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California Air Resources Board News Clips for March 22, 2011. 
 
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

EU Climate Chief: Don't Jump To Conclusions On Nuclear. The
European Union isn't running away from nuclear energy, climate
change commissioner Connie Hedegaard said Tuesday. "There are 143
nuclear plants in Europe and we aren't going to shut down
anything soon," she said, in response to a question about the
consequences of the Japan crisis. "We shouldn't jump to a lot of
conclusions." The European Union's 27 members have agreed to
reduce carbon emissions 20% from 1990 levels by 2020. Posted.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110322-707773.html

Out-Of-State Air Pollution Battle Led By New York And N. Carolina
Could Help Clean Chesapeake.  Baltimore — A court battle by New
York and North Carolina over out-of-state air pollution could
help clean the Chesapeake Bay.  New York Attorney General Eric
Schneiderman announced Monday that he has asked the federal
Environmental Protection Agency to promptly implement rules on
how much air pollution can cross state lines. Posted. 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/out-of-state-air-pollution-battle-led-by-new-york-and-n-carolina-could-help-clean-chesapeake/2011/03/21/ABFB477_story.html

Controlling PM. Today’s emission control devices are capable of
keeping particulate matter emissions at reasonable levels and in
line with regulations, but the best option may vary with each
project. Biomass power plant project opponents commonly claim
that particulate matter (PM) emissions cause lung ailments and
other health detriments and use that information to block the
building of new facilities in their communities. What the
developers of these plants, and authorities who permit them know,
however, is that there are strict PM and other emissions
limitations in place, and a number of options to help achieve
these limits. Posted.
http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/5380/controlling-pm/

CLIMATE CHANGE LAWSUIT

Judge Halts California Emissions Plan. San Francisco (Reuters)
—California did not adequately consider alternatives to its plan
to create a cap-and-trade market for carbon emissions, a judge
ruled on Monday, a setback for the most aggressive effort by a
state to combat climate change. The state’s regulator on climate
change matters, the Air Resources Board, will need to consider
other possibilities to meet state environmental law, said Judge
Ernest Goldsmith of San Francisco Superior Court. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/science/earth/22emissions.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print

Judge Places California's Global Warming Program On Hold. A San
Francisco superior court judge has put California's sweeping plan
to curb greenhouse gas pollution on hold, saying the state did
not adequately evaluate alternatives to its cap-and-trade
program. In a 35-page decision, Judge Ernest H. Goldsmith said
the Air Resources Board had failed to consider public comments on
the proposed measures before adopting the plan, which affects a
broad swath of the state's economy. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-climate-law-blocked-m,0,7401316,print.story

Calif. Cap-And-Trade Plan Suffers Legal Setback. California's
attempt to implement its landmark global warming law with a
market-oriented "cap-and-trade" system of pollution credits hit a
snag Monday with a judge's ruling that the state had not looked
hard enough at alternatives. The ruling by Judge Ernest Goldsmith
of San Francisco Superior Court does not prohibit the state Air
Resources Board from adopting cap and trade or explicitly require
that officials delay its scheduled implementation next year.
Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/22/MNUF1IGAAT.DTL&type=printable

California's Global Warming Law Takes A Hit. In a setback that
could stall the rollout of California's landmark climate change
law, a court in San Francisco has ruled that the state must spend
more time studying alternatives to the measure's key feature -- a
cap-and-trade program on greenhouse gas emissions -- before it
goes into effect Jan. 1. San Francisco County Superior Court
Judge Ernest Goldsmith blocked the California Air Resources Board
from moving forward with its rules under the law, known as AB 32,
until it completes a more thorough environmental analysis.
Posted.
http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_17669148?nclick_check=1

California Judge Orders Delay of Carbon-Market Rules to Study
Alternatives. A California judge ordered state environmental
officials to stop work on carbon cap-and-trade regulations until
alternative approaches, such as a carbon tax, are fully studied.
The California Air Resources Board violated state law when it
approved a December 2008 plan that laid the groundwork for the
trading program, Judge Ernest Goldsmith said in a March 18 ruling
obtained today. The plan failed to analyze alternatives that
might be better than a cap-and-trade program, he said. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2011-03-21/california-judge-orders-delay-of-carbon-market-rules-to-study-alternatives.html
 
UPDATE 2-California Cap-And-Trade Plan Faces Setback. San
Francisco/Washington - California did not adequately consider
alternatives to its plan to create a cap-and-trade market for
carbon emissions, a judge ruled on Monday, throwing a wrench into
the most aggressive U.S. effort to combat climate change. The
state's regulator on climate change matters, the Air Resources
Board (ARB), will need to consider other possibilities to meet
state environmental law, San Francisco Superior Court Judge
Ernest Goldsmith wrote in an opinion. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USN219838420110321

Legal Setback For California's Climate Change Law. California did
not properly look at complete alternatives to its cap-and-trade
plan for carbon emissions, a judge ruled Monday. Reuters reported
that San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith ruled
that the state's Air Resources Board needs to consider other
possibilities to satisfy the state's environmental law. Quoting
the judge's ruling, Reuters said Goldsmith said the board "seeks
to create a 'fait accompli' by premature establishment of a
cap-and-trade program before alternatives can be exposed to
public comment and properly evaluated. ..." Posted.
http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2011/03/22/legal-setback-for-climate-change-law.html

Setback For Calif. Climate Change Law. California did not
properly look at complete alternatives to its cap-and-trade plan
for carbon emissions, a judge ruled. Reuters reported that San
Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith ruled that the
state's Air Resources Board needs to consider other possibilities
to satisfy the state's environmental law. Quoting the judge's
ruling, Reuters said Goldsmith said the board "seeks to create a
'fait accompli' by premature establishment of a cap-and-trade
program before alternatives can be exposed to public comment and
properly evaluated. ..." Posted.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/morning_call/2011/03/setback-for-calif-climate-change-law.html?s=print

Judge Blocks State's Global Warming Law, Putting 2012 Start Date
In Doubt. San Francisco -- A California Superior Court judge has
suspended implementation of the state's climate change law on the
grounds that a state agency failed to conduct a proper
environmental analysis or consider alternatives to a
cap-and-trade system for carbon. The ruling from San Francisco
County Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith amounts to a serious
setback for the state and officials at the California Air
Resources Board, which is in the process of putting the final
touches on its scoping plan to enact the law starting in less
than a year. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2011/03/22/2

Argus: California Judge Suspends Climate Law Programs. A
California state judge has ordered the state's air regulators to
stop implementing policies adopted to meet the requirements of
the state's climate law, including the greenhouse gas
cap-and-trade program, low carbon fuel standard (LCFS), renewable
electricity standard (RES) and a host of other regulations. The
decision casts more uncertainty on the state's greenhouse gas
(GHG) trading program, which is set to begin in January 2012.
Concerns over the case, Association of Irritated Residents et al.
v. Air Resources Board (ARB), had already nearly erased
speculative interest in GHG offset credits or forward trades of
state-issued allowances for the program. Posted. This article is
by subscription only. 

Court Deals Setback For California Cap And Trade. San Francisco
-(Dow Jones)- A California court has ordered state regulators to
revise their environmental review for the state's cap and trade
plan and other greenhouse-gas reduction programs, dealing a
setback to the state's plan to combat climate change. In a
decision issued Friday, Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith
said the state Air Resources Board, which is tasked with lowering
air pollution, hadn't conducted an adequate environmental review
before it approved a plan to establish the cap and trade program.
Posted.
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stockmarketnewsstoryprint.aspx?storyid=201103212027dowjonesdjonline000402

CLIMATE CHANGE

Poor Countries Pledge To Help Curb Climate Change. 
Amsterdam—Mongolia says it will erect solar power plants in the
frigid Gobi desert. The Central African Republic says it will
expand its forests to cover a quarter of its territory. Mexico
promises to slash carbon emissions by 30 percent by the end of
the decade.  Costa Rica and the Maldives aim to become carbon
neutral and even chaotic Afghanistan is promising to take action
on climate change.  Posted. 
http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_17665779

General Plan Gets Thorough Exam. As Yuba County moves closer to
finalizing its General Plan update, the process has gone from
being emotional to technical. At a lengthy board of supervisors
hearing on the plan Monday night, supervisors used a mighty fine
tooth comb to tweak language within the update, which will be
revised again before final adoption. "No page was left unturned,
so to speak," said Kevin Mallen, the county's director of
development and community services, at the beginning of his
presentation of revisions to date. Posted.
http://www.appeal-democrat.com/news/plan-105050-board-county.html

Carbon Capture And Storage: Carbon Dioxide Pressure Dissipates In
Underground Reservoirs. The debate surrounding carbon capture and
storage intensifies as scientists from the Earth Sciences
Division at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley
Lab) examine the capacity for storing carbon dioxide underground,
in a study published today in the new journal Greenhouse Gases:
Science & Technology. The study debates some of the conclusions
drawn in an earlier study by Ehlig-Economides and Economides1;
countering their claims that carbon dioxide cannot feasibly be
stored underground. Posted.
http://www.physorg.com/print220012063.html

GREEN ENERGY

East Contra Costa Welcomes Power Plants In Their Backyard. While
much of the Bay Area has fiercely opposed new power plants
proposed in their backyards, communities in eastern Contra Costa
have welcomed them with open arms. Over the past 15 years,
regulators have approved three power plants that are now
operating in the area. Three more planned for East County are
working their way through the regulatory pipeline. Local leaders
say the newer natural gas-fired plants will run cleaner and more
efficiently than older plants, generating permanent jobs and
much-needed property tax revenue. Posted.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_17656302?source=rss&nclick_check=1

Marines Going Green To Save Lives On Battlefield.  Camp
Pendleton, Calif. -- The Marine Corps is going green to save
lives rather than to save the planet.  In a renewable energy
strategy revealed to troops Monday, the service said it plans to
equip thousands of Marines in Afghanistan with solar-powered
gadgets over the next year in an effort to decrease the need to
make risky runs for fuel through enemy territory.  Posted. 
http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/21/1609397/marines-going-green-to-save-lives.html
http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/article_22ad6863-1264-5182-b014-5bc751eb5fde.html
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/21/2318973/marines-going-green-to-save-lives.html#storylink=misearch
http://www.washingtonpost.com/marines-going-green-to-save-lives-on-battlefield-avert-attacks-on-fuel-convoys-in-afghanistan/2011/03/21/ABmYww7_story.html
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110321/WIRE/110329935
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/mar/21/marines-use-solar-devices-to-save-lives/
 
Clovis Oks $3.4m Public Solar Project.  A solar project for
Clovis police and fire headquarters and two fire stations could
get under way next month after City Council members Monday night
approved a financing plan.  The city expects to spend about $3.4
million but will save about 47% in electricity costs -- or about
$128,205 annually -- for the three buildings.  Posted. 
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/21/2319552/clovis-oks-34m-solar-project.html
 
Natural Gas Now Viewed as Safer Bet.  Natural gas may be having
its day, as its rival energy sources come under a cloud.  The
serious problems at the nuclear power plant in Japan have raised
new doubts about the safety of nuclear energy. New exploration
has yet to resume in the Gulf of Mexico after last year’s blowout
of a BP oil well.  Posted. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/business/global/22gas.html?scp=5&sq=green%20energy&st=cse

Green Jobs Take Root In Tennessee.  Nashville, Tenn. -- Twenty
years ago, Ty Koelker moved from Maryland to Kentucky to work in
the South's burgeoning automotive industry.  Working mostly for
supplier companies, the manufacturing engineer eventually worked
his way up to plant manager at a fabrication and stamping
facility near Nashville.  Posted. 
http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/22/1610379/green-jobs-take-root-in-tennessee.html
http://www.fresnobee.com/2011/03/22/2319744/green-jobs-take-root-in-tennessee.html#storylink=misearch
 
RCAC's West Sac Offices Add Solar.  The Rural Community
Assistance Corp. has installed a $384,000 solar-power system at
its West Sacramento offices.  The RCAC, which provides loans for
rural and disadvantaged communities in 13 western states, said
its rooftop solar photovoltaic system will provide more than 60
percent of its energy needs over 25 years while sharply reducing
its carbon dioxide footprint.  Posted. 
http://www.modbee.com/2011/03/22/1610552/rcacs-west-sac-offices-add-solar.html

The Wood Stove Excels at Reducing Fossil Fuels—But Can it Get
Clean Enough? Wood and pellet stoves are the only residential
renewable energy system at scale in America today. According to
the U.S. EPA, there are more than 10 million stoves in the U.S.
compared to only about 300,000 residential solar photovoltaic
(PV) systems. But one of the largest benefits of the wood and
pellet stove is ignored: A $2,500 wood or pellet stove can reduce
as much fossil fuel usage in the winter months as a $25,000 solar
PV system does in a year. Posted.
http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/5364/the-wood-stove-excels-at-reducing-fossil-fuelsundefinedbut-can-it-get-clean-enough/

Decentralized Renewable Energy Is Goal Of Bay Area Coalition. The
Local Clean Energy Alliance, a Bay Area coalition focused on
climate protection and green job creation, has released Community
Power. Decentralized Renewable Energy in California, a
comprehensive 64 page report (PDF) by Al Weinrub which advocates
using small-scale, locally-based, decentralized renewable energy
in California. They view this as the best way to meet the
state-mandated goal of one-third renewable energy by 2020, as
well as providing new jobs. Posted.
http://caivn.org/article/2011/03/22/decentralized-renewable-energy-goal-bay-area-coalition

VEHICLES 

Google Trials Plug-Free Electric Vehicle Charging; Invests in
“Carbon Negative” Biofuels. Google is trialing the Plugless Power
electric vehicle charging station at its Mountain View, Calif.,
headquarters. The search company will host the first public
release of the charging station developed and manufactured by
Evatran LLC. The station is based on inductive technology, and
charges electric vehicles and extended-range hybrids without the
need for a cord or plug. Posted.
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/03/22/google-trials-plug-free-electric-vehicle-charging-invests-in-carbon-negative-biofuels/

MISCELLANEOUS

Do you look good in green? Agency seeks next 'Eco-Girl'.  For
women who want to make a difference -- and look good doing it --
Project Greenbees is looking for you. Eco-friendly company
Greenbees, in conjunction with Optimal Wellness Center, will host
a model casting Sunday looking for the next "Eco-Girl."  Posted. 
http://www.bakersfield.com/entertainment/local/x529879438/Do-you-look-good-in-green-Agency-seeks-next-Eco-Girl
 
Rising Sun Saves Energy, Trains Teens.  As a community that takes
its “greenness” very seriously, Ross Valley residents should be
embracing a program that trains teens to help the entire
community conserve energy.  Posted. 
http://sananselmofairfax.patch.com/articles/rising-sun-saves-energy-trains-teens

OPINION

Nuclear Energy Isn't Needed. Twelve days are not nearly enough to
comprehend the magnitude of the catastrophes that hit Japan
starting March 11. From the children who lost parents in the
crush of the earthquake, to those whose loved ones are still
missing after the tsunami, to the scores of workers risking their
health by heroically attempting to stabilize the Fukushima
nuclear complex — there is no end to the tragic stories. Yet in
addition to the grief and empathy I feel for the Japanese people,
I am beginning to develop another emotion, and that is anger.
Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/23/opinion/23iht-ednaidoo23.html?pagewanted=print

California vs the EPA: One-Size-Fits-None. An impending battle
between state lawmakers in California and the U.S. Congress over
the state’s tough vehicle emission standards illustrates the
absurdity of one-size-fits all policies emanating from D.C. Over
the past 40 years, the fed granted California waivers under the
Clean Air Act, allowing the state to impose tougher emission
standards than those mandated for the rest of the nation – kind
of a state right by federal fiat. A Republican backed House bill
would strip the EPA’s authority to grant the waiver. Posted.
http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2011/03/22/california-vs-the-epa-one-size-fits-none/

BLOGS

Greening the Team: Will Fans Follow Suit?  With the current
political climate in Washington tending toward the
anti-environmental (especially among Republicans in the House of
Representatives), some campaigners are seeking new ways to rally
public support.  Posted. 
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/greening-the-team-will-fans-follow-suit/

Bee Maven Wins Big Environmental Prize.  May Berenbaum, a
brilliant entomologist and voice of reason amid all the heat over
troubles with bee colonies in recent years, has won the $200,000
Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement. It’s well deserved. 
Posted. 
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/bee-maven-wins-big-environmental-prize

Hot Air Slowly Escaping From Global Warming Issue. Americans’
concern about global warming has dropped a dramatic 15 points in
the last three years, according to Gallup’s most recent annual
Environment poll.  Eighty percent of Americans now say they
understand the issue “very well” or “fairly well,” but only 51
percent “worry a great deal or fair amount” about it -- down from
66 percent just three years ago. That 15 percent represents a
substantial drop in public support for what was supposedly
“settled science” and not open to further debate. Posted.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/print/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/03/hot-air-slowly-escaping-global-warming-issue

Another Wrench in AB 32. Air board will appeal ruling on
implementation of AB 32.
Environmental justice advocates will tell you they never intended
to shut down the state's whole climate law, when they filed suit
against it. But a broadly-worded court decision could put some or
all implementation of AB 32 on hold. Waste gases are burned off
at the ConocoPhillips refinery in Rodeo. Posted.
http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2011/03/21/another-wrench-in-ab-32/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+kqed%2FClimateWatchBlog+%28KQED%27s+Climate+Watch+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

California Cap-and-Trade Put On Hold -- At Least for Now. Back in
2006, during flusher times, the California legislature passed and
then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 32, the California
Global Warming Solutions Act. That Act requires the state by 2020
to reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels. Last
year, California residents voted down a referendum which would
have delayed implementation of the Act until unemployment rate in
the Bear Republic state had fallen below 5.5 percent. Posted.
http://reason.com/blog/2011/03/22/california-cap-and-trade-put-o

EDF’s Take on Friday’s Ruling in California’s Cap-and-trade
Lawsuit. •The court’s decision confirms that CARB has the legal
authority to implement AB 32 Scoping Plan measures, including
cap-and-trade, which is the cornerstone of the program and key to
reducing pollution.  •EDF is confident that any further actions
by the Petitioners and the State will be consistent with their
goal of keeping AB 32 moving forward and achieving its goals.
Posted.
http://www.favstocks.com/edf%E2%80%99s-take-on-fridays-ruling-in-california%E2%80%99s-cap-and-trade-lawsuit/2138035/

Green Energy Subsidies Fade As Austerity Kicks In. Many have
lauded various nations for subsidizing alternative energy
production as part of a concerted world-wide effort to wean
humans of destructive carbon-based energy. But they forget that
governments, especially when pressed by finances or fear, can
change their minds rapidly. For example, much of the world is
currently seeing a pull-back of government support for
alternative energy, largely because governments are struggling
with financial problems and are instituting austerity programs.
Posted.
http://blogs.forbes.com/terrywaghorn/2011/03/22/green-energy-subsidies-fade-as-austerity-kicks-in/

Human Health V. Economic Health. Twenty years after amendments to
the Clean Air Act authorized the Environmental Protection Agency
to regulate additional toxic emissions from coal-fired power
plants, the agency is finally flexing its muscle. New rules
proposed this month would cut mercury emissions along with other
dangerous metals like arsenic, chromium and nickel and
particulate matter from oil- and coal-fired power plants. The EPA
cites tremendous health benefits -- …Posted.
http://www.hcn.org/hcn/blogs/goat/human-health-v.-economic-health