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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.

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