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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for January 24, 2017.
Posted: 25 Jan 2017 14:52:44
ARB Newsclips for January 24, 2017. This is a service of the California Air Resources 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 Appeals Court to Decide Future of California Carbon Auctions. Businesses looking to invalidate California's fee for carbon pollution take their arguments to a state appeals court Tuesday in a case that could determine the future of one of California's signature efforts to combat climate change. With a central piece of Gov. Jerry Brown's legacy on the line, lawyers for the state and for environmental advocacy groups will defend a program that has been closely watched around the world as a potential model for controlling carbon emissions. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CALIFORNIA_GREENHOUSE_GASES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/01/24/us/ap-us-california-greenhouse-gases-.html?_r=0 http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/appeals-court-decide-future-california-carbon-auctions-45000787 California regulators propose extending cap-and-trade. California regulators are proposing to expand efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, partly by extending the state's cap-and-trade program, which is set to end in 2020. California's goal of cutting its GHG emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 is the most ambitious carbon emissions reduction requirement in the US. The state is close to meeting its current target of getting down to 1990 emissions levels by 2020, according to the draft plan, released Friday by the California Air Resources Board. http://www.platts.com/latest-news/electric-power/portland-maine/california-regulators-propose-extending-cap-and-21680770 Appeals court to hear pivotal suit against cap and trade. A lawsuit challenging the legality of California's economywide cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gases is set for oral arguments this week, but uncertainty over the future of the program is likely to persist for some time. The 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento will hear an hour of arguments tomorrow for and against California's authority to conduct auctions of greenhouse gas permits, which have become a lucrative source of funding, generating more than $3 billion so far for the state's high-speed rail project, affordable housing near transit and other programs linked to emissions reductions. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060048756 AIR POLLUTION Air pollution in London passes levels in Beijing...and wood burners are making problem worse. Air pollution in London passed levels in Beijing this week, figures have shown, with popular wood burning stoves blamed for exacerbating the problem. On Monday London mayor Sadiq Khan issued the highest air pollution alert in London for the first time, and said on Tuesday that the capital’s ‘filthy air’ is now a ‘health crisis.' http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/01/24/air-pollution-london-passes-levels-beijingand-wood-burners-making/ Judge Rules Ameren Missouri Plant Violates Clean Air Act. A federal judge has ruled that Ameren Missouri's coal-fired power plant near St. Louis violates the Clean Air Act and has created "significantly more pollution" since modifications were made. U.S. District Judge Rodney Sippel's ruling Monday could require St. Louis-based Ameren to install additional pollution control equipment at the Rush Island power plant in Jefferson County. Ameren Missouri calls the ruling disappointing and says an appeal is planned. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_AMEREN_PLANT_POLLUTION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Paris Rolls Out Colour-Code Stickers for Cars to Curb Pollution. The French capital on Monday launched a new colour-coded sticker scheme to restrict car use in its latest attempt to curb air pollution many Parisians blame for coughing fits, eye irritation and runny noses. The "Crit'Air" system bans all diesel-fuelled cars registered between January 1997 and December 2000 - identifiable by a grey sticker on the windscreen - from the capital. About 6 percent of France's 32 million cars fall into this category. http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2017/01/23/world/europe/23reuters-france-pollution.html East Meets West: Examining air pollution in Cook County. Which Cook County residents are affected most by air pollution, and how does it affect their health? Those are the questions that collaborators from the School of Public Health and College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs aim to answer. The first step is examining air pollution data in Cook County to understand the spatial distribution of air toxics. https://news.uic.edu/east-meets-west-examining-air-pollution-in-cook-county Paris Tests Electronic Driverless Minibus to Fight Pollution. In a city hit by chronic pollution and traffic problems, Paris officials are experimenting with a self-driving shuttle linking two train stations in the French capital. Two electric-power EZ10 minibuses, which can carry up to six seated passengers, were put into service Monday and will be tested until early April between the Lyon and Austerlitz stations in Paris. The GPS-guided vehicle is free and will be running seven days a week. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_PARIS_SELF_DRIVING_BUS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT CLIMATE CHANGE More businesses must work with suppliers to curb climate change: study. Too few businesses are working with their suppliers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to study that praised 29 companies including General Motors(GM.N), Sky (SKYB.L) and Sony Corp (6758.T) for taking the lead. "The supply chain is the new frontier in environmental responsibility – an area rich with opportunity that remains mostly unexplored," non-profit group CDP, formerly known as the Carbon Disclosure Project, wrote in its report published on Tuesday. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-companies-idUSKBN1580D0 CDC abruptly cancels long-planned conference on climate change and health. With little warning or explanation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently canceled a major climate change conference that had been scheduled for next month in Atlanta. The Climate and Health Summit, which had been in the works for months, was intended as a chance for public health officials around the country to learn more about the mounting evidence of the risks to human health posed by the changing climate. But CDC officials abruptly canceled the conference before President Trump’s inauguration, sending a terse email on Jan. 9 to those who had been scheduled to speak at the event. The message did not explain the reason behind the decision. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/01/23/cdc-abruptly-cancels-long-planned-conference-on-climate-change-and-health/?utm_term=.2f25712dec69 FUELS Trump Acts to Advance Keystone XL, Dakota Access Pipelines. Dealing a blow to former President Barack Obama's legacy on climate change, President Donald Trump signed executive actions Tuesday to advance the construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines, a move cheered by congressional Republicans and decried by environmentalists. Trump told reporters at the White House that the actions on the pipelines will be subject to the terms and conditions being negotiated by U.S. officials. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TRUMP_PIPELINES?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT REEN ENERGY Scotland sets 50% renewable energy target. The draft Scottish Energy Strategy sets out a vision for the transition away from oil and gas dependency and towards a low-carbon economy by 2050. Only 13% of Scotland's total final energy consumption came from renewable sources in 2013. Environmental groups had been campaigning for the 50% target. A public consultation on the proposals will run until the end of May. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-38729869 Why Donald Trump won't hold back solar and wind power. President Donald Trump's full-throated support for fossil fuel production and his climate change denial have raised concerns about the future of renewable energy projects in America, but some investors believe the president cannot hold back solar and wind energy deployment — or alternative energy stocks. http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/24/donald-trump-cant-stop-back-solar-and-wind-power.html Not renewable: Bill would ban utilities from using renewable energy. On the first day of the state’s legislative session, nine Republican lawmakers filed legislation that would bar utilities from using electricity produced by large-scale renewable energy projects.The bill, whose sponsors are primarily from the state’s top coal-producing counties, would require utilities to use only approved energy sources like coal, natural gas, nuclear power, hydroelectric, and oil. While individual homeowners and small businesses could still use rooftop solar or backyard wind, utilities would face steep fines if they served up clean energy. http://www.salon.com/2017/01/23/not-renewable-bill-would-ban-utilities-from-using-renewable-energy/ Policy Forecast: A Rough 4 Years for Climate Action, a Good 4 Years for Clean Energy. Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States last week and promptly updated the White House website with a new set of policy pages, including his “America First Energy Plan.” The page makes no mention of renewable energy or climate action, marking a stark shift from President Obama. Trump’s plan also commits to embracing the oil and shale gas revolution, advancing independence from foreign oil and reviving America’s coal industry. https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/watch-democrat-and-republican-policy-experts-discuss-the-future-of-clean-en?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GTM_Solar+(GTM+Solar) MISCELLANEOUS California Governor Speech Comes Amid Shifting Politics. Jerry Brown is coming off a blockbuster year of liberal wins: He secured an extension of landmark climate change legislation, signed off on an increase in California's minimum wage, expanded family leave laws, toughened gun laws, and persuaded voters to both soften sentencing laws and reject a ballot measure that would have threatened two of his legacy projects. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CALIFORNIA_STATE_OF_STATE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Trump Admin Orders Media Blackout at EPA. The Trump administration has instituted a media blackout at the Environmental Protection Agency and barred staff from awarding any new contracts or grants. Emails sent to EPA staff since President Donald Trump's inauguration on Friday and reviewed by The Associated Press detailed the specific prohibitions banning press releases, blog updates or posts to the agency's social media accounts. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TRUMP_THE_LATEST?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Clean-Burning Stoves Save Lives In Mountainous Nepal. George Basch spends a lot of time in Asia helping people. As founder of the not-for-profit Himalayan Stove Project, he travels back and forth between the U.S. and mountainous regions of Nepal, providing clean-burning stoves to locals there who really need them. For his efforts, he is receiving the prestigious Explorers Club "Citation of Merit" Award at its annual dinner in March. We sat down with Basch recently to learn a little more about HMS. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimclash/2017/01/24/clean-burning-stoves-save-numerous-lives-in-mountainous-nepal/#2fef93652285 BLOGS Renewables Now Cheapest, But How To Enable Faster Renewable Energy Growth? Renewable energy is now the cheapest option, on average, for new electricity capacity around the world — in developed countries like the US as well as developing countries like India, China, Nigeria, and Mexico. As I noted the other day, we need to keep channeling this message to the broader public, and especially decision-makers, but there are other things to do as well in order to increase the rate of renewable energy growth. https://cleantechnica.com/2017/01/22/renewables-now-cheapest-renewable-energy-costs-low-too-high/ California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.