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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



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