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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 16, 2012.
Posted: 16 Oct 2012 14:34:26
ARB Newsclips for October 16, 2012. 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 Credible offset projects crucial to success of state's cap-and-trade program. On Jan. 1, California will become the first state to charge industries for the greenhouse gases they emit. Central to the success of the state's cap-and-trade program is ensuring that projects allowing polluters to invest in emissions-reduction efforts actually lead to verifiable cuts in pollution. The projects, which award credits for carbon offsets that can then be sold, allow polluters to invest in initiatives that reduce emissions elsewhere instead of reducing emissions at their own factory, refinery or power plant. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/16/9 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Linking Calif., E.U. emissions trading systems feasible, study finds. While California's landmark greenhouse gas system is still a month away from launching its first auction of carbon credits, a new study finds that linking markets is feasible for California and the European Union. The report by the Swedish Environmental Research Institute and the liberal think tank Forum for Reforms, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability explores the potential of the two systems. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/16/7 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY Poorer countries move more quickly to adapt to climate change. Some of the world's most climate-vulnerable countries have made steady progress in protecting themselves from the impacts of disaster, according to a sweeping new index. The once war-torn country of Rwanda and the small island nation of Cape Verde top the Global Adaptation Institute's (GAIN) list of countries that have substantially improved their ability to adapt to climate change over the past five years. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/16/6 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY DIESEL EMISSIONS Diamond Bar air quality agency gets $1 million grant to replace older diesel trucks. A local smog-fighting agency received a $1 million grant Monday from the federal government to remove older, diesel trucks from Southern California highways and freeways. As part of the federal Diesel Emission Reduction Act of 2005, the Diamond-Bar based South Coast Air Quality Management District will spend grant money to replace 50 diesel-powered, medium-duty urban delivery trucks with fully electric trucks, said Michael Ardito, spokesman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_21779377/diamond-bar-air-quality-agency-gets-1-million CARB says it’s sending ‘clear message’ to truckers with 4,000-truck inspection. The California Air Resources Board announced today that its month-long multi-agency campaign to ensure that trucks traveling on California’s roadways are obeying state air pollution laws was a huge success. With assistance from the California Highway Patrol, Caltrans and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, CARB staff inspected 4,053 trucks at roughly 40 locations throughout the state during August, noting an overall compliance rate of more than 80 percent. Posted. http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2012/10/16/CARBsaysitssendingclearmessagetotruckerswith4000-truckinspection.aspx EPA Awards $30 Million for Clean Diesel Projects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $30 million for clean diesel projects as part of its ongoing campaign to reduce harmful diesel exhaust. The Diesel Emission Reduction Program, also known as DERA, is designed to replace, retrofit or repower older diesel-powered engines like marine vessels, locomotives, trucks and buses. While today's diesel engines are durable, fuel-efficient workhorses, older diesel engines pre-dating newer, cleaner standards emit large amounts of air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. Posted. http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=78307&news_category_id=3 FUELS California Asks Court to Reinstate Carbon Fuel Standard. California’s low-carbon fuel standard, which is tougher on ethanol produced in the Midwest, was questioned today by a panel of federal appeals court judges who said it appeared to discriminate against out-of-state fuel producers. Attorneys for the California Air Resources Board, which monitors and regulates air quality, are asking the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco to reverse a judge’s ruling that struck down portions of carbon fuel standards on grounds that they’re unfair to out-of-state ethanol producers and illegally regulate businesses outside of California. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-16/california-asks-court-to-reinstate-carbon-fuel-standard.html http://www.nctimes.com/news/national/court-to-hear-arguments-in-calif-clean-fuels-case/article_dde453c9-2359-550a-b073-8e6df99e7cfb.html http://www.wbtv.com/story/19828659/court-to-hear-arguments-in-calif-clean-fuels-case http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_21781658/biden-due-at-funeral-tuesday-ex-sen-specter?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_21781658/biden-due-at-funeral-tuesday-ex-sen-specter?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/10/16/3030783/court-to-hear-arguments-in-calif.html#storylink=misearch Amid protests, report finds no harm from fracking. Baldwin Hills residents challenge study that found no significant environmental impact from method used to extract oil trapped in rock formations. A new report on hydraulic fracking at the Inglewood Oil Field found that the controversial oil extraction method used at two wells did not have significant effects on the environment or on the health of those living near the 1,200-acre site. More than 200 residents of the Baldwin Hills area turned out Monday evening to hear the findings and question the author of the environmental impact study. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fracking-baldwin-hills-20121016,0,4915390,print.story Saving transportation fuel is a key to boosting U.S. energy security. American energy independence is a hot topic among policymakers, particularly leading up to the election. But a new report by the consulting firm Deloitte says independence may not be necessary to meet the United States' key energy needs. The report, "Energy Independence and Security: A Reality Check," released yesterday, argues that U.S. energy policy should focus instead on supply security with a focus on fuel savings in the transportation sector. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2012/10/16/4 BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CALIFORNIA GAS PRICES Gas prices declining, but not as fast as they rose. Gasoline prices in Sacramento and statewide continue to fall, but not very quickly. AAA put the statewide average price of unleaded regular this morning at $4.60 a gallon, down from $4.64 on Friday. National gas price tracker GasBuddy.com had the average price of a gallon of gas in California at $4.58, compared with $4.62 on Friday. In Sacramento, AAA said the average for unleaded regular today is $4.48 a gallon, down from $4.52 on Friday. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/15/4914057/gas-prices-declining-but-not-as.html# Ever so slowly, gas prices fall. San Diego gasoline prices are creeping downward, but remain 50 cents higher than a month ago. The average price for a gallon of regular was $4.64 on Monday, down from an all-time record of $4.73 a week prior, according to AAA's daily fuel price gauge. An unprecedented spike in California gasoline prices prompted state regulators to accelerate the switch over to cheaper and more available winter gasoline blends. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/15/ever-so-slowly-gas-prices-fall/ More expensive gas pushes US consumer prices up. Higher gas costs drove up U.S. consumer prices in September for the second straight month. Outside energy, there was little sign of inflation. The Labor Department said Tuesday that the consumer price index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.6 percent last month, matching the August increase. In the past 12 months, prices have increased 2 percent. That's in line with the Federal Reserve's inflation target. Excluding volatile food and energy costs, prices rose just 0.1 percent. In the past year, so-called core prices have increased 2 percent. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/business/more-expensive-gas-pushes-us-consumer-prices-up/article_14586506-1048-5e2a-a6fb-eb1e610815ff.html VEHICLES SAE approves new EV fast-charging standard. SAE International approved on 15 October 2012 a new technical standard that will, according to the global engineering group, dramatically reduce charging times for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and electric vehicles. SAE said the new charging standard, developed with the cooperation of more than 190 global experts representing the automotive, utilities and charging equipment business, ensures charging times can be reduced from as long as eight hours to as short as 20 minutes. Posted. http://cars21.com/news/view/4992 Nissan-Renault Goal of 500,000 EVs Sold By 2015 Gone. Now 1.5 Million By 2016. For most of us who follow the LEAF in the United States, we just assumed Nissan-Renault’s original stated goal of “selling 500,000 plug-in electric vehicles by 2015″ from back when they first introduced the 73 mile EV would have to fall at some point. 41,000 LEAFs Sold Worldwide Through September. Who knew the number would go up? Posted. http://insideevs.com/nissan-renault-goal-of-500000-evs-sold-by-2015-gone-now-1-5-million-by-2016/ HIGH SPEED RAIL Bakersfield may sue High Speed Rail. The city of Bakersfield will ask city council members to vote on suing High Speed Rail at their next meeting. The city says the High Speed Rail Authority is not following California Environmental Quality Act requirements and is keeping the city in the dark. Opponents say if California's bullet train is built it could put city owned land, infrastructure, and taxpayer money at risk, along with private property lining the proposed routes. But the city claims they have no clue to what extent because the Rail Authority is not being crystal clear, which is required by law. Posted. http://www.kget.com/news/local/story/Bakersfield-may-sue-High-Speed-Rail/VEeIUVLAN0e4czP0JtR07w.cspx GREEN ENERGY FuelCell Gets U.S. Funds to Advance Carbon-Capture Project. FuelCell Energy Inc. (FCEL), the Danbury, Connecticut-based maker of fuel-cell power plants, qualified for $800,000 in U.S. government funding to develop systems that capture carbon-dioxide emissions at coal-fired generators. The funding is the second phase of a $3 million award from the U.S. Energy Department announced in October 2011, FuelCell said in a statement today. FuelCell is one of 16 companies that will share as much as $41.3 million in Energy Department funding over three years to develop carbon-capture technology. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2012-10-16/fuelcell-gets-u-s-funds-to-advance-carbon-capture-project-1-.html MISCELLANEOUS Incentive program could help replace tractors. Starting today, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District will offer money for the replacement of tractors and loaders. The incentive program provides up to 80 percent of the cost for replacement of in-use, off-road tractors that are engaged in agricultural operations as defined by the California Air Resources Board. It is first come, first served. As more money becomes available, more tractors will be funded. Posted. http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/article/20121015/NEWS01/310150016/Incentive-program-could-help-replace-tractors Grants available to reduce air pollution in Eastern Kern. The Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District (EKAPCD) is requesting proposals for on-road vehicle emission reduction projects for the eastern portion of Kern County. EKAPCD's 2013 Motor Vehicle Emission Reduction Program (MVERP) awards grants to projects that reduce oxides of nitrogen (NOx), reactive organic gas (ROG) and particulate matter emissions from on-road motor vehicles. Posted. http://www.tehachapinews.com/news/local/x1250042468/Grants-available-to-reduce-air-pollution-in-Eastern-Kern OPINIONS California Policy and Gas Shortage. Your editorial "California's Green Gas Shortages" (Oct. 8) succinctly answers the questions raised in "Should There Be A Price On Carbon?" (Journal Reports, Oct. 8) by the remark that California's cap-and-trade program set to take effect in November will result in oil companies passing on the costs to consumers. We consumers have to understand it won't just be the increased cost of gas at the pump that we will be noticing (making it an economic decision between fuel, hybrid or electric cars), but our entire cost of living. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443749204578052590372409984.html BY SUBSCRIPTION Solar power, and tortoises too. A plan for big plants in the Mojave Desert balances renewable energy and conservation needs. Should we save the desert tortoise, or plow over its habitat to build solar power plants that can help us save ourselves? It's a question that has arisen frequently in recent years as solar developers have flocked to California's Mojave Desert in search of generous federal incentives to turn the sun's heat into electricity, raising conflicts with conservationists and Native American tribes who think all this "progress" will ravage natural and cultural resources. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-solar-20121016,0,4231220.story DOWNEY: No conspiracy in surging gas prices. It seems like everyone wants to weigh in when gasoline prices spike. This last week's record-shattering surge was no different. A Riverside County lawmaker ---- Republican Assemblyman Jeff Miller of Corona ---- proposed suspending the 35-cent-a-gallon state gas tax for the rest of the year. Miller, who is locked in a tight race for a state Senate seat, didn't exactly gain traction with Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown. Posted. http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/columnists/downey/downey-no-conspiracy-in-surging-gas-prices/article_7659c742-5c5a-5379-9d2b-42195961d7ac.html California residents feel pain at the pump. A recent peak in gas prices in California over the past week has drivers throughout the state fuming. The state claims that prices will go back down soon. It seems, though, that promises of lowering gas prices are never kept because they fluctuate so often. These empty promises are becoming exhausting to the average consumer. The cost of gas is sometimes raised in order to promote environmentally friendly practices and to encourage people to buy fuel-efficient cars. Posted. http://www.thepolypost.com/opinion/california-residents-feel-pain-at-the-pump/article_1e28bb5c-172e-11e2-9897-0019bb30f31a.html What would it mean to treat climate change like a security threat? Climate change is a serious security risk to the United States — the Department of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the White House have affirmed as much in various reports and proclamations. It’s become a popular talking point among climate hawks. Nonetheless, there hasn’t been enough thinking, at least outside nerd circles, about what it would it mean to approach climate change as a security problem. What exactly would that look like? Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/what-would-it-mean-to-treat-climate-change-like-a-security-threat/ BLOGS No Indian Point + No Fracking = More Coal Burning? Even if energy conservation were pursued more aggressively in the state (a perennial opportunity), scratching off New York natural gas and nuclear power would clearly lead to more reliance on coal-generated electricity (or gas extracted in other states unlikely to have the safeguards that are inevitable in environment-minded New York). Posted. http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/no-indian-point-no-fracking-more-coal-burning/?ref=earth Could Visualizing Greenhouse-Gas Emissions Help Combat Climate Change? One of the first steps in tackling climate change is to curb greenhouse-gas emissions. The trouble is, both the public and policymakers have been slow to act on a problem they cannot physically see. It's easy to blame harmful emissions on China, coal companies or the next-door neighbor. But people would likely do more to reduce their carbon footprint if they could visualize the damage they are doing. Historically, scientists have measured greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), on a broad scale. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/laura-dimugno/could-visualizing-greenho_b_1964007.html?utm_hp_ref=green