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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 28, 2014.
Posted: 28 Aug 2014 15:20:05
ARB Newsclips for August 28, 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. FUELS UNDER CAP AND TRADE Air Resources Board disputes hidden gas tax notion. Small businesses and consumers in California are concerned about what they are calling a "hidden gas tax" that could take effect in 2015. The idea comes from AB 32, which passed in 2006 and requires the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Posted. http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/business/Air-Resources-Board-disputes-worry-over-hidden-gas-tax-272967051.html http://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=1365&DateTime=8%2F27%2F2014+5%3A06%3A12+PM&Term=california+air+resources+board&PlayClip=TRUE http://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=1310&DateTime=8%2F27%2F2014+5%3A06%3A25+PM&Term=california+air+resources+board&PlayClip=TRUE http://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=1310&DateTime=8%2F27%2F2014+6%3A08%3A35+PM&Term=california+air+resources+board&PlayClip=TRUE http://mms.tveyes.com/Expand.asp?aln=25810320&id=161529&dt=08%2f27%2f2014+06%3a37%3a31+PM&u=280702 http://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=1320&DateTime=8%2F27%2F2014+10%3A03%3A36+PM&Term=Air+Resources+Board&PlayClip=TRUE California drivers brace for costly new gas tax. Californians already pay the nation's second highest gas tax at 68 cents a gallon -- and now it will go up again in January to pay for a first-in-the-nation climate change law. "I didn't know that," said Los Angeles motorist Tyler Rich. "It's ridiculous." "I think it’s terrible," added Lupe Sanchez, pumping $4.09-a-gallon gas at a Chevron near Santa Monica. "The economy, the way it is right now with jobs and everything, it's just crazy." Posted. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/08/27/california-hidden-gas-tax/ AIR POLLUTION Ozone in Colorado mountains surprises researchers. Researchers who examined air pollution along northern Colorado's Front Range said they were surprised by how much harmful ozone and ozone-causing chemicals are drifting into the mountains from urban and rural areas below. "Really, all the way up to the Continental Divide you can find ozone," said Gabriele Pfister, a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder and one of the principal investigators on the project. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MOUNTAIN_AIR_POLLUTION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/28/6661293/ozone-in-colorado-mountains-surprises.html Fighting smog with gas masks. Los Angeles’ smoggiest day occurred on Sept. 13, 1955, when ozone levels reached 0.85 parts per million in downtown Los Angeles and 0.90 ppm in Vernon. Many residents reported problems with burning eyes – a problem for motorcycle riders. The smog was almost as bad on Sept. 14, but as reported in the next day’s Los Angeles Times, one company found a solution: A smog strike, one of the first of its kind in Los Angeles, yesterday produced some pretty startling results. Posted. http://framework.latimes.com/2014/08/26/fighting-smog-with-gas-masks/ Industry, enviros fire first shots in boiler standards battle. Industry groups and environmentalists this week filed their opening briefs in a lawsuit over U.S. EPA's air pollution standards for industrial boilers. In a brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, several industry groups argued that the agency exceeded its authority in setting the standards. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060005001/print BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE Feds protect 20 species of coral as threatened. The federal government is protecting 20 types of colorful coral by putting them on the list of threatened species, partly because of climate change. As with the polar bear, much of the threat to the coral species is because of future expected problems due to global warming, said David Bernhart, an endangered-species official at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SCI_ENDANGERED_CORAL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/28/us/20-types-of-coral-listed-as-threatened.html http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/27/6659090/feds-protect-20-species-of-coral.html http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/28/6660699/efforts-to-restore-floridas-coral.html Governor Brown to Speak at Climate Change Symposium in Sacramento. Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. will join former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senate President pro Tem-elect Kevin de León, California Air Resources Board chairman Mary D. Nichols and others next month in Sacramento at the “Global Climate Negotiations: Lessons from California” symposium to discuss the policies that have made California a global leader in addressing climate change. Posted. http://www.imperialvalleynews.com/index.php/news/california-news/10733-governor-brown-to-speak-at-climate-change-symposium-in-sacramento.html Study: Climate change to affect tourism industry. A University of Hawaii report is warning the state's tourism industry to start preparing now for the effects of climate change. The study says Hawaii will likely see more competition for visitors as warmer climate zones expand and new, easier-to-reach tropical resorts emerge in coastal regions from Texas to Florida, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Wednesday. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/study-climate-change-to-affect-tourism-industry_29841892 Here's Why Obama is Bypassing Congress on Climate. The Obama administration is sidestepping the legislative branch by updating a previously ratified treaty and using it as a basis for a new international climate change agreement. The U.S. Constitution requires that legally binding international treaties be approved by two-thirds of the Senate, but Republican and some Democratic senators who are well-funded by carbon-polluting interests have repeatedly voted against measures to address climate change. Posted. http://www.vcstar.com/news/national/heres-why-obama-is-bypassing-congress-on-climate_37653056 DROUGHT Central California residents rely on bottled water as wells run dry. Extreme drought conditions have become so harsh for the Central Valley community of East Porterville, many of its residents dependent on their own wells have run out of water. Roughly 300 homes have received a three-week supply of bottled water after Tulare County officials discovered their wells had gone dry. In all, county officials distributed 15,552 1-gallon bottles of water…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-central-california-residents-wells-go-dry-20140826-story.html Yard wars: Homeowner fined for replacing grass with drought-tolerant plants. Fran Paxson figured to get a little credit and admiration when she replaced the old lawn around her suburban San Ramon home with drought-resistant plants. Her public water supplier is even rewarding her with a rebate. But her homeowners association - drought and a new state law be darned - is punishing her with a fine. Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/28/6660758/yard-wars-homeowner-fined-for.html#storylink=cpy California drought: San Jose declares water shortage, but won't fine wasters. More than seven months into the California drought, San Jose has officially declared a citywide water shortage, asking the city's 1 million residents to cut their water use by 20 percent -- but there will be no new consequences for those who don't. The drought declaration, which the San Jose City Council unanimously approved Tuesday, makes it illegal for property owners to use potable water to irrigate their lawns…Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_26411331/california-drought-san-jose-declares-water-shortage-but?source=most_viewed DIESEL EMISSIONS Beverage Distributor Fined $116,400 for Air Quality Violations. California Environmental Protection Agency's Air Resources Board issued the following news release: The Air Resources Board has fined DBI Beverage Inc.$116,400 for failure to comply with California air quality regulations. A routine investigation by ARB's Enforcement Division documented that DBI Beverage Inc. failed to properly self-inspect its diesel trucks in 2011 and 2012 as required by ARB's…Posted. http://insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/2014/08/28/beverage-distributor-fined-$116400-for-air-quality-violations-a-549061.html#.U_9I0GPxCSo FUELS Legislature clears 2 energy bills on methane leaks, conservation. Utilities in California must reduce methane leaks from natural gas pipelines under a bill now on Gov. Jerry Brown's (D) desk. The state Legislature passed S.B. 1371, from Sen. Mark Leno (D), which directs the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to adopt rules for the reduction and repair of pipeline leaks. Environmental groups sought the bill because methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060004978/print BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY VEHICLES Clean autos get boost in 3 bills. A bill that would phase out rebates for the wealthy who buy plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles passed the Assembly and could join two related bills Thursday on their way to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk. One of the other bills would increase the number of carpool-lane permits for solo drivers using plug-in hybrid cars. The third bill would prohibit landlords from stopping renters from installing electric car chargers as long as the tenant pays for installation. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-hy-electric-car-bill-20140828-story.html GREEN ENERGY US fund in deal to build Myanmar solar plants. A U.S investment group has signed a $480 million deal to build two solar energy plants in central Myanmar, one of the largest investments by an American firm since the easing of U.S. sanctions. The agreement, inked by the ACO Investment Group and the Ministry of Energy, is aimed at helping ease electricity shortages in the country of 60 million, which only recently emerged from a half-century of military rule and self-imposed isolation. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_MYANMAR_SOLAR_ENERGY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OneRoof raises $58M for solar projects. San Diego-based OneRoof Energy has raised $58 million to install more than 2,000 residential solar systems in at least four states, the company announced Wednesday. The funding comes from an undisclosed third party. It initially will be used to provide rooftop solar energy for customers who sign power-purchase agreements in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts and New York, OneRoof said in a statement. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/aug/27/oneroof-solar-equity-deal/ MISCELLANEOUS Sacramento leaders question Benicia’s crude oil rail project. Sacramento leaders will send a letter to Benicia today formally challenging the Bay Area city to do a better job of studying train derailment risks before it approves an oil company’s plans to ship crude oil on daily trains through Sacramento-area downtowns to a Benicia refinery. Acting collectively through the Sacramento Area Council of Governments, which represents 22 cities and six counties, Sacramento representatives say they are protecting the region’s interests…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/28/6659775/sacramento-leaders-question-benicias.html#storylink=cpy Sacramento: Debate over plastic bag ban takes a weird but familiar turn. Several days before this weekend's deadline to complete their work, legislators received a letter from what appeared to be a Latino advocacy group urging them to vote against one of the year's most contentious bills. Familias Latinas de California denounced Senate Bill 270, which seeks to ban single-use plastic grocery bags and encourage reusable bags, calling it…Posted. http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_26420064/sacramento-debate-over-plastic-bag-ban-takes-weird?source=rss OPINIONS California's Plastic Bag Ban Is Bogus. Last year, roughly 12 percent of Americans weren’t offered an equal choice of paper or plastic at the checkout counter, because of local ordinances that banned or imposed fees on single-use plastic bags. This week, legislators in California are trying to impose the nation’s first statewide ban on such bags. Posted. http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-08-27/california-s-plastic-bag-ban-is-bogus A climate for change: A solution conservatives could accept. A prominent member of Congress has proposed a comprehensive national climate-change plan. It’s only 28 pages long, it’s market-based, and it would put money into the pockets of most Americans. This is not the first time that Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), a House Democratic leader, has made the point that the best climate-change policy is not complicated. He introduced a similar plan in 2009. Posted. http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-climate-for-change-a-solution-conservatives-could-accept/2014/08/27/782cba4e-2a01-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a_story.html The dangers of nuclear dumps. To the editor: About 60 nuclear power plants with 100 nuclear reactors are operating in the U.S. As time — and global warming and our more-dramatic weather — combine to reduce grid capacity, we must broaden our menu of power sources, looking harder at ever-more cost-effective wind, water and sun. These sources provide diversity and outcompete mined coal. ( “Nuclear dump accident still baffles experts,” Aug. 24) Posted. http://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-le-the-dangers-of-nuclear-dumps-20140827-story.html California's drought and the debate over exporting rice. To the editor: It is interesting how David Pierson’s article on U.S. farmers hoping to sell rice to China touches on so many issues. The message overall is that food producers will produce a healthier product when it is economic to do so. (“Looking to Asia,” Aug. 24).Unless someone complains about food additives (ractopamine in pork), contamination (insects in the rice?)…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-le-california-drought-rice-export-20140827-story.html Jim Patterson: Australia shows how to stop hidden gas tax. Under the guise of ridding our state of greenhouse gases, we have capped-and-traded our way to a huge gasoline tax that, in the end, will be more successful in cleaning out our wallets than it will cleaning up our air. Whether you work the land every day, own a sandwich shop or drive a big-rig across the country — the cap-and-trade created "hidden gas tax" is going to impact your bottom line. Posted. http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/08/27/4091778_australia-shows-how-to-stop-hidden.html?sp=/99/274/&rh=1#storylink=cpy BLOGS Gets in Your Eyes, Lungs. Every summer it’s the same, it seems: The woods burn, and the smoke settles in heavily over our inland communities. This season, so far, it’s the Happy Camp and July forest fire complexes, and the Oregon fire in Weaverville, clogging skies and lungs — and the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District has been issuing regular updates on the smoke hazards. Posted. http://www.northcoastjournal.com/Blogthing/archives/2014/08/27/gets-in-your-eyes-lungs Why Republicans won’t back a carbon tax. Climate change activists across the political spectrum fantasize about it. No, it’s not another Kanye West video of snowy mountains and a topless Kim Kardashian. It’s a carbon tax. Republicans, as everyone knows, hate taxes and don’t accept, much less care about, climate change. But wonks on both sides of the aisle dream that a carbon tax could win bipartisan support as part of a broader tax-reform package. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/why-republicans-wont-back-a-carbon-tax/ Palo Alto’s utility now provides guilt-free electricity. It’s one thing to own your utility with a commitment to renewable energy, but it’s quite another thing to deliver on it. In 2007, the municipal utility in Palo Alto, Calif., set an ambitious target of achieving 33 percent renewable energy by 2015, and ultimately a carbon neutral electricity supply. Seven years later, they are on track to reach 48 percent renewable power in 2017, and have been meeting their carbon neutral goal since late last year. Posted. http://grist.org/climate-energy/palo-altos-utility-now-provides-guilt-free-electricity/ California first to likely give extra funds to low-income EV buyers. If you're of the opinion that current federal and state support for electric vehicle shoppers in the US are really just hand-outs to the already well-to-do, you might like what California State Senator Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) is up to. De Leon sponsored a bill earlier this year called the Charge Ahead California Initiative (State Bill 1275) which today passed the California Assembly by a vote of 46-23. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2014/08/27/california-first-to-give-extra-funds-to-low-income-ev-buyers/ California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.