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newsclips -- ARB Newsclips for August 11, 2015.
Posted: 11 Aug 2015 14:30:05
ARB Newsclips for August 11, 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 Clean Power Plan Extensions Have a Catch: Outreach. States seeking additional time to develop compliance strategies for the Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan must first show that they have engaged with minority and at-risk populations. The Clean Power Plan (RIN 2060-AR33), issued Aug. 3, establishes three criteria for states seeking an additional two years to develop their compliance plans… http://www.bna.com/clean-power-plan-n17179934553/ Cruise lines cited for violating air regulations. Several cruise lines have been found to be in violation of Alaska air pollution regulations. The violations were revealed Friday in Norwegian Cruise Line's quarterly Security and Exchange Commission filing. SEC filings filed July 31 also indicate that the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation cited Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises for similar alleged violations… http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Cruise-lines-cited-for-violating-air-regulations-6435715.php Air pollution from China undermining gains in California, Western states. Aside from smartphones, toys and computers, China exports a different kind of product into the western United States — air pollution. A study released Monday by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA found that smog-forming chemicals making their way across the Pacific Ocean from… http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/environment-and-nature/20150810/air-pollution-from-china-undermining-gains-in-california-western-states http://www.sgvtribune.com/environment-and-nature/20150810/air-pollution-from-china-undermining-gains-in-california-western-states http://www.azocleantech.com/news.aspx?newsID=22298 City to study how Uber affects traffic, pollution. The city council on Monday morning signed into a law a plan to study how for-hire cars like Uber affect traffic and air pollution around the city. The study will take a close look at how the growing number of Internet-based car service vehicles affect the city’s air quality and increasingly congested streets… http://nypost.com/2015/08/10/city-to-study-how-uber-affects-traffic-pollution/ EPA plots 'ambitious' timeline to address mercury rule costs. U.S. EPA yesterday laid out what it called an "ambitious" schedule to address the Supreme Court's recent ruling on the Obama administration's landmark mercury and air toxics standards for power plants. In a court document, EPA said it plans to ask federal appeals court judges to keep the rule in place while it addresses the costs. http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2015/08/11/stories/1060023275 EPA moves to fix air pollution rule after Supreme Court loss. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to fix by this spring the problem that caused the Supreme Court to rule against its major air pollution regulation in July. The EPA told a lower court on Monday that it is formulating a plan to conduct cost-benefit analysis as part of a revision of its finding that the mercury rule is “appropriate and necessary.” http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/250779-epa-moves-to-fix-air-pollution-rule-after-supreme-court-loss CLIMATE CHANGE Australia criticized over greenhouse-gas reduction target. Australia has been criticized over its new greenhouse-gas reduction target which lags behind the ambitions of most wealthy countries. Lawmakers in Prime Minister Tony Abbott's conservative government on Tuesday agreed on a target of curbing carbon gas emissions to at least 26 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The target could go as high as 28 percent, Abbott said. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_AUSTRALIA_CLIMATE_CHANGE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT OTHER RELATED STORIES http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/250803-australia-pledges-26-28-percent-emissions-cut http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/11/abbott-governments-2030-emissions-target-dubbed-pathetically-inadequate Ex Machina: No Techno-Fix For Irreversible Ocean Collapse From Carbon Pollution. A new study finds there is no “deus ex machina” way to prevent a catastrophic collapse of ocean life for centuries if not millennia — if we don’t start slashing carbon pollution ASAP. The Nature Climate Change study examined what would happen if we continue current CO2 emissions trends through 2050… http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/08/11/3689803/ex-machina-irreversible-ocean-collapse-carbon/ Is the West Coast's massive toxic algal bloom a sign of climate changes to come? The water began turning a barely perceptible brownish-green in early May, a sign that algae were present and growing in the waters of Monterey Bay. By the end of month, Raphael Kudela, a professor of ocean sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and his team, who run a regional algae monitoring project… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/08/11/stories/1060023263 Forest mortality may rise with a warming climate – study. The fate of forests in a rapidly changing climate is highly uncertain, but now a new study in Ecosphere has concluded that the risk to forests is much greater than what some scientists previously believed. "There is a whole bunch of tree die-offs that are happening right now across the U.S., especially in California… http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/08/11/stories/1060023266 Arctic becoming warmer and wetter as ice melts. The Arctic has become wetter and warmer throughout the 21st century partly because of sea ice loss, according to new research. The researchers were the first to analyze data from a relatively new NASA weather-monitoring system, called the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder, that is attached to a satellite. http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2015/08/11/stories/1060023248 DROUGHT Water and Power: What can stop El Niño? Will El Niño save California from the drought this winter? Not if the Blob has anything to do with it. Fighting fires: Thanks to the drought, California can expect bigger and more expensive wildfires. The U.S. Forest Service now spends more than half its budget on suppressing fires, up from 16% of the budget in 1996. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-water-power-html-20150811-htmlstory.html Sacramento planning commission to consider allowing artificial turf in front yards. The Sacramento Planning and Design Commission will consider a proposal Thursday that would allow residents and businesses to install currently off-limits artificial turf in front and side yards, part of the city’s efforts to cut water use by 28 percent. A city ordinance in place for three decades requires living vegetation in front and side… http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article30667023.html#storylink=cpy How the West’s Drought Is Affecting Lung Health. What residents of California and other areas under siege can do to reduce their risk. In explaining how the sustained drought in California and other parts of the West might be affecting people living through it, experts point not only to parched ground but to the hazy skies. http://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2015/08/11/how-the-wests-drought-is-affecting-lung-health FUELS Cheaper oil forces South Africa to rework biofuels subsidy. South Africa's biofuels funding incentive is being revamped over concerns that it is unaffordable after a halving of global crude oil prices over the past year, officials said on Tuesday. A net importer of crude, Africa’s most advanced economy wants biofuels initially to meet 2 percent… http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN0QG0RJ20150811 TransCanada quietly plots response as Keystone XL rejection seems imminent. Alberta company consulting lawyers on possibly suing U.S. under NAFTA. The Canadian company involved in the controversy-plagued Keystone XL project has begun planning its response as indications mount the proposed oil pipeline will be rejected by U.S. President Barack Obama. http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/transcanada-quietly-plots-response-as-keystone-xl-rejection-seems-imminent-1.3185105 VEHICLES Hyundai, Kia Do It All: Electrics, Hybrids, Prius Fighters, Hydrogen, Even Diesel. When it comes to advanced automotive technology, most global carmakers are placing their bets with care. Toyota is all-in for hydrogen fuel cells, while Nissan is betting on battery-electric vehicles for its future. GM too is on the plug-in side of the ledger, while other makers hang back more cautiously. http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1099523_hyundai-kia-do-it-all-electrics-hybrids-prius-fighters-hydrogen-even-diesel Electric Car Drivers Tell Ford: We'll Never Go Back To Gasoline. Fully nine out of 10 electric-car drivers say they won't go back to cars with internal-combustion engines, according to a new Ford survey. The results included responses from 10,000 drivers of both battery-electric cars and plug-in hybrids. It found that 92 percent of battery-electric drivers… http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1099531_electric-car-drivers-tell-ford-well-never-go-back-to-gasoline GREEN ENERGY China Advised to Double Solar Goal to Fill Nuclear, Hydro Gap. China is being encouraged by three industry groups to double the nation’s solar-power goal for 2020 to fill a gap forecast to emerge because nuclear and hydropower are due to fall short of targets. The world’s biggest solar market needs 200 gigawatts of such capacity by then, according to a document seen by Bloomberg. http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-NSWYA06JTSE801-72A3D6P162K6L4AOOJUJJUVEAQ Solar Power Capacity in India to Reach 75GW by 2022, Report Says. Solar will account for more than a fifth of India’s increase in electricity demand by 2022 as installed capacity reaches 75 gigawatts, according to a research report. Helped by a $50 billion grid upgrade and new installations, India’s solar capacity will be capable of delivering 110 terawatt-hours, or 22 percent… http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-NSWNJO6JTSEB01-2I3FEOQN8A1A23O2MU91PNV27S USDA invests $63M in 264 renewable energy, efficiency projects. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced $63 million in loans and grants this month for 264 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects nationwide that USDA is supporting through its Rural Energy for America Program. “This funding will have far-reaching economic and environmental impacts nationwide… http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/474687/usda-invests-63m-in-264-renewable-energy-efficiency-projects Energy Department Reports Highlight Trends of Growing U.S. Wind Energy Industry. According to two reports released today by the Energy Department, the U.S. wind energy industry continued growing at an impressive rate in 2014, further solidifying America’s position as a global leader in wind energy. Wind power is a key component of the President’s all-of-the-above energy strategy and Clean Power Plan… http://www.imperialvalleynews.com/index.php/news/national-news/4731-energy-department-reports-highlight-trends-of-growing-u-s-wind-energy-industry.html China To Spend Trillions On 'Green Tech' The Chinese government will spend upwards up $2.5 trillion over the next 15 years on clean energy projects designed to provide a lift-off to its most promising alternative energy firms. Rae Kwon Chung, principal advisor on climate change of the United Nations Secretary-General, came up with the figures during the China Summit… http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2015/08/11/china-to-spend-trillions-on-green-tech/ MISCELLANEOUS State consumer advocate to pull out of San Onofre nuclear plant settlement. A multibillion-dollar settlement over the closed San Onofre nuclear power plant took another blow Monday as the state consumer advocate said that he was withdrawing from the deal and would urge regulators to reopen the case. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-consumer-advocate-settlement-20150810-story.html No mileage tracking in California road tax plan. Higher gas and diesel taxes, revenue from the state’s cap-and-trade program, and increased vehicle license and registration fees are among the possible sources of new revenue included in a transportation-funding package of principles put forward Monday by a coalition of local government, business and labor groups. http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article30633093.html#storylink=cpy Japan restarts first nuclear reactor since Fukushima disaster. Japan has restarted its first nuclear reactor since the Fukushima disaster in March, 2011. Kyushu Electric Power Company told CNN Tuesday that it had reactivated No. 1 reactor at its Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture, on the southern island of Kyushu. http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/11/asia/japan-nuclear-reactor/ OPINIONS The Reality of Taiwan’s Energy Situation. Sherry Chen responds to Joseph Wu’s July 29 letter, “Renewable Energy Is Not Dangerous for Taiwan.”In his letter to the editor (“Renewable Energy Is Not Dangerous for Taiwan,” July 29), Joseph Wu states that the Democratic Progressive Party seeks to generate 20% of overall energy production from renewable sources by 2025. http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-reality-of-taiwans-energy-situation-1439313681 State of the Drought: Something is burning. It was like the hint of a first snow. At first, you aren't sure if you see it fall, but then you catch a flake on your arm and you examine it as it shimmers and slowly melts. But this time there's heat that holds you, and the flakes are not only white, they are also black and gray as they rain softly down. http://www.sfchronicle.com/thetake/article/State-of-the-Drought-Ashes-like-snow-6436466.php?t=e14beda632 'The Water Knife' Previews A Future Drought Scenario. As I write this, California remains deep in its fourth year of drought. One hundred percent of the state of Nevada in drought — with 40 percent in the extreme drought category. Over to the southeast, 93 percent of Arizona's territory is in some form of drought. Even Washington state, far to the north, finds all of its territory in drought and 32 percent of its land in extreme doubt. http://www.capradio.org/news/npr/story?storyid=431522774 Editorial, Aug. 11, 2015 Acting nationally is right way to fight global climate change. On issues from Iran to health care to gay rights, Barack Obama could be said to be feeling his progressive oats as he enters the final two years of his presidency. Facing no more electoral pressures, the last quarter of the time allotted to a nation’s leader who has been re-elected to a second term has traditionally been a period… http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/opinion/20150810/editorial-aug-11-2015-acting-nationally-is-right-way-to-fight-global-climate-change Lee-Ashley: Federal policies still favor coal. With the release of the Clean Power Plan last week, the U.S. took a landmark step toward leveling the playing field among renewable and fossil fuel energy sources that will be powering our homes and businesses for decades to come. Wind and solar energy, for example, will now be allowed to compete more fairly with coal, whose high external costs… http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2015/08/11/fed-policies-still-favor-coal/31423279/ Wash. state can lead on global warming and clean energy. THE dust has settled on a frustrating legislative session. Time and again, oil interests blocked broadly supported steps to encourage the transition to clean energy and cut global-warming pollution. There is a lot of individual blame to go around, but we see this as a broad failure of our state’s political institutions. http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/wash-state-can-lead-on-global-warming-and-clean-energy/ Gran/My Turn: No pause in global warming. An article in Science News June 27, “Global warming ‘hiatus’” an artifact states: “One of the biggest mysteries of modern climate science may have never really existed …” This refers to a paper published June 4, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in the journal Science, which concluded there has been no “pause” in global warming. http://www.recorder.com/home/18128126-95/granmy-turn-no-pause-in-warming BLOGS Grasslands protocol opens another carbon market for farmers. GrasslandsGrowers with grasslands on their property have a new reason to leave that land untouched. On July 22, the Climate Action Reserve, a non-profit organization that creates offset standards and serves as one of the offset registries for California’s cap-and-trade program… http://blogs.edf.org/growingreturns/2015/08/10/grasslands-protocol-opens-another-carbon-market-for-farmers/ China is exporting ozone pollution to the U.S. — which is only fair. It’s no secret that the U.S. imports a lot from China, and according to a new study in Nature Geoscience, now we can add ozone pollution — our old pal smog — to the list. “The dominant westerly winds blew this air pollution straight across to the United States… http://grist.org/news/china-is-exporting-ozone-pollution-to-the-u-s-which-is-only-fair/ To protect the climate, repeal the biofuel mandate. Ten years ago, the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) was signed into law with the promise that biofuels – corn ethanol in particular – would set the country on a cleaner, greener and more energy secure path. Has the policy, ten years into its tenure, delivered on its promises? Has it helped the environment? http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/250620-to-protect-the-climate-repeal-the-biofuel-mandate The third fossil fuel in the climate conversation. President Obama’s Clean Power Plan is a significant step in the right direction to combat climate change. The coal and natural gas fueling the nation’s electricity grid have vastly different implications for a warming world than do renewables. Addressing these two fossil fuels climate footprints is an imperative. http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/250601-the-third-fossil-fuel-in-the-climate-conversation Farmers Are Generating Renewable Energy And Making Money -- Thanks To Cow Poop. Why "cow power" could be the next big renewable energy source. ho knew cow manure could turn out to be so valuable? According to an Agence France-Presse story published this month, a family-run dairy farm in northern Indiana is finding a revenue-generating and earth-friendly use for the 70,000 gallons of manure and urine produced daily by its 3,400 cows. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cow-manure-renewable-energy-anaerobic-digesters_55c8f450e4b0f1cbf1e5d38c First as tragedy, then as farce: FEMA still to adapt to climate change. During tropical storm Irene in 2011, small streams roared like gigantic fire hoses, washing away or severely damaging hundreds of bridges and culverts across Vermont, including Fay Brook Bridge, which had stood for more than 80 years in a narrow valley outside this tiny village. “Mother Nature is powerful,” says David Indenbaum… http://necir.org/2015/08/11/fema-tragedy-and-farce/ California is in a drought emergency. Visit www.SaveOurH2O.org for water conservation tips.