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ARB Newsclips for June 5, 2013. 

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.

CAP AND TRADE

Dim GOP enthusiasm for cap-and-trade bill in 2009 even dimmer
now. First in a two-part series on lessons learned from the 2009
"American Clean Energy and Security Act." The carbon dioxide
cap-and-trade bill that passed the House in June 2009 did so with
scant Republican support -- but if it came to the floor today,
the GOP tally might be zero. The five GOP supporters of the
measure by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Ed Markey (D-Mass.)
who are still roaming the halls of the Capitol…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/eedaily/stories/1059982203 BY SUBSCRIPTION
ONLY

AIR POLLUTION

Los Angeles air pollution drops after tailpipe laws. Los Angeles
air pollution - and its infamous eye sting - have declined due to
California's strict vehicle emission controls, scientists have
said. Despite a three-fold rise in the number of vehicles on
southern California roads since 1960, air pollution there has
decreased, a study found. That includes peroxyacetyl nitrate,
known to irritate the eyes, the US government study found. The
study "confirms" vehicle regulations worked, its author said.
Posted. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22772933 
http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/transportation/tailpipe-emissions-changes-make-las-air-better.html

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2013/jun/04/study-los-angeles-smog-pollution-on-the-decline/


CLIMATE CHANGE

Mine-dependent Mongolia to push renewables as climate change
bites –president. Mongolia, which is banking on a mining-led
investment boom to develop its economy, is aiming to turn itself
into a regional renewable energy hub as it tries to fight off the
pressures of global warming, the country's president said.
"Mongolia is regarded as one of the centres of this region for
wind power. We have high mountains and the Gobi. We have great
potential to generate power," President Tsakhia Elbegdorj told
reporters. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/05/mongolia-mining-idUSL5N0EH11720130605


Shell CEO Calls for Europe Carbon Reduction Target Extension. 
Royal Dutch Shell Plc Chief Executive Officer Peter Voser said
Europe needs to extend its targets for curbing greenhouse gases
and promoting renewable energy by a decade through 2030.
“To actually change things you need time and we are a little bit
concerned if you have a short-term target,” Voser told reporters
today in London. “We favor one target, which sets action with
greenhouse gas.” Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-05/shell-s-voser-calls-for-european-renewable-target-extension.html
 

UCR: British researcher says humans changing oceans.  Andy
Ridgwell, a professor of Earth system modeling in the School of
Geographical Sciences at the University of Bristol, United
Kingdom, will give a free public talk at UC Riverside on
Wednesday, June 5. The hour-long talk — “The geological record of
ocean acidification” — will begin at 4 p.m. in Room 205/206,
Winston Chung Hall. “Ocean acidification has emerged as one of
the top concerns on the long list of human impacts on climate and
the environment…Posted.
http://www.pe.com/local-news/riverside-county/riverside/riverside-headlines-index/20130604-ucr-british-researcher-says-humans-changing-oceans.ece
 

Democrats change climate message to focus on disaster costs.
Freshman Rep. Scott Peters was involved locally in California's
ambitious climate efforts before arriving in Congress this year.
Now he's willing to set climbing temperatures aside so he can
make a case to Republicans and Democrats for increased disaster
funding, whatever's causing the catastrophes. The San Diego
Democrat believes there are a few patches of common ground in the
hyperpartisan House around the impacts of climate change. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059982302/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

When it comes to clean technology, the West Coast leads – report.
While Congress and the White House remain mostly gridlocked over
the best path toward long-term energy security and
sustainability, states and metropolitan areas are adopting
policies to reduce their residents' dependence on fossil fuels.
They are trying to foster an energy economy built around new
technology, innovation and efficiency. That's the finding of the
latest "U.S. Clean Tech Leadership Index," an annual assessment
of how states and cities are responding to the country's most
pressing energy challenges…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059982270/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

CO2 emissions cost more than predicted 3 years ago -- White
House. Each ton of carbon dioxide released into the Earth's
atmosphere carries a heavier cost to the economy, human health
and the environment than previously thought, according to an
assessment released yesterday by the Office of Management and
Budget. The analysis by 12 agencies, including U.S. EPA and the
Department of Energy, takes a second look at the federal
government's 2010 attempt to estimate the social cost of carbon
dioxide, a number that is used when calculating the costs and
benefits of carbon dioxide regulations. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1059982336/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

FUELS

Nevada Votes To Close Coal Plant. The Nevada Assembly voted
Monday night to order the shut down of a coal-fired power plant
northeast of Las Vegas that supplies the California Department of
Water Resources (DWR) with electrical power. The Reid Gardner
Generating Station near the Moapa Paiute reservation has long
been criticized for its contribution to southwestern air
pollution. The Nevada Assembly voted 53-10 to approve SB 123,
which would direct NV Energy to shutter the 557-megawatt Reid
Gardner plant completely by 2017, with three of the plant's four
units closing next year. Posted.
http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/coal/nevada-votes-to-close-coal-plant.html


Insight: Clouds gather over Mexico's proclamation of new oil
dawn. The vast Ku Maloob Zaap oil field is the jewel in the crown
of Mexico's oil industry, pumping one in every three barrels of
crude the country produces, at some of the lowest costs in the
world. But behind the luster, state oil monopoly Pemex quietly
expects a gloomier future for the aging field, leaving a big gap
in supply and casting serious doubt on its public proclamations
of a new era of oil growth. In the main control center on the
KU-S platform…Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/05/us-mexico-oil-insight-idUSBRE9540ZB20130605


VEHICLES

Indonesia approves cheap, green car tax incentives. Indonesia
said on Wednesday it has approved tax exemption for the
production of low-cost, low-emission cars, a long-awaited move
that should be a significant boost for Toyota Motor Corp and
Daihatsu Motor Co Ltd joint ventures in Southeast Asia's biggest
economy. Both Japanese producers have local tie-ups with Astra
International Tbk PT, which dominates Indonesia's fast-growing
auto market, and already have production facilities in place for
so-called low-cost, green cars, or LCGC. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/assets/print?aid=USL3N0EH2CK20130605 

Rush to lightweight cars boosts adhesive makers. From Pritt stick
in school bags to Audi sports cars, adhesives have come a long
way since natural gums and resins, and new high-tech variations
are currently top of the list for carmakers as they seek ways to
make cars lighter and tougher. For auto suppliers like Henkel
(HNKG_p.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and PPG (PPG.N:
Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) providing tailor-made
adhesives that can absorb the shock of a crash and reduce rattles
allows them to push for higher prices - and make more profits.
Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/05/us-automotive-glue-idUSBRE9540JT20130605


Toyota recalls 242,000 Prius, Lexus hybrids for brake problems.
Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it has issued a voluntary
recall of about 242,000 of its popular Prius hybrid sedan because
of brake pressure parts that could crack and slow down stopping
times. The recall includes a small number of the Lexus HS 250h
hybrid vehicle.  About 91,000 of the cars involved in the recall
were sold in North America. The recall involves model year 2010
cars. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-toyota-recalls-prius-hybrid-20130605,0,7143446.story


New York And Maine Delay Implementation Of New Catalytic
Converter Standards. AAIA received a letter on May 21 from Jared
Snyder, assistant commissioner for the Office of Air Resources,
Climate Change & Energy in the New York Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC), announcing that the agency will
delay enforcement of the June 1 implementation of six NYCCR Part
218-7.2 (c), adopted standards for new aftermarket catalytic
converters.  Posted.
http://www.aftermarketnews.com/Item/114366/new_york_and_maine_delay_implementation_of_new_catalytic_converter_standards.aspx


GREEN ENERGY

Oil-rich Kazakhstan kickstarts 'green revolution' for energy.
Oil-rich Kazakhstan will spend 1 percent of annual output every
year until 2050 to increase power generation from greener
sources, a senior official said, cutting its dependence on coal
far faster than some of the world's big polluters. The Central
Asian country, the world's ninth largest by area but populated by
just 17 million people, holds about 3 percent of the global
recoverable oil reserves. However, its fast, oil-propelled growth
hinges on high oil prices. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/05/us-kazakhstan-energy-idUSBRE9540VM20130605


Power companies want help on prices to keep clients in Europe.
Europe's squeezed utility firms say they cannot cut prices to
stop their big industrial clients moving to the United States,
where fuel costs around a quarter as much. Losing the business of
heavy energy users, such as chemical giants, cement and steel
makers, could force the power companies to put up prices for
households, hurting consumer budgets and making it harder for
Europe to spend its way out of recession. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/05/utilities-cost-idUSL5N0EE04K20130605


Close to Its Home, Walgreen Tests Energy-Saving Ideas. As the
Walgreen Company expands its sales items to fresh salads, Redbox
DVD rentals and digital photo scanners, among other products, its
consumption of power keeps inching up. While the company cannot
significantly reduce its electricity use in all stores
immediately, it is building an experimental “net zero energy
store” just north of Chicago that it hopes will produce more
energy than it consumes. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/05/realestate/commercial/walgreen-builds-a-zero-net-energy-store.html?pagewanted=all
 

Ways to make your rental more 'green'.  The "go-green" movement
isn’t new to everyone, but the real financial and other positive
impacts that simple changes can make is still not common
knowledge to many property owners and managers. We all know the
conventional steps: turning off the lights, shutting off the
faucet in between uses and so forth. But most people don’t
realize that there are many other easy ways to cut the excess and
maximize savings. Posted.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jun/04/rental-green-energy-costs-cut-reduce-electricity/
 

UC Merced Connect: Campus' green efforts recognized. UC Merced
earned a silver rating under the Sustainability Tracking,
Assessment and Rating System initiative of the Association for
the Advancement for Sustainability in Higher Education. That
program tracks the sustainability efforts of campuses across
North America. The STARS self-assessment program is the result of
an effort to develop a standardized instrument to measure
progress toward sustainability goals. Posted.
http://www.modbee.com/2013/06/04/2746079/uc-merced-connect-campus-green.html#storylink=cpy
 

EU Solar Duty May Spur Short-Term Imports as Deal Sought. Tariffs
imposed by the European Union on Chinese solar panels are lower
than expected and may drive up imports for the next two months
while officials pursue a trade agreement, renewable-energy
developers said. The European Commission yesterday announced
provisional anti-dumping duties of 11.8 percent on photovoltaic
products from more than 100 Chinese manufacturers, an initial
rate that may increase more than fivefold in August. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-04/eu-solar-duty-may-spur-short-term-imports-as-deal-sought.html
 

Can renewable energy standards be changed to protect against
all-encompassing blackouts?  State renewable standards could be
tools for keeping the power on at critical facilities like
hospitals during extreme weather events like Superstorm Sandy,
according to a new report. Because 29 states have such standards
in place, and there is a precedent for adding adjustments to
them, they are an obvious potential choice to establish new
mechanisms for improving the nation's outdated infrastructure and
vulnerability to blackouts…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059982301/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

2012 saw strong solar growth as utilities became major players –
report. Reinforcing earlier data on solar energy's promising
growth, an upcoming report from the nonprofit Interstate
Renewable Energy Council shows that 2012 saw an 80 percent
increase in U.S. solar installation capacity over the previous
year, and solar accounted for about 12 percent of total new
capacity. "Between wind and solar together, about half of the new
electric capacity in the United States is renewable
generation,"…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059982283/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

MISCELLANEOUS

Vernon battery recycler Exide seeks a second chance with toxic
regulators (Timeline). A battery recycling plant shut down in
April by state regulators wants to reopen. Exide Technologies in
Vernon suspended operations by order of the Department of Toxic
Substances Control. The agency was concerned about arsenic and
lead leaking into the air, water and soil around Exide's plant.
At a hearing that begins Monday, Exide will make its case as to
why it thinks the department's decision was wrong. Posted.
http://www.scpr.org/news/2013/06/03/37535/vernon-battery-recycler-exide-seeks-a-second-chanc/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+893KpccSouthernCaliforniaNews+%28KPCC%3A+News%29


NOAA names new head of Climate Program Office. The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration yesterday announced that
it had appointed Wayne Higgins as head of the agency's Climate
Program Office. Higgins, who will take over the position July 28,
said he was looking forward to making the office more effective
at addressing what NOAA calls the "societal challenge projects"
of climate impacts to water, coasts, marine ecosystems and
weather extremes. Higgins hopes to connect the Climate Program
Office's activities more closely with the stakeholders that use
its research and data. Posted. 
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059982285/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

BLOGS

An obscure new rule on microwaves can tell us a lot about Obama’s
climate policies. What does zapping a frozen burrito in the
microwave have to do with tackling climate change? Quite a bit,
it turns out. Last week, the Department of Energy announced a
little-noticed update to its energy-efficiency standards for
microwave ovens. And there was a surprise buried in the fine
print: The agency is now using a significantly higher figure for
the “social cost of carbon” in calculating the benefits of the
rule. Posted.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/05/what-an-obscure-microwave-rule-says-about-obamas-climate-plans/