What's New List Serve Post Display

ARB Newsclips for February 4, 2016. 

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

Officials seek action to correct emissions breaches at Port of
Los Angeles. Elected officials are demanding swift action and
increased oversight at the Port of Los Angeles following
disclosure that a second major shipping company has been allowed
to skirt requirements to reduce harmful diesel emissions. Port
officials failed to require two large terminal operators…
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-0204-port-20160204-story.html

Chinese students get a refreshing course in clean air during
visit to Newport Beach.  As the students from Beijing's
Experimental High School stepped into the Environmental Nature
Center in Newport Beach, they wandered toward one of the big open
doors and felt a warm breeze blow into the room. It gave them a
chance to enjoy what they believe is the biggest difference
between Newport Beach and Beijing, the Chinese capital that is
notorious for its smog.
http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-0204-chinese-delegation-20160203-story.html


8 companies that won't have to meet Ontario's new pollution
limits. Strict new emission rules coming in July, and more
companies seeking exemptions. he provincial government will be
bringing in strict new pollution standards this summer, but some
of Ontario's biggest polluters won't be required to meet them.
CBC News has obtained the list of all companies that currently
have multi-year exemptions…
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-pollution-emissions-exemptions-1.3432090


Lawmakers seek rule leniency to protect key sectors. A House
subcommittee appeared split along party lines yesterday over
bills to relax air quality regulations on brick makers and a
small niche of the electric power business. "Hopefully, we can
provide some relief to these industries as they protect jobs…
http://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2016/02/04/stories/1060031788

ALISO CANYON

Aliso Canyon gas leak prompts new proposed state regulations. The
natural gas leak in Aliso Canyon continues to reverberate in
Sacramento, where air pollution officials are proposing new rules
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas facilities.
The state Air Resources Board is considering rules establishing
new monitoring requirements for natural gas storage sites,
quarterly inspections for leaks and needed repairs and a
prohibition on venting and flaring.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-new-oil-gas-regulations-20160203-story.html


Sempra-owned utility charged in gas leak. Sempra Energy's
Southern California Gas Co. on Tuesday was charged with failing
to immediately notify state authorities about a massive natural
gas leak in the Los Angeles area. Los Angeles County District
Attorney Jackie Lacey filed four misdemeanor criminal charges
against the gas company, accusing it of releasing air
contaminants…
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/feb/03/porter-ranch-charges/?Watchdog


CLIMATE CHANGE

Is global warming behind D.C.’s new era of great snowstorms?
Evidence is piling up that D.C. and other major northeastern
cities have entered a new era of great snowstorms and that
climate change may well play an important role. In our planet’s
most rapid period of global warming (in modern records), from the
late 1970s to present…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-weather-gang/wp/2016/02/03/is-global-warming-behind-d-c-s-new-era-of-great-snowstorms/


These Fish Species Are Most Vulnerable to Climate Change. Scallop
and salmon are among the most vulnerable to the warming. Scallop
and salmon are among the species of fish most vulnerable to the
warming of ocean waters due to climate change, according to new
research. The study, conducted by researchers from the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)…
http://time.com/4207045/climate-change-fish-species/?xid=homepage


Engaging local peoples helps climate-shielding forests, study
says. Direct engagement, not displacement, with local communities
is found to be more successful at preserving land. Just after the
recent Paris climate talks pinpointed tropical forests as a key
weapon against global warming, a new study has found that direct
engagement with local peoples in these territories and
recognition of their land rights is more successful at preserving
land than attempting to buy them off.
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2016/2/3/engaging-locals-more-beneficial-to-forests.html


Republicans readying response to climate deal. Republicans are
unlikely to spend their precious floor time between now and May
on votes to compel the State Department to seek Senate consent
for last year's Paris climate change deal, an aide on a key
committee said yesterday. But Senate Environment and Public Works
Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.) plans to keep the deal in the
spotlight this spring…
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/02/04/stories/1060031802 

DROUGHT

Yes, you still have to conserve water. But the state's rules
might ease soon. While new regulations approved by state water
officials Tuesday extended restrictions on urban water use
through October, they also instituted measures that could help
local water districts that have struggled to meet reduction
mandates. The revised regulations take into account pleas from
some districts…
http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-0204-water-conservation-20160203-story.html


Fresno, Clovis get relief on water-saving requirements as state
lowers targets.  The state Water Resources Control Board has
extended a set of mandatory water-conservation standards that
were set to expire this month. But in addition to continuing the
regulations through October, the board also approved adjustments
that will lower the savings threshold for most communities
throughout the state…
http://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article58207783.html#storylink=cpy


Official: El Nino could signal easing of California drought. In
the strongest indication yet that the California drought could be
easing, officials said strict water conservation orders could be
dramatically scaled back or even ended if El Nino storms keep
pummeling the state into the spring. The assessment came amid
encouraging results from Tuesday’s measurement of the Sierra
Nevada snowpack…
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/water-702679-conservation-drought.html


Drought Remains 'Very Serious' In California. The U.S. Drought
Monitor says exceptional drought was reduced in one area of the
northern Sierra this week, "despite heavy precipitation and
rebounding stream flows in the short term the past few weeks."
"It was decided to hold off on making substantial changes to the
depiction in the far West until next week," according to the
weekly report.
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2016/02/04/drought-remains-very-serious-in-california/


Agency 'handcuffed' on improving drought response. The Department
of Agriculture needs more money to help Western farmers deal with
drought, an agency official said yesterday. Ann Mills, the
agency's deputy undersecretary for natural resources and
environment, said yesterday at an event that focused on improving
drought response…
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/02/04/stories/1060031796 

FUELS

Corn Ethanol: the Rise and Fall of a Political Force. Ted Cruz
opposes subsidies for biofuels and still managed an Iowa win. Is
corn ethanol losing its political clout? The 2016 primary race is
defying conventional wisdom, with erstwhile fringe candidates
competitive in the polls despite their unorthodox policy
positions.
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-02-03/corn-ethanol-the-rise-and-fall-of-a-political-force

Neste says global biofuels regulation both a help and hindrance. 
Regulatory developments in the US and EU have supported biofuels
producers over the past year but have the potential to create
risk for the sector in the future, Finnish refiner Neste said in
a report Tuesday. The 7% cap on first generation biofuels in the
EU within the wider 10% target for renewable energy in transport…
http://www.platts.com/latest-news/agriculture/london/neste-says-global-biofuels-regulation-both-a-26359412


In dispute over climate guidance, it's EPA vs. FERC. As federal
regulators update their guidance to petitioners seeking to export
liquefied natural gas or build interstate natural gas pipelines,
U.S. EPA is calling for the consideration of climate change and
the full life-cycle emissions associated with using gas. In a
filing that highlights an ongoing interagency feud…
http://www.eenews.net/energywire/2016/02/04/stories/1060031773 

Fossil fuels reign for another 100 years – study. Nations will
not wean themselves off fossil fuels in the next century unless
there are aggressive government policies to prod them, according
to a new study. The world would not by itself run out of fossil
fuels, and alternative energy sources would not become cheap
enough to replace fossil fuels in electricity generation and
transportation, the study finds.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/02/04/stories/1060031798

VEHICLES

Renault, Nissan Report Record Sales of Battery-Powered Vehicles.
Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co Ltd. said sales of battery-powered
vehicles rose to a record 84,754 last year even though there was
a slowdown in demand for the best- selling electric vehicle.
Global EV sales for the Renault-Nissan Alliance rose 2.5 percent
in 2015. The Nissan Leaf, the first mainstream mass- marketed
electric car, suffered a decline…
http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-O20Q1D6K50YA01-3L1QIS03EESH0LROO0VPQMSF7R


2017 Hyundai Ioniq: Dark-Horse Competitor For Prius AND Bolt EV?
The new 2016 Toyota Prius is now arriving at dealers all over the
country, and while gas prices--and hence hybrid sales--are down,
it's expected to boost sales of the quintessential hybrid, now
ranked at 52 or 56 mpg combined. Meanwhile, anticipation is
building over the first deliveries of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV,
the 200-mile electric car…
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1102205_2017-hyundai-ioniq-dark-horse-competitor-for-prius-and-bolt-ev


Quirky rule ensures top spot for Calif. in clean-car race.
Californians drive almost as many electric vehicles as the rest
of the nation combined, but the same regulations that made the
Golden State a plug-in hotbed are keeping other states from
following suit.
California's aggressive zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) regulation is
the only regulation globally that mandates sales quotas for ZEVs…
http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060031717 

VW RECALL

VW replaces top U.S. lawyer as seeks to win approval on emissions
fix. Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE) has replaced the head of its U.S.
legal department with an outside lawyer as it seeks approval to
fix nearly 600,000 vehicles that had software allowing them to
cheat on emission levels, the company said Thursday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-emissions-idUSKCN0VD269


Volkswagen outlines new emissions plan to California officials.
It has been awhile since we have had any recent Volkswagen
dieselgate news. By “awhile” in dieselgate terms, we really mean
about three weeks. Normally it has been bad news, bad breaks, and
nothing positive coming out of the VW camp. But today, we may
potentially finally have some good news by dieselgate standards
as VW has submitted their new emissions plan.
http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/news/vw-new-plan-emissions-fix-article-1.2518888


Volkswagen Submits California Plan to Fix Recalled 3.0 Liter
Diesels. Regulators still need to accept plan for VW to sell
diesels again. The California Air Resources Board and
Environmental Protection Agency said late on Tuesday that
Volkswagen AG submitted a plan to fix 80,000 recalled 3.0 liter
diesel SUVs and cars that emit up to nine times legally allowable
pollution. After more than four months of lengthy talks and
making little apparent progress winning…
http://fortune.com/2016/02/03/vw-california-diesel/ 

VW Submits V-6 Diesel-Update Plan For Audi, Porsche, VW Models.
Cutting its deadline extremely close, Volkswagen submitted a
proposed fix for 3.0-liter V-6 TDI diesel models with "defeat
device" software to U.S. regulators earlier this week. With
progress on addressing the 482,000 cars equipped with 2.0-liter
four-cylinder engines still pending…
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1102199_vw-submits-v-6-diesel-update-plan-for-audi-porsche-vw-models


GREEN ENERGY

A Renewables Revolution Is Toppling the Dominance of Fossil Fuels
in U.S. Power. Renewable energy was the biggest source of new
power added to U.S. electricity grids last year as falling prices
and government incentives made wind and solar increasingly viable
alternatives to fossil fuels. Developers installed 16 gigawatts
of clean energy in 2015, or 68 percent of all new capacity…
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-02-04/renewables-top-fossil-fuels-as-biggest-source-of-new-u-s-power


China’s $230 Billion Green Bond Thirst to Supercharge Market.
China’seffort to build a green bond market may reap 1.5 trillion
yuan ($230 billion) for renewable energy and environment projects
within the next five years, potentially supercharging growth in a
market that barely existed a few years ago.
http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-O1NRNJ6K50XX01-1NFOBO5840UH2F0HLV4BVU5NDG


Morocco unveils massive solar plant. Morocco’s King Mohammed VI
unveiled one of the world’s biggest solar plants Thursday, taking
advantage of the Sahara sunshine and a growing global push for
renewable energy. The $3.9-billion project in the southern town
of Ouarzazate, also known as Noor I, is the first phase of a
project expected to provide 1.2 million Moroccans with power.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/morocco-unveils-massive-solar-plant/2016/02/04/e2924002-cb3b-11e5-b9ab-26591104bb19_story.html


Solar power's rebel capitalist. There are two sides to Danny
Kennedy. One is the Greenpeace operative, who has been arrested
at least a dozen times on four continents, mostly for trying to
stick it to the coal and oil companies. And then there's Danny
Kennedy the tech multimillionaire, who zooms around San Francisco
in a little orange Fiat.
http://www.eenews.net/energywire/2016/02/04/stories/1060031761 

OPINIONS

Solar users on the electric grid should pay to help maintain it.
To the editor: It's difficult to understand the letter writers'
complaints about fees requested by electric utilities from
customers producing their own solar power. ("Solar energy and
utilities' outdated way of doing business," Readers React, Jan.
31). Most of them continue to rely on utilities for at least some
of their power needs, because the sun doesn't shine at night or
their needs exceed their ability to produce.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-le-0204-thursday-solar-fees-20160204-story.html

We'll all pay to charge others' electric cars. The California
Public Utilities Commission approved Jan. 14 a proposal for
Southern California Edison to build 1,500 electric vehicle
charging stations. The $22 million cost will be added to the rate
base for utility bills for all SCE customers, regardless of
whether they own any electric vehicles. That is just the
beginning of rate hikes in California to pay for other people’s
electric cars.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/california-702698-state-electric.html


Mercury News editorial: Exxon Mobil's climate change research can
inform elections. California is investigating whether Exxon Mobil
misled investors about the causes and effects of climate change
and the likely effect on the oil company's business. This is
welcome news, even if it turns out the company did nothing
illegal.
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/article/zz/20160204/NEWS/160207784 

Don’t let oil glut slow work on future energy needs. The market
is awash in oil. Oil was recently below $30 per barrel for the
first time in more than 12 years before rising slightly in recent
days. Gasoline is now down to $1.65 per gallon in Michigan, and
as low as $1.35 at some stations. After years of $100-per-barrel
oil and pain at the pump, consumers are reaping the rewards of
the oil crash. The average American household saved $700 last
year at the pump.
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/2016/02/03/cheap-oil-future-policy/79793084/


Car fumes are killing us. So why isn’t anyone telling us not to
drive? One in three cars in Britain runs on diesel, and 95% of
diesel cars emit more nitrogen oxides than is legally allowed,
according to tests done by consumer group Which? (Fifteen 15
times more in the case of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, 47 of which I
found for sale secondhand within 15 miles of my home when I
searched.)
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/04/car-fumes-air-pollution-ban-motorists


Letter: How to improve our air. We can all work together to solve
our air problems in Utah. I am a 5th grader at The Madeleine
Choir School, and I am tired of not breathing freely — it is a
medical emergency. We really need to improve our air. One big air
pollution problem is wood fires. We can improve our air quality
by buying more efficient gas fire places and stop burning wood.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646874/Letter-How-to-improve-our-air.html?pg=all


BLOGS

L.A.'s Slow-Moving Oil and Gas Disaster. In affluent Porter
Ranch, the worst gas leak in U.S. history continues to pose
health concerns. But in lower-income neighborhoods across Los
Angeles, drilling has been making people sick for years. Prior to
October 2015, many homeowners in the Porter Ranch neighborhood of
Los Angeles were unaware that they lived next door to one of the
largest natural gas storage…
http://www.citylab.com/politics/2016/02/california-porter-ranch-gas-leak-oil-environmental-justice/425052/


How Hairdressers Could Be A Secret Weapon Against Climate Change.
Our stylists know things we don't. Are we looking in the wrong
place when it comes to finding champions who can turn us away
from our environmentally destructive ways?
Researchers at a university in the United Kingdom believe that
hairdressers, rather than politicians, scientists or celebrities…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hair-care-hairdressers-climate-change-carbon-footprint_us_56b268fee4b08069c7a5e47d


Hydrogen fuel cell makes easyJet flights greener. The company is
committed to cutting the carbon footprint of its flights by 7% by
2020, which itself follows a reduction of 28% over the last 15
years. This, combined with the high occupancy rate of most
easyJet flights make it one of the greener airlines. The company
claim that the carbon footprint of their flights are around 22%
lower than traditional airlines.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adi-gaskell/hydrogen-fuel-cell-makes-_b_9132048.html




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