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California Air Resources Board News Clips for December 9, 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.

NEXT 10 – ANALYSIS OF GHG CAP-AND-TRADE

Report Minimizes Fears On California Climate Cap-And-Trade
System. California's effort to cap carbon emissions by gasoline
refiners, utilities and other large polluters will have little
impact on consumers and businesses in the state while creating up
to 623,000 new jobs over the next decade, according to a new
report. Next 10, a San Francisco nonprofit group that supports
green technology, estimated the state's cap-and-trade program
will increase electricity costs by an average of 2.3 percent to
4.1 percent per household by the year 2020. The forecast – which
comes a week before the California Air Resources Board's will
vote on whether to approve the new rules for its cap-and-trade
program –Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/12/09/v-print/3244417/report-minimizes-fears-on-california.html
http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/12/09/2191341/report-minimizes-fears-on-california.html
http://www.kentucky.com/2010/12/09/1559031/report-californias-climate-cap.html

Most In State Found To Support Carbon-Trading Plan. A majority of
Californians support creating a carbon-trading market to cut
greenhouse gas emissions and using the money to help address the
state's widening budget deficit, according to a poll released
Wednesday. The poll from the Field Research Corp. comes a week
before California regulators are expected to approve the creation
of a "cap and trade" system, which would set an annual limit on
the state's greenhouse gas emissions and force companies to buy
permits to release those gases. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/09/BUNB1GNPUA.DTL

Poll Finds Strong Backing For Proposed Emissions Trading Program.
California voters are supporting (64 percent) implementing the
state’s proposed emissions trading or cap-and-trade program, a
recent poll says. The California Air Resources Board is expected
to vote on the greenhouse gas emissions trading program at its
Dec. 16 meeting. Next 10, which describes itself as a nonprofit
nonpartisan research organization, commissioned the poll from the
Field Research Corporation as well as five research papers from
academic experts to address the multibillion dollar issue of how
California should distribute greenhouse gas allowances and the
resulting revenue. Posted.
http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=17061

Voters Favor Cap-And-Trade Program. New research commissioned by
the nonprofit research organization Next 10 shows that the
state’s proposed cap-and-trade program will have a minimal
economic impact and the state’s voters are solidly behind
implementing the program. In anticipation of an upcoming decision
on the trading program by the California Air Resources Board,
Next 10 commissioned a poll from the Field Research Corp., and
five research papers from leading academic experts, to address
how California should distribute greenhouse gas allowances and
the resulting revenue. Posted.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2010/12/08/voters-favor-capi-in-trade.html

New Reports Debate What To Do With California's Cap-And-Trade
Revenues. On the eve of a historic vote to establish California's
greenhouse gas trading scheme, officials are studying five new
reports predicting the plan's positive economic effect. The
papers are aimed at analyzing the effect of distributing
greenhouse gas permits to emitters mostly free of charge, as
California has outlined and is preparing to enact next week as
part of its final cap-and-trade regulation. The trading program
goes into effect in January 2012 and will cover 85 percent of the
state's industrial emissions by the time it ends in 2020
(ClimateWire, Nov. 1Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2010/12/09/6

Poll: Californians Still Support Cap-and-Trade. A new poll shows
Californians holding firm to their support of California's
climate strategy, including cap-and-trade provisions likely to be
approved next week. The poll accompanies a sheaf of new studies
commissioned by the pro-clean-tech think tank known as Next
10.The Field poll of about 500 Californians, taken right before
Thanksgiving, shows two-thirds (66%) of respondents still favor
(either "strongly" or "somewhat") the 2006 climate law known as
AB 32, including the cap-and-trade provisions (64%). About one in
four oppose both. Posted.
http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2010/12/08/poll-californians-still-support-cap-and-trade/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Allowance Allocation Under California's Greenhouse Gas
Cap-and-Trade Proposal. One of the most notable features of
California's recently-proposed cap and trade program for
greenhouse gases (GHGs) is a commitment to free allocation of
tradeable allowances to all covered entities. But how, exactly,
will the California Air Resources Board ("CARB") determine the
number of allowances to which each entity is entitled? Industrial
Facilities. CARB's allocation of allowances to covered industrial
facilities will be based on two main factors: (1)
efficiency-adjusted output and (2) transition assistance and
leakage prevention. Posted.
http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/article.asp?articleid=117734&print=1

CLIMATE CHANGE

Bolivian Says Climate Talks May Commit 'Ecocide' Bolivia's
President Evo Morales says the Cancun climate conference will be
committing "ecocide" if it fails to take decisive action to halt
global warming. The Bolivian leader spoke Thursday on the
next-to-last day of an annual two-week U.N. negotiating session
that will fail once again to achieve a sweeping, mandatory pact
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In a passionate, 20-minute
speech, Morales cited families deprived of water because of
warming and drought, and islanders facing the loss of homes from
seas rising from global warming. Posted.
http://www.sfexaminer.com/news/2010/12/bolivian-says-climate-talks-may-commit-ecocide
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h1DwzHImwkv_R7-YfAsPz6srGomg?docId=864ffa6a26ff487ba00295e7989f9b8d
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2010/12/08/1400244/climate-talks-host-says-its-time.html

AIR POLLUTION

San Joaquin Air Regulations Upheld By Court. A federal appeals
court has upheld San Joaquin Valley air-quality rules limiting
harmful emissions from housing developments and other
construction projects, a decision that could boost similar plans
in the Bay Area. The National Association of Home Builders
challenged regulations passed in 2005 by the San Joaquin Valley
Air Pollution Control District for eight counties, from San
Joaquin to Kern, that have some of the nation's dirtiest air.
Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/09/BA571GNVAN.DTL
http://www.forconstructionpros.com/online/article.jsp?siteSection=25&id=18752
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2010/12/08/court-homebuilders-must-mitigate-for.html

EPA Again Delays Tighter Ozone Restrictions. Washington—The Obama
administration is delaying a decision on whether to tighten
limits on ground-level ozone, the third time in less than a year
that it has put off the potentially costly environmental rule in
the face of congressional and industry pressure. The
Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that it won't
be prepared to decide until next July whether to tighten a
national air-quality standard for ozone. That would be nearly a
year after the agency's original self-imposed deadline for
settling the matter. Ground-level ozone is a primary ingredient
in smog linked to respiratory illnesses Posted.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703493504576007622632878748.html

State Posts Low Smoking Rate, But Also the Most Polluted Air.
Californians may breathe easier because so few of us smoke
tobacco, but our health still may suffer because our air remains
the most polluted in the United States, according to a report
released Tuesday. The 21st annual “America’s Health Rankings”
report puts California 26th among states in overall health, based
on 22 measures. Posted.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/08/state-posts-low-smoking-rate-but-also-the-most/
Escondido: Smoke From 'Bomb House' Burn Won't Be Any Worse Than
Typical Fire, Air Expert Says. There's no such thing as "safe
smoke." But local air pollution authorities say the toxic spiral
that's expected to billow and then dissipate over Escondido on
Thursday morning ---- during the torching of an explosives-filled
home ---- won't be any more harmful than a typical fire. Still,
to be on the safe side, if you smell smoke anywhere near the
northwest Escondido-area home, which is just west of Interstate
15 and north of El Norte Parkway, head inside, officials say.
Posted.
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/escondido/article_b1d590af-20a9-5b44-904a-2af6d120368f.html

Report Links Trucking Labor Dispute To Dirty Diesel Emissions.
Worker misclassification in the trucking industry has contributed
to the rampant air pollution around America's ports, according to
a new report from labor rights groups. The report details the
plight of truck drivers who are classified as "independent
contractors" rather than being directly employed by operators.
That status allows large trucking companies to not only pay the
drivers less, but also deny them benefits and the ability to form
a union. Industry regulations also require independent
contractors to own and operate their own trucks, a measure that
the report says creates a ripple effect in air quality. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2010/12/09/16

FUELS

Popping the Hood on California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard: A
Digest special series. LCFS? Sounds like alphabet soup to most
people, and a yawner to wide sections of the biofuels industry.
And catching up on emissions regulations is, at the best of
times, like a visit to the dentist. But here’s our warning: if
you don’t master California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard, and its
implications on your business, as it takes hold in the Golden
State and is adopted or adapted around the world, as a biofuels
investment you won’t raise a dime, your investors will be
stranded, and you won’t distribute much fuel, if any, in the long
term. Posted.
http://biofuelsdigest.com/bdigest/2010/12/09/popping-the-hood-on-californias-low-carbon-fuel-standard-a-digest-special-series/

GREEN ENERGY

Can Politicians Act Quickly for $342B in Clean Power Investments?
A lot of numbers have been floating around on the benefits of
renewable energy, particularly given the U.N. climate change
talks going on this week in Mexico. The latest set of data comes
from the Pew Charitable Trust, which issued a report Wednesday
saying $2.3 trillion in clean power project investments could
materialize in next 10 years if G-20 countries adopt aggressive
policies. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS108215967720101208

 Solano Economic Development Corp. Learns About 'Going Green'. In
his book "The Lorax," Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, wrote,
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,/Nothing is
going to get better./It's not." What's getting better in
California -- because state residents care and most recently
indicated their wishes in last month's midterm elections -- is
energy efficiency, helped in part by state "government policies
in place and building standards and codes that are leading the
nation," a University of California, Davis, leader in energy
efficiency said Wednesday. Posted.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_16814700?nclick_check=1

Tax Package Includes Ethanol; Democrats Working On Renewable
Energy Credits. A tax package currently being negotiated by
Senate Democrats is likely to include an extension of an ethanol
tax credit at 45 cents per gallon and may include a renewable
energy tax grant program, although perhaps in a different form
than the way it currently exists, senators said today. Sen.
Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), an opponent of the ethanol tax
credit, said her "understanding" is that the ethanol blending tax
credit would be extended at the current 45-cent-per-gallon level.
Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2010/12/09/1

FERC Chief Urges Renewables Industry To 'Embrace' Gas. The
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission chairman said the renewable
energy industry should partner with the natural gas industry to
provide reliable electricity at lower prices. "I think there is
much to gain in a partnership between renewable energy and
natural gas," FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff said at a forum
sponsored by the American Council on Renewable Energy in
Washington, D.C. A U.S. influx of unconventional natural gas --
mostly shale gas -- and an expansion of pipeline infrastructure
has lowered gas prices to about $4 per million British thermal
units from the $6 to $10 per million Btu several years ago.
Posted. http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2010/12/09/7

Sunpower Completes 1.1MW Solar Array For California College.
Solar developer and manufacturer SunPower Corporation has
completed a 1.1 megawatt solar power system for a community
college in Southern California. Bakersfield College, one of the
oldest continually operating community colleges in the country,
will be able to generate about a third of its electricity from
the solar panels. The 3.1-acre parking lot canopy structure
contains nearly 3,700 SunPower solar panels with a single-axis
tracking system that can track the sun through the day. Posted.
http://www.brighterenergy.org/20555/news/solar/sunpower-completes-1-1mw-solar-array-for-california-college/

San Francisco Eyes 100% Renewable Electricity Target. As it
celebrated completion of the largest municipal solar array in
California, San Francisco has pledged to draw up plans generate
all its power from renewable sources. Mayor Gavin Newsom opened
the five megawatt Sunset Reservoir solar array yesterday, and
used the occasion to announce a $250,000 project to devise a
strategy to switch the city to 100% renewable electricity by
2020. Posted.
http://www.brighterenergy.org/20486/news/solar/san-francisco-eyes-100-renewable-electricity-target/

VEHICLES

Lawmakers Urge EPA To Ditch Fuel-Economy Letter Grades. A
bipartisan group of 53 lawmakers is urging the Obama
administration to scrap plans for assigning letter grades to
fuel-economy ratings on new vehicles and instead display
miles-per-gallon information. At issue are designs by U.S. EPA
and the Department of Transportation for designs for fuel-economy
labels. One proposal is a vertical label showing grades from A
for the most fuel-efficient cars to D for gas guzzlers, the other
displays mpg ratings and fuel-savings information. EPA has said
the letter grades provide "simple, straightforward energy and
environmental comparisons. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2010/12/09/13

MISCELLANEOUS

Minority Groups Demand Feds Pull California High-Speed Rail
Funds. The latest hurdle thrown in the path of California's
high-speed rail project arrived Wednesday when a statewide group
of minority-owned companies and small businesses demanded the
federal government pull $3 billion from the initiative. The
complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation on
Wednesday alleges that the California High-Speed Rail Authority
"utterly failed" to attract a diverse group of businesses while
handing out more than $500 million in contracts. Posted.
http://www.mercurynews.com/san-mateo-county/ci_16810219?source=rss&nclick_check=1
http://www.modbee.com/2010/12/08/1464092/high-speed-rail-panel-raises-concerns.html
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-rail-complaint-20101209,0,1463775.story?track=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+latimes%2Fnews%2Fscience%2Fenvironment+%28L.A.+Times+-+Environment%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2010/12/09/14

OPINION

California Board Shouldn't Retreat On Diesel Pollution
Reductions. California has succeeded in environmental protection
where few other states dared go by clamping down on pollution
while building a mighty economy over the past 50 years. In
choreographed synchronicity, air quality improved, jobs
multiplied and technology flourished. California not only allowed
people to breathe better, but it also enabled innovations such as
hybrid cars, low-emitting power plants, and clean paints and
solvents. The brilliance of California's environmental leadership
is that regulation has created new markets, which in turn created
jobs and saved lives. Posted.
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_16809656?nclick_check=1

BLOGS

Climate Battle Takes to the Streets. Chanting the Spanish
equivalent of "The fight continues!", hundreds of protesters made
their way through the streets of downtown Cancun Tuesday, to call
for dramatic action on climate change.  Located about an hour by
bus away from the Moon Palace where the UN talks are being held,
the procession brought together climate activists from around the
world, members of Mexico's indigenous communities, and dozens of
journalists eager to report on one of the few major protests at
COP16. Posted.
http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2010/12/08/climate-battle-takes-to-the-streets/