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ARB Newsclips for June 30, 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.

CAP AND TRADE

ICE, CME and Where Exchanges Are Headed Next. How the exchange
giants ICE and CME acquired their way to dominance, a drawn-out
drama.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2015-06-30/ice-cme-carve-up-the-trading-business-a-tale-of-two-exchanges


Assembly Republicans Introduce Road Repair Plan. Assembly
Republicans say they’ve identified more than $6 billion a year
that can be directed toward road repairs, without raising taxes.
Their plan includes a $1 billion from cap-and-trade revenues, $1
billion from the state’s General Fund and $1 billion from
redirected vehicle weight fees.
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2015/06/29/assembly-republicans-introduce-road-repair-plan/
http://www.kgoradio.com/common/page.php?id=130541 
http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/243437/republicans-propose-6-billion-transportation-plan.html


AIR POLLUTION

Study: Fireworks cause a toxic brew of unhealthy air. The
thousands of Fourth of July firework celebrations across the
nation bring a toxic brew of air pollution to our atmosphere,
according to a recent study from federal scientists. The
exploding fireworks unleash tiny particles — about 1/30th the
diameter of a typical human hair — that can affect health because
they travel deep into a person's respiratory tract, entering the
lungs.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2015/06/30/fireworks-air-quality/29509259/


Why the Supreme Court Could Spell Trouble For Obama’s Agenda.
Monday’s ruling could compel agencies to take costs into account
when deciding to regulate. President Obama has made it clear that
his Environmental Protection Agency will use its regulatory power
to install limits on carbon dioxide and toxic-air pollutants for
everything from power plants to trucks.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/obama-scalia-climate-change-mats-20150629


Court emboldens GOP on climate regs. The Supreme Court emboldened
opponents of the Obama administration’s environmental agenda
Monday with its ruling against a major air pollution rule.
Republicans and others who have railed relentlessly against the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in recent years are touting
the decision as a validation of their accusations of executive
overreach…
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/246476-court-emboldens-gop-on-environmental-rules


CLIMATE CHANGE

Robert Redford urges global action on climate change. Robert
Redford said he came to the United Nations Monday not as an actor
but as an environmental advocate, father, grandfather and
concerned citizen to urge the world's nations to take action now
on climate change.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/UN_UNITED_NATIONS_REDFORD_CLIMATE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

OTHER RELATED STORIES
http://www.reuters.com/video/2015/06/30/robert-redford-calls-for-global-action-o?videoId=364773169&videoChannel=118169
 

After mercury ruling, scrutiny of Obama climate rules grows.
Sweeping pollution limits at the center of President Barack
Obama's climate change plan are facing increased scrutiny in the
wake of a Supreme Court ruling that showed that the justices
aren't afraid to thwart perceived overreach by Obama or his
Environmental Protection Agency.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBAMA_CLIMATE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


In a major day for climate policy, China, Brazil, and the U.S.
all announce new commitments. In a jampacked but complex day for
international climate action, Brazil, the United States, and
China — three of the world’s top 10 greenhouse gas emitters — all
announced new goals Tuesday. The commitments came in different
forms and units, ranging from forest hectares to renewable energy
gigawatts…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/06/30/china-brazil-and-the-u-s-all-announce-new-climate-and-clean-energy-goals/


Britain needs to extend policies to reduce emissions –adviser.
The British government needs to extend policies and funding to
reduce carbon emissions into the next decade to avoid increasing
the cost and impact of global warming, Britain's climate change
adviser said on Tuesday.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/06/29/britain-environment-carbon-idUKL5N0ZF2ZX20150629?feedType=RSS&feedName=rbssEnergyNews


EU Leaders Urge China to Adopt Tough Climate-Change Goals.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker wants China to
join Europe in its emissions target. European Union leaders
Monday urged China to adopt tough climate-change goals as they
and other nations head toward a critical climate conference in
Paris at year’s end.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-leaders-urge-china-to-adopt-tough-climate-change-goals-1435610067

U.S., Brazil Agree on Climate-Change Steps.  Pact comes ahead of
meeting in Paris in December. The U.S. and Brazil pledged Tuesday
to work toward new commitments to reduce the impact of climate
change ahead of President Barack Obama’s goal of reaching a
global accord this December.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-brazil-agree-on-climate-change-steps-1435676851?mod=rss_US_News


U.S. Touts Role In Bringing China and Paris To Table On Climate
Talks. As big polluters make pledges, Paris agreement comes into
focus. The White House is making a major diplomatic push to make
sure this year's climate change talks in Paris are a success, and
it scored two major victories Tuesday.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/brazil-china-climate-change-negotiations-united-nations-20150630


It's official: China pledges ambitious goal toward UN climate
deal. China has now made its contribution toward a global climate
deal official, promising to peak its emissions by 2030. But while
the world's top emitter will be a critical piece of any deal,
many heavy emitters have yet to promise cuts.
http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy/2015/0630/It-s-official-China-pledges-ambitious-goal-toward-UN-climate-deal


S. Korea to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 37 pct by 2030.
South Korea on Tuesday announced a plan to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 37 percent compared with the Business As Usual (BAU)
by 2030. The plan was approved at the Cabinet meeting convened by
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, according to joint statements by
government ministries.
http://www.globalpost.com/article/6599036/2015/06/30/s-korea-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions-37-pct-2030


Dying B.C. forests flooding air with carbon. Analysts finds pine
beetles epidemic, logging, caused rise in greenhouse gas
emissions.  B.C.’s forests emitted more carbon than they absorbed
between 2003-2012, a dramatic change from the previous decade, an
analyst by the Sierra Club of B.C. shows.
http://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-vancouver-sun/20150630/281599534154289/TextView


DROUGHT

Half of California’s Biggest Power Plants Rely on Fresh Water.
Half of California’s largest power plants are using flows from
fresh-water resources such as rivers, lakes and wells to cool
equipment as the state wrestles with an unprecedented drought.
Thirty out of California’s 100 biggest thermal power plants, such
as natural-gas fired units, use surface water from rivers and
streams for operations, based on a California Energy Commission…
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-30/half-of-california-s-biggest-power-plants-rely-on-fresh-water


Water-independent Riverside fights 28% reduction order.  For
decades, Riverside has worked to be what officials consider
"water independent" by consolidating groundwater rights and
building water treatment facilities. And in recent years, the
city-owned public utility appears to have achieved that goal. It
has not imported water from outside sources for about seven
years…
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-riverside-drought-20150630-story.html


California Drought Taking Serious Toll On Aging Sewer System In
San Francisco. California’s severe drought is taking a serious
toll on San Francisco’s aging sewer system. Some of the city’s
1,000 miles of sewer pipes are more than 100 years old, among the
first installed after the Gold Rush.
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/06/29/california-drought-taking-serious-toll-on-aging-sewer-system-in-san-francisco/


SD cracks down on water use. City limits outdoor irrigation,
vehicle washing, use of fountains in face of severe drought.
Aiming to reduce water usage during the state’s severe drought,
the San Diego City Council unanimously adopted a series of new
restrictions Monday on outdoor irrigation, vehicle washing and
use of fountains.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2015/jun/29/drought-water-irrigation-rule-hours-days/


Can waste-water recycling, desalination end California’s water
wars? Emphasizing practical solutions in the battle over drought
relief, a congressman urged local water leaders Monday to fight
for funding for projects such as waste-water recycling and
infrastructure repairs.  Northern California Rep. Jared Huffman
came to Southern California to push his $1.4 billion drought
bill…
http://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20150629/can-waste-water-recycling-desalination-end-californias-water-wars

Californians struggle for 'normal life,' without water. A washing
machine stands in the middle of Maria Jimenez's California yard,
like a redundant relic of modern life. Nearby are several rented
mobile toilets, no longer in use. For four months, she and her
family have had no running water.  We are trying to live a normal
life," the 52-year-old told AFP in the town of Monson, 200 miles
north of Los Angeles.
http://news.yahoo.com/californians-struggle-normal-life-without-water-015521480.html;_ylt=AwrC1C75jpJVF18ATyjQtDMD;_ylu=X3oDMTBydDI5cXVuBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwM2BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--


DIESEL ACTIVITIES

VW’s Renewable Diesel Evaluation Shows GHG Emissions Cuts.
Volkswagen of America’s renewable diesel evaluation program, in
collaboration with renewable fuel and product companies Solazyme
and Amyris, has shown greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced
by more than 50 percent on a well-to-wheel basis when using
renewable fuels as compared to today’s commercially available
crude-based fuels.
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2015/06/30/vws-renewable-diesel-evaluation-shows-ghg-emissions-cuts/#ixzz3eZQe6HrJ


Electric bus firm gears up for major expansion.  Proterra, the
American manufacturer of fully electric buses, is expanding
logistically and financially in an attempt to keep up with strong
demand. The company announced this morning that it has secured
$55 million in new capital, $30 million in equity financing and
$25 million in debt financing.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/06/30/stories/1060021075 

FUELS

United Airlines investing $30 million in biofuels producer. 
United Airlines says it is investing $30 million in a biofuels
company to reduce its vulnerability to oil-price shocks and
limits on carbon emissions from planes.  United officials said
Tuesday that they expect to begin receiving fuel from Fulcrum
BioEnergy Inc. in 2018 and could be taking 90 million gallons a
year by 2021.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_UNITED_AIRLINES_ALTERNATIVE_FUEL?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT


GAS PRICES: State excise tax drops 6 cents this week.
California’s excise tax on gasoline drops 6 cents, to 30 cents a
gallon on July 1. Welcome news, but a combination of state and
federal taxes along with fees passed along to consumers will keep
California’s overall gas prices among the highest in the nation.
http://www.pe.com/articles/cents-771950-tax-excise.html  

Water Use Declining as Natural Gas Grows. As the U.S. has
undergone a rapid and massive shift to natural gas from coal, one
benefit has gone almost entirely overlooked: the amount of water
needed to cool the nation’s power plants has dropped
substantially.
The widespread adoption of hydraulic fracturing (fracking)
technology has led to dramatically higher natural gas production
in the U.S. since 2005.
http://www.climatecentral.org/news/water-use-declines-as-natural-gas-grows-19162


OPINIONS

Editorial: Valley could be air-cleanup showplace. The Valley’s
notoriously dirty air can be cleaned without destroying our
region’s economy. We know. This sounds too good to be true. But
it isn’t. In fact, the cleaning of our air — which is believed to
be worst in the country — could trigger an economic explosion
that results in the strengthening of the Valley’s middle class
and the lifting of thousands of families out of poverty.
http://www.fresnobee.com/opinion/editorials/article25793764.html#storylink=cpy


Jody Strait: Bishops are right on climate; Denham should help
lead. Re “Morality of climate change” (Opinions, June 25): My
heart goes out to Bishops Blaire, Ochoa and Soto for recognizing
our obligation to be good stewards and protect the poor. The
threat that climate change poses to our children and to the poor
is serious, yet so is the threat that it currently poses to
citizens in California’s Central Valley.
http://www.modbee.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article25769848.html#storylink=cpy


Norm Groot: Throwing away our water with food waste. In recent
months, there has been much debate about the amount of water it
takes to grow our food … mainly, what crops use more water than
others. I have observed the discussion focus on almonds, lettuce,
tomatoes, and yes, even kale. Somewhat a crop-of-the-week
scenario where one is attacked, defended, and the next is then
attacked.
http://www.montereyherald.com/opinion/20150629/norm-groot-throwing-away-our-water-with-food-waste


Healing the planet will make us healthier, too: Editorial. A new
report in The Lancet shows that tackling climate change wouldn’t
just heal the planet. It would make us healthier, too. The case
for taking aggressive action against climate change just got even
more compelling. According to a landmark new study, global
warming is the 21st century’s greatest threat to human health …
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2015/06/29/healing-the-planet-will-make-us-healthier-too-editorial.html


BLOGS

July 4 fireworks spark astonishing spike in air pollution, NOAA
study finds. Every July 4, the 14,000-plus dazzling fireworks
displays across the nation have a toxic effect on our atmosphere.
A new NOAA study shows they temporarily increase particulate
pollution by an average of 42 percent. The first of its kind
study, published in the journal Atmospheric Environment, analyzed
concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2015/06/30/july-4-fireworks-spark-astonishing-spike-in-air-pollution-noaa-study-finds/


The Aesthetics of Environmental Equity. The Aussies don't like
the look of wind energy, it seems. A few weeks ago, Australian
Prime Minister Tony Abbott called wind farms "visually awful,"
and last year the country's Treasurer described them as
"appalling" and "utterly offensive." Over the past year,
Australian investment in renewable energy reportedly has dropped
by 90 percent…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lance-hosey/the-aesthetics-of-environ_b_7674974.html?utm_hp_ref=green&ir=Green?view=print&comm_ref=false


Kia rolls out updated Cee'd hatches in Europe. Kia makes some
models specifically for the North American market, and keeps some
models back at home in South Korea that we never see. But it also
makes some for other markets, like the Cee'd. And now it's
rolling out a revised version for the European market.
http://www.autoblog.com/2015/06/30/2016-kia-ceed-europe-official/





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