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California Air Resources Board News Clips for November 3, 2010. 


This is a service of the California Air Resources Board’s 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 Plans Late-December Release for New Ozone Standard. Though
the Obama administration was initially expected to issue stricter
smog standards this summer, U.S. EPA now says it may not be ready
to release a final rule until New Year's Eve.  EPA is currently
reconsidering the George W. Bush-era changes to the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards for ground-level ozone, which is
the main component in smog. A final decision is now scheduled to
come by Dec. 31, the agency told a federal court yesterday. 
Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/11/02/02greenwire-epa-plans-late-december-release-for-new-ozone-83405.html?pagewanted=print

First Fireplace-Use Ban Of The Autumn Issued. The season’s first
fireplace and wood stove prohibition has been issued in Fresno,
Tulare and the valley air basin portion of Kern counties for
Wednesday, Nov, 3 by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control
District. The district says it’s imposing the ban because of
deteriorating air quality. The daylong mandatory curtailment will
be in place from midnight Wednesday, Nov. 3 until midnight
Thursday, Nov. 4. Posted.
http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=16745

Maersk Gauges CO2, Helps Starbucks Cut Emissions. Maersk Line,
the shipping unit of Copenhagen-based A P Moller Maersk A/S, said
it’s the first such company to verify its emissions of carbon
dioxide, helping companies such as Starbucks Corp. reduce
greenhouse gases. Maersk is taking the lead among shipping lines
on verifying emissions, Lloyds Register Group, a risk-management
company, said today in an e-mailed statement. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2010-11-02/maersk-ships-measure-co2-help-starbucks-cut-greenhouse-gases.html

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate Law Suspension Defeated. Sacramento` -- Voters rejected a
controversial proposal to suspend California's landmark
greenhouse gas reduction law Tuesday, showing their support for
the state's efforts to lead the nation in confronting climate
change. The measure, Proposition 23, would have suspended the
state's climate law until unemployment dropped below 5.5 percent
for 12 months, which economic analysts said was not likely to
happen for several years. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/11/02/MNGN1G2HVN.DTL&type=printable

Californians Reject Effort To Suspend Climate Law. In a key test
for U.S. environmental policy, Californians voted Tuesday in
favor of the state's landmark climate change law, defeating a
ballot measure backed by Texas-based oil companies that would
have suspended it. They rejected Proposition 23, which would have
suspended the air pollution control law until California's
unemployment rate -- now 12.4% -- fell to 5.5. % for a full year.
Posted.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/11/california-backs-climate-change-law/1

Marijuana, Global Warming Props Tracking To Defeat. Los Angeles
-- California voters were rejecting the legalization of
recreational marijuana in early returns Tuesday night, as well as
an oil industry-backed attempt to shoot down the state's landmark
global warming law. With 5 percent of the vote in, Proposition
19, which would make it legal for adults over 21 to possess up to
an ounce of marijuana for personal use and to grow pot gardens up
to 25 acres, was tracking toward defeat with a 57 percent no
vote. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/11/02/politics/p135104D97.DTL&type=printable

States, Enviro Groups Urge Court to Let EPA Climate Rules
Proceed. Days after the Obama administration asked a federal
court not to stop U.S. EPA's climate program from taking effect
on Jan. 2, a coalition of 20 states and 13 environmental groups
has pledged its support for the agency, saying that despite
"extravagant claims of harm" from industry, the new greenhouse
gas regulations would hardly hurt them. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/11/02/02greenwire-states-enviro-groups-urge-court-to-let-epa-cli-87934.html

Global Warming Law Upheld By California Voters. Sacramento.
Californians on Tuesday rejected Proposition 23, a measure funded
largely by Texas oil companies, that would have effectively wiped
out the state’s global warming law known as AB 32. The vote
against Prop 23 was 61.4 percent with 93.8 percent of precincts
counted. “The effort to suspend AB 32 was the work of greedy
Texas oil companies that wanted nothing more than to keep
polluting our state,” says Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Posted.
http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=16750

Global Warming May Bring Giant, Voracious Crabs To Antarctica.
Changing ocean temperatures may allow giant, voracious, predatory
crabs to enter the unique continental-shelf ecosystems of
Antarctica. Research by scientists at the National Oceanography
Centre in Southampton in the United Kingdom found that even small
increases in water temperature due to global warming could bring
king crabs into new areas. King crabs are a popular food source.
Posted.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2010/11/global-warming-may-bring-giant-voracious-crabs-to-antarctica/1

Voters Support Clean Energy and Climate Solutions. Yesterday,
American voters made plain their anger over the economy and their
frustration with the party in power. But they often did something
else: they supported clean energy where they could. California
voters defeated an oil industry attempt to undermine the state's
climate law, and most members of Congress who helped pass clean
energy and climate legislation in 2009 kept their seats. The vote
in California was particularly significant. Posted.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-lehner/voters-support-clean-ener_b_778188.html?view=print

California Defends Climate Law, Remains National Bastion of Clean
Energy Economy. 61 percent of voters say no to referendum that
would've suspended the state's landmark climate legislation.
California voters defended their landmark climate law by
rejecting Proposition 23yesterday, ending questions over whether
the state's 2006 legislation aimed at curbing greenhouse gas
emissions would be suspended until the state unemployment rate
fell by more than half. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS134354824120101103

Voters Reject Prop. 23, Retain California Greenhouse Gas Goals.
Proposition 23, which aimed to derail California’s landmark
global warming-prevention law, has been soundly defeated. With 93
percent of precincts reporting Wednesday morning, 61 percent of
voters rejected the proposition and 39 percent voted for it.
Voters were sending a message that they want a clean-energy
future, opponents of the measure said. Posted.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2010/11/02/both-sides-of-prop-23-battle-say-jobs.html

Prop 23: Air Pollution Law May Stay in Place. It looks like AB 32
will not be suspended, 58% of the votes on prop 23 are no, with
10 precincts reporting. This measure would have suspended
implementation of air pollution control law AB 32 until
unemployment drops to 5.5% or less for a full year. AB32 was
signed into law in 2006, and says by the year 2020 the level of
emissions of greenhouse gases in California must be reduced to
the same levels as 1990. Posted.
http://www.fox40.com/news/capitolpulse/ktxl-prop-23-air-pollution-law-may-110210,0,1000392,print.story

Voters Reject 2-Sided Assault On Climate Law. San Francisco --
California voters yesterday upheld the state's global warming law
on two fronts, rejecting a Republican candidate for governor who
wanted to delay it while turning aside a referendum funded by oil
companies that would have dismantled the measure for years to
come. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2010/11/03/2

California Votes To Keep Emissions Regs. California voters on
Nov. 2 solidly rejected Proposition 23, a ballot measure that
would have suspended enforcement of the state’s program of
reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions until the state’s
unemployment rate dropped to 5.5 percent or less for a year. With
more than 90 percent of the precincts reporting, 61 percent of
voters opposed Proposition 23. In addition, the election of
Democrat Jerry Brown to replace Arnold Schwarzenegger makes a
retreat on environmental regulation less likely. Posted.
http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=85968

Voters Defeat Propositions Targeting Marijuana and Greenhouse Gas
Emissions. Recent polls showed fading support for two of the more
controversial propositions which were defeated by voters on
election day. Proposition 19 would have legalized marijuana.
Proposition 23 called for suspending the state's so-called
"global warming law". A "win" for the environment and green
energy, but a "blow" to businesses in California. That is one way
to sum up the defeat of proposition 23. Posted.
http://www.kpsplocal2.com/news/local/story/Voters-Defeat-Propositions-Targeting-Marijuana/gGx9re4xFkCFiIBEZ5Mv_w.cspx

Voters Weigh Suspension Of Air Pollution Law, As California
Reveals Cap-And-Trade Plans. Just ahead of today’s midterm
election, California regulators established a preliminary model
for a greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system . The system is
intended to help the state control industrial greenhouse gas
emissions in aggregate in adherence with its progressive,
controversial AB32 air pollution law which legislature passed
there in 2006. Currently, California requires reporting by (and
third-party verification of) facilities and companies that emit
25,000 tons of greenhouse gases or more each year. Posted.
http://techcrunch.com/2010/11/02/california-co2-law-midterm-election/

Survey: Texas Ignoring New Greenhouse Gas Rules. Texas has
refused to meet new federal greenhouse gas emission rules that go
into effect in January, the latest anti-Washington move in an
ongoing battle that could halt new construction at the nation's
largest refineries and other industry in Texas. The refusal to
join 49 other states in agreeing to the new rules is the latest
salvo from Texas in its fight with the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, which Gov. Rick Perry has used on the campaign
trail as an example of meddling by the federal government.
Posted.
http://pottsmerc.com/articles/2010/11/02/news/green/doc4cd082bd2e26d254462788.prt

CAP AND TRADE

House Goes Republican; Enviros Brace for Climate Changes. A
Republican majority swept the House last night, cementing the
reality that putting a price on carbon is off the political
agenda. Against a backdrop of recession economics and sharp
attacks over the Obama administration's policies on health care,
energy and stimulus bills, voters effectively pressed the reset
button on climate legislation.
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/11/03/03climatewire-house-goes-republican-enviros-brace-for-clim-93751.html?pagewanted=print

New Mexico Panel Adopts Cap-and-Trade Plan as Republicans Gain in
Congress. A New Mexico environmental panel adopted a
cap-and-trade plan to cut greenhouse gases, a measure opposed by
the state’s incoming Republican governor. The state Environmental
Improvement Board approved on a 4-3 vote the program for
restricting carbon-dioxide emissions that scientists link to
climate change, the New Mexico Environment Department said
yesterday in a statement on its website. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2010-11-03/new-mexico-panel-approves-carbon-cap-and-trade-plan-awaits-other-states.html

California Air Resources Board Announces Draft GHG Program. The
California Air Resources Board (ARB) has released its proposed
greenhouse gas (GHG) cap-and-trade regulation. The release begins
a public comment period culminating in a Dec. 16 public hearing
in Sacramento, at which the ARB will consider adopting the
proposed program. A key part of ARB's A.B.32 Scoping Plan, the
cap-and-trade program provides an overall limit on the emissions
from sources responsible for 85% of California's GHG emissions,
according to the ARB. Posted.
http://www.solarindustrymag.com/e107_plugins/content/content_lt.php?content.6611

California's Proposed GHG Cap-and-Trade Program Out for Public
Comment. The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has issued its
proposed greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program, pursuant to the
California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32). The proposed
regulation builds on the conceptual framework for ARB’s
cap-and-trade program, released in November 2009. The 45-day
public comment period on the regulation opened yesterday and
closes on December 15, 2010.  Posted.
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/stoel-rives-6442/news/article/2010/11/californias-proposed-ghg-cap-and-trade-program-out-for-public-comment

California Cap and Trade Proposal Could Benefit Solar Industry.
The California Air Resources Board's new cap-and-trade solar
proposal is likely to generate a lot of heat in the form of
vehement political debates - but it could help reform the state's
energy industry on a broad scale. The Golden State has
consistently taken the lead in terms of pioneering
forward-thinking energy regulations.  Posted.
http://www.getsolar.com/News/California/Sacramento-Solar/California-Cap-and-Trade-Proposal-Could-Benefit-Solar-Industry-800212717

GREEN ENERGY

Solar-Energy Manufacturing Firm To Open In West Sac. West
Sacramento is about to get 100 solar-energy manufacturing jobs,
in a boost to the area's green-tech industry. Mounting Systems, a
German company that makes products for mounting solar panels,
will open its first North American factory in January in West
Sacramento's Riverside Business Center. The location also will
serve as the company's U.S. headquarters. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/11/03/v-print/3154089/solar-energy-manufacturing-firm.html

VEHICLES

Orange County Man Charged With Illegally Importing Prized Muscle
Cars. Federal probe involves Nissan model made famous by 'Fast
and Furious' movies. SANTA ANA, CA - A former Orange County
sheriff's deputy, who operated several now-defunct auto
businesses, made his initial court appearance Monday morning on
federal charges for illegally importing models of the Japanese
muscle car made famous by the "Fast & Furious" movies into the
United States and selling them to sports car enthusiasts and
collectors. Posted.
http://www.thecypresstimes.com/article/News/National_News/ORANGE_COUNTY_MAN_CHARGED_WITH_ILLEGALLY_IMPORTING_PRIZED_MUSCLE_CARS/35665

After Leaf, Nissan plans 3 more all-electric vehicles. Nissan
Motor Co. Ltd., which will debut its all-electric Leaf next
month, is preparing three more electric vehicles in the next four
years, including a small commercial van. The automaker will also
design an electric Infiniti car and an urban car that would be
smaller than the Leaf. The company did not release other details
about the new cars, although it has shown sketches of the
electric Infiniti. The zero-emission Leaf will be delivered to
20,000 consumers next month. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2010/11/03/9

OPINION

Air District's DMV Fine Will Hurt Valley Families. The San
Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has struck again,
this time to the tune of an additional $12 tax to be added to the
existing $7 tax and attached to our vehicle registrations. Of
course, this tax only applies to valley residents. The members of
the valley air district board are the largest collection of
gutless wonders I have ever seen. They are terrified to go after
the refineries, or the trucking industry and train industries
because of their unions. Posted.
http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x768777727/Air-districts-DMV-fine-will-hurt-valley-families

Fine Mobile Polluters. You can count on the government and its
agencies to be creative in problem solving. For example, the San
Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District has ingeniously
determined that poor air quality can be improved by imposing a
tax on each vehicle registered in the valley. The air district
can't take all the credit for this breakthrough, as the federal
government assisted by imposing a fine on the valley. Posted.
http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x768777725/Fine-mobile-polluters

Spread Pain of Pollution Fine. Regarding the $12 fee added to our
annual DMV registration to pay the federal air pollution penalty:
I say why not add that fee to all vehicles in California? Many
residents of California pass through our valley, spewing exhaust
fumes along the way, also. How about the trucking companies all
over the U.S. and Canada, whose trucks pass through here?
Shouldn't they pay, too? Then there are the railroads and their
diesel engines; they contribute to our air quality. Posted.
http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x989072456/Spread-pain-of-pollution-fine

Erosion, Global Warming. Re: your Nov. 2 article, “Ongoing
erosion is threatening state’s beaches, new study says”: For
nearly 100 years, the oceans have been rising close to 1
millimeter a year. Now, because of more carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases in both the atmosphere and the ocean, the rate
has been accelerated to nearly 1.5 millimeters a year. Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/nov/03/erosion-global-warming/#ixzz14Exq97zw

BLOGS

Voters Reject Prop. 23, Keeping California's Global Warming Law
Intact.  In 2006, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill aimed
at rolling back the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 1990
levels by the year 2020. That bill, AB 32, has become the
cornerstone of Schwarzenegger's legacy as he travels the world
talking about the importance of environmental protection and
reducing harmful pollution. Posted.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/11/voters-reject-prop-23-keeping-californias-global-warming-law-intact.html

Prop. 23: How The West Was (Not) Won. Early on, opponents of
Prop. 23, the ballot initiative to suspend California's global
warming law, characterized the battle as "David vs. Goliath." As
Steve Maviglio, a spokesman for the No on 23 campaign, put it,
"It's our slingshot versus their oily club." Among the backers of
the measure were Texas-based oil refiners, California business
trade associations and anti-tax activists bent on halting the
nation's most ambitious effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Posted.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/11/proposition-23-results-defeat-global-warming.html

Voters Reject Prop 23. California voters soundly rejected a
ballot initiative that would have suspended a state
climate-change law. Proposition 23 would have put the Global
Warming Act of 2006 on hold until the state's unemployment rate
dropped below 5.5 percent. Opponents consider the vote a win for
California environmental advocates. With one-third of the state's
precincts reporting, opponents held a wide lead, 60 percent to 40
percent. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/inthepeninsula/detail?entry_id=76174#ixzz14ExTIXdt

Californians Defend Carbon Caps. California voters embraced the
kind of carbon caps that are now out of favor in Washington,
D.C., voting to push ahead with the state’s plan to slash
greenhouse gases linked to climate change. With most ballots
counted, California officials said today that voters defeated,
61% to 39%, a ballot measure to postpone the 2012 effective date
for a state cap on greenhouse-gas emissions. Posted.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2010/11/03/californians-defend-carbon-caps/

Proposition 23: Backers Were Outspent, Out-Organized (UPDATED).
The fight over Proposition 23, the ballot initiative to suspend
California's global warming law, "will definitely be a David
versus Goliath battle," Steve Maviglio, spokesman for the
opponents told a reporter in September. "Our slingshot versus
their oily club." From the get-go, that's how environmentalists
characterized their struggle against Prop. 23 which lost by 61.3%
to 38,7% with 96.9% of precincts counted.(UPDATED returns Nov. 3,
9 a.m.) But it was pure spin. As they say in the movie, "Follow
the money." Posted.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/11/proposition-23-defeat-global-warming-climate-change-initiative.html

Global Warming for Gamers. Think you’ve got the smarts to rein in
climate change without crashing the global economy? In the real
world, even leaders of nations are having trouble figuring that
out. But in the new strategy video game “Fate of the World,”
players singlehandedly confront that daunting challenge, while
tackling peak oil, overpopulation and saving the rain forest to
boot.  Posted.
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/02/global-warming-for-gamers/?pagemode=print

California Voters Back Weakened Climate Law. California voters on
Tuesday rejected a measure to suspend the state’s innovative
climate change law. But the state’s emission trading scheme has
been substantially diluted to buy off opposition from
energy-intensive industries and allay fears about job losses. If
it is true that “as California goes, so goes the nation”, the
past 10 days have confirmed the lack of political support for
tough emissions curbs. Posted.
http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2010/11/03/california-voters-back-weakened-climate-law/

California's Climate Commitment. “[Climate change] creeps up on
you. And then all of a sudden, it is too late to do something
about it. ... We don’t want to go there.” Thus spoke
Schwarzenegger, California's body-building movie star governor,
upon signing four years ago a California law committing the state
to cut its greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020. Posted.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/environment/californias-climate-commitment

California Votes to Maintain Cap and Trade. A proposition that
would have effectively killed key greenhouse gas regulations in
California has failed. A ballot proposition in California that
would have suspended that state's recent climate change
legislation has failed, clearing the way for greenhouse gas
emissions regulations there to take effect, including a cap and
trade program. The outcome of the election could have
implications for greenhouse regulations, and renewable energy,
around the country. Posted.
http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/energy/25974/?p1=Blogs