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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for October 30, 2013
Posted: 30 Oct 2013 12:50:39
ARB Newsclips for October 30, 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. AIR POLLUTION China's Clean-Air Drive Likely to Take a Long Time. Every so often, an extraordinary image makes the rounds on the Internet that shows an ominous gray cloud over the Beijing area, as seen from a satellite. Rather than a rain cloud, it is a shroud of pollution, the type that has caused fear and anger in China’s worst-hit cities. But China’s pollution, while extremely severe, is not unique, and efforts by other countries, like Britain and the United States, to conquer dirty air may hold lessons for China’s future. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/31/business/energy-environment/chinas-clean-air-drive-likely-to-take-a-long-time.html?partner=rss&emc=rss Air pollution cancer risk. Outdoor air pollution causes an increased risk of bladder cancer and lung cancer, according to a recent release from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization. “The IARC Monographs Programme, dubbed the encyclopedia of carcinogens, provides an authoritative source of scientific evidence on cancer-causing substances and exposures,” the release states. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/oct/30/pollution-cancer-chocolate/ EPA holds hearing in Denver on plant emissions. Carbon pollution and what the federal government should do about it is under review in Denver. The Environmental Protection Agency is holding one of 11 national listening sessions to gather feedback on potential carbon emissions limits for existing power plants on Wednesday. The hearing will be held at EPA's regional offices from 9 to 5 p.m. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/EPA-holds-hearing-in-Denver-on-plant-emissions-4939017.php Earth Log: San Joaquin Valley's dirty air reappears in October. The October whiplash is in full swing. The San Joaquin Valley's dirty air suddenly made a comeback in the last 11 days, then it quickly vanished Monday in an autumn storm. A few weeks ago, I had written that the Valley has a good shot at the lowest-ever recorded number of federal eight-hour ozone exceedances. With a rash of exceedances — eight since Oct. 19 — it's going to be close. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/10/29/3579585/just-when-it-seemed-safe-to-inhale.html#storylink=cpy CLIMATE CHANGE Fracking and reducing climate change: Can Jerry Brown have it both ways? Gov. Jerry Brown and the governors of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia gained international attention Monday for signing a pact in San Francisco aimed at reducing the pollution that causes global warming. But a day later environmentalists lashed out at Brown for his full-throated support during the event of fracking, the controversial practice in which oil and gas companies inject water, sand and chemicals into the ground to fracture underground rock formations and release huge amounts of fossil fuels. Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_24414282/fracking-and-reducing-climate-change-can-jerry-brown Climate Change May Curb Profits From Fossil Fuels, Study Says. Fossil-fuel assets such as coal mines and gas wells may lose value if climate change prompts tougher regulations, according to a report from Al Gore and David Blood’s Generation Investment Management. About two-thirds of the fossil fuels still underground must remain there if the planet is to meet a United Nations target of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). That means assets such as coal mines and gas wells may have to reduce production, cutting profits, according to the paper. Posted. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-30/climate-change-may-curb-profits-from-fossil-fuels-study-says.html Climate Pact Is Signed by 3 States and a Partner. The leaders of three Pacific Coast states and British Columbia have announced a broad alliance to combat climate change, including new joint steps to raise the cost of greenhouse gas pollution, promote zero-emission vehicles and push for the use of cleaner-burning fuels in transportation. The governors of California, Oregon and Washington and the premier of British Columbia said the compact could simultaneously reduce carbon emissions and create new clean-energy jobs in a region of 53 million people that is equivalent to the fifth-largest economy in the world. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/us/climate-pact-is-signed-by-3-states-and-a-partner.html?hpw&_r=0 OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Climate-change-pact-sends-a-message-4937510.php http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/West-Coast-s-do-over-on-climate-change-pact-4937070.php In flood insurance fight, some climate change activists battle against quicker adaptation. Flood insurance is proving to be a challenge for more than just hard-hit homeowners and those who want to lighten the federal deficit. It is pressing Democrats into positions that appear to conflict with their commitment to act quickly to mitigate the damages posed by climate change. The underpriced policies of the National Flood Insurance Program have long been blamed by environmentalists and taxpayer groups for encouraging construction and continued dwelling in floodplains. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059989658 Coral reefs may be more adaptive to climate change than once thought. Scientists studying the catastrophic phenomena of coral bleaching have concluded that reef systems may be more adaptable to increasingly warmer oceans than previously believed. The study — published online in the journal Global Change Biology -- is heartening news, coming in the face of dire predictions that had the world’s coral reefs disappearing by the middle of the century. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-coral-reef-bleaching-20131029,0,5531445.story#axzz2jE0asu8Q U.S. to Cut Back Funds For Coal Plants Overseas. The Obama administration, which is already planning to crack down on coal-fired power plants at home, also wants to cut off public financing for coal plants overseas. The administration will apply essentially the same greenhouse-gas emissions standards for coal plants built overseas as recent Environmental Protection Agency rules would do for domestic coal plants, Treasury Department officials said. Posted. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304470504579166033143397114 DIESEL EMISSIONS State fines Bakersfield firm for failure to update diesel trucks. The California Air Resources Board has fined Bakersfield-based KS Industries, an engineering and construction firm, $230,250 for failing to update its diesel trucks to clean up harmful emissions as required by state anti-pollution laws. ARB investigators said the company for missed two key compliance deadlines: failing to retrofit 1996-1999 model year heavy duty trucks with diesel particulate filters by Jan. 1, 2012, and failure to retrofit 2000-2004 model year trucks by Jan. 1, 2013. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2013/10/29/5863504/state-fines-bakersfield-firm-for.html#storylink=cpy FUELS Natural Gas Waits for Its Moment. CARS and trucks powered by natural gas make up a significant portion of the vehicle fleet in many parts of the world. Iran has more than two million natural gas vehicles on the road. As of 2009, Argentina had more than 1.8 million in operation and almost 2,000 natural gas filling stations. Brazil was not far behind. Italy and Germany have substantial natural gas vehicle fleets. Is America next? With natural gas in plentiful supply at bargain prices in the United States, issues that have limited its use in cars are being rethought, and its market share could increase, perhaps substantially. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/automobiles/natural-gas-waits-for-its-moment.html VEHICLES Company Hopes to Change Small Electric Vehicles With Cheaper Magnetic Technology. If only electric propulsion could operate at low voltage, maximize the motor’s performance and do without the cumbersome array of batteries. That’s the proposition advanced by KLD Energy Technologies of Austin, Tex., which suggests that it has come up with the next great innovation in electric-vehicle powertrains. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/automobiles/company-hopes-to-change-small-electric-vehicles-with-cheaper-magnetic-technology.html?_r=0 From China to Los Angeles, Taking the Electric Bus. THERE’S a newcomer to this city’s auto row. Compared to the shiny showrooms displaying the latest Mercedeses and Toyotas, the Chinese carmaker BYD’s outpost in the shadow of downtown skyscrapers looks rather forlorn. Just two of its models — a red electric sport utility vehicle and a brown gasoline-powered sedan — are on view in an otherwise empty storefront. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/automobiles/from-china-to-los-angeles-taking-the-electric-bus.html EU cars on track to meet 2015 carbon emissions goal –EEA. EU car emissions fell 2.6 percent in 2012 from 2011, official figures showed on Wednesday, adding to a fierce Brussels debate on how quickly automakers can improve vehicle fuel efficiency. The decline took average new car carbon emissions down to 132.2 grams per kilometre (g/km) in 2012, close to a 130 g/km target for 2015, according to the data from the European Environment Agency (EEA), which provides scientific data to guide policy-making. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/10/30/eu-cars-carbon-idUSL5N0IK1EU20131030 GREEN ENERGY This Stock Is up 385% and It's Still a Buy. Green energy usually brings along government subsidies to be cost-competitive. And for many investors, one or both of these issues are cause to stay away. But to ignore the sector (which may be the most important in the world) completely is to leave serious money on the table. Let's take a look at how several companies are benefiting from being "good" and why you shouldn't let the lack of perfection keep you from investing in them. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/This-Stock-Is-up-385-and-It-s-Still-a-Buy-4938983.php OPINIONS Climate change pact sends a message. Climate change may still be a taboo topic in Congress. But the West Coast of the United States - and Canada - is leading the charge to tackle the issue. The landmark climate change pact signed by the governors of California, Oregon and Washington, along with a representative of the premier of the province of British Columbia, may matter more as a political statement than hard policy statement. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/editorials/article/Climate-change-pact-sends-a-message-4937510.php Jokes, Lies and Pollution in China. After my physical exam this year, the doctor showed me his findings. Next to an irregularity he had noted concerning lung function, I was surprised to see the words “air pollution.” It was first time this had ever appeared in my health report. This reminded me of the uproar in China in June of last year regarding PM 2.5 — the airborne particles with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less that are particularly harmful to our health. Reports of high PM 2.5 levels, monitored and revealed by the U.S. Embassy and various consulates across China, fueled public concerns about air pollution. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/30/opinion/international/hua-jokes-lies-and-pollution-in-china.html BLOGS How the carbon bubble will pop. It’s now clear that any sort of solution to the climate change crisis that requires action from Congress — where many members of one party refuse to admit the problem exists at all — is pretty much impossible. But there are plenty of ways Obama can use executive action — not to solve the problem, perhaps, but to forestall doom as long as possible. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2013/10/30/how-the-carbon-bubble-will-pop/ Tesla and Panasonic Enter Deal to Boost Battery Production. Electric-car maker Tesla Motors Inc. said it entered an agreement with electronics giant Panasonic Corp. to boost the supply of lithium-ion batteries to meet the increased production of Tesla’s current and coming vehicles. The deal continues a long collaboration between the companies aimed at developing advanced automotive battery cells that could help expand the market for electric vehicles. Posted. http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/10/30/tesla-and-panasonic-enter-deal-to-boost-battery-production/?KEYWORDS=vehicles