (nearly 8 inches). They also said Wednesday that by 2100, melting glaciers could raise sea levels by another 22 centimeters. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Glacier-melt-cited-as-main-cause-of-rising-seas-4036421.php#ixzz2CDmmpL3y Has moving climate talks forward become a legacy issue for Obama? President Obama's election to a second term means America can "push the reset button" on the turbulent U.N. climate change negotiations, World Resources Institute President Andrew Steer said yesterday. Steer, who served as the World Bank's climate change envoy before joining WRI in August, said it is time for the administration to show "real leadership" on climate change. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/14/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Experts discuss carbon tax revenue and design. A tide of economic experts expressed support for taxing carbon emissions at a conservative think tank yesterday. But separately, the oil and gas industry injected a sobering reminder that the policy "doesn't exist" and might never see the light of day. The American Enterprise Institute hosted a daylong event exploring how Congress might structure a carbon tax in emerging negotiations aimed at tamping down the deficit while averting widespread tax hikes on most Americans. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/14/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Fuel From Waste, Poised at a Milestone. For years, scientists and engineers have been juggling various combinations of acids, steam, bacteria, catalysts and the digestive juices of microorganisms to convert agricultural waste and even household garbage into motor fuel. So far, such alternative fuels have not moved beyond small pilot plants, despite federal incentives to encourage companies to develop them. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/business/energy-environment/alternative-fuels-long-delayed-promise-might-be-near-fruition.html Algae-based fuel on sale in Bay Area. Big oil took a small but significant hit Tuesday when Bay Area motorists began filling up their gas tanks with algae, becoming the first private citizens in the world to use a domestically grown product that could revolutionize the fuel industry. The first alternative fuel made from algae went on sale at four Bay Area gas stations in what advocates insist is the first wave in a tide of clean fuel that will hit the marketplace. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Algae-based-fuel-on-sale-in-Bay-Area-4035462.php#ixzz2CDmF1zej Lafayette buying propane-fueled buses. By early spring, some students in the Lafayette Parish school system will be riding on more cost-efficient, environmentally friendly buses powered by propane rather than diesel. The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/W28Vkd) the School Board has approved the purchase of eight new propane-fueled buses at a cost of about $710,000. District transportation director Bill Samec said the buses cost about $88,000 each - about $6,000 more than a diesel-powered bus. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/14/lafayette-buying-propane-fueled-buses/ GE, Pickens' Clean Energy in natural-gas supply deal for trucks. General Electric Co reached a deal to sell equipment to Clean Energy Fuels Corp, which is building out a series of liquefied natural gas fueling stations for U.S. truckers. The largest U.S. conglomerate sees liquefied natural gas equipment as becoming a $1 billion market over the next five years, said Mike Hosford, general manager of unconventional resources for GE Oil & Gas. Clean Energy…Posted. http://news.yahoo.com/ge-pickens-clean-energy-natural-gas-supply-deal-120220822--sector.html How you can help clean energy eat Big Oil’s lunch. Bill McKibben and the folks at 350.org have decided to target the pernicious financial influence of the fossil fuel industry and its front groups. On the day following the election, they kicked off a 21-city “Do the Math” tourto "mount an unprecedented campaign to cut off the industry’s financial and political support by divesting our schools, churches and government from fossil fuels." Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/how-you-can-help-clean-energy-eat-big-oils-lunch/ Increasingly costly coal plants may be retired early. The beauty of the free market is that it's ruthless. It's an ongoing footrace with pushing and shoving and scrambling that rewards whoever's in the front. The market doesn't care that you used to be in front. If you're losing, you're losing. Coal is losing. And in the race coal's in -- for cheap, abundant, clean energy -- it's hard to catch back up. Posted. http://grist.org/news/increasingly-costly-coal-plants-may-be-retired-early/ Meanwhile, carbon dioxide emissions rose 2.5 percent last year. This magic number, 350, trumpeted by 350.org and hailed as a marker of climate health, signifies a particular goal in the effort to curb carbon dioxide pollution. 350 is the target amount of CO2, in parts-per-million, that it would take to maintain global temperatures at near-normal levels. Holding steady at 350 ppm would require, according to a 2006 study, a 5 percent reduction in emissions each year. Posted. http://grist.org/news/meanwhile-carbon-dioxide-emissions-rose-2-5-percent-last-year/ VEHICLES Ford poll finds Europeans want freedom of car ownership, but worry about traffic, cost of driving, environment. A new Ford Motor Company-sponsored poll of 6,000 people across Europe found that most Europeans remain committed to car ownership, but have growing concerns about traffic congestion, the cost of driving and the environment. Ford commissioned the survey, conducted by the consultancy The Futures Company, to better understand the opinions and attitudes of Europeans across a range of mobility issues—from car sharing to green driving to the future of the internal combustion engine. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/fordpoll-20121114.html Toyota researchers show superior performance for tin anode for Mg-ion batteries with conventional electrolytes. Researchers at the Toyota Research Institute of North America (TRINA) have developed an insertion-type tin (Sn) anode material for use in a magnesium-ion (Mg-ion) battery (earlier post) that shows superior operating voltages and capacity. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/trina-20121114.html Reaction Design introduces model fuel library resulting from work of Model Fuels Consortium. Reaction Design is introducing the first volume of the industry’s most well-validated available Model Fuel Library, the result of seven years of research and validation under the Model Fuels Consortium (earlier post). MFC members included Toyota, GE Energy, VW, Suzuki, Petrobras and Conoco. The MFC is ending its work in December. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/reaction-design-introduces-model-fuel-library-resulting-from-work-of-model-fuels-consortium.html SwRI to demonstrate use of electric vehicles as part of emergency power microgrid under US Army SPIDERS program. Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is a member of a team that was recently awarded a $7-million contract from the US Army Corps of Engineers to demonstrate integration of electric vehicles, generators and solar arrays to supply emergency power for Fort Carson, Colo. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/swri-20121114.html GREEN ENERGY As U.S. hesitates, California pours billions into green energy. California, long the national leader in clean energy policy, is poised to double down on its investments in the sector, with billions in new subsidies set to flow in over the next few years. California voters last week directed some $2.5 billion to energy conservation programs with the approval of Proposition 39, which closes a corporate tax loophole, allocates about half of the new revenue to environmental goals for five years, and which passed with more than 60 percent of the vote. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/14/us-clean-energy-california-idUSBRE8AD0F720121114?utm_source=California+Brightspot&utm_campaign=ef290ed64d-my_google_analytics_key&utm_medium=email Governors call for renewing wind energy tax credit. The fate of a tax credit that advocates say is needed to maintain tens of thousands of wind energy jobs will be decided during high-stakes, last-minute negotiations between President Obama and House Republicans over fiscal issues, officials said Tuesday. The wind energy production tax credit is due to expire at the end of the year. Its extension stalled in Congress this summer amid fierce opposition from some conservative House Republicans. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/governors-call-for-renewing-wind-energy-tax-credit/article_84caf5a0-02c8-5482-b987-604883851c2b.html OPINIONS Dan Walters: California begins huge experiment in greenhouse gas regulation. It probably wasn't happenstance that California's historic – good or bad, it's historic – experiment in greenhouse gas regulation was delayed until after an election in which voters would be deciding on new taxes. Any debate over the consumers' costs of greenhouse gas reduction could have, at least theoretically, negatively influenced voters on tax increases – and there will be costs. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/14/4983921/dan-walters-california-begins.html#mi_rss=Dan%20Walters Time to do something about the weather. There was precious little discussion of climate change during the presidential campaign and most other political races this year. That may strike some as a little surprising, given the weather that's been plaguing much of the nation over the past couple of years, which has cost billions of dollars of damage and taken hundreds of lives. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/14/3065598/time-to-do-something-about-the.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Walters: Air cleanup will be costly. It probably wasn't happenstance that California's historic -- good or bad, it's historic -- experiment in greenhouse gas regulation was delayed until after an election in which voters would be deciding on new taxes. Any debate over the consumers' costs of greenhouse gas reduction could have, at least theoretically, negatively influenced voters on tax increases -- and there will be costs. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/14/3065433/walters-air-cleanup-will-be-costly.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy BLOGS Delhi’s Disappearing Night Sky. You could be pardoned for thinking that light pollution is someone’s idea of a Diwali joke.With concerns about rising air pollution hanging over India’s capital like the thick blanket of smog that appeared a few weeks ago and activists against noise pollution jostling to be heard over the burst of holiday firecrackers, the relatively benign problem of light pollution may not seem too important. Posted. http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/delhis-disappearing-night-sky/ When a Green Job Is More Than a Green Job. Can a community like the South Bronx, which suffers from high unemployment, underinvestment and so-called environmental injustice, fit into the green economy? In 2010 a union-backed training initiative took on the question, enrolling unemployed residents, including many who had served time in prison, in a green jobs certification program. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/when-a-green-job-is-more-than-a-green-job/ Toyota Recalling 670,000 Prius Hybrids in U.S. Toyota is recalling 670,000 of its 2004-9 Prius hybrids in the United States to fix problems involving the loss of steering and the hybrid powertrain shutting down, the automaker has told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The move is part of a worldwide recall of almost 2.78 million vehicles, according to The Associated Press, which quoted Toyota officials in Japan. Only the Prius is affected in the United States. Outside the United States the recall covers the Corolla and the Wish, a small van. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/toyota-recalling-670000-prius-hybrids-in-u-s/ Bay Area makes lists of cities with high air quality. We can all breathe a little easier now that the Bay Area was named one of the top 25 metro regions with the best air quality. AOL Real Estate recently highlighted a study done by scientific engineering technology company Honeywell, where it looked at metro regions across the U.S. and ranked them based on air quality. Rankings were based on pollen counts, ozone concentrations, public smoking laws, green initiatives and other factors. Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/ontheblock/2012/11/14/bay-area-makes-lists-of-cities-with-high-air-quality/ Calif. Chamber of Commerce Sues to Invalidate Cap-and-Trade Auctions. The California Chamber of Commerce launched a legal torpedo at the state’s new carbon trading market, set to begin Wednesday. The group, which represents 13,000 businesses in the state, is asking the Sacramento Superior Court to invalidate the state’s first official auction of permits for large emitters of greenhouse gases. The suit challenges the California Air Resources Board's authority under the state's 2006 climate-change…Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2012/11/13/calif-chamber-of-commerce-sues-to-invalidate-cap-and-trade-auctions/ Top 4 things to know about California's first ever carbon auction. While millions of Americans recover from the Sandy-Nor’easter extreme weather event combo, and even as President Obama’s remarks about action against a “warming planet” linger, all eyes will be on California this coming Wednesday. This is when the next big event in the climate change conversation will take place. Between 10am and 1pm pacific time on November 14th, California will conduct the state’s first ever cap-and-trade auction for climate change pollution. Posted. http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream/2012/11/12/top-4-things-to-know-about-californias-first-ever-carbon-auction/ Innovate, not Litigate. It’s no secret that California has been leading the nation in setting policy that will reward businesses that innovate and make smart investments in the clean economy. And the rewards have already begun to roll-in for California. Last year, venture capitalists made more than half of their clean technology investments in California – a total of about $3.7 Billion flowing into the state. And as EDF’s own report has shown, California’s clean economy is growing faster and has proved more resilient during economic downturns than other sectors of the economy. Posted. http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream/2012/11/14/innovate-not-litigate/ ====================================================================== 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 Nov 2012 12:31:42 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 15, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 15, 2012. This is a service of the California Air Resources Board’s Office of Communications. You may need to sign in or register with individual websites to view some of the following news articles. CAP AND TRADE California takes big step in limiting greenhouse gases. California is set to unveil a new weapon in its fight against global climate change on Wednesday when it holds its first sale of carbon emissions permits - a landmark experiment that it hopes will serve as a model for other U.S. states and the federal government. The state's carbon auction is a key step in the initiation of its "cap-and-trade" program, a policy where the state sets a limit, or cap, on the amount of heat-trapping gases released by manufacturers, oil refineries, electric utilities and other large emitting businesses. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/15/us-california-carbon-auction-idUSBRE8AD0F220121115 California holds cap-and-trade auction of greenhouse gas credits. The sale, a market-based approach to curbing global warming, takes place despite a last-minute lawsuit filed by the state Chamber of Commerce. California environmental officials moved ahead with a first-ever auction of greenhouse gas pollution credits despite a last-minute lawsuit filed by the state Chamber of Commerce to invalidate the sale. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pollution-credits-calif-20121115,0,5041759.story California kicks off its cap-and-trade auction. California's ambitious program to curtail greenhouse gases launched Wednesday with a conspicuous lack of fanfare. The state auctioned up to 62 million emissions allowances, each one good for spewing a ton of carbon, officially kicking off California's much-anticipated cap-and-trade market. But the California Air Resources Board, the agency overseeing the auction, won't divulge any of the auction results until Monday. Stanley Young, an agency spokesman, said the computerized sale lasted the scheduled three hours. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/15/v-print/4987325/california-kicks-off-its-cap-and.html Calif. unlikely to spur federal emissions cap soon. California's new system for limiting industrial greenhouse gas emissions by putting a price on carbon is not likely to spur a similar federal program anytime soon, but it might influence other states to follow suit, energy policy experts said. The state's Air Resources Board on Wednesday began auctioning permits called "allowances" for greenhouse gas emissions, launching the world's second-largest marketplace for carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/Calif-unlikely-to-spur-federal-emissions-cap-soon-4039149.php#ixzz2CJL6dhmI http://www.nctimes.com/business/calif-unlikely-to-spur-federal-emissions-cap-soon/article_bde223e8-32ad-5c44-b20c-68e5b082bddc.html Pollution 'allowances' could send prices up, S.J. businesses worry. There was no one banging a gavel on the courthouse steps, but an auction marking California's adventurous foray into carbon cap and trade attracted much attention Wednesday from San Joaquin County businesses worried about new costs. Cap and trade puts a ceiling on the carbon emissions causing climate change. With that ceiling in place, businesses must choose to either reduce their emissions, or to buy and sell "allowances" made available by the state. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121115/A_NEWS/211150326&cid=sitesearch Arguments from both sides about emissions program. California launched its "cap-and-trade" system on Wednesday by holding its first auction for pollution permits - a process that will put a price on carbon emissions. The program works by placing a limit, or cap, on emissions from individual polluters such as power plants, refineries and food processors. Businesses are required to cut emissions to cap levels, or buy allowances from other companies for each ton over the cap that is discharged annually. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/15/arguments-from-both-sides-about-emissions/ California holds first-ever auction of greenhouse gas pollution credits. After six years of planning, California moved forward Wednesday with the nation's first auction of greenhouse gas pollution credits. The bidding and buying began at 10 a.m. and closed at 1 p.m. There was no jam-packed auction house or frenetic trading floor: Bids were placed quietly and electronically, from computers around the country. Results of the auction…Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_21995962/california-holds-first-ever-auction-greenhouse-gas-pollution Climate Change: Cap-and-Trade Is Coming to California. California is set to unveil a new weapon in its fight against global climate change on Wednesday when it holds its first sale of carbon emissions permits — a landmark experiment that it hopes will serve as a model for other states and the federal government. The state's carbon auction is a key step in the initiation of its "cap-and-trade'' program, a policy where the state sets a limit, or cap, on the amount of heat-trapping gases released by manufacturers, oil refineries, electric utilities and other large emitting businesses. Posted. http://www.cnbc.com/id/49819676 Calif., Wash., Ore. and British Columbia profess support for carbon pricing policies. As California begins its auctioning of greenhouse gas allowances under its economywide cap-and-trade program, three other West Coast jurisdictions are professing support for carbon pricing. The leaders of British Columbia, California, Oregon and Washington issued a statement yesterday praising California and British Columbia's carbon regulations and other climate policies, including renewable energy…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/15/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY AIR POLLUTION Wildomar Families Believe Homes Are Making Them Sick. The state says it may open an investigation into claims by residents of a local housing development that their homes are making them sick. On Wednesday, the state Department of Toxic Substances Controls told residents that they may reconsider their earlier decision not to test the homes for possible chemical contamination. Posted. http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-wildomar-toxic-homes,0,1245569.story Port of Hueneme power system now expected to cost $11 million. The estimated cost of the Port of Hueneme's shore-side power system has risen by more than $2 million, according to the company in charge of the project. A state mandate requires ports to build land-based power systems to reduce pollution. The systems are being developed to comply with new regulations requiring that ships anchored at ports turn off their engines to limit emissions. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/14/port-of-hueneme-considers-tariff-hike/ At long last, battle over Bush ozone standard heads to court. After a lengthy delay, a federal appeals court tomorrow will tackle the legality of U.S. EPA regulations setting standards for ozone pollution that were issued by the George W. Bush administration four years ago. The case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Mississippi v. EPA, was put on hold in early 2009 after President Obama took office. EPA then considered whether to revise the Bush standard for ozone, which is one of the main components of smog. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/11/15/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Obama sees second-term focus on climate change. President Barack Obama said he plans to work with Congress in his second term to curb human-aggravated climate change, but not at the expense of the U.S. economy. "I am a firm believer that climate change is real, that it is impacted by human behavior, and carbon emissions," Obama said at a televised news conference on Wednesday. "And as a consequence, I think we've got an obligation to future generations to do something about it." Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/14/us-usa-obama-climate-idUSBRE8AD1IU20121114 Carbon output from Canada oil sands higher than thought-study. As President Barack Obama faces a decision on whether to approve the Alberta-to-Texas Keystone XL pipeline, a study said Canadian oil sands release more planet-warming gases compared to other crudes than originally thought. Oil sands refined in the United States released 9 percent more greenhouse gases last year than the average of other crudes processed in the country, according to the study released Wednesday by IHS CERA, an energy research group. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/14/oilsands-emissions-idUSL1E8MEG3U20121114 EU climate head wants Obama to pull his weight. The European Union's climate commissioner says she hopes that President Barack Obama's renewed attention to global warming after the election will translate into greater U.S. involvement in U.N. climate talks. Connie Hedegaard told The Associated Press during a visit to Stockholm on Thursday that many Europeans were disappointed that climate change didn't get more attention during Obama's first term. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/EU-climate-head-wants-Obama-to-pull-his-weight-4040286.php#ixzz2CJMhNt9C http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22002081/eu-climate-head-wants-obama-pull-his-weight?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com E.U. proposes auction delays, tougher targets to boost CO2 price. The European Union wants to delay the auctioning of nearly 1 billion carbon permits starting next year and set tighter climate goals in a bid to boost the price of CO2 on its Emissions Trading System, Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said yesterday. "Our carbon market is delivering emissions reductions, but because of oversupply, the ETS is not driving energy efficiency and green technologies strongly enough," Hedegaard said. "This is bad for Europe's innovation and competitiveness." Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/15/10 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS The new boom: Shale gas fueling an American industrial revival. The shale gas revolution is firing up an old-fashioned American industrial revival, breathing life into businesses such as petrochemicals and glass, steel and toys. Consider the rising fortunes of Ascension Parish, La. Methanex Corp., which closed its last U.S. chemical plant in 1999, is spending more than half a billion dollars to dismantle a methanol plant in Chile and move it to the parish. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-new-boom-shale-gas-fueling-an-american-industrial-revival/2012/11/14/73e5bb8e-fcf9-11e1-b153-218509a954e1_story.html Gas Crisis Abates, With Rations, Special Deliveries and Refinery’s Return. In addition to 1970s-era rationing, a series of critical developments behind the scenes — like emergency deliveries to gas stations and the impending return of a major refinery — have worked to ease a fuel shortage that had threatened to disrupt travel during Thanksgiving week. Lines at gas stations have largely disappeared in New York City and on Long Island, where rationing was put in place late last week…Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/15/nyregion/gas-shortage-eases-with-rations-special-deliveries-and-refinerys-return.html?ref=earth California gas price spikes not tied to refinery outages, group says. West Coast gasoline price spikes in May and October were widely blamed on refinery outages, but new research to be released at a California hearing today shows that refiners continued to produce gasoline in periods when the public was told the contrary. The information, shared exclusively with McClatchy Newspapers, comes from Oregon-based McCullough Research, which combed through thousands of pages of environmental documents to conclude that refineries were in fact operating during supposed outages and maintenance shutdowns. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/15/4987115/gas-price-spikes-not-tied-to-refinery.html Bay Area drivers 1st with algae biofuel. Drivers in the San Francisco Bay Area have become the first motorists in the nation to fill up their gas tanks with an algae-based biofuel. The fuel, known as Biodiesel B20, went on sale Tuesday at gas stations in Berkeley, Oakland, Redwood City and San Jose as part of a month-long pilot program, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Biodiesel B20 is made from 20 percent algae and 80 percent petroleum, and can be used by any vehicle that runs on diesel. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121114/WIRE/121119780 APNewsBreak: BP gets record fine in Gulf oil spill. Oil giant BP has agreed to pay the largest criminal penalty in U.S. history, totaling billions of dollars, for the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a person familiar with the deal said Thursday. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the record about the deal, also said two BP employees face manslaughter charges over the death of 11 people in the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig that triggered the massive spill. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/15/apnewsbreak-bp-gets-record-fine-in-gulf-oil-spill/ Oil industry group pushes Obama to OK pipeline. The fight over a proposed pipeline to transport crude oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries is picking up again as groups urge President Barack Obama to either approve or reject the pipeline. The American Petroleum Institute held a conference call with reporters Thursday to emphasize the virtues of the Keystone XL pipeline that TransCanada wants to build. API is the oil and gas industry's main lobbying group, and spokesman Marty Durbin says Obama should approve the pipeline as soon as possible to boost the economy. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22002568/oil-industry-group-pushes-obama-ok-pipeline US crude oil supplies grew by 1.5 million barrels. The nation's crude oil supplies increased last week, the government said Thursday. Crude supplies grew by 1.1 million barrels, or 0.3 percent, to 375.9 million barrels, which is 11.6 percent above year-ago levels, the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report. Analysts expected an increase of 1.5 million barrels for the week ended Nov. 9, according to Platts…Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22002259/us-crude-oil-supplies-grew-by-1-5 Calif. refineries continued operating during outages – report. Gasoline price spikes earlier this year in the West were blamed on refinery outages, but new research shows refiners were still producing fuel at those times. McCullough Research will present its findings at a hearing today before California's Senate Select Committee on Bay Area Transportation. Researchers looked at thousands of documents and concluded that refineries were operating during supposed outages and maintenance shutdowns. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/11/15/19 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES GM to exit one of its venture capital unit's investments soon. General Motors Co (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) will soon exit one of its venture capital unit's investments, either through an initial public offering or the acquisition of that company by another, the U.S. automaker's chief technology officer said. GM started its venture capital unit more than two years ago with a $200 million budget to invest in start-up companies with promising auto-related technologies. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/15/us-gm-ventures-idUSBRE8AE0E820121115 Toyota Recalls 2.77 Million Vehicles on Steering, Pump Flaws. Toyota Motor Corp., Asia’s largest automaker, said it will recall 2.77 million vehicles worldwide after detecting faults in the steering and water-pump systems of some of its gasoline and hybrid vehicles. The Prius hybrid and Corolla compact sedans are among the 14 models subject to inspection and repair, Naoto Fuse, a spokesman for the Toyota City, Japan-based company, said by phone today. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Toyota-Recalls-2-77-Million-Vehicles-on-Steering-4037293.php#ixzz2CJIvtcLv HIGH SPEED RAIL High-speed rail jobs may give priority to down-on-luck workers. Job-creation advocates in Fresno said they moved a step closer Wednesday to ensuring that local workers who need a job can compete for one building California's high-speed rail system. Their hopes were boosted during the California High-Speed Rail Authority meeting in Sacramento, where bullet-train planners also took their first step to reducing their system's footprint on agriculture -- approving a $20 million effort to compensate for farmland lost to the railroad right of way. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/14/3066612/high-speed-rail-jobs-plan-may.html GREEN ENERGY Google invests $75 million in Iowa wind farm. Google is investing $75 million in an Iowa wind farm as part of its effort to encourage development of cleaner energy sources. The deal announced Thursday gives Google Inc. a stake in the Ropey Wind Farm in Greene County, Iowa. RPM Access LLC is the primary owner. The wind farm is located about 130 miles northeast of Council Bluffs, Iowa, which is home to one the eight data centers that power Google's Internet search engine and other services. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Google-invests-75-million-in-Iowa-wind-farm-4040340.php#ixzz2CJLgw1q6 http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/15/3067193/google-invests-75-million-in-iowa.html#storylink=misearch Greenbuild hot climate for sustainability. If you're in need of a 700-gallon rainwater harvesting tank, ultra-low-flow toilets or porous driveway pavers, then Moscone Center is the place this week. The occasion is Greenbuild, a conference organized by the United States Green Building Council and being held for the first time in San Francisco. With 35,000 people expected to attend and more than 1,000 companies exhibiting what they claim are eco-friendly product…Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/place/article/Greenbuild-hot-climate-for-sustainabilty-4038162.php#ixzz2CJMS4LYN JPMorgan punished for California power-trade violation. In a stunning move, a Wall Street investment bank was suspended from trading electricity for profit in California on Wednesday for submitting false information to federal investigators. JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s energy-trading division was suspended from California's wholesale market for six months starting April 1. The suspension was imposed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The decision could cost JPMorgan millions of dollars. It was a move almost without precedent. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/15/4987327/jpmorgan-punished-for-california.html TEMECULA: City sparking energy program to fund retrofits. The city of Temecula is forming a "green" TEAM. The acronym stands for the Temecula Energy Efficiency and Asset Management fund. That fund will be fed by rebates from Southern California Edison and the cost savings that result from making the city's buildings more energy efficient, said Patrick Richardson, director of development services. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/temecula/temecula-city-sparking-energy-program-to-fund-retrofits/article_af0c78df-bab9-5dd6-9216-614e703a7542.html Nuclear power crucial to California’s energy future. California’s discussion about the merits of nuclear energy is an important one as consumers consider the state’s energy future. With Southern California Edison’s (SCE) San Onofre reactors offline, many are asking questions about the contribution of nuclear energy to California’s energy future and the stability of our electric grid. California relies on nuclear energy for one-fifth of the state’s electricity. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/perspective/nuclear-power-crucial-to-california-s-energy-future/article_7c2a8599-fc02-535d-aeff-251773760aeb.html MISCELLANEOUS 2 groups develop global standards for long-term carbon storage. Two groups are releasing the first multinational standards today for geological storage of captured carbon dioxide in deep underground rock formations. The new voluntary standards, put together over the past three years with a technical team of companies and organizations ranging from Chevron to Princeton University, aim to put a hodgepodge of rules in one place, as well as offer new recommendations. They focus solely on saline aquifers for storage of the greenhouse gas …Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/15/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS Filling Up on Your Dime. GASOLINE prices have been falling in recent months, and the International Energy Agency just reported that the United States will overtake Saudi Arabia to be the world’s leading oil producer in about five years. But it’s too early to celebrate. The next time you fill up your tank, you should know that the person next to you might be paying much less than you for gasoline. By reporting their personal automobile use as a business expense, millions of drivers are essentially getting taxpayer subsidies for their gasoline. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/15/opinion/filling-the-gas-tank-on-taxpayers-dime.html?_r=0 Christopher Horner: New carbon tax would be folly. Recently, a leaked agenda laid bare a strategy session among a virtual Who's Who of left-leaning big-government activist groups, hosted by a generally conservative policy group, the American Enterprise Institute. By the agenda's title, this fifth in a series was part of a "Lame Duck Initiative" to strategize enactment of a "carbon" tax, or federal energy tax on oil, coal and gas, in the post-election session of Congress that began this week. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/tax-377765-carbon-new.html BLOGS The whole truth about Superstorm Sandy and climate change. When it comes to climate change and its effect on Superstorm Sandy, it seems many of the loudest voices fall into two camps: 1) the all-in camp: climate change is making the weather more extreme, and Sandy is the poster child for that. We can and should blame climate change for the storm’s terrible toll and it’s a sign of things to come. 2) the no effect camp: climate change played no role in Superstorm Sandy and there’s no cause for concern about the future. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/the-whole-truth-about-superstorm-sandy-and-climate-change/2012/11/15/d3b7ceea-29e4-11e2-bab2-eda299503684_blog.html The Do-It-Yourself Approach to Tracking Gas Drilling. Given that government resources for environmental regulation (and just about everything else) will be constrained for a long time to come, I’ve been enthusiastic about efforts by the public to take a D.I.Y. (do it yourself) role in tracking pollution or resource issues, whether on the ground or online. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/the-d-i-y-do-it-yourself-approach-to-tracking-frackin/?ref=earth An Afterlife for the Electric Car. Advocates of electric cars and renewable energy have talked for years about repackaging the battery packs built for cars as home energy storage devices once they can no longer hold enough charge to run a vehicle. On Wednesday, ABB and General Motors announced that they are trying out just that idea with the battery packs of five Chevy Volts. When it is new, the Volt battery pack holds 16 kilowatt-hours. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/14/an-afterlife-for-the-electric-car/?smid=tw-nytimesgreen&seid=auto Five Reasons You Should Care about California’s Cap-and-Trade Carbon Market. California will attempt to launch an honest-to-goodness carbon market on Wednesday, officially kicking off the state’s cap and trade program. It’s part of the landmark global warming bill, AB 32, signed back in 2006 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. This won’t be first cap-and-trade program in the world -- Europe’s been trading carbon allowances for a half-dozen years or so -- but it’s the first time it’s being tried on such a large scale in the U.S…Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2012/11/14/five-reasons-you-should-care-about-california%E2%80%99s-cap-and-trade-carbon-market/ ====================================================================== 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 Nov 2012 14:37:27 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARBNewsclips for November 16, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 16, 2012. This is a service of the California Air Resources Board’s Office of Communications. You may need to sign in or register with individual websites to view some of the following news articles. CAP AND TRADE State voters support cap and trade. A USC Dornsife/L.A. Times poll of 1,520 registered voters finds that they strongly support the state's ambitious program to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. California voters strongly support the state's ambitious program to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that cause global warming, according to a new post-election poll. At the same time, the USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll of 1,520 registered voters showed that they are sharply divided over whether it is a good idea for the state to relax requirements for environmental reviews of proposed new developments. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cap-trade-poll-20121116,0,5315262.story?track=rss California holds cap-and-trade auction of greenhouse gas credits. California environmental officials moved ahead with a first-ever auction of greenhouse gas pollution credits despite a last-minute lawsuit filed by the state Chamber of Commerce to invalidate the sale. On Wednesday state Air Resources Board technicians worked at computer terminals to take bids from some major industrial facilities such as cement plants, steel mills, refineries and food processors. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pollution-credits-calif-20121115,0,5041759.story Carbon cap-and-trade launches. California's new system for limiting industrial greenhouse gas emissions by putting a price on carbon is not likely to spur a similar federal program anytime soon, but it might influence other states to follow suit, energy policy experts said. The state's Air Resources Board on Wednesday began auctioning permits called "allowances" for greenhouse gas emissions, launching the world's second-largest marketplace for carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_22007691/carbon-cap-and-trade-launches With California Carbon Cap-and-Trade Program Launch, Experts Debate Economic Side Effects. At 10 a.m. Wednesday, California’s potentially revolutionary carbon cap-and-trade program launched in a humdrum fashion. Numbers began appearing on a secure Web site accessible to the biggest oil exploration companies, manufacturers, utilities, state regulators and independent monitors. No one outside of this select group got to see its inner workings. But the event marked a new phase in the state’s pioneering effort to halt climate change: actual dollars traded for permits to emit carbon dioxide. Posted. http://sfpublicpress.org/news/2012-11/with-california-carbon-cap-and-trade-program-launch-experts-debate-possible-economic-side-effe AIR POLLUTION Hotel guests face carbon monoxide risk. Eight people have died and at least 170 others have been treated for carbon monoxide poisoning in the past three years in hotels, which rarely are equipped with CO alarms, a USA TODAY investigation finds. And a review of state and local laws finds that few states or municipalities require hotels to be equipped with the alarms — devices that the National Fire Protection Association says should be near bedrooms in every home. Posted. http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/hotels/2012/11/15/hotels-carbon-monoxide/1707789/ Valley air district offers grant for fireplaces, wood stoves. If you plan to warm your home with wood a stove our just like relaxing during cold nights in front of a fireplace, financial help is available to make them burn cleaner. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is offering financial incentives to upgrade fireplaces and pellet stoves with versions that produce less pollution from burning wood or versions that operated on natural gas. Posted. http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20121115/NEWS/311150033/Valley-air-district-offers-grant-fireplaces-wood-stoves?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage&nclick_check=1 WILDOMAR: State agency may investigate homes. Wildomar residents who blame their homes for making them sick may get the state investigation they have been seeking. In a conference call with residents on Wednesday, Nov. 14, representatives of California’s toxic substances agency said they will reconsider their earlier decision not to test the homes for possible chemical contamination. Two couples who abandoned their homes in the Autumnwood tract talked with officials from the state Department of Toxic Substances Controls and pleaded for an official investigation. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20121114-wildomar-state-toxic-substances-agency-may-investigate-homes.ece LIBERTY QUARRY: Pechanga tribe to buy site. The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians reached an agreement Thursday, Nov. 15, to acquire the site of the proposed Liberty Quarry, ending plans for an open-pit mine that became of one of the most contentious land-use projects in Riverside County history. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/reports/liberty-quarry/liberty-quarry-headlines/20121115-liberty-quarry-pechanga-tribe-to-buy-site.ece http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/region-pechanga-to-buy-quarry-site/article_a17a4dde-0a5a-597d-a8f9-057ba5c3eddf.html EPA to finalize pollution controls at Ariz. Plants. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was expected to meet a deadline Thursday on a plan to control emissions from three Arizona power plants that it contends have impaired visibility at places like the Grand Canyon, but a spokesman for the agency said the details wouldn't immediately be available. The EPA had proposed approving Arizona's air-quality plan to reduce sulfur dioxide and soot at the Cholla, Coronado and Apache coal-fired plants. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/15/epa-to-finalize-pollution-controls-at-ariz/#ixzz2CPkuVyYY CLIMATE CHANGE Carbon tax: Exxon backs Obama plan to impose climate change fees. Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM) is part of a growing coalition backing a carbon tax as an alternative to costly regulation, giving newfound prominence to an idea once anathema in Washington. Conservative economists and fossil-fuel lobbyists united in 2009 to fend off climate-change legislation that would have established a cap-and-trade mechanism. They are now locked in a backroom debate over a tax on carbon-dioxide emissions that could raise an estimated $100 billion in its first year. Posted. http://newyork.newsday.com/news/nation/carbon-tax-exxon-backs-obama-plan-to-impose-climate-change-fees-1.4229894 Drought forces Midwest firm to ponder drier future. At the height of this year's drought, decision-makers at the agribusiness giant Archers Daniels Midland kept an uneasy eye on the reservoir down the hill from their headquarters. At one point, the water level fell to within 2 inches of the point where the company was in danger of being told for the first time ever that it couldn't draw as much as it wanted. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/drought-forces-midwest-firm-to-ponder-drier-future/article_a792e549-367e-5b04-ac27-626fc21ea615.html Forest carbon schemes must consider people, biodiversity – scientists. Efforts to cut carbon emissions by curbing deforestation may fail unless they avoid negative impacts on biodiversity and local people, a network of forest scientists said on Friday. The world's shrinking forests need to be valued as more than just carbon sinks for mitigating climate change, says a report from the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO). Biodiversity is key in determining a forest's ability to absorb greenhouse gases, it adds. Posted. http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/forest-carbon-schemes-must-consider-people-biodiversity-scientists FUELS Despite Accord, Spill Aftermath Shadows BP. The deal BP struck Thursday with the United States is another step toward removing the doubts that have hung over the company and its stock price since the huge blowout that killed 11 people on the Deepwater Horizon rig in 2010. But it is not the comprehensive settlement that the company and investors were hoping for. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/17/business/global/despite-accord-spill-aftermath-shadows-bp.html Energy innovation could rescue California. California venture capitalists and the Obama administration spent, collectively, $30 billion, over the past four years on energy tech investments to replace oil, coal and natural gas. Odds are that won’t happen again. One reason: All that money didn’t yield one energy company that made last month’s Wall Street Journal list of Top 50 startup companies. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/perspective/energy-innovation-could-rescue-california/article_ea819396-38b0-5a4a-9a99-053b989615b5.html Climate change implications of new study on methane emissions in coal seam gas field. Coal seam gas has been touted as a green transitional fuel, far less polluting than coal, but a new study implies it may not be as green or climate friendly as the industry makes out. It hinges on the level of fugitive emissions produced in development and production of a gas field. Posted. http://indymedia.org.au/2012/11/16/climate-change-implications-of-new-study-on-methane-emissions-in-coal-seam-gas-field Slow rollout of E15 in California means higher prices at pump. Approval of E15 in California is moving slowly and, ultimately, the losers are consumers, who will pay more for gasoline, said Andy Foster, spokesperson for Aemetis Inc., a biofuel producer that’s a member of the California Advanced Energy Coalition. With the data available on the safety of E15, there’s no reason the process to approve it should take years, as the California Air Resources Board recently said it would. “Frankly, let’s move on,” Foster told Ethanol Producer Magazine. Posted. http://www.ethanolproducer.com/articles/9306/slow-rollout-of-e15-in-california-means-higher-prices-at-pump EPA denies waiver of corn-based fuel requirements. U.S. EPA rejected requests by governors of major livestock-producing states to waive federal corn-ethanol mandates in response to the searing drought. In denying the requests, EPA said the governors had failed to show the renewable fuel standard had caused severe regional or statewide economic harm. The agency also declared it "highly unlikely" that waiving the volume requirements for corn ethanol would affect corn, food and fuel prices. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/11/16/1 BY SUBSUSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Calif. to coordinate GHG rules with feds. California regulators voted yesterday to mesh their greenhouse gas standards for cars with the federal government's, the last step in the federal-state cooperation on vehicular greenhouse gas regulations for model years 2017-2025. The California Air Resources Board voted to accept U.S. EPA's greenhouse gas standards, which EPA and the Department of Transportation finalized in August along with fuel economy standards of 54.5 miles per gallon fleetwide by 2025 (Greenwire, Aug. 28). "The board's action today is the final step in establishing a single national program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing vehicle efficiency," said Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/11/16/19 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Chrysler to debut Fiat 500e, company's first electric car. Chrysler’s first electric car, the Fiat 500e, will make its debut at the American Music Awards on Sunday. The Auburn Hills automaker released the first ever images of the car today. The photos include an exterior shot of a bright orange car with a white front bumper and a separate photo of a white interior with orange stripes on the seat and orange interior accents. The plug-in electric Fiat 500e will premiere on the "green carpet" of the American Music Awards and will be shown to the general public for the first time at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show starting Nov. 30. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/11/16/19 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY HIGH-SPEED RAIL Calif. high-speed rail faces crucial court ruling. California’s plan to begin building its $68 billion high-speed rail system in the Central Valley hinges on a crucial court decision that could stop the project in its tracks if a judge agrees to a request for a delay from farming interests. Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Timothy Frawley is expected to decide Friday whether to grant a preliminary injunction that would temporarily halt the ambitious infrastructure project. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hdxqH3KOxmGo9_vAPsgAw2ncR90g?docId=4037bf90f253437c86dba16e3f73275e Other related articles: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/california-high-speed-rail-project-faces-crucial-decision-in-lawsuit-over-environmental-review/2012/11/16/fce37a92-2fc7-11e2-af17-67abba0676e2_story.html http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/morning_call/2012/11/california-high-speed-rail-faces-court.html High-speed rail must tame California’s tricky terrain. A bullet train linking Northern and Southern California will be an audacious engineering feat because the line must cross two mountain ranges and a half-dozen earthquake faults, according to experts. Planners foresee the 141-mile segment from Bakersfield to Los Angeles running through vast tunnels, diving through the Tehachapi and San Gabriel mountains, plunging 500 feet underground in some places and soaring over canyons on viaducts 200 to 330 feet high, the Los Angeles Times reported. Posted. http://www.sfexaminer.com/news/2012/11/high-speed-rail-must-tame-california-s-tricky-terrain GREEN ENERGY Creating Better Climate Policy: Linking Carbon Taxes to Investments in Clean Energy. Nipping at the heels of Mayor Bloomberg’s climate-tinged Presidential endorsement, Hurricane Sandy, and President Obama’s victory speech shout-out to climate change is a reinvigorated debate on carbon pricing. This week, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), the Brookings Institution, the International Monetary Fund, and Resources for the Future co-hosted a daylong conference on designing a U.S. carbon tax. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewstepp/2012/11/16/creating-better-climate-policy-linking-carbon-taxes-to-investments-in-clean-energy/ Carbon emerging as new solar cell material. Researchers are investigating how carbon can harness the sun's light, potentially replacing more expensive and toxic materials used in conventional photovoltaic technologies. Now a team at Stanford University has developed a solar cell whose components are made solely from carbon. The scientists published their findings last month in the journal ACS Nano. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/16/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Wind could supply up to 12% of global electricity by 2020, study says. Wind power could supply up to 12 percent of global electricity by 2020 and more than 20 percent by 2030, a new study by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and Greenpeace shows. Wind energy installations totaled 240 gigawatts globally by the end of 2011, and the industry is set to grow by at least another 40 GW this year, the study says. By 2020, under the scenario put forth by the International Energy Agency, total capacity would reach 587 GW, supplying about 6 percent of global electricity. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/16/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Kettleman City landfill could face sanctions for unreported spills. The largest toxic waste landfill in the West failed to report 72 spills to regulators over a five-year period and now faces heavy fines, the Department of Toxic Substances Control said Thursday. The case has been referred to the state Attorney General's Office to decide how much to levy and if more sanctions are warranted. Each violation could result in a fine of up to $25,000. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/15/3067675/kettleman-city-landfill-could.html#storylink=cpy OPINION Cap-and-trade funds to struggling communities. California's cap-and-trade system became a reality Wednesday with the state's first auction of carbon permits. Thanks to legislation signed in September by Gov. Jerry Brown, this event brings a real promise of help for our state's most polluted and economically struggling communities. The story begins in 2006, when lawmakers passed AB32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, which requires California to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/Cap-and-trade-funds-to-struggling-communities-4042244.php Carbon auction levies unauthorized tax. California has long been at the forefront of the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. AB32, the state's climate change law, gave us the opportunity to be the leader in this arena. The key to success of AB32 is cost-effective implementation so that we become a model for other states. Obviously, greenhouse gas reduction is a global problem that California cannot solve on its own. We need other states to follow our lead to truly create change. Posted. Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/Carbon-auction-levies-unauthorized-tax-4042247.php#ixzz2CPXfRhE0 Editorial: Cap and trade finally underway. It took six years along with a lot of debate over climate change and the cost of fighting it, but California has begun the complicated permitting system known as "cap and trade" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. On Wednesday, the state Air Resources Board took bids for permits from industrial facilities including oil refineries, cement plants, steel mills, power plants and food processors. This market-based system of auctioning permits comes from the landmark 2006 law, known as AB 32, signed by then Gov. Arnold Schwarzengger. Posted. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/opinion/ci_21998250/editorial-cap-and-trade-finally-underway The Potential Long-run Impact of California’s Cap-and-Trade Plan. California’s first auction of greenhouse gas pollution credits is a landmark effort to combat emissions, says Wharton legal studies and business ethics professor Eric W. Orts. The auctions will be held quarterly and are aimed at reducing California’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The state expects to cut emissions by 30% from current levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Posted. http://knowledgetoday.wharton.upenn.edu/2012/11/the-potential-long-run-impact-of-californias-cap-and-trade-plan/ We will lead on climate change. New York must press ahead with urgency to equip itself for the new age of extreme weather. In just 22 months as governor, I’ve witnessed firsthand the destructive force of three powerful storms that have crippled the state: Irene, Lee and now Sandy. Each has taken an immeasurable toll on communities. Precious lives have been lost, and homes and businesses destroyed. This storm alone was responsible for 60 deaths to date and more than $30 billion in damage in New York State. Posted. http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/lead-climate-change-article-1.1202221#ixzz2CPPjm3xT Has Obama turned a corner on climate change? In response to a reporter's question during his first press conference after reelection, President Obama says he aims to curb the effects of climate change while growing the economy. In his first post-reelection press conference Wednesday, President Obama broached the topic of climate change head on. "I am a firm believer that climate change is real, that it is impacted by human behavior and carbon emissions," Mr. Obama said in response to a reporter's question. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2012/1115/Has-Obama-turned-a-corner-on-climate-change BLOGS Obama on Climate Policy: Not Just Now, Thanks. Environmental advocates have expressed frustration with the lack of discussion of climate change in the presidential race this year, a reticence that persisted even after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. On Wednesday, in his first post-election news conference, President Obama offered his most extensive remarks on climate change in months. They did not particularly thrill environmentalists. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/obama-on-climate-policy-not-just-now-thanks/ Can Public Leak Patrols Stem Gas Emissions at a Profit? This is the second of a pair of “Your Dot” reactions to my post on citizens’ efforts to build mapped data bases as a tool for tracking the gas drilling surge in the United States. The first, by environmental watchdog Walter Hang, described potential pitfalls in such “do it yourself” efforts. Today’s post is by Frank O’Donnell, a seasoned clean-air campaigner in Washington. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/can-public-leak-patrols-stem-gas-emissions-at-a-profit/ Sen. Kehoe to head plug-in collaborative. State Sen. Christine Kehoe will take a new job Jan. 1, but one that allows her to continue to help steer California toward alternative fuel vehicles. The San Diego Democrat has been named executive director of the California Plug-in Vehicle Collaborative, which promotes all-electric cars. She will step into the post Jan. 1, after leaving the state Senate. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/news/politics/sen-kehoe-to-head-plug-in-collaborative/article_f148689f-50b6-5125-8099-bab6fec9b89d.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 Nov 2012 16:21:29 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 19, 2012 From: jbaxter@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 CAP AND TRADE Calif. to release cap-and-trade auction results. State regulators plan to release the results of California's first auction of greenhouse gas emission permits, which officially kick-started the state's new carbon marketplace. The California Air Resources Board on Monday was scheduled to reveal the price companies paid for the permits — called allowances — and how many businesses participated in the program. California's cap-and-trade plan is a central piece of the state's 2006 global warming law, a suite of regulations meant to dramatically reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Calif-to-release-cap-and-trade-auction-results-4050288.php http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22026771/calif-release-cap-and-trade-auction-results?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Calif. officials call carbon auction a success. State regulators say California's first auction of greenhouse gas emissions permits went smoothly, and that all of the pollution permits available for 2013 were sold. The California Air Resources Board said 23.1 million permits—which allow for one ton carbon—sold for $10.09 each at last week's auction. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22026771/calif-release-cap-and-trade-auction-results?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com California's climate trade opens to lawsuit. Before the economic recession, Californians blindly approved the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (Assembly Bill 32) that regulates reductions of greenhouse gases (GHGs, principally carbon dioxide [CO2]) through market trading of CO2 reduction credits to new CO2 sources. This cap-and-trade program goal is to reduce CO2 emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020, according to the California Air Resources Board (CARB). Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/california-s-climate-trade-opens-to-law-suit Shell, BP join dozens of companies expressing support of carbon pricing. Everyone wants a carbon tax. Literally everyone. I just did a poll of my house and my dog Lucy kind of nodded slightly, so I feel confident in saying that 100 percent of Americans support a carbon tax (margin of error, 100 percent). Really, it isn't just me and my dog. (Actually, I'm kind of iffy on it, but I'm willing to hear the dog's arguments.) Posted. http://grist.org/news/shell-bp-join-dozens-of-companies-expressing-support-of-carbon-pricing/ AIR POLLUTION UK postpones auctions of EU aviation CO2 permits. "If agreed, this announcement could impact on the volume of aviation allowances to be auctioned during 2012," a Department of Energy and Climate Change spokeswoman said. As the Commission is unable to determine the precise number of allowances to be auctioned in 2012, we consider that it is sensible to postpone the remaining aviation allowance auctions scheduled for 2012." Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/19/uk-carbon-auction-idUSLNE8AI02020121119 Air quality alert issues for parts of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued an air quality alert for eastern and south-central Wisconsin.The alert issued Sunday cites particle pollution, and it's rated orange, which means the air quality could be unhealthy for people in sensitive groups. It's scheduled to expire at noon Monday. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Air-quality-alert-issues-for-parts-of-Wisconsin-4048526.php Ventless Gel Fireplace Introduces Clean Burning Contemporary Interior Fireplaces to Eliminate Indoor Health Hazards. Portable fireplace retailer Ventless Gel Fireplace has seen growing customer demand for safer, cleaner alternatives to traditional wood-burning fireplaces. For the holiday season, Ventless Gel Fireplace presents customers with a new line of contemporary fireplaces that burn clean without any harmful emissions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Ventless-Gel-Fireplace-Introduces-Clean-Burning-4047657.php Ball Aerospace Selected by NASA for TEMPO Air Pollution Mission. Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. is part of a team selected to build the first space-based instrument to monitor major air pollutants across the North American continent for NASA's Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) mission.Led by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Mass., the TEMPO team will build a geostationary ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectrometer to continuously measure ozone, aerosols and other trace gases over greater North America. The geostationary position of the instrument will allow delivery of regional, hourly readouts of atmosphere data during daylight hours. This data will advance air quality research on how air pollution affects climate change and air quality on a continental scale. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/19/4997408/ball-aerospace-selected-by-nasa.html#storylink=misearch Australian scientists find excess greenhouse gas near fracking. Environmental researchers have detected excess greenhouse gas levels near the site of Australia's biggest coal seam gas field, prompting calls for halting expansion of hydraulic fracturing until scientists can determine whether it might be contributing to climate change. The reported findings of methane, carbon dioxide and other compounds at more than three times normal background levels have stirred new controversy in eastern Australia over the pros and cons of boosting natural gas output by "fracking," a process that blasts sand, water and chemicals into deep underground wells. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-australia-fracking-leakage-20121116,0,7039884.story http://grist.org/news/greatly-increased-greenhouse-gas-emissions-found-at-australian-fracking-site/ Toll Unsettles Los Angeles Motorists Used to ‘Free’ in Freeways. At precisely 10 p.m. last Saturday, motorists faced a toll of up to $15.40 for the privilege of driving an 11-mile stretch of express lanes between Gardena and downtown Los Angeles. Never mind that tolls have been around as long as dirt roads and covered bridges, and that congestion pricing — as this is known — has become embraced by metropolises across the country to combat traffic and pollution. And never mind that the toll’s reach here is limited to lone drivers willing to pay up to $1.40 a mile, depending on traffic, for a money-back guarantee that their average speed will never drop below 45 miles per hour. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/17/us/new-toll-jolts-la-motorists-used-to-freeways.html?_r=0 EPA puts new emission limits on Ariz. power plants. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has imposed new pollution limits on three coal-fired Arizona power plants, aiming to protect the environment and air quality for wilderness areas and landmarks such as the Grand Canyon. The EPA set limits for the Cholla, Coronado and Apache generating stations that will require technology upgrades to keep 22,700 tons of nitrogen oxide out of the air each year. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/17/epa-puts-new-emission-limits-on-ariz-power/ Elk Grove rejects plan to cut greenhouse gases. The carbon footprint in Elk Grove will stay the same size, at least for now. The Elk Grove City Council last week backed off on long-range plans to cut its greenhouse gas emissions, saying programs to encourage sustainability might hurt businesses and job creation. The council put aside two plans crafted by city staff to reduce the city's emissions by about 15 percent by 2020. The plans promote green building, energy efficiency, alternative transportation and resource conservation. Council members, primarily concerned about the effects of green building requirements, unanimously voted instead to meet with business leaders and discuss how to soften any harmful effects of going green. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/11/18/2460626/elk-grove-rejects-plan-to-cut.html#storylink=misearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Brown defends Calif. steps to fight climate change. Gov. Jerry Brown told attendees at an environmental conference Friday that climate change must be prevented or humans might one day be forced to live on another planet. Addressing the Greenbuild Expo in San Francisco, Brown lauded California's cap-and-trade auction for greenhouse gas emissions, which began this week. It was the formal launch of the nation's most ambitious carbon-trading market, which for the first time established a market-based system to put a price on greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/16/brown-defends-calif-steps-to-fight-climate/ No nation immune to climate change - World Bank. All nations will suffer the effects of a warmer world, but it is the world's poorest countries that will be hit hardest by food shortages, rising sea levels, cyclones and drought, the World Bank said in a report on climate change. Under new World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, the global development lender has launched a more aggressive stance to integrate climate change into development. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/19/worldbank-climate-idUSL1E8MDHIX20121119 http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/world-bank-warns-of-4-degree-threshhold/2012/11/19/aa298dd0-3023-11e2-a30e-5ca76eeec857_story.html http://grist.org/news/climate-change-will-be-devastating-to-worlds-poor-world-bank-says/ http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/turndown-20121119.html DRIESSEN: Global warming hysteria will kill jobs. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have boosted shale gas production from zero a few years ago to 10 percent of all U.S. energy supplies in 2012, observes energy analyst Daniel Yergin. It has increased U.S. oil production 25 percent since 2008, in the face of more federal land and resource withdrawals, permitting delays and declining public land production. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/18/global-warming-hysteria-will-kill-jobs/#ixzz2ChwxMAjj Glacial-paced U.N. climate talks need overhaul: researchers. Almost 200 nations will meet in Doha, Qatar, from November 26 to December 7 to try to extend the Kyoto Protocol, the existing plan for curbing greenhouse gas emissions by developed nations that runs to the end of 2012. They have been trying off and on since Kyoto was agreed in 1997 to widen limits on emissions but have been unable to find a formula acceptable to both rich and poor nations. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/18/us-climate-talks-idUSBRE8AH0EK20121118 Film looks at climate change in the Arctic; book goes to the edge of the universe. In 2005, National Geographic photographer James Balog began to collect “irrefutable” evidence of climate change. As part of his Extreme Ice Survey project, he ventured into the Arctic with more than 20 time-lapse video cameras to capture the changing topography of the world’s giant ice masses and compress years of slow change into mere seconds. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/film-looks-at-climate-change-in-the-arctic-book-goes-to-the-edge-of-the-universe/2012/11/17/871224b8-695b-11e1-acc6-32fefc7ccd67_story.html Iowa scientists: Drought a sign of climate change. More than 130 scientists from Iowa colleges and universities say this year's drought is consistent with a warmer climate predicted as part of global climate change and more droughts can be expected. Scientists and researchers from 27 Iowa colleges and universities signed the Iowa Climate Statement released Monday. It says a warming climate causes wet years to be wetter and dry years to be hotter and dryer. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22027569/iowa-scientists-drought-sign-climate-change?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22026771/calif-release-cap-and-trade-auction-results?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/more-than-130-iowa-scientists-issue-statement-that-2012-drought-is-a-sign-of-climate-change/2012/11/19/830bbdd6-3280-11e2-92f0-496af208bf23_story.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Nov. 29 presentation looks at state diesel regulations. The California Air Resources Board will have staff in Lake County on Thursday, Nov. 29, to provide an in-depth discussion of how to comply with state diesel regulations.This presentation will take place from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.This presentation will cover on road trucks, off road construction equipment, public fleets, school buses, diesel idling, and Heavy Duty Diesel Vehicle Inspection Programs. This is an opportunity for Lake County diesel equipment operators to meet with CARB staff, ask questions, and get detailed information on how to comply with the multiple regulations. Posted. http://www.lakeconews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28085:nov-29-presentation-looks-at-state-diesel-regulations&catid=40:business-news&Itemid=294 FUELS Group: Toxics linger after Chevron fire. Cancer-causing chemicals linger around homes and in gardens over a 9-square-mile area more than three months after a catastrophic fire at the Chevron refinery in Richmond, according to an environmental justice group. Independent testing by Global Community Monitor found that toxic fallout from the giant plume of smoke and soot that spewed from the plant on Aug. 6 blanketed an area stretching from Albany to San Pablo with dangerous hydrocarbons. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Group-Toxics-linger-after-Chevron-fire-4048522.php Consumer advocates say refineries may have falsified information. Consumer Watchdog, saying that refineries operating in the state may have falsified information to help boost gasoline prices, wants the California attorney general to launch a criminal investigation. The advocacy group made its request in a letter to state Atty. Gen. Kamala D. Harris. “It appears that California’s oil refineries falsified public information to drive up the price of gasoline," Consumer Watchdog’s president, Jamie Court, and energy project director, Liza Tucker, said in the letter. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-call-for-investigation-20121116,0,7650597.story E.P.A. Upholds Federal Mandate for Ethanol in Gasoline. The Environmental Protection Agency declined on Friday to relax its requirement on the use of corn ethanol in gasoline, rejecting a request from several states related to a steep decline in the nation’s corn production. A summer drought that withered crops led to a spike in prices, hurting the livestock industry and others that depend on corn for food. Estimates indicate that as much as half of the nation’s crop will be used to produce ethanol this year to meet the federal renewable energy standard for transportation fuel. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/17/business/energy-environment/epa-upholds-ethanol-standard-on-use-in-gasoline.html?ref=earth Gas drilling presents Obama with historic choices. Energy companies, environmental groups, and even Hollywood stars are watching to see what decisions President Barack Obama makes about regulating or promoting natural gas drilling. The stakes are huge. Business leaders don't want government regulations to slow the flow of hundreds of billions of dollars of clean, cheap domestic energy over the next few decades. Environmental groups see that same tide as a potential threat, not just to air and water, but to renewable energy. And on a strategic level, diplomats envision a future when natural gas helps make the U.S. less beholden to imports. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/17/gas-drilling-presents-obama-with-historic/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/gas-drilling-presents-obama-with-historic-choices/article_a5bf23e0-2f25-58fa-be3f-bcb6ac960dc0.html http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_22020197/gas-drilling-presents-obama-historic-choices?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/gas-drilling-boom-presents-obama-with-historic-choices-on-jobs-energy-environment/2012/11/17/683064f0-3102-11e2-af17-67abba0676e2_story.html Green groups slam Keystone pipeline, march around White House. Hundreds of people who say they worry oil that would be carried the Keystone XL pipeline will accelerate climate change marched around the White House on Sunday, hoping to revive a movement credited with slowing down the permit process for the crude oil project. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/19/keystone-protest-idUSL1E8MI3VP20121119 CANADA STOCKS-TSX may open higher bouyed by 'Fiscal Cliff' talks. Republican and Democratic congressional leaders emerged from a meeting with President Barack Obama on Friday pledging to find common ground on taxes and spending that would allow them to avert an upcoming "fiscal cliff" that could send the economy back into recession. Hundreds of people who say they worry oil that would be carried by the Keystone XL pipeline will accelerate climate change marched around the White House on Sunday, hoping to revive a movement credited with slowing down the permit process for the crude oil project. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/19/markets-canada-stocks-idUSL4N08Z34O20121119 After Sandy, EPA extends clean fuel waivers for N.J., New York City. The waivers had been set to expire on November 20, but Governors Chris Christie of New Jersey and Andrew Cuomo of New York asked the EPA to extend them because of continued fuel supply shortages. The EPA said it will continue to waive clean gasoline and diesel requirements for the area until December 7. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/19/us-storm-sandy-epa-idUSBRE8AI01220121119 AAA Michigan: Gas prices up 6 cents from last week. AAA Michigan says gasoline prices have risen roughly 6 cents during the past week to a statewide average of about $3.53 per gallon.The auto club said Monday the average is about 20 cents per gallon more than last year at this time as motorists gear up for Thanksgiving travel. Of the Michigan cities it surveys, AAA Michigan said the cheapest price for self-serve unleaded fuel is in the Traverse City area, where it's about $3.40 a gallon. The highest average is in the Ann Arbor area at about $3.57. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/19/aaa-michigan-gas-prices-up-6-cents-from-last/ Lower gas prices, economy boost Thanksgiving travel forecast. Need another encouraging sign that the U.S. economy is slowly on the mend? Look to this year’s Thanksgiving holiday travel forecasts. AAA predicts that 43.6 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the holiday weekend, up almost 1 percent over the 43.3 million who traveled last year. That’s the fourth consecutive year for holiday travel growth since 2008, when Thanksgiving travel plummeted 25 percent as the economy tanked. AAA defines the holiday period as Wednesday through Sunday. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/11/19/2462089/lower-gas-prices-economy-boost.html#storylink=misearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES New plug-in cars catching on. Sales and leases of plug-in vehicles in California continued to accelerate in October, likely topping 2,000 autos for the first time.The October estimate comes from the California Center for Sustainable Energy, which administers the state's zero-emission vehicle program, providing up to $2,500 toward purchases and three-year leases. The center received 1,820 rebate applications during the month of October, its highest participation to date. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/nov/16/new-plug-cars-catching/ Audi Confirms Four New U.S. Diesels For L.A. Auto Show. If you love glow plugs and green-handled fuel pumps, get ready to love some new Audis. The German luxury carmaker will be bringing four new diesels for the U.S. market to the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show. The Audi A6, A7, A8, and Q5 will all get TDI "clean diesel" versions next week, joining the Q7 and A3 TDI to bring Audi's diesel offerings to a total of six. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/cars/audi-confirms-four-new-us-diesels-for-la-auto-show/2012/11/19/fa160c3a-328d-11e2-92f0-496af208bf23_story.html Ford to offer 1L EcoBoost in 2014 Fiesta in North America. The new 2014 Ford Fiesta on sale next year will be the first vehicle available in the United States with Ford’s 3-cylinder 1.0-liter EcoBoost (direct injection plus turbocharging) engine. (Earlier post.) Though the car has not yet undergone EPA testing, Ford says it expects the Fiesta to be certified as the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid car available in the United States. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/ford-20121119.html Honda boosts performance and fuel economy on 2013 CR-Z Sport Hybrid Coupe using new Li-ion pack. The 2013 Honda CR-Z goes on sale 21 November with a number of powertrain, styling and feature upgrades, including a new Li-ion battery pack that replaces the NiMH pack in the MY 2012 CR-Z hybrid and delivers more power and improved fuel economy. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/honda-20121119.html SmartBatt consortium shows prototype optimized future battery pack technology for electric vehicles. The European SmartBatt (Smart and Safe Integration of Batteries in Electric Vehicles) consortium has produced a prototype optimized battery pack targeted at small electric vehicles; the pack is currently on display at the European Electric Vehicle Congress (EEVC) in Brussels. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/smartbatt-20121119.html Chicago awards $13.4M contract to Motiv Power Systems for 20 Class 8 electric refuse trucks. The City of Chicago has awarded San Francisco Bay Area startup Motiv Power Systems a $13.4-million contract for 20 Class 8 electric refuse trucks. The 52,000-lb trucks, powered by a 200 kWh battery pack, will have a range of up to 60 miles. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/motiv-20121119.html Study identifies social policy as important factor in national environmental performance. A country’s social policy (SP) plays an important role in explaining differences in the environmental performance (EP) of countries, according to a new study by Dorit Kerret and Renana Shvartzvald at Tel-Aviv University. The paper, published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, tries to unravel factors that explain national differences in EP by using quantitative data to examine factors affecting the EP of a broad sample of country-wide data. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/sp-20121119.html GREEN ENERGY Hawaii's solar power flare-up: Too much of a good thing? On an island whose stock in trade is sun, and lots of it, Lawrence and Cindy Lee figured they'd be foolish not to join their neighbors and put a few solar panels on the roof. The Lees called one of the solar contractors racing around Hawaii these days, and put in their order. Eleven months later, in October — after endless consultations, emails and a $3,000 study required by Maui Electric Co. — they were still waiting for a permit. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-hawaii-solar-20121118,0,595680.story Nokia Siemens Networks, Ballard Power Systems develop fuel cell backup power for mobile networks. Nokia Siemens Networks is working with Ballard Power Systems, Inc. to develop mobile networks that can continue to operate during power blackouts. Japanese operator NTT DOCOMO has evaluated the Nokia Siemens Networks Flexi Multiradio base station with integrated fuel cell* backup for potential commercial deployment. The solution has been installed at a DOCOMO R&D Center test site in Japan's Yokosuka Research Park. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/19/4997409/nokia-siemens-networks-ballard.html#storylink=misearch CAW and CEP Urge Federal Government to Appeal WTO Ruling Against the Green Energy Act. The CAW and CEP are voicing their opposition to the WTO ruling siding with the European Union and Japan's complaint against Ontario's Green Energy Act and is urging the federal government to appeal the decision.The dispute centres on Ontario's feed-in tariff (FIT) program, which requires regional and national electric-grid utilities to purchase electricity from renewable sources like solar, wind and hydro-electric power. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/19/4997384/caw-and-cep-urge-federal-government.html#storylink=misearch NORCO-EASTVALE: Manure/energy project still on table. The manure-to-energy issue is not yet dead in Eastvale or Norco, despite a recent uproar over the matter in one city and a decision to put things on hold in another.The most recent development involves land in Eastvale that is owned by Orange County and is of interest to an Irvine technology company searching for a place to build a scaled-down version of a previously proposed waste-to-energy conversion plant. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/corona/corona-headlines-index/20121116-norco-eastvale-manureenergy-project-still-on-table.ece Natural resources can affect value of sovereign bonds – UNEP. Pressures on nations from the overuse and scarcity of water, food, forests and minerals, coupled with the effects of climate change, are currently mostly left out of models used to set sovereign credit ratings. "Commodity markets, food prices and food and resource security are becoming increasingly volatile, exacerbated by climate change-caused weather extremes and uncertainty," UNEP said in a study. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/19/us-crisis-idUSBRE8AI0F220121119 German minister backs EU proposal to squeeze carbon market. Peter Altmaier, an influential figure in Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU), told Reuters he hoped the ruling centre-right coalition could agree to support it in time for a European Union summit in December. "The European Commission in recent weeks made new proposals which show a sense of proportion and reality," he said in an interview on Monday, adding this would help stabilize trade in carbon permits and give business an incentive to reduce CO2. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/19/us-eu-emissions-germany-idUSBRE8AI0I720121119 HOW TO PLAY IT-Predicted US oil glut a boon to those who move it. Railroads, pipeline companies and refiners stand to do especially well from a U.S. drilling bonanza that is upending the energy trade balance for the world's largest economy. An anticipated surge in U.S. oil output to the highest levels in the world would give a boost to those who move crude to where it can be turned into finished products and even shipped abroad. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/18/usa-energy-independence-idUSL1E8M9DRU20121118 OPINIONS Air monitors needed at Chevron refinery. An independently conducted study of the toxic contamination produced by the Aug. 6 Chevron refinery fire in detailed what the regional air board also should have known: the fire produced health-affecting toxic fallout.The Bay Area Air Quality Manage District maintains air quality monitors in the region but not at the refinery fence. The air board reported there were background levels of pollution but not enough to affect human health, even though it did not test air quality at and near the refinery. Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/opinionshop/2012/11/18/air-monitors-needed-at-chevron-refinery/ BLOGS A Rough Road from Swords to Ploughshares. For nearly 20 years, the Energy Department has been seeking to destroy plutonium recovered from surplus nuclear bombs by converting it to fuel for civilian reactors. Most of it would be destroyed by fission, and the remainder would be embedded in highly radioactive fission products. Anti-proliferation groups are eager to see the plutonium destroyed as part of a Russian-American agreement because as long as it exists, it can be refashioned into nuclear bombs. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/a-rough-road-from-swords-to-ploughshares/ In Defense of Sustained Research on Fusion. As budget negotiations heat up, so does the debate over the balance between investments in the long-term future and short-term necessities. Fusion is a long-term opportunity that will transform how we energize our society. The fact that ignition in a large American experimental inertial confinement fusion facility did not occur as hoped by Sept. 30 has sadly raised questions about the scientific legitimacy of that pursuit. That the scientists did not meet their goal by that day probably has little bearing on that field’s ultimate success. Importantly, this non-event should not bear any relation to the fate of other vital work centering on an entirely different approach known as magnetic fusion. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/in-defense-of-sustained-research-on-fusion/ Households to Reap Gains from Holding Polluters Accountable. The California Public Utilities Commission, which regulates the state’s investor-owned utilities including Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and Southern California Edison, issued a proposed ruling Friday directing how AB 32 cap-and-trade proceeds will be allocated to utility customers. The cap-and trade rule developed by the state’s Air Resources Board requires the utilities to use proceeds from the sale of carbon pollution allowances exclusively on behalf of their customers, but tasks the Commission with filling in the details. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ajackson/households_to_reap_gains_from.html Climate scientsts are Nate Silver, radio edition. Last week, I wrote a post called “Climate science is Nate Silver and U.S. politics is Karl Rove.” PRI’s radio show Living On Earth asked me to do a version of it as a commentary, and so I did. Have a listen Or have a read: Perhaps the most striking thing about the recent presidential election is how predictable it was — or to put it another way, how predicted it was. From the moment Mitt Romney was chosen as the Republican candidate, the polls showed that Obama was on track for a narrow win in most swing states. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/climate-scientsts-are-nate-silver-radio-edition/ Buy or die: The survivalist approach to climate doom. That’s the advice from the New York Times Magazine feature “How to Survive Societal Collapse in Suburbia.” Wait, don’t laugh yet — we’ll get to that. First, meet Ron Douglas, a champion of survivalist consumer culture as a solution to our impending human-made doom. Douglas, his wife, and their six children live in the Denver exurbs with a “modified” vehicle that holds a lot of gas, which is apparently super “self-reliant.” Posted. http://grist.org/news/buy-or-die-the-survivalist-approach-to-climate-doom/ The CIA shutters its climate change center, because who needs it? The CIA will close its Center on Climate Change and National Security. Ugh. Who’d it sleep with? Kidding! It didn’t sleep with anyone; it is inanimate, and sleeping with things requires animation. (Generally.) The center, which recently celebrated its third birthday, is the victim of budget cuts, because Mitt Romney won the election. Posted. http://grist.org/news/the-cia-shutters-its-climate-change-center-because-who-needs-it/ This cute baby rhino welcomes climate change. If you ask him, it's too cold by half. Global warming might keep him from having go around wrapped in a blanket. (Baby rhinos do not understand the difference between weather and climate.) Posted. http://grist.org/list/this-cute-baby-rhino-welcomes-climate-change/ ====================================================================== 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 Nov 2012 12:00:40 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for November 20, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 20, 2012. This is a service of the California Air Resources Board’s Office of Communications. You may need to sign in or register with individual websites to view some of the following news articles. CAP AND TRADE California sells out of first pollution permits. California sold out of the first pollution permits issued as part of a landmark offensive against greenhouse gases at an inaugural auction that regulators said Monday went smoothly. The effort to curtail carbon emissions involved the sale of 23.1 million permits _ each allowing for the release of one ton of carbon _ for $10.09 apiece, the California Air Resources Board said. The permit sales last week opened the largest carbon marketplace in the nation and the second-biggest in the world after the European Union. The California air board will hold four such auctions a year. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j5QsMnRUb0GQouF8PHlEJEt9x5DQ?docId=80ed0f7899134a838c94275b85f9e842 Other related articles: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-11-19/calif-dot-officials-call-carbon-auction-a-success http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/california-sells-out-of-first-pollution-permits-at-auction-called-success-by-regulators/2012/11/19/dae77192-32aa-11e2-92f0-496af208bf23_story.html http://www.mydesert.com/viewart/20121119/NEWS07/311190005/Cap-trade-auction-called-success?odyssey=nav%7Chead California carbon market launches, permits priced below expectations. California's largest greenhouse gas emitting businesses paid $10.09 per metric tonne (1.1 ton) for the right to release carbon, raising almost $300 million for the cash-strapped state and its energy companies in its first-ever carbon permit auction. The permit price was below market expectations despite strong demand from utility companies, manufacturers and oil refineries participating in the auction, market sources said. Ahead of the California Air Resources Board announcement on Monday, traders, brokers and analysts had predicted a clearing price in the range of $11.75 to $12.50 a tonne. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/19/us-california-carbonmarket-idUSBRE8AI13X20121119 California Carbon Allowances Sold Out at $10.09 in Auction. Carbon allowances for the start ofCalifornia’s program to curb greenhouse-gas emissions, the largest U.S. system of the kind, sold out last week at $10.09 a metric ton, lower than the range analysts forecast. The state Air Resources Board sold all 23.1 million carbon permits offered at a Nov. 14 auction for the first compliance period of the program starting Jan. 1, the agency’s website showed today. The permits, each of which allows the release of one metric ton of carbon, were estimated to clear between $12 and $15 a ton in the first auction, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-19/california-carbon-allowances-sold-for-10-09-in-first-auction.html California's first carbon-credit auction raises $290 million. In California's first auction of greenhouse gas pollution credits, companies paid just a few cents more than the minimum price per ton of carbon, generating almost $290 million from the sale held last week. The state Air Resources Board announced Monday that it sold all 23.1 million allowances available for 2013 at $10.09 each, generating $233.3 million. The minimum price was $10. Additionally, the state sold only 14% of almost 40 million credits available for 2015. That generated an additional $55.8 million. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pollution-credits-20121120,0,1417750.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fbusiness+%28L.A.+Times+-+Business%29 California's first cap-and-trade auction sells out, declared 'a success'. State regulators on Monday celebrated the results of last week's first-ever auction of California greenhouse gas emission permits, declaring the long-awaited kickoff to the nation's first effort to put a price on carbon pollution a success. The state did not disclose how many companies participated in the historic auction. But there were three times as many bidders than buyers, a sign that the business community is taking the new carbon market seriously. A ton of carbon sold for $10.09 at the auction, just slightly above the $10 floor price established by regulators, according to data released by the California Air Resources Board. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_22028077/californias-first-cap-and-trade-auction-sells-out?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_22028077/californias-first-cap-and-trade-auction-sells-out Was state's climate change auction a success? California businesses snapped up — at bargain prices — the entire first wave of permits for releasing greenhouse gases linked to climate change. But how the auction’s results ultimately affect consumer prices on an array of products and services remains fiercely contested. The permits, sold at an auction last week, are part of the state’s goal to lower greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Companies will need to comply by taking measures such as buying new equipment, updating their fleets of vehicles and adopting new technologies. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/was-state-s-climate-change-auction-a-success/article_f65e4811-043c-5c29-8dc4-da62f42b909c.html California's first cap-and-trade auction a sellout. The merchandise sold about as cheaply as possible, yet the auctioneer couldn't have been more pleased. California's oil refiners and other big industrial polluters paid just $10.09 a ton for the right to emit greenhouse gases in the state's first-ever carbon auction, state officials said Monday. The price was just pennies above the $10 minimum set by the California Air Resources Board. But board chair Mary Nichols said the auction, which kicked off California's "cap-and-trade" carbon market, was an unqualified success. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/11/20/2463089/californias-first-cap-and-trade.html#storylink=misearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Cap and trade auction a success, say California officials. California's first ever auction of greenhouse gas credits produced a lot of action, but a relatively low price for the right to emit a metric ton of carbon emissions. Which is why Mary Nichols, chair of the state Air Resources Board, calls last week's auction a success. "There's evidence the market was very competitive," Nichols told reporters in a conference call Monday afternoon. Officials waited until Monday to release data about just who was buying the carbon credits in last week's private auction, and which companies and investors had signed up for a chance to bid. Posted. http://www.news10.net/news/article/217589/2/Cap-and-trade-auction-a-success-say-California-officials Cap-and-trade auction a success: California regulators. California state regulators announced Monday the success of an auction of greenhouse gas emissions. All of the pollution permits available for 2013 were sold at last week's auction. Permits were sold, each one allowing for one ton of carbon. There were 23.1 million permits sold, according to the California Air Resources Board. The permits sold for $10.09 at the auction, which began on Wednesday. The permit sales last week opened the largest carbon marketplace in the nation and the second-biggest in the world after the European Union. The California air board will hold four such auctions a year. Posted. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=8891522 California officials release results of first cap-and-trade auction. California businesses subjected to the nation's only cap-and-trade policy were able to buy emissions credits at pennies above the minimum price when the state held its inaugural auction for emissions allowances last week. The auction, held Wednesday, ended with affected industries purchasing greenhouse gas emissions allowances at a price of $10.09. That amount is nine cents above the minimum price set before the California Air Resources Board held the auction. The board sold more than 23.1 million emissions allowances - worth more than $252 million in sum - via the auction. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/breakingnews/ci_22027267/california-officials-release-results-first-cap-and-trade CARB releases summary of results of first CO2 cap-and trade auction; CPUC proposes how to use the revenues. CARB releases summary of results of first CO2 cap-and trade auction; CPUC proposes how to use the revenues. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) released the results of California’s first quarterly auction under the cap-and-trade program. One allowance permits the release of one metric ton of carbon dioxide. Of the 23,126,110 allowances offered for the Current Auction (2013 Vintage), 23,126,110 were sold with a settlement price of $10.09 (auction reserve price was $10.00). The “Vintage” is the year they can first be used for compliance. Of 39,450,000 allowances for the Advance Auction (2015 Vintage), 5,576,000 were sold with a settlement price of $10 (same reserve price). The settlement price is the lowest accepted bid price above reserve price or before allowances are sold out. For the 2013 Vintage, the maximum price was $91.13; mean price was $13.75; and median price was $12.96. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/arb-20121120.html Cap and trade program gets passing grade. The first auction held under California's ground-breaking carbon cap and trade program was declared a "success" Monday by state officials. Several businesses with San Joaquin County connections registered to participate in last Wednesday's auction, but the state Air Resources Board released no specifics about whether those businesses actually submitted bids or, if they did, what their price was. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121120/A_BIZ/211200307&cid=sitesearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY AIR POLLUTION State: LA must do more to stem dust from dry lake. State regulators ordered Los Angeles to expand efforts to control dust storms from Owens Lake, which went dry after the growing metropolis began siphoning water from it a century ago. The California Air Resources Board on Monday ruled that the city must obey last year's order by a regional air pollution agency to expand its efforts to cover nearly 3 more square miles of the lake. The ruling is a blow to the city's powerful Department of Water and Power, which in 1913 began diverting water from the Eastern Sierras away from the shallow lake 200 miles north of town. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/20/state-la-must-do-more-to-stem-dust-from-dry-lake/ http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_22032513/state-la-must-do-more-stem-dust-from http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/20/3073134/state-la-must-do-more-to-stem.html#storylink=misearch Secondhand smoke inside airports puts air travelers and employees at risk. Average air pollution levels from secondhand smoke directly outside designated smoking areas in airports are five times higher than levels in smoke-free airports, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study conducted in five large hub U.S. airports also showed that air pollution levels inside designated smoking areas were 23 times higher than levels in smoke-free airports. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/20/4999737/secondhand-smoke-inside-airports.html#storylink=misearch CLIMATE CHANGE UN says greenhouse gases at record high in 2011. The U.N. weather agency says concentrations of the main global warming pollutant in the world's air reached a record high in 2011. The World Meteorological Organization says the planet averaged 390 parts per million of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, up 40 percent from before the Industrial Age when levels were about 275 parts per million. WMO officials said Tuesday there was a 30 percent increase in the warming effect on the global climate between 1990 and 2011, mainly due to carbon dioxide from fossil fuel burning. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jzwma1bA579-JaheZf66PM2dSOkw?docId=9e1f87a367674f668c4ffdaad54e134e Other related articles: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/20/environment-greenhouse-idUSL5E8MJI5520121120 http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/un-says-greenhouse-gases-reached-record-high-concentrations-in-air-in-2011/2012/11/20/34fc756a-3300-11e2-92f0-496af208bf23_story.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22031986/un-says-greenhouse-gases-at-record-high-2011?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/20/3072966/un-says-greenhouse-gases-at-record.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/20/un-says-greenhouse-gases-at-record-high-in-2011/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/un-says-greenhouse-gases-at-record-high-in/article_20e9bdb5-625f-5b7e-a3c2-4d9c85ebf18d.html DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB Posts Guidance for Electric Standby, Hybrid Electric Reefers. The California Air Resources Board has posted Regulatory Guidance for Electric Standby and Hybrid Electric Systems for Transport Refrigeration Units. This guidance document explains requirements for the use of electric standby and hybrid electric systems as an option for compliance with California's TRU regulations' in-use performance standards. A TRU's compliance can be maintained beyond seven years if an electric standby or hybrid electric system is integrated into the equipment and used within the guidelines for an Alternative Technology. Also provided are specifications for businesses interested in providing electronic-tracking systems to affected TRU owners. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=78597 VEHICLES L.A. Auto Show preview: Audi confirms four new diesel models. Four rings, four diesels. It's an easy way to remember what Audi has planned for next week's Los Angeles Auto Show. The company announced Monday that it will be unveiling a quartet of fuel-efficient oil-burners at the L.A. Auto Show that are not yet available in the U.S. The models getting TDI diesel variants are the A6, A7, A8, and Q5. All four will share a 3-liter turbocharged V-6. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-autos-laas-audi-diesel-20121120,0,4981945.story Nissan upgrades Leaf electric car, lowers price. The upgraded Nissan Motor Co. Leaf electric car can travel further without recharging, comes in a cheaper model and tells drivers how much battery life is left. The changes in the revamped model, shown Tuesday at a Tokyo hotel, were based on feedback from owners whose chief worry was running out of electric juice while driving, Nissan officials said. Electric cars emit no pollution, but they need to be recharged. Owners have charging equipment installed at home. But the scarcity of recharging stations on the roads has limited electric vehicles use to short commutes and kept zero-emission cars confined to a market niche. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/20/nissan-upgrades-leaf-electric-car-lowers-price/ http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/19/3072850/nissan-upgrades-leaf-electric.html#storylink=misearch GE buys 2,000 Ford plug-in hybrids for fleet. GE is buying 2,000 plug-in hybrid cars from Ford for its corporate fleet. Ford and GE announced the purchase Tuesday. GE has set a goal of converting half its fleet to alternative energy vehicles. With the Ford purchase, GE now has 5,000 alternative-fuel vehicles, or about 10 percent of its fleet. Ford will promote GE's electric vehicle charging stations as part of the agreement. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/20/ge-buys-2000-ford-plug-in-hybrids-for-fleet/ HIGH-SPEED RAIL Judge rejects request to delay high-speed rail. A Sacramento County judge has ruled to reject a request by farming interests for a delay to California’s high-speed rail project, according to the U.S. High Speed Rail Association. An injunction could have prevented the California High-Speed Rail Authority, which is overseeing the project, from buying land and continuing to survey and do other work on the project’s start. gricultural interests had sought to temporarily halt the project until a lawsuit can be decided. Lawsuits brought by groups representing Central Valley farmers claim the authority has not conducted adequate environmental reviews as required under state law. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2012/11/20/high-speed-rail-delay-rejected-calif.html GREEN ENERGY Solar Companies Seek Ways to Build an Oasis of Electricity. When Hurricane Sandy wiped out the power in areas like coastal Long Island and the Jersey Shore, what should have been beacons of hope — hundreds of solar panels glinting from residential rooftops — became symbols of frustration. Despite the popular perception that installing solar panels takes a home “off the grid,” most of those systems are actually part of it, sending excess power to the utility grid during the day and pulling electricity back to run the house at night. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/20/business/energy-environment/solar-power-as-solution-for-storm-darkened-homes.html OPINION RIVERSIDE COUNTY: Quarry-saga win. The sale of a site proposed for an open-pit mine offers a welcome end to a contentious, long-running dispute. The resolution of the battle stops the costly legal wrangling over the issue, and frees the public to focus on other pressing issues. The project’s developer should look for a more suitable location for mining construction materials. And Riverside County should learn from its awkward handling of the quarry’s approval process. Posted. http://www.pe.com/opinion/editorials-headlines/20121118-riverside-county-quarry-saga-win.ece Mark Landsbaum: California plunges ahead with cap and trade. Have you considered that all the fuss about global warming never has been about the globe getting warmer? Have you considered that global warming always has been about control and money? Their control and your money. Control and money are the dogma of the movement that worships at the climate-change altar with a cultish obsession. The same congregation once called their belief "global cooling." That was in the 1970s, when Newsweek and Time cover stories prophesized a frigid Armageddon coming our way in a big hurry. How'd that work out? Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/global-378184-warming-california.html Our View: Help clear the air; check before burn. According to the calendar, fall begins in late September, but we all know that November tends to mark the true start of fall in the San Joaquin Valley. It's also the start of a four-month "check before you burn" season in the valley, when the valley air district restricts use of wood-burning fireplaces and stoves because air quality is poor due to high counts of small particulates. In the first 19 days of this month, Merced and Madera counties haven't had a no-burn day. Stanislaus County has had three and San Joaquin County had only one. The fireplace restrictions have been around for many years, but every year, some residents gripe about them. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/11/20/2660499/our-view-help-clear-the-air-check.html BLOGS Mapping Gas Leaks from Aging Urban Pipes. Most concerns about environmental impacts and other risks from leaking natural gas have focused on the fast-expanding production end of America’s vast system of wells, compressors and pipelines. But the urban maze of (often ancient) pipes that carries gas to furnaces and stoves has long been known to be leaking, as well. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/20/mapping-gas-leaks-from-aging-urban-pipes/ Methane Is Popping Up All Over Boston. Natural gas has been hailed by some as a crucial bridge fuel to a cleaner energy future. But how much cleaner is burning natural gas than burning oil or coal? Concerns over water contamination from fracking for natural gas aside, some argue that the much-advertised climate advantage of natural gas may be all but offset by the steady release of methane during its long journey from the well to the 65 million American households that depend on it. Molecule per molecule, methane has more than 20 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/20/methane-is-popping-up-all-over-boston/ Activists Use Webcast to Try to Ignite Climate Change Passions. In a blog entry this summer, the international correspondent Christiane Amanpour said that the climate change denial club “is actually now shrinking faster than the polar ice caps.” Opinion surveys suggest she’s right. Two factors that may contribute to the changing attitude about the changing climate — and the melting away of many skeptics — are the extreme weather events that have affected the United States recently and the legions of climate activists who make it their business to convince and motivate an increasingly receptive public. Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/19/activists-use-webcast-to-try-to-ignite-climate-change-passions/ On Our Radar: Cuba’s Oil Hunt. Cuba’s third attempt to drill a deepwater oil well has ended without success. Underlining the dimensions of the country’s energy challenge, the $750 million oil rig that spent much of this year plumbing the Straits of Florida and Gulf of Mexico was the only deepwater platform in the world that can drill in Cuban waters without running afoul of American sanctions. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/20/on-our-radar-cubas-oil-hunt/?ref=earth World's Largest Investors Call For Climate Change Action. A coalition of the world's largest investors called on governments on Tuesday to ramp up action on climate change and boost clean-energy investment or risk trillions of dollars in investments and disruption to economies. In an open letter, the alliance of institutional investors, responsible for managing $22.5 trillion in assets, said rapidly growing greenhouse gas emissions and more extreme weather were increasing investment risks globally. The group called for dialogue between investors and governments to overhaul climate and energy policies. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/20/investors-climate-change_n_2162767.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, 21 Nov 2012 11:11:02 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 21, 2012 From: jbaxter@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 CAP AND TRADE How to rule out cap-and-trade without quite ruling out cap-and-trade. Lobbed a friendly question yesterday afternoon, Joe Oliver stood in the House and declared as follows. I am pleased to announce that, although the United States is adopting a carbon tax, which the American administration did not say it intended to do, our government will never do so in Canada. We will never adopt the NDP’s $21 million carbon tax, which would cause job losses and increase prices overall. We will continue to lower taxes and stimulate job creation. Now, moments earlier, Eve Adams had reported to the House that the Obama administration was steadfastly against a carbon tax, so maybe Mr. Oliver had received urgent news to the contrary or perhaps he misspoke. Nonetheless, here was the Natural Resources Minister declaring that the Harper government would never adopt a carbon tax. Posted. http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/11/20/how-to-rule-out-cap-and-trade-without-quite-ruling-out-cap-and-trade/ AIR POLLUTION Air quality officials say DWP responsible for Owens Lake dust storms. The California Air Resource Board ruled Monday that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is solely responsible for controlling the choking dust storms that arise from the dry Owens Lake bed. The board said the DWP must take additional air pollution control measures on 2.9 square miles of the lake bed, which was drained to provide water to Los Angeles. The powder-fine dust arising from the bed often exceeds federal health standards. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/11/california-air-quality-officials-say-dwp-responsible-for-owens-lake.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lanowblog+%28L.A.+Now%29 Australian scientists find excess greenhouse gas near fracking. Environmental researchers have detected excess greenhouse gas levels near the site of Australia's biggest coal seam gas field, prompting calls for halting expansion of hydraulic fracturing until scientists can determine whether it might be contributing to climate change. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-australia-fracking-leakage-20121116,0,7039884.story Environmentalists sue to block mining near Reedley. California environmentalists are suing Fresno County in an effort to block the proposed 886-acre Carmelita mine rock quarry project near Reedley. The Board of Supervisors approved the quarry last month after a contentious seven-hour hearing. Friends of the Kings River say in Tuesday's lawsuit that planners did not keep the region's best interests in mind when they considered potential problems, such as groundwater drawdown, air pollution and traffic. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Environmentalists-sue-to-block-mining-near-Reedley-4056736.php#ixzz2CsVQX9SE http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/21/5002113/environmentalists-sue-to-block.html#storylink=misearch http://modbee.com/2012/11/21/2464801/environmentalists-sue-to-block.html#storylink=misearch Unhealthy air quality levels ending in NH. The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services says a three-day period of unhealthy air pollution levels in the southwest part of the state is coming to an end. The department forecast concentrations of fine particle pollution to be unhealthy for sensitive individuals in populated valley areas, especially in Keene. The forecast started Monday and ends late Wednesday morning. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Unhealthy-air-quality-levels-ending-in-NH-4056030.php#ixzz2CsVnOp00 COUNTY: Changes to review process sought. Hoping to boost public confidence in how Riverside County handles development, a supervisor wants to change the environmental-review process so county officials, not developers, pick the consultants to conduct the studies. Supervisor Jeff Stone discussed his proposal during the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday, Nov. 20. Stone’s suggestion comes after Liberty Quarry opponents condemned the environmental impact report for the proposed open-pit mine outside Temecula. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/jeff-horseman-headlines/20121120-county-changes-to-review-process-sought.ece CDC: Secondhand smoke at 5 major airports puts flyers at risk. Thanksgiving travelers who pass through the five major U.S. airports that still allow indoor smoking in designated public rooms face a hidden health hazard, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday. A study by the federal health agency found that secondhand smoke levels directly outside public smoking areas were five times higher than the levels in smoke-free airports. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/20/us-usa-health-secondhandsmoke-idUSBRE8AJ1KK20121120 http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_22039585/secondhand-smoke-puts-flyers-at-risk?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/11/21/secondhand-smoke-at-five-major-airports-puts-flyers-at-risk-cdc-says/ CLIMATE CHANGE UN report warns of widening climate gap. A U.N. report on rising greenhouse gas emissions reminded world governments Wednesday that their efforts to fight climate change are far from enough to meet their stated goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit). The report by the U.N. Environment Program, released just days ahead of a major climate conference, said the concentration of heat-trapping greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is up about 20 percent since 2000. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/UN-report-warns-of-widening-climate-gap-4055947.php#ixzz2CsZ90DAM http://sacbee.com/2012/11/21/5001795/un-report-warns-of-widening-climate.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/21/un-report-warns-of-widening-climate-gap/ http://modbee.com/2012/11/21/2464656/un-report-warns-of-widening-climate.html#storylink=misearch DIESEL EMISSIONS Algae-based Biodiesel For Sale in California. For what is being touted as the first time in history, algae-based biodiesel is available to consumers in a retail setting at various locations in the state of California. PropelFuels, a retailer of renewable fuels and clean mobility solutions, and Solazyme Inc., a renewable oil and bioproducts company, are bringing algae-derived fuel to retail pumps. The two renewable fuel brands have come together to offer Solazyme's algae-based SoladieselBD to drivers through Propel's Bay Area network of retail renewable fuel locations. The month-long pilot program provides the industry's first opportunity to test consumer response to this advanced renewable fuel. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=78610 FUELS California Energy Commission to award up to $28.59M for hydrogen refueling stations in 25 areas. The California Energy Commission has issued a competitive grant solicitation (PON-12-606) to award up to a combined $28.59 million for new hydrogen refueling stations in 25 selected areas. The goal is to expand the network of publicly accessible hydrogen fueling stations to serve the current population of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) and to accommodate the planned large-scale roll-out of FCVs commencing in 2015. Individual projects are eligible for up to 65% of the total project cost or $1.50 million, whichever is less. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/cech2-20121120.html HIGH-SPEED RAIL Judge rejects injunction against California high-speed project. A SACRAMENTO County Judge has rejected a bid by farm bureaus in Merced and Madera counties to halt preparatory work on the initial section of California's high-speed line between Merced and Fresno until a lawsuit is decided. The lawsuit was filed earlier this year and alleges that the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHRSA) failed to conduct thorough environmental reviews and violated open meeting laws stipulated by the California Environmental Quality Act. However, the failure by the bureaus to secure an injunction means that preparation work and tendering will proceed as scheduled. Posted. http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/high-speed/judge-rejects-injunction-against-california-high-speed-project.html?channel=523 GREEN ENERGY L.A. City Council Approves $1.6 Billion DWP Solar Power Deal. You might not have noticed it even if you were in the room at the time, but the Los Angeles City Council this morning unanimously approved a power purchase agreement between the Los Angeles Department of Water And Power (DWP) and the largest utility-scale solar project on tribal land in the United States. Under the agreement, DWP will buy all the power from the K Road Moapa Solar plant for 25 years, at a cost of $1.6 billion, with several options to buy the plant outright. Posted. http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/utilities/la-city-council-approves-dwp-solar-purchase-from-tribe.html US natural gas supplies shrank last week. The nation's natural gas supplies fell last week, the government said Thursday. The Energy Department's Energy Information Administration reported that natural gas in storage shrank by 38 billion cubic feet to 3.873 trillion cubic feet for the week ended Nov. 16. Analysts expected a drop of 23 billion to 27 billion cubic feet, according to a survey by Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/11/21/2464957/us-natural-gas-supplies-shrank.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Santa Barbara Residential Solar Company Offers New Extended 25-Year Warranty as Elite Dealer for SunPower. New research by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory finds that installing a residential solar energy system increases a home’s value by an average of $17,000. That’s good news for homeowners who want to increase the value of their home, save money on utility bills, and reduce their impact on the environment. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/prweb/article/Santa-Barbara-Residential-Solar-Company-Offers-4056324.php#ixzz2CsYKRo2g Moving Forward, Looking Back: Sun shines on town's green roots. By today's standards, the good people who settled our town in 1639 were environmental superstars. In a world with no fossil fuels, no engines, and no electricity, they cleverly exploited the energy that nature offered them. Wind-powered boats brought them across the Atlantic; their mills ran on the hydropower of river currents and tides. Travel and labor were self-powered, with assists from domesticated animals. They were obsessive recyclers. Posted. http://www.fairfieldcitizenonline.com/opinion/article/Moving-Forward-Looking-Back-Sun-shines-on-4056433.php#ixzz2CsYibJlz Living Green: Geo-thermal heating offers a clean-energy alternative. When Loraine and Alan Robichaud were building their home on the rolling hills in Hoosick Falls, they were determined to make it both lovely and eco-friendly. For starters, they had enormous 19-foot-high windows built where some homes would have solid walls. Posted. http://blog.timesunion.com/lifeathome/living-green-geo-thermal-heating-offers-a-clean-energy-alternative/12993/ Blue Sphere's Waste to Energy Plants in North Carolina and Rhode Island Sign a Letter of Intent for Sales of Compost! Blue Sphere Corp. (OTCBB: BLSP) (the "Company" or "Blue Sphere"), a company in the Cleantech and Waste to Energy sectors as a project integrator, is pleased to announce that each of its two waste to energy projects - a 5.2 MW plant in North Carolina and a 3.2 MW plant in Rhode Island - has signed a letter of intent with an international compost manufacturing and marketing company at prices of up to $20 per ton of compost. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/21/5002100/blue-spheres-waste-to-energy-plants.html#storylink=misearch Minn. man buys surplus NC light tower for research. To the government, it was a defunct offshore light tower that hadn't helped ships navigate the waters off North Carolina in more than a decade. To a Minnesota entrepreneur, the platform out in the Atlantic is a launching pad for research into wind power and other technologies. First, some renovations will be needed at the Diamond Shoals Light Tower, which sits about 13 miles off Cape Hatteras. Its buyer hopes to get his first view of his new property next week - provided, of course, that the landing pad is sturdy enough for a helicopter. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/21/minn-man-plans-to-use-nc-light-tower-for/#ixzz2CsnQAedv http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/minn-man-buys-surplus-nc-light-tower-for-research/article_a5b01616-f8a8-5368-bebd-7b5a8282b1ee.html OPINIONS Echoes of Enron in cap-and-trade? Somewhere, Grandma Millie is shaking her head in despair. Millie, in case you've forgotten, was a fictional California widow personified in recordings of Enron traders who gamed the state's electricity markets more than a decade ago. The traders laughed about stealing from bleeping "Grandma Millie" after charging her $250 a megawatt hour for power and leaving her in the dark. Millie's suffering has faded from California's consciousness as the state again prepares to meddle in manipulated markets. This time, it's adopting a cap-and-trade system to restrict carbon emissions, a "market" disturbingly similar in structure to Enron's former playground. Posted. http://www.chron.com/opinion/article/Echoes-of-Enron-in-cap-and-trade-4055362.php Still ignoring the history – and risk – of AB 32. Last week, the California Air Resources Board had its first cap-and-trade auction of pollution credits, meant to use market forces to gradually push major industries to reduce the emission of gases which contribute to global warming. Since then, Gov. Jerry Brown, air board chair Mary Nichols and others have lauded the Golden State for the enactment of AB 32, a 2006 state law requiring California to broadly shift to cleaner but costlier forms of energy by 2020 through cap-and-trade and renewable energy mandates. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/still-ignoring-the-history-and-risk-of-ab/article_52e01397-c4d0-5d80-a735-cbe6c9656960.html King Coal, Alive and Kicking. Some 1,200 new coal-fired power plants are being planned across the globe despite concerns about greenhouse gas emissions from such generating stations, the most polluting type, the World Resources Institute estimates. Two-thirds of them would operate in China and India, it says. [World Resources Institute] The United States and Mexico will share in both surpluses and water shortages under an accord overhauling how the two countries manage water from the Colorado River. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/21/king-coal-alive-and-kicking/ Editorial: California's first cap and trade foray doesn't yet answer question: Will it reduce greenhouse gas? California dipped its toe into the cap-and-trade water and found it to be neither too hot nor too cold. Air Resources Board chairwoman Mary D. Nichols proclaimed the first auction of carbon allowances to be a success. Numerous environmentalists who want cap and trade to succeed also praised it. But in reality, the first live auction conducted last week and assessed this week was like taking a test drive in an alternative fuel vehicle. Maybe it will fit California's needs. Maybe it won't. Posted. here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/21/5001206/editorial-californias-first-cap.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy BLOGS California’s CO2 Now Has a Price, but a Low One. A free-market auction has established a price for pollution in California: for each metric ton of carbon dioxide emitted, businesses, utilities and industries that bought allowances last week will pay just $10.09. The results of the first auction, announced on Monday, came as both a relief and a bit of a disappointment, although state officials put the best face of it. In a statement, Mary D. Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board, said, the auction was “a success and an important milestone for California as a leader in the global clean-tech market.” She added, “By putting a price on carbon, we can break our unhealthy dependence on fossil fuels.” Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/20/californias-co2-now-has-a-price-but-a-low-one/ Clean Energy, Innovation, and Infrastructure Win Western Support. On the eve of California's landmark, first ever cap-and-trade auction, voters in three Western states were asked some key questions: Should polluters be held financially accountable for their climate pollution emissions? And if so, how should the resulting funds be spent? The results of this new poll show significant support for putting a price on carbon pollution, as well as funding clean energy and innovative infrastructure. The poll was made public at Greenbuild 2012 in San Francisco, the world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building, and was conducted by Lake Research Partners on behalf of the BlueGreen Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Ceres, and the U.S. Green Building Council. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-foster/clean-energy-innovation-win_b_2165197.html?utm_hp_ref=green Would a carbon tax cut emissions drastically? Not on its own. Lately, the White House and Congress have been talking up tax reform. And that’s given policy wonks an excuse to revisit one of their favorite environmental proposals — the carbon tax. The government would slap a fee on greenhouse-gas emissions to offset tax cuts elsewhere. It would boost the economy and address global warming. What’s not to love? Well, set aside the fact that there aren’t yet any prominent politicians touting the idea. It’s still worth discussing on its merits. And one of the biggest questions here is whether a carbon tax would actually reduce U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions significantly. Is it a comprehensive solution to climate change? Or just a small first step? Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/11/20/would-a-carbon-tax-reduce-emissions-sharply-not-on-its-own/ ====================================================================== 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 Nov 2012 14:41:22 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 27, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 27, 2012. 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 Traffic pollution tied to autism risk: study. Babies who are exposed to lots of traffic-related air pollution in the womb and during their first year of life are more likely to become autistic, according to a U.S. study. The findings, which appeared in the Archives of General Psychiatry, support previous research linking how close children live to freeways to their risk of autism, the study's lead author says. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/26/health-autism-idUSL4N09641B20121126 http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_22069643/air-pollution-may-be-factor-autism-researchers-report http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22072307/un-thawing-permafrost-cause-increased-warming?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22069643?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_22070464/air-pollution-may-be-factor-autism-researchers-report?source=rss http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57554703/autism-risk-increases-with-air-pollution-exposure-study-finds/ AQMD issues one-day bans on fireplace use in Los Angeles, Riverside areas. As temperatures begin to drop and the winter season approaches, the South Coast Air Quality Management District this week issued its first-ever mandatory "no burn alerts" prohibiting residents in some areas from lighting up their wood-burning fireplaces. In an effort to reduce harmful pollutants that become trapped during particular weather conditions, the Diamond Bar-based smog control agency began implementing the mandatory program on Nov. 1 for the second consecutive year. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_22069693/aqmd-issues-one-day-bans-fireplace-use-los New fireplace rules not coming until 2016 or later. A valley air district proposal that could increase restrictions on residential wood burning in the San Joaquin Valley will not become official until at least 2016 or 2017, air district officials said Monday. An article in Monday's Californian, based on an Associated Press report, was unclear on when the new restrictions might take place. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/health/x1801509964/New-fireplace-rules-not-coming-until-2016-or-later BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY First no-burn alerts issued. The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued its first two no-burn orders for Southern California. Neither alert affected Southwest County. To fight the buildup of particle pollution or soot during the cooler months, the district put in place last year a program to curb fireplace and wood stove fires when pollution is expected to reach the unhealthful range. The program runs November through February. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/special-reports/crime-fire/first-no-burn-alerts-issued/article_e4fbace8-3818-11e2-bd93-0019bb2963f4.html CLIMATE CHANGE Looking to Cities, in Search of Global Warming’s Silver Lining. Heat, carbon dioxide and air pollution are already having significant effects on trees, plants and crops, and for most plant scientists, the debate over climate change ended long before the arrival of extreme weather like Hurricane Sandy. Now, some of those scientists have moved beyond political questions to explore how rising levels of heat and emissions might provide at least some benefits for the planet. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/27/science/studying-cities-to-find-global-warmings-benefits.html U.N. Climate Talks Promise Little Drama. The last three United Nations climate change summit meetings have been disorderly affairs, marked by brinkmanship, breakdowns and a weary sense that there has to be a better way to address the intensifying challenge of a simmering planet. The meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change this year, which opened Monday in Doha, Qatar, promises to be a more staid affair than the three previous sessions — in Copenhagen in 2009; Cancún, Mexico, in 2010; and Durban, South Africa, last year. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/27/business/energy-environment/un-climate-talks-promise-little-drama.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22068630/doha-climate-change-talks-kyoto-protocol-global-warming?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22068630?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Cap-and-trade spending legally limited. Among the revenue that will strengthen California's general fund this year is cash from the state's new cap-and-trade program to limit greenhouse-gas emissions - about half a billion dollars - but officials may be legally barred from spending much of that money. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office says lawmakers and the governor will probably be able to use only $100 million or so of the $500 million they were counting on spending in this year's budget. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Cap-and-trade-spending-legally-limited-4065869.php#ixzz2DS78OIOJ Rich, poor spar at climate talks. The first signs of tensions emerged at the U.N. climate talks on Tuesday as delegates from island and African nations chided rich countries for refusing to offer up new emissions cuts over the next eight years which could help stem global warming. The debate mostly swirled around the Kyoto Protocol — a legally-binding emissions cap that expires this year and remains the most significant international achievement in the fight against global warming. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-11-27/un-says-thawing-permafrost-to-boost-global-warming http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/26/3079497/us-defends-enormous-climate-efforts.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/27/un-thawing-permafrost-to-cause-increased-warming/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/rich-poor-spar-at-climate-talks/article_2019e754-dd50-5c3c-8849-207daca1e943.html UN climate scientist: Sandy no coincidence. Though it's tricky to link a single weather event to climate change, Hurricane Sandy was "probably not a coincidence" but an example of the extreme weather events that are likely to strike the U.S. more often as the world gets warmer, the U.N. climate panel's No. 2 scientist said Tuesday. Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, the vice chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, predicted that as stronger and more frequent heat waves and storms become part of life, people will stop asking whether global warming played a role. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/UN-climate-scientist-Sandy-no-coincidence-4069107.php#ixzz2DSDLugpe http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/27/un-says-thawing-permafrost-boost-global-warming/ Tensions emerge at UN climate talks as delegates debate extending Kyoto Protocol. The first signs of tensions emerged at the U.N. climate talks on Tuesday as delegates from island and African nations chided rich countries for refusing to offer up new emissions cuts over the next eight years which could help stem global warming. The debate mostly swirled around the Kyoto Protocol — a legally-binding emissions cap that expires this year and remains the most significant international achievement in the fight against global warming. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/at-climate-conference-un-warns-that-thawing-permafrost-will-cause-increased-global-warming/2012/11/27/abdb72e0-3881-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_story.html US defends 'enormous' climate efforts at UN talks. Anticipating an onslaught of criticism from poor nations, the United States claimed "enormous" strides in reducing greenhouse emissions at the opening of U.N. climate talks Monday, despite failing to join other industrialized nations in committing to binding cuts. The pre-emptive U.S. approach underscores one of the major showdowns expected at the two-week conference as China pushes developed countries to take an even greater role in tackling global warming. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/26/us-defends-enormous-climate-efforts-at-un-talks/ Spending cap-and-trade proceeds is legally restricted. California's cap-and-trade program is expected to produce about half a billion dollars in revenue this year for general fund programs through the sale of carbon credits. But state officials may be able to spend only a fifth of that revenue, according to the state's Legislative Analyst's Office. State regulations require proceeds from fees to be spent on programs related to the fees. For example, fees collected at state parks must be used on park-related activities. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/27/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY U.S. touts its greenhouse gas reductions at climate talks. The Obama administration has made "enormous" efforts to cut domestic greenhouse gas emissions, U.S. Deputy Envoy for Climate Change Jonathan Pershing said yesterday. Speaking in Doha, Qatar, on the opening day of the U.N. climate change conference, Pershing said U.S. emissions peaked "several years ago." He also appeared to take umbrage at a suggestion that America hasn't pulled its weight in the global quest to curb greenhouse gases, citing fuel efficiency measures, financial investments in clean technology and U.S. EPA regulations of power plant emissions. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/27/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Hybrid trucks could ease air pollution fueled by shipping. San Diego, California, California - While shopping online might contribute to air pollution due to increased trucking, perfecting hybrid trucks could help control emissions and cut fuel consumption in half. Buses and trucks, particularly vehicles used to transport goods, represent a huge percentage of global fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions, said Gregory Shaver, a Purdue University associate professor of mechanical engineering. Growth in e-commerce is one phenomenon leading to significant increases in the number of trucks needed to transport goods. Posted. http://www.imperialvalleynews.com/index.php/news/latest-news/2408-hybrid-trucks-could-ease-air-pollution-fueled-by-shipping.html Natural Gas Summit This Week. The American Trucking Associations' sold-out Summit on Natural Gas in Trucking will be held this week, Nov. 28-30, featuring natural gas heavyweights such as T. Boone Pickens. The event starts with "Natural Gas 101: A Primer," by Rich Kolodziej, president of NGVAmerica, followed by a panel discussion of natural gas production. Top executives from Pilot Flying J, TravelCenters of America and Love's Travel Stops will discuss infrastructure hurdles. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=78627 Heavy-duty trucking sector could pay off efficiency upgrades in 18 months – study. By adopting technologies that pay themselves off in less than two years, the road freight industry could deliver hefty emissions reductions and save thousands of dollars in fuel costs, according to a report released today by the Carbon War Room. By adding a suite of seven efficiency technologies to its tractor-trailer fleet, the U.S. trucking sector could save 624 million tons of carbon dioxide by 2022, according to the report. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/27/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Iraq to help Jordan with free crude oil. Iraq says it is giving neighboring Jordan 100,000 barrels of oil as a gift to help overcome its economic difficulties. The decision by the Cabinet Tuesday could be seen as an attempt by the Shiite-led Iraqi government to offer support to one of its Sunni neighbors. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have fled to Jordan because of violence that followed the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of their country. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/iraq-to-help-jordan-with-free-crude-oil/article_0452549d-5467-5085-9310-52e1db337d14.html Truck, bus fleets targeted for fuel conversion. Praising natural gas as a cheaper and cleaner alternative to diesel, drillers, public utilities and government officials are trying to boost demand for natural-gas-powered work vehicles of all sorts, while also encouraging development of the necessary refueling infrastructure. The savings are tempting. Natural gas costs about $1.50 to $2 per gallon equivalent less than gasoline and diesel, adding up to tens of thousands of dollars in savings for vehicles that consume the most fuel. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/print/2012/11/27/10 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Study Shows Saltwater Algae May Become Viable For Biofuels. The findings of a U.C. San Diego study conclude that marine (saltwater) algae can be just as efficient as freshwater algae in producing biofuels. The availability of significant saltwater environments for algae production is obvious. According to a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's (PNNL) report, algal fuels grown in saline water from existing aquifers and recycling nutrients would be able to provide up to twice the goal for advanced biofuels set under the Energy Independence and Security Act - roughly 40 billion gallons or 20 percent of annual transportation fuel demand. Posted. http://www.science20.com/news_articles/study_shows_saltwater_algae_may_become_viable_biofuels-97154 UCSD/Sapphire team shows marine algae can be engineered to perform as well as fresh water algae to produce enzymes and biofuels; removing the constraint of fresh water. Researchers from UC San Diego and Sapphire Energy, Inc. have demonstrated for the first time that genetically engineered marine algae can be just as capable as fresh water algae in producing industrially relevant products such as enzymes or biofuels. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/ucsd-20111127.html Synthetic fuels could eliminate entire U.S. need for crude oil. The United States could eliminate the need for crude oil by using a combination of coal, natural gas, and non-food crops to make synthetic fuel, a team of Princeton University researchers has found. Besides economic and national security benefits, the plan has potential environmental advantages. Because plants absorb carbon dioxide to grow, the United States could cut vehicle greenhouse emissions by as much as 50% in the next several decades using non-food crops to create liquid fuels, the researchers say. Posted. http://www.rdmag.com/news/2012/11/synthetic-fuels-could-eliminate-entire-us-need-crude-oil VEHICLES GM rolls out new electric mini-car at LA Auto Show. General Motors is giving its Chevrolet Spark a jolt of electricity. An all-electric version of the mini-car will debut this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. It goes on sale this summer in California, Oregon, Canada and South Korea, where it's made. Other markets will follow. Unlike the Chevrolet Volt sedan, which can run in all-electric mode but also has a backup gas engine, the Spark EV is a pure electric. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/11/27/2471402/gm-rolls-out-new-electric-mini.html#storylink=misearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY HIGH-SPEED RAIL Fresno EDC to hold workshops on high-speed rail work. The Fresno Economic Development Corporation will hold free workshops on Friday and Saturday for small businesses looking for work as subcontractors on California's high-speed rail project. The workshops are planned for experts to walk business owners through the steps needed to become certified as small businesses or disadvantaged business enterprises. A list of the businesses certified at the workshops will be provided to each of the five contracting firms expected to bid for the first high-speed rail construction segment between Madera and Fresno. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/26/3079874/fresno-edc-to-hold-workshops-on.html EV maintenance and repair costs: 35 % cheaper than for ICEs. “In addition to financial incentives and lower cost of electricity compared to conventional fuels, EV owners can also save on servicing costs to compensate for higher purchase costs” said Prof. Willi Diez, IFA Institute Director. The Institute calculated these numbers on the basis of a small car with a lifetime of 8 years and an annual mileage of 8,000km. For ICEs, running on gasoline or diesel, maintenance and repair costs will represent on average 3,650€, when owners of a battery-electric car will only have to pay 2,350€. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/news/view/5046 GREEN ENERGY New Sources of Energy Sought for Britain's Future. With a generation of aging power plants nearing closure and tough carbon-cutting targets kicking in soon, Britain’s government is seeking to lay the groundwork for big changes in the country’s electricity sector. A mammoth energy bill to be published this week is likely to reshape Britain’s power landscape, encouraging the growth of natural gas, a new generation of nuclear plants and renewable technologies like offshore wind and solar. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/27/business/energy-environment/new-sources-of-energy-sought-for-britains-future.html Veterans find jobs, and new mission, in clean tech. When military veterans search for jobs, they often want more than a paycheck. Many say they look for rewarding work and a team of dedicated people focused on a common mission. With the war in Iraq officially over and the American presence in Afghanistan winding down, many veterans are finding new careers and that strong sense of purpose in the growing clean-tech economy. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/11/27/2471438/veterans-find-jobs-and-new-mission.html#storylink=misearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY US/China research team proposes “solar energy funnel” to harness photons for electricity; using elastic strain to capture a wider spectrum. Researchers from Peking University in China and MIT are proposing using elastic strain as a viable agent to create an optoelectronic material with a spatially varying bandgap that is tunable for use in photovoltaics, photocatalysis and photodetection. In a paper published in Nature Photonics, they propose that a photovoltaic device made from a strain-engineered MoS2 monolayer will capture a broad range of the solar spectrum and concentrate excitons or charge carriers. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/funnel-20121126.html MISCELLANEOUS Environment compromise reached for beltway in southeast Sacramento County. Environmentalists and proponents of a planned $500 million expressway in southeast Sacramento County have reached a lawsuit settlement that will allow the beltway to be built but will reduce its potential growth impacts in the open hills and river plain to the east. Representatives of the Environmental Council of Sacramento and officials with the Capital SouthEast Connector Joint Powers Authority said they signed the landmark agreement Monday after months of negotiations. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/27/v-print/5011999/environment-compromise-reached.html BLOGS Grappling With the Permafrost Problem. The greatest single uncertainty about climate change is how much the warming of the planet will feed on itself. As the temperature increases because of human emissions, feedbacks could cause new pools of carbon to be released into the atmosphere, magnifying the trend. Other types of feedbacks could potentially slow the warming. Over all, climate scientists have only best guesses about how these conflicting tendencies will balance out, though most of them think the net result is likely to be a substantial rise in the planet’s average temperature. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/27/grappling-with-the-permafrost-problem/ How Concerned Are You About Climate Change? After Hurricane Sandy, many asked if climate change were to blame. While scientists are not sure if the storm was caused or made worse by human-induced global warming, they agree that it is clear that humans are changing the environment. What have you learned about climate change? How concerned are you about it? What do you think should be done to address it? http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/27/how-concerned-are-you-about-climate-change/?src=twrhp ====================================================================== 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 Nov 2012 12:19:25 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newclips for November 28, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 28, 2012. 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 Worst Cities In America For Your Lungs. In 1965, the Mamas & the Papas were dreaming about California. Living in New York, where “all the leaves are brown, and the sky is gray,” they put their thoughts of escaping to a west coast paradise to music. They wound up scoring a hit song. Forty-seven year later, it’s the California sky that’s brown. And gray. The Golden State is now home to the seven worst cities for your lungs in America. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomvanriper/2012/11/28/america-worst-cities-air-quality/ New lawsuit alleges negligence over Chevron refinery blaze. Two law firms announced Tuesday they have signed on 4,800 plaintiffs to a new lawsuit alleging that Chevron's Richmond refinery was negligent in maintenance practices and lax in alerting the community to an Aug. 6 fire at a refinery crude unit. The suit expands on the legal action filed by Oakland-based attorney John Burris less than two weeks after the blaze, which sent black smoke wafting over the East Bay and sent thousands to area hospitals seeking treatment. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22077418/richmond-new-lawsuit-alleges-negligence-over-chevron-refinery CLIMATE CHANGE Obama shields U.S. airlines from EU carbon fees. President Barack Obama signed a bill on Tuesday shielding U.S. airlines from paying for each ton of carbon their planes emit flying into and out of Europe, despite a recent move by Europe to suspend its proposed measure for one year. The carbon fee bill was the first piece of legislation debated on the House floor after Congress returned from recess on November 13, and had been cleared by the Senate in September in a rare unanimous vote. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/27/us-usa-airlines-emissions-idUSBRE8AQ1AR20121127 Climate talks buffeted by the force of Superstorm Sandy. More than 17,000 people have converged on the Qatari capital for the latest U.N. climate talks, but the most influential presence may be Sandy. The superstorm that ravaged the U.S. Northeast a month ago seared into the American consciousness an apocalyptic vision of what climate change could look like. On the heels of devastating wildfires, droughts and floods this year…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-climate-change-doha-20121127,0,7288262.story News Summary: Less permafrost, more global warming. CHANGE IN THE AIR: Thawing permafrost covering almost a quarter of the northern hemisphere could "significantly amplify global warming" at a time when the world is already struggling to reign in rising greenhouse gases, a U.N. report said. FOOD FOR THAWED: Permafrost usually thaws on the surface during summertime, but now scientists say thaws reach up to 10 feet deep due to warmer temperatures. The softened earth releases gases from decaying plants underground. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/27/news-summary-less-permafrost-more-global-warming/#ixzz2DXV56mbI UN agency: 2012 warmer than normal despite La Nina. Despite early cooling from La Nina, 2012 is on track to become one of the top 10 hottest years on record, with the U.S. experiencing extreme warmth and Arctic Sea ice shrinking to its lowest extent, the U.N. weather agency said Wednesday. In a statement released at international climate talks in Qatar, the World Meteorological Organization said the "alarming rate" of the Arctic melt highlights the far-reaching changes caused by global warming. Posted. http://fresnobee.com/2012/11/28/3081210/un-agency-2012-warmer-than-normal.html#storylink=misearch http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/un-agency-warmer-than-normal-despite-la-nina/article_2019e754-dd50-5c3c-8849-207daca1e943.html http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22080033/un-agency-2012-warmer-than-normal-despite-la?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22080033/un-agency-2012-warmer-than-normal-despite-la FUELS United States Suspends BP From New Contracts. Government officials have temporarily banned BP from new federal contracts because of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon blowout and oil spill that killed 11 workers and polluted hundreds of miles of Gulf of Mexico shoreline. The Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that it was taking the action because of BP’s “lack of business integrity” demonstrated by the accident and the company’s inability to curb the flow of oil into the gulf. BP pleaded guilty earlier this month to federal criminal charges arising from the disaster and agreed to pay $4.5 billion, including $1.26 billion in criminal penalties. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/business/energy-environment/united-states-suspends-bp-from-new-contracts.html As Rationing Ends, Gas Stations Return to Normal. Last Sunday, after the end of gas rationing in New York City, a slow, steady stream of customers approached a cashier booth inside a Gulf gas station at the intersection of Myrtle and Vanderbilt Avenues. They slid coins and bills under the Plexiglas partition and left after brief but polite conversation with the cashier, Shook Kamar. The quiet station looked, heard and smelled nothing like it did earlier this month, when Hurricane Sandy’s aftermath turned it into an epicenter of social unrest. Posted. http://fort-greene.thelocal.nytimes.com/2012/11/27/as-rationing-ends-gas-stations-return-to-normal/ GAS PRICES: Did oil firms manipulate market, senators ask. A group of lawmakers including California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer is calling upon federal authorities to launch an investigation into possible market manipulation by oil companies, following a pair of gas price spikes that drove fuel costs above $4 per gallon across the West. In a letter sent Tuesday, Nov. 27, to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder…Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/ben-goad-headlines/20121127-gas-prices-did-oil-firms-manipulate-market-senators-ask.ece VEHICLES 7 hot cars at Los Angeles Auto Show; redone Honda Civic and carbon fiber BMW top list. The Los Angeles Auto Show opens to the public Friday. Here are some of the most talked-about vehicles that will be making their world debuts at the event: — TOYOTA RAV4: The fourth-generation of Toyota’s RAV4, which practically invented the crossover segment when it first went on sale nearly 20 years ago. The latest RAV4 has sharper, more aggressive styling, better fuel economy (up to 31 mpg on the highway), Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/7-hot-cars-at-los-angeles-auto-show-redone-honda-civic-and-carbon-fiber-bmw-top-list/2012/11/28/f27f6112-3984-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_story.html http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-autos-laas-toyota-rav4-debut-20121128,0,5016315.story GREEN ENERGY Energy Solution Faces Economic Obstacles. Until last month, the Don Valley Power Project in northeast England looked like a winner. In July it topped a shortlist for a share of as much as €1.5 billion in E.U. funding for innovative low-carbon electricity schemes. But then came a blow. When the British government published its own selection of potential recipients of a slice of £1 billion, or $1.6 billion, in funding in a national competition for carbon capture and storage projects Oct. 30, Don Valley was left off. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/business/energy-environment/29iht-green29.html?pagewanted=print A startup that squeezes electricity out of city water. The water that sloshes through city pipes can both quench your thirst and generate electricity. However, the latter is far less common. But that's the proposition from startup Rentricity, which has developed equipment that uses water pressure to produce electricity and helps water suppliers reduce their energy costs. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/a-startup-that-squeezes-electricity-out-of-city-water/2012/11/28/a62574dc-38ee-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_story.html Study: California Could Replace San Onofre Nuke With Renewables. As the long process of diagnosing the damages San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station on the San Diego coast becomes longer, chances increase that the 2.2-gigawatt nuclear power plant could be out of commission as late as next summer. Going without that power generating capacity puts the state at greater risk of brownouts. But a study just released by a renowned alternative energy thinktank holds that the state could make up for lost power from San Onofre by conserving energy and increasing our use of easily implemented renewable energy such as rooftop solar. Posted. http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/policy/study-california-could-replace-san-onofre-nuke-with-renewables.html MISCELLANEOUS Toxic flame retardants common in household couches. The vast majority of couches tested as part of a new study contained chemical flame retardants, including toxic chemicals that have been linked to a variety of health problems. Comparing sample results from older and newer couches, research published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology indicates that the presence of flame retardants in furniture foam has increased in recent years. Of 102 residential couches purchased in the United States from 1985 to 2010, 85% had been treated with chemical flame retardants. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/environment/la-gs-flame-retardants-in-couches-20121128,0,4366710.story OPINIONS California confronts a sea change. The state isn't waiting to plan for rising sea levels. In Superstorm Sandy's wake, other states should look west for inspiration on how to prepare. Governors Andrew Cuomo of New York and Chris Christie of New Jersey don't need to wait on gridlocked Washington to confront future risks from climate-change intensified storms. They can instead look at how California is already moving forward on common-sense adaptations, and do it themselves. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-helvarg-planning-climate-change-sea-level-20121126,0,5137531.story The sin of California carbon trading. California's first carbon auction raised $245 million for the state. The Golden State government created an easy money scheme based on an inert molecule labeled as a pollutant and charged businesses for the privilege to emit it. Ultimately, the sin of carbon trading is paid for by the people. California’s cap and trade law, Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006--also known as AB 32-- enabled the collection of tax from carbon emitters. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/the-sin-of-california-carbon-trading BLOGS Understanding the Doha climate talks, in three easy charts. The U.N. climate talks are currently underway in Doha, Qatar, and expectations have already been dialed way down: “negotiators and experts all warned that the two-week session would only lay the groundwork for a potentially ambitious global-warming pact by the end of the decade.” Not auspicious. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/11/28/understanding-the-doha-climate-talks-in-three-charts/ The Costs of Burying Carbon Emissions. My green column this week looks at a technology called carbon capture and storage. CCS removes the carbon dioxide created in burning fossil fuels to generate electric power or from produced natural gas and stores it underground — perhaps in depleted oil and gas reservoirs. A few years ago CCS was supposed to be a major weapon in the arsenal for mitigating climate change. It has been slow, though, to develop. One reason is cost. Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/28/the-costs-of-burying-carbon-emissions/?smid=tw-share Group Signals Plan To Sue EPA To Force Cap-And-Trade Scheme For Vehicle Emissions. Another in what will likely be many legal maneuvers aimed at either expanding or contracting the regulatory reach of the Environmental Protection Agency over the next four years is expected to land Wednesday morning, as a New York-based policy reform group files notice of intent to sue the agency to force it to create a market for carbon emissions tied to cars, planes and other mobile sources. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/28/cap-and-trade-epa_n_2203200.html?view=print&comm_ref=false Tobacco companies ordered to admit deception. Heads up, coal industry. Yesterday, a federal judge ruled that tobacco companies will have to pay for an advertising campaign admitting that they lied for years about the health impacts of cigarettes. >From Reuters: [U.S. District Judge Gladys] Kessler's ruling on Tuesday, which the companies could try to appeal, aims to finalize the wording of five different statements the companies will be required to use. Posted. http://grist.org/news/tobacco-companies-ordered-to-admit-deception-heads-up-coal-industry/ Consumption-based footprinting: ‘Carbon Zero,’ sidebar 1. "Consumption-based footprinting" is a mouthful, but while it may not flow smoothly off the tongue, it’s an elegant concept -- and an important way of looking at our problems. A footprint, of course, is the measurement of the total impacts of a thing, be it a building, business, or ballgame. Consumption, of course, describes the things we use. Posted. http://grist.org/cities/carbon-zero-sidebar-1-consumption-based-footprinting/ Sea levels are rising 60 percent faster than expected. One thing that can be said categorically about Hurricane Sandy is that sea-level rise was a key factor in the damage the storm caused. New York Harbor is 15 inches higher than it was in 1880, eight of which are due directly to human-made climate change. A 2007 report suggested that by 2100 the seas could be at least 7 inches higher still. Posted. http://grist.org/news/sea-levels-are-rising-60-percent-faster-than-expected/ ====================================================================== 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 Nov 2012 13:38:26 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 29, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 29, 2012. 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 Mild storms expected this weekend. Windy conditions Wednesday prompted a warning from the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District regarding potentially unhealthy concentrations of blowing dust, but mild rainfall a short while later seemed to clear up the atmosphere somewhat. The warning was in effect until late Wednesday afternoon, but rainfall that had been expected later in the day hit Kern County about noon instead and lasted for about a half hour in downtown Bakersfield before dissipating. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x1801510106/Warning-issued-regarding-windy-conditions?utm_source=widget_63&utm_medium=latest_entries_widget&utm_campaign=synapse Majority of voters support tighter soot standard -- Lung Association poll. More than six in 10 registered voters support a U.S. EPA proposal to tighten air standards on small particles that come from power plants, boilers and car tailpipes, according to a new poll from the American Lung Association. The group found broad bipartisan support tightening the national ambient air quality standard, or NAAQS, for fine particles, commonly referred to as PM 2.5 or soot. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/11/29/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Arctic sea ice larger than US melted this year. An area of Arctic sea ice bigger than the United States melted this year, according the U.N. weather agency, which said the dramatic decline illustrates that climate change is happening "before our eyes." In a report released at U.N. climate talks in the Qatari capital of Doha, the World Meteorological Organization said the Arctic ice melt was one of a myriad of extreme and record-breaking weather events to hit the planet in 2012. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/arctic-sea-ice-larger-than-us-melted-this-year/article_2019e754-dd50-5c3c-8849-207daca1e943.html Think tank to sue EPA to force cap-and-trade rules. A think tank is preparing to sue the Environmental Protection Agency to demand that the agency set up a cap-and-trade system for the transportation sector to rein in greenhouse gas emissions from fuels. “We think the agency’s powers are super clear,” said Michael Livermore, executive director at the Institute for Policy Integrity at the New York University School of Law, which notified EPA of its lawsuit plans Wednesday. Posted. http://www.politico.com/story/2012/11/84346.html Emissions trading: Cap and trade finds new energy. Fifteen years ago, the Kyoto Protocol presented a blueprint for a way to curb the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. One key measure, put forward by the administration of Bill Clinton, the US president at the time, was an enticing extension of free-market logic: establish emissions quotas to limit pollution, and trade them internationally. Let the market find the lowest-cost way to deliver the goal. Cap and trade is one of two ways to put a price on pollution — taxation is the other. Posted. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v491/n7426/full/491666a.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Culver City’s Sony Pictures Studios Launches Clean Truck Fleet. The studio takes early action ahead of the 2023 deadline, replacing over a third of its fleet with new clean diesel and gasoline trucks. Thinking clean and green, Culver City’s Sony Pictures Studios has upgraded its fleet of diesel, generator and camera trucks to achieve compliance with California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations. Posted. http://culvercity.patch.com/articles/culver-city-s-sony-pictures-studios-launches-clean-truck-fleet FUELS Senators push Obama to propose clean gasoline rules. A group of Democratic senators on Thursday will urge the Obama administration to propose rules to cut smog-forming emissions from gasoline, regulations opposed by many Republicans. The lawmakers, led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York, want the Environmental Protection Agency to propose rules that would slash the sulfur content in gasoline this year and to finalize them next year. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/29/us-usa-senators-diesel-idUSBRE8AS0FM20121129 Snyder plan favors natural gas, renewables study. Gov. Rick Snyder released an energy and environmental policy blueprint Wednesday that calls for increasing production of natural gas in Michigan while making no further commitment to requiring the state to rely more on renewable power sources in the coming years. The Republican governor gave natural gas a central role in an energy policy that seeks greater efficiency and improvements to infrastructure such as pipelines and the electric transmission grid. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/28/snyder-plan-favors-natural-gas-renewables-study/#ixzz2DdC57Ud2 Defense funds for advanced fuels will provide long-term benefits, say supporters. The biofuels industry enjoyed its second victory in a week yesterday as senators voted to repeal a section of the National Defense Authorization Act that would have hindered military investment in advanced fuels. Led by Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), a member of the Senate Armed Forces Committee and supporter of renewable energy…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/29/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Chevy Volt again ranked by Consumer Reports as most-loved car. The Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid landed atop Consumer Reports' annual owner-satisfaction ranking for the second straight year. Ninety-two percent of responding Volt owners in a poll of the magazine's subscribers said they definitely would buy a Volt again, tops among 240 models, the magazine said today. Several other fuel-efficient models also scored highly, including Toyota's Camry Hybrid, Prius, and Prius C as well as Nissan's Leaf electric car. Posted. http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121129/OEM/121129874#ixzz2DbuluYtF HIGH-SPEED RAIL Small businesses prepare for High Speed Rail jobs. With High Speed Rail back on track to start ground breaking next summer, minority businesses are preparing to get in on some of lucrative contracts with the statewide project. "We want to make sure that our community gets their share of the jobs," said Ali Morris, president of the Kern County Black Chamber of Commerce. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/Small-businesses-prepare-for-HIgh-Speed-Rail-jobs-181129931.html GREEN ENERGY 'Green' program set for western NY GM plant. General Motors executives will give the media a tour of one of the company's western New York plants to unveil a new environmental program. The GM Components Holdings executives are holding a news conference Thursday morning at the plant in Lockport in Niagara County to make the announcement. They'll be joined by the president of Local 686 of the United Auto Workers union. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/29/green-program-set-for-western-ny-gm-plant/#ixzz2DdCkehT4 Senate gives green light to Pentagon green energy. The Senate on Wednesday gave the green light to the Pentagon's investment in green energy. By a vote of 62-37 on Wednesday, the Senate backed an amendment that would delete a provision in the defense bill prohibiting the military from spending money on alternative fuels if the cost exceeded traditional fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil. The Pentagon has opposed the provision that a sharply divided Senate Armed Services Committee added in May. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/11/28/2473409/senate-gives-green-light-to-pentagon.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Senate gives green light to Pentagon green energy. The Senate on Wednesday gave the green light to the Pentagon's investment in green energy. By a vote of 62-37 on Wednesday, the Senate backed an amendment that would delete a provision in the defense bill prohibiting the military from spending money on alternative fuels if the cost exceeded traditional fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil. The Pentagon has opposed the provision that a sharply divided Senate Armed Services Committee added in May. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-11-29/senate-gives-green-light-to-pentagon-green-energy http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/28/3081896/senate-gives-green-light-to-pentagon.html#storylink=misearch OPINIONS Head to head: Is cap-and-trade auction a step forward? The Issue: California held its first cap-and-trade auction Nov. 14 as part of the state's effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. More than 70 companies submitted bids for more than three times the 23million credits available for 2013. For the first time, the state has a market price on carbon of $10.09 per metric ton. Pia Lopez: Yes, it's progress. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/29/5017275/is-cap-and-trade-auction-a-step.html#storylink=cpy Put The Brakes On High-Speed Rail Project. California's High-Speed Rail has really become a train to nowhere. We recently reviewed some court documents that revealed top managers of California's high-speed rail project were concerned about project delays. Delays that could threaten federal funding of the project and put taxpayers at risk for having to pay the money back. One manager feared construction might not truly begin until 2014, putting it about a year and a half behind schedule. Posted. http://www.myfoxla.com/story/20211875/put-the-breaks-on-high-speed-rail-project BLOGS Delhi and Shanghai Aim to Reduce Plastic Trash. Two recent items of news from Asia appear to show that the region’s nations are starting to take seriously the ever-growing amounts of plastic trash they produce. In India, plastic bags, sheets, films and the like were banned in Delhi beginning last week. The city is attempting to rein in the 250,000 tons of plastic waste it generates every year. My colleagues on the India Ink blog have written about the development here. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/plastics-bans-in-the-works-for-delhi-and-shanghai/?ref=earth A Climate Scientist Braves the Wilds of YouTube. Earlier this year, the Stanford University climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh became an early adopter of Google+ Hangouts on Air — open video chats with invited participants and, when they drop in, members of the public. Last night I invited Diffenbaugh to use the same portal to “meet” the students in my Blogging a Better Planet course at Pace University. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/a-climate-scientist-braves-the-wilds-of-youtube/?ref=earth A Certified Path to Environmental Progress. The Rainforest Alliance was a pioneer in testing the idea that businesses can prosper by adhering to transparent and science-based environmental standards for the products they grow or make. I became familiar with their work when I first plunged into rain forest reporting in a big way to write my 1990 book on the fight for the soul of the Amazon River basin. They’re still at it, developing projects in sustainable agriculture, forestry, tourism and education. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/28/a-certified-path-to-environmental-progress/?ref=earth 2014 Acura RLX: Once More, With All-Wheel Steering. Introduced on Wednesday: 2014 Acura RLX. What it is: The latest attempt at enlivening Acura’s biggest and slowest-selling sedan. What it isn’t: The RLX still isn’t quite the pinnacle of luxury Acura wishes it were. The addition of a cornucopia of electronic aids, including all-wheel steering, at least gives it a more complex personality. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/28/2014-acura-rlx-once-more-with-all-wheel-steering/ Another Step to Smaller Reactors. Babcock & Wilcox, the nuclear technology company, moving fast after a promise of help from the Energy Department, said Wednesday that it had lined up a supplier for the towering metal shell for its mPower small modular reactor. The Lehigh Heavy Forge Corporation, of Bethlehem, Pa., said it would seek to be accredited as a supplier for nuclear parts, and would expand its plant as Babcock & Wilcox moved forward with its business. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/28/another-step-to-smaller-reactors/ Outdated Soot Standards Pose Serious Public Health Threat. I often meet people with chronic lung diseases like asthma, COPD and lung cancer who struggle to breathe day in and day out. Some must rely on oxygen and carry heavy tanks around because of the toll the disease has taken on their lungs. Endless exposure to particle pollution, or soot, only exacerbates this struggle: millions in the Northeast alone are living with some form of lung disease. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeffrey-seyler/soot-pollution_b_2212216.html Solar panels are getting cheaper — time to make the rest of solar power cheap, too. The installed cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) power continues its precipitous decline, mostly due to falling prices for PV panels. Pushing solar forward in coming years will involve driving down the other costs — the non-panel costs. Those are a couple of the insights to be found in the fifth annual report on solar PV [PDF] from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), which digs into “project-level data for more than 150,000 individual residential…Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/solar-panels-are-getting-cheaper-time-to-make-the-rest-of-solar-power-cheap-too/ ====================================================================== 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 Nov 2012 14:29:41 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for November 30, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for November 30, 2012. 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 chief asks Congress for rule flexibility. The director of the valley's air pollution control district testified before a congressional subcommittee Thursday about problems with the Clean Air Act. Seyed Sadredin, director of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, gave politicians a detailed look at the difficulties of working with the myriad rules, bureaucratic policies and court decisions that have calcified around the act over the past 20 years. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/politics/local/x59956736/Air-district-chief-asks-Congress-for-rule-flexibility BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Pledges to fight global warming inadequate, U.S. off track: study. Major nations' policies are inadequate to limit global warming and the United States is off track even in carrying out its weak pledge to limit greenhouse gas emissions, a scientific scorecard showed on Friday. The Climate Action Tracker report, issued on the sidelines of talks among almost 200 countries in Doha about climate change, said a toughening of policies was still possible to avert damaging floods, heat waves and rising seas. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/30/us-climate-talks-emitters-idUSBRE8AT0JA20121130 http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/30/carbon-price-idUSL5E8MU1P820121130 UN climate boss: No support for tough climate deal. The United Nations climate chief is urging people not to look solely to their governments to make tough decisions to slow global warming, and instead to consider their own role in solving the problem. Approaching the half-way point of two-week climate talks in Doha, Christiana Figueres, the head of the U.N.'s climate change secretariat, said Friday that she didn't see "much public interest, support, for governments to take on more ambitious and more courageous decisions." Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/UN-climate-boss-No-support-for-tough-climate-deal-4080203.php#ixzz2DjCXGuTZ http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22098478/un-climate-boss-no-support-tough-climate-deal?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/11/30/3084091/un-climate-boss-no-support-for.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22098478/un-climate-boss-no-support-tough-climate-deal?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/un-climate-boss-no-support-for-tough-climate-deal/image_254a06d0-944a-5f5e-9ba6-7ec19efcf6d5.html http://modbee.com/2012/11/30/2475957/un-climate-boss-no-support-for.html#storylink=misearch Ice sheets melting at poles faster than before. Fueled by global warming, polar ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are now melting three times faster than they did in the 1990s, a new scientific study says. So far, that's only added about half an inch to rising sea levels, not as bad as some earlier worst case scenarios. But the melting's quicker pace, especially in Greenland, has ice scientists worried. One of the biggest wild cards in climate change has been figuring out how much the melting of the massive sheets of ice at the two poles would add to the seas. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Ice-sheets-melting-at-poles-faster-than-before-4077544.php#ixzz2DjDrNt2q http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/11/29/new-study-provides-clearest-evidence-yet-of-polar-ice-melt 13 things to know about California's cap-and-trade program. State regulators are celebrating California's first-ever auction of greenhouse gas emissions allowances held Nov. 14. So what exactly happened? Why does it matter? And what happens next? We've gotten many questions about the cap-and-trade program from our readers at the San Jose Mercury News; here's answers to several of them. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_22092533/13-things-know-about-california-cap-trade-program?source=rss http://www.contracostatimes.com/business/ci_22092533/13-things-know-about-california-cap-trade-program?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_22092533/13-things-know-about-california-cap-trade-program?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Senators say Sandy poses severe challenge to climate skeptics. Senate Democrats believe the wreckage from Superstorm Sandy could hasten a "turning point" in the public's blurred perception of climate change and spur a bipartisan effort to build dunes and sea walls to protect Americans. Lawmakers from stricken coastal states pleaded for an ambitious response yesterday to help victims of last month's storm build new homes, repair businesses or, at least, get the heat turned on. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/11/30/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS AAA calls for suspension of E15 gasoline sales. Leading road travel group AAA on Friday called on the U.S. government to suspend the sale of gasoline with a higher blend of ethanol fuel, the latest opposition against increasing the use of biofuels in transport. A lack of public awareness about the risks of using 15 percent ethanol, known as E15, in older cars could cause problems for motorists, according to an AAA study published Friday. The current standard is 10 percent, or E10. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/30/us-usa-gasoline-idUSBRE8AT0JF20121130 VEHICLES Auto industry frets about more fuel mileage fiascos like Hyundai's. Hyundai Motor Co's (005380.KS: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) admission that it overstated fuel economy claims on several of its top-selling cars has the industry worried, with speculation rife among executives and analysts at the Los Angeles auto show that more automakers may have to do the same. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/30/us-autoshow-hyundai-mileage-idUSBRE8AT08420121130 L.A. Auto Show: 2013 Ford Fusion named Green Car of the Year. The 2013 line of Ford Fusion vehicles was named this year's Green Car of the Year on Thursday morning at the L.A. Auto Show. The sedan was chosen by Green Car Journal for its low petroleum use, low carbon dioxide emissions and its pricing, which the publication said can lead to the kind of sales "that can truly influence environmental improvement." The Fusion starts at $21,700. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/laautoshow/la-fi-hy-autos-laas-ford-fusion-green-car-20121129,0,761709.story LA Auto Show: Electric cars grabbing attention. The Los Angeles Auto Show 2012 has opened its doors to the public today, 30 November, and will stay open until 9 December. In the heart of California’s progressive policy environment towards more fuel-efficient vehicles with a clear Zero Emissions Vehicle mandate, the Los Angeles Auto Show attracts many electric cars. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/news/view/5053 It’s Time for Single-Passenger Electric Vehicles. Bringing practical, affordable electric cars to market is not just an issue of technology. It’s also is an issue of how one sees the world. From my perspective, what we need is a lot more single-seat cars. Pop Quiz: Out of every 10 cars you see on the road, how many are carrying only one person? Answer: About 9 out of 10. With this in mind, imagine our rush hour highways filled with colorful, fun-to-drive, 200-MPGe…Posted. http://www.plugincars.com/it%E2%80%99s-time-single-passenger-electric-vehicles-125503.html Singapore introducing stiff new feebate scheme for low carbon cars. Singapore will implement a new Carbon Emissions-Based Vehicle Scheme (CEV) on 1 January 2012, providing rebates to qualified new cars, taxis, and imported used cars with low carbon emissions, and imposing an equivalent surcharge on higher emitting vehicles. This new scheme will replace the existing Green Vehicle Rebate (GVR) scheme that will expire on 31 December 2012. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/spore-20121129.html HIGH-SPEED RAIL Bullet train chief, critic have dueling views at San Jose forum. Before taking the helm of California's High-Speed Rail Authority, Dan Richard told Gov. Jerry Brown that the plan was "really screwed up and going to end up biting you in the ankles." Richard didn't like the idea of sending it up the Peninsula to San Francisco as opposed to traversing Altamont Pass. He also was in league with those who thought laying the rail along a stretch of the Central Valley was a bad beginning to the ambitious $69 billion project. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california-high-speed-rail/ci_22095957/bullet-train-chief-opponent-have-dueling-views-at?source=rss GREEN ENERGY Allow south state power plant work, Gov. Brown and others tell JPMorgan. Gov. Jerry Brown and a chorus of state officials are asking the U.S. government to force investment bank JPMorgan Chase & Co. to step aside and allow a badly needed power-plant renovation in Southern California. JPMorgan's trading subsidiary was accused two weeks ago by the California Independent System Operator, which runs the state's transmission grid, of stonewalling the overhaul of a pair of plants in Huntington Beach. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/30/5020283/allow-south-state-power-plant.html#storylink=cpy OPINIONS Let’s Stick Together. WHEN I was asked a few years ago what the financial crisis taught me, I replied, “It’s the global economy, stupid.” Well, what I actually said was it taught me that “global problems need global solutions.” I would now go further: My 13 years in government have taught me that the pre-eminent international issue is whether we can develop a level of global cooperation that matches the global dimension of our problems. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/30/opinion/global/gordon-brown-global-economic-problems-need-global-solutions.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Eugene Robinson: Climate change is a legacy we dare not leave. You might not have noticed that another round of U.N. climate talks is under way, this time in Doha, Qatar. You also might not have noticed that we're barreling toward a "world … of unprecedented heat waves, severe drought, and major floods in many regions." Here in Washington, we're too busy to pay attention to such trifles. We're too busy arguing about who gets credit or blame for teeny-weeny changes in the tax code. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/30/5020065/climate-change-is-a-legacy-we.html#storylink=cpy State out in front on environment. The news article "Cap-and-trade carbon auction a sellout" (Nov. 20, Page A-6) is a good piece on the topic of cap-and-trade for carbon emissions, but it misses a couple of important points when it comes to carbon dioxide. For one thing, cap- and-trade is one more in a long line of environmental approaches where California is way out in front of the rest of the United States. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/11/29/2475224/state-out-in-front-on-environment.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy JEFF TAYLOR: Amtrak upgrade or high-speed rail? Seems pretty clear here. Caltrans has circulated a study that evaluates substantial proposed upgrades to Amtrak's San Joaquin corridor. Agencies and the public have 30 days to comment on the document. The deadline is Dec. 13. Caltrans' proposed project includes upgrading and/or installing a second or third track from Oakland to Stockton and from Sacramento to Stockton through Modesto, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Hanford, Corcoran and Wasco into Bakersfield. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/hot-Topics/x1801510172/JEFF-TAYLOR-Amtrak-upgrade-or-high-speed-rail-Seems-pretty-clear-here BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY. SANDAG plan good enough for air board. At a local Superior Court hearing Friday afternoon, billions of dollars in planned regional transportation projects could be tied up for years in service of an agenda that undermines local authority, divides state agencies and seeks endless litigation. This unconstructive result could set a precedent for similar power plays around California. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/sandag-plan-good-enough-for-air-board/article_55fe18c7-c8c7-58f1-9310-4869387d5d77.html BLOGS Ford Fusion Wins ‘Green Car of the Year’ Prize. Ford Motor Co. scored the “Green Car of the Year” award for its new Ford Fusion sedan, by Green Car Journal magazine, in a break from past winners that went to pure fuel economy. The Fusion, which went on sale in October, won because it is offered with a variety of power trains, including a hybrid option that is rated to get 47 mpg, a future plug-in hybrid version that is expected to attain better than 100 miles-per-gallon equivalency. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/11/30/ford-fusion-wins-green-car-of-the-year-prize/ Climate change science gets more compelling as politicians fiddle. The politics and the science of global warming remain far apart. International climate negotiators in Doha, Qatar this week began talking about a climate treaty to be agreed by 2015 and implemented by 2020, when all that was supposed to be finished in Copenhagen three years ago. Inspiring. Meanwhile, the evidence supporting the broad international scientific consensus on climate change is only becoming more compelling, with three big, peer-reviewed studies out this week alone. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/climate-change-science-gets-more-compelling-as-politicians-fiddle/2012/11/30/f9eedd92-3b0a-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_blog.html Meanwhile, the climate keeps on changing for the worse. Those who like to pretend the climate isn't changing expect the rest of us to join them in their delusion. Meanwhile, since the temperature of the Earth is rising and the world's glaciers are melting, we have this thing called sea level rise. But we have a problem. The sea level rise projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are wrong. They are two low. Posted. http://blogs.redding.com/dcraig/archives/2012/11/meanwhile-the-c.html Move a little closer, please: ‘Carbon Zero,’ chapter 3. How we build our cities determines how we live in them. If we are going to imagine a carbon zero city, in most cases we need to start with a fresh understanding of how we get around in them. Transportation, after all, generates the largest share of humanity’s greenhouse gas emissions. Cars account for most of that, but it’s not just driving cars that’s causing those emissions. Posted. http://grist.org/cities/move-a-little-closer-please-carbon-zero-chapter-3/ ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 14:07:52 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 3, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 2, 2012. 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 pollution up to 2 million pounds a second. The amount of heat-trapping pollution the world spewed rose again last year by 3 percent. So scientists say it's now unlikely that global warming can be limited to a couple of degrees, which is an international goal. The overwhelming majority of the increase was from China, the world's biggest carbon dioxide polluter. Of the planet's top 10 polluters, the United States and Germany were the only countries that reduced their carbon dioxide emissions. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_CARBON_POLLUTION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/world/emissions-of-carbon-dioxide-hit-record-in-2011-researchers-say.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/study-carbon-dioxide-emissions-worldwide-up-again-2-degree-limit-to-global-warming-unlikely/2012/12/02/8658886e-3caa-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/World-s-heat-trapping-pollution-rises-3-4085870.php http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/03/5025882/pewpfoe-jfop-opfej-fpoejf-poesjf.html http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/02/5025100/carbon-pollution-up-to-2-million.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22110734/carbon-pollution-up-2-million-pounds-second http://fresnobee.com/2012/12/02/3086317/carbon-pollution-up-to-2-million.html#storylink=misearch http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/02/3086873/report-global-carbon-dioxide-emissions.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/02/carbon-pollution-up-to-2-million-pounds-a-second/ UC Davis research plane sniffs out gas leaks. To a casual observer, it looks like someone barnstorming several hundred feet above sparsely populated Central California terrain in a small plane. But it’s UC Davis atmospheric researchers surveying Pacific Gas & Electric Co.’s 600 miles of natural gas pipelines between Sonoma and Fresno in a single-engine Mooney TLS packed with scientific instruments designed to sniff out leaks of methane, a potent source of global warming. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-uc-davis-research-plane-sniffs-out-gas-leaks-20121203,0,5546847.story?track=rss Schools, offices closed over air pollution in Iran. Iran's state TV says Tehran's schools, universities and government offices will be closed for two days because of high air pollution in the capital. The broadcast Monday quoted Tehran governor Morteza Tamaddon as saying that banks and hospitals will remain open to provide services to the residents of the smog-filled capital. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22114133/schools-offices-closed-over-air-pollution-iran?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/schools-universities-government-offices-closed-in-iranian-capital-over-heavy-air-pollution/2012/12/03/4daa912a-3d53-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/3/schools-offices-closed-over-air-pollution-in-iran/&sa=U&ei=B-q8UN3EFcWtiAfL14CIBA&ved=0CAoQFjAB&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNFLajslqFPt8FakveV2cZoDVmlI1A http://www.modbee.com/2012/12/03/2479489/schools-offices-closed-over-air.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Group sues over quarry. At 94, Fraser West refers to himself as "an old cowboy." Old enough that he's cut back. The Texas longhorns grazing outside his home number in the dozens now, rather than the hundreds he once ran. But he says he's not ready to cut back on clean air, quiet or beauty. That's why he's part of the Ione Valley Land, Air, and Water Defense Alliance, a group that's suing to overturn Amador County's approval of a quarry that over the next 50 years would mine and crush a 250-foot-tall ridge just south of his ranch. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121201/A_NEWS/212010322&cid=sitesearch AIR QUALITY: Father and son on same South Coast governing board. Overseeing regional air-pollution regulations and policies in the nation's smoggiest metropolis will soon be somewhat of a family affair. Wildomar Mayor Ben Benoit will replace retiring Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge on the board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. He will be the voice of Riverside County’s cities on the board. Benoit, owner of a computer networking business, will join his father, Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit, who represents the county on the 13-member air district board. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20121202-air-quality-father-and-son-on-same-south-coast-governing-board.ece CLIMATE CHANGE US envoy hits China's stand in UN climate talks. The United States on Monday challenged China's view of how to split the burden of curbing carbon emissions, saying the rich-poor divide in past climate agreements has no place in a future pact to fight global warming. The U.S. envoy to international climate talks in Qatar, Todd Stern, said that the next climate deal must be based on "real-world" considerations, not "an ideology that says we're going to draw a line down the middle of the world." Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CLIMATE_TALKS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/03/5027051/us-envoy-hits-chinas-stand-in.html http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/US-envoy-hits-China-s-stand-in-UN-climate-talks-4086739.php http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22114270/us-envoy-hits-chinas-stand-un-climate-talks http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/us-climate-envoy-says-rich-poor-split-in-un-talks-must-end-challenging-chinas-position/2012/12/03/89b49baa-3d55-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/us-envoy-hits-china-s-stand-in-un-climate-talks/article_2019e754-dd50-5c3c-8849-207daca1e943.html New Zealand: Forget Kyoto, write new climate deal. Highlighting a rift between the rich countries and emerging economies like China, New Zealand's climate minister staunchly defended his government's decision to drop out of the emissions pact for developed nations, saying it's an outdated and insufficient response to global warming. Other key issues at the conference, now starting its second week, include how to help emerging nations switch to climate-friendly energy sources and charting the course for a new treaty that would replace the Kyoto Protocol, which covers only developed countries. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/02/5024926/ap-interview-new-zealand-slams.html#storylink=cpy http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22110459/ap-interview-new-zealand-slams-kyoto-extension http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/ap-interview-new-zealand-climate-minister-says-time-to-look-beyond-kyoto-protocol/2012/12/02/e2e5a468-3c82-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/02/ap-interview-new-zealand-slams-kyoto-extension/#ixzz2E0uJ3y2t Plants and soils could accelerate climate's warming, study warns. When climate scientists try to estimate how much the Earth will warm due to increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, a key consideration is the role of plants and soils. The more carbon they absorb, the more they reduce the global warming potential. But recent studies indicate that assumptions about plants' and soils' capacity in the so-called "carbon cycle" may be overly optimistic. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/02/5024917/plants-and-soils-could-accelerate.html#storylink=cpy Dems pushing to reform of CEQA. It's been 42 years since then-Gov. Ronald Reagan signed the landmark California Environmental Quality Act, an early victory for the nascent environmental protection movement that since has become a very powerful force in state and national politics. Whether CEQA and its legislative progeny, including the most recent anti-global warming laws, have truly protected California's environment or merely morphed into vehicles for those on the political left to pursue other ideological goals remains a bitterly debated issue. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/02/3086865/dems-pushing-to-reform-of-ceqa.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy In the West, GOP Governors, Skeptical of Cap-and-Trade, Will Watch California. Utah Governor Gary Herbert is skeptical about the viability of large-scale carbon trading in the United States, but says he is “absolutely” watching as California continues rolling out its unprecedented two-week-old cap-and-trade system. Should California’s experiment work, states should take note, he told Stateline Sunday (December 2). If it fails, “we’ll be able to check that off the list.” Posted. http://www.pewstates.org/projects/stateline/headlines/in-the-west-gop-governors-skeptical-of-cap-and-trade-will-watch-california-85899433597 FUELS Diamonds Dug in Gusty Arctic Too Remote for Diesel Fuel: Energy. The four windmills dug into northern Canada’s tundra that power Rio Tinto Group’s $5.2 billion Diavik diamond mine are the world’s first designed to work in gusts as cold as 40 degrees below zero. The mining company has sunk $30 million into wind energy because roads are frozen and closed to diesel fuel deliveries for 10 months a year. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Diamonds-Dug-in-Gusty-Arctic-Too-Remote-for-4087146.php#ixzz2E0vRBmI3 Gas prices down 12 cents from last week. Michigan says gasoline prices have fallen roughly 12 cents during the past week to a statewide average of about $3.45 per gallon. The auto club said Monday the average is about 15 cents per gallon more than last year at this time. Of the Michigan cities it surveys, AAA Michigan said the cheapest price for self-serve unleaded fuel is in the Saginaw and Bay City areas, where it's about $3.29 a gallon. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/03/aaa-mich-gas-prices-down-12-cents-from-last-week/#ixzz2E0tI5OyY Companies begin using waste gas to produce ethanol. Alternative fuel company Lanzatech NZ Ltd. today announced that it has successfully converted waste gases from a Chinese steel mill into transportation fuels and chemicals. The success of the demonstration project with Baosteel Group Corp., China's second-largest steel company, along with recent approvals by a national Chinese review panel, means LanzaTech is ready to begin a commercial-scale plant next year using the technology, the company said today. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/03/19 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES New Lacks eVOLVE hybrid wheel technology shows 1.1 mpg highway gain in fuel efficiency on Ford Focus. Lacks Wheel Trim Systems LLC, a business unit of Lacks Enterprises, Inc., a global supplier of trim systems to the automotive industry, introduced its new patented eVOLVE hybrid composite wheel technology, based on Lacks’ Chromtec wheel technology, at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/evolve-20121203.html GREEN ENERGY Obama pipeline decision may preview energy policy. It's a decision President Barack Obama put off during the 2012 campaign, but now that he's won a second term, his next move on a proposed oil pipeline between the U.S. and Canada may signal how he will deal with climate and energy issues in the four years ahead. Obama is facing increasing pressure to determine the fate of the $7 billion Keystone XL project…Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OIL_PIPELINE_POLITICS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/01/5023108/pressure-mounting-on-obama-over.html Severely Polluted Mongolia Tries a Cleaner Power Source. On a desolate, wind-raked hilltop not far from the Mongolian capital, white-helmeted workers were busily lifting, tugging and erecting 80-meter poles and fitting them with enormous pinwheel-like turbines in Mongolia’s first foray into wind-generated power. With 31 of these 260-foot, or 79-meter, turbines made by General Electric, the Salkhit, or Windy, Wind Farm will be able to produce 50 megawatts of power when it goes online in early 2013. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/business/energy-environment/severely-polluted-mongolia-tries-a-cleaner-power-source.html?_r=0 Plant to Convert Gas to Liquid Fuel Planned in U.S. In an ambitious bet that the glut of cheap natural gas in the United States will last for many years, a South African energy company announced on Monday that it would build America’s first commercial plant to convert natural gas to diesel and other liquid fuels. The company, Sasol, which is based in Johannesburg, has been a pioneer in a technology that has tantalized energy scientists for decades over its potential to produce liquid fuels without using oil, which has historically cost far more than natural gas. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/business/energy-environment/sasol-plans-first-gas-to-liquids-plant-in-us.html Indiana experiencing surge in wind power market. Willis Ladd counts them through the little window above his kitchen sink. One, two, three, four ... 31 wind turbines. Willis and his wife Noramae have lived in their home on Indiana Highway 13 near Elwood for over 40 years. And in that time, the view from their kitchen has stayed almost the same — flat farmland, running from the edge of their roughly 2-acre yard until it hits the horizon. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/Indiana-experiencing-surge-in-wind-power-market-4085104.php#ixzz2E0wZv3iv Tidal wave of money coming to make California schools greener. A green classroom uses natural light to cut down on energy costs. (Bill Lovejoy/MediaNews file) During the fall campaign, California's attention was focused on the presidential race and Gov. Jerry Brown's tax measure. But in a historic, largely overlooked environmental shift, the state's voters also triggered a multibillion-dollar tidal wave of new green spending. By overwhelmingly passing Proposition 39, voters closed a tax loophole on out-of-state corporations that will generate $1.1 billion a year. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_22102553/tidal-wave-money-coming-make-california-schools-greener Desert wind farm jolts San Diego. A wind farm in the northern Sonora desert will deliver its first jolt of electricity to San Diego this week, opening up the flow of renewable energy across the Sunrise Powerlink. The power plant at Ocotillo is one in a long line of utility-scale wind and solar projects made possible by the new 117-mile transmission line leading from Coastal California into the Imperial Valley. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/dec/01/desert-wind-farm-jolts-San-Diego/ MISCELLANEOUS U.S. regulators grill Edison on bid to restart part of San Onofre. The utility wants to fire up one of the two reactors at 70% power for five months, before taking it offline for inspection. Edison says the procedure would be safe. Federal regulators grilled Southern California Edison publicly for the first time Friday on its proposal to restart part of the troubled San Onofre nuclear power plant. San Onofre has been out of service for 10 months because of unusual wear on steam generator tubes. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1201-san-onofre-20121201,0,4585080.story California Air Resources Board Verifies First Diesel Particulate Filter with Safety Device Manufactured by Boshart Engineering, Inc. On September 10, 2012, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced that Boshart Engineering, Inc. had achieved verification of the BE Econix Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) active metal system with the industry's first safety device for a DPF. This verification has allowed Boshart to immediately market and install systems with their safety device to support California fleet regulations and air quality improvement efforts. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/30/5020897/california-air-resources-board.html#storylink=cpy OPINIONS The war of words over climate change. They say truth is the first casualty of war. In the war of words over climate change, that is plainly the case. On Nov. 25, The Post ran a news article by reporter Juliet Eilperin [“Climate skeptics target energy law”] that falsely claimed my organization, the Heartland Institute, received millions of dollars from ExxonMobil and foundations affiliated with Charles G. and David H. Koch. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-war-of-words-over-climate-change/2012/11/30/dab1285e-38c1-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_story.html Viewpoints: Clean Energy Jobs Act can ignite state comeback. Californians wisely voted in November to close an egregious corporate tax loophole that benefited only out-of-state corporations at the expense of our taxpayers and California businesses. However, the passage of this measure offers something additional that is perhaps even more important – the opportunity to restore faith in state government. Proposition 39 was born out of the same dysfunction that gave rise to California voters' disillusionment with their government. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/02/5022489/clean-energy-jobs-act-can-ignite.html#storylink=cpy The Conversation: Danger in magical wood fires. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Are air quality districts going too far by imposing no-burn days and bans on wood-burning fireplaces in new construction? Add your comment below. To write a letter, go to sacbee.com/sendletter. About this time of year, as the holidays and cold weather press in upon us, I invariably think of my father, pine cones and fireplaces. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/02/5022441/danger-in-magical-wood-fires.html#storylink=cpy Time to revamp the Clean Air Act. Can you imagine banning all vehicles in the San Joaquin Valley? Or how about an all out prohibition on combustion of fossil fuels in the region? Is it fair to require valley companies to pay millions in air pollution penalties when their operations account for 20 percent of air pollution but vehicles and other mobile sources pump out the other 80 percent? What would happen if Los Angeles had to prohibit a quarter of its population from driving each day? Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/our-view/x1801510372/Time-to-revamp-the-Clean-Air-Act Carbon tax: It's not coming soon. A US carbon tax would raise revenue for the federal government. But there are three reasons a carbon tax won't be part of any budget compromise in the next few weeks. As the US speeds towards the fiscal cliff, COP 18 has commenced in Doha, add the lingering effects of Sandy with an initial cost estimate of more than $70 billion and the result is a lot of discussion and analysis of how a carbon tax could be (should be) part of a budget compromise. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2012/1201/Carbon-tax-It-s-not-coming-soon BLOGS What the Doha Climate Talks Could Do for Sustainable Development. While participants at last year’s climate meeting in Durban agreed on an extension of the troubled Kyoto Protocol, it is at this year’s meeting in Doha that policy makers have to agree on the pesky details, including long-term emission reduction goals. As my colleague John Broder reported last week, the outlook is not entirely rosy. Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/what-the-doha-climate-talks-could-do-for-sustainable-development/ While International Climate Negotiations Continue, the World’s Ninth Largest Economy Takes an Important Step Forward. A little more than two weeks ago, while some 195 nations prepared to meet in Doha, Qatar, for the Eighteenth Conference of the Parties (COP-18) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in an ongoing effort to hammer out a durable scheme of effective international cooperation, the ninth largest economy in the world took an important step forward to achieve its own ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals. Posted. http://www.robertstavinsblog.org/2012/12/01/while-international-climate-negotiations-continue-the-worlds-ninth-largest-economy-takes-an-important-step-forward/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Belfer%2FAnEconomicViewOfTheEnvironment+%28Harvard+University+-+Belfer+Center+for+Science+and+International+Affairs+-+An+Economic+View+of+the+Environment%29 Climate Change Dialogue May Be Missing The Voice Of Islamic Leaders. At Friday prayers in Qatar's most popular mosque, the imam discussed the civil war in Syria, the unrest in Egypt and the U.N. endorsement of an independent state of Palestine. Not a word about climate change, even though the Middle Eastern nation of Qatar is hosting a U.N. conference where nearly 200 countries are trying to forge a joint plan to fight global warming, which climate activists say is the greatest modern challenge to mankind. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/02/climate-change-islam_n_2222211.html Renewable energy consumption is expected to keep rising in the U.S. — sort of. The Energy Information Administration has what seems, at first blush, like bad news. Renewable energy consumption in the U.S. is expected to drop 2.6 percent this year. Here's a graph of the dip. (Note: Both 2012 and 2013 values are estimates.) Click to embiggen. Buried in the data, however, is the truth: The drop is only due to hydropower "[beginning] to return to its long-term average." Posted. http://grist.org/news/renewable-energy-consumption-is-expected-to-keep-rising-in-the-u-s-sort-of/ Is it just us, or does it seem a little warm for December? Well, it is December, everyone. It's the time of year when you just want to stay huddled up cozily inside, maybe with a roaring fire to provide comfort given the … unseasonably warm temperatures outside. Posted. http://grist.org/news/is-it-just-us-or-does-it-seem-a-little-warm-for-december/ The world is producing 2.4 million pounds of CO2 a second. We have a correction to make. In an article last month we provided some erroneous information that may have painted an inaccurate picture of the state of the atmosphere. We stated that carbon dioxide emissions rose 2.5 percent in 2011. That figure appears to be incorrect. Posted. http://grist.org/news/the-world-is-producing-2-4-million-pounds-of-co2-a-second/ Getting ready for climate change: How the West Coast can lead the way. In mid-November, I was in San Francisco for the Greenbuild conference and a series of events related to clean economy policies on the West Coast. One of the most significant was a meeting of representatives from the leaders of California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia -- scientists and advocates addressing climate change risks and infrastructure decisions. http://grist.org/climate-energy/getting-ready-for-climate-change-how-the-west-coast-can-lead-the-way/ ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 14:13:59 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 4, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 4, 2012. 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 Yolo air quality officials call for no-burn night Tuesday. The Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District has called a Don't Light Tonight advisory for Tuesday due to forecasted higher pollution levels. The Yolo-Solano AQMD asks that residents do not burn wood in their fireplaces or woodstoves on Tuesday. Wood smoke contributes to fine particulate pollution. Certain weather conditions, such as those expected to be present in the Yolo-Solano area on Tuesday, keep smoke in neighborhoods and elevate pollution concentrations. Posted. http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_22120682/yolo-air-quality-officials-call-no-burn-night CAP AND TRADE RIVERSIDE: Rule tweak exempts utility from carbon auction. Riverside Public Utilities officials are breathing a sigh of relief that, thanks to a minor rule change, they don’t have to participate in carbon auctions that are part of the state’s greenhouse gas reduction strategy. City electric utility officials were worried that having to buy and sell carbon credits in a newly created market would essentially force them to gamble with ratepayers’ money and potentially raise rates to cover price fluctuations. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20121203-riverside-rule-tweak-exempts-utility-from-carbon-auction.ece CLIMATE CHANGE UN chief urges faster response to global warming. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged governments to speed up talks to forge a joint response to global warming, describing it as an "existential challenge for the whole human race." Ban addressed the opening of the high-level segment of annual U.N. climate talks, involving environment ministers and climate officials from nearly 200 countries. They're discussing future emissions reductions and climate aid to poor countries. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/04/3088367/un-chief-urges-faster-response.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22120312/un-chief-urges-faster-response-global-warming?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/un-chief-urges-faster-response-to-global-warming/article_2019e754-dd50-5c3c-8849-207daca1e943.html FUELS Fossil fuel subsidies in focus at climate talks. Hassan al-Kubaisi considers it a gift from above that drivers in oil- and gas-rich Qatar only have to pay $1 per gallon at the pump. "Thank God that our country is an oil producer and the price of gasoline is one of the lowest," al-Kubaisi said, filling up his Toyota Land Cruiser at a gas station in Doha. "God has given us a blessing." To those looking for a global response to climate change, it's more like a curse. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/03/us-envoy-hits-chinas-stand-in-un-climate-talks/#ixzz2E6evR8Vo Hazardous Air Pollutants Detected Near Fracking Sites. InsideClimateNews.org -- For years, the controversy over natural gas drilling has focused on the water and air quality problems linked to hydraulic fracturing, the process where chemicals are blasted deep underground to release tightly bound natural gas deposits. But a new study reports that a set of chemicals called non-methane hydrocarbons, or NMHCs, is found in the air near drilling sites even when fracking isn't in progress. Posted. http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-12-03/hazardous-air-pollutants-detected-near-fracking-sites EPA approves ethanol made from grain sorghum. U.S. EPA has found that ethanol produced from grain sorghum, a high-energy and drought-tolerant crop, achieves enough greenhouse gas emissions reduction to count toward federal biofuel mandates. The decision opens the door for refiners to use grain sorghum ethanol to receive credit under the renewable fuel standard, which requires that 36 billion gallons of biofuel be blended into the nation's fuel supply by 2022. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/04/14 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES L.A. Auto Show: Are electric vehicle prices about to drop? Don't be surprised to see a decline in electric car prices over the next several months. When Chevrolet introduced its Spark EV at the Los Angeles Auto Show this week, it said the car will sell for less than $25,000 after a federal tax rebate. That would be lower than the prices of electric vehicles on the market now, although there are attractive lease deals. The Leaf starts at $28,550 after the federal tax credit. California buyers get an additional $2,500 state rebate. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-electric-vehicle-price-drop-20121130,0,780652.story Fuel economy of cars sold in October at record level. Americans continue to look for fuel-efficient vehicles when they go car shopping. The average fuel economy -- what is on the window sticker of a new car -- of new vehicles sold in the U.S. in October was 24.1 miles per gallon, the highest level yet. It was up 4 mpg, or 20 percent, from October 2007, according to the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21943178/fuel-economy-cars-sold-october-at-record-level?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Berkeley Lab team develops high-performance lithium sulfide-carbon composite cathode materials for high-energy batteries targeting EVs. Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have developed nanostructured lithium sulfide/carbon (Li2S–C) composite cathodes that show promise for use in high-energy batteries. The paper on their work, published in the ACS journal Nano Letters, follows shortly after an earlier report from a Stanford team led by Yi Cui on another approach to using lithium-sulfide materials to build rechargeable batteries with specific energies…Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/cai-20121204.html Research in rare earth-free technology pushed by governments and OEMs. In view of the increased interest in electrically-powered vehicles, car manufacturers, research institutes as well as governments are looking to reduce their dependency on rare earth minerals. Investments are channelled to research and development of technologies that reduce the use of rare earth metals or that completely avoid their use, but maintain the efficiency of the EV motor. The market for rare earth minerals like neodymium, cerium, lanthanum and praseodymium, which are commonly used in high-efficiency permanent magnet electric motors, is overwhelmingly dominated by China. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/5059 Ford Super Duty to Get Natural Gas Engines. Westport Innovations Inc. announced that it will expand its product offerings with the introduction of natural gas powered versions of the Ford F-450 and F-550 Super Duty trucks in mid-2013. The new product additions will complement the Westport WiNG System powered Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks. "Our CNG bifuel systems for Ford F-250 and F-350 trucks have been very well received and as a result, our customers are making increasing requests for customized options and natural gas trucks with higher gross weights," said John Lapetz, vice president, North America Vehicle Programs, Westport LD. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=78690 Electric vehicles can play strong role in achieving energy security – experts. Electric vehicles received strong endorsements from business and political leaders at an energy security event yesterday, despite the fact that alternative vehicle sales remain low. Sen. Alexander Lamar (R-Tenn.), who owns a Nissan Leaf all-electric car, said it was essential to invest in research and development to bring down the prohibitive costs of electric vehicles (EVs). Plug-in vehicles currently represent less than 1 percent of all U.S. sales. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/04/8 BY SUBSCRIPTION GREEN ENERGY State lacks strategy on alternative energy, report says. The 2020 deadline on using more renewable sources could mean high bills for electrical customers and damage to the environment, study finds. California's push to add wind and solar energy to its existing power grid could saddle ratepayers with soaring electrical bills and despoil the state's environmental resources unless officials act soon, according to a report released Monday by a government watchdog agency. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1204-hoover-energy-20121204,0,7773457.story Group issues warning about Calif. energy plan. A California watchdog group says the state's clean energy strategy will saddle ratepayers with soaring utility bills unless officials act soon to organize state energy agencies. In a report released on Monday, the nonpartisan Little Hoover Commission lauded California's effort to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. But it described the state's collection of energy agencies as dysfunctional and balkanized and said their lack of organization threatened to make the state's clean energy push an expensive failure. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/04/3088333/group-issues-warning-about-calif.html#storylink=misearch http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22121071/group-issues-warning-about-calif-energy-plan?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22121071/group-issues-warning-about-calif-energy-plan?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Report says California's green transformation could push up energy prices. California's aggressive plans to build a clean-energy economy could mean higher energy prices for consumers and businesses, according to a report released Monday by the Little Hoover Commission. The report largely focuses on California's so-called renewable portfolio standard, which requires utilities to obtain a third of their electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2020. Utilities like PG&E are well on their way to meeting that goal. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics-government/ci_22115192/californias-green-energy-transformation-could-push-prices-up?source=rss MISCELLANEOUS BARSTOW: EPA to remove contaminated soil. Crews have begun excavating chemical-laden soil in and around a Barstow property believed to be the source of contamination that forced a shutdown of the city’s drinking water supply in late 2010. The property was once occupied by the owner of the now-defunct Mojave Pyrotechnics Inc., a fireworks manufacturing company that operated in the 1980s. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/local-news-headlines/20121203-barstow-epa-to-remove-contaminated-soil.ece Cupertino: Open space district files lawsuit against county over Lehigh Cement's EIR. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is filing a lawsuit challenging the environmental impact report for a recently approved reclamation plan for Lehigh Southwest Cement's Permanente Quarry near Cupertino. The district's lawsuit is against Santa Clara County and the county's board of supervisors over their late-June decision to approve the long-awaited reclamation plan. "Our deep concerns for the quarry's air and water quality impacts, hazardous materials and related recreational impacts remain unaddressed," district board president Curt Riffle said. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_22117868/cupertino-open-space-district-files-lawsuit-against-lehigh OPINIONS The road to a climate change deal goes through Doha. CLIMATE CHANGE is global. Unless enough big-emitting nations stop pumping carbon into the atmosphere, no single country’s efforts will matter much. That is why, despite the many unmet deadlines, petty squabbles and dashed hopes, it is still important for world leaders to gather and work toward a climate deal, as they have done many times in the past two decades and as they have been doing in Doha, Qatar, since last Monday. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-road-to-a-climate-change-deal-goes-through-doha/2012/12/03/03d88826-3d09-11e2-ae43-cf491b837f7b_story.html U.S. energy revolution transforms climate debate. The last few years have seen the beginnings of an energy revolution in the U.S. The coming of shale gas and now shale oil has transformed not just its energy outlook, but also the climate change debate. The game has changed: Energy independence, the goal first set by Nixon in the early 1970s, looks like being achievable, at least for the North American continent. Posted. http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/04/opinion/helm-us-energy-climate-change/index.html BLOGS Want to slow Arctic melting? Stop flying over the North Pole. As the world keeps warming up, sea ice in the Arctic has been disintegrating rapidly. It’s reached the point where scientists are now debating whether it will take four years or 40 before we start seeing ice-free summers up north. So is that it? Is the Arctic doomed? Perhaps not quite yet. A new study suggests one way that humans could slow the melting of the sea ice — by preventing international flights from crossing over the Arctic circle. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/12/04/want-to-slow-arctic-melting-stop-flying-over-the-north-pole/ E.P.A. Updates a Decades-Old Water Quality Standard. Last week the Environmental Protection Agency issued a new set of water quality guidelines for monitoring bacterial outbreaks in inland and coastal waters used frequently by recreational swimmers. The standard was last updated in 1986. The move was prompted by a federal court order and a requirement of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/e-p-a-updates-a-decades-old-water-quality-standard/?smid=tw-nytimesscience&seid=auto A Climate Scientist Proposes a ‘Fair Plan’ for Limiting Warming. Michael Schlesinger, a climatologist at the University of Illinois, has been immersed in both climate science and policy analysis for decades. Lately he has been working with younger researchers on papers aiming to clarify some of the basic questions about the human contribution to recent warming and to find a way for established and emerging industrial powers to divvy up the task of cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/a-climate-scientist-proposes-a-fair-plan-for-limiting-warming/ Bumps on the road to EV infrastructure in California. About a third of the electric cars in the U.S. are spinning on California roads, but the state still has much work to do to build the charging infrastructure to support them. There are about 1,000 public chargers in the state right now, and New Jersey-based NRG is poised to install 200 fast chargers and the wiring for 10,000 more regular chargers throughout the state by 2016. Posted. http://grist.org/news/bumps-on-the-road-to-ev-infrastructure-in-california/ Fossil fuels beat renewables in race for state and local incentives. Over the weekend, The New York Times launched a series considering how state and local incentives to private business benefit the localities that bestow them. The bottom line seems to be: not much. Incentives frequently fail to prevent companies from relocating or going out of business, and often cost huge amounts of money while returning very little value to the public. Posted. http://grist.org/news/fossil-fuels-beat-renewables-in-race-for-state-and-local-incentives/ The Most Successful Electric Car Cities. Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular as cities all over the world started recognizing their advantages and introducing initiatives to promote the use of the plug-in transport. Although EVs are still largely considered to be somewhat ‘cars of the future’, there’s a rising global movement committed to making these electric cars a reality of today. Posted. http://www.greenerideal.com/vehicles/1202-most-successful-electric-car-cities/ ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 15:18:48 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 5, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 5, 2012. 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 Air Resources Board Makes Sure Truck Drivers Comply. The California Air Resources Board has been out in full force for the past year making sure truck drivers are within regulation. Today they targeted the Calexico border crossing. Enforcement teams have been in the Imperial Valley but this is the first time the educational team has come out to make sure that truckers comply with the policy. Posted. http://www.kyma.com/slp.php?idN=7693&cat=Local%20News CAP AND TRADE First Cap-And-Trade Allowance Auction Rakes In More Than $289 Million For State Coffers. The first of the quarterly cap-and-trade allowance auctions, held by the California Air Resources Board (ARB) on November 15, resulted in the sale of $289,102,449.90 worth of carbon permits primarily to entities covered by state law AB 32. To give some perspective, that amount is 15.2 percent of the projected state budget deficit for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, which includes new taxes from the passage of Proposition 30. Posted. http://lbbusinessjournal.com/long-beach-business-journal-newswatch/176-12-12-03/1107-first-cap-and-trade-allowance-auction-rakes-in-more-than-289-million-for-state-coffers.html AIR POLLUTION Asian Cities’ Air Quality Getting Worse, Experts Warn. Air pollution has worsened markedly in Asian cities in recent years and presents a growing threat to human health, according to experts at a conference that began on Wednesday. Clean Air Asia, a regional network on air-quality management, aggregated data from more than 300 cities in 16 Asian countries and found that levels of fine particulate matter — a key pollutant in terms of its impact on human health — were below targets recommended by the World Health Organization in just 16 cities, most of them in Japan. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/world/asia/asian-cities-air-quality-getting-worse-experts-warn.html?_r=0 China pledges $56 billion to cut air pollution. Local governments will fund most of the programs aimed at cutting the level of harmful particles in the air in 117 cities by at least 5 percent between 2011 and 2015, the Ministry of Environmental Protection said in a statement on its website. Doctors warn that the tiny floating PM 2.5 particles, named for their less than 2.5 micrometer diameter, can settle in the lungs and cause respiratory problems and other illnesses. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/05/us-china-pollution-idUSBRE8B40H220121205 Group pitches targeting US power plant emissions state by state. The Natural Resources Defense Council called on Tuesday for the Environmental Protection Agency to set state-specific emission rates that would take into account their different energy generation mixes. Power plants account for one-third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA in March used the federal Clean Air Act to issue an emissions performance standard for new power plants that would make it virtually impossible to build new coal-fired facilities. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/04/epa-power-plants-idUSL1E8N4DVP20121204 Russia to set 2020 carbon target that will let emissions rise. Russia plans to set itself a binding 2020 goal for carbon emissions, a top climate change official said on Wednesday - the only problem is it would allow them to rise. Russia's emissions plunged after the collapse of Soviet-era smokestack industries to 2.21 billion tonnes in 2010, or 34 percent below 1990 levels, according to the latest data available from the nation's official statistics. However, it is still the world's fourth biggest emitter of greenhouse gases behind China, the United States and India. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/05/climate-talks-russia-idUSL5E8N540M20121205 Bay Area breathes easier, ozone data show. Compared with Southern California, living in the Bay Area is a breath of fresh air. That's according to air pollution data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Based on the number of days per year in which smog, soot and other ozone emissions surpass U.S. regulatory standards, the Bay Area's nine counties fall well below the state average. This is good news, as breathing pollution puts people at risk for asthma and other medical conditions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Bay-Area-breathes-easier-ozone-data-show-4091179.php#ixzz2ECaEYrgc Court rules against long-range transportation plan. A nearly $200 billion road map charting how a growing San Diego County will meet its transportation demands over the next four decades may have to be redrawn. San Diego County Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor this week ruled that the plan fails to comply with state environmental laws that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/news/politics/court-rules-against-long-range-transportation-plan/article_c79aca41-7988-58a4-b47d-b7abdfe61eeb.html San Diego hits clean-air milestone. San Diego County has achieved a milestone in its quest for cleaner air, reducing unhealthy ozone to the lowest levels ever despite steadily growing numbers of people and vehicles. As a result, the region will soon be declared in compliance with 1997 federal ozone standards for the first time, heading off any threats of sanctions. Cleaner cars and cleaner fuels are receiving most of the credit. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/news/politics/san-diego-hits-clean-air-milestone/article_05ff0b72-804b-5156-b9d5-9ee20e00df45.html CLIMATE CHANGE World Bank: Arab World hit hard by climate change. The Middle East and North Africa will be especially hard hit by climate change in the coming decades, the World Bank said in a report Wednesday, saying the region will see less rainfall, more recording-breaking temperatures and rising sea levels. Should temperatures rise as expected, the hotter conditions are likely to hit the region's $50 billion ((EURO) 38.2 billion) tourism industry and further worsen its food security since many countries in the region _ especially Gulf states _ depend heavily on imports to feed their populations. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CLIMATE_TALKS_MIDDLE_EAST_?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/world-bank-arab-world-hit-hard-by-climate-change/article_326eb7a8-5e72-5adc-8f69-d1f432c66cb3.html http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/05/3089418/world-bank-arab-world-hit-hard.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/world-bank-climate-change-will-hit-middle-east-and-north-africa-especially-hard/2012/12/05/577e15bc-3eb8-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html Activists accuse Arab states over climate change at U.N. talks. Arab nations have failed to use U.N. talks on climate change to put forward any meaningful measures on tackling the problem in their own countries, delegates and environmental activists said on Wednesday. Delegates from 200 nations have gathered in Qatar for two-week talks to try to agree a symbolic extension of the U.N. Kyoto Protocol, a treaty that obliges about 35 developed nations to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/05/arab-climate-idUSL5E8N588N20121205 China demands timetable to $100 billion climate aid for developing world. But most rich nations, facing economic slowdown at home that cut overall development aid in 2011, said they were unable to stake out a timetable for rising aid at deadlocked global climate talks. "The core issue is finance," Xie Zhenhua, head of China's delegation, told a news conference of a main track of the November 26-December 7 talks among 200 nations in Doha, Qatar, that is a big block to a modest deal to keep U.N. climate efforts on track. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/05/us-climate-talks-idUSBRE8B217F20121205 To Stop Climate Change, Students Aim at College Portfolios. A group of Swarthmore College students is asking the school administration to take a seemingly simple step to combat pollution and climate change: sell off the endowment’s holdings in large fossil fuel companies. For months, they have been getting a simple answer: no. As they consider how to ratchet up their campaign, the students suddenly find themselves at the vanguard of a national movement. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/05/business/energy-environment/to-fight-climate-change-college-students-take-aim-at-the-endowment-portfolio.html?ref=earth News Summary: UN chief blames rich for warming. HEAT IS ON: Rich countries are to blame for climate change and should take the lead in forging a global climate pact by 2015, the head of the United Nations said Wednesday. FAIR WEATHER: At the international climate talks in Qatar, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said it was "only fair and reasonable that the developed world should bear most of the responsibility" in fighting the gradual warming of the planet. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/05/3089800/news-summary-un-chief-blames-rich.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/news-summary-un-chief-says-rich-countries-caused-climate-change-must-take-lead-in-fixing/2012/12/05/09b10c76-3eff-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html The People's Republic of California. At the annual U.N. climate talks in Doha, Qatar, delegates are undoubtedly applauding the new Australian cap-and-trade scheme, bemoaning Canada's withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol, and wondering what to do about emissions from emerging India. They will spend far less time thinking about an economy bigger than any of those: California. Posted. http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/12/04/the_people_s_republic_of_california DIESEL EMISSIONS Obama admin asks justices not to hear L.A. 'clean truck' case. The Obama administration has urged the Supreme Court not to review the legality of the clean truck program introduced by the Port of Los Angeles. In a September 2011 ruling, the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the bulk of the program while invalidating one section (E&ENews PM, Sept. 26, 2011). The American Trucking Associations sought Supreme Court review of the entire system, prompting the court to ask for the administration's views. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/05/17 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS U.K. to Reveal Gas Power Plans. The U.K.'s government is expected to announce Wednesday plans for a major expansion of gas-fired power plants, backing away from a previous plan to phase out fossil fuels altogether from electricity generation by 2030. The boost for natural gas, which is a source of carbon dioxide emissions, comes as the two main planks of low-carbon energy suffer growing setbacks. Opposition to onshore wind power is increasing within the U.K. government and the cost of building new nuclear power plants in Europe continues to rise. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323401904578159231805634620.html?user=welcome UK flirts with shale industry but keeps fracking ban. Britain gave a boost to its shale gas industry on Wednesday by creating a dedicated government office to simplify regulation and by confirming tax breaks, but stopped short of lifting a ban on exploration imposed over a year ago.The government will form an Office for Unconventional Gas and Oil to create one point of contact and to streamline rules relating to shale exploration, finance minister George Osborne said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/05/britain-economy-shale-idUSL5E8N589K20121205 Britain creates shale gas office to simplify regulation. Finance minister George Osborne also confirmed his announcement made two month ago to hold public consultations on tax breaks for shale gas exploration. "We are consulting on new tax incentives for shale gas and announcing the creation of a single office so that regulation is safe but simple," Osborne said in his half-yearly budget statement. The Office for Unconventional Gas and Oil will join up responsibilities across government departments to provide a single point of contact for investors and streamline the regulatory process. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/05/britain-economy-shale-idUSL5E8N580G20121205 Big miner buys pair of energy companies for $9B. Mining company Freeport-McMoRan is buying a pair of oil and gas producers for $9 billion, creating a natural resources conglomerate with assets ranging from oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico to mines in Indonesia. Freeport, based in Phoenix, is paying $6.9 billion in cash and stock for Plains Exploration Co., and $2.1 billion for McMoRan Exploration Co. Freeport will also assume $11 billion in debt in the deal. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22129246/big-miner-buys-pair-energy-companies-9b?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/freeport-mcmoran-buys-oil-and-gas-producers-for-9b-creating-natural-resource-conglomerate/2012/12/05/8ca69cec-3f02-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html US crude oil supplies drop by 2.4 million barrels. The nation's crude oil supplies shrank last week, the government said Wednesday. Crude supplies decreased by 2.4 million barrels, or 0.6 percent, to 371.8 million barrels, which is 10.8 percent above year-ago levels, the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report. Analysts expected a drop of 1.25 million barrels for the week ended Nov. 30, according to Platts, the energy information arm of McGraw-Hill Cos. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/US-crude-oil-supplies-drop-by-2-4-million-barrels-4093190.php#ixzz2ECcc2LVL GREEN ENERGY Meadows reuses everything from fry oil to manure. Each time diners at Meadows Racetrack and Casino restaurants order french fries, they're helping the environment. In an average week, the South Strabane facility's three restaurants and the food court generate 200 gallons of frying oil. The Meadows recycles every drop into biodiesel, which helps power most of the racetrack's vehicles and equipment. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/energy/article/Meadows-reuses-everything-from-fry-oil-to-manure-4093258.php#ixzz2ECg907xi Report says California's green transformation could push up energy prices. California's aggressive plans to build a clean-energy economy could mean higher energy prices for consumers and businesses, according to a report released Monday by the Little Hoover Commission. The report largely focuses on California's so-called renewable portfolio standard, which requires utilities to obtain a third of their electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar by 2020. Utilities like PG&E are well on their way to meeting that goal. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_22115191/californias-green-energy-transformation-could-push-prices-up Solar project to save $7 million at Hanford waste plant. Hanford dedicated a new solar power system Tuesday that is expected to save the city millions of dollars in electricity costs at its wastewater treatment plant in the coming years. Chevron Energy Solutions designed and installed the 1-megawatt system, which has solar panels mounted at ground level. Chevron also will operate and maintain the photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight directly into electricity. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/04/3089319/solar-project-to-save-7-million.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy VEHICLES 2013 Ford Fusion: Redesigned midsize has good looks, charm and efficiency. There’s no variation in the plastic coloring and the instrument panel air vents lack a separate control for flow, just direction. The 2013 Ford Fusion will be its own fusion – a from of automotive alchemy turning steel into sales gold. This redesigned midsize sedan offers a desirable balance of contemporary design, engaging drivability and a line of efficient and potent four-cylinder engines – and no V-6. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/ford-fusion-redesigned-midsize-has-good-looks-charm-and-efficiency/article_9cf759f4-8fc9-5654-ab2d-cb9459d87acd.html MISCELLANEOUS Radio host calls for poop patrols at La Jolla cove. A local radio host is calling for patrols to clean up bird droppings that have created a stink at La Jolla Cove. On Friday, he took the first shift. Mike Slater, the morning show host on the talk radio station 760 KFMB, said he considered taking action after seeing news stories last week about an unpleasant odor at the picturesque cove. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/dec/04/radio-host-calls-for-poop-patrols-at-la-jolla-cove/ Mountain View joins plastic bag ban club; ordinance goes into effect on Earth Day. Mountain View joined a growing list of Peninsula cities Tuesday night that plan to ban single-use, carry-out bags beginning in April. The city council voted 5-2 to adopt an ordinance outlawing their use as well as a related environmental impact report. The ban applies to all retail businesses that sell clothing, food and personal items directly to consumers. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_22128006/mountain-view-joins-plastic-bag-ban-club-ordinance?source=rss OPINION Set an example on energy reform, California. Without better coordination, oversight and study, the state's energy policies may be a primer in what not to do, an advisory panel reports. California can't stop global warming on its own. Its environmental regulations won't save the whole world, and its energy policies won't wean the nation off fossil fuels. What it can do is set an example, and it has approved radical laws and programs to achieve that — such as a renewable portfolio standard that sets a course for the state to get 33% of its power from renewable sources by 2020…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-energy-california-little-hoover-20121205,0,3946880.story Stop NY’s Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Proposed Changes That Could Result In Millions Of Tons Of Pollution: Deadline Dec 6th! There is no time to wait. Few programs have been as successful in reducing climate pollution as the nine-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). And yet, in spite of the lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy; in spite of the need to fight climate pollution to keep residents safe and healthy; and in spite of the significant environmental and economic benefits RGGI has delivered, we risk losing ground to dirty polluters. Posted. http://ecoanchornyc.com/2012/12/stop-nys-regional-greenhouse-gas-initiative-proposed-changes-that-could-result-in-millions-of-tons-of-pollution-deadline-dec-6th/ BLOGS How to cut U.S. carbon emissions by 10 percent — without Congress. Now one environmental group is arguing that the Obama administration doesn’t even need Congress to make sweeping cuts to U.S. carbon emissions. On Tuesday, the Natural Resources Defense Council released a new report explaining how the Environmental Protection Agency could enforce sharp emissions cuts at America’s power plants. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/12/04/how-the-u-s-could-cut-carbon-emissions-by-10-percent-without-congress/ Energy Journal: Rural America Enjoying the Oil Boom. U.S. oil production is running at a 15-year high, and the boom is boosting incomes in the heartland. Official data shows that crude-oil production reached its highest level in nearly 15 years in September, with average daily production of nearly 6.5 million barrels, The Wall Street Journal says. And small-town America is feeling the benefit most. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2012/12/05/energy-journal-rural-america-enjoying-the-oil-boom/?KEYWORDS=+fuels Cal Fire gives home heating safety tips. Improper use of or poorly maintained heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fires and home fire deaths across the country. With a few simple safety tips and precautions, you can prevent most heating fires from happening. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/breaking-news/x1012270085/Cal-Fire-gives-home-heating-safety-tips Five Things You Should Know About Ozone Depleting Substances in California's Cap-and-trade Program. California's cap-and-trade program incorporates the use of carbon offsets generated from the destruction of ozone depleting substances (ODS) to help the state meet its goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While you may not be familiar with the term ozone depleting substances, chances are that these substances can be found in your home and business. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gary-gero/five-things-you-should-kn_b_2046367.html Why we’re still fighting the smog that once choked London: It still kills. Sixty years ago today, London was pitch black. The "Great Smog," a blanket of ozone and particles of soot, covered the city for days. Photos of the event show life in a dark gray cloud, cars' headlights on no matter the time of day. An estimated 4,000 people died prematurely as a result of the pollution. Posted. http://grist.org/news/why-were-still-fighting-the-smog-that-once-choked-london-it-still-kills/ As global climate talks founder, young people demand real change. For more than 18 years, negotiators representing countries big and small have come together at this time of year under the auspices of the United Nations to talk about how we are going to avoid the worst of climate change. For the 40,000 or so people who attend the climate negotiations each year, it has become something of a holiday tradition -- and as with any family, the global family of nations is ripe with characters and disagreements that never seem to get resolved. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/as-global-climate-talks-founder-young-people-demand-real-change/ November 2012 Plug-In Electric Vehicle Sales Report Card. While October ranked as the all-time pinnacle of plug-in electric vehicle sales, November is shaping up to be the month where electric vehicles try to hold onto their market share as many of the incentives available in September and October to move inventory have expired. This model-by-model list is populated as it is reported in real time by each manufacturer throughout the day. So if you don’t see your EV’s sales listed yet, just sit tight, it is coming. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/5067 6 Reasons Why 2013 May Be The Turning Point For Electric Vehicle Industry. In 2008, the electric vehicle industry entered into the hearts and minds Americans. What followed however, were years was wrought with many challenges and difficulties; the high costs of cars, limited range distance and poor planning each played a role in the slow adoption of electric vehicles. That's in the past, and with lessons learned, the electric vehicle industry is poised for an unprecedented upswing; from an investment standpoint, these stocks could not be any cheaper than they are now. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/5065 ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 12:32:45 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 7, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips December 7, 2012. ARB Newsclips for December 7, 2012 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 aircraft to study climate change and air pollution next month. A collection of NASA Earth science missions will take to the skies in January to study climate change and air pollution, the agency announced on Thursday. These airborne missions are all based at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in Southern California. NASA mission scientists use airborne instruments in conjunction with satellite observations to assist in understanding Earth’s complex systems. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/nasa-aircraft-to-study-climate-change-and-air-pollution-next-month CAP AND TRADE California Rejected 66% Carbon Permit Bids Last Month. California, the second-biggest carbon polluter in the U.S., behind Texas, said companies offered an average $15.60 a ton for emissions allowances in a state auction in November. The price exceeds a preliminary figure of $13.75 a ton issued last month for all submitted bids because some offers were subsequently rejected for violating purchasing and holding limits or bid guarantees, the state Air Resources Board said on its website today. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-06/california-carbon-permits-bids-averaged-15-60-last-month.html Calif. overstated demand for its inaugural cap-and-trade auction. California regulators' announcement yesterday that valid demand for their inaugural carbon auction was actually one-third of previous estimates may have damaged consumer confidence in the budding market. Nearly two-thirds of the bids the California Air Resources Board received on Nov. 14 either exceeded the number of allowances each bidder is allowed to hold, were not supported by the amount of money bidders were required to hold in reserve or otherwise violated the rules of the auction, agency staff said yesterday. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/07/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE UPDATE 2-Climate talks risk failure over aid row, lack of carbon cuts. Wrangling over aid to the developing world and the failure of rich countries to set tougher goals for fighting global warming threatened to torpedo U.N. talks among 200 nations on the final day on Friday. The United Nations tried to dampen already modest expectations for the two-week meeting in Doha, which is seeking to extend the Kyoto Protocol - the U.N. plan that obliges about 35 developed nations to cut carbon emissions but expires at the end of this year. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/07/climate-talks-idUSL5E8N76EG20121207 European Union agrees deal on U.N. "hot air": Commission. European Union countries have resolved a long-standing row over surplus sovereign pollution permits, the EU Commission said on Friday, a dispute that has slowed progress at U.N. climate change talks in Qatar. The Commission, the European Union's executive, declined to disclose detail on the deal. However, sources speaking on condition of anonymity said the deal will restrict the use of surplus carbon credits called Assigned Amount Units (AAUs) from the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, but not cancel them. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/07/us-climate-talks-hotair-idUSBRE8B60IX20121207 California faces carbon conundrum. Left for dead years ago, the idea of taxing greenhouse gases has sprung back to life in Washington, as politicians look for ways to tackle global warming and tame the deficit. It's welcome news for environmentalists, desperate for federal action on climate change. But the proposed carbon tax could pose a problem for California. The state has taken a different approach to fighting global warming, last month launching a cap-and-trade system in which companies…Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/California-faces-carbon-conundrum-4098030.php#ixzz2EOCAHzN8 California ski industry feels chill from climate change. A warming climate is melting California's winter tourism dollars. That's the conclusion of a new economic analysis released Thursday. The study – titled "Climate Impacts on the Winter Tourism Economy in the United States" and written by two University of New Hampshire researchers – said California and 37 other states have lost an estimated $1 billion…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/07/5037582/state-ski-industry-feels-chill.html#storylink=cpy http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/06/5036359/study-global-warming-could-have.html?storylink=lingospot_related_articles#storylink=cpy http://www.modbee.com/2012/12/07/2485943/california-ski-industry-feels.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy UN climate talks go into overtime in Qatar. A dispute over money clouded U.N. climate talks Friday, as rich and poor countries sparred over funds meant to help the developing world cover the rising costs of mitigating global warming and adapting to it. Developing countries want firm commitments from rich nations to scale up climate aid to poor countries to $100 billion annually by 2020, a general pledge that was made three years ago. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/07/money-in-focus-as-un-climate-talks-enter-last/ http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/un-climate-talks-go-into-overtime-in-qatar/image_dea58579-c671-5919-9870-a2753a1301a0.html http://modbee.com/2012/12/06/2484859/tensions-mount-as-un-climate-talks.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22144576/money-focus-un-climate-talks-enter-last-day?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/rich-poor-countries-argue-over-climate-financing-as-un-climate-talks-enter-last-day/2012/12/07/901e7e00-404a-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2012/12/07/un-climate-qatar/1753773/ http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22144576/money-focus-un-climate-talks-enter-last-day?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Mayor: NYC working on storm, climate prep. The city will work on upgrading building codes and evacuation-zone maps, hardening power and transportation networks and making sure hospitals are better prepared for extreme weather after Superstorm Sandy, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday. As a start, utility Consolidated Edison has agreed to spend $250 million toward getting its electrical, steam and gas systems in shape to withstand a Category 2 hurricane, Bloomberg said. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/mayor-nyc-working-on-storm-climate-prep/article_74c73be1-d575-5412-9db4-520f6f69ee99.html FUELS The natural gas revolution reversing LNG tanker trade. A vast dock stands a mile offshore here, its concrete legs planted in the water and its steel tentacles poised to suck natural gas in a liquid state from special refrigerated tankers up to a thousand feet long. But on a recent clear fall afternoon, there wasn’t a tanker in sight. Inside a control room, operator Ron Keraga watched computer monitors that did not blink. The only flurry came from the sea gulls, which perched on the railings outside and then left a white trail behind them. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-natural-gas-revolution-reversing-lng-tanker-trade/2012/12/07/dc826520-0c9e-11e2-bb5e-492c0d30bff6_story.html S. Ind. site picked for $950M fertilizer plant. A businessman has picked a southern Indiana site for a nitrogen fertilizer plant that's projected to cost about $950 million to build. Ohio Valley Resources president Doug Wilson of Fairfield, Ill., says he picked the 150-acre site near the Ohio River town of Rockport. Wilson tells the Evansville Courier & Press that two nearby interstate natural gas pipelines will reduce the cost of obtaining the gas needed for nitrogen production. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/07/s-ind-site-picked-for-950m-fertilizer-plant/ Oil price slips as investors await US jobs data. Oil prices rose moderately Friday, clawing back some of the ground lost during a sharp sell-off the day before, as traders awaited a slew of economic data from China. Benchmark oil for January delivery was up 30 cents to $86.56 per barrel at late afternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell $1.62, or 1.8 percent, to finish at $86.26 per barrel in New York. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/07/oil-rises-ahead-of-china-economic-data/ VEHICLES Ford hybrids' miles per gallon fall short. Ford Motor Co.'s two newest hybrid models fell 17 to 21 percent short of the company's promise of 47 miles per gallon in tests by Consumer Reports magazine. The Ford Fusion hybrid achieved 39 miles per gallon, while the C-Max hybrid averaged 37 mpg in tests of city and highway driving, the magazine said Thursday. Ford advertises that each model will achieve 47 mpg in combined city and highway driving. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Ford-hybrids-miles-per-gallon-fall-short-4098036.php#ixzz2EOBhCUYL HIGH-SPEED RAIL Obama pushes ahead with high-speed rail plan. Undaunted by the looming fiscal crisis, the Obama administration said Thursday that it plans to forge ahead with its signature transportation project, investing billions of dollars in a long-term effort to build a high-speed rail network. “We’re not giving up on high-speed rail,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood testified before a congressional committee. “The president will include funding in his budget. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/obama-pushes-ahead-with-high-speed-rail-plan/2012/12/06/e7286a54-3fe0-11e2-bca3-aadc9b7e29c5_story.html California High-Speed Rail Too Expensive, McCarthy Says. California’s $68.4 billion high-speed rail project is looking for too much money from the U.S. government and should be reconsidered, said California Representative Kevin McCarthy, the U.S. House’s third-ranking Republican. “Maybe it’s time when we cut our losses,” McCarthy said today at a House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing in Washington. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-06/california-high-speed-rail-too-expensive-mccarthy-says.html Needy' workers will get jobs on high-speed rail. The California High-Speed Rail Authority took steps Thursday to ensure that at least some jobs building the system will go to people who are most in need of work. But some non-union contractors fear that the measure will become little more than a means for construction jobs to be monopolized by labor unions. On a 5-0 vote in Sacramento, the authority adopted a community benefits policy that sets hiring goals for contractors for the first sections of the statewide rail project in the central San Joaquin Valley. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/06/3091639/approved-policy-targets-disadvantaged.html Hahn: High-Speed Rail Project ‘Critical’ To Calif., U.S. Economy. A Southern California Congresswoman Thursday defended plans for a high-speed rail project despite spiraling costs and concerns about its long-term viability. KNX 1070′s Jan Stevens reports Rep. Janice Hahn (D-Torrance) clashed with a Bakersfield lawmaker during a Transportation Committee hearing in Washington. State legislators in July approved nearly $8 billion in spending on the first phase of the rail project that will ultimately connect the Southland to San Francisco. Posted. http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/12/06/hahn-high-speed-rail-project-critical-to-calif-us-economy/ GREEN ENERGY Energy development on public lands generated $12 billion in 2012. Energy development on public lands and waters pumped more than $12 billion into federal coffers in 2012, $1 billion more than the previous year, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. "These revenues reflect significant domestic energy production under President Obama's all-of-the-above energy strategy and provide a vital revenue stream for federal and state governments and American Indian communities," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a statement. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-20121206-energy-income,0,4832619.story?track=rss Los Angeles signs long-term solar contracts. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed two contracts Thursday that will expand the city's use of solar energy - enough to power nearly 200,000 homes - and help it close down a coal plant. One agreement for 25 years would let the city purchase solar power from a project on Native American tribal land in Nevada to help the city Department of Water and Power increase its use of clean energy. Posted. http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_22141938/los-angeles-signs-long-term-solar-contracts?source=rss California commission cautions ‘not so fast’ on building out solar, wind. California’s been building out its wind, solar and other renewable energy resources at a rapid pace over the past few years as it races to meet its renewable portfolio standard (RPS) of 33 percent renewables by 2020. But a new report out from the state’s Little Hoover Commission—which lauds the effort—cautions that the state’s electric customers may face soaring utility bills unless the state reorganizes its energy agencies. Posted. http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/california-commission-on-building-out-solar-wind-120612 OPINIONS Going Beyond Carbon Dioxide. WE all know (or should know) by now that the carbon dioxide we produce when we burn fossil fuels and cut down forests is the planet’s single largest contributor to global warming. It persists in the atmosphere for centuries. Reducing these emissions by as much as half by 2050 is essential to avoid disastrous consequences by the end of this century, and we must begin immediately. But this is a herculean undertaking, both technically and politically, as the lack of progress at United Nations climate talks here this week attests. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/07/opinion/going-beyond-carbon-dioxide.html For his next crisis. California’s green folly. Saving the planet isn’t easy — or cheap — especially in California. The state’s anti-global-warming cap-and-trade program is the latest gimmick to leave it with yet another big hole to fill in its budget. The Golden State’s new carbon-trading program is the world’s second largest, after the European Union’s. The stated goal is to cut greenhouse-gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and another 80 percent by 2050. Posted. http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/for_his_next_crisis_gC1fOgu7CyiA5TSsbdGy4O How to cut American oil use in half in 20 years. The Union of Concerned Scientists has figured out how Americans can cut their oil consumption in half within 20 years. Sound impossible? Not really, according to scientists and engineers who have done calculations for us non-math majors. It all boils down to making a few choices to conserve and deploying existing technology or technology already in the pipeline, says the Union of Concerned Scientists, best known in the 1970s and 1980s for warning us off the nuclear arms race. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-american-oil-use-20121206,0,410427.story?track=rss Obama wants to understand climate change? Listen to us and Sandy, too. Following two of the most destructive years for climate catastrophes, President Obama is now calling for a "wide-ranging" conversation with scientists. Let's talk. As climate scientists who've together spent decades studying how and why our climate is changing, we welcome that opportunity. "Frankenstorm" Sandy brought a message for you and all of us: climate change impacts are here now, right now. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/07/5038198/obama-wants-to-understand-climate.html#storylink=cpy http://www.modbee.com/2012/12/07/2486022/obama-wants-to-understand-climate.html#storylink=misearch Editorial: Rules on oil and gas fracking are way out of whack. Are regulators at the California Department of Conservation's Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources free to make decisions in the public interest? Despite serious complaints voiced by farmers and environmentalists in Kern County, state regulators over the past year and more have waived environmental review for dozens of controversial new gas and oil drilling operations. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/07/5037556/rules-on-oil-and-gas-fracking.html#storylink=cpy Letter: Cost of diesel fuel. Editor, Has anybody noticed the staggering cost of diesel fuel in the Bay Area, still running at $4.50 per gallon? In fact it has not moved down at all, unlike the gasoline that is now almost a dollar per gallon cheaper. What gives? Are we being creamed, quartered and thrown away? Frankly, this is absurd, no matter what the reasons are (in addition to the good old capitalistic notion of making money) and it does not help the folks that are buying diesel-powered cars to be good to the environment either. Who has the answers here? Posted. http://smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?type=opinions&title=Letter:%20%20Cost%20of%20diesel%20fuel&id=1759466 BLOGS California moves toward open source ratings for city bonds. In the past year, three California cities have filed for bankruptcy. This casts a pall on the bonds of other California cities, because investors wonder if they also contain buried fiscal issues. In an effort to create more transparency, a new open source ratings project was recently launched: Posted. http://blogs.reuters.com/muniland/2012/12/06/california-moves-toward-open-source-ratings-for-city-bonds/ Warming Slopes, Shriveled Revenues. Snow can be an entrancing sight or an exhausting burden, but for communities dependent on winter sports, it is one thing above all else: revenue. In recent years, however, the cold cash that used to fall from the sky, giving an economic boost to 38 states, has become less reliable. Winters are getting warmer, less snow is falling, and snow seasons are starting later and ending earlier. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/07/warming-slopes-shriveling-revenues/ Cleaner Air May Lengthen Life Spans In The U.S.: Study. Continued improvements to air quality across the United States appear to extend life expectancy, new research out of Boston's Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) indicates. Researchers analyzed 545 U.S. counties over seven years (2000 to 2007) and observed an association between reductions in fine particulate matter and improved life expectancy. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/07/cleaner-air-life-span-pollution-longevity-live-longer_n_2244959.html?utm_hp_ref=health-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, 10 Dec 2012 14:45:48 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 10, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 10, 2012. 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 Grappling With Italian Steel Plant That Provides and Pollutes. Every morning, Graziella Lumino cleans the black soot from her kitchen window, which looks out on the hulking Ilva steel plant where her husband, Giuseppe Corisi, worked for 30 years. After he died this year at the age of 64 from violent, sudden-onset lung cancer, his friends put a plaque on the wall of their apartment building: “Here lived the umpteenth death from lung cancer. Taranto, March 8, 2012.” Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/world/europe/italy-grapples-with-giant-polluting-ilva-steel-plant.html Breathers beware: Particulate fouls icy Fairbanks. Stanford University Medical Center doctors gave Alex Lee a parting gift at the end of his heart operations earlier this year: surgeon's masks. They knew Lee, 19, would be returning home to Fairbanks, Alaska, and gave him the masks to protect himself from air polluted with suspended particulate that can cause irregular heartbeat or a heart attack. Diagnosed with Down syndrome, Lee is not in position to take his doctors' stronger suggestion—moving away from his hometown air. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22157747/breathers-beware-particulate-fouls-icy-fairbanks?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22157747/breathers-beware-particulate-fouls-icy-fairbanks?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/breathing-uneasy-wood-smoke-particulate-make-winter-air-dangerous-in-frigid-fairbanks/2012/12/09/41be9bcc-4244-11e2-8c8f-fbebf7ccab4e_story.html All eyes turn to EPA with major air standards due this week. Public health advocates, industry groups and lawmakers this week are anxiously waiting to see whether U.S. EPA will finalize major new air standards for small particles that come from power plants, boilers and car tailpipes. The agency faces a court-ordered deadline of Friday to set new national ambient air quality standards, or NAAQS, for fine particles, also referred to as PM 2.5 or soot. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/10/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CAP AND TRADE State ponders double carbon tax tangle. As Washington lawmakers warm up to the idea of a carbon tax to curb greenhouse gas emissions, California could be faced with a double taxation problem, having recently launched its cap-and-trade system. Both approaches -- a carbon tax and cap and trade -- put a price on the emissions that are heating the planet. But they do it in different ways. Use both systems at once, and companies could end up paying twice for the same pollution. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-unreliable-power-20121210,0,7497674,full.story CLIMATE CHANGE UN climate talks in Qatar boost Gulf awareness. Holding a high-profile U.N. climate change conference in Qatar, smack in the middle of the region that produces so much of the fossil fuel blamed for global warming, was a gamble. In the end, it displayed the hosts' drive for a leading place on the world stage and evoked a surprising new regional awareness of the environmental crisis. The two-week conference that ended Saturday challenged the tight control Qatar and other Gulf nations keep over their societies, and protesters took the brunt of that. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CLIMATE_TALKS_QATARS_ROLE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/science/earth/talks-on-climate-produce-promises-and-complaints.html?hpw&_r=0 http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22161144/un-climate-talks-qatar-boost-gulf-awareness?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://fresnobee.com/2012/12/10/3096151/un-climate-talks-in-qatar-boost.html#storylink=misearch http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/08/un-talks-nearing-weak-deal-on-climate/#ixzz2EfcSBml8 http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/09/after-climate-talks-eyes-on-us-for-next-round/#ixzz2Efc7ZtLX http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22157563/after-climate-talks-eyes-us-next-round?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22157563/after-climate-talks-eyes-us-next-round?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Report says ski resorts in trouble. Winter as we know it is on "borrowed time," according to a national environmental group that on Thursday said climate change has cost the ski resort industry $1 billion over the past decade. The report by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the nonprofit group Protect Our Winters comes after a frustratingly dry winter of 2011-12. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121208/A_NEWS/212080322&cid=sitesearch FUELS Energy experts say drilling can be made cleaner. In the Colorado mountains, a spike in air pollution has been linked to a boom in oil and gas drilling. A thousand miles away on the plains of north Texas, there’s a drilling boom, too, but some air pollution levels have declined. Opponents of drilling point to Colorado and say it’s dangerous. Companies point to Texas and say drilling is safe. The answer appears to be that drilling can be safe or it can be dangerous. Industry practices, enforcement, geography and even snow cover can minimize or magnify air pollution problems. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAS_DRILLING_AIR_POLLUTION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/some-energy-experts-say-drilling-can-be-done-responsibly-some-companies-better-than-others/2012/12/10/6eade69a-42fa-11e2-8c8f-fbebf7ccab4e_story.html More in E. Neb. powering vehicles with natural gas. Two years ago, all the operations vehicles at the Lincoln Airport, from maintenance trucks to police vehicles, ran on either unleaded gasoline or diesel fuel. Now 11, out of a fleet of 25 run on compressed natural gas. The airport used a federal grant to help pay to convert the first four vehicles to run on natural gas but has since paid to convert seven on its own. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/09/more-in-e-neb-powering-vehicles-with-natural-gas/#ixzz2EfgL8ck4 With a natural gas tax, everyone can benefit. Every once in a while, one of those economic policy dogfights comes along that involves huge sums of money and pits one powerful industry against another. The K Street lobbying machine goes into overdrive, dueling studies are commissioned, the think tanks start churning out policy briefs and rival committee hearings are scheduled on Capitol Hill. As a journalist, my rule has been to never let such a donnybrook go to waste. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/with-a-natural-gas-tax-everyone-can-benefit/2012/12/07/6c678b8a-3cd7-11e2-ae43-cf491b837f7b_story.html Conn. manufacturer building fuel cell plant. A Connecticut fuel cell manufacturer and Bridgeport officials are looking to strike a deal for a power plant that would be the biggest in the world to be run by a fuel cell. The Connecticut Post reports (http://bit.ly/U7LNvj) that FuelCell Energy Inc. and Bridgeport city officials are planning a 15-megawatt project. That would be enough electricity to power 15,000 homes. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22160797/conn-manufacturer-building-fuel-cell-plant?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com NY taking comment on revised gas drilling rules. New York regulators will begin taking public comments on revised gas-drilling rules this week, though an extensive environmental review outlining the basis for those rules remains incomplete, and neither drillers nor environmentalists are happy lately with the state's work on the issue. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22157329/ny-taking-comment-revised-gas-drilling-rules?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22157329/ny-taking-comment-revised-gas-drilling-rules?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com Fracking surveys find support in unexpected places. Many people in New York and Pennsylvania have voiced concerns about the safety of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas, or fracking. But two new surveys found that many people who live in New York City and the suburbs approve of drilling in parts of that state, and that Pennsylvania residents who live in an area of heavy drilling feel the benefits outweigh the risks. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22157356/fracking-surveys-find-support-unexpected-places?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Calif. drilling will trigger temblors -- industry expert. Drilling for oil in California is likely to trigger earthquakes but most will be very small, an industry consultant said here last week. Companies hoping to extract petroleum trapped in Golden State shale in many cases must drill long horizontal wells, said Michael Bruno, president of GeoMechanics Technologies, an analysis firm. As developers stimulate larger areas, he said, man-made or "induced" seismic reactions can occur. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/print/2012/12/10/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Chinese Firm Wins Bid for Auto Battery Maker. Wanxiang Group, a large Chinese auto parts maker, won a high-stakes auction on Sunday for assets of A123 Systems, the bankrupt American battery maker that was a centerpiece of the Obama administration’s loan program for electric vehicles. A123, which filed for bankruptcy in October after chronic losses and a damaging battery recall, said Wanxiang agreed to pay $256 million for its automotive and commercial operations, including its three factories in the United States. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/business/global/auction-for-a123-systems-won-by-wanxiang-group-of-china.html GREEN ENERGY Rise in renewable energy will require more use of fossil fuels. As the state attempts to reach the goal of producing one-third of its electricity from wind and solar sources by 2020, more reliable sources of traditional power will be needed as a backup. The Delta Energy Center, a power plant about an hour outside San Francisco, was roaring at nearly full bore one day last month, its four gas and steam turbines churning out 880 megawatts of electricity to the California grid. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-unreliable-power-20121210,0,7497674,full.story State's power-plant fight with JPMorgan Chase is a legacy of deregulation mess. It sounds like a bit of leftover mischief from the energy crisis: an electricity trader from Houston accused of hobbling California's power supply, leading to possible blackouts. State officials say JPMorgan Chase & Co. is blocking a critically needed power plant renovation in Huntington Beach. The California Independent System Operator…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/10/5043060/states-power-plant-fight-with.html#mi_rss=Our%20Regionhttp://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/10/5043060/states-power-plant-fight-with.html#mi_rss=Our%20Region#storylink=cpy OPINIONS Let's extend wind energy tax credit. As Congress struggles with debt reduction measures amid talk of the looming fiscal cliff, it is instructive to remember that more is at stake than just an across-the-board increase in income tax rates. Hanging in the balance as well is the wind energy tax credit, set to expire at year's end. Supporters are hoping that an extension of the tax credit is part of any cliff-avoidance deal. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/opinion/our-view/x1012270516/Lets-extend-wind-energy-tax-credit BLOGS U.S. Agricultural Research Is Faltering, Report Warns. A blue-ribbon panel of scientific and technology advisers to President Obama warns that the nation risks losing its longstanding supremacy in food production because research in agriculture has not kept up with new challenges like climate change, depleted land and water resources and emerging pests, pathogens and invasive plants. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/u-s-agricultural-research-is-faltering-report-warns/ Want to Live Longer? Breathe Clean Air Continuing declines in air pollution are linked to increasing life expectancy, a national study has found. From 2000 to 2007, air pollution, as measured in concentrations of particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, has continued to decrease, although not as rapidly as in the 1980s and ’90s. But even the slower rate of decrease is apparently lengthening life expectancy. Posted. http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/want-to-live-longer-breathe-clean-air/?partner=rss&emc=rss Gasoline prices on slow, steady decline. Gasoline prices have been falling slowly as the holiday travel season approaches. A gallon of regular sold for $3.68 on average in San Diego on Monday, down 20 cents from a month ago, according to AAA's daily fuel gauge report. A year ago, the average was $3.60.Analysts anticipate further price declines nationwide, with gas prices loosely tracking oil markets amid relatively low winter fuel demands. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/business/energy/gasoline-prices-on-slow-steady-decline/article_5dcd8d7e-7682-5ac4-86e4-e4ad2ee24b2d.html New York’s bike share gets a new new new new new launch date. New York City's bike-share program -- originally slated for late summer, then this fall, then some point next year, then who-knows-when-because-Sandy -- will be launched in May of 2013. If you believe the city, which you shouldn't, based on its prior track record. Posted. http://grist.org/news/new-yorks-bike-share-gets-a-new-new-new-new-new-launch-date/ Projections for future carbon emissions in U.S. keep dropping — but the emissions keep rising. The U.S. Energy Information Agency has a graph showing how its projections for U.S. carbon dioxide output keeps being revised downward. In case you didn't get the point, it has a big blue arrow pointing down. They probably had a few meetings to discuss whether the arrow was big enough. Posted. http://grist.org/news/projections-for-future-carbon-emissions-in-u-s-keep-dropping-but-the-emissions-keep-rising/ The U.N. climate conference wraps up, and now all of our problems are solved. There are pretty good odds that the atmosphere already contains enough greenhouse gases to push global temperatures more than 2 degrees Celsius higher by the end of the century, an increase broadly understood to mean catastrophic effects across the globe. If the atmosphere isn't yet at that point, the amount that we'd have to curb our pollution to prevent it becomes steeper and less realistic by the day. Posted. http://grist.org/news/the-u-n-climate-conference-wraps-up-and-now-all-of-our-problems-are-solved/ New petroleum refining lifecycle model finds the variability in GHG emissions from refining different crudes as significant as magnitude expected in upstream operations. Researchers at the University of Calgary (Canada) have developed the Petroleum Refinery Life-cycle Inventory Model (PRELIM). PRELIM uses a more comprehensive range of crude oil quality and refinery configurations than used in earlier models and can quantify energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with detail and transparency the better to inform policy analysis, the duo suggests. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/prelim-20121209.html IDTechEx forecasts $18B market for electric vehicle inverters in 2023. The market for electric vehicle inverters, including converters, for both hybrid and pure electric vehicles—land, water and air—will grow to $18 billion in 2023 according to a new report from IDTechEx, “Inverters for Electric Vehicles 2013-2023”. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/idtechex-20121208.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 Dec 2012 13:41:26 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 11, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 11, 2012. 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 smog law on state's horizon. For Tracy Renee of Gene's Auto Repair, a new California smog bill has some good elements. But she's worried the bill may leave many motorists scratching their heads. On Jan. 1, AB 2289 impacting California's smog check programs goes into effect as part of the larger effort to reduce air pollution. The new law impacts both motorists and automotive places which offer smog testing, or other businesses which specialize in and only offer smog tests. Posted. http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_22167025/new-smog-law-states-horizon Oil and gas company to pay fine for EPA violation near Bakersfield. A major oil and gas production company has agreed to pay $34,000 to resolve violations of the Clean Air Act, committed last year at the Kern Front Oil Field north of Bakersfield. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Vintage Production California LLC identified and self-disclosed the violations. The company constructed three steam generators at the oil field without first obtaining a permit for greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/Oil-and-gas-company-to-pay-fine-for-EPA-violation-182886611.html CLIMATE CHANGE RGGI cap needs to be strengthened by 44% to prevent emissions rise – study. Carbon dioxide emissions will rise in the Northeast unless officials dramatically change a regional carbon trading program, a new report from an environmental group warns. The report from Environment Northeast finds that the existing carbon cap of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) should be strengthened by at least 44 percent …Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/11/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS APNewsBreak: Texas judge halts oil pipeline work. A Texas judge has ordered TransCanada to temporarily halt work on a private property where it is building part of an oil pipeline designed to carry tar sands oil from Canada to the Gulf Coast, the latest legal battle to plague a project that has encountered numerous obstacles nationwide. Texas landowner Michael Bishop, who is defending himself in his legal battle against the oil giant, filed his lawsuit in the Nacogdoches County courthouse, arguing that TransCanada lied to Texans when it said it would be using the Keystone XL pipeline to transport crude oil. Posted. http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/keystone-xl-pipeline-work-stopped-84898.html AP Newsbreak: http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22167752/apnewsbreak-texas-judge-halts-oil-pipeline-work?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/apnewsbreak-texas-judge-halts-transcanada-oil-pipeline-work-over-landowners-fraud-claim/2012/12/11/2f91f1a0-43a3-11e2-8c8f-fbebf7ccab4e_story.html http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22167752/apnewsbreak-texas-judge-halts-oil-pipeline-work?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-12-11/transcanada-keystone-pipeline-temporarily-halted-in-texas http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/apnewsbreak-texas-judge-halts-oil-pipeline-work/article_1712b61c-de52-5d48-b155-284e71584f3b.html Airbus-Backed SG Biofuels Talking to Energy Companies to Expand. SG Biofuels Inc., backed by Airbus SAS, is talking to large energy companies including state oil producers in Africa and Southeast Asia over helping to develop its technology that turns plant material into vehicle fuels. The company is speaking to potential partners that want to mix biofuel with diesel or jet fuel as it plans to grow into new markets, Chief Executive Officer Kirk Haney said in a telephone interview. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-10/airbus-backed-sg-biofuels-talking-to-energy-companies-to-expand.html Spectra Energy to Buy First Oil Pipeline for $1.25 Billion. Spectra Energy Corp., the fourth- largest U.S. pipeline company, agreed to buy its first oil system from Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP and two Canadian pension funds for $1.25 billion in cash. The Express-Platte pipeline brings oil from Alberta and North Dakota’s Bakken Shale to refineries in Montana, Wyoming, and Illinois, Spectra said in a statement today. The agreement, Houston-based Spectra’s largest acquisition, includes the assumption of $240 million of debt. Posted. http://sfgate.adc.bloomberg.wallst.com/SFChronicle/Story?docId=1376-MEV6256JTSE901-22H8BD9OCOLAJU6PSUONT2GTTM Exxon: Natural gas exports in near future. North America could become a net exporter of natural gas by about 2020, Irving-based Exxon Mobil says in its latest outlook for world energy markets. The world's largest private oil and gas producer also said North America -- Canada, the United States and Mexico -- would be a net exporter of both crude oil and natural gas by about 2030. The company's annual outlook projects supply and demand trends to 2040. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/11/3097408/exxon-natural-gas-exports-in-near.html#storylink=misearch What is Methane Monitoring and Why Is It Important? Methane is the simplest alkane, a dominant greenhouse gas, second to carbon dioxide, that is composed of 1 carbon molecule and 4 hydrogen molecules. Its chemical formula is CH4. Lighter than air, this is likely the most bountiful organic compound on earth. Though it is quite crucial to transport from its source, this kind of gas is not lethal when inhaled, but it can cause suffocation as it reduces the quantity of oxygen taken in. The primary use of methane is as a fuel. The oxidization of this gas is highly exothermic. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/article/what-is-methane-monitoring-and-why-is-it-important 7 states plan to sue EPA over methane emissions. A coalition of seven states today announced plans to sue U.S. EPA over its failure to directly address methane emissions from the oil and natural gas industry. The Northeast states, led by Eric Schneiderman (D), the New York attorney general, notified the agency that they will claim in the lawsuit that the agency has violated the Clean Air Act by not acting to limit emissions of the greenhouse gas. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/11/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES California Energy Commission to award up to $3M for advanced natural gas engine R&D for Class 3–7 vehicles. The California Energy Commission (CEC) has issued a funding notice (PON-12-504) for advanced natural gas engine research and development concepts for light heavy-duty vehicles (LHDV) and medium heavy-duty vehicles (MHDV) (Classes 3–7) operated in fleets throughout California. There is $3 million available from this PON, with the possibility of additional funding from related program sources. The Energy Commission anticipates selecting at least three projects for funding. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/cec-20121211.html EPA Fuel Economy Guide 2013: Top ten are electric. The US Environmental Protection Agency has recently launched the 2013 edition of their annual Fuel Economy Guide. The top 10 are electric cars, and the new economy and environment label includes information on charge time and driving range for PHEVs and EVs. The EPA Fuel Economy Guide 2013 has listed the vehicles with the highest fuel economy in the most popular classes. It turns out, without any surprise, that the top 10 are electric cars (figures in mpg)…Posted. http://www.cars21.com/news/view/5077 HIGH-SPEED RAIL Money Trouble Ahead For High-Speed Rail Project? Politicians are asking the question: Is it time to pull the plug on California's high-speed rail? The fallout from Thursday's House Transportation Committee hearing may have the rail program against the ropes. A desperate Transportation Secretary Ray La Hood tried to convince panelists to drop a ban barring federal dollars going to California's bullet train. Posted. http://www.myfoxla.com/story/20309740/california-congressman-pull-the-plug-on-rail-project GREEN ENERGY Food processing plant to put wind turbine to work. A 55-meter wind turbine soon will be generating half of the power needed to operate Superior Farms' Dixon food processing plant, the company announced. The 1-megawatt turbine is expected to go online around the first of the year. Company officials said it speaks to their green credentials. "We are committed at every facet of our business to sustainability," said Ed Jenks, CEO for Superior Farms. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/09/5041652/food-processing-plant-to-put-wind.html#storylink=cpy Is solar right for your home? A week after Steve Schear had solar panels installed on the roof of his house in the Oakland hills, all he wanted to do was stand in his driveway and watch the electricity meter. "I just kept running outside to watch it run backwards," he says with a chuckle. Even with the novelty wearing thin six months later, Schear still gets a kick out of the idea that he, a 62-year-old lawyer with no technical expertise, has become his own green power producer. Posted http://www.sfgate.com/homeandgarden/article/Is-solar-right-for-your-home-4097935.php#ixzz2ElWArsqA California doubles down on solar power, as critics question cost, job results. The promise of clean and cheap solar energy is getting a second look in California, where utilities are required to get a third of their power from renewable power by 2020. But after millions in tax breaks and handouts, the industry's honeymoon is over with some counties and ratepayers, as the expected jobs, savings and revenue have not materialized. Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12/10/california-doubles-down-on-solar-power-as-critics-question-cost-job-results/#ixzz2Els0Tr9E MISCELLANEOUS Those displaced by rail project can get answers. The California High-speed Rail Authority recently said it will be in Merced on Thursday to answer questions from business and property owners about the project. The announcement follows a recent court decision that clears the way for officials to begin construction on the Merced-to-Fresno section of the project, despite several legal challenges. The 4 to 7 p.m. meeting at the Merced College Business Resource Center will be the first time authority officials have reached out personally to local residents who could be displaced by the project, according to city officials. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/12/11/2698951/those-displaced-by-rail-project.html Democrats plan overhaul of landmark environmental law. Gov. Jerry Brown and his fellow Democrats in the Legislature are planning an overhaul of a sweeping environmental law blamed for high business costs, permitting delays and lawsuits. At issue is the 1970 California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, signed by Gov. Ronald Reagan after a massive 1969 oil spill off Santa Barbara. CEQA's reach exceeds that of the federal National Environmental Policy Act by requiring an "environmental impact report" analyzing any project that needs state or local approval. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/11/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS California Democrats Covet Carbon-Market Funds. If you believe California officials, you might think the state’s long-running economic and budgetary problems are over, thanks largely to the flood of money from voter-approved increases in already high income and sales taxes. The Legislative Analyst’s Office is exuberant, releasing a budget report declaring, “The state’s economic recovery, prior budget cuts and the additional, temporary taxes provided by Proposition 30 have combined to bring California to a promising moment: the possible end of a decade of acute state budget challenges.” Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-10/california-democrats-covet-carbon-market-funds.html Dan Walters: California bullet train heading for political collision on funding. California's highly controversial bullet train project is headed for some kind of political collision. While the California High-Speed Rail Authority is trying to quickly spend billions of state and federal dollars on a starter line in the San Joaquin Valley, the tens of billions in federal funds needed to expand the project appear to be entangled in frantic federal budget negotiations. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/11/5045315/dan-walters-california-bullet.html#storylink=cpy Dan Morain: California oil companies may be warming up to a carbon tax. JOIN THE CONVERSATION: Would you support a carbon tax, as opposed to other rules to reduce greenhouse gases? Add your comment below. To write a letter, go to sacbee.com/sendletter. Oil companies and taxes are a little like gasoline and lit matches. The oil industry spent $93 million to blow up a 2006 initiative that sought to raise an oil severance tax. Taxes are not part of oil executives' DNA. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/09/5040005/dan-morain-california-oil-companies.html 'Green energy' could push up prices. California's aggressive plans to transition to a clean-energy economy could expose consumers and state government to higher than necessary prices, according to a report released Monday by the Little Hoover Commission. The Little Hoover Commission, a nonpartisan state oversight agency created in 1962, investigates state government operations. Monday's report largely focuses on California's renewable portfolio standard…Posted. http://www.dailydemocrat.com/news/ci_22167024/green-energy-could-push-up-pricdes Evidence Keeps Building Of Flaws In State’s Carbon Auction. California’s cap and trade regulators can’t seem to do anything right. Taxpayers, businesses and even some environmentalists are exposing the serious flaws with the state’s carbon auction. Small businesses have criticized the landmark greenhouse gas emissions law for being “the greatest threat to the growth of our business in California.” On the eve of the state’s inaugural cap and trade auction…Posted. http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/12/evidence-keeps-building-of-flaws-in-states-carbon-auction/ Wendell Cox: High-speed rail's fiscal cliff. Recently, the U.S. Government Accountability Office issued its preliminary report on the proposed California high-speed rail line from Anaheim to San Francisco. GAO cited a failure to conduct risk and uncertainty analyses with respect to cost estimates, and failure to document substantial cost elements, such as stations and operating costs. GAO backhandedly compliments the plans for containing "few mathematical errors." "Few mathematical errors," and insufficient risk analysis and cost documentation? This is just further indication of a project that has been poorly planned and administered. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/rail-380240-high-speed.html Karen Telleen-Lawton: California’s Carbon — Credit Where Credit Is Due. You may not have noticed a landmark day last month — I was busy greeting my newborn granddaughter. The important news: California joined the carbon credit world, selling the right to emit greenhouse gas pollution beginning in 2013. The auction generated more than $230 million from 23.1 million credits sold to 350 industrial businesses, including utilities, food processors and oil refineries. They paid $10.09 per ton, barely above the minimum price of $10. Posted. http://www.noozhawk.com/article/121012_karen_telleen-lawton_californias_carbon_credit/ BLOGS Forecasters are optimistic about U.S. carbon emissions. Should they be? Every year, the Energy Information Administration puts out its forecast of energy trends in the United States. And each year since 2009, the agency has become steadily more optimistic that the country will restrain its carbon-dioxide emissions in the decades ahead. In its latest forecast, the EIA expects U.S. carbon emissions from all energy sources to stay below 2005 levels through 2040 and beyond. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/12/10/forecasts-for-u-s-carbon-emissions-keep-dropping-is-this-too-optimistic/ Climate Change Consensus Is Virtually Unanimous. A recent analysis of papers appearing in peer-reviewed science journals shows published scientists to be virtually unanimous in their agreement that human-produced carbon dioxide emissions are a significant cause of global warming. You are free to disagree with my characterization of the consensus as "virtually unanimous," if you feel 99.83 percent doesn't qualify. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/neil-wagner/climate-change-consensus-_b_2273715.html ‘Get Ready for More Climate Change-Induced Hurricanes' -- The Coal Industry. If you had any serious doubt that (whatever Arizona Governor Jan Brewer may pretend) all of the serious players in the climate wars actually understand and believe that climate change is real, man-made, and enormously serious, here's another data point to settle a restless mind. The company that produces one-fifth of globally traded coal for steel making, the largest mining company on the planet, BHP-Billiton…Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carl-pope/get-ready-for-more-climat_b_2235055.html Lighter, better battery for small electric vehicles is SmartBatt's goal. A European consortium known as SmartBatt believes that something critical and essential is missing for pure electric vehicle technology – battery packs that aren't heavy and bulky. Therefore, SmarBatt's objective is to develop an innovative, multifunctional, light and safe energy storage system smartly integrated into electric cars. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/11/lighter-better-battery-small-electric-vehicles-smartbatt/ ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 13:05:42 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 12, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 12, 2012. 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 TIMELINE-Struggles of the EU's carbon market. German state prosecutors searched the offices of Germany's biggest lender, Deutsche Bank , on Wednesday in a widening probe linked to a tax evasion scheme involving the trading of carbon permits. The EU's flagship scheme to tackle climate change, the Emissions Trading System (ETS), forces some 12,000 emitters to buy carbon permits to cover their emissions output. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/12/eu-carbon-market-idUSL5E8NCAQ020121212 Plant hardiness zones and climate change. The year 2012 began with a revision of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, replacing one that came out in 1990. It’s a pretty cool map. As before, its zones are based on average lowest annual winter temperature, but thanks to advances in the ways temperatures are recorded (by factoring in the effects of features such as hills and lakes, for instance) it’s far more precise. It’s also fun to read. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/plant-hardiness-zones-and-climate-change/2012/12/11/08dbc7ac-3d95-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html FUELS Polish energy advisor: keep using coal for energy. An advisor to the Polish government says the country should keep using its coal for decades to come, despite a European Union policy of replacing the polluting fossil fuel with cleaner sources. Krzysztof Zmijewski, an expert on carbon gas emissions, said Wednesday that as global demand for energy rises, Poland should continue to use coal, a resource it has plenty of, though the technology needs to be cleaner to reduce carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Polish-energy-advisor-keep-using-coal-for-energy-4111746.php http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/12/3098712/polish-energy-advisor-keep-using.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/polish-government-advisor-keep-using-coal-despite-eu-plan-to-switch-to-clean-energy/2012/12/12/980facea-447a-11e2-8c8f-fbebf7ccab4e_story.html US crude oil supplies grew by 800,000 barrels. The nation's crude oil supplies increased last week, the government said Wednesday. Crude supplies grew by 800,000 barrels, or 0.2 percent, to 372.6 million barrels, which is 11.5 percent above year-ago levels, the Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said in its weekly report. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/12/3098679/us-crude-oil-supplies-grew-by.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Lawmakers seek to rekindle mining reform efforts. While the U.S. government reaps billions of dollars in royalties each year from fossil fuels extracted from federal lands and waters, it does not collect any money from gold, uranium or other metals mined from the same places, Congressional auditors reported Wednesday. The federal government doesn't even know how much these so-called "hard rock" mines produce from federal public lands in the 12 western states where most of the mining occurs, the Government Accountability Office report found. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/12/lawmakers-seek-to-rekindle-mining-reform-efforts/#ixzz2ErF7xEk4 VEHICLES All-electric mass transit rolling into town. The doors slide open Star Trek-style, and you step aboard the softly humming passenger bus. Wow, you tell the driver, that all-electric engine sure is quiet. "No, that's the air conditioning," he says. Well, then, when do you plan to start this bus? "Oh, it's already running," he says. "The air conditioning is the loudest part." For the first time since trolleys clanged through the streets of Stockton before World War II, all-electric mass transit is rolling into town. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121211/A_NEWS/212110318&cid=sitesearch Indy to replace entire fleet with electric, hybrid. Indianapolis wants to become the first major city to replace its entire fleet with electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles in a move the mayor says is designed to reduce U.S. reliance on foreign-produced fuels, city officials said Wednesday. Mayor Greg Ballard signed an executive order Wednesday mandating the city to replace its current sedans with electric vehicles. The city will also work with the private sector to phase in snow plows, fire trucks and other heavy vehicles that run on compressed natural gas, and it will ask automakers to develop a plug-in hybrid police car as one doesn't yet exist. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/12/indy-plans-to-move-city-fleet-to-electric-hybrid/#ixzz2ErFUfJNq HIGH-SPEED RAIL Can high speed rail swerve past fiscal cliff? The future of high speed rail in California, as it now stands, depends on the federal government. And depending on your perspective, the ambitious first-of-its-kind transportation project needs either just a little nudge from Washington in the short run... or a great big push before it's all over. Either way, it's far from a done deal. And the current fiscal cliff debate dominating the nation’s capital may not help. Posted. http://www.news10.net/news/california/article/220717/430/Can-California-high-speed-rail-avoid-fiscal-cliff GREEN ENERGY Rooftop Solar Just Keeps Getting Cheaper. The cost of installing solar panels on your roof has dropped significantly, according to a report by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and not just because of the notorious crash in photovoltaic panel prices. Materials and labor costs have fallen for typical solar installations as well, according to a different report the lab released in late November. Posted. http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/solar/photovoltaic-pv/rooftop-solar-just-keeps-getting-cheaper.html MISCELLANEOUS If Mercury Pollution Knows No Borders, Neither Can Its Solution. The harm that can be caused by consuming or breathing mercury is well known and terrible. A pregnant woman, eating too much of the wrong kind of fish, risks bearing a child with neurological damage. Adults or children exposed to mercury can experience mood swings or tremors, or sometimes even respiratory failure or death. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/business/energy-environment/if-mercury-pollution-knows-no-borders-neither-can-its-solution.html?_r=0 Opt-out fee for utility 'smart meters' gets public hearing. State regulators are holding a public hearing as they decide how much it should cost customers to opt out of so-called smart meters that report power consumption by radio frequency to utilities. Restoring an analog meter currently cost customers of San Diego Gas & Electric an initial $75 fee and $10 a month thereafter. Low-income customers pay a $10 fee and $5 a month. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/dec/11/opt-out-fee-utility-smart-meters-gets-public-heari/ OPINIONS Dan Walters: San Francisco's environmental hypocrisy exposed. San Francisco, it could be said, is the nation's capital of trendy environmentalism – as long as it affects someone else. This became very evident a few years ago when it was suggested – in a series of Bee articles, among other places – that San Francisco should give up its exclusive water supply from the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park, allowing it to be restored to its natural state. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/12/5048191/dan-walters-san-franciscos-environmental.html#mi_rss=Dan%20Walters Commentary: Are California oil companies warming to carbon tax? Oil companies and taxes are a little like gasoline and lit matches. The oil industry spent $93 million to blow up a 2006 initiative that sought to raise an oil severance tax. Taxes are not part of oil executives' DNA. But ever so cautiously, the industry is contemplating a California carbon tax. It's all very preliminary. But that oil representatives are mulling a tax reflects their concern about California's efforts to restrict greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/11/5044075/commentary-are-california-oil.html Global climate talks stall again. The following editorial appeared in the Baltimore Sun on Tuesday, Dec. 11: One can just imagine the future "Jeopardy" TV quiz show answer: The name of the international conference that took place in early December 2012 that critics universally panned for accomplishing little despite overwhelming evidence of a global ecological catastrophe on the horizon. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/12/5048761/global-climate-talks-stall-again.html BLOGS Solar Installations Surge on Lower Costs and Government Support. The number of solar installations grew strongly in the nation’s residential, commercial and utility sectors in the third quarter, largely as a result of falling costs, a federal investment tax credit and state programs that support renewable energies, the solar industry’s main trade group reported on Tuesday. The Solar Energy Industries Association said that 684 megawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity was installed in the quarter, 44 percent more than in the third quarter of 2011. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/11/solar-installations-surge-on-lower-costs-and-government-support/ ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 12:28:50 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 13, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 13, 2012. 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 finds contamination at former rocket test site. Lingering radioactive contamination exists at a former rocket test lab outside of Los Angeles that was the site of a partial nuclear meltdown, federal environmental regulators said Wednesday. The Environmental Protection Agency launched a $42 million study to investigate radioactive pollution at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, 25 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/12/epa-finds-contamination-at-former-rocket-test/#ixzz2ExBxJLp3 Study: Pa. wood-burning boilers a threat to health. A state program intended to promote renewable energy may instead be releasing high levels of pollutants, according to a report released Wednesday. The report, funded by the Heinz Endowment, says more than $70 million in state and federal grants and loans for renewable energy have largely gone to commercial and institutional biomass burners in Pennsylvania, which burn different types of wood products and employ minimal emissions controls. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/12/study-pa-wood-burning-boilers-a-threat-to-health/#ixzz2ExDoFgrH Area group wants more air pollution warnings. A local air quality coalition asked Kings County supervisors Tuesday to support a push for more emergency air alerts on high pollution days. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District only issues the emergency alerts for blowing dust or smoke or if the district is about to exceed federal limits on ozone. Instead, the group calling itself Stand For Clean Air in the San Joaquin Valley wants emergency warnings to be issued via email every day the air quality …Posted. http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/area-group-wants-more-air-pollution-warnings/article_4984ed78-449e-11e2-ad42-0019bb2963f4.html CLIMATE CHANGE Do Now #53: Cap-and-Trade for Carbon? California recently implemented a cap-and-trade program in order to cut carbon emissions. Would a carbon tax be better or worse? What do you think about cap-and-trade? How can companies be best regulated to reduce greenhouse gas pollution? Since the Industrial Revolution, there has been a substantial increase in carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. and countries around the world. The increase is due to human activities, namely the burning of fossil fuels for energy and transportation, industry processes and land-use changes. Posted. http://education.kqed.org/edspace/2012/12/11/do-now-53-cap-and-trade-for-carbon/ DIESEL EMISSIONS FUELS Environmentalists sue California, spark fracking feud. California doesn't regulate this new method of oil and gas exploration, so activists sued. It might lack the big hair and cowboy hats of Dallas, but the latest dustup between California’s oilmen and environmentalists is certainly dramatic. In October, a group of activists sued the state’s Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources over fracking, the controversial type of oil and gas exploration that involves blasting water, sand and chemicals deep into the ground. Posted. http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/environmentalists-sue-california-spark-fracking/content?oid=8569216 VEHICLES Coolant safety row puts the heat on Europe's carmakers. When engineers at Mercedes-Benz tasked with field-testing a revolutionary new refrigerant watched it ignite in a ball of fire before their eyes, it took a while for the significance of their discovery to sink in. Simulating a leak in the air-conditioning line of a Mercedes B-Class tourer, they had released a fine mixture of refrigerant and A/C compressor oil, which sprayed across the car's turbo-charged 1.6 litre engine. The substance caught fire as soon as it hit the hot surface, releasing a toxic, corrosive gas as it burned. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/12/uk-europe-cars-refrigerant-idUSLNE8BB01720121212 Mazda Leads Diesel Comeback as Dirty-Clunker Stigma Fades. Thirteen years after Tokyo’s governor killed Japanese interest in diesel cars by barring many of them from his city, the technology is making a comeback as manufacturers adopt innovations that improve its sooty image. Mazda Motor Corp. (7261) is betting big on cleaner diesels, creating a challenge to imports and hybrids as government incentives spur demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-11/mazda-leads-diesel-comeback-as-dirty-clunker-stigma-fades.html HIGH-SPEED RAIL High Speed Rail Moving Ahead Despite Criticisms. Republican Congressman Jeff Denham says California's $68-billion high speed rail system is looking for too much money from the federal government to help keep it on track. DENHAM: "We have no ability to come up with those funds, and that would be pulling money from other areas if we did." But Authority CEO Jeff Morales says right now the project has enough funding to build the first 130 miles of the system through the Central Valley. Posted. http://www.capradio.org/articles/2012/12/12/high-speed-rail-moving-ahead-despite-criticisms Landowners air concerns about high-speed rail. About 100 property owners packed an open house Wednesday to learn how their farms, homes or businesses could be affected by California's proposed high-speed train system. But rain throughout the day derailed a planned tractor rally and protest by farmers outside the Madera Community College Center, where the state High-Speed Rail Authority held its outreach meeting. What organizers hoped would be a dramatic show of four or five dozen tractors turned into a trickle of four or five. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/12/3099779/landowners-air-high-speed-rail.html GREEN ENERGY Lawmakers to push tax code change for renewable energy in 2013. A group of U.S. lawmakers said on Wednesday that they plan to push ahead in the new year to change the tax code so renewable energy projects could qualify for beneficial tax structures commonly used by pipelines and other energy-related companies. Democratic and Republican sponsors of proposed legislation said they think momentum is growing for their idea to allow wind, solar, biofuel and other renewable projects to structure as "master limited partnerships" (MLPs). Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/13/us-usa-tax-energy-idUSBRE8BB1V320121213 MISCELLANEOUS Bike Nation USA Bringing Bike Sharing To Downtown L.A. Hundreds of rental bikes will be deployed in early 2013 to the streets of Downtown Los Angeles. Bike Nation USA, a company based in Tustin, announced plans in April to place 175 bike rental stations in an area that will stretch from Union Station to Exposition Park. Derek Fretheim, the Chief Operating Officer of Bike Nation USA, said a launch date isn't set, but that it will be soon. “We’re going to have a beta launch in the first part of 2013," he said. Posted. http://www.neontommy.com/news/2012/12/bike-nation-usa-readies-downtown-los-angeles-bike-share-launch Whole Foods shuts down Del Monte Center recycling station; city cries foul. The recycling buyback station behind the Whole Foods in Monterey’s Del Monte Center is gone, to the delight of mall execs and dismay of city staff.
Before the closure, people could weigh their recyclables at the station and collect the California Redemption Value. But in early November, Whole Foods closed the station with support from mall managers who viewed it as a magnet for the homeless.
Posted. http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/2012/dec/13/buyback-blowup/ Election over, administration unleashes new rules. In recent weeks, the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed rules to update water quality guidelines for beaches and other recreational waters and deal with runoff from logging roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, meanwhile, has proposed long-delayed regulations requiring auto makers to include event data recorders - better known as "black boxes" - in all new cars and light trucks beginning in 2014. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/13/election-over-administration-unleashes-new-rules/#ixzz2ExCjDhT0 OPINIONS The Farming Forecast Calls for Change. WEATHER and agriculture have always been intertwined in most every part of the world. No matter which continent, farmers have always been at the mercy of rainfall and temperature. Thus it is curious that most of the conversation surrounding climate change — how the weather has been modified by industrial activity — revolves around reducing emissions (climate “mitigation”) and not on how to modify agriculture to new weather conditions. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/opinion/global/the-farming-forecast-calls-for-change.html?_r=0 Solar Panels for Every Home. WE don’t think much about pitch pine poles until storms like Hurricane Sandy litter our landscape with their splintered corpses and arcing power lines. Crews from as far away as California and Quebec have worked feverishly to repair or replace those poles as utility companies rebuild their distribution systems the way they were before. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/opinion/solar-panels-for-every-home.html Blind faith of climate change deniers endangers us all. This week’s Newsweek magazine features a couple of essays -- one about Jesus and one about climate change -- that demonstrate the difference between simple faith in the unknowable and blind faith that denies scientific fact. An article by Bart D. Ehrman, professor of religious studies at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, discusses things that people believe about the birth of Christ that are actually not in the Bible. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/topoftheticket/la-na-tt-blind-faith-20121213,0,4041383.story Why California should invest in the electric bus. California’s greenhouse gas (GHG) cutting goals from the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) loom large as our state begins a cap-and-trade market on Jan. 1, 2013. The program will reduce emissions from the utility, industrial, and transportation sectors, which cause 85 percent of the state’s total CO2 emissions. Yet the policies in place are too modest, and California should update and electrify public transit. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/perspective/why-california-should-invest-in-the-electric-bus/article_f35458b2-4cba-52af-8aa3-67a729c7dd8a.html BLOGS Mercedes-Benz Offers E-Class Sneak Preview. The major step forward in the engine compartment will take the form of a new diesel engine, coming next fall, which could improve fuel efficiency to something in the 40-plus miles-per-gallon range. This turbocharged 2.1-liter, four-cylinder model, designated as the E250 BlueTEC, will produce 190 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The vehicle will also come equipped with 4-Matic all-wheel-drive. The rear-wheel-drive, V-6 powered E350 BlueTEC is being dropped. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/mercedes-benz-offers-e-class-sneak-preview/ Good News in the Fight Against Bad Air. "Today is a bad air day." You may have heard this warning on drive-time radio, especially on muggy summer days. On "orange" days, the air is too thick with pollution for infants, seniors, and people with breathing difficulties, who are warned they should stay indoors. Those people may miss work, school, and other important activities. "Red" days are unhealthy for everyone. Even those in good health are urged to avoid strenuous activities and time outdoors on these bad air days. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-sheldon-whitehouse/good-news-in-the-fight-ag_b_2293770.html Photo Essay: Postcards From the Second Most Air Polluted City in the World. It's coming on winter, and Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia, is making its annual transformation into the second most air polluted city in the world. According to a comprehensive study on urban air quality conducted by the World Health Organization, Ulaanbaatar follows closely behind the world's most polluted city, Ahwaz, Iran. Ulaanbaatar houses a third of the country's total population of 3.1 million people, and the habits of these overcrowded residents are seriously damaging the air. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nina-wegner/ulaanbaatar-air-pollution_b_2245035.html 15 Burning Questions (and Answers) for Biofuels in 2013. Policy, finance, technology, feedstocks, markets, prices, opposition. Here’s what’s on your mind, as the critical 2013 deployment year for biofuels looms. Great topic suggestions from Digest readers have been pouring into my inbox all week — for the private, pre-ABLC briefing that we are prepping for DC this April. Posted. http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2012/12/13/15-burning-questions-and-answers-for-biofuels-in-2013/ ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 13:02:46 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 14, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 14, 2012. 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 Tighter Soot Standard on Way. The Obama administration is expected to tighten national standards for soot pollution, paving the way for rules that could force industry to further limit emissions from smokestacks and tailpipes. Responding to a federal-court ruling, the Environmental Protection Agency will set the health standard for fine-particulate matter, or soot, to a new level of 12 micrograms per cubic meter, several environmental groups say. The previous standard of 15 micrograms per cubic meter was unchanged since George W. Bush's administration. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323981504578179371801481886.html?mod=googlenews_wsj http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-to-tighten-soot-rules-by-20-percent/2012/12/14/5d39c0c0-4541-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html http://modbee.com/2012/12/14/2495679/epa-to-tighten-standards-for-soot.html#storylink=misearch http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/14/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE California planning low-carbon oasis where cars aren't king. Vacant industrial land near salt marshes and a derelict rail bridge seem like an odd setting for the beginnings of a lifestyle revolution in scenic California, but planners in the San Francisco Bay suburb of Newark view it as just that. With an eye on the state's new land-use laws to cut carbon output, Newark's city council just voted to convert 200 acres owned largely by chemical companies into a development that should set the trend for a state bent on decarbonizing its economy, the world's ninth largest. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/14/us-california-carboneconomy-idUSBRE8BD0RB20121214 Human link to climate change stronger than ever - draft report. International climate scientists are more certain than ever that humans are responsible for global warming, rising sea levels and extreme weather events, according to a leaked draft report by an influential panel of experts. The early draft, which is still subject to change before a final version is released in late 2013, showed that a rise in global average temperatures since pre-industrial times was set to exceed 2 degrees Celsius by 2100, and may reach 4.8 Celsius. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/14/climate-ipcc-idUSL5E8NEA0U20121214 California Carbon Rises to Eight-Week High After Quebec Votes. California carbon futures rose to the highest price in almost two months after Quebec approved changes to allow links between their cap-and-trade systems. Carbon markets in Quebec and California will be connected next spring, and their governments will hold the first joint auction of carbon allowances in August, Yves-François Blanchet, Quebec’s minister of sustainable development, environment, wildlife and parks, said in a statement on his agency’s website. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-14/california-carbon-rises-to-eight-week-high-after-quebec-votes.html Climate change taken seriously by insurance industry, study says. Paying out billions of dollars here and billions of dollars there has made the global insurance industry a believer in climate change, according to a new study that shows insurance companies are staunch advocates for reducing carbon emissions and minimizing the risk posed by increasingly severe weather events. “Climate change stands as a stress test for insurance, the world’s largest industry with U.S. $4.6 trillion in revenues…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-change-that-you-can-believe-in-20121213,0,2503364.story?track=rss California king tides used as climate change lesson. Environmental advocates in Northern California plan to take photographs of some of the highest tides of the year to draw attention to what climate change could do decades from now. The so-called king tides are expected to peak during the next several days, with surges over 9 feet in some areas. The phenomenon is caused by a unique alignment of the sun, moon and earth. The tides already produced some minor flooding in low-lying areas. Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121213/WIRE/121219790/1033/news?Title=California-king-tides-used-as-climate-change-lesson Even skeptics now warming to climate change, says new poll. Global warming skeptics - those who don't trust scientists - are increasingly believers in climate change, says an AP-Gfk poll. Among skeptics, 61 percent now say temperatures have been rising over the past 100 years. That's up from 47 percent in 2009. Nearly 4 out of 5 Americans now think temperatures are rising and that global warming will be a serious problem for the United States if nothing is done about it…Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2012/1214/Even-skeptics-now-warming-to-climate-change-says-new-poll Quebec poised to link with Calif. greenhouse gas market. California appears set to have at least one partner in its economywide greenhouse gas market next year with the province of Quebec completing regulations yesterday to set up a trading system. The regulations authorize a trading system starting Jan. 1. Quebec's system will have quarterly auctions starting at $10 per ton and increasing by 5 percent annually plus the rate of inflation, as California's system does. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/14/9 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Phony carbon emission credits join long list of hard-sell investment scams. The lure of carbon credits, tradeable permits allowing smokestack industries and other industrial projects to emit carbon dioxide, is being used in boiler room operations that fraud artists organize to separate the unwary from their savings. While the multibillion-dollar annual trade in carbon emission permits issued by the European Union and the United Nations to curb global carbon emissions is now a well-established and legal business, the credits being offered by fraudsters are rarely more than hot air. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/14/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS With U.S. awash in natural gas, why aren’t fuel bills falling? Here’s a question a lot of homeowners are asking: If there is so much cheap natural gas floating around the United States, why aren’t people’s fuel bills falling? The answer is that fuel is only part of the fuel bill. A lot of what homeowners pay goes to building new power lines or tending to aging gas pipelines. In one recent rate case, a utility got a rate increase to cover pension costs. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/with-us-awash-in-natural-gas-why-arent-bills-falling/2012/12/14/a26dcc48-45a7-11e2-8061-253bccfc7532_story.html VEHICLES Electric Cars: More Models, Cheaper Prices Coming in 2013. The electric car has already gone through so much—from being pumped up as a game changer to all but being declared a flop—that it’s easy to forget the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf have only been widely available to the public since 2011. Even as sales for these two plug-in pioneers have fallen well short of projections, automakers aren’t giving up on electric cars. Posted. http://business.time.com/2012/12/13/electric-cars-more-models-cheaper-prices-coming-in-2013/ HIGH-SPEED RAIL High Speed Rail Authority meeting today in Merced. The High Speed Rail Authority will hold a public meeting this today to address the concerns of property owners. The meeting is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Merced College, Business Resource Center located at 630 W 19th St. The proposed high-speed rail station and tracks will likely displace dozens of businesses and home owners in the city of Merced. Posted. http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2012/12/13/2704757/high-speed-rail-authority-meeting.html MISCELLANEOUS Capitola City Council bans plastic bags, 25 cent charge for paper bags. The City Council unanimously approved a ban on plastic bags and a 25 cent fee on paper bags on a 3-2 vote Thursday night. Mayor Stephanie Harlan said she preferred to set the paper bag charge at 10 cents, but after council members Dennis Norton and Ed Bottorff voted for the 25-cent fee, she cast the third yes vote. The county instituted a 10-cent charge that will go up to 25 cents in March. Posted. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/capitola/ci_22190469/capitola-city-council-bans-plastic-bags-25-cent?source=rss Philippines green-lights electric tricycles. The Philippines will roll out 100,000 electric tricycles, or e-trikes, in an effort to replace the estimated 3.5 million gas-powered motorcycles and tricycles already in use in the country. "It will not stop at e-trike. It will expand horizontally to other transports like buses ... and once that happens, nationwide, the country's consumption of oil will come down," said Asian Development Bank energy specialist Sohail Hasnie. A launch date has not been set for the $500 million project. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/14/12 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY OPINIONS Editorial: McCarthy's bid to kill high-speed rail is baffling. No place in California stands to reap the rewards of high-speed rail more than the San Joaquin Valley. That is why the opposition of U.S. House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield, and Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, is so puzzling. At a one-sided House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing last Thursday – where the California High-Speed Rail Authority was not invited to testify – the two made it clear they want to kill future federal funding for high-speed rail in California. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/14/5053567/mccarthys-bid-to-kill-high-speed.html BLOGS Climate Change Poll Reveals Nearly 4 In 5 Americans Acknowledge Rising Temperatures. Nearly 4 out of 5 Americans now think temperatures are rising and that global warming will be a serious problem for the United States if nothing is done about it, a new Associated Press-GfK poll finds. Belief and worry about climate change are inching up among Americans in general, but concern is growing faster among people who don't often trust scientists on the environment. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/14/climate-change-poll_n_2298231.html Doctors Urge U.S. to Block Gas Export Terminals. More than 100 physicians urged the Obama administration on Thursday not to approve the construction of liquefied natural gas export terminals until more is known about the health effects of hydraulic fracturing, the drilling process that has opened the way for a big increase in domestic gas production. A group called Physicians, Scientists and Engineers for Healthy Energy, which conducts research into unconventional natural gas production…Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/13/doctors-urge-u-s-to-block-gas-export-terminals/ German automakers renew push for clean-diesel sales in US. Germany's largest automakers are renewing their pitch for their clean-diesel vehicles in the US as a way for consumers to combat high gas prices without having to resort to the (often) even pricier hybrid and plug-in hybrid options. Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz parent Daimler, Porsche and Volkswagen, along with auto-component supplier Bosch, have joined together in a campaign titled: "Clean Diesel. Clearly Better." Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2012/12/13/german-automakers-renew-push-for-clean-diesel-sales-in-us/ ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 12:33:01 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 17, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 17, 2012. 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 air pollution standards restrict soot particles. The Obama administration announced a new air pollution standard Friday that would bring about a 20% reduction in microscopic particles of soot emitted by coal-fired power plants and diesel vehicles that contribute to haze and respiratory ailments. The new limit, fought by industry and welcomed by environmentalists, marks the first time the Environmental Protection Agency tightened the soot standard since it was established 15 years ago. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/health/la-na-obama-soot-20121215,0,3200679.story http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/dec/17/obama-tightens-air-pollution-limits-soot Coachella Valley air quality funding: Paving proposal cut. The $51 million in air quality improvement funds from a natural gas peaker plant now under construction in North Palm Springs continued to generate controversy Friday as Coachella Valley residents called for further changes in the list of 26 projects recommended to receive a slice of the funding. Posted. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20121214/NEWS07/312140006/Coachella-Valley-air-quality-funding-Paving-proposal-cut?nclick_check=1 Is EPA’s soot rule a sign for the second term? EPA’s critics say they see ill omens for President Barack Obama’s second term in Friday’s announcement of significantly tightened air pollution limits on soot from exhaust pipes and smokestacks. The finished rule that emerged from the agency Friday is mostly as stringent as the one that EPA submitted for White House review in the summer. Posted. http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/is-epas-soot-rule-a-sign-for-the-second-term-85118.html#ixzz2FKhnoWLF Air advocates applaud new soot standards, cautiously celebrate effects on climate. Although proponents of U.S. EPA's newly completed standards for particulate matter (PM 2.5) are confident it will reduce the number of premature deaths and hospital visits in the country, it's not clear how much it will do to control climate change. EPA announced the final rule for the new national ambient air quality standards for PM 2.5 on Friday, tightening the restriction from 15 micrograms per cubic meter to 12 micrograms, averaged over a 12-month period. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/17/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY City plans shift from sprawl to low-carbon, multifamily housing. The City Council of Newark, a San Francisco Bay suburb, has voted to convert 200 acres of land into a development that should set the trend for a state bent on decarbonizing its economy. The development, on land that is owned largely by chemical companies, will have 2,500 new homes, mostly town houses and apartments, built within walking distance of stores and schools and connected by a new train to jobs in Silicon Valley across the Bay. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/17/10 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Some cleaner-burning cookstoves aren't clean enough – study. Ceramic cookstoves in sub-Saharan Africa are proving effective at easing some health symptoms associated with inhalation of smoke and other pollutants from traditional cooking fires. But a key metric of health in children -- pneumonia burden -- appears to be unaffected by the stoves' deployment in one western Kenyan district. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/17/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Sacramento nonprofit will screen projects for state cap and trade market. A Sacramento nonprofit will play a key role in California's new "cap and trade" greenhouse gas market, designed to reduce carbon emissions. The American Carbon Registry was approved as one of two "offset project registries" - organizations that will screen projects aimed at reducing carbon in the atmosphere. The other registry is Climate Action Reserve of Los Angeles. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/14/5055223/sacramento-nonprofit-will-screen.html California appoints carbon watchdogs for cap-and-trade program. Two nonprofits, including one with operations in Sacramento, were appointed to key roles Friday in California's new cap-and-trade carbon market. The American Carbon Registry and Climate Action Reserve were named "offset project registries" – groups that scrutinize projects designed to curb greenhouse gases. Their appointment was announced by the California Air Resources Board, which runs the market and held its first auction a month ago for carbon emissions allowances. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/15/5055809/california-appoints-carbon-watchdogs.html Amid climate change, a need to define and promote energy innovation. Today’s energy technologies won’t be able to propel the world to deep reductions in global carbon emissions, Stepp writes, but improving energy innovation and developing new designs can. The United States and the world face an urgent imperative to transform its energy system by developing and deploying low or zero-carbon technologies on a dramatic scale. Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2012/1217/Amid-climate-change-a-need-to-define-and-promote-energy-innovation Offset companies cleared to enter Calif. Market. California regulators last week gave their stamp of approval to companies waiting to collect and sell carbon offsets for use in the state's economywide cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases. With the state's stamp of approval on several major links in the offset supply chain, market participants expect a stream of offsets to be available in the coming months for companies that have to reduce their emissions under the state's landmark greenhouse gas law, A.B. 32. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/17/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS ARB issues solicitation for zero-emission off-road equipment projects. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) issued a grant solicitation for demonstration projects on zero-emission off-road equipment. ARB expects that up to $1 million will be available for this solicitation, although funding could be increased to a maximum of $5 million depending on the availability of state funds. The potential number of projects selected for funding is expected to be two, but up to five projects may be selected, the agency said. The solicitation was issued under AB 118 Air Quality Improvement Program’s (AQIP)…Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/arborzev-20121215.html FUELS USDA awards $10M in grants to spur production of biofuels, bioenergy and biobased products. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $10 million in research grants to spur production of biofuels, bioenergy and biobased products that will lead to the development of sustainable regional systems and help create jobs. Vilsack highlighted the announcement with a visit to Michigan State University, a grant awardee. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/usda-20121215.html Plan for U.S. oil exports brings talk of economic boon, fears of failure. Not long ago, the U.S. was facing the prospect of spending billions to import pricey natural gas from overseas to heat our homes, fuel electrical generation and run our city buses. The industry was furiously building terminals to handle what was sure to be enormous ship traffic from places like Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12/17/plan-for-us-oil-exports-brings-talk-economic-boon-fears-failure/#ixzz2FKuLnbpc VEHICLES Nissan shifts Leaf marketing strategy. Nissan admits its launch strategy on the Leaf miscalculated the short-term market potential for the electric vehicle and says it will do a better job of targeting potential buyers. Al Castignetti, Nissan vice president for sales, said sales momentum began slowing in February when Nissan started supplying Leafs to dealers in all 50 states, regardless of whether their local markets had adequate EV charging infrastructure. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/nissan-shifts-leaf-marketing-strategy/article_fcd7ac4f-17df-5c47-a299-74aadd99f289.html Manteca rolls out hybrid garbage trucks. Two new hybrid garbage trucks will be put into commission in Manteca on Monday. The San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District provided grant funds for their purchase. The two residential garbage trucks are the first in California to feature Parker's RunWise Advanced Series Hybrid Drive System, the city said in a news release. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/12/15/2497543/manteca-rolls-out-hybrid-garbage.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Texas project boosts hybrid automobile and smart metering use. A Texas project is testing and analyzing the impacts of alternative vehicles, renewable electricity generation and energy efficiency technologies. The project -- Pecan Street Inc., a 1-square-mile neighborhood in Austin -- has attracted support from General Motors, utilities and high-tech firms, and the Department of Energy, which has granted it $10.4 million. Private investors have given $14 million. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/17/11 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Radioactive hot spots remain at former research facility's site. A federal study shows hundreds of hot spots at the 2,850-acre facility, overlooking the west San Fernando Valley, half a century after a partial nuclear meltdown there. Half a century after America's first partial nuclear meltdown, hundreds of radioactive hot spots remain at a former research facility overlooking the west San Fernando Valley, according to a recently released federal study. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-meltdown-study-20121218,0,2007532.story Fuel cell park in Bridgeport moves forward. Dominion Energy has agreed to buy a proposed fuel cell site in Bridgeport in a deal that will allow the long-planned clean energy project to go forward. The deal announced Friday means a 15-megawatt fuel cell park will be built in Bridgeport by the end of 2013. The park is expected to generate enough power for 15,000 homes. Posted. http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22204119/fuel-cell-park-bridgeport-moves-forward?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com Eye on Environment: Ventura mission sets environmental example with Christmas trees. Who has the greenest Christmas tree in Ventura County? The winner might be the San Buenaventura Mission, which has two 120-foot Norfolk pines beautifully illuminated for Christmas. Earlier this year, crews took down a lighting system that had been in the branches of the mission's trees for 30 years and replaced it with strings of light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/15/ventura-mission-sets-environmental-example-with/#ixzz2FKVwcOMG Sierra Club gives Capitol administrators lumps of coal for the holidays. Sierra Club leaders and Capitol Hill-area residents filled a stocking with coal this morning as a symbolic holiday president for U.S. Capitol administrators, protesting what they say is the ongoing burning of coal at the Capitol Power Plant. Environmental advocates are urging residents to attend a public hearing this evening over a proposed permit to develop a combined heat and power system. They say it would effectively loosen air pollution standards and allow the continued burning of coal. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/17/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Blue and red counties both voted to steer money to green energy. When Californians in November approved a ballot measure expected to generate as much as $2.75 billion for green energy, support came from counties that politically are very different. Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange and San Francisco counties are among those that backed Proposition 39, which mandated that all businesses operating in California pay taxes based on their in-state sales and use half the new revenue to fund clean energy. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/17/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Cost-cutting is focus of latest DOE offshore wind power grant. The wind blowing off the coasts and lakeshores of the United States could power the country four times over, according to the Department of Energy. Yet to date, not a single offshore wind turbine has been built. The problem, in a word, is cost -- technology and installation costs remain prohibitively high, and the bar is set to rise further with the expiration of the production tax credit for wind energy at the end of this year. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/17/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Wyden and Murkowski: The Great Senate Hope for Energy Innovation Policy in 2013. West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin recently proclaimed in reference to possible energy policy in 2013, “I have never been more optimistic than I am right now with Ron Wyden and Lisa Murkowski.” That’s a bold statement in an energy policy debate known more for its political pitfalls like Solyndra and a Senate known more for mind-numbing gridlock and inaction. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewstepp/2012/12/17/wyden-and-murkowski-the-great-senate-hope-for-energy-innovation-policy-in-2013/ MISCELLANEOUS Santa Ana-based Edison Mission Energy files for bankruptcy. Edison Mission Energy, an unregulated power-generating unit of Rosemead-based Edison International, said Monday that it had filed for bankruptcy and had agreed on a reorganization plan with its parent company and holders of its $3.7 billion in debt. “We are pleased to have reached this agreement, which we believe reflects the long-term value potential of our organization,” Pedro Pizarro, president of Edison Mission Energy, said in a statement. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-edison-mission-energy-20121217,0,6930849.story?track=rss OPINIONS Analysis: California refiners dreamin' of shale oil face hurdles. Two years on, a gusher of U.S. shale oil production is finally starting to seep into California, where refiners in the country's most isolated fuel market are waging an increasingly desperate battle to curb costs. It's far from certain, however, that cut-priced light crude from eastern Texas or North Dakota will arrive quickly enough or in sufficient volume to revitalize California plants in the same way new domestic oil has rescued East Coast refiners. The nation's toughest permitting rules, complex new carbon emission limits and a lack of pipeline infrastructure might delay the flow of large-scale shipments until the end of next year or beyond. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/17/us-oil-california-idUSBRE8BG0GD20121217 EDITORIAL: We need these new rules on soot emissions. Fifth-grader Jaxin Woodward was diagnosed with severe asthma as an infant. She takes medication daily to control her symptoms. But, as Woodward told U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulators who were in Sacramento last summer to gather testimony about proposed new emission standards, asthma "is only part of who I am. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/16/3103864/editorial-we-need-these-new-rules.html#storylink=misearch Our View: It's not just fireplaces. Some local residents are fuming over a proposal to further restrict fireplace use in the San Joaquin Valley. They see it as another example of government infringing on their freedoms and as an economic hardship. Here's what some of these fired-up opponents may not know: • This is only the latest of many steps to reduce ozone and particulate pollution in the valley over the last two decades. The mandates have come in five overlapping phases. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/12/15/2497157/its-not-just-fireplaces.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy Global Warming. I recently watched a benefit on TV for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. The audience filled Madison Square Garden. Just imagine - hurricane remnants stretching all the way to New York and the Jersey Shore. I hear there will be more relief campaigns for Bopha victims - stunned, reeling in their need, far greater than their government’s expectation or their own. Typhoons don’t usually come south that far. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/17/global-warming/?print=1 What different climate hardiness zones mean. Gale Brownell writes: I often see reference in your column and others to hardiness zones. Sunset magazine has one scale with which I am familiar, but your column and others sometimes refer to a different hardiness scale. Are there different zones in different parts of the North Bay? What is the source of that scale and what zone are we in? Posted. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20121215/LIFESTYLE/212151005 Hedging Climate Bets: Hurricane Sandy and Climate Adaptation. With environmental issues, crisis often spurs action. Nuclear safety was ramped up after Three Mile Island. Hazardous waste laws were strengthened after Love Canal. And oil transport laws were refined after the Exxon Valdez spill. Along the same lines, Hurricane Sandy has generated renewed attention to the potential effects of climate change and the issue of climate adaptation. Posted. http://www.environmentalleader.com/2012/12/17/hedging-climate-bets-hurricane-sandy-and-climate-adaptation/ BLOGS Amid Global Trade Fight, a Bright Year for Solar Use in the U.S. The United States installed more solar panels in 2012 than in any previous year, according to a new report, with residential use of solar power up 70 percent over 2011. By the end of this year, homeowners, businesses and utility companies will have installed enough photovoltaic cells to produce 3.2 gigawatts (or GW) of electricity in the United States, up from 1.9 GW last year, according to the U.S. Solar Market Insight Report. Posted. http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/amid-global-trade-fight-a-bright-year-for-solar-use-in-the-u-s/ What’s Your Meme? Changing the Climate Change Conversation. Yes we can! Ermahgerd. Occupy. I had a dream. Haters gonna hate. Tear down this wall! Gangnam Style. Drill, baby, drill. We are constantly bombarded by memes in our daily lives. Some spontaneously flare up and then burn out as quickly as they appeared, while others stick around for decades. We hardly consider their presence, much less contemplate their possible influence on our lives. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/17/whats-your-meme-changing-the-climate-change-conversation/?partner=rss&emc=rss Climate Change Revisited: It Isn't Just For Natural Scientists Anymore. Last week I shared an interview with Stephan Lewandowsky, a cognitive psychologist and Winthrop Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Western Australia. Lewandowsky's recent research investigates why people do or don't accept the lessons of contemporary climate science, and in my post we discussed the provocative new finding that rejecting anthropogenic climate change is associated with conspiratorial thinking. Posted. http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/12/17/167293723/climate-change-revisited-it-isn-t-just-for-natural-scientists-anymore Global Toll of Air Pollution: Over 3 Million Deaths Each Year. We have long known that many people die from air pollution. What is surprising is how high the public health toll is and that it is largely preventable. A new study in The Lancet, developed by an international group of experts, finds that outdoor air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (soot) contributes to more than 3.2 million premature deaths around the world each year. That’s a terribly high number – and much more people than previously thought. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dpettit/global_toll_of_air_pollution_o.html Climate Change Revisited: It Isn't Just For Natural Scientists Anymore. Last week I shared an interview with Stephan Lewandowsky, a cognitive psychologist and Winthrop Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Western Australia. Lewandowsky's recent research investigates why people do or don't accept the lessons of contemporary climate science, and in my post we discussed the provocative new finding that rejecting anthropogenic climate change is associated with conspiratorial thinking. Posted. http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2012/12/17/167293723/climate-change-revisited-it-isn-t-just-for-natural-scientists-anymore ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 11:41:04 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 18, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 18, 2012. 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 officials do slow burn deciphering pollution rules. On Thursday, San Joaquin Valley air quality officials will vote on a plan to clean up one of our most dangerous forms of pollution. Then they'll turn around and write the plan all over again. That's because the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday tightened the standard on which this week's plan is based. Posted. http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121218/A_NEWS/212180318&cid=sitesearch CAP AND TRADE California Carbon Rises to Eight-Week High After Quebec Votes. California carbon futures rose to the highest price in almost two months after Quebec approved changes to allow links between their cap-and-trade systems. Carbon markets in Quebec and California will be connected next spring, and their governments will hold the first joint auction of carbon allowances in August, Yves-François Blanchet, Quebec’s minister of sustainable development, environment, wildlife and parks, said in a statement on his agency’s website. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-14/california-carbon-rises-to-eight-week-high-after-quebec-votes.html CLIMATE CHANGE EU competition finds no carbon storage winner. The first round of a European Commission contest to fund carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects failed to find a winner, the EU's executive said on Tuesday, deepening doubts the technology can emerge soon to help cut emissions. CCS developers will be able to re-submit bids for a second round, which Environment Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said should be concluded within a year." Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/18/us-europe-energy-ccs-idUSBRE8BH0G120121218 Air Resources Board approves carbon offset registries. Two nonprofit organizations were approved Friday as offset registries by the California Air Resources Board. American Carbon Registry of Sacramento and Climate Action Reserve of Los Angeles are carbon offset programs that have stringent standards for project validation. They will help evaluate the validity of carbon offsets under California’s cap-and-trade regulation. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2012/12/17/air-resources-board-carbon-offset-regist.html FUELS Oil extends rise on US budget deal optimism. The price of oil pushed towards $88 a barrel on Tuesday amid hopes that U.S. leaders can reach a budget deal and avoid automatic tax and spending cuts that might dampen growth and crimp demand for crude. By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark oil for January delivery was up 56 cents at $87.76 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/18/oil-extends-rise-on-us-budget-deal-optimism/#ixzz2FQaVN5IK http://modbee.com/2012/12/18/2500190/oil-extends-rise-on-us-budget.html#storylink=misearch VEHICLES AP IMPACT: China surpasses US as top global trader. Shin Cheol-soo no longer sees his future in the United States. The South Korean businessman supplied components to American automakers for a decade. But this year, he uprooted his family from Detroit and moved home to focus on selling to the new economic superpower: China. In just five years, China has surpassed the United States as a trading partner for much of the world, including U.S. allies such as South Korea and Australia, according to an Associated Press analysis of trade data. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/18/ap-impact-china-surpasses-us-as-top-global/#ixzz2FQWbmkkv Anderman: Li-ion capacity far outstripping demand as automakers focus more on hybrids, less on full EVs. Global automotive Li-Ion battery production capacity is outstripping demand five-to-one as automakers refocus on hybrids and away from full electric vehicles, according to Dr. Menahem Anderman’s recently released xEV Industry Insider Report. Anderman is founder and chairman of the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference (AABC); the 13th annual conference is scheduled for February 2013 in Pasadena, California. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/anderman-20121218.html Highly efficient non-precious metal electrocatalyst for ORR in fuel cells and metal-air batteries. A team of S. Korean and American scientists led by Dr. Jaephil Cho at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) reports on a newly developed, highly efficient non-precious metal electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in the journal Angewandte Chemie. Inspired by the tetrapod structures of a breakwater, the novel material for electrodes is created from affordable melamine foam and carbon black. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/cho-20121218.html GREEN ENERGY Germany must do more to hit green energy goals-report. Germany's government must do more to achieve its energy efficiency targets and keep up the momentum in its shift to renewable power, a group of independent experts said in a report seen by Reuters. Commenting on a separate report on progress towards renewable energy targets to be considered by the cabinet on Wednesday, the experts from a group of German research institutes said policy had to be given more urgency if the government was to achieve its aims. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/18/germany-energy-policy-idUSL5E8NI9GO20121218 Solar boosts German renewable energy in 2012. German utilities say this year's share of renewable energies in the country's electricity production is forecast to rise some 15 percent on the year, largely on the back of a continuing solar-power boom. Utilities' industry association BDEW said Tuesday the share of wind, solar and biomass power is expected to rise from 20 percent in 2011 to 23 percent this year. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/solar-boosts-german-renewable-energy-in/article_03d1f98c-2782-5203-b0ec-5c53d5296abc.html http://modbee.com/2012/12/18/2500342/solar-boosts-german-renewable.html#storylink=misearch OPINIONS Thomas Mulcair on cap-and-trade. As part of last week’s conversation with the NDP leader, I asked a few questions about cap-and-trade and putting a price on carbon. Are you ready, are you prepared, to fully engage a debate on carbon pricing? It has to be part of the equation. When I talk about including the price and polluter pay, that’s part of the equation, of course. And that’s a basic principle of sustainable development. Do you worry at all that you’ve lost that debate already by the fact that they can throw the phrase “carbon tax” at you? Posted. http://www2.macleans.ca/2012/12/17/thomas-mulcair-on-cap-and-trade/ BLOGS Energy Agency Sees Global Coal Boom Unabated, Europe’s Binge Temporary. The International Energy Agency’s Medium-Term Coal Market Report, issued today in Paris, is essential reading for anyone wishing to maintain a reality-based view of global trends in fuel use. While many energy forecasts end up wrong, on short time scales like this, that’s less true. Some bullet points: The proportion of global energy supplied by coal is approaching that for oil. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/energy-agency-sees-global-coal-boom-unabated-europes-binge-temporary/ On Our Radar: A Global Coal Boom. Coal will come close to surpassing oil as the world’s top energy source by 2017, the International Energy Agency predicts. Demand for coal will increase in every region of the world except the United States, where the fuel is being pushed out by natural gas, the agency says. [International Energy Agency] The Environmental Protection Agency’s inspector general says it will investigate whether the agency uses separate internal e-mail accounts to conduct government affairs and if so, whether its actions comply with federal laws. [The Hill] Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/on-our-radar-a-global-coal-boom/ Nuclear watchdog faults Mitsubishi over San Onofre equipment tests. Federal regulators found flaws in the process followed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in building and testing mock-up replacement parts for the troubled San Onofre nuclear plant. The plant has been out of service for more than 10 months because of excessive wear on tubes carrying radioactive water, one of which leaked a small amount of radioactive steam in January, prompting the plant's shutdown. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/12/nrc-mitsubishi-san-onofre.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+lanowblog+%28L.A.+Now%29 Soot pollution may cause as many as 3.2 million premature deaths a year. There are several factors that probably contribute to what the Atlantic Cities refers to as St. Louis’ “asthma epidemic.” High rates of smoking, for example. And: air pollution. The number of children suffering from asthma in the St. Louis metropolitan area is nearly three times the national average, according to Asthma Friendly St. Louis, a community program designed to help school-age kids and teens manage respiratory illness. Posted. http://grist.org/news/soot-pollution-may-cause-as-many-as-3-2-million-premature-deaths-a-year/ ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 11:23:15 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 19, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 19, 2012. 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 Carbon Capture Funding Goes Unclaimed. Hundreds of millions of euros in European Union funding for technology that could turn coal into a clean fuel remains unclaimed because neither companies nor governments were willing to match the EU funds, the European Commission said Tuesday. The failure of the EU program to fund a single project illustrates how, after early hopes that it could become a key tool in the fight against climate change, the development of technology to capture and store the carbon dioxide emissions of power stations has lost momentum. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324407504578187393050121484.html?user=welcome&mg=id-wsj NY groups want details on fracking health study. A coalition of environmental groups is calling on state officials to release details of a health impact study for shale gas drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing. Representatives of a dozen prominent organizations signed a letter sent Tuesday to Health Commissioner Nirav Shah and Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens. They asked them to make public the health impact study being evaluated by a scientific panel. They also called for public hearings in potentially affected areas and a 60-day public comment period on the health study. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/18/ny-groups-want-details-on-fracking-health-study/#ixzz2FWCU9CST CLIMATE CHANGE Norway seeks to slow deforestation as climate "first aid". Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, whose country is rich thanks to offshore oil and gas, said new measures to slow global warming were needed now because a new U.N.-led climate deal is due to be agreed only in 2015 and enter into force from 2020. "In the meantime we must give the climate first aid," he told a news conference. "The government will step up its efforts to slow deforestation and work to cut emissions that give the greatest climate effect in the shortest time," he said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/19/us-climate-norway-idUSBRE8BI12S20121219 Climate change is taking place before our eyes' – the weather of 2012. When in September the Arctic sea ice that freezes and melts each year shrank to its lowest extent ever recorded and then contracted a further 500,000 sq km, the small world of ice scientists was shocked. This was unprecedented, yet there was nothing unusual about the meteorological conditions in the Arctic in 2012, no vast storms to break up the ice, or heatwave to hasten the retreat. Only widespread warming of the atmosphere could have been responsible for less ice growth during the winter and more ice melt during the summer, the scientists concluded. Posted. http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2012/dec/18/weekly-review-2012-weather-environment FUELS California releases first-ever fracking regulations. Wading into one of the hottest environmental debates in the nation, California on Tuesday released its first-ever regulations for hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," the increasingly common -- and controversial -- practice of freeing oil and gas from rock formations by injecting chemicals under high pressure into the ground. The rules proposed by the administration of Gov. Jerry Brown would require energy companies to disclose their fracking plans to the state 10 days before starting operations. The companies also would be required to post to an online database with the locations of their work and the chemicals used, and they would face new rules for testing and monitoring their wells. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_22219233/california-releases-first-ever-fracking-regulations Other related articles: http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics-government/ci_22219245/california-releases-first-ever-fracking-regulations?source=rss http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Draft-of-fracking-regulations-released-4129560.php http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-me-fracking-20121219,0,5163638.story http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121218/A_NEWS/121219881&cid=sitesearch IEA Issues Gloomy Outlook for U.S. Coal Industry. The U.S. coal industry faces a difficult period at home as shale gas reduces the fuel's share in power generation, but its problems are set to worsen as export markets diminish and large swaths of the industry could have to shut, the International Energy Agency warned on Tuesday. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324407504578187231686200320.html?KEYWORDS=fuels Supply Data Boost Oil Futures. U.S. crude futures gained 1.7% after weekly government data on domestic oil inventories showed falling supplies and a jump in demand for some fuel products. U.S. oil stockpiles fell by one million barrels last week to the lowest level since October, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Stocks of distillate, which include heating oil and diesel, fell by 1.1 million barrels, and a measure of demand for those fuels rose 20% from a week ago. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324461604578189382022480070.html?KEYWORDS=fuels VEHICLES Pike Research makes 10 electric vehicle predictions for 2013. Sales of plug-in vehicles (PEVs) in 2013 will continue to outpace the first years of hybrid vehicle sales as more than 210,000 PEVs will be sold globally and more than three dozen PEV models will debut, according to a year-end free whitepaper published by Pike Research, that makes 10 specific predictions about electric vehicles in 2013. More broadly, Pike envisions PEV sales in California—the leading market for such in the US—expanding into smaller urban and suburban regions with more dealers beginning to offer the vehicles. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/pike10-20121218.html GREEN ENERGY Britain sets five-year plan to spur solar, biomass energy. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) sought to give investors the certainty they need to build new solar and biomass power plants by deciding subsidy levels over the 2013-2017 period. Support levels for the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry, while higher than initial proposals made by the government in September, will be cut by 20 percent from current levels starting in April 2013, when the new scheme takes effect. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/18/us-renewable-subsidies-britain-idUSBRE8BH0R620121218 MISCELLANEOUS Portable sensors enable monitoring of pollution on smart phones; inferring pollution maps with greater granularity. Computer scientists at the University of California, San Diego have built a portable pollution sensors that transmit transmit their air quality readings to smart phones, allowing users to monitor air quality in real time. In a study of 16 commuters using CitiSense, reported in a paper at the Wireless Health 2012 conference, the CitiSense measurements were found to vary significantly from those provided by official regional pollution monitoring stations, enabling the identification of pollution hot spots and microenvironments that would otherwise be difficult using typical monitoring. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/citisense-20121219.html OPINION COLUMN-Turning gas into a transport fuel: John Kemp. Gas producers urgently need to find a way to turn abundant and low-value gas supplies into more valuable transport fuels like gasoline, diesel and jet. The fracking revolution has so far had a bigger impact on gas than oil. Soaring production has depressed the price of dry gas, and condensates like propane and butane, even as the price of crude oil remains close to record levels (on an annual basis). Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/19/column-kemp-gas-into-oil-idUSL5E8NJ3PQ20121219 Matt Ridley: Cooling Down the Fears of Climate Change. Forget the Doha climate jamboree that ended earlier this month. The theological discussions in Qatar of the arcana of climate treaties are irrelevant. By far the most important debate about climate change is taking place among scientists, on the issue of climate sensitivity: How much warming will a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide actually produce? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has to pronounce its answer to this question in its Fifth Assessment Report next year. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323981504578179291222227104.html?KEYWORDS=climate+KEYWORDS%3Dclimate+change Maybe Climate Change Just Really Isn't A Problem After All? As far as I’m concerned the great unknown of climate change has been what is the climate sensitivity? Everything else that we’ve been told I’m just fine with. That methane and CO2 are greenhouse gases for example. That uncontrolled emission of them might well lead to problems: that there has been warming since the industrial revolution. I’m just fine with all of those points, just as I am with the Stern Review’s point that the solution, if it is happening, is a carbon tax. Posted. http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/12/19/maybe-climate-change-just-really-isnt-a-problem-after-all/ EDITORIAL: Chilling climate-change news. When politicians want evidence to back up their belief that mankind is heating up the planet, they turn to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The Nobel Prize-winning organization was responsible for the famous hockey-stick graph used to demonstrate the purported warming effect of man-made carbon dioxide. IPCC’s notoriety has turned out to be a two-edged sword, as leaks continue to undermine the group’s core message. In a statement Friday, IPCC officials confirmed the authenticity of a leaked draft of the forthcoming Fifth Assessment Report on climate. Skeptics seized upon a chart within the document that compares past IPCC predictions with actual temperature readings. Posted. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/dec/18/chilling-climate-change-news/ BLOGS Energy Agency Sees Global Coal Boom Unabated, Europe’s Binge Temporary. The proportion of global energy supplied by coal is approaching that for oil. China and India see unabated growth in coal burning through the next five years. The surge in exports of coal from the United States to Europe should peak soon. The news release — appended below — says it all, and the findings it describes reinforce my assertion awhile back that there’s plenty of denial to go around in the arguments over climate and energy trends and policies. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/energy-agency-sees-global-coal-boom-unabated-europes-binge-temporary/ Scientists See Big Impacts on U.S. Ecosystems from Global Warming. A new analysis by dozens of scientists provides a useful update on measured and anticipated impacts of human-driven climate change on ecosystems from western forests to coastal waters. The report, “Impacts of Climate Change on Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Ecosystem Services,” is one of a suite of studies feeding into what will be the third National Climate Assessment, an overarching analysis of impacts on everything from transportation systems to public health. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/19/scientists-see-big-impacts-on-u-s-ecosystems-from-global-warming/ On Our Radar: A Global Coal Boom. The record for converting natural gas to liquids is spotty. Nonetheless, a vast petrochemical complex in Qatar that is converting natural gas to diesel fuel reflects the betting that the global demand for cleaner diesel fuel will soar. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/on-our-radar-a-global-coal-boom/ Come January, Another Try on Nuclear Waste. The incoming chairman of the Senate Energy Committee suggests that the Energy Department should stop billing utilities more in waste disposal fees than the department is actually spending on addressing nuclear wastes. And he wants the department to pay for moving some of the wastes out of spent fuel pools at the nation’s highest-risk reactors and into dry casks. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/come-january-another-try-on-nuclear-waste/ Toyota to Pay Record $17.35 Million Fine for Delaying Recall. For the fourth time, Toyota has agreed to pay a fine to settle allegations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the automaker delayed a safety recall. In a news release Tuesday morning, the safety agency said Toyota would pay $17.35 million, the maximum allowed by law. Toyota did not admit any wrongdoing and said it was paying the fine to avoid a continued dispute with the safety agency. The automaker said the same thing when agreeing to pay the three previous fines, which totaled $48.8 million. Posted. http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/toyota-to-pay-record-17-35-million-fine-for-delaying-recall/ Earth Log: Healthy air may emerge from bureaucratic confusion. A new federal standard announced last week will force us to wipe out soot and other tiny debris in the air and save hundreds of lives by 2020 -- if we can just get through all the confusion. What confusion? It might seem like we're already on track. On Thursday, the local air district will consider a new plan with a 2019 target to clean up these dangerous tiny specks. But the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is aiming the new cleanup plan at the old 2006 standard. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/18/3106515/earth-log-healthy-air-may-emerge.html#storylink=misearch Variable congestion charges may yield more stable air quality and improved health. This is concluded in a study by researchers from the School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and the Faculty of Science at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. CO2 emissions from cars are contributing to the global warming due to the so-called greenhouse effect. The purpose of congestion charges in large cities is to reduce both congestion and CO2 emissions from cars. However, researchers at the University of Gothenburg show that if the congestion charges are set right, they will also contribute to a more consistent air quality by evening out the emissions of nitrogen dioxide, particulate matter and carbon monoxide, implying positive health effects. Posted. http://phys.org/news/2012-12-variable-congestion-yield-stable-air.html Better Air Quality In Hong Kong. In early December of 2012 I attended the Better Air Quality conference in Hong Kong along with my colleagues Barbara Finamore and Rich Kassel. I had never been to Hong Kong before and wound up cutting a wide swath through their dumpling supply, especially here. Their subway system, the MTR, also blew me away: clean, graffiti-free cars come every 2 minutes during rush hour and the fares are cheap by U.S. standards. Port-related air pollution was the issue that drew me to the conference. Hong Kong has a serious air quality problem, well-documented by a local NGO called Civic Exchange. Posted. http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/dpettit/better_air_quality_in_hong_kon.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 Dec 2012 16:06:05 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 20, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 20, 2012. 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 and gas sites a source of ozone pollution, say U.S. EPA petitioners. U.S. EPA should step up air quality monitoring for ozone near oil and gas sites to protect public health, a coalition of 30 green groups said in a formal petition filed with the agency yesterday. The groups also asked the agency to issue guidelines to industry on control technologies that reduce emissions. The petition was filed by the Environmental Defense Fund, the Clean Air Task Force, the Natural Resources Defense Council and others. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/print/2012/12/20/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CAP AND TRADE California utilities are benefiting from cap-and-trade program. Most businesses say California's new cap-and-trade program, designed to curb greenhouse gas emissions, is a job killer that will suck billions of dollars out of the economy. But you won't hear too many protests from some of the biggest businesses of all: California's electric utilities. From SMUD to Southern California Edison, the state's utilities have been placed in a special class that effectively cushions companies and their ratepayers from the cost of reducing carbon emissions. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/20/5066969/california-utilities-are-benefitting.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy http://www.modbee.com/2012/12/20/2503167/california-utilities-are-benefitting.html#storylink=misearch http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/20/3108004/california-utilities-are-benefitting.html#storylink=misearch CLIMATE CHANGE UK's Met Office sees 2013 likely to be one of warmest on record. Global temperatures are forecast to be 0.57 degrees above the long-term average next year, making 2013 one of the warmest years on record, Britain's Met Office said on Thursday. "It is very likely that 2013 will be one of the warmest 10 years in the record which goes back to 1850, and it is likely to be warmer than 2012," the Met Office said in its annual forecast for the coming year. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/20/climate-global-metoffice-idUSL5E8NK9TN20121220 Genetically Enhanced Seeds to Get Carbon Credits. The United Nations-overseen emissions-market regulator has approved a system of rules that will allow farmers using genetically improved seeds to claim carbon offset credits, according to Arcadia Biosciences Inc. Nitrogen-efficient seed allows farmers to maintain high crop yields while using less fertilizer, the Davis, California- based agricultural-technology company said today in a statement. Nitrogen is a large source of agricultural emissions because less than half the volume applied to fields globally is used by plants…Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-19/genetically-enhanced-seeds-to-get-carbon-credits.html FERC will track impact of Calif. cap and trade on power prices. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has begun monitoring California's cap-and-trade system after a Republican commissioner warned the program could have a chilling effect on larger Western power markets. FERC Commissioner Philip Moeller said today the state program has the potential to be a "wealth transfer from other states to California" and must be carefully monitored to avoid a repeat of the 2001 energy crisis that rocked California. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/20/12 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Rising San Francisco Bay threatens the Silicon Valley high-tech mecca. The headquarters of Facebook sits on a sprawling campus beside San Francisco Bay, a scenic location with water bordering three sides. The 57-acre site features two- and three-story office buildings in shades of red and orange, outdoor basketball hoops, and sofa-sized benches on large lawns. Just outside the property, however, is a reminder that this location has a major drawback. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/20/1 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY U.S. can store 2,400B metric tons of CO2 – report. The United States holds several centuries' worth of space underground for storage of carbon dioxide in rock formations, oil and gas reservoirs, and unminable coal seams, the Department of Energy said in a report yesterday. The new numbers came as part of an update of the department's carbon utilization and storage atlas, a broad analysis of the locations of the nation's power plants and industrial emitters, and the options for capturing and storing their greenhouse gases. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/12/20/5 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY FUELS Jerry Brown proposes new California 'fracking' regulations. The Brown administration on Tuesday released draft regulations that would require oil companies for the first time to disclose where in California they use hydraulic fracturing, a controversial but little regulated method of oil extraction. The proposed rules, issued by the state Department of Conservation, were immediately criticized by environmentalists as too lenient. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/19/5063698/jerry-brown-proposes-new-california.html#storylink=cpy http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Draft-of-fracking-regulations-released-4129560.php http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics-government/ci_22219245/california-releases-first-ever-fracking-regulations?source=rss Chevron pipe choice found to meet codes. Chevron's choice of metal pipe to replace fire-damaged sections of its Richmond refinery meets industry standards and fire codes, according to two experts advising city officials who must decide whether to approve the company's reconstruction plans. Both experts, however, stopped short of endorsing Chevron's decision to use a type of metal known as 9 Chrome, which the company says will resist the corrosion that destroyed a section of pipe at its refinery and led to the huge Aug. 6 blaze. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Chevron-pipe-choice-found-to-meet-codes-4133489.php#ixzz2FcPXYb4H Power Company Loses Some of Its Appetite for Coal. American Electric Power, or A.E.P., the nation’s biggest consumer of coal, announced that it would shut its coal-burning boilers at the Big Sandy electric power plant near Louisa, Ky., a 1,100-megawatt facility that since the early 1960s has been burning coal that was mined locally. Big Sandy this year became a symbol of the plight of the coal industry nationwide. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/business/energy-environment/aep-has-plan-to-close-kentuckys-big-sandy-power-plant.html?_r=0 Navajo Nation moves to buy reservation coal mine. The Navajo Nation is moving toward taking over a coal mine that supplies one of two power plants on the reservation, in an effort to preserve jobs and protect one of its top revenue sources. The tribe and BHP Billiton announced Wednesday they've outlined terms that would put the Navajo Mine in the hands of the tribe in June. BHP would run the mine in northwestern New Mexico until 2016, when its agreement to supply coal to the Four Corners Power Plant is set to expire. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/19/navajo-nation-moves-to-buy-reservation-coal-mine/#ixzz2Fc2LHGy9 E.U. panel endorses proposed anti-dumping tariff on U.S. ethanol. A proposal to set a nearly 10 percent tariff on U.S. ethanol imports is making its way through the European Commission. Yesterday, the commission's Antidumping Advisory Committee endorsed the 9.6 percent duty, which was proposed earlier this month as part of an ongoing investigation into accusations that the U.S. ethanol industry was dumping its product into the European market. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/20/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Eco-friendly Calif. poised to be top U.S. oil producer in 10 years. Even as it seeks to be an environmental leader, California is a top contender for the title of the largest oil-producing state in the next 10 years, laying the foundation for the country to reach its once lofty goal of energy independence. The potential for booming production comes from the Bureau of Land Management's sale last week of 15 leases covering about 18,000 acres of Southern California's Monterey Shale. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/print/2012/12/20/10 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Idling ambulances wearing out their stay. Ambulances and the wail of sirens are commonplace near the California Pacific Medical Center campus in San Francisco's Pacific Heights, where there is plenty of goodwill for first-response crews. But some local shopkeepers and restaurateurs say the friendliness sometimes gets taxed when ambulances sit idling in loading zones and prevent delivery truck drivers from dropping off their loads...Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Idling-ambulances-wearing-out-their-stay-4133528.php#ixzz2Fc0ocXhe GREEN ENERGY China to overhaul struggling solar panel industry. China's government says it will encourage mergers among producers of solar panels to strengthen an industry that has suffered huge losses due to excess production capacity and price-cutting wars. The announcement, which analysts have expected for months, comes as Beijing faces trade sanctions by the United States and possibly Europe over complaints its support for solar panel producers violates trade rules. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/19/china-to-overhaul-struggling-solar-panel/#ixzz2Fc3IrYjt BLM moving forward with world's largest solar power plant. The Obama administration is nearing final approval of what would become the world's largest solar power project on a strip of Southern California desert near the McCoy Mountains that could eventually power hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is expected today to announce that the Bureau of Land Management has completed a final environmental impact statement (EIS)…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/20/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Can Calif. panel maker prosper in dark times for U.S. industry? A solar panel maker opened a new factory here yesterday, expanding at a time when others in the industry are struggling to survive. Soitec, a France-based maker of semiconductor materials, formally inaugurated its 176,000-square-foot facility that will make concentrated photovoltaic, or CPV, panels. When it is running at full speed next year, the plant will employ 450 people. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/20/16 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Reducing waste: Relegate food scraps to green waste -- not garbage. With the holidays fast approaching, friends and families are making plans to get together and celebrate. An important part of most festivities is food; whether you're serving up a traditional turkey or a vegan feast, what you do after the meal is consumed is just as important as what is prepared. I recently read that in the U.S., about 40 percent of food is tossed in the garbage. Posted. http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22224881/reducing-waste-relegate-food-scraps-green-waste-not?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com BLOGS Fewer Americans Say Their Actions Can Slow Climate Change. Americans may be buying more compact fluorescent light bulbs these days, but they are less likely to set their thermostats low during the winter than they were four years ago and have less confidence that their actions will help to curb global warming, according to a new survey. The Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University's Center for Climate Change Communication found that the proportion of people who say their own energy-saving actions…Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/fewer-americans-say-their-actions-can-slow-climate-change/?pagewanted=print Exploring a Proposed Carbon Diet for American Power Plants. Earlier this week, Daniel Lashof of the Natural Resources Defense Council blogged about the group’s new proposal for cutting carbon dioxide emissions from American power plants — not just at the plant itself but by creating incentives for end users to conserve electricity. That means you, me and the businesses that we rely on. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/19/exploring-a-proposed-carbon-diet-for-american-power-plants/ Battle expected over disclosure of 'fracking' chemicals. Under pressure from state lawmakers and environmentalists, Gov. Jerry Brown's administration released draft regulations for hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," the controversial drilling process driving the nation's oil and gas boom. As The Times reported Wednesday, the proposed rules would require energy companies to disclose for the first time the chemicals they inject deep into the ground to break apart rock and release oil. Posted. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/12/environmentalists-industry-signal-fight-over-fracking-secrets.html Air pollution now kills more people than high cholesterol. The Lancet recently unveiled a major overview of global health risks — and one of the most eye-catching papers highlighted just how deadly air pollution has become over the past two decades. In 2010, 3.2 million people died prematurely from outdoor air pollution, mainly in Asia, and mainly from soot and other pollutants from diesel cars and trucks. That means outdoor air pollution is now a bigger health risk than high cholesterol — and, along with obesity, one of the fastest-growing health risks in the world. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/12/20/air-pollution-now-kills-more-people-than-high-cholesterol/ How air pollution impacts worker productivity. Of course, air pollution has negative impacts on human health, but does it also lead to an unproductive workforce? It seems that way: [R]esearchers found that a 10 ppb (parts per billion) change in average ozone exposure results in a significant 5.5 percent change in agricultural worker productivity. “These estimates are particularly noteworthy as the U.S. EPA is currently moving in the direction of reducing federal ground-level ozone standards,” said Dr. [Matthew] Neidell, PhD. Posted. http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/how-air-pollution-impacts-worker-productivity/8529 U.S. Taxis Get Greener; Hybrid & Electric Cabs Increasing. For decades, the stalwart of the taxi ranks has been the full-size sedan. Sturdy, simple and cheap to buy, cars like Ford's Crown Victoria have become part of the landscape in cities like New York. But with rising gas prices and concerns over emissions, things are really changing. While not yet a dominant force in taxi fleets, hybrid and electric vehicles are increasingly popular as a way of cleaning up city fleets. Posted. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1081211_u-s-taxis-get-greener-hybrid-electric-cabs-increasing ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 16:17:57 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 21, 2012. From: gmassey@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 21, 2012. 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 imposes new pollution limits on boilers, cement plants. The Environmental Protection Agency finalized rules late Thursday to curb pollution from industrial boilers and cement plants, agreeing to give industry additional time for compliance and easing some emissions limits from earlier proposals. The new rules, which have been enmeshed in a fierce regulatory and legal fight for more than a decade, drew criticism from environmentalists. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-imposes-new-pollution-limits-on-boilers-cement-plants/2012/12/21/4ba43d6c-4aec-11e2-b709-667035ff9029_story.html http://www.enn.com/pollution/article/45374/print http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2012/12/21/2 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Appeals upholds EPA authority over emissions. An appeals court on Thursday denied a request from industry groups to rehear a case in which the court upheld the Environmental Protection Agency’s climate change regulations. The industry challenge failed to win a majority vote by judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit for an en banc (before the entire bench) rehearing of Coalition for Responsible Regulation v. EPA, which sought to challenge the EPA’s power to address greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/appeals-upholds-epa-authority-over-emissions-85381.html#ixzz2FiLoE7kr No-burn days likely to double by 2014. Fireplace burning could be severely restricted much sooner than initially proposed, and people with cleaner-burning wood and pellet stoves are likely to get more leeway than they do now, air quality officials decided Thursday. The number of no-burn days in Stanislaus County is expected to more than double for people with open-hearth fireplaces by 2014, two years earlier than expected, officials unanimously decreed with the landmark vote after hours of testimony from opposing sides. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/12/20/2504353/no-burn-days-likely-to-double.html#storylink=misearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Fire officials issue carbon monoxide alert. In anticipation of stormy weather accompanying the official arrival of winter, Sacramento Fire Department officials urge residents to check their carbon monoxide detectors and make sure they have one on each level of their home. Often referred to as the silent killer because it is odorless, colorless and lethal, carbon monoxide can be found in gases released when fuels such as charcoal, gasoline, propane, wood, oil and methane burn incompletely. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/12/21/2504356/fire-officials-issue-carbon-monoxide.html#storylink=misearch BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CAP AND TRADE Edison Snafu Skews Demand in First California Carbon Sale. California, the world’s ninth- largest economy, has Edison International (EIX) to thank for selling all of its carbon permits in the state’s first auction. The company unintentionally bid for twice as many allowances as were for sale. Edison, owner of the state’s second-biggest power utility, submitted a proposal in the wrong format and offered to buy 21 times more allowances than it wanted on Nov. 14, documents obtained by Bloomberg show. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-12-20/edison-snafu-skews-demand-in-first-california-carbon-permit-sale.html Cap and trade dividend for ratepayers. Twice each year, all California households will collect a small "climate dividend" from money raised by the state's new global warming cap-and-trade system, utility regulators decided Thursday. The dividend will be worth an estimated $20 to $40 and will appear as a credit on utility bills, possibly starting in mid-2013. The idea won unanimous approval from the California Public Utilities Commission as part of a broader plan to use some of the revenue from cap and trade. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Cap-and-trade-dividend-for-ratepayers-4136343.php#ixzz2FiGYQn00 http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_22233824/residential-utility-customers-see-climate-dividend?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_22233824/residential-utility-customers-see-climate-dividend?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com DIESEL EMISSIONS Judge dismisses Calif. bus, truck pollution suit. A federal judge has dismissed a trucking association's lawsuit against new rules aimed at reducing truck and bus pollution in California. The suit left the court's jurisdiction when the Environmental Protection Agency approved California's plan to reduce emissions, including the rules for trucks and buses that will go into effect Jan. 1, U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England in Sacramento ruled Wednesday. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/20/judge-dismisses-ca-bus-and-truck-pollution/#ixzz2FhrUgXHy http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22235562/judge-dismisses-ca-bus-and-truck-pollution-lawsuit?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22235562/judge-dismisses-ca-bus-and-truck-pollution-lawsuit?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://news.yahoo.com/correction-pollution-regulation-story-183810969.html http://www.seattlepi.com/news/science/article/Correction-Pollution-Regulation-story-4136612.php#ixzz2FiXmIeL5 FUELS In-state gas pipeline planners revise project. A proposal for an in-state natural pipeline that could carry North Slope natural gas to communities from Fairbanks to south-central Alaska has been revised to eliminate the transport of natural gas liquids, which will have the effect of lowering tariffs for customers in Fairbanks. Carrying natural gas liquids such as ethane, propane and butane was previously considered desirable because they could be sold at a premium…Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/20/in-state-gas-pipeline-planners-revise-project/#ixzz2Fhsg79DI Burning pipeline fire sign of Nigeria's woes. The gasoline pipeline burns unstopped near a village close to Nigeria's sprawling megacity of Lagos, shooting flames into the air as leaking fuel muddies the ground. All around it, the ground is littered with plastic jerry-cans, used by those who hacked into the line to steal the fuel within. The pipeline explosion here in Ije Ododo shows the ongoing problems oil-rich Nigeria faces. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/21/burning-pipeline-fire-sign-of-nigerias-woes/#ixzz2FhtLA5M0 Towards cheaper and better EV batteries: Sulphide or Magnesium? Latest research in alternatives to a conventional lithium-ion battery focuses on components made from magnesium and sulphide. Laboratory results indicate that the abundance and chemical properties of these materials could help bring a cheaper battery with more than 300% higher energy density to market in the not so distant future. The cost and performance of electric car batteries are considered by many as the major barrier to faster uptake of EVs. Intensive research in the field of battery chemistry points to some promising alternative solutions. Posted. http://www.cars21.com/news/view/5096 VEHICLES Hotels that charge your batteries. What do the InterContinental in Chicago, the Loews Vanderbilt in Tennessee, the Hollywood Hotel, most Kimpton's hotels and all of Starwood's Element hotels have in common? They all boast onsite electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. Although EV ownership represents just a tiny slice of the car market - plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) like the Chevrolet Volt, extended range EVs and all-electric vehicles…Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/21/uk-hotels-electric-vehicles-idUSLNE8BK02B20121221 MISCELLANEOUS Calif. regulators order utility to shoulder part of pipeline safety costs. California regulators are enlisting ratepayers to help pay for a $2.2 billion upgrade to Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s gas pipeline system in the wake of a 2010 explosion that killed eight people. Investors will shoulder about 45 percent of the cost to inspect nearly 800 miles of pipeline under a measure passed by the California Public Utilities Commission. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/print/2012/12/21/3 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY BLOGS Empathy as a Path to Climate (and Energy) Progress. David Roberts at Grist yesterday posted a deeply moving essay about using empathy as a means to take on tough issues. He built the piece around President Obama’s heartfelt reaction and response to the Connecticut elementary school massacre and, followed by Joe Romm, noted the lack of any such response from the president or society on the greenhouse buildup despite the risk posed by human-driven climate change. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/empathy-as-a-path-to-climate-and-energy-progress/?ref=earth Fewer Americans Say Their Actions Can Slow Climate Change. Americans may be buying more compact fluorescent light bulbs these days, but they are less likely to set their thermostats low during the winter than they were four years ago and have less confidence that their actions will help to curb global warming, according to a new survey. The Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and George Mason University’s Center for Climate Change Communication found that the proportion of people who say their own energy-saving actions…Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/fewer-americans-say-their-actions-can-slow-climate-change/?ref=earth Why Renters Use More Electricity. Why do people buy inefficient refrigerators and clothes washers when spending a little more for an efficient one would save them money over time through lower electricity or water bills? There are a variety of reasons, but one that is persistently cited is that people are not necessarily buying these appliances for themselves. Often the buyer is a landlord, and the user is a tenant who does not make the choice but faces the consequences because he receives the energy bill. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/why-renters-use-more-electricity/?ref=earth Air District Board Approves Amendments to Permit Regulations – Standards Tightened for Fine Particle and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. This week, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District’s (BAAQMD) Board of Directors approved a series of air quality rule amendments that strengthen the agency’s core air permitting regulations, which they say will reduce emissions and better protect public health. The rule amendments include new provisions that will further reduce emissions of fine particles…Posted. http://blog.sfgate.com/incontracosta/2012/12/21/air-district-board-approves-amendments-to-permit-regulations-%E2%80%93-standards-tightened-for-fine-particle-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions/ Climate Change: President Obama's FDR Moment. 2012 was a historic year for climate disasters. Between a devastating drought, raging wildfires and the superstorm Hurricane Sandy, millions of Americans saw the very real toll that climate disruption is having on our country. But it's not just extreme weather events - according to data from NOAA, 2012 is on track to be the hottest year ever for the contiguous United States. As we enter 2013, President Barack Obama faces a major challenge on how to address climate disruption. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frances-beinecke/climate-change-president_b_2341543.html?view=print&comm_ref=false ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 11:13:18 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for December 24, 2012 From: aleaks@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 24, 2012. 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 Chevron fined for violations before fire. Chevron has agreed to pay $145,600 to settle more than two dozen air-quality regulatory violations at its Richmond refinery, including citations for exceeding pollution limits and failing to inspect for leaks. The violations all predate the Aug. 6 refinery fire that was caused when a leaking and corroded pipe broke open, spewing out a vapor cloud that ignited. The smoke cloud from the ensuing blaze prompted 15,000 people to visit hospitals for respiratory problems and other ailments. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Chevron-fined-for-violations-before-fire-4139913.php Overdue push to scrub soot from the air. On your next trip to the parking lot, run a finger along the hood of your car. That smudgy gunk that comes off is soot, considered the country's most widespread and deadly air pollutant. This grimy dust, almost impossible to see, is blamed for thousands of deaths and millions of sick days per year. For years, curbing soot levels was a top target for environmental and public health groups, and it's a special challenge in California, which has the nation's dirtiest air. But getting anything done, until now, has been a sorry tale of foot-dragging and politics. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Overdue-push-to-scrub-soot-from-the-air-4139578.php MORENO VALLEY: Air district raps warehouse plans. Regional air quality officials are throwing cold water on Moreno Valley’s warehouse ambitions, saying the city is moving forward without looking for ways to reduce pollution from the thousands of diesel trucks the new distribution centers would attract. A strongly worded letter to the city’s top planner pointed out that residents already “experience the worst air quality in the nation.” The South Coast Air Quality Management District letter says Moreno Valley is working to become a warehousing hub. Posted. http://www.pe.com/local-news/topics/topics-environment-headlines/20121221-moreno-valley-air-district-raps-warehouse-plans.ece EPA finalizes boiler rule to reduce air pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency finalized rules Friday aimed at reducing toxic air pollution from industrial boilers and incinerators while offering industry more flexibility and lower costs to comply with the new standards. Obama administration officials said most of the 1.5 million boilers nationwide are not covered by the regulation since they are too small or emit too little pollution to warrant controls. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/21/epa-finalizes-boiler-rule-to-cut-pollution/#ixzz2FzN71uns You'll soon check air quality on your cellphone. Checking whether the air you’re breathing is dirty is likely to become yet another thing you can do with a cellphone. The University of California San Diego has developed CitiSense, an experimental tool that detects and measures a handful of pollutants and wirelessly sends the readings to Android phones. The system is still in the development stage. But CitiSense has worked well in field tests and is the kind of personal air quality monitoring device federal regulators have been urging science and industry to make. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/science/you-ll-soon-check-air-quality-on-your-cellphone/article_e8c5d472-5da5-5961-8314-eaa83b059c4a.html Key environmental law targeted for overhaul. Signed by Republican Gov. Ronald Reagan and strengthened by a series of court rulings and legislation, California’s bedrock environmental law in recent years has been slowly chiseled in response to the bleak economy and flurries of litigation that have compounded costs for developers and public agencies. But this could be a watershed moment for the California Environmental Quality Act as powerful Democrats and their staunch allies return to the Capitol in January to explore legislation that could remove some of the law’s formidable legal barriers to projects while still making sure environmental safeguards do not crumble. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/blogsnew/news/politics/key-environmental-law-targeted-for-overhaul/article_f88e9302-2ffc-5205-b9e4-476ded590de5.html Air quality district urges residents to avoid fires on Christmas Eve. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is asking Bay Area residents to skip the fire in the fireplace on Christmas Eve to keep air quality healthy on Christmas Day. Burning wood is not illegal on Christmas Eve, but officials are asking residents to observe a voluntary ban. "The break in the blustery weather will cause smoke pollution to build on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning," said Jack Broadbent, the district's executive officer. "We are asking the public to voluntarily not burn on Christmas Eve to help reduce pollution levels and avoid the need to call a Winter Spare the Air Alert on Christmas Day." Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_22253841/air-quality-district-urges-residents-avoid-fires-christmas http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22253841/air-quality-district-urges-residents-avoid-fires-christmas?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.contracostatimes.com/science/ci_22253841/air-quality-district-urges-residents-avoid-fires-christmas?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com CLIMATE CHANGE Scientists Report Faster Warming in Antarctica. West Antarctica has warmed much more than scientists had thought over the last half century, new research suggests, an ominous finding given that the huge ice sheet there may be vulnerable to long-term collapse, with potentially drastic effects on sea levels. A paper released Sunday by the journal Nature Geoscience reports that the temperature at a research station in the middle of West Antarctica has warmed by 4.4 degrees Fahrenheit since 1958. That is roughly twice as much as scientists previously thought and three times the overall rate of global warming, making central West Antarctica one of the fastest-warming regions on earth. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/24/science/earth/west-antarctica-warming-faster-than-thought-study-finds.html?hpw&_r=0 Annual bird counts give scientists climate clues. "Learning the changes of habit in drought could help us know what will happen as it gets warmer and drier," said Kostecke, a bird expert and associate director of conservation, research and planning at the Nature Conservancy in Texas. Scientists saw birds change their habits during last year's historic drought that parched most of Texas. Some birds that normally winter on the coast - such as endangered whooping cranes - arrived and immediately turned back when they couldn't find enough food. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/22/annual-bird-counts-give-scientists-climate-clues/#ixzz2FzPQpH3V An apps-eye view of global warming and climate change. Drought in the Midwest; forest fires in the Southwest; blizzards and hurricanes on the East Coast; rising ocean levels on both coasts. If you're wondering what to make of the crazy weather of the past few years, maybe it's time to check out some of the iPhone and Android apps you can use to study climate change and global warming. Quite a few are devoted to the still-contentious issue. Many are for the Apple (AAPL) operating system, but there are some in the Android app store too. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_22239744/an-apps-eye-view-global-warming-and-climate?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com DIESEL EMISSIONS Could Natural Gas Save This Truck Maker? Will Navistar International ever get it right? The poor truck maker, which designs and manufactures integrated truck bodies and engines, has had a rough year. A series of missteps and misfortunes have sent shares tumbling nearly 70%. But now, a new CEO is at the helm and aiming for a turnaround. The odds look tough, but a golden opportunity awaits Navistar, if only the company would capitalize on it. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Could-Natural-Gas-Save-This-Truck-Maker-4140735.php FUELS Chevron buys half of Canadian natural gas project. Chevron will buy a 50 percent stake in the Kitimat liquefied natural gas project in Canada's British Columbia from EOG Resources and Encana to tap into rising demand from Asia. The Kitimat project, which has a license from the Canadian National Energy Board to export 10 million tons of LNG per year, is one of several North American gas export projects that aim to benefit from rising supplies from shale fields. After the deal, Chevron and Apache each will hold 50 percent stakes in the project and the associated Pacific Trail Pipeline. Chevron Canada will operate the LNG plant. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_22254051/chevron-buys-half-canadian-natural-gas-project?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com In fracking culture war, celebs, billionaires and banjos. Not so long ago, fracking was a technical term little known beyond the energy industry. Now it's coming to Hollywood, as the fierce battle between environmentalists and oil firms is played out in several forthcoming films. Hydraulic fracturing, the controversial drilling technique also known as fracking, has lifted U.S. energy output dramatically, despite warnings from critics who fear it pollutes water deep underground. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/24/fracking-culturewars-idUSL1E8NN0QO20121224 VEHICLES Study examines potential for alternatives to new car ownership models to advance EV market. A new study by the RAC Foundation and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) examines the potential for alternatives to new car ownership models to kick-start the electric vehicle market. The paper, “Car Rental 2.0”, summarizes the findings from a joint seminar held by the RAC Foundation and BVRLA earlier this year on alternatives to car ownership: car rental, traditional and one-way car clubs, and ridesharing. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/rental2-20121224.html OPINION The future of the flying car. In the real world, there’s climate change, peak oil, and more esoteric forms of resource depletion (we’re running out of magnesium?!), the 1 percent vs. the 99 percent, and the imperial tristesse that infuses the idea of America’s declining power in the world. The skies of the future are no longer filled with flying cars. Maybe I’m just typical of my time, or maybe the cultural moment has come around to better fit my own flatliner tendency, but this comes as a relief to me. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/perspective/the-future-of-the-flying-car/article_db797c42-7cd4-5d7b-b40f-fef931a3a2ff.html BLOGS On Issues Like Climate Change, Can Urgency and Patience Coexist? Here are some end-of-year thoughts on ways to fit human aspirations on a finite planet, expressed during a recent short interview taped while I was participating in this years Business for Social Responsibility (aka BSR) conference (more interviews and talks are here). One is that addressing humanity’s entwined energy and climate challenges requires an unlikely mix of urgency and patience. Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/24/urgency-and-patience-required-when-dealing-with-wicked-issues-like-climate-change/ E.P.A. Issues Standards on Air Pollution for Boilers. The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday issued long-delayed new air pollution standards for industrial boilers, incinerators and cement kilns. The rules provide significant concessions to industry and allow several additional years for full compliance in an effort to minimize job and economic impacts, officials said. The new standards for the first time set numerical limits on emissions of mercury, acid gas and small-particle pollution for a small subset of the nation’s 1.5 million industrial boilers. The agency, which has come under withering criticism from Congressional Republicans for what they contend is regulatory overreach, emphasized that the standards were drafted after extensive consultation with industry groups and local officials. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/22/science/earth/epa-issues-standards-on-boiler-air-pollution.html?_r=0 Your 2012 climate change scorecard. As our friends at 350.org like to remind us, climate change really comes down to math. Put x amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, see y degrees of warming. Our goal — meaning, our goal as an evolved, aware species that would rather not be plagued by droughts and megastorms and constant flooding and armed conflict — is to reduce how much carbon dioxide we’re putting into the atmosphere each year instead of continually increasing the amount. We’re not good at this. And time is running very low: We either need massive, quick action or it’s too late. Posted. http://grist.org/news/your-2012-climate-change-scorecard/ ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 11:48:05 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 26, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 25 - 26, 2012. 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 recognizes clean-burning technology. As everyone who lives here knows, the Central Valley has been plagued with a pollution problem that rears its ugly head every winter — air pollution from wood smoke — and the San Joaquin Valley Air District has been charged with the unbelievably difficult task of cleaning it up. In their valiant efforts they have implemented various measures to reach "attainment" — to meet the federal standards as set forth by the Clean Air Act. One of the most publicly recognized measure is wood-burning curtailments or, as some like to call it, a "wood- burning ban." Though never intended to be a total ban, these restrictions have been seen by some as overly restrictive. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2012/12/24/2508291/air-district-recognizes-clean.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy People Trying to Reduce Air Pollution Might Be Inhaling Even More Pollution. Well, how's this for a kick in the Pearl Izumi thermal tights: Bicycling to work might help reduce your carbon footprint, but may also be terrible for your heath. That's the frustrating word from a team of scientists at the University of California, San Diego, who are testing out the crowdsourcing of air-pollution monitoring. The researchers gave smartphones that sense pollution to 30 study participants, and then tracked their environmental data feeds for a month. Posted. http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/12/people-trying-avoid-air-pollution-might-be-getting-even-more-pollution/4249/ CLIMATE CHANGE California Law Tests Company Responses to Carbon Costs. The Morning Star Company’s three plants in California emit roughly 200,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year — about the same amount as the Pacific Island nation of Palau — as they turn tomatoes into ketchup, spaghetti sauce and juice used by millions of consumers around the world. Beginning Jan. 1, under the terms of a groundbreaking California environmental law known as AB 32, Morning Star and 350 other companies statewide will begin paying for those emissions, which trap heat and contribute to global warming. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/business/energy-environment/california-manufacturers-weigh-costs-of-new-greenhouse-gas-rules.html?ref=earth Other related articles: http://www.mercurynews.com/green-living/ci_22258614/california-manufacturers-weigh-costs-new-greenhouse-rules?IADID=Search-www.mercurynews.com-www.mercurynews.com California Air Resource Board to auction about 22.5 million GHG allowances. The California Air Resources Board will offer about 22.5 million greenhouse gas allowances at its next auction, which is scheduled for February 19, it said late Friday. The board will offer about 12.9 million vintage 2013 GHG allowances, as well as about 9.6 million vintage 2016 allowances. One allowance equals 1 metric ton of emissions. The vintage refers to the first year an entity can use the GHG allowance to comply with California's GHG cap-and-trade program. Posted. http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/6949182 FUELS Drillers Shift to Use of Natural Gas. Energy companies that want Americans to embrace the use of inexpensive natural gas are beginning to lead by example. The three biggest providers of oil-field services in North America—Schlumberger Ltd., Halliburton Co. and Baker Hughes Inc.—are spending millions of dollars to retrofit pumps and drilling-rig engines to run on natural gas instead of diesel fuel. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323291704578199751783044798.html?KEYWORDS=fuelsKEYWORDS%3Dfuels HIGH-SPEED RAIL Lawyers could profit from high-speed rail land battles. Real estate attorneys are seizing a monumental opportunity as California lumbers ahead with its high-speed rail plans in the central San Joaquin Valley. With 1,100 or more pieces of property in the path of the proposed route between Merced and Bakersfield, lawyers who specialize in eminent domain cases could see business spike over the coming months as the state's High-Speed Rail Authority starts trying to buy land for rights of way. "I think there's going to be a lot of attorneys who have never handled an eminent domain case who will suddenly be experts," said C. William Brewer, an eminent domain specialist with the Fresno law firm Motschiedler, Michaelides, Wishon, Brewer & Ryan. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/25/3113242/valley-land-a-likely-issue-for.html GREEN ENERGY REGION: Plan to concentrate county solar revenue runs into opposition. Riverside County supervisors have adopted general guidelines for handling revenue generated by solar power plants, but have put off a decision on how to divide the money. Supervisor John Benoit proposed allocating at least half and potentially all of the cash to his desert district, where solar generators are expected to consume more than 100,000 acres. "Most of this is going to happen in the 4th Supervisorial District," Benoit said of the planned development. "And that's where most of the impacts are going to be felt." Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/swcounty/region-plan-to-concentrate-county-solar-revenue-runs-into-opposition/article_1c2c50dc-ca5d-5e05-b8a8-f5f40e8f3b56.html OPINION The Shale Revolution's Shifting Geopolitics. The shale energy revolution is likely to shift the tectonic plates of global power in ways that are largely beneficial to the West and reinforce U.S. power and influence during the first half of this century. Yet most public discussion of shale’s potential either focuses on the alleged environmental dangers of fracking or on how shale will affect the market price of natural gas. Both discussions blind policy makers to the true scale of the shale revolution. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/26/opinion/global/the-shale-revolutions-shifting-geopolitics.html Quicker fix for climate change. The Doha climate change conference this year was the most significant in nearly 20 years of gatherings under the U.N. Framework Convention process aimed at staving off future global warming disaster. Since carbon dioxide emission limits agreed to under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol were to expire at the stroke of midnight on December 31, 2012, it was critical that the international community agreed to extend those obligations and to continue talks about future emission cuts. Posted. http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/26/opinion/yang-climate-change/index.html A breath of stale air from GOP. Mitt Romney, who opposed government subsidies for clean power and thought all energy production technologies should compete equally in the free market, did not win the election. That's the good news. The bad news is that his backward policies are still popular among many congressional Republicans, posing a threat to a wind-energy tax credit that is creating jobs and helping to wean the country off fossil fuels. Unless it is extended, the tax credit will expire at the end of the year. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-wind-energy-tax-credit-20121226,0,364449.story Natural cycle climate warming prevails. A commenter to my letter of Dec. 6 (“Another C02 warming diversion”) by the name of “ProfBada” states, “Predictions of carbon dioxide increases and global warming ... are based on hard science, the basis of which has been around for over a century.” However the question remains, how much does CO2 contribute to the warming shown in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or NASA charts? Apparently, his “hard science” doesn’t include the requirement to validate/prove a theory, since he conveniently dodges the question of validation that CO2 is the major warming cause. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/opinion/letters/natural-cycle-climate-warming-prevails/article_0fdd4836-4bec-11e2-a25d-001a4bcf887a.html BLOGS 2012 Climate Change News That Made Headlines This Year. Global warming was hot news this year, literally. Perhaps the most unavoidable climate story of 2012 was the warmth that gripped much of the United States, and to a lesser degree, the planet, throughout the entire year. Heat waves brought "spring in March" to parts of the country, and broke all-time high-temperature records in a number of places. This, inevitably, led to a discussion of global warming and the degree to which it contributes to some types of extreme weather, in this case heat waves. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/25/2012-climate-change-news-_n_2363220.html Earth Log: Red-faced moment for Valley air board. For 15 embarrassing minutes, the local air board last week seemed as confused as anyone about the federal government's new particle pollution standard. But the confusion did make a point. There are so many different air-quality plans, updates and bureaucratic hoops that even people who should know the score sometimes don't. Last week, several board members of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District were poised to purposely miss a federal deadline for a plan to meet the 2006 standard for the 24-hour average. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/25/3113226/mark-grossi-red-faced-moment-for.html#storylink=misearch Grim First: Air Pollution Makes Top 10 List Of Disease Risk Factors. According to the 2010 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) Study published this month in The Lancet, high blood pressure, tobacco smoke, and alcohol abuse are the world's most dangerous risk factors for disease. Among the other top-ten items on that grim list, we also find air pollution -- largely ambient particulate matter from auto emissions. That's the first time that air pollution has made the global top-ten list of disease risk factors. Its rise in prominence seems linked to increased vehicle usage (as well as construction and commerce) in emerging economies, since the study notes that air pollution is especially bad in countries like China and India. Posted. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1081334_grim-first-air-pollution-makes-top-10-list-of-disease-risk-factors ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 13:28:35 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 27, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 27, 2012. 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 ‘Untamed Motorization’ Wraps an Indian City in Smog. When an acrid blanket of gray smog settled over India’s capital last month, environmentalists warned of health hazards, India’s Supreme Court promised action and state officials struggled to understand why the air had suddenly gone so bad. The heavy smog has dissipated for the moment, but it has left behind a troubling reality for one of India’s most important cities: Despite measures to improve air quality, pollution is steadily worsening here, without any simple solutions in sight. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/27/world/asia/indian-city-overwhelmed-by-air-pollution-new-delhi-journal.html EPA: cleaner air in Ashland area. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the air quality has improved significantly in the area around Ashland. The federal agency this week has re-designated Boyd County and a portion of Lawrence County to "attainment" for fine particle pollution. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/EPA-cleaner-air-in-Ashland-area-4148290.php#ixzz2GHBmqfoh EPA Provides Additional Compliance Time For Boiler, Incinerator Air Pollution Standards. The Environmental Protection Agency has adjusted air emissions limits for boilers and incinerators while giving industry additional time to comply with the standards. In final rules signed Dec. 20, EPA aimed to provide industry with flexible compliance options by revising March 2011 regulations that were published under a tight court-ordered deadline (54 DEN A-1, 3/21/11). Of the three final rules EPA issued, the air toxics standards for major source boilers are projected to be the most expensive, costing industry as much as $1.6 billion per year. Air toxics standards for area source boilers are expected to cost $490 million annually, and related performance standards for solid waste incinerators will cost up to $275 million per year. Posted. http://www.bna.com/epa-provides-additional-n17179871574/ CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change could cut Western water runoff by 10%. Another climate change study is projecting declines in runoff in many parts of the West, a scenario that would put more pressure on the region’s water supplies. Using new model simulations, scientists at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory expanded on 2007 research that predicted a drier future for the Southwest. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-change-water-supplies-20121226,0,5925540.story Britain suspends exploratory drilling of Antarctic lake. In a move that clears the way for U.S. and Russian teams to take the lead, Professor Martin Siegert said technical problems and a lack of fuel had forced the closure on Christmas Day of the 7-million-pound ($11 million) project, which was looking for life forms and climate change clues in the lake-bed sediment. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/27/us-britain-antarctic-idUSBRE8BQ0CI20121227 Climate Change Gets Real For Americans. Something remarkable has happened that may etch this year into history for centuries to come. Twenty-twelve's importance comes not through elections, economic shifts or the new movements in art. No, 2012 may well be remembered for something far more elemental. This was the year that climate change got real for Americans. The scientific debate over climate change was settled years ago. The basic conclusion that the planet is warming, through fossil fuel based carbon dioxide release, is not in doubt. But that conclusion relied on technical arguments about things like greenhouse gas molecules and the interactions between the Earth's ocean, air and glacial systems. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2012/12/26/168091109/climate-change-gets-real-for-americans HIGH SPEED RAIL High-Speed Rail Land Use Will Become An Issue In The Central Valley. Real estate attorneys are seizing a monumental opportunity as California lumbers ahead with its high-speed rail plans in the central San Joaquin Valley. With 1,100 or more pieces of property in the path of the proposed route between Merced and Bakersfield, lawyers who specialize in eminent domain cases could see business spike over the coming months as the state's High-Speed Rail Authority starts trying to buy land for rights of way. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/26/high-speed-rail-land-use_n_2364834.html FUELS Lebanon to seek pre-qualification gas exploration bids in Feb. Seismic surveys of Lebanon's waters suggest they contain several trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Energy and Water Minister Gebran Bassil said in September that one southern bloc alone could hold 12 trillion cubic feet and this was enough gas to produce electricity for Lebanon for 99 years. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/27/lebanon-gas-idUSL5E8NR90520121227 US Jan natgas futures off 2 pct before expiry, forecasts milder. U.S. natural gas futures lost ground early Thursday, with the front January contract pressured ahead of expiration by milder extended weather forecasts. Still, the cold outlook for the next week should stir decent demand for heating. Traders noted that heating demand picked up this week with falling temperatures, first in the Midwest and then in the East. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/27/markets-nymex-natgas-idUSL1E8NR0SG20121227 Ethanol Makers Get Creative With Corn. Someday soon, your breakfast muffin might include fiber from the same company that makes ethanol fuel for your car. U.S. ethanol producers are finding creative ways to earn more money as demand for their flagship product stagnates. These companies are using corn not only to make ethanol but also ingredients for products ranging from baked goods and nutrition bars to industrial coatings to fish food. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324339204578173361347165722.html?user=welcome&mg=id-wsj Chevron's CEO: Affordable energy is crucial. Chevron CEO John Watson notices something important as he visits his company's operations around the globe: Governments everywhere find high energy prices much scarier than the threat of global warming. And that means the world will need a lot more oil and gas in the years to come. To meet that demand, Chevron is in the midst of an enormous cycle of investment aimed at extracting oil and gas from wherever it hides in the earth's crust. http://www.modbee.com/2012/12/27/2510485/chevrons-ceo-affordable-energy.html#storylink=misearch#storylink=cpy http://online.wsj.com/article/AP7fbe8dc010cb413fb62e063beb709b1a.html?KEYWORDS=climate+change VEHICLES California Air Resources Board OKs 2014 Honda Plug-In Hybrid Accord. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) says it has approved the 2014 Honda Plug-In Hybrid Accord as the first car for sale in California that meets the board's SULEV20 standard, which is one-third cleaner (in terms of smog-forming pollution) than the previous lowest state standard. According to CARB, the 2014 Honda Plug-In Hybrid Accord produces 20 mg of combined smog-forming emissions per mile, and the model has lower greenhouse gas emissions than the fleet average standard required by all cars in 2025, the equivalent of a 50% reduction from current required levels. Posted. http://www.ngtnews.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.8401#.UNyZ3IaUXJs GREEN ENERGY China's Hanwha SolarOne gets $475 mln credit line from Beijing bank. Hanwha SolarOne's total long-term debt of 2.76 billion yuan ($442.3 million) is already more than five times its market value, and the company, like many of its China-based rivals, has reported losses for the last six quarters. The Bank of Beijing credit, which Hanwha SolarOne said will be used to manage and grow its business, can be accessed over the next 12 months. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/27/hanwhasolarone-creditline-idUSL4N0A12L220121227 Camarillo, Channel Islands high schools get solar panels. Camarillo and Channel Islands high schools have flipped the switch to their new solar panels, completing a green technology project that benefits all six of Oxnard Union High School District's campuses. The photovoltaic panels by SunPower Corp. are located on the rooftops of both schools and as car ports in the teacher parking lot of Channel Islands High School. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/dec/26/camarillo-channel-islands-high-schools-get-solar/#ixzz2GHCLhifH 2012, The Year of New Practical Thermoelectric Power Generators. Power Practical, an alternative-energy company, is trying to solve an increasingly age-old problem. Over the past decades computers have gone from the size of a room to the size of a Pop-Tart, and in the process have become both more powerful and efficient. But now that our devices are portable, how do we keep them charged? Sure it’s usually easy at home or at work. Still, there will always be those times when our battery dies and we have to wait to do something important. Posted. http://www.timesunion.com/business/press-releases/article/2012-The-Year-of-New-Practical-Thermoelectric-4148395.php#ixzz2GHEnERcl MISCELLANEOUS EPA head Jackson to resign post. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, who pushed through the most sweeping curbs on air pollution in two decades, announced Thursday morning that she will resign her post. Jackson, who will step down shortly after President Obama’s State of the Union address next month, has not accepted another job, according to several individuals who have spoken with her. Many expected that she would not remain for the administration’s second term; Jackson herself joked about it recently. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-head-jackson-to-resign-post/2012/12/27/50637f50-4fda-11e2-8b49-64675006147f_story.html OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/28/science/earth/lisa-p-jackson-of-epa-to-step-down.html?hp&_r=0 http://www.latimes.com/la-epa-administrator-jackson-announces-resignation-20121227,0,2601982.story http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Obama-s-EPA-chief-resigning-4148963.php http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL1E8NR32420121227 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323530404578205363670277362.html?KEYWORDS=air+pollution China begins longest bullet-train line. China began service Wednesday morning on the world's longest high-speed rail line, covering a distance in eight hours that is about equal to that from New York to Key West, Fla., or from London across Europe to Belgrade. Bullet trains traveling 186 mph began regular service between Beijing and Guangzhou, the main metropolis in southeastern China about 1,428 miles away. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/world/article/China-begins-longest-bullet-train-line-4147869.php#ixzz2GHC2SPMG 25 years later, VTA light rail among the nation's worst. A quarter of a century ago, Santa Clara County's first light-rail train left the station as excited supporters heralded a new wave of state-of-the-art transportation to match the region's burgeoning high-tech industry. But there was no grand celebration this month as Silicon Valley marked 25 years of light rail. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/traffic/ci_22264605/25-years-later-vta-light-rail-among-nations BLOGS Capturing Climate Change Digitally. The changing palette of colors in a forest signals more than the arrival of a new season. For those who know how to look, the colors also reveal how much carbon dioxide the trees are absorbing from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, a new study suggests. By analyzing thousands of photographs of a forest canopy less than 40 miles outside London, the researchers were able to estimate carbon uptake over a two-year period based on the leaves’ hues. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/27/capturing-climate-change-digitally/ Changing the Campus Climate on Climate Change. Going green is nothing new at Bethany College, we like to say. Our school colors are green and white, and the splendor of our mountaintop campus, especially in the greening season of spring, is unmistakable. But there's a more urgent reason that we have chosen a green path. Along with some 700 colleges and universities throughout the nation, Bethany has joined the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment (ACUPCC). About 400 of the signatories to the Climate Commitment have already filed action plans signifying their institutions' goal of becoming climate-neutral in two years. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-scott-d-miller/college-campus-going-green_b_2332566.html State air pollution rules to change. Efforts to craft new state air pollution rules will begin in January following legislation passed earlier this year aimed at reducing regulatory burdens on industry, according to the Charlotte Observer. The state's air-quality division has been meeting with interested parties and will begin formally preparing half a dozen new rules next month. The rule changes are in response to state legislation that exempted polluters from state oversight if they are covered by federal regulations and don't pose an "unacceptable risk" to human health. Posted. http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/blog/morning-edition/2012/12/state-air-pollution-rules-to-change.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, 28 Dec 2012 13:24:49 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 28, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 28, 2012. 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 Lung Association Report Outlines Critical Next Steps for Healthy Air. The American Lung Association's new report "Protect the Air We Breathe: The Healthy Air Agenda" identifies the progress made in the United States on improving air quality, despite repeated interference from Big Polluters and members of Congress, and highlights the extensive work still necessary to protect the Clean Air Act and the health of millions of people across the country. Air pollution remains a pervasive public health threat in the US, with more than 124 million Americans still living in areas with unhealthy levels of air pollution. Posted. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/american-lung-association-report-outlines-critical-next-steps-for-healthy-air-184927961.html DIESEL EMISSIONS Eight Truckstops Join Network of Electric Plug-in Power Pedestals. Shorepower Technologies has announced eight more truckstops added electric plug-in power pedestals to their locations. Connections providing 480-volt power for hybrid refrigerated trailers are also being installed at four of the eight truckstops. Below is a full list of the eight truckstops now offering shorepower for trucks and 480-volt power for hybrid refrigerated trailers…Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=78871 FUELS U.S. natural gas futures edge higher as cold sets in. U.S. natural gas futures edged higher early Friday, backed by forecasts for cold weather over the next 10 days that should force homeowners and businesses to turn up their heaters. While traders expect strong heating demand to underpin prices in the near term, they noted that 11- to 15-day forecasts were still calling for a warm-up, particularly for the eastern half of the country. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/28/markets-nymex-natgas-idUSL1E8NR2GE20121228 After Jackson, EPA faces big decisions on U.S. fracking boom. Following Lisa Jackson's resignation on Wednesday, her successor will inherit the tricky task of regulating a drilling boom that has revolutionized the energy industry but raised fears over the possible contamination of water supplies. The controversial technique at the center of the boom, hydraulic fracturing, involves injecting millions of gallons of water laced with chemicals deep into shale rocks to extract oil and gas. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/28/us-epa-fracking-idUSBRE8BR02X20121228 Signs of optimism on fuel. Because lists and predictions are in vogue and because "our memories are poor that only work backward" (Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking Glass"), I have put together a brief list of some positive transportation fuel news in 2012 and used my crystal ball to predict what's likely to occur in 2013. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/oil-381809-fuels-alternative.html VEHICLES California Air Resources Board says car meets low smog level. The California Air Resources Board has approved the first car for sale in California that meets ARB's most stringent smog-emission standard to date. ARB said the 2014 Honda Plug-In Hybrid Accord produces only 20 milligrams of combined smog-forming emissions per mile, making it the first gasoline-powered car in California to meet what is known as the SULEV20 standard. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/28/5079453/california-air-resources-board.html Other related articles: http://ens-newswire.com/2012/12/26/californias-1st-ultra-clean-car-2014-honda-accord-plug-in-hybrid/ http://www.ngtnews.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.8401#.UN30tYb9xNs http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1081368_2014-honda-accord-plug-in-hybrid-first-to-meet-sulev20-standards California Air Resources Board approves 2014 Honda Plug-in Hybrid Accord as first LEV3/SULEV20 vehicle on sale. The California Air Resources Board has approved the 2014 Honda Plug-in Hybrid Accord as the first car for sale in California that meets ARB’s LEV3/SULEV20 standard—the most stringent smog-emission standard to date. (Earlier post.) The 2014 Honda Plug-In Hybrid Accord produces only 20 milligrams of NMOG+NOx emissions per mile. In addition, this Honda model has lower greenhouse gas emissions than the fleet average standard required by all cars in 2025, the equivalent of a 50% reduction from current required levels. Posted. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/12/arb-20121227.html Nissan to offer improved battery warranty for Leaf EVs in US. Nissan Motor Co Ltd said it will offer to replace some poorly performing batteries on its Leaf electric car and improve warranty coverage for the battery systems for its almost 20,000 U.S. owners. The move comes as the Japanese automaker closes a year marked by disappointing sales and complaints by some U.S. customers about the Leaf's battery capacity. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/28/nissan-usa-leaf-idUSL1E8NS19T20121228 OPINION Kerry's climate change credentials. Sen. John Kerry, President Obama's nominee for secretary of State, may not be able to bring peace to the Middle East, end enduring trade and currency disputes with China or mend fences with all the anti-American leaders in Latin America. But he may be capable of redirecting the debate over an issue of equal or greater importance: climate change. Kerry is among the most forward-thinking members of the U.S. Senate when it comes to understanding both the threats of and the practical responses to global warming. He's struggled to bring along the Senate, which rejected his attempt to win passage of a cap-and-trade bill in 2010, but Kerry's new post should give him expanded opportunities to lead. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-1228-kerry-20121228,0,4479384.story Editorial: Blow off wind tax credits. After 20 years of taxpayer subsidies and unrealized benefits, Congress should allow tax credits for wind energy to expire Dec. 31. The credits, created in 1992, were supposed to jump-start a nascent wind industry, but have only propped up an uneconomical, inefficient sector at great cost by diverting taxes to subsidize jobs that wouldn't exist otherwise. Congress can save $12 billion next year alone by defeating efforts to extend the tax credits. This doesn't even consider the annual 440,000 shredding deaths from spinning windmill blades of eagles, hawks, geese, bats and other birds, many protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/wind-381865-tax-energy.html BLOGS Ethanol Makers Diversify Away From Auto Fuel. Someday soon, your breakfast muffin might include fiber from the same company that makes ethanol fuel for your car. U.S. ethanol producers are finding creative ways to earn more money as demand for their flagship product stagnates. These companies are using corn not only to make ethanol but also ingredients for products ranging from baked goods and nutrition bars to industrial coatings to fish food. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/12/28/ethanol-makers-diversify-away-from-auto-fuel/?KEYWORDS=fuels An Industry’s Future, Blowing in the Wind. As I note in Friday’s paper, construction of new wind farms is going to grind to a halt with the end, at least temporarily, of the wind production tax credit. What’s next? The credit is worth 2.2 cents per killowatt-hour generated, beyond whatever the electricity can be sold for on the regional market. At some hours of the day, most or all of the revenue will come from the tax credit. Posted. http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/28/an-industrys-future-blowing-in-the-wind/ The Great Smog of China. My mornings in my home in Beijing always follow the same routine. Wake up. Make coffee. Check Air Quality Index online. Feel faintly depressed. The AQI is tweeted by the U.S. embassy hourly. The rating ranges from “good” to “hazardous” to off the charts, and it determines my day: whether I bike or take public transport to work, whether I go for a run outside, and in the summer, whether I eat dinner in my balmy courtyard or huddle indoors with the windows shut and the air filter on. Posted. http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/28/the-great-smog-of-china/ Electric, Hybrid Badges Growing To Warn First Responders? Electric vehicles are as different when crashed as they are when moving, and that difference has led to changes in procedure for first responders to accident scenes. Police, fire and other services now receive training in order to deal with high-voltage systems in crashed electric and hybrid vehicles--but with more on the roads, the new challenge is knowing which vehicle is which. Posted. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1081360_electric-hybrid-badges-growing-to-warn-first-responders ====================================================================== 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 Dec 2012 14:10:59 -0800 Subject: newsclips -- Newsclips for December 31, 2012 From: dchelini@arb.ca.gov ARB Newsclips for December 31, 2012. 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 Carbon Taxes Make Ireland Even Greener. Over the last three years, with its economy in tatters, Ireland embraced a novel strategy to help reduce its staggering deficit: charging households and businesses for the environmental damage they cause. The government imposed taxes on most of the fossil fuels used by homes, offices, vehicles and farms, based on each fuel’s carbon dioxide emissions, a move that immediately drove up prices for oil, natural gas and kerosene. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/28/science/earth/in-ireland-carbon-taxes-pay-off.html?ref=earth&_r=0 2013: A Tipping Year For Climate Change? This year's extreme weather was one for the record books; 2012 is slated to be the hottest summer on record. The worst drought in 50 years struck the South and Midwest, devastating the U.S. agriculture industry. Deadly floods and superstorms paralyzed the northeast and other parts of the country. While the public is in shock by extreme weather events that have taken place, environmentalist Bill McKibben and other members of the science community say it is a result of climate change. Posted. http://www.npr.org/2012/12/30/168310474/2012-a-tipping-year-for-climate-change Annual bird counts give scientists climate clues. Armed with flashlights, recordings of bird calls, a small notebook and a stash of candy bars, scientist Rich Kostecke embarked on an annual 24-hour Christmastime count of birds along the Texas Gulf Coast. Yellow rail. Barn owl. Bittern. Crested Cara-Cara. Kostecke rattled off the names and scribbled them in his notebook. His data, along with that from more than 50 other volunteers spread out into six groups across the 7,000-acre Mad Island preserve, will be analyzed regionally and then added to a database with the results of more than 2,200 other bird counts going on from mid-December to Jan. 5 across the Western Hemisphere. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Annual-bird-counts-give-scientists-climate-clues-4157422.php Other related articles: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/12/31/3117854/annual-bird-counts-give-scientists.html#storylink=misearch http://www.sacbee.com/2012/12/31/5084521/annual-bird-counts-give-scientists.html#storylink=misearch http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_22287403/annual-bird-counts-give-scientists-climate-clues?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_22287403/annual-bird-counts-give-scientists-climate-clues?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com California's New Cap-and-Trade Law: A Model for the Country? If you thought cap-and-trade was dead and buried, think again. It’s true that in Washington, the controversial proposal to fight climate change was squelched after a sweeping 2010 bill crashed in Congress and an aggressive media campaign by the fossil-fuel industry made the phrase “cap-and-trade” political poison. But on Jan. 1, California—the largest economy in the nation and the eighth-largest in the world—will start enforcing a robust cap-and-trade law that’s the first of its kind in the United States. Posted. http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/california-s-new-cap-and-trade-law-a-model-for-the-country-20121213 California cap-and-trade program set for second auction. In early 2012, California introduced an ambitious cap-and-trade initiative that aimed to significantly reduce the greenhouse emissions that the state produces. The initiative was an offshoot of a similar measure that was shaping up from the U.S. government at the time. While the federal measure collapsed, the California cap-and-trade program continued taking form. The California Air Resources Board, which oversees the program, recently held the first carbon credit auction for the program, which set a high standards due to its success and proved that the cap-and-trade program could be a powerful new revenue source for the state. Posted. http://www.hydrogenfuelnews.com/california-cap-and-trade-program-set-for-second-auction/857858/ Arnold Schwarzenegger: Terminator, Body-Builder, and Global Leader on Climate-Change. If the United States ever enacts a major climate-change law, it will owe a debt to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Strange as it sounds, the Austrian-born bodybuilder, former California governor, and movie star has flexed more legislative muscle on climate change than President Obama--who ran for office on the promise of curbing sea level rise and creating millions of green jobs--and Al Gore, the former vice president who won a Nobel Prize for his advocacy on climate change. Posted. http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/arnold-schwarzenegger-terminator-body-builder-and-global-leader-on-climate-change-20121230 DIESEL EMISSIONS California Air Resources Board Adds New Regulations; Truckers Struggling to Meet Them. Some trucking companies will be out of business as of January 1 because of new requirements from the California Air Resources Board. Ron Lord, the owner of Lord Trucking out of Red Bluff said many of these truckers will be facing unemployment because they simply cannot afford to meet the new requirements. Lord has been in the industry for almost 30 years. He said he received a letter from the board last week. It states that all vehicles weighing more than 26,000 pounds from the 2000 to 2004 model years will be forced to upgrade to a verified soot filter or be replaced altogether. Posted. http://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/California-Air-Resources-Board-Adds-New-Regulations-Truckers-Struggling-to-Meet-Them/-/14322302/17941474/-/ie5bd4/-/index.html MISCELLANEOUS EPA faces legal battles, might take easy confirmation road. PA Administrator Lisa Jackson, who spearheaded the Obama administration's regulation of carbon emissions, said on Thursday she will step down after almost four years. Her tenure was marked by opposition from industry groups and Republican lawmakers to the EPA's first-ever crackdown on carbon emissions, as well as other anti-pollution measures. Analysts said whoever succeeds Jackson will probably face a spate of lawsuits to challenge rules that the EPA will finalize governing power plants, industrial sources and oil and gas production. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/31/us-epa-legal-idUSBRE8BT02J20121231 Air board chair on pundits' list for EPA. The woman who led California through the development and implementation of some groundbreaking environmental policies could soon be headed to Washington, D.C. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson announced her resignation this week, and already people are speculating about who will next head the agency. One name on nearly every pundit's short list: California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/capitolnotebook/article/Air-board-chair-on-pundits-list-for-EPA-4153321.php OPINION California’s climate-change experiment. Starting on jan. 1, California will begin the nation’s most ambitious experiment yet in fighting climate change, and it will do it more or less alone. For environmentalists depressed by years of the United States’ unproductive “debate” on global warming, this moment is heady — and perilous. Beginning in 2013, the nation’s largest state, the ninth-largest economy in the world, will put a price on the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global warming. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/californias-climate-change-experiment/2012/12/30/942d4c40-4fb5-11e2-839d-d54cc6e49b63_story.html BLOGS Coal Giant Drops Claim That it is ‘the Global Leader in Clean Energy Solutions’. Peabody Energy, the biggest private-sector coal company in the world, has removed the claim that it is “the global leader in clean energy solutions” from its home page. The two images below show the shift (sometime between Dec. 19 and Dec. 29), with the claim now reading that it the company is “the global leader in clean coal solutions.” Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/29/coal-giant-drops-claim-that-it-is-the-global-leader-in-clean-energy-solutions/ ====================================================================== 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. ======================================================================