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ARB Newsclips for August 20, 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

Greens, industry square off over putting cars in EU carbon
market. Environmental campaigners are bracing to take on big
business over whether Europe should follow California's lead and
include road transport in the EU carbon market. Bringing
transport - Europe's biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions
after the power sector - into the EU Emissions Trading System
(ETS) could bring down the costs the car industry faces in
meeting existing regulation as well as tackling the oversupply on
the carbon market. Posted.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/20/eu-ets-autos-idUSL6N0Q42U720140820
 

Liberal coalition urges Harris to scrutinize gas prices in AB 32
feud. A coalition of unions, environmental organizations and
other liberal groups are trying to enlist Attorney General Kamala
Harris in their efforts to beat back an oil industry campaign to
scuttle the state’s plan to expand its cap-and-trade program to
vehicle fuels in January. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/19/6639457/liberal-coalition-urges-harris.html#storylink=cpy


AIR POLLUTION

Cities’ Air Problems Only Get Worse With Climate Change. The
threats from climate change are many: extreme weather, shrinking
snowpack, altered ecosystems and rising and more acidic seas, to
name a few. Another lesser-known issue may hit especially close
to home for city dwellers. In the world’s already smoggy
metropolises, pollution is likely to grow worse, a phenomenon
scientists have taken to calling the climate penalty. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/21/business/international/cities-air-problems-only-get-worse-with-climate-change.html?_r=0


Smoke from Junction fire in Oakhurst prompts health caution.
Smoke from the Junction fire in Oakhurst is affecting air quality
in Madera County and may affect Merced and other Valley counties,
air officials said Tuesday. As weather conditions change, smoke
impacts may be felt in Fresno, Stanislaus, Tulare and Kings, as
well. Smoke may periodically affect these counties until the fire
is extinguished, officials said. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/19/6640568/smoke-from-junction-fire-in-oakhurst.html#storylink=cpy


CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change means more bugs, slimy ponds. From a surge in
disease-carrying ticks and Tiger mosquitoes to increases in toxic
algae blooms, the symptoms of climate change are rapidly
affecting America's relationship with the great outdoors, the
National Wildlife Federation warned Tuesday. The NWF report
assessed troubling climate-related changes in eight species.
Federation President Collin P. O'Mara, Delaware's former
environmental chief, said the issues raised in the report are
critical. Posted.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/19/climate-change-means-more-bugs-slimy-ponds/14320677/


Officials say Lake Tahoe imperiled by wildfires.  Lake Tahoe, a
crown jewel of the western landscape, is being challenged by
drought, invasive species, the threat of catastrophic wildfire
and climate change, officials said Tuesday. The warning came
during an annual summit about protecting the iconic lake that
straddles the California-Nevada border. Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/state/officials-say-lake-tahoe-imperiled-by-wildfires_65695433
 

Corps: Waterway infrastructure improvements needed. 
Higher-capacity ports, expanded locks and dams and other
infrastructure improvements are needed in the Mississippi River
Watershed to allow its waterways to handle shipping demands
caused by higher agriculture, oil and natural gas production and
manage climate change effects, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
official said Tuesday. Posted.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/corps-waterway-infrastructure-improvements-needed_74494235


Calif. takes a crack at climate's effects -- but first, a
definition of success. California has been trying to mitigate
climate change for more than a decade now but is just now getting
down to business on dealing with its impacts. At the state's
first-ever adaptation forum this week, experts ruminated on the
meaning and utility of terms like "resiliency" and "readiness,"
as well as "adaptation" itself, to refer to measures taken in
response to the rising seas, fiercer storms…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060004702/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

Land use will complicate 'climate velocity' as a threat to
species – study. Not long ago, the idea that climate change could
prompt whole ecosystems to move was introduced to researchers as
"climate velocity." It's meant to show how quickly trees, plants
and animals will have to migrate to find friendly temperatures.
Now a new analysis is estimating the pace of species movement
because of both climate change and land use…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2014/08/20/stories/1060004701
BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

DROUGHT

Gov. Brown says drought concerns helped build support for water
bond. Brown praises bipartisan support for water bond.  An annual
environmental summit at Lake Tahoe on Tuesday gave Gov. Jerry
Brown an opportunity for a victory lap on the new plan for a
California water bond, which was approved by the Legislature last
week. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-ln-governor-says-drought-concerns-helped-build-support-for-water-bond-20140819-story.html


Ice bucket challenge stirs controversy in drought-plagued
California. The simple act of dumping ice water onto one’s head
has turned into one of the most viral feel-good campaigns of
2014. More than 2 million ice bucket challenge videos featuring
tech giants such as Apple CEO Tim Cook and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos
have helped raised more than $20 million for amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis research and awareness since July 29. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-ice-bucket-challenge-water-drought-20140819-story.html


Drought raises pollution on Folsom Dam spillway project this
year. Low water levels at Folsom Lake are causing an increase in
air pollution from the $900 million Folsom Dam auxiliary spillway
project. The lake is filled to just 40 percent of capacity, which
has allowed construction to proceed without the use of marine
excavation equipment this year. The land equipment used instead
has emitted more nitrogen oxide, said Katie Huff, spokesman for
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/19/6640383/drought-raises-pollution-on-folsom.html#storylink=cpy


Fresno group in U.S. court over water usage in S.F. A Fresno
nonprofit linked to the largest agricultural water district in
the country filed a federal lawsuit alleging San Francisco and
other Bay Area communities are unfairly exempted from water
cutbacks meant to protect endangered species.  The Center for
Environmental Science, Accuracy and Reliability alleges that
freshwater diversions from the Tuolumne River are jeopardizing
endangered species of salmon…Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Farm-linked-group-sues-feds-over-San-Francisco-s-5699197.php


Merced County hires expert to help draft groundwater ordinance.
The topic of groundwater is a complicated one, but regulating the
scarce commodity – which is as precious as liquid gold for
struggling farmers in a drought year – is even tougher. But
that’s exactly what Merced County officials set out to do, hiring
a 40-year water expert to lead the way. Posted.
http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/08/19/4078297_merced-county-hires-expert-to.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy


Environmentalist: State and feds, not farmers, illegally
diverting water. A Stockton environmentalist is fighting back
against water users and government agencies who recently claimed
Delta farmers might be illegally diverting water. Bill Jennings,
head of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, filed a
complaint alleging that it’s the state and federal water projects
that are illegally diverting. Posted.
http://www.recordnet.com/article/20140820/NEWS/140829993/101094/A_NEWS


The future of water in Southern California.  As the state endures
one of the worst droughts in recorded history, Southern
California residents are looking for answers about the
sustainability of the region’s water supplies. Farmers have felt
the sting of below-average rainfall for years, but as the crisis
worsens, urban and suburban areas are likely to suffer a drastic
change in their relationship with this vital liquid. Posted.
http://www.scpr.org/events/2014/08/21/1504/the-future-of-water-in-southern-california/


FUELS

California business groups warn of impending 'hidden gas tax'.
Californians are seeing and hearing a blitz of advertisements
warning of a looming "hidden gas tax." The price increase is
expected to take effect in the new year because California's
cap-and-trade program will expand to include fuel, meaning oil
refiners will have to buy permits for the greenhouse gas
pollution tied to gasoline and diesel sales. Posted.
http://www.scpr.org/programs/airtalk/2014/08/19/38931/california-business-groups-warn-of-impending-hidde/


FRACKING

Activists call for a county ban on fracking. Supervisors,
however, show no interest in addressing the issue. Orange County
activists are calling for a ban on fracking locally until the
oil-extraction method is further studied, and Tuesday they took
their message to the county’s top elected officials. Local
residents and activists went to the Orange County Supervisors
meeting and demanded a meeting with Chairman Shawn Nelson to
discuss the issue. Posted.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fracking-632198-county-water.html


VEHICLES

Federal Tax Credits For Plug-In Hybrids, Electric Cars: What You
Need To Know. If you want to get a special incentive for driving
a hybrid, you're a few years too late; but a tax credit applies
to nearly every electric car and plug-in hybrid on the market and
it can, in some cases, effectively reduce your cost for such a
model to that of an ordinary gasoline vehicle (or even less). The
widely mentioned $7,500 tax credit is arguably confusing from the
start. Posted.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/cars/federal-tax-credits-for-plug-in-hybrids-electric-cars-what-you-need-to-know/2014/08/20/0ae02718-2886-11e4-8b10-7db129976abb_story.html


Tesla answers critics with new 8-year warranty. Tesla Motors
Inc., perhaps responding to less than stellar reviews of its
Model S electric car, is offering a new eight-year,
unlimited-mileage warranty for its drive unit and battery pack.
The generous warranty will cover all Model S cars already on the
road, and will extend to new owners when the cars change hands.
Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-tesla-warranty-20140819-story.html


Lawmakers expand carpool lane permits for plug-ins. The state
Senate has approved legislation that would allow another 15,000
fuel-efficient vehicles to use California's carpool lanes, even
when they have only one occupant. AB2013 by Democratic
Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi of Torrance expands the number of
"green HOV" permits to 70,000 from the current 55,000. The
stickers generally apply to hybrid plug-in vehicles such as the
Toyota Prius, Chevrolet Volt and Cadillac ELR. Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Lawmakers-expand-carpool-lane-permits-for-plug-ins-5699069.php


California Lawmakers Consider Incentives Package For Tesla
Motors. California lawmakers are considering a package of
economic incentives and environmental regulatory waivers to
convince Tesla Motors to build a new electric car battery plant
in the state. Democratic and Republican legislative leaders are
participating in the talks with Tesla along with Governor Jerry
Brown’s office. Republican Senator Ted Gaines says environmental
review timelines could be shortened to help an environmentally
friendly company expand in the state. Posted.
http://www.capradio.org/30439 

GREEN ENERGY

Solar carports are fast-growing mainstay of U.S. market – report.
Solar carports, providing shade for vehicles and electricity for
buildings, are shaping up as a steadily growing part of the
galloping solar industry, according to a report by GTM Research.
The market for solar carports grew at a compound annual growth
rate of 45 percent between 2010 and 2014, according to the
report. Projections are that they'll expand from a $578 million
business last year to $843 million by 2016…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/energywire/stories/1060004707/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

MISCELLANEOUS

California environmentalist shakes up Florida race. A California
billionaire environmentalist is pouring millions of dollars into
the Florida governor's race to buy television ads attacking Gov.
Rick Scott as a friend of polluters and utility companies, giving
the campaign of Democratic front-runner Charlie Crist a boost as
polls show a tightening race. Posted.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_GOVERNORS_RACE_CLIMATE_CHANGE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


OTHER RELATED STORIES

http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/19/6639462/california-environmentalist-shakes.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/California-environmentalist-shakes-up-Florida-race-5699074.php


US government sells 400,000 acres offshore Texas. The federal
government has sold more than 400,000 acres in the Gulf of Mexico
off the Texas coast for oil and gas exploration and development,
an official with the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said
Wednesday. The acreage represents a fraction of the 21.6 million
acres the agency had offered as part of the Obama
administration's five-year program to aggressively develop
resources on the Outer Continental Shelf. Posted.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OFFSHORE_GULF_SALE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


OPINIONS

Australia’s Retreat on Emissions.  Australia’s decision last
month to repeal a carbon tax on its biggest greenhouse gas
polluters disheartened scientists and advocates of strong action
to control greenhouse gas emissions — not least island nations in
the South Pacific worried about rising sea levels. And it sends a
discouraging signal in advance of a United Nations summit meeting
on climate change for heads of state on Sept. 23…Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/21/opinion/australias-retreat-on-emissions.html
 

L.A's water ruler, DWP chief Marcie Edwards, on keeping the city
hydrated. The Department of Water and Power began 107 years ago,
after Los Angeles bought back the civic water system from a group
of privateers. Like its top man, William Mulholland, who began as
a ditch-digger, the new DWP chief, Marcie Edwards, also started
at the bottom, as a clerk. Now she's running the nation's largest
city-owned water and power agency. Posted.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-morrison-edwards-20140820-column.html#page=1

Editorial: The bill comes due for California’s old water pipes.
Aging and broken pipes are a big and expensive problem for
California – whether the daily leaks of precious water going to
waste, or a catastrophic water main failure like the recent one
in Los Angeles. After decades of neglect, the bill is coming due
– in the neighborhood of $70 billion in water system fixes needed
statewide, according to one estimate. Posted.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/20/6640210/editorial-the-bill-comes-due-for.html#storylink=cpy


Ice Bucket Challenge critics are the ones who are actually all
wet. This weekend, I braced myself for the cold and criticism of
the ALS "Ice Bucket Challenge." Like others, my good deed (and
video, below) did not go unpunished. I was criticized
(good-naturedly by my wife, then by others) for dousing myself
with water on my patio instead of my lawn, which has languished
this summer during California's drought. Posted.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/aug/18/als-ice-bucket-challenge-criticism/


Delta-friendly water bond is a win for all of California. Two
years ago, I introduced a measure to replace the doomed,
pork-laden water bond from 2009 with a trim, focused and
noncontroversial bond that could win voter support and address
California’s critical water needs, without threatening the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta region by funding the Bay Delta
Conservation Plan or the delta tunnels. Posted.
http://www.davisenterprise.com/forum/opinion-columns/delta-friendly-water-bond-is-a-win-for-all-of-california/


BLOGS

Adomani EV school bus approved for use in California.  Your
children or grandchildren may very well be riding an electric bus
to school soon, and probably sooner still if they live in
California. We've just recently seen the funding of the National
Strategies demo buses. Now another fully electric school bus has
been approved in the Golden State. The California Highway Patrol
has greenlighted the Adomani EV bus for use in the Gilroy Unified
School District (GUSD). Posted.
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/08/20/ev-school-bus-approved-in-california/


Five things Wikileaks taught us about UN climate talks. As Julian
Assange prepares to leave his hideaway, we recall the top
Wikileaks releases on climate change. The Wikileaks founder has
spent two years holed up in the embassy, trying to find a
diplomatic solution to his tangle of legal problems. Assange
faces an arrest warrant for sexual assault charges in Sweden.
Posted.
http://www.rtcc.org/2014/08/18/five-things-wikileaks-taught-us-about-un-climate-talks/#sthash.gp1jMrmG.dpuf


How to Help Americans Care About Climate Change Now. For the past
decade, I've been asking people -- young and old, rich and poor,
highly educated and less so -- why they didn't seem to care about
climate change. Or at least, why they didn't seem to care enough
to do something about it. I did not do this as part of a formal
poll, or even as a representative of an organization. In the
beginning, I was simply curious because I'd had a powerful "ah
ha" moment in which I went from being someone who rarely thought
about the environment…Posted.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-bennett/how-to-help-americans-care-about-climate-change_b_5693247.html


How We Reduced Our Carbon Footprint. When I retired from my
faculty position at the University of Maine in 2003, I resolved
that one of my retirement projects would be to greatly reduce my
carbon footprint by making my home and transportation more energy
efficient, and reducing my consumption of fossil fuels.  My wife,
Lee, supported me in this undertaking, as we were very much aware
of the terrible impacts on the environment of fossil fuel
extraction, processing, and transport…Posted.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/renewable-energy/reducing-carbon-footprint-zbfz1408zcalt.aspx#ixzz3AxE74mxM


CA Seeks Input for Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities
Program. Housing advocates and local officials gathered in
Oakland last week to discuss guidelines for California’s new
Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program (AHSC). It
was one of three packed meetings held throughout the state by the
Strategic Growth Council (SGC), the state agency that oversees
the AHSC, to gather input on the new program’s guidelines.
Posted.
http://la.streetsblog.org/2014/08/19/ca-seeks-input-for-affordable-housing-and-sustainable-communities-program/


Granting Big Oil a Free Pass Under California's Clean Energy Law
Would Be a Giant Leap Backward. In their latest video ad, the
California Drivers Alliance, an oil-backed front group organized
to lobby against California’s clean fuel standards, claims fuel
providers “need more time” to prepare for the January 1st
inclusion of gasoline under California’s economy-wide program to
cap and steadily reduce climate pollution. Some California
legislators agree, backing bills that would grant the oil
industry a three-year delay or outright exemption. Posted.
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ajackson/granting_big_oil_a_free_pass_u.html


Transportation Diversification is Key to Fixing California’s Gas
Price and Pollution Woes. This summer I had the unique
opportunity to drive with members of the California state
legislature through their districts in Los Angeles and the
Central Valley. In addition to brown lawns, hazy air, and intense
heat, we were reminded of California’s persistently high gas
prices on filling station signs at nearly every major
intersection. Posted.
http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream/2014/08/19/transportation-diversification-is-key-to-fixing-californias-gas-price-and-pollution-woes/#sthash.NjTgjqHw.dpuf


Why I’m a Climate Change Alarmist. I’m sick of having to hide it,
so here goes: I’m a climate change alarmist. There, I said it.
After years of fighting off internet trolls and being ridiculed
on Fox News for caring about the Earth and its inhabitants enough
to make big changes to my life, I’ve had enough. It’s time that
we climate change alarmists reclaim this dismissive term and
defend ourselves. Posted.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/08/20/climate_change_alarmist_optimistic_realistic_not_na_ve_assessment_of_global.html



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