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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for July 30, 2015.
Posted: 30 Jul 2015 16:23:28
ARB Newsclips for July 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. AIR POLLUTION Japan’s Coal Hunger Poses Costly Challenge to Emissions. Japan will depend on new coal technology that’s more than twice the cost of traditional plants to meet its targets on reducing global warming pollution. In a plan formally adopted earlier this month, Japan said it expects coal to generate about a quarter of the nation’s electricity by 2030. For Japan to meet this target and still meet its goal of reducing climate-warming gases… http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-29/japan-s-coal-hunger-poses-costly-challenge-to-emissions-icp9aioh Air quality board approves funding for Caltrain electrification. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District board has approved $20 million in funding for a Caltrain electrification project expected to greatly reduce emissions and allow for expanded passenger service. The funding, to be paid out in installments over the next several years, will go toward the electrification of 51 miles of track between San Francisco… http://www.ktvu.com/story/29670038/air-quality-board-approves-funding-for-caltrain-electrification http://sfbay.ca/2015/07/30/air-board-chips-in-20-million-to-electrify-caltrain/ Technology emerges to 'crowdsource' levels of greenhouse gases and smog. The San Francisco Bay Area will soon see Google Street View vehicles that not only take snapshots of its streets but also capture snapshots of the air quality in neighborhoods they pass. Google and Aclima, a San Francisco-based air sensor technology developer… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/07/30/stories/1060022648 CLIMATE CHANGE Californians divided along party lines on combating climate change. Two-thirds of Californians link the state's ongoing catastrophic drought to climate change, and most support Governor Jerry Brown's efforts to combat it – but that's also because most Californians are Democrats, a new poll shows. The survey released on Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) shows that 64 percent…http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/07/30/us-climatechange-usa-california-idUKKCN0Q408P20150730 http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Most-Californians-link-climate-change-drought-6413533.php East Bay's Park It: Oakley's Big Break the place see climate change up close. Between El Niño and the drought, the East Bay's natural landscape is filled with oddities these days. Giant purple sea slugs are turning up on the shoreline, birds are migrating months earlier than usual and mammals appear to be few and far between. No place is better to observe these natural shifts than Big Break Regional Shoreline in Oakley. http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_28556086/east-bays-park-it-oakleys-big-break-place Climate Change Variability, Not Just Temperatures, Increase Mortality Risks for Vulnerable Populations. Climate and health research has shown that weather extremes fueled by climate change are seriously threatening human health. It is well-known by the public health community that average seasonal mean temperatures significantly influence the risk of weather-related mortality. http://www.theenergycollective.com/nrdcswitchboard/2253082/climate-change-variability-not-just-temperatures-increase-mortality-risks-vu What Warming Means for 4 of Summer’s Worst Pests. Summer may mean it’s time for outdoor fun in the sun, but it’s also prime time for a number of pests. All that extra time outdoors can bring everything from poison ivy rashes to exposure to Lyme disease from tick bites. And of course there’s that ubiquitous summer menace, the mosquito. With the rising temperatures brought about by global warming… http://www.climatecentral.org/news/what-warming-means-summers-pests-19295 Californians Fear Global Warming Is Drying Out Our State. By now most of you probably agree that global warming is a matter of scientific fact. Where the slope gets slippery is when armchair meteorologists try to figure out what, exactly, this warm-up is doing to our day-to-day weather. Blame a heat wave on global warming and you could be labeled a crackpot. http://www.laweekly.com/news/californians-fear-global-warming-is-drying-out-our-state-5859767 Warming May Boost Wind Energy in Plains States. Powerful winds are commonplace in the U.S. prairie states, which experienced walls of dirt swept into the air by these gusts during the Dust Bowl. While today's winds don't often carry the huge quantities of dust that they did in the 1930s, they’re stirring up something significantly more useful in states like Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas – energy. http://www.climatecentral.org/news/warming-may-boost-wind-energy-19290 Researchers credit almonds with lighter carbon footprint. New university research credits almond production with having a relatively light carbon footprint compared to other crops. Two related articles in the current issue of the Journal of Industrial Ecology note that such measures as efficient irrigation and use of orchard clippings have helped reduce the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions. http://www.capitalpress.com/Orchards/20150728/researchers-credit-almonds-with-lighter-carbon-footprint What consequences await states that 'just say no' to EPA carbon rule? Power generators used to building U.S. EPA regulations into their plans are expected to be the key to meeting carbon emissions targets, particularly in states where governors refuse to comply with the Obama administration's upcoming rule. The rule aimed at fighting climate change… http://www.eenews.net/energywire/stories/1060022681 Reflecting on BP's 'Beyond Petroleum' shift, new study puts climate change responsibility on energy companies. In May 1997, Lord John Browne, BP PLC's chief executive at the time, delivered a stem-winding speech to about 100 people at Stanford University to "discuss in a calm and rational way a subject which raises great emotion." http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/07/30/stories/1060022679 'We will not back down' on power plan -- White House. President Obama is prepared to defend U.S. EPA's Clean Power Plan with his veto pen, even if riders come attached to must-pass legislation, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough said this morning. Speaking at an event in Washington, D.C., hosted by New Republic, McDonough said the president anticipated Republicans would launch a host of attacks against the carbon rule for existing power plants. http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060022629 DROUGHT Drought-hit forests store less carbon dioxide than thought: researchers. The world's forests are taking longer than expected to recover from increasingly frequent droughts, meaning their ability to store climate-changing carbon dioxide is smaller than previously thought, Utah University researchers said on Thursday. If forests are absorbing less carbon dioxide, then the effects of climate change will be worse than past models had predicted… http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/30/us-climatechange-forests-science-idUSKCN0Q41YX20150730 Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduces $1.3-billion California drought-relief bill. Sen. Dianne Feinstein filed her long-awaited legislative response to California's water crisis on Wednesday, hoping to broker a compromise that has eluded Congress through four years of fallow fields and brown lawns. Feinstein's proposal would funnel $1.3 billion over the next decade to storage, desalination and other projects. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-feinstein-drought-20150729-story.html Californians saved huge amounts of water in June. Urban water use in California dropped by 27% in June, compared with the same period two years ago, according to figures released Thursday by the State Water Resources Control Board. June is the first month that urban water districts must meet mandatory conservation targets in order to comply with Gov. Jerry Brown’s drought order. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-water-conservation-20150729-story.html Keeping up with the Joneses' drought-friendly yard boosted MWD's tab for rebates. When it came down to it, the number crunchers at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California knew they saved a lot more water for every dollar spent subsidizing low-flush toilets than drought-friendly lawns. But there was one thing the MWD planners didn't bank on when they threw an unprecedented $340 million… http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-turf-rebate-psychology-20150729-story.html#page=1 California's drought spurs unexpected effect: Eco-friendly development. The drought in California has gone on so long, and is so severe, that it's beginning to change the way people are designing residential communities — in unexpected ways, and unexpected places. Planning is under way, for instance, for one of the first eco-friendly communities in California's predominantly agricultural Central Valley. http://www.scpr.org/news/2015/07/29/53459/california-s-drought-spurs-unexpected-effect-eco-f/ Farmers, fighting back, say they're unfairly blamed for worsening drought. In November the BBC sought to explain “ How almonds are sucking California dry.” Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton followed up in April asking, “Why do farmers get a free pass from Brown?” California’s agricultural industry this week returned fire with a PR campaign that seeks to emphasize strides in conservation made by farmers in recent years. http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2015/07/29/farmers-fighting-back-say-theyre-unfairly-blamed.html DIESEL ACTIVITIES Ricardo cuts ribbon at £10m Vehicle Emissions Research Centre. Consultancy launches state-of-the-art facility to assess emissions of petrol, diesel and hybrid electric vehicles. Engineering consultancy Ricardo has this week officially opened a £10m state-of-the-art Vehicle Emissions Research Centre (VERC) in Shoreham-by-Sea in Sussex. The purpose-built facility, which aims to support low-carbon vehicle development… http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2419726/ricardo-cuts-ribbon-at-gbp10m-vehicle-emissions-research-centre FUELS Pacific Ethanol said profit margins improving on fuel demand. Pacific Ethanol Inc is bullish on its margins for the rest of the year after they improved during the last few weeks, Chief Executive Officer Neil Koehler said on a conference call with analysts on Thursday. Increased domestic demand for gasoline and strong export demand for ethanol helped to boost profitability for the company… http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFL1N10A27N20150730 Kern County to consider cracking down on oil field waste water pits. The Central Valley Water Board will consider a cease-and-desist order Thursday against a Kern County company that operates dozens of unlined pits holding oil field waste water. The board says it has evidence that a plume of oil waste from one or more of the 27 pits has contaminated groundwater. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-lan-oil-water-pits-20150730-story.html World Bank rejects energy industry notion that coal can cure poverty. The World Bank said coal was no cure for global poverty on Wednesday, rejecting a main industry argument for building new fossil fuel projects in developing countries. In a rebuff to coal, oil and gas companies, Rachel Kyte, the World Bank climate change envoy, said continued use of coal was exacting a heavy cost on some of the world’s poorest countries… http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/29/world-bank-coal-cure-poverty-rejects SANTA BARBARA OIL SPILL Big oil slick off Santa Barbara County coast sparks new concerns. hat greasy luster returned once again to the waters off Santa Barbara County. An oil slick that stretched more than 3 miles was spotted Wednesday by some kayakers, about two months after a ruptured pipeline spilled more than 21,000 gallons of crude into the ocean off this picturesque coastline. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-oil-slick-santa-barbara-county-20150729-story.html VEHICLES BMW Drivers Get Paid $1,000 to Delay Charging i3 Electric Cars. In a new pilot program, a California utility is paying drivers of BMW electric cars to delay charging their vehicles when the power grid is under pressure. One hundred owners of BMW AG’s i3 hatchback receive $1,000 upfront to participate in Pacific Gas & Electric Co.’s 18-month trial, which starts this week and is confined to the San Francisco Bay Area. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-30/bmw-drivers-get-paid-1-000-to-delay-charging-i3-electric-cars GM adds diesel engine to Chevrolet, GMC pickups. General Motors is joining the diesel club when it comes to its light-duty pickup trucks. GM just added a 3.8-liter Duramax turbo-diesel engine to its two midsize pickups, the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. It joins the likes of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, which has seen huge popularity for the diesel in its Ram full-size truck, and Nissan… http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/07/28/gm-chevrolet-midsize-pickups-diesel/30787655/ Ride-sharing forces automakers to rethink how they sell cars. For at least 22 hours a day most cars sit parked, sucking up their owners' money while waiting to be driven. For most people, it's one of their most underutilized — but most expensive — assets. Now, some companies are devising ways to help people profit from their vehicles. Start-ups like RelayRides and Getaround help people rent out their cars during down time. http://www.latimes.com/business/autos/la-fi-0628-ford-car-sharing-20150628-story.html#page=1 U.S. will finalize long-delayed ‘quiet cars’ rules. The Obama administration said Wednesday it will finalize in November long delayed rules requiring “quiet cars” to add new alerts to warn pedestrians. At an event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said action was coming. http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2015/07/29/us-will-finalize-long-delayed-quiet-cars-rules/30828651/ Used Teslas, CA Hydrogen Infrastructure, Fuel-Cell Ferry: Today's Car News. Today, we look at who buys used Tesla electric cars, how Toyota plans to address issues with California's hydrogen fueling infrastructure ahead of the launch of the 2016 Mirai, and plans for a fuel-cell ferry in San Francisco. All this and more on Green Car Reports. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1099359_used-teslas-ca-hydrogen-infrastructure-fuel-cell-ferry-todays-car-news U.S. Vehicles Now Have Average Age Of 11.5 Years (Waste Not, Want Not). The cars on U.S. roads are older than they've ever been. A recent survey found that the average age of U.S. vehicles is now at a record high of 11.5 years. That means the average passenger car on the road today was built for the 2004 model year… http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1099351_u-s-vehicles-now-have-average-age-of-11-5-years-waste-not-want-not http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/In-Gear/2015/0730/Cars-on-US-roads-are-now-older-than-ever GREEN ENERGY Renewable Energy Powers Up Rural India. Solar startup Omnigrid supplies remote villages, relying on income from telecom firms. A small field of solar panels on the outskirts of this rural district was built to generate energy for a cellphone tower. Now it also supplies electricity to local residents who have suffered from chronic power shortages for decades. http://www.wsj.com/articles/renewable-energy-powers-up-rural-india-1438193488?mod=rss_Business Cheap Power or Clean Energy? India’s $200 Billion Dilemma. A weak link lurks in Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push for an unprecedented $200 billion expansion of clean energy: cash-starved state electricity distributors. The retailers have racked up more than 2.5 trillion rupees ($39 billion) of losses partly because they’re forced to sell below cost to keep energy affordable, Power Ministry data show. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-07-29/cheap-power-or-clean-energy-india-s-200-billion-dilemma Construction begins on first offshore wind farm in U.S. Construction began Sunday on the nation's first offshore wind farm, 3 miles off the coast of Rhode Island. Several other offshore wind projects elsewhere are in the early stages of development. Workers started setting the steel foundation for the Rhode Island wind farm, near the 1,000-person tourist town of Block Island, this weekend. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/07/30/stories/1060022636 OPINIONS You Don't Drink Treated Sewage? Gross! At the end of a tour of Orange County, California's Groundwater Replenishment System -- and they give lots of tours -- a visitor is shown three big sinks with water flowing into them. On the right is the brown brew known as the brine -- the small, salty remnant of water that the facility just can't clean. http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-07-29/you-don-t-drink-treated-sewage-gross- California Farmers Aren’t the Water Hogs. You wouldn’t know it from the environmentalist rhetoric, but in the agricultural business we try not to waste a drop. The worst thing about California’s drought is the suffering it has caused ordinary people. In many places, drinking wells have dried up. The crisis is so severe that the state has restricted water use. http://www.wsj.com/articles/california-farmers-arent-the-water-hogs-1438211135 Local governments are picking up the slack on climate change. To the editor: When Aaron Renn scolds local communities for challenging climate-destroying fossil fuel development like drilling in the Arctic, he's relaying Big Oil's message: Resistance is futile. ("Local environmental activists don't get to make federal policy," op-ed, July 27). More than a quarter of a century after scientists confirmed to Congress that climate disruption poses a grave threat… http://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-le-0730-thursday-environment-20150730-story.html BLOGS Fossil Carbon Muddies The New Clean Fuels. Even if it gets its energy from the sun, the burgeoning sustainable fuels industry will only worsen climate change if it gets CO2 from the earth and not from the air, an expert on the carbon cycle said Tuesday. Sustainable fuels are hydrocarbon alternatives to fossil petroleum that are made through photosynthesis—such as fuels made from algae or grasses… http://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2015/07/29/low-carbon-is-still-too-much-carbon-in-biofuels/ Earth now halfway to UN global warming limit. IT’S the outcome the world wants to avoid, but we are already halfway there. All but one of the main trackers of global surface temperature are now passing more than 1 °C of warming relative to the second half of the 19th century, according to an exclusive analysis done for New Scientist. We could also be seeing the end of the much-discussed slowdown in surface warming since 1998… https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22730324-200-earth-now-halfway-to-un-global-warming-limit/ Texas vs. France: A Look at Who’s Bigger, Hotter, and More Prepared for Climate Change. If you drive around the Lone Star State, you’re sure to see bumper stickers that say, “Texas: Bigger than France.” It references an ongoing debate about which “country” is bigger (something Texans feel very strongly about), but a closer look (aka, a quick Google search) reveals Texas and France are roughly equivalent in size. This, however, is where the similarities end – at least until recently. http://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/2015/07/29/texas-vs-france-a-look-at-whos-bigger-hotter-and-more-prepared-for-climate-change/ California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.