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ARB Newsclips for September 19, 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

Sacramento Report: Road Rage and Bill Basics. Traffic jams are
annoying. Potholes, too. But according to a recent study by a
Washington D.C. think tank, their impact isn’t limited to our
psyches. They’re hitting our pocketbooks as well. A nonprofit
group called The Road Information Program found that congested
and deficient roads cost Californians an astounding $44 billion a
year in extra car expenses and traffic-related delays. That works
out to nearly $1,900 annually per San Diego-area driver. Posted.
http://voiceofsandiego.org/2014/09/19/sacramento-report-road-rage-and-bill-basics/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+voice-of-san-diego-all-articles+(All+articles+voiceofsandiego.org+--+full+feed)

Québec and California to hold their first joint auction of
greenhouse gas emission units in November.  Québec Minister of
Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight Against
Climate Change David Heurtel, and California Air Resources Board
(CARB) Chairman Mary Nichols today announced that the first joint
Québec-California carbon market auction will be held on November
19, 2014. "This first linked auction is the final step in the
consolidation of the Québec and California markets. Posted.
http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1413964/quebec-and-california-to-hold-their-first-joint-auction-of-greenhouse-gas-emission-units-in-november

http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2014/09/19/stories/1060006138
BY SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

AIR POLLUTION

Bay Area scrap recycler fined over bay pollution. A Redwood City
scrap metal recycling company was fined $189,500 by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday for allegedly
polluting San Francisco Bay with metal debris. Since at least the
early 1990s, Sims Metal Management allowed toxic dust from metals
including mercury, lead, copper, zinc and polychlorinated
biphenyls to blow off the top and sides of an elevated conveyor
system at its Port of Redwood City facility …Posted.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Bay-Area-scrap-recycler-fined-over-bay-pollution-5765232.php

http://www.insidebayarea.com/News/ci_26562689/EPA-fines-Sims-Metal-plant-in-Redwood-City-189500-for-polluting-the-Bay
   

Northern California wildfire grows more slowly.  A wildfire that
has driven some 2,800 people from their homes in Northern
California is growing but not as substantially as in previous
days.  Fire officials say the wind-whipped blaze about 60 miles
east of Sacramento had burned through 119 square miles of timber
and vegetation as of Friday morning, up about 5 square miles from
the previous day. It remains 10 percent contained, according to
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.  Posted. 
http://www.contracostatimes.com/News/ci_26566026/Northern-California-wildfire-grows-more-slowly
  

Tougher San Joaquin Valley wood-burning rules begin in 6 weeks. 
San Joaquin Valley air leaders on Thursday approved tighter
wood-burning rules aimed at about 240,000 homes creating 95% of
the dangerous soot from fireplaces and older wood-burning
heaters.  The rules could result in 85 no-burn days for Fresno
County alone -- and it all starts in about six weeks. Posted. 
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2014/09/18/3854820_valley-air-board-considers-wood.html?rh=1
  

Air district adopts compromise on ‘no burn’ days. The new rules
are expected to nearly triple “no burn” days in Merced County
from an average of 19 to 55, among 120 winter days from November
through February. Air-quality leaders on Thursday approved
landmark restrictions that will significantly affect people who
burn wood. Rather than dwell on when they can’t burn, leaders
want to emphasize a compromise focusing on when they can. Posted.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2014/09/18/3856262_air-district-adopts-compromise.html?sp=/99/215/268/&rh=1#storylink=cpy


Air Pollution–Scrubbing Roof Tiles Get Real. Despite the
advancements made in regulating low-emission cars and city buses,
air pollution remains a deadly killer — and a highly visible
threat! — across the world. What’s needed, ultimately, isn’t just
technology that reduces the amount of pollution we put into the
air, but that actually cleans the air around us. That was the
motivation behind a team of engineering students at the
University of California who coated ceramic roofing tiles with
titanium dioxide…Posted.
http://cleantechnica.com/2014/09/18/air-pollution-scrubbing-roof-tiles-get-real/


Report: Ohio in the Top Five States for Carbon Pollution.  The
Buckeye State ranks fifth in the nation in a new list of states
with the dirtiest air. According to the Environment Ohio Research
and Policy Center, Ohio's power plants spew as much carbon into
the atmosphere as the entire nation of Kuwait.  Posted. 
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2014-09-19/environment/report-ohio-in-the-top-five-states-for-carbon-pollution/a41788-1
  

CLIMATE CHANGE

Don't expect too much from leaders at climate summit – experts.
World leaders attending a U.N. summit on Tuesday are unlikely to
offer new action on climate change that is ambitious enough to
keep global temperature rise to safe levels - but opinion is
divided on whether that matters. The one-day event in New York,
called by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, is intended to
mobilise political will for a global climate deal due to be
agreed in Paris in December 2015…Posted.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/09/19/foundation-climatechange-summit-idINKBN0HE1KY20140919


At UN, Obama to urge nations to go big on climate. Having spent
political capital fighting climate change at home, President
Barack Obama will turn his sights overseas next week, urging
fellow heads of state to be as ambitious as possible as they
negotiate a make-or-break global treaty to be finalized in Paris
next year.  Posted. 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/at-un-obama-to-urge-nations-to-go-big-on-climate/2014/09/18/6445765e-3f7a-11e4-a430-b82a3e67b762_story.html


Hong Kong’s Air Pollution Reaches ‘Serious’ Level on Storm. Hong
Kong’s air pollution reached the “serious” level today, the worst
in almost two months, as an approaching tropical storm led to
haze. The pollution, as measured by the Air Quality Health Index,
reached the highest level of 10 plus at seven monitoring
stations, while the other stations had readings that ranged from
8 to 10, according to the Environmental Protection Department
website. Posted.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-09-19/hong-kong-s-air-pollution-reaches-serious-level-on-storm


The Cost of Fixing Climate Change. Reducing greenhouse gas
emissions could boost the economy rather than slow it, according
to a new study by the Global Commission on the Economy and
Climate. Better Growth, Better Climate: The New Climate Economy
Report finds that roughly $90 trillion will be spent in the next
15 years on new infrastructure around the world. Adopting rules
that redirect that investment toward low-emissions
options…Posted.
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/09/18/the-cost-of-fixing-climate-change/


DROUGHT

Chances high for another dry winter in Monterey County.  Brown is
becoming the new green, and chances are the Salinas Valley will
have another dry winter this year that will speed up that shift
in colors. A weak El Niño pattern, statistically, will not bring
the rainfall needed and hoped for to the Salinas Valley this
winter, according to a new report by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and a statistical analysis…Posted.
http://www.thecalifornian.com/story/news/local/2014/09/19/chances-high-another-dry-winter-monterey-county/15860431/


'Brown is beautiful' landscaping bill signed by governor. Laws
protect residents in HOAs who replace or reduce watering lawns.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed a pair of bills on Thursday that protect
residents in homeowners associations across San Diego County and
California who want to replace their water guzzling lawns with
drought tolerant plants, or just cut back on turf watering during
a drought. Posted.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/18/hoa-drought-lawns-water-ab2104-gonzalez/


FUELS

Obama admin inks 'game changer' deals with biorefineries. The
Obama administration's hard-fought effort to use military
purchasing power to spur the creation of a commercial-scale
biofuel industry took a major step forward this morning with the
awarding of three new fuel contracts. Together, the contracts are
for the production of more than 100 million gallons per year of
drop-in biofuels to be used in military jets and ships. The
weighted average price of the fuel under the contracts is $3.45 a
gallon, the administration said -- roughly the price for
conventional military fuels…Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060006167/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

VEHICLES

Your Electric Car Isn’t Making the Air Any Cleaner.  Rich places
get most California green vehicle subsidies—and the environmental
benefits of rich people’s Teslas are canceled out by all the
gas-guzzling clunkers still on our roads.  This is a tale of two
zip codes.  Posted. 
http://time.com/3398981/your-electric-car-isnt-making-the-air-any-cleaner/


Smart Electric Cars to Measure Air Pollution in Britain.  Cenex
and the Air Quality Group at the University of Leicester will
collaborate to measure air pollution using specially equipped
Smart EVs. Scientists from the University of Leicester will be
taking to the streets from tomorrow (July 4) in electric vehicles
(EVs) fitted with specialized air monitoring sensors, to measure
the extent of air pollution in city environments. Posted.
http://evworld.com/news.cfm?newsid=33531 

GREEN ENERGY

Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach chiefs discuss green efforts at
PortTech Expo. The heads of the nation’s two busiest seaports on
Wednesday spoke about their strides to make the ports of Los
Angeles and Long Beach more environmentally sustainable while
remaining economically competitive. Port of Los Angeles Executive
Director Gene Seroka and Port of Long Beach Executive Director
Jon Slangerup participated at a panel moderated by Federal
Maritime Commission…Posted.
http://www.presstelegram.com/business/20140917/ports-of-los-angeles-long-beach-chiefs-discuss-green-efforts-at-porttech-expo


U.S. schools quickly climbing learning curve in solar power.
America's K-12 schools are among the fastest adopters of solar
power in the United States, with an estimated 3,000 new solar
installations coming online between 2008 and 2012, a fivefold
increase, according to a new study from the Solar Foundation and
the Solar Energy Industries Association. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060006112/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

U.S., Canada pledge energy cooperation on Moniz visit. Emissions
reductions in the United States could help Canadian energy
producers if their systems are more closely integrated. U.S.
Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Canadian Natural Resources
Minister Greg Rickford agreed yesterday at a meeting in Ottawa,
Ontario, to increase collaboration in energy research, regulation
and trade. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060006157/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

'Flood' of used EV batteries could help Calif. store more
renewable energy – study. Used batteries from plug-in electric
vehicles could help California meet its goals for energy storage,
a report from the University of California, Los Angeles, and UC
Berkeley law schools said. In a few years, there will be a
growing number of EV batteries that have lost some of their
ability to hold power, the analysis said. Posted.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060006142/print BY
SUBSCRIPTION ONLY

MISCELLANEOUS

California teachers fund to boost clean energy bets.  The
California State Teachers' Retirement System says it plans to
increase its investments in clean energy and technology to $3.7
billion, from $1.4 billion, over the next five years.  CalSTRS
CEO Jack Ehnes says the pension fund is seeing more opportunities
in low-carbon projects and technologies. The fund is hoping also
to help push for stronger policies aimed at fighting climate
change, Ehnes says.  Posted. 
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_26566788/california-teachers-fund-to-boost-clean-energy-bets
 
http://www.modbee.com/2014/09/19/3547528/calif-teachers-fund-to-boost-clean.html#storylink=misearch


King Fire Blow-up from ARB offices (VIDEO). Posted.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6zIANfdhMo&utm_content=buffercaae9&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer


OPINIONS

Errors and Emissions. Could Fighting Global Warming Be Cheap and
Free? This just in: Saving the planet would be cheap; it might
even be free. But will anyone believe the good news? I’ve just
been reading two new reports on the economics of fighting climate
change: a big study by a blue-ribbon international group, the New
Climate Economy Project, and a working paper from the
International Monetary Fund. Posted.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/19/opinion/paul-krugman-could-fighting-global-warming-be-cheap-and-free.html?_r=0


Editorial: Support carbon pollution limits for power plants. Few
things are more frightening for a parent than racing to the
hospital with a child who can’t breathe. Few things are more
difficult for a physician than telling a family that a loved one
will not recover from an asthma attack. We work with people who
know those experiences far too well, and because of those
experiences, we support reducing carbon pollution. Posted.
http://scoopsandiego.com/lifestyles/health_wellness/editorial-support-carbon-pollution-limits-for-power-plants/article_d626bde0-3e9f-11e4-8973-001a4bcf6878.html

http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2014/09/paul-krugman-errors-and-emissions.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EconomistsView+(Economist's+View)


Golden Hammer: Obama’s grants to cut diesel emissions leave IG
fuming, waste millions. A part of the $800 billion stimulus
package that President Obama pushed through Congress in 2009 was
aimed at reducing diesel emissions and helping the environment,
but a big chunk of it may have gone up in smoke, according to a
new internal audit.  Posted.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/sep/18/golden-hammer-obamas-grants-to-cut-diesel-emission/?page=1#ixzz3Dmpk269E


The deepest cuts. Our guide to the actions that have done the
most to slow global warming. ON SEPTEMBER 23rd 120-odd presidents
and prime ministers will gather in New York for a UN meeting on
climate change. It is the first time the subject has brought so
many leaders together since the ill-fated Copenhagen summit of
2009. Now, as then, they will assert that reining in global
warming is a political priority. Posted.
http://www.economist.com/news/briefing/21618680-our-guide-actions-have-done-most-slow-global-warming-deepest-cuts


BLOGS

China can rise to the challenge on climate change and air
pollution. Next week in New York, national leaders from around
the world will gather for a Climate Summit to announce their
countries’ actions and contributions for strengthening global
efforts to tackle climate change. Zhang Gaoli, the Vice Premier
in charge of China’s climate policy, will be representing China
at the summit. When he takes the podium, he will be speaking on
behalf of a country that is the world’s largest energy user and
carbon emitter…Posted.
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/alin/china_can_rise_to_the_challeng.html


Price slowly rising on carbon emissions in US cap-and-trade
states.  Economists and policymakers frequently talk about the
"social cost of carbon"—the price that society as a whole pays
for disruptions caused by climate change and ocean acidification.
Although there are various ways of calculating it that give
different results, the US currently estimates the cost at $37 a
ton. At least nationally, however, there have been no attempts to
get anyone to actually pay this price for their emissions. 
Posted.  http://techupdates.com/go/922746#  

IRS won't, or can't, reveal how many plug-in vehicle tax credits
are left.  One of the benefits of driving a plug-in vehicle these
days is a federal tax credit worth up to $7,500. Officially
called IRC 30D, this credit is intended to make the high cost of
new EVs sting less for early adopters. Of course, free government
money doesn't last forever, and when the tax credit law was first
passed in as part of the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of
2008, lawmakers built in a phase out.  Posted. 
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/09/18/irs-plug-in-car-tax-credit-confusion/
 

Toyota ad says fuel cell cars are inevitable.  Toyota's
confidence in H2 technology remains as strong as ever. The
company has released a new commercial that says it's not a matter
of if we all start driving hydrogen cars, but when. In fact, the
70-second spot calls 2015 the turning point for the alternative
powertrain technology.  Posted. 
http://green.autoblog.com/2014/09/18/toyota-ad-says-fuel-cell-cars-inevitable-video/
   





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