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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 18, 2014

Posted: 18 Mar 2014 16:08:31
ARB Newsclips for March 18, 2014. 

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

Appetite grows for more varieties of offsets in cap and trade.
California's carbon cap-and-trade program is preparing to expand
to cover emissions reductions from coal mines, and momentum is
building for other sectors, as well. The California Air Resources
Board (ARB) is set to vote next month on allowing carbon offsets
from the reduction of methane from coal mines. Mine owners
throughout the country would be eligible to install equipment to
capture methane from active and existing sites and sell the
resulting credits. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996285/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Tokyo businesses reach their emission goals without using
credits. Businesses in Tokyo have achieved their goals to cut
their carbon dioxide emissions without having to rely on
emissions credit trading to meet their targets under Asia's first
required greenhouse emissions cut program. The system started in
April 2010 and sets a cap on the energy-related emissions of
about 1,400 offices, commercial buildings and factories that use
more than 1,500 kiloliters of energy every year. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996279/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

AIR POLLUTION

Smothered by smog, Paris bans some cars; measure lifted late in
day. With the City of Light buried under a thick blanket of smog
for a week now, authorities in the French capital took drastic
steps Monday to cut the number of cars on the road and to
encourage commuters to find more environmentally friendly ways of
getting to work. 
Only cars with license plates ending in an odd number were
allowed on to Paris streets during the day.  Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-paris-smog-cars-ban-20140317,0,5700535.story#ixzz2wKO6Xqi0


In Mississippi, a power plant is designed to shape the future of
coal. If it works, the $5-billion Kemper project would remove up
to 65% of its potential carbon dioxide emissions. But it's
already behind schedule and over budget. Looming like a spaceship
over pine and sweet-gum forest, the high-tech power plant under
construction in rural Kemper County is a $5-billion wager on an
energy future that includes coal. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-coal-future-20140317,0,3157053.story#ixzz2wKOpg0ta


Parisians, you're free to drive again.  Air pollution has
dropped. The French government said it’s lifting a partial ban on
vehicle traffic in Paris as pollution levels receded from last
week’s peak, when air quality in the capital was worse than that
in Beijing. The first partial driving ban in the French capital
in 17 years, which halved the number of automobiles circulating
in Paris, and the other anti-pollution measures will be lifted as
of midnight, Energy and Environment Minister Philippe Martin said
a press conference. Posted.
http://www.troyrecord.com/general-news/20140318/parisians-youre-free-to-drive-again-air-pollution-has-dropped


Smog insurance? One response to Beijing's pollution.  Smog
insurance: A state-owned Chinese insurance company will pay
Beijing residents 1,500 yuan ($240) if they are hospitalized by
smog. If the official smog index reaches 300 for five consecutive
days, it will pay out $48. A state-owned Chinese insurer will
offer residents of Beijing insurance cover against health risks
caused by air pollution, promising to pay out 1,500 yuan ($240)
to policy holders hospitalized by smog. Posted.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Latest-News-Wires/2014/0318/Smog-insurance-One-response-to-Beijing-s-pollution


CLIMATE CHANGE

Scientists Sound Alarm on Climate.  Early in his career, a
scientist named Mario J. Molina was pulled into seemingly obscure
research about strange chemicals being spewed into the
atmosphere. Within a year, he had helped discover a global
environmental emergency, work that would ultimately win a Nobel
Prize. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/18/science/scientists-sound-alarm-on-climate.html?ref=earth


Study: Rockies' wildflower season 35 days longer from climate
change. The Rocky Mountain wildflower season has lengthened by
over a month since the 1970s, according to a study published
Monday that found climate change is altering the flowering
patterns of more species than previously thought. Flowers used to
bloom from mid-May to early September, but the season now lasts
35 days longer, from April to mid-September…Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-wildflowers-climate-change-rocky-mountains-20140317,0,7192239.story
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Rocky-Mountain-Wildflower-Season-Lengthens-by-5325578.php
 http://www.sacbee.com/2014/03/17/6244830/study-rockies-wildflower-season.html
 

Japan plans to help Laos cut carbon emissions. In an effort to
boost bilateral cooperation with Laos to lower its carbon
emissions, Japan is looking into transferring low-carbon
technologies to the nation. Experts recently met in the Laos
capitol city Vientiane to discuss the potential collaboration
with Lao private-sector companies, intending to swap experiences
on the transfer of low-carbon technologies. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996274/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Ice on 'Africa's Alps' is melting, fast. Experts have warned that
the ice on the Rwenzori mountain range is melting at a
"disturbing" rate, and that Africa's equatorial summits will be
diminished to nothing but rock within two decades, affecting both
tourism and agriculture. "Every year, the ice grows smaller,"
said 54-year-old John Medenge, who has been climbing the range
since he was a teenager. But the vanishing ice is affecting more
than leisure sports. "The melting of this unique African glacier
is a major threat to local communities…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996275/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Scientists debate whether man or climate killed off world's
extinct giant mammals. The Earth's extinct megafauna certainly
were among the weirdest creatures to roam around tens of
thousands of years ago. Species included huge wombats, big
sloths, four-tusked elephants and a giant armadillo. But
scientists have long wondered whether climate change or man
killed these creatures off. They disappeared in North and South
America around 10,000 years ago, at the same time as there were
big changes to the climate…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996283/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

DROUGHT

Food Prices Surge as Drought Exacts a High Toll on Crops. Surging
prices for food staples from coffee to meat to vegetables are
driving up the cost of groceries in the U.S., pinching consumers
and companies that are still grappling with a sluggish economic
recovery. Federal forecasters estimate retail food prices will
rise as much as 3.5% this year, the biggest annual increase in
three years, as drought in parts of the U.S. and other producing
regions drives up prices for many agricultural goods. Posted.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303287804579445311778530606?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5&mg=reno64-wsj
 

Water issues threaten opening of S.F.’s Camp. San Francisco's
90-year-old Camp Mather high in the Sierra may be forced to scale
back the number of campers who visit this year because of water
problems. City parks officials mailed out letters last week to
those requesting stays at the camp, letting them know that the
reservation process has been put on hold until adequate water
supplies can be assured. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Water-issues-threaten-opening-of-S-F-s-Camp-5326340.php
 

California drought: Solar desalination plant shows promise.
Quietly whirring away in a dusty field in the Central Valley is a
shiny solar energy machine that may someday solve many of
California's water problems. It's called the WaterFX solar
thermal desalination plant, and it has been turning salty,
contaminated irrigation runoff into ultra-pure liquid for nearly
a year for the Panoche Water and Drainage District. It's the only
solar-driven desalination plant of its kind in the
country.Posted. 
http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/California-drought-Solar-desalination-plant-5326024.php


State aims to ease water storage efforts; community input,
drought conditions spur policy change. In an effort to promote
water conservation during the state's ongoing drought, the
California Department of Fish and Wildlife joined the State Water
Resources Control Board in a decision Monday to speed the
approval of domestic water storage tank installations. Posted.
http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_25364826/state-aims-ease-water-storage-efforts-community-input?source=rss
 

DIESEL EMISSIONS

Electric school buses roll out in effort to reduce emissions. An
all-electric school bus quietly began transporting students in
the Escondido Union High School District on Thursday, part of a
state-funded pilot program meant to introduce districts to the
merits of bus fleets that are electric-powered, emissions-free
and silentPosted.
http://edsource.org/2014/electric-school-buses-roll-out-in-effort-to-reduce-emissions/59330#.Uyhsp6Pn-M8


HIGH-SPEED RAIL

High-speed rail agency's fight against court setbacks 'arrogant,'
Kings County says.  An attorney for Kings County not only says a
state appeals court should reject what he calls the California
High-Speed Rail Authority's "arrogant request" to overturn lower
court rulings against the rail agency -- he wants justices to go
a step further by invalidating the Legislature's 2012 vote to
spend nearly $6 billion on bullet-train construction in the San
Joaquin Valley.  Posted. 
http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/03/17/3828143/kings-county-calls-high-speed.html
 

High-speed rail seeks interest from contractors for next phase. 
The California High-Speed Rail Authority says it will host an
industry forum and pre-bid conference on April 8 in Visalia for
businesses interested in working on the next phase of the
high-speed rail project – more than 60 miles of track through the
Central Valley from East American Avenue in Fresno County to one
mile north of the Kern-Tulare County line.  Posted. 
http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=25441 


GREEN ENERGY

First Solar Seeking Growth to Replace Giant Desert Plants. The
biggest U.S. solar panel maker is preparing to set out its
strategy for growth as sales lag for its large-scale power
projects in the deserts of the southwest. First Solar Inc. gets
about 65 percent of its revenue from selling giant solar farms to
utilities, a market that’s slowing after its best customers
bought all the clean energy they need. The manufacturer is
missing out on the current boom in rooftop solar, which is
surging since SolarCity Corp. Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-18/first-solar-seeking-growth-to-replace-giant-desert-plants.html
 

SolarCity accuses utilities of slowing home-battery project. For
more than two years, SolarCity Corp. has been trying to launch an
experiment that could change the way we power our homes. The San
Mateo company has installed battery packs in more than 100 houses
throughout California, each pack linked to rooftop solar panels.
The lithium-ion batteries, made by Tesla Motors, store
electricity from the panels during the day for use at night.
Posted.http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/SolarCity-accuses-utilities-of-slowing-5325791.php
 

National Park service Slams Solar Project Near Mojave Preserve.
The National Park Service isn't happy about a proposal to build a
large solar facility on almost 4,200 acres next door to the
Mojave National Preserve. The agency is citing the project's
threats to wildlife, rare plants, groundwater, air quality, and
wilderness characteristics of the 1.6 million acre unit. The Soda
Mountain Solar Project, which would be built by Bechtel on either
side of Interstate 15 along the northwest edge of the Preserve,
would pose serious threats to bighorn sheep, desert tortoises,
migratory birds…Posted.
http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/solar/photovoltaic-pv/park-service-slams-blm-over-solar-project-near-mojave-preserve.html


Solar-powered toilet that turns human waste into biochar will be
showcased in India. In the not-too-distant future, going "number
two" may also relieve the atmosphere of carbon dioxide. But
that's not even the main purpose behind a new solar-powered
toilet set to be unveiled in India later this week. The
waterless, sun-fueled toilet developed by the University of
Colorado, Boulder, could potentially provide 2.5 billion people
in developing countries with safe and sustainable sanitation.
Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1059996276/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

MISCELLANEOUS

California motorists won't pay as much in gas taxes starting July
1. California motorists will get a slight break at the pump July
1 when the state excise tax on gasoline will be adjusted downward
by 3.5 cents per gallon. The state Board of Equalization voted
unanimously Tuesday to lower the tax for one year. The tax
officials did so to comply with a state budget law passed in
2010, known as the "fuel tax swap." Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-gas-taxes-to-drop-next-summer-20140225,0,6635193.story#ixzz2wKNUxy00



Honda recalling 900,000 Odyssey minivans due to fire risk. A
potential fire risk has led Honda to recall nearly 900,000 of its
popular Odyssey minivans, the automaker has announced. The
voluntary recall affects 886,815 minivans from the 2005-2010
model years, Honda said. In these vehicles, the cover of the fuel
strainer at the top of the gas tank could crack over time and
lead to a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire…Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-autos-honda-recall-odyssey-minivans-20140317,0,7338708.story#ixzz2wKU3TFR0

OPINIONS

Reduce air pollution for region’s health, economy: Guest
commentary. Clean ai­r is a right, not a privilege. A child’s
health should not be determined by where they live or how much
their parents make. But one-third of Californians still breathe
levels of soot and smog that violate U.S. health standards, and
cause asthma, cancer, heart attacks and strokes. These pollutants
are also powerful short-term climate change forcers. This is a
problem we cannot tolerate. Posted.
http://www.presstelegram.com/opinion/20140317/reduce-air-pollution-for-regions-health-economy-guest-commentary


Editorial: Less-bad option for higher gas prices in California. 
Gas prices again have reached $4 a gallon – and are expected to
go higher, as fuel producers are required to switch production to
the more costly “summer-blend” gasoline – which is bad enough.
Californians already pay 71 cents per gallon in state gas taxes –
the highest in the nation. Add in 18.4 cents per gallon in
federal gas taxes, and nearly one-quarter of the pump price is
taxes.  Posted. 
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/trade-605916-gallon-cap.html 


EarthTalk: Global warming and your health. Dear EarthTalk: How is
it that global warming could cause an increase in health problems
and disease epidemics? Do we have any evidence that it is already
happening? -- Jim Merrill, Provo, Utah Global warming isn't just
bad for the environment. There are several ways that it is
expected to take a toll on human health. For starters, the
extreme summer heat that is becoming more normal in a warming
world can directly impact the health of billions of people.
Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/EarthTalk-Global-warming-and-your-health-5323870.php

Drought Q&A: Will the drought keep a North Carolina man from
moving to Sacramento? I am considering moving from Cary, N.C., to
Sacramento this summer. I don’t have to move now, but my question
is this: Should I stay put and wait this drought out, or should I
forget about it and come on out? – Robert Phillips, Cary, N.C.
This drought is bad, no question. Residents across the Sacramento
region are cutting back water use and will have to conserve
further unless we get significantly more rain in the next month
or two. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/03/16/6242286/drought-qa-will-the-drought-keep.html#storylink=cpy


BLOGS

Congress Just Undid The 1 Good Thing It's Done On Climate Change.
Congress approved changes to the federal flood insurance program
in June 2012 that lawmakers said then would fix the program's
problems and make it more financially stable. The bipartisan
reforms phased out subsidies for high-risk coastal properties,
which onlookers concerned about climate change said was key to
discouraging unsustainable coastal development. It was perhaps
the only good thing on climate that Congress had done in a really
long time. Posted.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/17/congress-flood-insurance_n_4981226.html


Jay Leno's Garage goes eco with Ricardo HyBoost.  The Ricardo
HyBoost is a 2009 Ford Focus that has had a 1.1-liter engine
swapped in for the stock 2.0-liter four. That might not get you
performance enthusiasts out there fired up, until, that is, you
hear that the 1.1L is also fed by both a turbocharger and an
electrically driven supercharger for an instant-on "torque-fill"
effect. Sounds about right, considering that Ricardo engineering
is part of the genius behind the McLaren P1. Posted.
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/03/17/jay-lenos-garage-ricardo-hyboost-video/
 

Paris ends even-odd license plate driving ban after just 24
hours.  There can come a time when strong measures are needed to
ease the effects of too many cars on city street. Today, that
time came to Paris. And then it passed. Government officials in
Paris announced over the weekend that a new plan would go into
effect early Monday morning: only about half of the city's cars
would be allowed to drive on any given day. The reason, as you
can probably guess, was to reduce the amount of smog in the air.
Posted.
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/03/17/paris-ends-even-odd-license-plate-driving-ban-after-just-24-hour/





California is in a drought emergency.
Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.

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