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ARB Newsclips for July 9, 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

Group to explain cap-and-trade lawsuit in Salinas.  The Pacific
Legal Foundation will hold a briefing Wednesday in Salinas on its
lawsuit to stop the state’s cap-and-trade regulation.  The PLF is
a national organization with an office in Sacramento that
provides legal assistance to efforts in support of property
rights, free market economics and limited government.  Posted. 
http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20130708/BUSINESS/307080035/Group-explain-cap-trade-lawsuit-Salinas


California’s Market for Hard-to-Verify Carbon Offsets Could Let
Industry Pollute as Usual. Timber, dairy and chemical companies
line up to sell credits to biggest emitters One hot day this
spring John Buckley scrambled up a dusty slope of a patch of
deforested land in the middle of California’s Stanislaus National
Forest in the Sierra Nevada, five miles west of Yosemite National
Park…Posted.
http://sfpublicpress.org/news/2013-07/californias-market-for-hard-to-verify-carbon-offsets-could-let-industry-pollute-as-usual#sthash.XDXOMc7w.dpuf


Fearing 'ripple effect,' national group joins lawsuit contesting
cap and trade. A nationwide business group has joined a lawsuit
challenging the legality of California's carbon cap-and-trade
program. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)
yesterday filed a motion to intervene in Morning Star v.
California Air Resources Board, a suit arguing that the Golden
State's quarterly auctions of greenhouse gas pollution permits
create an illegal tax. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059984045/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

AIR POLLUTION

Study: Air pollution cut northern China lifespans.  A new study
links heavy air pollution from coal burning to shorter lives in
northern China. Researchers estimate that the half-billion people
alive there in the 1990s will live an average of 5 1/2 years less
than their southern counterparts because they breathed dirtier
air.  China itself made the comparison possible: for decades, a
now-discontinued government policy provided free coal for
heating, but only in the colder north.  Posted. 
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SCI_CHINA_AIR_POLLUTION_LIFE_EXPECTANCY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


OTHER RELATED STORIES
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324867904578593202873181028.html#printMode
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/08/china-environment-coal-idUSL6N0FE1W620130708

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/world/asia/pollution-leads-to-drop-in-life-span-in-northern-china-study-finds.html?_r=0

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-china-air-pollution-20130709,0,6561744,print.story

http://www.modbee.com/2013/07/08/2798302/study-air-pollution-cut-northern.html

http://www.voanews.com/articleprintview/1697885.html 
http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/09/news/china-air-pollution/  
http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/07/08/3378911/study-air-pollution-cut-northern.html
 
http://www.insidebayarea.com/ci_23619992/study-air-pollution-cut-northern-china-lifespans


U.S. EPA sues OG&E over work at Oklahoma coal power plants.  The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has sued Oklahoma Gas and
Electric for failure to follow procedures required by the Clean
Air Act while upgrading two coal plants in the state. The EPA
said in the complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the
Western District of Oklahoma on Monday that OG&E, a unit of OGE
Energy Corp, failed to estimate emissions resulting from
construction projects between 2003 and 2006 at its facilities.
Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/09/utilities-oge-epa-coal-idUSL1N0FF0PO20130709
 

China official defends "embarrassing" environmental protection
ministry. China's environment minister said his ministry ranked
among the world's "four major embarrassing departments" but
defended the agency, saying it was hampered by overlapping
functions in government, state media said on Tuesday. The
comments by Zhou Shengxian are the latest in a string of blunt
admissions by Chinese leaders that the country still has a long
way to go in tackling pollution. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/09/china-environment-idUSL4N0FF1CR20130709

 
Las Vegas: Wildfire sparks air quality advisory, cancels
fundraiser. A large wildfire burning in the mountains northwest
of Las Vegas has prompted authorities to issue an air quality
advisory through Sunday. Billowing plumes of smoke are visible
both from the Strip and downtown Las Vegas. The Clark County
Department of Air Quality issued the advisory Monday afternoon,
noting in a news release that “unhealthy levels of air pollution
are not expected to occur.” Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-las-vegas-wildfire-air-quality-advisory-20130708,0,2525810,print.story

CLIMATE CHANGE

Old Tactic in New Climate Campaign. It was a single word tucked
into a presidential speech. It went by so fast that most
Americans probably never heard it, much less took the time to
wonder what it meant. But to certain young ears, the word had the
shock value of a rifle shot. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/science/old-tactic-in-new-climate-campaign.html


U.S.-China talks aimed at 'practical cooperation' on climate.
Climate change and energy analysts say they don't expect major
new agreements between the United States and China when leaders
meet this week for the fifth annual Strategic and Economic
Dialogue. The meeting tomorrow, to be led by Secretary of State
John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, comes on the heels of
a deal between the United States and China to curb super
greenhouse gases. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059984047/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

DIESEL EMISSIONS

ARB researchers evaluate in-use heavy-duty NOx aftertreatment
systems, find elevated levels during certain lower-temperature
operations.  A team from the California Air Resources Board (ARB)
reports on their evaluation of the in-use emissions performance
of four different heavy-duty diesel engines certified to the MY
2010 or interim MY 2010 NOx standards over a wide range of
driving conditions in California in a paper published in the ACS
journal Environmental Science & Technology.  Posted. 
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/07/arb-20130709.html 

FUELS

Chevron wants more dialogue on Poland shale gas rules. Energy
major Chevron (CVX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said
on Tuesday it was committed to shale gas exploration in Poland
though it wanted more consultation with the government on draft
amendments to rules before they are adopted. Three foreign firms
- Exxon Mobil (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock
Buzz)…Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/09/us-poland-shalegas-chevron-idUSBRE9680PS20130709


CSU gas emissions study won't ID polluters. A Colorado State
University study of emissions from natural gas transmission
pipelines is partially being funded by pipeline companies under
an agreement that will keep their individual emissions
information secret. The Fort Collins Coloradoan
(http://noconow.co/12d6c6K ) reported Monday that six companies
and an industry group are paying $150,000 each for the study of
gas transmission lines, announced by CSU in June. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/CSU-gas-emissions-study-won-t-ID-polluters-4652301.php


Everything You Need to Know About Keystone XL: Why Other
Countries Care. By now, you have probably heard about
TransCanada's  Keystone XL pipeline. For even the most casual
observer of the energy industry, this project has been the spark
that has ignited political debates ranging from environmental
hazards, emission of greenhouse gasses, and North American energy
independence. In his recent speech on climate change, President
Barack Obama made a point to speak about Keystone XL and what it
means for the U.S. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Everything-You-Need-to-Know-About-Keystone-XL-4652758.php


Emissions regs could fuel a new LNG market for shippers in the
U.S.  As natural gas expands its customer pool among power
generators and fleet operators, experts expect inland and coastal
shippers will form a new market in the United States. Though
fairly uncommon today, the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for
powering ships is increasing in Europe, and the market growth
there is beginning to pick up speed. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/energywire/stories/1059984015/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

DOE to modify rule phasing out fossil fuels in buildings, get
appliance standards on track. The Department of Energy this fall
plans to roll out changes to a stalled rule that would phase out
the use of coal, natural gas and oil to power new and renovated
federal buildings, according to a recently released regulatory
plan that outlines the department's top priorities for the coming
year. In addition to modifying the fossil fuel phaseout…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1059984069/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

VEHICLES

UPDATE 1-EU warns Germany over Mercedes car coolant. The European
Commission has warned Germany it faces possible action over
Daimler's refusal to remove a banned refrigerant from new cars,
after France moved to block most Mercedes sales within its
borders. France has halted registrations of non-compliant
Mercedes models, the EU executive also confirmed on Tuesday, the
latest sign of tension between Germany and its European partners
over the direction of auto industry policy and regulation.
Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/09/eu-germany-daimler-idUSL6N0FF3RX20130709


In Europe, Greener Transit on Existing Infrastructure. Vienna is
employing some old-fashioned technology to run shiny new electric
buses wending their way through the narrow inner-city streets.
The Austrian capital is switching from buses powered by liquefied
petroleum gas to a novel, first-of-its-kind fleet of electric
buses that run unplugged, go anywhere, and recharge their
batteries using the overhead power lines of older trams. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/08/business/energy-environment/greener-transit-in-europe-built-on-top-of-older-infrastructure.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y


Nissan to expand Leaf quick-charger program at dealerships.
Nissan will outfit dealerships in 21 markets with fast electric
car chargers to serve drivers of its Leaf. The DC quick charger
is a significant upgrade to ChargePoint America’s Level 2
stations, which can take about four hours to fully recharge the
car. Level 1 charging -- plugging into a standard household
outlet -- takes between eight and 16 hours. But the DC units are
expected to get an electric car back up to 80% capacity within 30
minutes. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-nissan-charger-dealership-20130708,0,7611407.story


GM says new Corvette to get 29 mpg on highway. General Motors
says the new Chevrolet Corvette sports car will get 29 miles per
gallon of gas in highway driving. The 2014 Corvette Stingray has
a 455 horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8 engine that can take the car from
zero to 60 mph in under four seconds. GM says the car can get up
to 30 mpg in "Eco" mode. Posted. 
http://www.sbsun.com/ci_23625358/gm-says-new-corvette-get-29-mpg-highway#ixzz2YZ8PowYK


GREEN ENERGY

Solar hydrogen production generates favorable energy payback –
study. Mimicking photosynthesis in plants, researchers are
working on ways to use sunlight to generate fuel from water.
There are several approaches already in the works, but developers
want to ensure that such devices are a net positive for the
environment through improving efficiency, displacing fossil fuels
or requiring less energy to make. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059984046/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

MISCELLANEOUS

Historic Electric Vehicle Foundation Set Up To Preserve
Electric-Car History. With more than 100,000 electric cars on
U.S. roads--and thousands more added each month--advocates and
historians are turning their attention to the last time cars with
plugs rolled out of U.S. factories, almost 100 years ago. But as
far as we know, there's no single museum or entity in the U.S.
whose sole mission is to present the history of plug-in electric
cars. Posted.
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1085434_historic-electric-vehicle-foundation-set-up-to-preserve-electric-car-history


OPINIONS

COLUMN-An environmental compromise for investors: natural gas.
Americans are continually encouraged to raise their environmental
awareness, but applying green principles to investing isn't easy
- at least if making money remains a goal. Producing energy from
renewable sources like wind and solar is notoriously
unprofitable. But it may be possible to shrink your carbon
footprint without shrinking your net worth if you compromise a
bit…Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/09/column-investing-gas-idUSL1N0FE0Q620130709


U.S. Frackers Can Save Millions of Chinese Lives. For years
Chinese have been told that the blinding, sooty haze choking
Beijing and other cities is the price of progress. All rapidly
industrializing economies have endured appalling levels of
pollution, officials say. They insist that the only alternative
is to slam the brakes on China’s economy and consign tens of
millions to poverty. Yet China’s appetite for energy is literally
killing its people. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-07-08/u-s-frackers-can-save-millions-of-chinese-lives.html


A Vote for a Carbon Tax.  “Let’s Not Braise the Planet,” by Mark
Bittman (column, July 2), makes an essential point: we humans
must aggressively phase out our promiscuous use of fossil fuels.
A way to do this that is gaining bipartisan support is a steadily
increasing, revenue-neutral carbon tax. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/opinion/a-vote-for-a-carbon-tax.html


Obama must walk a climate tightrope. The president's plan is
pragmatic, hemmed in by Congress' unwillingness to act and the
limitations of the law. President Obama had barely announced his
new climate strategy late last month when the criticism began.
The plan, which will regulate carbon pollution from the nation's
power plants for the first time, is an important step in
addressing global warming. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-freeman-obama-climate-change-20130709,0,2025646.story


Don't Fear New Coal Rules. President Obama has announced new
efforts to combat climate change, many of which will be directed
at limiting the use of coal. That's a headwind for the coal
industry, but new rules won't be as detrimental as many think. A
Useful Point For example, the U.S. coal fired fleet is running at
about 55% of capacity, according to coal miner Peabody Energy.
Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Don-t-Fear-New-Coal-Rules-4652816.php


CARB is again crippling the California trucking industry.  Just
when it seems California's economy is turning around, the
California Air Resources Board has found another way to cripple
our fragile recovery.  This unelected agency is determined to
proceed with enforcing a regulation -- the Low Carbon Fuel
Standard -- that could make fuel costs skyrocket and cause severe
supply shortages.  Posted. 
http://www.insidebayarea.com/breaking-news/ci_23619630/carb-is-again-crippling-california-trucking-industry
 
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_23621548/carb-is-again-crippling-california-trucking-industry?IADID=Search-www.contracostatimes.com-www.contracostatimes.com
 

BLOGS

CarLab Mixes Natural Gas and Gasoline for More Efficient Vehicle.
When engineers convert gasoline cars to run on natural gas as
well, they typically install a large pressurized tank and figure
that the driver will go 100 miles or more, use up the gas and
then switch back to gasoline. But for cars in the United States,
the idea hasn’t caught on. Posted.
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/09/carlab-mixes-natural-gas-and-gasoline-for-more-efficient-vehicle/


Whatever happened to “green jobs”?  If you watched President
Obama’s major speech on climate change, you may have noticed a
recurrent phrase: “our children.” The president said the word
“children” 15 separate times in the speech. He also spoke
repeatedly about “future generations” and how a sweltering planet
imperils them. The threat of climate itself, meanwhile, garnered
considerable scientific detail in the speech…Posted. 
http://grist.org/climate-energy/whatever-happened-to-green-jobs/ 


Efficient Cars: Emerging Clean Diesels May Give Electric Vehicles
A Jolt. The beauty of efficient cars these days is that progress
is being made on so many fronts.  It’s a little like a horse
race: first one technology surges, then another. Just when it
begins to look like the future of personal transportation may be
the electric vehicle, The Economist warns us not to jump to
premature conclusions: the advanced (and clean) diesel engine is
about to land on U.S. shores. Posted.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterdetwiler/2013/07/09/efficient-cars-emerging-clean-diesels-may-give-electric-vehicles-a-jolt/print/