newsclips--Newsclips 25,2010 in August.

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 11:12:55 California Air Resources Board News Clips for August 25, 2010. This is a service of the California Air Resources Board?s Officeof Communications. You may need to sign in or register withindividual websites to view some of the following news articles.CLIMATE CHANGE/GHG?SLocal Governments Commit To Reducing Greenhouse Gases. Salinas -Government leaders from across the Monterey Bay region committedthis week to reducing per-capita greenhouse gas emissions ofpassenger vehicles by 5 percent over the next 25 years. Thecommitment by the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments,expected to be fulfilled through responsible transportation andgrowth policies, comes as state regulators seek to implementCalifornia's ambitious greenhouse gas regulations. Posted.http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15882875New Yorkers Begin To See How Much They Have To Lose From ClimateChange. New York -Lowering the energy consumption of the EmpireState Building may seem bold and significant -- and it is. Butthe real challenge lies among the city's lesser-known buildingsthat extend into the horizon, to the north and south and inadjacent boroughs. Unless New York can lower its $15 billionannual energy bill and show the world that there are successfulways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it could find itselfteetering on the edge of disaster indefinitely. Posted. http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/08/25/25climatewire-new-yorkers-begin-to-see-how-much-they-have-51507.html?pagewanted=printhttp://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2010/08/25/1U.S. Pushes China, India To Cut Emissions By Tapping Into NaturalGas Boom. The U.S. State Department is pitching natural gas toChina and India as a strong alternative to using coal for powergeneration, boosting the prospects of a global gas rush and tyingit closely to global climate change solutions. "If gas is cheap,plentiful and available to countries like China and India -- theyhave a choice versus coal -- it's competitive on a cost basis,and the climate implications are huge," said David Goldwyn,State's coordinator for international energy affairs. Posted.http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2010/08/25/3Prop 23: Compromising the Environment to Create Jobs. In 2006,California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law theGlobal Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32) ? one of the firstand most comprehensive climate change laws passed in America. Buttoday, a new measure to appear on California?s ballot in Novemberseeks to remove the protections put in place four years ago.Posted.http://www.energyboom.com/policy/prop-23-killing-environment-create-jobsHELMER: Global Warmists Abandoned Fact for Fancy. Around theworld, the fight against "cli- mate change" and carbon dioxide eemissions is costing literally hundreds of billions of dollars -and this at a time when the Western world is ravaged byrecession. We can ill afford these sums. Many scientists thinkCO2 emissions have a trivial effect on climate, but even thosewho support the theory of anthropogenic global warming (AGW)generally agree that the efforts we are making will result inchanges so small that they cannot even be measured. Posted.http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/24/around-the-world-the-fight-against-cli-mate-change/Obama Admin Urges Supreme Court To Vacate 'Nuisance' Ruling. TheObama administration has urged the Supreme Court to toss out anappeals court decision that would allow lawsuits against majoremitters for their contributions to global warming, stunningenvironmentalists who see the case as a powerful prod on climatechange. In the case, AEP v. Connecticut, the 2nd U.S. CircuitCourt of Appeals sided with a coalition of states, environmentalgroups and New York City. Posted.http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/print/2010/08/25/1How Influential Are The Koch Brothers? New Yorker investigates.The Koch brothers are leaving their mark everywhere. On Aug. 19,Progressive Media reported that the Kansas-based Koch Industriesis the lead funder of a ?grassroots? group organizing support forProposition 23, the ballot initiative that would killCalifornia?s energy climate change law. Posted.http://californiawatch.org/watchblog/new-yorker-investigates-koch-brothers-4261Are Conservatives Waking Up to Global Warming? Conservatives whoacknowledge global warming is a critical issue of our time arecalling out their colleagues to wake up to the issue, and some ofthem seem to be listening. Is global warming denial finally onits way out? A handful of recent events make me feel like a bigrow of conservative dominoes might have started falling on theissue of global warming. Posted.http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS210083623920100825GAS NOZZLESFire Marshall Orders Removal of Defective Gas Nozzle Latches.Video: KTVUhttp://www.ktvu.com/video/24751899/index.htmlPOWER PLANTSL.A. Officials Launch Campaign To Roll Back State EnvironmentalRule. A bill in the Legislature would delay new regulations thatrequire the DWP to overhaul three coastal power plants to reducethe amount of seawater used for cooling. The city of Los Angeleshas launched an aggressive lobbying campaign to roll back toughnew state regulations meant to limit the environmental damagethat power plants inflict on the oceans. Posted.http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-water-20100825,0,3758556,print.storyDIESELSCostly Rules To Hit Truckers. New California regulations comingin January will hit the wallets of Oregon truckers. The rules aremeant to significantly reduce greenhouse gas and particulatematter emissions by 2014, according to the California AirResources Board (CARB). The regulations have a combined nationaleconomic impact of $17 billion. More than 800,000 trucks crossedthe Oregon-California border in 2009, according to the OregonDepartment of Transportation. Posted.http://www.oregonbusiness.com/articles/90-september-2010/4009-california-regulations-affect-wallets-oregon-truckersNatural Gas-Diesel Hybrid Fuel Cuts Emissions, Boosts Efficiency.A Nevada refiner has received alternative fuel status for acleaner, more efficient diesel that mixes low-sulfur diesel withnatural gas. Produced by Reno-based Advanced Refining Concepts,GDiesel is the first "alternative" fuel to be certified by stateregulators as reducing emissions of one or more pollutantscompared to conventional gasoline. Posted.http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/print/2010/08/25/8VEHICLESCalifornia Amends Copper Bill Following Negotiations. Californiahas amended a bill that restricts the amount of copper in brakefriction material sold in the state, following negotiationsbetween the Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association,environmentalists and automakers. Under the change, motor vehiclemanufacturers, distributors, wholesalers or retailers ofreplacement brake friction materials can deplete their inventoryof non-compliant materials until Dec. 31, 2023. Posted.http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-print.asp?news_id=71464Hyperefficient Student-Built EV Defies Odds. The coolest thingabout this electric car isn?t the Lola racing car chassis, or theclear plastic bodywork or even the fact it gets the equivalent of300 mpg. The coolest thing about this car is the kids who builtit. The car was a class project at the Automotive Design Studioat the DeLaSalle Education Center, an alternative high school inKansas City, Missouri. Posted.http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/08/student-built-ev-defies-the-odds-may-break-a-record/#ixzz0xdcnzIx4Brother, Can You Spare Some Volts? Bay Area Officials Push ToBuild Chargers for Electric Cars. The Bay Area is expected tosoon become one of America's hottest markets for the firstmass-produced electric cars, the Nissan Leaf and the Chevy Volt.But in the rush to drive electric, one thing is missing -- placesto charge up. Posted.http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-living/ci_15884227 PROP 1BBoxer Touts Stimulus Money For Buses. Sen. Barbara Boxer onTuesday visited the Fresno Unified School District?stransportation yard, where she touted the use of federal stimulusmoney to replace aging diesel buses with ones powered bycompressed natural gas. The district replaced 30 of the olddiesel-powered buses, which were built in 1977. Posted.http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/08/24/v-print/2052303/boxer-touts-stimulus-money-for.htmlENERGY/GREEN ENERGYMarin County Certifies 21 'Green Businesses'. Twenty-one moreMarin enterprises were saluted as "green businesses" by countysupervisors this week, bringing the number of local organizationscertified in the program to 406. The Marin green businessprogram, part of a Bay Area regional project now involving 2,200businesses, agencies and organizations, was launched in 2002 toencourage recycling, energy efficiency, conservation and relatedopportunities to boost both economic and environmental resources.Posted.http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_15880784?nclick_check=1Calaveras to Apply For State Grant. Calaveras County's battleover sustainability continued Tuesday, with the Board ofSupervisors narrowly approving a plan to join Tuolumne County inapplying for a $1.6 million state grant to plan for a future inwhich residents are less dependent on cars, towns are morecompact and officials have regional data on greenhouse gasemissions. Posted.http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100825/A_NEWS/8250323/-1/NEWSMAPEMISSIONSAir District To Fund Charbroiler Emission Controls. The SanJoaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is offering helpfor businesses with charbroilers to cut down on their emissions.Launching today, the Char Broiler Incentive Program (CHIP) willmake $500,000 in funding available for the purpose ofretrofitting commercial char broilers, which can spew bothharmful particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOC).Posted.http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/environment/6056-air-district-to-fund-charbroiler-emission-controlsTwo Central Valley Neighborhoods Cited For Sustainability. TheCalifornia Department of Housing and Community Development saystwo Central Valley communities have been named ?CatalystProjects? as part of the Catalyst Projects for CaliforniaSustainable Strategies Pilot Program. Funded by Proposition 1C,the program embodies the goals of SB 375, the state law thatrequires regional planning and promotes denser and ?greener?urban growth. Posted.http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=16097FUELSReport Offers Roadmap to Cleaner Biofuels from Non-Food Sources.Almost 200 corn ethanol refineries across the country, but stillnot a single cellulosic ethanol plant. Cellulosic biofuel wasonce widely heralded as the key to cutting United States'dependence on foreign oil, without the adverse environmentaleffects of corn ethanol. Posted.http://solveclimate.com/blog/20100825/report-offers-roadmap-cleaner-biofuels-non-food-sourcesMISCELLANEOUSUCLA Scientist Who Doubts CARB Science May Lose Job. Truckers whoviolate a CARB diesel rule can face thousands of dollars infines. Speak out against the science behind these air rules? Ifyou?re a researcher, it might cost you a faculty job at UCLA. Alongtime academic researcher at UCLA may lose his job forspeaking out against the California Air Resources Board and thatagency?s claims about the dangers of diesel exhaust. Posted.http://www.landlinemag.com/Special_Reports/2010/Aug/082410-exclusive.htmSend Bills To Governor. Some bills by local state senators areclose to being passed by the Legislature and sent to thegovernor's desk. One of them, Senate Bill 1402 by Sen. BobDutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, would require that the California AirResources Board to explain to any business that it fines thereason for the violation, the specific code section violated andhow the penalty was determined. Posted.http://www.sbsun.com/editorial/ci_15883551Global Warming Deniers Aren't "Experts" At All: It's Time for aNew View of Science. Imagine a gigantic banquet. Hundreds ofmillions of people come to eat. They eat and drink to theirhearts? content? eating food that is better and more abundantthan at the finest tables in ancient Athens or Rome, or even inthe palaces of medieval Eu rope. Then, one day, a man arrives,wearing a white dinner jacket. He says he is holding the bill.Posted.http://www.alternet.org/books/147668/global_warming_deniers_aren't_%22experts%22_at_all%3A_it's_time_for_a_new_view_of_science/Rules Will Halt Ship Wastewater Dumping. The EnvironmentalProtection Agency today will declare California's coastline, baysand estuaries - including the Delta - as a no-dumping zone forlarge commercial cruise and cargo ships. The rule will includeoceangoing ships at the Port of Stockton, the EPA said. In 2009,the port hosted 115 ships and barges. Posted.http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100825/A_BIZ/8250309/-1/a_news14BLOGSSafety Order Issued For Gas Pumps. Filling up your gas tank maytake a little more work. The state fire marshal on Monday sent aletter to about 3,000 gas stations ? one-third of all stations inthe state ? ordering them to remove the latches on gas nozzlesthat let drivers lock the nozzle in place to keep pumping gaswhile they clean their windows, check the oil and such, accordingto reports by the Associated Press and Sacramento Bee. Posted.http://roadwarrior.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/10771/pumping-gas-to-take-a-little-more-work/
ARB What's New