What's New List Serve Post Display

ARB Newsclips for April 10, 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.

CALIFORNIA FORESTRY OFFSETS

California issues first forestry offsets for carbon market. 
California air regulators on Wednesday issued the first carbon
offset credits for a forest protection project, credits that
power companies and others large emitters can use to meet their
compliance obligations under the state's greenhouse gas reduction
program.  Posted. 
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/09/california-carbonoffset-idUSL2N0N12GR20140409


California Issues First Forestry Compliance Offsets.  The Yurok
tribe has seen first-hand the devastation that deforestation
wreaks on trees and plant and animal species living on its tribal
lands. Now, with a big stamp of approval from California
regulators, the tribe is hoping to tap into the carbon markets to
help reverse these devastating trends.  Posted. 
http://www.ecosystemmarketplace.com/pages/dynamic/article.page.php?page_id=10283§ion=news_articles&eod=1


AIR POLLUTION

Southern California city declares Sriracha maker a nuisance.  A
Southern California city has declared the factory that produces
the popular Sriracha hot sauce a public nuisance.  The Irwindale
City Council's action Wednesday night gives the factory 90 days
to make changes to stop the spicy odors that prompted complaints
from some residents last fall.  Posted. 
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HOT_SAUCE_CONTROVERSY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


Other related articles:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/News/ci_25537247/Southern-California-city-declares-Sriracha-maker

http://www.insidebayarea.com/News/ci_25537247/Southern-California-city-declares-Sriracha-maker
 

'Mecca stink' a thing of the past.  Recent monitoring efforts in
the eastern Coachella Valley show few signs of the past problems
of pollution and foul smells sweeping the region, the agency
charged with monitoring local air quality says.  Posted. 
http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/local/2014/04/10/mecca-odor-aqmd/7538117/


Stench rankles Escondido club neighbors.  The agency that acts as
the county’s air quality watchdog said Wednesday it will cite the
owner of the now defunct Escondido Country Club for creating a
public nuisance by spreading chicken manure over several dying
fairways, causing a stench that residents and an inspector
described as horrible.  Posted. 
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/apr/09/manure-chicke-escondido-country-club/


CLIMATE CHANGE

Artificial cooling tricky topic for climate panel.  It's Plan B
in the fight against climate change: cooling the planet by
sucking heat-trapping CO2 from the air or reflecting sunlight
back into space.  Called geoengineering, it's considered mad
science by opponents. Supporters say it would be foolish to
ignore it, since plan A — slashing carbon emissions from fossil
fuels — is moving so slowly.  Posted. 
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_CLIMATE_ENGINEERING?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


Other related articles:
http://www.contracostatimes.com/AP%20Content/ci_25537436/Artificial-cooling-tricky-topic-for-climate

http://www.insidebayarea.com/AP%20Content/ci_25537436/Artificial-cooling-tricky-topic-for-climate

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/apr/10/artificial-cooling-tricky-topic-for-climate-panel/


Climate changes to result in bird, reptile shifts.  As
temperatures climb across the Southwest, researchers have found
some species will win, but others stand to lose - and lose big. 
The U.S. Geological Survey and researchers from the University of
New Mexico and Northern Arizona University released a report this
week that takes a closer look at some of the effects climate
change is likely to have on species such as the desert tortoise
and the pinyon jay.  Posted. 
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CLIMATE_CHANGE_SOUTHWEST?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


Other related articles:
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/apr/09/climate-changes-to-result-in-bird-reptile-shifts/#ixzz2yV3Pqht8


U.N. climate report stops short of clear economic case for
action.  A U.N. report about ways to fix global warming due on
Sunday is likely to disappoint investors seeking clear-cut
economic calculations about the benefits and costs of curbing
rising greenhouse gas emissions. Authors say the report stops
short of an economic bottom line since it is hard to put a value,
for instance, on human lives lost to extreme weather or on risks
of a faster melt of Greenland's ice sheet that would push up sea
levels. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/10/us-climate-un-idUSBREA3919Q20140410


Slash Greenhouse Gases to Meet Climate Goals, U.N. Draft Says.  A
key United Nations report is expected to suggest that governments
will have to drastically reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to meet
international goals to reduce the impact of global warming. Based
on the current trend of emissions, the global temperature is
projected to increase by 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees
Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels in less than three
decades, according to a draft summary reviewed by The Wall Street
Journal. Posted.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303603904579491620728985540?KEYWORDS=emissions&mg=reno64-wsj


Hollywood heavyweights put climate change manifesto on TV.  As
temperatures continue to rise and habitats come under threat, a
group of Hollywood heavyweights is seeking to bring the spotlight
back on climate change with a new documentary. "Years of Living
Dangerously," a nine-part documentary beginning Sunday on CBS
Corp's premium cable network Showtime, chronicles the human
impact on the global climate and the consequences for humans of
climate change. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/10/us-climatechange-idUSBREA390UM20140410


DIESEL EMISSIONS

Rail Yard Air Pollution Challenged in 9th Circuit.  Rail yards
must be stopped from emitting tons of harmful diesel pollution
into neighborhoods surrounding Los Angeles and Long Beach ports,
environmentalists told the 9th Circuit.  Posted. 
http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/04/10/66960.htm   

DROUGHT

California, federal officials officially unveil drought plan, no
water delivery adjustments made.  State and federal agencies on
Wednesday officially unveiled a joint plan detailing how they
will tackle the ongoing drought that has raised difficult
questions about how California farmers, residents and wildlife
share the dwindling supply of water.  Posted. 
http://www.contracostatimes.com/contra-costa-times/ci_25533494/state-federal-officials-officially-unveil-drought-plan-no?source=rss


Latest state drought plan eases standards for Delta.  State
officials unveiled a longer-term plan to deal with the drought
Wednesday, one which relaxes some water-quality standards and
endangered species protections in the Delta to allow for more
water to be sent south to parched cities and farms. Officials
described the plan as a "balance" that attempts to bolster
supplies to the extent possible while minimizing harm to fish.
Posted.
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140410/A_NEWS/404100328/-1/A_NEWS14


Drought plan doesn't change water allocation to California farms,
cities.  State and federal agencies on Wednesday officially
unveiled a joint plan detailing how they will tackle the ongoing
drought that has raised difficult questions about how California
farmers, residents and wildlife share the dwindling supply of
water.  Posted.
http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_25533490/state-federal-officials-officially-unveil-drought-plan-no


FUELS

Democratic senators press Obama for Keystone decision by May 31.
Eleven U.S. Democratic senators on Thursday urged President
Barack Obama to make a final decision on whether to approve
TransCanada Corp's Keystone XL crude oil pipeline from Canada to
the U.S. Gulf Coast no later than May 31. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/10/usa-keystone-democrats-idUSL2N0N20UD20140410


VEHICLES

Toyota gas cars get efficient engine from hybrids.  Toyota has
developed an efficient gasoline engine using technology
fine-tuned with gas-electric hybrids, in which the Japanese
automaker is an industry leader.  Toyota Motor Corp. said
Thursday the engine will be rolled out in 14 models this year and
next year.  Posted. 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/toyota-gas-cars-get-efficient-engine-from-hybrids/2014/04/10/d6623004-c08d-11e3-9ee7-02c1e10a03f0_story.html


Ford unveils new 2015 Focus four-door sedan; 1.0L EcoBoost with
start/stop comes to US model.  Ford unveiled the new Ford Focus
four-door sedan prior to its debut at the 2014 New York
International Auto Show next week. The debut of the new Focus
four-door sedan and the Focus Electric in New York follows the
Geneva Motor Show debut in March of the Focus three- and
five-door hatchback and wagon. (Earlier post.) A new version of
the performance Focus ST will be shown later this year.  Posted. 
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/04/20140409-focus.html 

GREEN ENERGY

Clean Power Funding Easier as Investors Seek Simplicity. 
Simplifying finance vehicles for renewable energy will lure more
investors and lower the costs of capital.
“Renewable power requires a lot of explanation,” Jim Barry, the
head of renewable power investing at BlackRock Inc., said during
a panel discussion today at the Bloomberg New Energy Finance
conference in New York. “If you’re explaining, you’re losing.”
Posted.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-09/clean-power-funding-easier-as-investors-seek-simplicity.html

MISCELLANEOUS

In China, jar of French mountain air fetches $860.  Beijing
artist Liang Kegang returned from a business trip in southern
France with well-rested lungs and a small item of protest against
his home city’s choking pollution: a glass jar of clean, Provence
air.  He put it up for auction before a group of about 100
Chinese artists and collectors late last month, and it fetched
5,250 yuan ($860).  Posted. 
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_CHINA_JAR_OF_CLEAN_AIR?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


Other related articles:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/in-china-jar-of-french-mountain-air-fetches-860/2014/04/10/a3f5777c-c077-11e3-9ee7-02c1e10a03f0_story.html

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2014/apr/10/in-china-jar-of-french-mountain-air-fetches-860/#ixzz2yV1Q9WAG
  

Why hasn't the US tried cap and trade for emissions?  Dear
EarthTalk: If “cap and trade” has worked so well in Europe for
reducing greenhouse gas emissions there, why haven’t we tried
something similar here in the U.S.?  Posted. 
http://www.pottsmerc.com/lifestyle/20140410/why-hasnt-the-us-tried-cap-and-trade-for-emissions


OPINION

Isaac Orr: On fracturing: Clearing the air.  A recent study
published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science
has found air pollution from China is lowering air quality in the
western United States. Thankfully, residents in this region may
soon find relief from an unexpected source: hydraulic fracturing.
 Posted. 
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/states-609137-united-manufacturing.html
 

BLOGS

New U.N. Climate Report Meets a Complicated World.  Cut emissions
and expand the use of renewable energies. Not unexpectedly,
that’s the recommendation expected from a key United Nations
report on how to meet international goals to reduce the impact of
climate change. The Wall Street Journal’s Gautam Naik has seen a
draft of the report, due to be presented on Sunday. Posted.
http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2014/04/10/new-u-n-climate-report-meets-a-complicated-world/?KEYWORDS=climate+change

It’s time to refocus California’s climate strategy.  You know
this already, but let’s review: Climate change is a global
emissions problem, California produces about 1% of the world’s
greenhouse gas emissions, Over the next few decades, the majority
of emissions will come from developing countries, If we don’t
solve the problem in the developing world, we don’t solve the
problem.  Posted. 
http://blogs.berkeley.edu/2014/04/09/its-time-to-refocus-californias-climate-strategy/


Climate change just reshaped America’s wildfire strategy.  Like a
tree in a greenhouse, America’s forest fire problem is growing
ominously. Rising temperatures and declining rain and snowfall
are parching fire-prone areas and juicing conflagrations. On
Thursday, following years of meetings and scientific reviews, the
Obama administration published a 101-page strategy that aims to
help meet the country’s shifting fire threats.  Posted. 
http://grist.org/news/climate-change-just-reshaped-americas-wildfire-strategy/


California’s drought plan will screw the environment.  California
has a radical plan for managing its rivers and reservoirs as
drought grips the Golden State for the third consecutive year. It
could help the state cling to water that would normally flush
through rivers and into the Pacific Ocean — at the expense of
wildlife and fishing folk who rely on the health of those rivers.
 Posted. 
http://grist.org/news/californias-drought-plan-will-screw-the-environment/

Saab begins 9-3 EV pilot production. To say that Saab has had a
tough time lately would be like saying that it's been a little
colder than usual this winter. After General Motors finally gave
up and sold it to Spyker in 2010, Saab declared bankruptcy the
following year. GM successfully blocked Spyker from selling Saab
to Chinese automaker Youngman the following year, but ultimately
it ended up in the hands of another Chinese consortium called
NEVS. Posted.
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/10/saab-9-3-ev-pilot-production-report/


Honda Accord Hybrid sales capacity constrained.  Honda might be
selling more hybrids if it could just get them to dealers. While
the second-generation Insight never lived up to sales
expectations and production is ending, the Japanese automaker is
seeing strong demand for the Accord Hybrid here and abroad.
However, there is so much global consumer desire that it can't
keep them in US showrooms. Posted.
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/04/10/honda-accord-hybrid-sales-capacity-constrained-report/






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