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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for September 17, 2014.
Posted: 17 Sep 2014 13:54:55
ARB Newsclips for September 17, 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 Bill aims to change red lights to green. Ever feel like every traffic light is a red light? There’s a bill at the Capitol that could ease that frustrating feeling by freeing up money for traffic light synchronization in San Diego County and across California. Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/16/ab-1447-marie-waldron-traffic-synchronization/ AIR POLLUTION Ditching cars for buses, bikes best way to cut city pollution: study. Encouraging people to abandon their cars and use public transport or walk or cycle around cities offers the "least pain, most gain" way to cut air pollution from traffic by 2050, a new international study said on Wednesday. Posted. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/09/16/us-foundation-climatechange-transportati-idUSKBN0HB2PA20140916?feedType=RSS EPA grants extension on power plant pollution plan. The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday gave the public 45 more days to weigh in on a plan that would for the first time curb the pollution blamed for global warming from the nation's coal-fired power plants. The agency said it was still aiming to finalize the rules by next summer. The agency has already received 750,000 comments on the plan it unveiled in early June…Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/EPA-grants-extension-on-power-plant-pollution-plan-5759316.php CMS spending $1 billion to settle pollution case. The U.S. Justice Department announced Tuesday that CMS Energy Corp. will undertake an estimated $1 billion program to cut emissions from five coal-fired power plants in Michigan to settle air pollution complaints. The government said that the utility's Consumers Energy subsidiary agreed to a plan to cut 46,500 tons of sulfur dioxide and other emissions annually from plants…Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/CMS-spending-1-billion-to-settle-pollution-case-5759322.php http://www.vcstar.com/news/cms-spending-1-billion-to-settle-pollution-case_11593713 King Fire Brings Health Advisories in Nevada, California. The National Weather Service in Reno says "slight changes in wind directions and fire activity" will determine which areas get the smoke. Since the fire started Saturday, Sept. 13, smoke has affected California counties north of the fire and Lake Tahoe, Truckee and Reno. Posted. http://www.capradio.org/articles/2014/09/16/king-fire-brings-health-advisories-in-nevada,-california/ Pollution Prevention Week in Sonoma County. An annual phenomenon of promoting sustainability and the environment has made its way back around this year to Sonoma County. Starting on the third Monday of September each year is National Pollution Prevention Week. Originating in California in 1992, Prevention Week has gained popularity throughout the entire nation and in the local community. Posted. http://www.sonomastatestar.com/news/2014/9/16/pollution-prevention-week-in-sonoma-county Air district looks to tighten wood burning regulations. The nights spent sitting by a warm fire could be even fewer this winter as the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District considers issuing more wood burning curtailments. Posted. http://www.turlockjournal.com/section/12/article/27457/ Salton Sea odors prompt advisory by air agency. Odors from the Salton Sea have returned to parts of the Coachella Valley. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an odor advisory on Tuesday after an air monitor near the Salton Sea detected higher-than-normal levels of a gas that smells like rotten eggs. Posted. http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2014/09/16/salton-sea-odor-advisory/15733391/ GOP bill to address feasibility of meeting a tighter ozone standard. A pair of Republican lawmakers plans to introduce legislation today to compel U.S. EPA to take into account economic impacts when it considers whether to tighten the federal ozone standard. The legislation sponsored by Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) and co-sponsored by Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) would require the agency to base a new National Ambient Air Quality Standard on both public health effects…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060005988/print BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE U.S. Moves to Reduce Global Warming Emissions. The Obama administration on Tuesday announced a series of moves aimed at cutting emissions of hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, powerful greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The White House has secured voluntary agreements from some of the nation’s largest companies to scale down or phase out their use of HFCs, which are factory-made gases used in air conditioning and refrigeration. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/us/hfc-emissions-cut-under-agreement.html?ref=earth Climate Report Details Flood Risk to Sites in Washington. The nation’s capital is likely to see record flooding by 2050, putting about $7 billion worth of property, three military bases and parts of the National Mall at risk as a result of climate change that is raising sea levels all over the world, according to a report released Tuesday by the research group Climate Central. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/us/climate-report-details-flood-risk-to-sites-in-washington.html Climate change may add billions to wildfire costs, study says. As wildfires burned in California, a study by several major environmental groups estimated that climate change could mean that future blazes will be much larger and add billions of dollars to already costly losses. The 46-page study released Tuesday, titled "Flammable Planet: Wildfires and the Social Cost of Carbon,”…Posted. http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-wildfire-climate-change-20140917-story.html Big firms agree to cut use of coolants that add to global warming. A week before world leaders will discuss how to slow the increase of dangerous gases in the atmosphere, the Obama administration announced that it has reached agreements with a range of major companies to voluntarily phase out a class of chemicals, used in refrigerators and air conditioners, and seen as contributors to global warming. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-obama-global-warming-coolants-20140916-story.html DROUGHT Governor Signs First California Groundwater Rules. California will no longer be the last Western state with a pump-as-you-please approach to groundwater. Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation on Tuesday overhauling the state's management of its groundwater supply, bringing it in line with other states that have long regulated their wells. Groundwater makes up nearly 60 percent of California's water use during dry years. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_XGR_CALIFORNIA_DROUGHT_GROUNDWATER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-pol-water-brown-20140917-story.html http://www.vcstar.com/news/price-of-paradise/brown-signs-historic-laws-to-regulate-groundwater-pumping_35543148 http://www.dailybulletin.com/article/20140916/NEWS/140919528 http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/governor-signs-california-groundwater-rules-25542641 Things to know about California groundwater law. Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Tuesday that will require the first-ever rules for pumping groundwater in California. Why lawmakers and the governor acted, and what the new laws mean: WHAT IS GROUNDWATER? It's the water that accumulates below the earth's surface, filling empty spaces and cracks in the rock. Farmers and agencies can tap it by drilling wells. It's an especially valuable source of water during times of drought…Posted. http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/16/things-to-know-about-california-groundwater-law/ DIESEL EMISSIONS CARB Approves All-Electric Shuttle Bus Platform. Phoenix Cars LLC, a developer of light- and medium-duty electric vehicles for fleet applications, says the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved its all-electric shuttle bus, the ZEUS 300 (Zero Emissions Utility Shuttle 300 series). Posted. http://www.ngtnews.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.10062#.VBmw42PxCSp FUELS RFA Submits Comments to CARB on LCFS Lifecycle Analysis Tool. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) on Monday voicing support for CARB’s proposal to transition to a new version of the GREET model…Posted. http://www.ethanolrfa.org/news/entry/rfa-submits-comments-to-carb-on-lcfs-lifecycle-analysis-tool/ FRACKING Landmark fracking study finds no water pollution. The final report from a landmark federal study on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, found no evidence that chemicals or brine water from the gas drilling process moved upward to contaminate drinking water at a site in western Pennsylvania. The Department of Energy report, released Monday, was the first time an energy company allowed independent monitoring of a drilling site during the fracking process and for 18 months afterward. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAS_DRILLING_WATER_CONTAMINATION?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/16/landmark-fracking-study-finds-no-water-pollution/ VEHICLES Major shift away from cars needed to achieve 40% cut in urban transport emissions – study. If the world's cities focused their investments on expanding public transportation, walking and cycling, they could save more than $100 trillion in public and private capital and urban transportation operating costs between now and 2050, according to a report released today by the University of California, Davis, and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP). Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060005960/print BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY GREEN ENERGY Jindal: Obama hasn't done enough to harness energy. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal said Tuesday that President Barack Obama's administration has become "science deniers," failing to do enough to harness the nation's energy potential. Jindal, a potential Republican presidential candidate, said Obama's policies have limited oil and natural gas production on federal lands, stalled approval of the Keystone XL pipeline and pushed regulations on power plants. Posted. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GOP_2016_JINDAL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Jindal-Obama-hasn-t-done-enough-to-harness-energy-5758807.php Electric Vehicles Are Cleaner, but Still Not a Magic Bullet. The Union of Concerned Scientists said on Tuesday that in 60 percent of the United States, electric vehicles are now responsible for fewer heat-trapping global warming emissions per mile than even the most efficient hybrids. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/automobiles/electric-vehicles-are-cleaner-but-still-not-a-magic-bullet.html Jordan Finds Energy Sources in Unlikely Places. This month, Jordan, a crucial yet energy-poor Western ally, announced a landmark 15-year deal to import vast amounts of natural gas from Israel. The plan, worth $15 billion, would make Israel Jordan’s largest gas supplier, according to the Israeli business daily GlobesPosted. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/18/business/energy-environment/jordan-finds-energy-sources-in-unlikely-places.html Big solar plant in Mojave Desert gets state's OK. Despite environmental concerns, the California Energy Commission has given a preliminary green light to an Oakland company's second big solar project in the California desert. The proposed BrightSource Energy facility would be the latest in a series of solar plants that the Obama administration is subsidizing in the Mojave Desert. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Big-solar-plant-in-Mojave-Desert-gets-state-s-OK-5757299.php Production to resume at renewable diesel plant. The Diamond Green Diesel facility in Norco is expected to return to production next week. That's according to joint-venture partner Darling Ingredients. The facility has been shut down since an explosion and fire on Aug. 3. The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/1s6F6A0) the startup process began on Sept. 15. No one was injured in the blast. Posted. http://www.modbee.com/2014/09/17/3543211_production-to-resume-at-renewable.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy 2 buoys will help the U.S. explore vast offshore wind power potential. Developers hoping to make offshore wind power a commercial reality in the United States have been slowed in part by one problem: None of the instruments measuring offshore wind speeds is recording winds at 600 feet above sea level, the height of the wind turbine blades. This particular obstacle may soon be solved with the launch of two bright-yellow highly equipped research buoys designed to do just that. Posted. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060005929/print BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY SolarCity says it can make commercial rooftops into better power plants. The country's largest residential rooftop solar installer, SolarCity Corp., announced yesterday that it has a new approach for installing on flat rooftops that could help some commercial buildings boost their solar power by 20 to 50 percent. The news reflects how dropping prices for solar modules are stimulating a race to alter and improve other parts of the solar system…Posted. http://www.eenews.net/energywire/stories/1060005937/print BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY MISCELLANEOUS Leonardo DiCaprio gets a climate-change gig with the U.N. Leonardo DiCaprio will be the face of the United Nations' effort to raise awareness of its climate change efforts. The "Wolf of Wall Street" star was bestowed the rather weighty-sounding title of "Messenger of Peace" on Tuesday, courtesy of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Posted. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/gossip/la-et-mg-leonardo-dicaprio-united-nations-climate-change-ambassador-20140916-story.html Claremont aims to beat Riverside in CoolCalifornia City Challenge. The battle for the “Coolest California City” is between this city and Riverside. Only 93,000 points separate the two top spots in the statewide challenge that invites residents of each city to adopt more environmentally sustainable practices. As of Tuesday, Claremont trails Riverside in the CoolCalifornia City Challenge. Claremont has earned 1.66 million points while Riverside leads with 1.75 million points. Posted. http://www.dailybulletin.com/environment-and-nature/20140916/claremont-aims-to-beat-riverside-in-coolcalifornia-city-challenge OPINIONS France Bets on Geothermal Energy. France is making a new push to develop geothermal energy. The goal is to reduce the carbon emissions that contribute to global warming while ensuring the nation’s energy independence. Hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas was banned in France in 2011, and the government of President François Hollande has pledged to reduce the country’s dependence on nuclear power from 75 percent of electricity…Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/18/opinion/france-bets-on-geothermal-energy.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Aw%2C{%221%22%3A%22RI%3A5%22} Editorial: Up in the sky, a lesson. THE PAST: Alarmed by a thinning ozone later, humanity took action, and it's starting to pay off. THE FUTURE: Will we bring the same survival instinct to the politics of climate change? More than three decades after the human beings began taking steps to undo the damage they were causing to Earth's ozone layer, this protective shield is showing signs of recovery. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Editorial-Up-in-the-sky-a-lesson-5760196.php Don't let them pave Paradise. Wake up, citizens of Bridgeport and Stratford. We might lose a piece of Paradise and not realize what a treasure we have until it's gone. I'm talking about Remington Woods, a beautiful 42-acre urban forest in Bridgeport and Stratford which surrounds the 23-acre Lake Success and wetlands. The Woods is home to the endangered box turtle, fox, deer, many birds and thousands of trees. Posted. http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Don-t-let-them-pave-Paradise-5759833.php Viewpoints: Even without Tesla, electric car batteries can boost state. California leaders are wringing their hands now that Tesla Motors has chosen Nevada as the site for its planned $5 billion “gigafactory.” Lost to California is a battery superfactory with 6,500 on-site jobs, plus thousands more in supportive industries. But California still has an opportunity to boost an entirely different battery supply market…Posted. http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/17/6712372/viewpoints-even-without-tesla.html#storylink=cpy Climate change revisited. In January 2010 I wrote an essay for CalCoastNews entitled “The Climate Change Challenge.” It is interesting but sobering to see in what ways the picture has and has not changed since then. A good portion of my 2010 article was in response to misinformation from a local office seeker who repeated some of the most common myths about climate change. Posted. http://calcoastnews.com/2014/09/climate-change-revisited/ Editorial: Bag banners' real bugaboo. Think that California’s plastic bag ban will finally stop the controversy over shopping bags? Think again. Sure, legislators succeeded in doling out enough favors to resurrect the disappointing law. But environmentalists are already raising the alarm all over again. Believe it or not, the critics aren’t satisfied with scrapping single-use plastic bags. Posted. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/bags-635290-bag-use.html Combating global warming: good for economic growth, after all? (+video). New study concludes that much of the investment needed to reduce global emissions makes good economic sense irrespective of climate benefits. When it comes to investing in efforts to combat global warming, international financial markets have the money. What's missing? Posted. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2014/0916/Combating-global-warming-good-for-economic-growth-after-all-video BLOGS Drought Becomes Powerful Political Tool for Brown, Lawmakers. Gov. Jerry Brown didn’t miss a beat on Tuesday when asked what made a deal come together on a first-ever law regulating the use of groundwater in California. “First of all, we’ve got a drought,” said Brown. “And that’s got everybody’s attention.” And that attention has allowed Brown, partially in public and a lot behind the scenes…. Posted. http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2014/09/16/drought-becomes-powerful-political-tool-for-jerry-brown-and-lawmakers As Global Temperatures Rise, Beloved Bird Species Are Leaving for More Suitable Locales. Last week, a new study by the National Audubon Society found that if global warming continues on its current trajectory, 314 U.S. and Canadian bird species -- more than half of the 588 species studied -- could lose 50 percent or more of their current territories by 2080. Many could lose so much ground that they will face extinction. Posted. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-yarnold/as-global-temperatures-ri_b_5836656.html EPA Rules Could Breathe New Life into Cap and Trade. Cap and trade may be dead on Capitol Hill, but states could use it to meet new EPA targets for reducing power plants’ carbon emissions. Earlier this year, mayors from across the country renewed a pledge to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, building on the 10th anniversary of a national movement that brought new bike lanes, solar panels and entire fleets of hybrid government vehicles to cities. Posted. http://www.governing.com/topics/transportation-infrastructure/gov-epa-cap-trade-power-plant.html First test drive shows promise of Saab 9-3 EV. We can't read Swedish, so when it comes to a first-drive review of a Saab 9-3 electric-vehicle prototype, we'll trust Inside EVs' translation of a write-up from Swedish automotive publication Elbilen i Sverige. And it's a decent one. The write-up, that is. The translation, too, we hope. Posted. http://green.autoblog.com/2014/09/16/first-test-drive-shows-promise-of-saab-9-3-ev/ Global shift away from cars saves US$100 trillion, eliminates 1,700 MT of CO2 pollution. More than $100 trillion in cumulative public and private spending, and 1,700 megatons of annual carbon dioxide (CO2)—a 40 percent reduction of urban passenger transport emissions—could be eliminated by 2050 if the world expands public transportation…Posted. http://phys.org/news/2014-09-global-shift-cars-us100-trillion.html California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.