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newsclips -- Newsclips for September 10, 2009
Posted: 10 Sep 2009 11:03:33
California Air Resources Board News Clips for September 10, 2009. This is a service of the California Air Resources 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 Favors Efficiency Over Alt Energy. San Francisco (Reuters) - California's chief climate change official on Wednesday sees a big need for small-scale clean energy like rooftop windmills and neighborhood solar power plants, but the state will gain more from efficiency than renewable power. California legislators are debating whether to commit the state to getting 33 percent of its electricity from renewable power like solar and wind, which is already an informal part of the most populous U.S. state's landmark plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE5890DP20090910 Renewable Power: People Love It, But Devil Is In The Details. A dramatic expansion in California of the use of wind, solar and other “renewable” energy faces the Legislature in the waning days of the 2009 session, with a complex debate that is targeting money and logistics as much as the power itself. Boosting the utilities’ “Renewable Portfolio Standard” is backed by environmentalists, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and, generally, by the legislative leadership. Posted. http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=y9bdhsoutk1aqe# Push Renewable Energy Lauded, But Divisions Over Details Remain. Sacramento — Hoping to add "green" jobs to a beleaguered state economy, California lawmakers are poised to take up new rules dramatically increasing the amount of renewable power used in the state over the next 10 years. But while that broad, if ambitious, target — 33 percent by the end of 2020 — has attracted widespread support from utilities, regulators and lawmakers, deep divisions remain over how best to achieve it and how much it might cost. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_13302045?source=rss A 5% Blend Of Algae-Based Biofuel Fills The Tank Of A Converted Hybrid Prius. Eleven years ago, author, filmmaker and alternative-fuel advocate Josh Tickell came to the Capitol in a vehicle that ran on used vegetable oil – the cooking fluid of choice for french fries. He was back in Sacramento on Wednesday, driving a modified Toyota Prius running on a fuel mixture that includes 5 percent algae-based biofuel. What transpired in the intervening 11 years? "More people now know what is possible, that green energy solutions and technology are not just a dream. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/business/v-print/story/2171662.html CARB Fines Contractor Thousands for Emissions Violations. The California Air Resources Board fined Dateland Construction Co., Inc $31,950 last month for emissions violations during 2007 and 2008. An ARB investigation showed Dateland Construction, based in Indio, Calif., failed to properly inspect their diesel trucks as required by California law. "Inspection and maintenance costs for a diesel truck fleet are far cheaper than paying penalties," said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "Public health suffers the consequences when a company ignores clean-air laws." Posted. http://www.constructionequipment.com/article/CA6695801.html http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2009/Sept09/090709/090909-06.htm Calculating Compliance With California ARB Rules. Several companies are taking steps to help forklift fleet operators calculate ways to comply with the California Air Resources Board (ARB) fleet average emission level standards for large spark-ignition (LSI) engines. In 1994, ARB began considering emission control regulations for new LSI engines and, in 1998, adopted the nation’s first LSI-engine emission standards, which were implemented in phases between 2001 and 2004. Posted. http://www.forkliftaction.com/news/newsdisplay.aspx?nwid=7598 Powertech Awarded Shell Contract For High Capacity Hydrogen Fuelling Station. Powertech, BC Hydro's subsidiary specializing in clean energy solutions, announced today that it was selected by Shell Hydrogen, LLC to provide a new hydrogen-fuelling station at its gasoline retail station in Newport Beach, California. The station will soon provide California drivers of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles with more flexibility as it expands the network of available hydrogen fuelling stations. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS102070+10-Sep-2009+PRN20090910 Climate Activists Wait for an Obama Speech to Call Their Own. As President Obama delivered a possible make-or-break speech on health care last night, climate change activists said they were waiting patiently for a similar rhetorical moment. For now, advocates said, there is broad acceptance about the president's decision to push their key issue to the back burner. But many argue that Obama needs to grant climate change equal attention on prime-time television in coming months. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/09/10/10climatewire-climate-activists-wait-for-an-obama-speech-t-31874.html?pagewanted=print http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2009/09/10/1/ 2nd UPDATE: EU May Give Up To EUR15B For Climate Change Fight. Brussels --The European Commission said Thursday that the European Union may give up to EUR15 billion a year by 2020 to finance the fight to climate change in developing countries, setting out a blueprint for negotiations on a global deal to fight climate change later this year. "This initiative aims to maximize the chances of concluding an ambitious global climate change agreement" at a Copenhagen global meeting in December, the commission said in a statement. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090910-706184.html As Hill Debate Flounders, EPA Plows Ahead On Emission Rules. The Obama administration is finalizing rules to control industrial greenhouse gas emissions amid growing skepticism about the prospects of Congress passing a comprehensive climate change bill this year. U.S. EPA is nearly finished with rules that answer the Supreme Court's 2007 opinion on global warming, as well as a nationwide standard to control greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2009/09/10/1 U.S. Must Reject All Offset Mechanisms -- Enviro Group. A report released today by an environmental group is calling on the United States to reject outright the current system of international carbon offsets, which sees wealthy countries pay developing nations to make emission cuts at budget rates. "It is vital that the inherent and systemic flaws in the approach are recognized as U.S. policymakers debate climate legislation," the report by Friends of the Earth says. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2009/09/10/5 Brazil Bashes U.S. Emissions Goal. Brazil's Environment Minister said yesterday that U.S. goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions fall short of what is needed. Carlos Minc also promised his country would soon announce its own greenhouse goals that would include restrictions on the country's agriculture sector to curb deforestation. The U.S. goal of returning to 1990 levels by 2020 is "very poor," Minc said. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2009/09/10/6 EU Offers Poor Nations Billions In Climate Aid. Brussels — The European Union proposed Thursday to offer up to euro15 billion ($21.8 billion) a year in aid to poor developing countries to persuade them to sign a new global climate change agreement. However, development and environmental campaigners blasted the offer as insufficient because it assumes that poorer nations will bear most of the costs of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Posted. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gmRKILNtrv3xjLPjT60OHovq6A4gD9AKGLT00 Five EU States Vow To Step Up Climate Diplomacy. Copenhagen (Reuters) - Britain, France, Denmark, Sweden and Finland agreed Thursday to intensify "green diplomacy" to rescue an ambitious global climate agreement in Copenhagen in December, officials said. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE5893Y620090910 Opinion: Climate insecurity. The debate over climate change legislation is beginning to heat up. The American Clean Energy and Security Act was passed by the House and is now before the Senate. The debate on this issue typically takes the form of environmental concerns about global warming pitted against economic fears about the cost of reducing greenhouse gases. It is often framed in left-right terms. Posted. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.climatechange10sep10,0,7669179.story How To Move The Public On Climate Action? Many Americans believe climate change is an impending environmental threat that faces us in the next millennium, however, although global warming is considered the biggest threat, most people are not committed to making the choices and lifestyle changes that are required. Posted. http://www.examiner.com/x-12791-SF-Green-Careers-Examiner~y2009m9d9-How-to-move-the-public-on-climate-action California Issues Regulations for Pay-As-You-Drive Insurance. California's insurance commissioner, Steven Poizner, has issued final pay-as-you-drive regulations, which will enable insurers to offer consumers rates that are based on actual miles driven as opposed to estimated miles driven. "Pay as you drive is an innovative way to create financial incentives for California motorists to drive less, leading to lower-cost auto insurance, less air pollution and a reduced dependence on foreign oil," said Poizner. Posted. http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2009/09/10/103600.htm Wind Power: Obama's Promises Just Hot Air So Far. Washington -- President Barack Obama is still at least a year away from seeing wind turbines take root anywhere off the U.S. coast, even though his administration has promised to make offshore wind a priority, and even though developers are lining up to string wind farms up and down the Atlantic seaboard. The administration, delayed by controversy and red tape, has made "clean energy" one of its top policy pushes but has yet to grant a single permit for wind or solar development on public land, onshore or off. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/702/v-print/story/2169052.html Disputed South Bay Power Plant Could Lose Permit. But state operator says it's a ‘must run’ facility. Chula Vista — The region's water-pollution regulators yesterday warned operators of the South Bay Power Plant that a key permit might be canceled in coming months, even though California's electricity managers said the facility is critical to ensuring a stable energy supply. Posted. http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/sep/10/disputed-south-bay-power-plant-could-lose-permit/ Sarkozy Urges Carbon Tax on Households and Businesses. Paris -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to tax carbon dioxide emissions by households and businesses, a measure aimed at helping France slash its output greenhouse gases over the coming decades -- but viewed with skepticism by many. In a highly anticipated speech on the subject, Mr. Sarkozy sought to convince his compatriots of the need for the carbon tax, which surveys show around two-thirds of the French oppose. France would be the largest economy to impose one so far. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125259026423099435.html BNA Daily Environment Report, Sept. 9, 2009. Climate Change Senators Urged to Strengthen Targets, Protect State Authority in Climate Legislation. A group of state environmental officials urged Senate Democrats in a Sept. 2 letter to rein in “overly generous” carbon offsets awarded to the agricultural and forestry sector in House climate change legislation and to ensure that states can continue to take steps to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The letter, sent to two Democrats who are drafting Senate climate legislation—Sens. Barbara Boxer (Calif.) and John Kerry (Mass.)—also called for strengthening the 2020 emissions reduction target in the House bill. The legislation would require that emissions be cut 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020. The letter said the Senate should press for a 20 percent cut by 2020 and should include language to “periodically” adjust targets if scientific findings suggest it is warranted. “The House bill falls short of requiring the GHG reductions in the U.S. called for by the consensus opinion of the scientific community,” the letter said. The House approved its climate change bill in June; Boxer and Kerry plan to introduce their bill in late September. Senate Democrats hope to move the bill to the floor in mid-to-late October (171 DEN A-9, 9/8/09). The Sept. 2 letter was sent from nine state environmental officials including Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board; Amey Marrella, acting commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection; and Douglas Scott, director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The state officials warned that the House bill (H.R. 2454) relies too much on emissions offsets for reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The offset provisions would allow power plants and other companies to earn credit toward making required emissions cuts by funding tree planting and other farm and forestry efforts to store carbon. The Senate bill should “provide reasonable assurance that the majority of emissions reductions will come from within capped sectors” that are required to make actual emissions reductions, the officials wrote. Also signing the letter were David Littell commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection; Laurie Burt, commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection; Mark Mauriello, commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; Pete Grannis, commissioner of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation; Dick Pederson, director of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality; and Jay Manning, director of the Washington State Department of Ecology. The letter's call for maintaining state regulatory authority over greenhouse gas emissions echoed a number of similar recent suggestions offered by state officials, including a group of state attorneys general in an Aug. 31 letter to Boxer and Kerry (168 DEN A-10, 9/2/09). State Authority Should be Maintained In their Sept. 2 letter, the nine state environmental officials said the Senate also should maintain certain provisions that give states specific authority to adopt or enforce their own renewable electricity standards and energy efficiency laws, and to regulate electricity rates. The House bill, authored by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.), would preempt state emissions caps as well as regional efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from 2012 to 2017 to provide ample time for the establishment of a federal carbon trading market. “If the Senate finds it necessary to impose a short moratorium on state/regional cap-and-trade programs, the duration should be consistent with the requisite compliance periods within existing programs” and should not begin until the federal cap-and-trade program is operational, the letter said. Also, if “for any reason, implementation of the federal program is delayed, the moratorium” on state and regional programs “should be similarly delayed,” the state officials wrote. Other state groups, including the National Association of Clean Air Agencies, have urged the Senate to abandon the House bill's 2012-2017 moratorium on state efforts. NACAA, in an Aug. 5 letter to the Senate, said that “no compelling reason has been offered for this encroachment on states' rights.” By Dean Scott The Sept. 2 letter from the nine state environmental officials to Sens. Boxer and Kerry is available at http://www.nescaum.org under the heading “Items of Interest.”