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California Air Resources Board News Clips for December 17, 2010. 
We apologize for today's delay with the newsclips which was due
to technical problems. Thank you for your patience.

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 Air Regulators Approve Carbon-Trading Plan. The
cap-and-trade system will limit emissions from 600 major
industrial plants in the state, starting in 2012. Firms could buy
pollution offsets from timber companies that preserve carbon in
forests. California regulators Thursday voted to cap the
greenhouse gas emissions of the state's major industries and
establish the nation's first broad-based carbon trading program.
The move marks another bellwether moment for a state that has led
in environmental policy, coming as national climate legislation
to regulate greenhouse gases and curb climate change has stalled
in Congress. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1217-climate-cap-trade-20101217,0,7038845,print.story

State Regulators Approve the Nation's Biggest Cap-And-Trade Plan.
Sacramento, Calif. -- California regulators voted yesterday to
approve the most comprehensive U.S. cap yet on greenhouse gases
and create the biggest carbon market in the country.  The
California Air Resources Board voted 9-1 to approve the state's
cap-and-trade plan, the keystone of its effort to reduce
emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 under A.B. 32 and the nation's
first economywide, market-based greenhouse gas scheme in the
absence of federal action. California has the world's
eighth-largest economy and the highest gross state product in the
United States, at $1.7 trillion in 2009. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/12/17/17climatewire-state-regulators-approve-the-nations-biggest-84198.html
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2010/12/17/1

California Adopts Cap-And-Trade Program. Sacramento - The
California Air Resources Board has approved the creation of the
nation's first broad-based program to put a cap on greenhouse gas
emissions and to begin charging large emitters for the excess
carbon dioxide they put in the air. After an all-day meeting on
Thursday, the board voted 9-1 for the proposal, which will take
effect in 2012 and means California is once again moving forward
with climate-change policy while efforts on the national level
have stopped. "The comment 'the world is watching' is sometimes
an idle comment. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/17/MN6B1GRO7F.DTL&type=printable

California Air Resources Board Oks Cap-And-Trade Rules. The state
took a major step toward the development of a low-carbon economy
by approving a cap on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions by
refiners, utilities and other energy companies. After a 10-hour
meeting Thursday, the California Air Resources Board voted 9-1 to
approve the rules for a cap-and-trade program, which will reduce
the amount of carbon emissions from the state's 500 largest
polluters. "This is a historic venture," said Mary Nichols, the
air board's chairman. "The step we are about to take is one that
we will all look back as a capstone of this (Schwarzenegger)
administration's work." Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/12/17/3264543/california-air-resources-board.html#mi_rss=State%20Politics

California Approves Stringent Pollution Curbs. San Francisco —
California regulators on Thursday adopted the nation’s most
comprehensive rules to curb emissions of carbon dioxide and other
heat-trapping gases, a move that will put the state far ahead of
the rest of the country in energy reform. The regulations, which
reward industries most effective in achieving the cuts by
allowing them to sell credits to polluters, will create the
largest market for carbon trading in the country. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/science/earth/17cap.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

California Adopts Cap And Trade. San Francisco --California
regulators late Thursday adopted the first large-scale
cap-and-trade program in the U.S., in a move officials say will
protect the environment without hurting the state's
still-struggling economy. In a 9-1 vote, the state Air Resources
Board voted to adopt rules, scheduled to start in 2012 that place
a limit on greenhouse-gas emissions for the state that will
decline over time. Power plants, refineries and other industrial
facilities that emit carbon dioxide and can't cut their emissions
by the required amount will be able to obtain pollution
allowances from the state or buy them from other emitters with
excess allowances. Posted.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703395204576024650186378260.html

California Oks Rules To Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Despite
Congress' failure this year to pass a climate law, California
regulators have approved the nation's largest system of financial
incentives to get the owners of power plants, refineries and
other major polluters to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
The state's Air Resources Board voted overwhelmingly, 9-1, late
Thursday to pass the key piece of California's pioneering 2006
climate law, which had a Jan. 1, 2011, deadline for enacting the
so-called cap-and-trade system. In November, Californians
defeated a ballot proposition to suspend the law. Posted.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/12/california-greenhouse-gas-rules/1

Calif. Regulators OK Major Greenhouse Gas Rules. Sacramento,
Calif. (AP) — Hoping other states will follow suit, California
regulators overwhelmingly approved the nation's most extensive
system giving owners of power plants, refineries and other major
polluters financial incentives to emit fewer greenhouse gases.
The Air Resources Board voted 9-1 Thursday to pass the key piece
of California's 2006 climate law — called AB32. "We're inventing
this," said Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the state's air quality
board. "There is still going to be quite a bit of action needed
before it becomes operational." Posted.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jRiu-0wi41fco8ZFE5dwmiTwhZyg?docId=f029f62fa02e4e8381f3a23110165abd

Calif. Regulators OK Major Greenhouse Gas Rules. Sacramento,
Calif. California regulators have approved the first system in
the nation to give polluting companies such as utilities and
refineries financial incentives to emit fewer greenhouse gases.
The Air Resources Board voted 9-1 Thursday to pass the key piece
of California's 2006 climate law -- called AB32 -- with the hope
that other states will follow the lead of the world's eighth
largest economy. California's new rules will set up the largest
U.S. carbon trading market as the way to enforce the state's
gradually tightening emissions cap. Posted.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9K5D9901.htm

Air Board Caps State Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Sacramento —
California air regulators on Thursday adopted a plan that places
a cap on greenhouse gas emissions and establishes carbon
allowances that large polluters can buy and sell to meet their
operational needs. The cap-and-trade program is a key component
in the overall strategy to reach the emissions-reductions goal
spelled out in AB 32, the state’s landmark climate-change
legislation. The bill calls for greenhouse-gas emissions to be
rolled back to 1990 levels by 2020, about a 15 percent reduction
from today’s levels. Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/dec/16/air-board-caps-state-greenhouse-gas-emissions/#ixzz18OLiBLaY


California Emissions Trading Program Cleared To Start. The
California Air Resources Board Thursday endorsed the state’s
cap-and-trade regulation under the state’s greenhouse gas
reduction law, AB32. The cap-and-trade regulation, along with
several complementary measures, will drive the development of
green jobs and set the state on track to a clean energy future,
CARB predicts. “This program is the capstone of our climate
policy, and will accelerate California’s progress toward a clean
energy economy,” says CARB Chairman Mary Nichols. Posted.
http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=17128

State: Yes On Cap-And-Trade Climate Rule. California's smog
agency approved new "cap and trade" rules late Thursday to help
curb global warming, the first of their kind in the nation. The
rules, opposed by some business and industry groups, would place
a cap on overall emissions of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon
dioxide, which climate scientists say is the main driver of
global warming. The cap would shrink over time, and the
businesses under it would be allowed to trade allowances for
emissions among themselves -- those with unneeded allowances
because of lower emissions able to sell them to those needing
more.  Posted.
http://www.ocregister.com/news/cap-280656-trade-state.html

CARB Passes Landmark GHG Trading Regulation. The California Air
Resources Board (CARB) passed a landmark regulation today. Known
as the Cap and Trade regulation, the rulemaking is key to the
state's success in implementing the greenhouse gas (GHG)
reductions mandated by AB32, the climate change law implemented
in 2006. Under the regulation, facilities that emit more than
25,000 metric tonnes per year of CO2 equivalent emissions will be
issued allowances (equal to one metric tonne of CO2 equivalents)
by the state, the total of which from all affected sources equals
a statewide cap. Posted.
http://www.examiner.com/environmental-news-in-bakersfield/carb-passes-landmark-ghg-trading-regulation

California Passes Nation's Most Extensive Cap and Trade Rules
Against Pollution. California now has the nation’s most extensive
cap and trade rules to regulate carbon emissions. The Air
Resources Board voted to approve the new rules last night after
hearing hours of often contentious testimony. The A-R-B voted
nine to one to approve the measure after a day of testimony from
nearly 200 witnesses. Before the vote, A-R-B Chair Mary Nichols
reminded everyone about the program's significance. "We know that
it is a historic venture and we know that we will not have gotten
everything right." Posted.
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2010/12/16/california-passes-nation's-most-extensive-cap-and-trade-rules-against-pollution-

Schwarzenegger Applauds Greenhouse Gas Proposal. Sacramento,
Calif. (KGO) -- California is about to lead the nation again --
this time on the issue of global warming. But there is concern
that the state's cap-and-trade regulations to cut greenhouse gas
emissions could drive business out of the Golden State. The
cap-and-trade program is the centerpiece of Gov.'s
Schwarzenegger's landmark global warming law which mandates that
California reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels in
10 years. "This is not just about global climate change. That's
one of the reasons why I believe in it. Posted.
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/state&id=7848563

State Oks Nation's Largest Carbon-Trading Market. After a
personal plea from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and more than six
hours of testimony from environmentalists and business groups
tonight, state pollution regulators approved sweeping rules aimed
at reducing greenhouse gases in California and controlling
climate change. The 9-1 vote by the Air Resources Board now
places California – with an economy roughly the size of Italy –
alongside a host of nations that have enacted a market-based
system to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/state-oks-nations-largest-carbon-trading-market-7541

DIESEL EMISSIONS

Calif. to Give Industry More Time for Diesel Rules. California
air regulators to give business more time to comply with diesel
emission standards. Businesses will have more time to comply with
California's tough diesel emissions standards for trucks, buses
and construction equipment under new, relaxed rules expected to
be adopted by air quality officials. The Air Resources Board was
expected to vote on Friday on amendments to its on-and-off-road
diesel emissions standards, giving businesses more time to
replace or upgrade aging equipment with filters, and exempting
more vehicles from coverage under the rules. Posted.
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=12419926

Companies Dependent On Diesel Fuel Worry About What California
Will Decide On Limit Rules. Two very different industries are
interested in what happens with state rules that limit diesel air
pollution from heavy machinery. KPCC’s Molly Peterson reports on
an issue before the Air Resources Board.  Air quality officials
have targeted diesel engines – the soot and chemicals they spew
can harm human health and warm the climate. In a slow economy,
the companies that make and use bulldozers, backhoes and other
heavy trucks – all with diesel engines – worry that the present
deadlines for cleanup could eviscerate their businesses. Posted.
http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/12/17/arb-scrubbers/

Senate Passes Diesel Clean-up Bill - House Action Expected Soon.
Great news from Capitol Hill today: Today, the Senate passed, by
unanimous consent, a bill that could lead to cleaner school
buses, less pollution from trucks serving our ports, and the
introduction of new, cleaner technologies into the construction
and farm equipment world. The bill is the Diesel Emissions
Reduction Act of 2010 (S. 3973), which authorizes $500 million in
diesel clean-up funds over the next five years. Now the action
moves to the House, where we are hopeful that the House will pass
its version of DERA (H.R. 6482) before the end of the current
session. Posted.
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/rkassel/senate_passes_diesel_clean-up.html

LA Harbor Commission Closes Clean Truck Class-7 Loophole. The Los
Angeles Harbor Commission voted Thursday to include Class 7
trucks in the same emissions rules that already apply to Class 8
trucks. The move will prevent carriers from using the smaller
trucks to move empty chassis and lighter containers through the
Port -- a carrier tactic seen as a way of thwarting the strict
emissions requirements imposed on Class 8 trucks. As well, the
harbor Commission has banned the practice of "dray-offs" within
the Harbor District or adjacent public streets. Posted.
http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=72478

AIR POLLUTION

Proximity To Freeways Increases Autism Risk, Study Finds. More
research is needed, but the report suggests air pollution could
be a factor. Children born to mothers who live close to freeways
have twice the risk of autism, researchers reported Thursday. The
study, its authors say, adds to evidence suggesting that certain
environmental exposures could play a role in causing the disorder
in some children. "This study isn't saying exposure to air
pollution or exposure to traffic causes autism," said Heather
Volk, lead author of the paper and a researcher at the Saban
Research Institute of Children's Hospital Los Angeles. "But it
could be one of the factors that are contributing to its
increase." Posted.
http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/16/health/la-he-autism-20101217
http://www.examiner.com/children-s-health-in-providence/highway-air-pollution-and-autism-could-where-you-live-cause-the-disorder
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20025991-10391704.html
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/12/17/study-finds-link-autism-air-pollutants/

OPINION

Work Is Not Complete On California’s Cap-And-Trade Plan. The
California Air Resources Board (CARB) has adopted a cap-and-trade
system in time to meet the December 31, 2010 deadline for
regulatory action under AB 32, California’s Global Warming
Solutions Act of 2006. Yet much remains to be done. Instead of a
complete regulation that companies and the public can fully
understand, there are “placeholders” for missing pieces and CARB
staff will be adjusting other elements as work progresses next
year.  Posted.
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=zcr2qqwcx7th6i&xid=zcr1jj8tbb97to&done=.zcr2qqwcx8gh6i#

Cool the Planet With Natural Gas. Existing gas-powered generators
can reduce CO2 emissions in the electricity sector by 10%. What
if the near-term solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
actually began with the increased use of fossil fuels? This is a
real possibility because using natural gas to generate energy
results in much lower emissions of carbon dioxide than does using
coal or oil. And in recent years we've unlocked vast new supplies
of natural gas. Posted.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703395204576023441488023236.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

BLOGS

One Small Step for CARB, Many More Steps to a Clean Energy
Economy Remaining. The California Air Resources Board (CARB)
today voted to approve California’s first-of-its-kind carbon
market to reduce pollution across the California economy.  While
we will continue to work with CARB to ensure the program is
implemented effectively, the program as designed will position
California to make good on its AB 32 pledge to reduce GHG
emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020. In the meantime, much work
remains to finalize and implement the suite of policies developed
under AB 32 to steer California towards a clean energy future. 
Here are some key developments to keep your eye on. Posted.
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ajackson/one_small_step_for_carb_many_m.html

It's (Sort of) Official: Cap Trade Is (Almost) Here. After a
ten-hour hearing in which board members endured more than 170
speakers, the California Air Resources Board voted to "endorse" a
200-page set of rules for what will be the world's second largest
cap & trade program (after Europe). "It's an exciting program,"
said Board chair Mary Nichols. "It's a very big step forward."
Not that the job is done. Several facets of the regulation will
now undergo a fine-tuning process, with another report back to
the board in July of next year. Eventually it will find its way
to the state's Office of Administrative Law for review, and
finally to the governor's office, to be signed as an executive
order. Posted.
http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2010/12/16/its-sort-of-official-cap-trade-is-almost-here/

California Establishes Carbon Market. While cap and trade may be
dead in Washington, it's alive and well in California. Late
Thursday the California Air Resources Board approved the
establishment of a carbon market that will allow the state's
greenhouse gas emitters to buy and sell emission allowances. The
new regulation will cover 360 businesses representing 600
facilities. It has two phases: in 2012 all major industrial
sources and utilities will be covered; by 2015 distributors of
transportation fuels, natural gas and other fuels will also be
included.  Posted.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/post-carbon/2010/12/california_establishes_carbon.html

Air Board Oks California Greenhouse Gas Cap-And-Trade Plan. It
looks like California will have a cap-and-trade program for
greenhouse gas emissions after all. The California Air Resources
Board approved cap-and-trade regulations Thursday and now the
state has until 2012 to implement the scheme. The trading program
puts a limit on the amount of greenhouse gasses that can be
released. Businesses that exceed the cap in a given year must
reduce emissions or buy credits or allowances to offset emissions
above the cap. Posted.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2010/12/agency-approves-ca-cap-and-trade.html

California Launches Cap-and-Trade. California moved ahead with
its groundbreaking 2006 climate law on Thursday when the state's
Air Resources Board voted overwhelmingly to institute policies
encouraging major polluters to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
reports AP. Officials said they hoped to set a good example for
other states by setting up a cap-and-trade system that would
limit greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2012. California is
attempting to "fill the vacuum created by the failure of Congress
to pass any kind of climate or energy legislation for many years
now," said Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the board that voted 9-1
for the measure. Posted. http://slatest.slate.com/id/2278355/

Climate: California Approves Carbon Cap-and-Trade. OK, so a
national carbon cap-and-trade program is, as we've said many
times before, extremely dead. And at this point, no one has any
idea what form energy and climate legislation might take over the
next couple of years, or whether anything's really possible.
Climate change hasn't gone away, even if many people are
pretending that it has—NASA has reported that 2010 will likely be
the hottest climate year on record. But that's not translating to
national action any time soon, even if the international climate
process has come back from the dead. Posted.
http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2010/12/17/climate-california-approves-carbon-cap-and-trade/#ixzz18OSDx7aP

California Passes Cap & Trade Bill - Creates World's Second
Largest Emission Trading Scheme. The California Air Resources
Board yesterday passed a statewide cap and trade bill for
greenhouse gas emissions, creating the second-largest emissions
trading scheme in the world after Europe's. A 9-to-1 vote brings
into effect what CARB chairman Mary Nichols calls the capstone of
the state's climate policy, which aims to reduce emissions to
1990 levels by 2020. Posted.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/12/california-passes-cap-and-trade-bill.php

The Golden State Green Lights Cap and Trade. California’s carbon
market is on its way. The state’s Air Resources Board on Thursday
approved rules for the country’s first large-scale cap-and-trade
program. The program represents a capstone in the state's efforts
to slash greenhouse gas emissions as mandated by the 2006
California Global Warming Solutions Act. Commonly known as AB 32,
the law requires California to cut emissions to 1990 levels by
2020. Posted. http://sustainableindustries.com/print/8443

California Approves Cap and Trade. Yesterday California
regulators voted to cap the greenhouse gas emissions of the
state’s major industries and establish a carbon trading program. 
California’s 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act requires the state
to reduce emissions by 15% from today’s levels by 2020.  “This is
an historic venture,” said Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the
California Air Resources Board.  Posted.
http://greenbuildingelements.com/2010/12/17/california-approves-cap-and-trade/

California Blazes a Trail With the First U.S. Carbon Trading
Program. Cap-and-trade is coming to California. The market-based
system intended to cut greenhouse gas emissions is the key part
of the Golden State’s effort, set into law four years ago, to cut
its emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Yesterday the California
Air Resources Board finally approved the complex set of rules,
which will go into effect in 2012. Posted.
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/12/17/california-blazes-a-trail-with-the-first-u-s-carbon-trading-program/

Cali Dons Emissions Cap (and Trade). While Congress failed
miserably in the past year to pass new energy regulations or
curbs on greenhouse gas emissions, California voters resoundingly
voted for measures to boost alternative energy use in the biggest
state, and now regulators are charging ahead with rules for a
system to make California law a reality. California voters in
November defeated by a nearly two-to-one margin an oil-industry
backed referendum aimed at putting off a 2006 law that requires
utilities to get much of their power from renewable sources like
wind and solar. Posted.
http://www.portfolio.com/views/blogs/capital/2010/12/17/california-air-board-approves-emissions-cap-and-trade-rules#ixzz18OKCByF2

California Approves First US Carbon-Trading Scheme. California
has become the first US state to approve a carbon-trading plan
aimed at cutting greenhouse emissions. State regulators passed a
"cap-and-trade" framework to let companies buy and sell permits,
giving them an incentive to emit fewer gases. The aim is to
create the second-largest market in the field, after Europe's.
State officials hope the scheme will be copied across the US, but
opponents warn it may harm California's growth and lead to higher
electricity prices. Posted.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12016137

The Energy Future Ain’t What It Used To Be. The price of natural
gas and electricity will be low over the next quarter-century,
and crude oil will become more expensive but not radically so,
the Energy Department predicted on Thursday, in a report that
contradicts widely held notions. And even without a national
global warming law, American carbon dioxide emissions will not
inexorably set new records; they will stay below the rate of 2005
for the next 15 years because of economic forces, the forecast
said. Posted.
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/the-energy-future-aint-what-it-used-to-be/?partner=rss&emc=rss