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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for March 5, 2015.
Posted: 05 Mar 2015 12:53:12
ARB Newsclips for March 5, 2015. 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. AIR POLLUTION Poland Seeks to Limit EU Carbon Fix’s Impact on Producers. The European Union draft carbon-market fix should be amended to prevent planned supply controls from curbing the number of free emission permits for power producers, according to the Polish government. EU policy makers are considering introducing a market stability reserve, or MSR, to alleviate a glut of permits that has pushed emission prices about 75 percent down since 2008 to levels… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-05/poland-seeks-to-limit-eu-carbon-fix-s-impact-on-producers Cleaner air is linked to stronger lungs in Southern California children. Cleaner air has for the first time been linked to bigger and stronger lungs among school-age children, according to findings released Wednesday from a two-decade study in Southern California. The research by USC scientists, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found the region’s steep decline in air pollution since the mid-1990s is strongly associated… http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-clean-air-lungs-children-20150304-story.html#page=1 http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/03/04/cleaner-air-healthier-kids/24394133/ http://www.ocregister.com/articles/air-653041-health-lung.html Health advocate: Taxi proposal may increase air pollution. A public health advocate isn't impressed with new rules proposed by Mayor Bill de Blasio’s taxi commission, which he says could lead to more air pollution in New York City. “This proposal would actually allow vehicles to remain on the road for a longer amount of time… http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2015/03/8563279/health-advocate-taxi-proposal-may-increase-air-pollution County launches air-friendly mulch program. Responding to an overwhelming number of complaints about smoke pollution in the Santa Ynez Valley, county fire officials are rolling out a wood-chipping program as an alternative to permitted backyard burns. The pilot program provides property owners with valid Residential Dry Vegetation Burning permits an alternative to burning tree trimmings and yard waste… http://syvnews.com/news/local/county-launches-air-friendly-mulch-program/article_feaaad7c-1e7a-5cda-aa9e-d583bcf3b30e.html Group representing 92 tribes urges tighter ozone standard. Native American tribes are calling on U.S. EPA to lower the national ozone standard beyond the range the agency proposed in November. The National Tribal Air Association, which represents 92 Native American tribes, urged EPA to set a new ozone standard at 60 parts per billion, down from its current level of 75 ppb. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060014437/feed LUMBER LIQUIDATORS/FORMALDEHYDE Lumber Liquidators Plunges After TV Report of Tainted Flooring. While shares of Lumber Liquidators closed up slightly on Friday, investors could barely wait to sell their stock by Monday morning. Shares of the flooring retailer fell more than 20 percent after a report Sunday night on “60 Minutes,” the CBS News program, said that some of the company’s laminate wood contained potentially hazardous levels of formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/05/business/lumber-liquidators-plunges-after-tv-report-of-tainted-flooring.html?_r=0 Lawmakers want answers after "60 Minutes" report on Lumber Liquidators. The "60 Minutes" report that found high levels of cancer-causing formaldehyde in flooring sold by Lumber Liquidators brought a call on Capitol Hill Wednesday for a federal investigation. Understandably, homeowners whose families walk on that flooring every day want to know what they should do. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/lawmakers-want-answers-after-60-minutes-report-on-lumber-liquidators/ CLIMATE CHANGE Top Senate Republican tells states: ignore EPA carbon rules. The Senate's top Republican is telling states to ignore a central part of President Barack Obama's plans to curb the pollution blamed for global warming. In an op-ed published Tuesday in the Lexington Herald-Leader, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky says states should reject Obama's proposed requirements for power plants to reduce carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MCCONNELL_EPA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/05/us/politics/mcconnell-urges-states-to-defy-us-plan-to-cut-greenhouse-gas.html?ref=energy-environment&_r=1 Shell’s Ollila Says Society Must Find ‘Middle Way’ on Climate Change. Shell has been vocal in calling for energy companies to participate with policy makers in addressing climate change. Royal Dutch Shell PLC Chairman Jorma Ollila is joining Chief Executive Ben van Beurden in backing efforts to limit carbon emissions ahead of international climate talks in Paris later this year. http://www.wsj.com/articles/shells-ollila-says-society-must-find-middle-way-on-climate-change-1425497418?mod=rss_whats_news_us Early human ancestor shaped by climate change, study says. Has climate change made us who we are today? A broken and fossilized jawbone found poking out from the volcanic ash and sediment of an East African hill is rewriting a significant chapter of human evolution -- and adding weight to the argument that a hot and parched climate guided the development of our distant relatives. http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-human-ancestor-homo-habilis-climate-change-20150303-story.html El Niño officially declared, West could get more rain. Federal weather watchers on Thursday said the Pacific Ocean current oscillation known as El Niño has formed, raising the prospect of a moderate increase in rain for the U.S. West Coast. The development is unlikely to have a drastic effect on the drought conditions in Southern California and elsewhere in the West… http://touch.latimes.com/#section/1780/article/p2p-82976976/ California leading on climate-change work with China, Gov. Brown says. Gov. Jerry Brown touted California's cooperation with China on climate change Wednesday, pointing to more than a dozen accords on sharing training and knowledge for cleaner energy. While partisan disputes in Washington have limited federal progress to slow greenhouse-gas emissions and climate change… http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/03/04/50188/brown-california-leading-on-climate-change-work-wi/ Could that volcano in Chile slow global warming? Material ejected in eruptions of volcanoes like Chile's Villarica could reflect heat back into space, mitigating some of the greenhouse effect produced by human activity. You don't often hear "volcanic eruption" and "cooling" in the same sentence, but the dramatic eruption of the Villarica volcano in southern Chile could actually help slow global warming. http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/0303/Could-that-volcano-in-Chile-slow-global-warming Arctic Sea Ice Is Getting Thinner, Faster. While the steady disappearance of sea ice in the Arctic has been one of the hallmark effects of global warming, research shows it is not only covering less of the planet, but it’s also getting significantly thinner. That makes it more susceptible to melting, potentially altering local ecosystems, shipping routes and ocean and atmospheric patterns. http://www.climatecentral.org/news/arctic-sea-ice-getting-thinner-faster-18726?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A%20climatecentral/djOO%20Climate%20Central%20-%20Full%20Feed Re-evaluating climate change. The negative effects of humans on the environment are undeniable. From deforestation, to air and ocean pollution, we are failing at maintaining a sustainable lifestyle. To some degree, most people are concerned about their personal effect on the world. With all of the possible lifestyle changes and eco-friendly choices possible, it can be hard to determine which are most worthwhile. http://csusmchronicle.com/home/2015/03/re-evaluating-climate-change.html 'We are a separate nation' -- Brown touts state's influence in global climate arena. California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) yesterday made clear that the Golden State sees itself as an international superpower in the climate policy arena. Brown made explicit this underlying assumption in his state's climate agenda yesterday at a discussion of a wide-ranging 2013 state agreement with China to explore carbon-trading, electric vehicles, building efficiency and other areas. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060014521/print In carbon-pricing model, PJM states benefit from sharing Clean Power Plan burdens. States that are better-situated to meet carbon emission levels under the Clean Power Plan still might suffer from higher compliance costs if they don't work with their neighbors, according to an economic analysis by the PJM Interconnection. "State-by-state compliance options, compared to regional compliance options… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060014518/print Consensus on climate change among scientists may change a few beliefs on the subject – study. One of the tactics used by climate advocates to get people to care about climate change is to tell people that 97 percent of scientists believe in it. This message, called the "97 percent consensus," would make people care and take climate action, its proponents argue. A new study published last month in PLOS One reinforces the use of this tactic. In an experiment, scientists exposed 1,104 people -- both Republicans and Democrats -- to the 97 percent consensus message. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060014494/print Climate change linked to deadly coral disease in Caribbean. Rising ocean temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean are directly linked to the dramatic decline of two of the most iconic reef-building corals -- elkhorn and staghorn -- in the Caribbean Sea. According to a study published in Nature Climate Change last month, warmer waters boosted the incidence of the deadly coral affliction called white band disease. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060014405/feed E.U. may fall short on climate goals. The European Union's emissions reductions targets may be too optimistic, according to a new study from the European Environment Agency. If the bloc does not develop new policies and more aggressive measures to limit fossil fuel use, greenhouse gas emissions reductions will fall short of 80 to 95 percent by 2050. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060014385/feed Rare Everglades plants threatened by sea-level rise. Cowhorn orchids and other native plants in Everglades National Park may be lost due to sea-level rise and invasive species, despite multibillion-dollar efforts to restore the wetlands, according to a survey released Monday. The 10-year survey by the Institute for Regional Conservation concluded that of 59 studied plant species… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060014382/feed DROUGHT Rising temperatures are amplifying drought effects, study finds. Climate change is increasing the risk of severe drought in California by causing warm periods and dry periods to overlap more often, according to a new study. Rising temperatures resulting from increased greenhouse gas emissions mean warm and dry periods are coinciding more frequently, the study authors say. And that is amplifying the effects of low precipitation. http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-0305-drought-watch-20150305-story.html A dry January pulled down water conservation rate in California. After getting a gold star for saving water in December, California's conservation efforts flagged in January. Urban water use figures released Tuesday by the state show that Californians in January again fell far short of the 20% conservation goal set a year ago by Gov. Jerry Brown. Statewide, water use dropped 8.8% from January 2014's level. In December, it was down 22.2% from the same month a year earlier. http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-82977867/ California water conservation weakening as drought worsens. Tougher rules on the way? California is heading into the fourth summer of a historic drought, but when it comes to conserving water, its urban residents are going backward. State officials are mulling tougher water restrictions, but critics say the new rules being considered don't go nearly far enough and that the state risks severe water shortages if it doesn't do more soon. http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_27632870/california-drought-water-conservation-weakening-drought-worsens In 2014 California strawberry farmers planted less but produced more fruit than the previous year. This year, acreage is projected to decline again, according to a California Strawberry Commission survey. Whether production will rise or fall could depend largely on the weather. “The increased costs of growing berries in California are challenging the farmers’ profitability,”… http://www.montereyherald.com/business/20150220/strawberry-acreage-down-production-stable Santa Cruz reservoir to remain closed to recreation. For the first time in a generation, Loch Lomond Recreation Area will remain closed for a second consecutive year as the city of Santa Cruz continues to weather a three-year drought. Water Director Rosemary Menard announced the decision Tuesday ahead of a recreation season that typically begins in early March at the city’s largest water storage facility, which is located near Zayante. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/lifestyle/20150203/santa-cruz-reservoir-to-remain-closed-to-recreation Drought could be California's new normal, Stanford study says. California is much more likely to experience drought conditions in the future, according to a team of scientists at Stanford University. The reason? Us humans. The research included a look back at 120 years of the state's observed historical record as well as international climate models. http://www.scpr.org/programs/take-two/2015/03/04/41815/drought-could-be-california-s-new-normal-stanford/ New data on California drought present sobering picture for residents (+video). The snowpack in California is at just 19 percent of the average for early March, a nearly historic low. Thousands of farmworkers are out of work, and Gov. Jerry Brown is asking Californians to conserve more. http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2015/0304/New-data-on-California-drought-present-sobering-picture-for-residents-video Californians saving less water as dry conditions persist. As California enters what's expected to be its fourth year of drought, residents' water conservation efforts dropped sharply in January, state water officials said yesterday. The amount of water saved by customers of the state's 400 large urban water retailers fell to 8.8 percent in January from 22 percent in December, figures that compare those months' water use to the same period a year earlier. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060014439/feed Study sheds light on why drought makes the Amazon rainforest release more CO2. The Amazon rainforest is one of the globe's most important carbon sinks. But over the past several years, ongoing research has raised concerns that future droughts could tip off a shift in the "lungs in the planet," causing them to exhale more carbon dioxide than they inhale. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060014520/print DIESEL ACTIVITIES Green Strategy Discussions Kick Off Work Truck Show. Alternative fuels and powertrains will work if an organization’s top people favor the concepts, speakers said at Tuesday's Green Truck Summit ahead of the NTEA Work Truck Show. Speakers included fleet managers from the City of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Florida Power & Light. http://www.truckinginfo.com/channel/fleet-management/news/story/2015/03/alternative-powertrains-and-fuel-can-save-money-but-top-execs-must-like-the-idea-fleet-managers-s.aspx?ref=rel-recommended FUELS California gas prices jump $1 in one month. California gas prices have shot up about $1 a gallon in the last month as oil refineries have been idled by a labor strike and an explosion. That's made gasoline much more expensive here than anywhere else in the nation — an average of $3.44 for a gallon of regular as of 7 a.m. Wednesday, according to price-tracker GasBuddy.com. Hawaii is the only other state with an average price above $3 a gallon. http://touch.latimes.com/#section/1780/article/p2p-82967669/ California orders 12 oil-field wells shut to protect groundwater. California officials, responding to concerns about groundwater contamination, are closing 12 wells in the Central Valley used to dispose of chemical-laden water from oil and gas production, regulators announced Tuesday. Steve Bohlen, who leads the state Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources, said the wells are being shut down "out of an abundance of caution for public health." http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-82967415/ Senate fails to override Obama's veto of Keystone XL pipeline. The Senate failed Wednesday to override President Obama's veto of Keystone XL pipeline legislation, ending for now attempts by Congress to speed up approval of the controversial energy project. Falling short of the two-thirds majority needed, Republicans backers of the pipeline could not peel off enough Democratic supporters to join them. http://touch.latimes.com/#section/609/article/p2p-82971488/ Sharp growth in value of shipments for oil and gas extraction industry. The value of shipments for the nation’s crude oil and natural gas extraction industry climbed 28.9 percent between 2007 and 2012, despite only an 8.5 percent increase in the number of companies in the industry over the same period, according to the Census Bureau in a new report Wednesday. http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=27878 USGS: More long-term data needed to assess any tie between fracking, surface water pollution. More data are needed to be able to fully assess whether any widespread correlation might exist between recent oil and gas development in the U.S. and degraded quality of nearby surface water, a new study by the U.S. Geological Survey suggests. http://trib.com/business/energy/usgs-more-long-term-data-needed-to-assess-any-tie/article_81fcb9c2-499a-50e0-904f-4740dbb3de2b.html VEHICLES Honey, we shrank the SUV _ and Europe loves it. In Europe, SUV now stands for: Shrinking Utility Vehicle. An array of small sport utility vehicles is going on display this week at the Geneva International Motor Show. Automakers are piling into the segment as one of the best hopes for growth in a still-weak European market. Consumers like the higher seating, easier entry and perceived greater freight-carrying capacity. http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article12406151.html#storylink=cpy GREEN ENERGY SolarCity sues over fees for rooftop solar customers. A major player in the rooftop solar industry said Tuesday that it's suing Salt River Project for adopting new fees for homeowners who install rooftop solar panels. San Mateo-based SolarCity said in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Phoenix that SRP's average $50 per month fee on new solar installations would essentially eliminate the incentive to put solar panels on a home. http://www.insidebayarea.com/business/ci_27635379/solarcity-sues-over-fees-rooftop-solar-customers?source=rss Major financing deal puts R.I. project on track to be nation's first offshore wind farm. It is now all but certain that a 30-megawatt pilot project in Rhode Island state waters will be America's first offshore wind farm. Deepwater Wind, the Providence, R.I.-based developer behind the Block Island project, announced this week that it had closed on more than $290 million in financing from American and French backers. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060014426/feed MISCELLANEOUS Two Central Valley meetings set on state’s long-range transportation plan. Seven workshops – including one in Fresno and one in Sacramento – are slated for this month for the public to weigh in on plans that will shape California’s transportation future. “We are creating a long-term vision for California’s transportation system, and the public will play a key role in that,” says Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “ http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=27882 OPINIONS Combat the Climate Trolls. Don't let James Inhofe and other climate change nihilists win. In a move that mostly horrified the Internet last week, Republican Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, chair of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, threw a snowball onto the Senate floor during a debate about funding for the Department of Homeland Security. http://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/2015/03/04/dont-let-james-inhofe-and-climate-change-nihilists-win Other views: Backup plans for the Earth on climate change. What happens if humans fail to cut carbon dioxide emissions enough to prevent worsening climate change? A new report from the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences contemplates some very unattractive — but potentially necessary — backup plans. Ending deforestation seems like an obvious answer. http://www.montereyherald.com/opinion/20150217/other-views-backup-plans-for-the-earth-on-climate-change Reducing emissions. I recently read an excellent book, “Antarctica: An Intimate Portrait of a Mysterious Continent,” by British scientist Gabrielle Walker that led me to a brief talk she gave on the impact of global warming on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (YouTube: “Environment: Ice Core — Gabrielle Walker”). http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2015/03/04/3518262_reducing-emissions.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy BLOGS With The Clean Power Plan, EPA Has Given Up On Cooperative Federalism. The idea of “cooperative federalism” began with the New Deal in the 1930s when it came to include a division of responsibilities among the states and the federal government agencies of electric power and distribution. By the passage of the Clean Air Act of 1970, the EPA set the minimum standards for states to best implement http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2015/03/04/with-the-clean-power-plan-epa-has-given-up-on-cooperative-federalism/ Groups Aim to Lure Conservatives Out of the Closet on Climate Change. It’s been an article of faith for some time now — inside the whispery Washington Beltway, in state legislatures and even among hunting and outdoor recreation groups — that conservative Americans are, in fact, very much at odds with the vacuous climate denialism peddled by many members of the Republican Party’s national leadership…. http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomzeller/2015/03/05/bringing-conservatives-out-of-the-closet-on-climate-change/ Evolving to Cope with Climate Change. Over the next two centuries, climate change is likely to impact everything from industrial agriculture to the shape of our coastlines. The changing climate will certainly cause huge changes around the world, and the challenge is to predict exactly what impact those changes will have. In the world of marine science… http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2015/03/evolving-to-cope-with-climate-change/ Rick Perry Takes Too Much Credit For Carbon Dioxide Reductions. Rick Perry said carbon dioxide emissions in Texas were down because of “incentive-based regulation” during his time as governor. But the evidence shows a decline in manufacturing jobs and federal energy policies — not the state’s — are more likely to be the cause of the reduction. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/04/rick-perry-environment_n_6803456.html?ir=Politics&utm_hp_ref=politics Court Ruling Means Cleaner Air for Millions of Americans. This week we secured an important victory for public health when a federal court approved a timeline and framework for protecting Americans from an especially harmful type of air pollution. Sulfur dioxide pollution is a dangerous air pollutant -- so much so that even short-term exposure for as little as five minutes is associated with breathing problems like asthma attacks… http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mary-anne-hitt/court-ruling-means-cleane_b_6801236.html Nissan launches 7-seat version of the electric e-NV200 van. Due to growing requests from companies and fleets alike, Nissan hasadvanced the introduction of the latest iteration in its electric vehicle line-up—a seven-seat version of the all-electric e-NV200 van, and launched it at the Geneva Motor Show. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2015/03/nissan-launches-7-seat-version-of-the-electric-e-nv200-van.html Honda Fuel-Cell Vehicle U.S. Sales Date Gets A Little Fuzzier. Honda is expected to join Toyota and Hyundai in offering hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles in the U.S., but the timeline for that may have become a bit fuzzier. The Japanese automaker has already shown two concept cars previewing the design of its fuel-cell vehicle. But now Honda seems to have given itself a later window for when the production version may go on sale in North America. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1097098_honda-fuel-cell-vehicle-u-s-sales-date-gets-a-little-fuzzier Ford May Show A 200-Mile Electric Car This Year To Counter Chevy Bolt. The announcement that the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt electric car will go into production within 18 months seemingly sent shockwaves through the auto industry. GM's crosstown rival Ford, which has sold hybrids for more than 10 years but shown little love for battery-electric cars, now seems to feel the need to respond. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1097103_ford-may-show-a-200-mile-electric-car-this-year-to-counter-chevy-bolt Global Bioenergies reports first isobutene production from waste biomass. Global Bioenergies has produced “second-generation” isobutene, in a push to diversify accessible feedstock towards cheaper resources. As a first step in manufacturing bio-sourced isobutene, Global Bioenergies has been using first-generation feedstock such as wheat-derived glucose to set-up and to optimize its bio-isobutene process… http://www.greencarcongress.com/2015/03/20150304-gbe.html New engineered metabolic pathways in yeast enable efficient fermentation of xylose from biomass. Researchers with the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI), a partnership that includes Berkeley Lab and the University of California (UC) Berkeley, have introduced new metabolic pathways from the fungus Neurospora crassa into the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to increase the fermentative production of fuels and other chemicals from biomass. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2015/03/20150305-ebi.html US-China Clean Energy Research Center issues $12.5M solicitation to address the energy-water nexus; $50M effort in all. The US Department of Energy (DOE) issued a $12.5 million Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) (DE-FOA-0001285) for a new technical track under the US-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) that addresses water-related aspects of energy production and use. The solicitation calls for the formation of a US-based consortium to work with Chinese counterparts to bolster collaborative efforts to help ensure energy… http://www.greencarcongress.com/2015/03/20150305-cerc.html Neste Oil now the world’s largest producer of renewable fuels from waste and residues. Over the last few years, Neste Oil has become the world’s largest producer of renewable fuels from waste and residues. In 2014, the company produced nearly 1.3 million tonnes (1.6 billion liters, 423 million gallons US) of renewable fuel from waste and residues. http://www.greencarcongress.com/2015/03/20150305-neste.html Ford May Show A 200-Mile Electric Car This Year To Counter Chevy Bolt. Here's what we've pieced together from those sources. First, Ford was caught very much off-guard by GM's announcement. The carmaker is now "scrambling to respond," said one source. The world's fifth-largest auto manufacturer may now feel vulnerable for not having a strong product among the battery-electric cars it has historically dismissed. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1097103_ford-may-show-a-200-mile-electric-car-this-year-to-counter-chevy-bolt California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.