What's New List Serve Post Display

ARB Newsclips for June 22, 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

Massive gas leak reaction contributed to AQMD exec's ouster.
Almost four months after California's top air quality executive
was ousted from the South Coast Air Quality Management District
in a contentious closed-session vote, email exchanges obtained by
The Desert Sun point to frustration over the agency's handling of
the Porter Ranch gas leak as a key driver of the SCAQMD board's
vote.
http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2016/06/22/keeping-board-out-loop-may-have-been-aqmd-execs-undoing/86036776/


EPA seeks comments on nominees to hot-button science panel. U.S.
EPA is seeking public comment on a slate of seven nominees for a
slot on its Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), the
panel charged with providing scientific and technical expertise
in the agency's periodic reviews of the standards for ozone,
particulate matter and four other "criteria" pollutants.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2016/06/22/stories/1060039232 

CLIMATE CHANGE

Polluted estuaries spew 'potentially significant' emissions.
Estuaries may be releasing more methane into the atmosphere than
previously thought, according to a study done on the Chesapeake
Bay. The bay's low-oxygen "dead zone" that forms in summer may be
contributing to the buildup of the potent greenhouse gas in its
waters, the study released this week warns.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2016/06/22/stories/1060039230 

Colo. regulators find methane violations at 10 companies.
Colorado regulators have issued warnings to 10 energy companies
that operate in the Denver-Julesburg Basin for emitting methane,
a potent greenhouse gas, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
that contribute to ground-level ozone or smog. Methane and VOCs
are stringently regulated in Colorado, which suffers from a
chronic ozone problem.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/06/22/stories/1060039181

Will Water Sector Help or Hurt on Climate Change? California has
been diligently trying to reduce use of fossil fuels and cut
greenhouse gas emissions. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed
Senate Bill 350, which requires 50 percent of the electricity
from utilities to come from renewable sources by 2030. But it’s
not just energy utilities that can add more renewables to their
portfolios – water suppliers can…
http://ww2.kqed.org/science/2016/06/21/will-water-sector-help-or-hurt-on-climate-change/


Trader Joe’s is forced to fix refrigerators, cut greenhouse gas
emissions. Trader Joe’s will spend millions of dollars over the
next several years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its
refrigeration equipment as part of a settlement with the
Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department.
Federal officials had alleged that the grocery chain had violated
the Clean Air Act…  
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/06/21/trader-joes-is-forced-to-fix-refrigerators-cut-greenhouse-gas-emissions/?utm_campaign=ebf899e381-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Inside
Climate News 
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-trader-joes-greenhouse-gas-20160421-snap-story.html


EU smashes 2020 emissions target six years early. The EU soared
past its 2020 carbon cutting goal six years early, according to
European Environment Agency data released on Tuesday. Greenhouse
gas emissions in 2014 were 4.1% lower than the previous year and
24.4% below the 1990 baseline. The 2020 target is a 20% cut.
http://www.climatechangenews.com/2016/06/21/eu-smashes-2020-emissions-target-six-years-early/?utm_source=Inside+Climate+News&utm_campaign=ebf899e381-Today_s_Climate12_10_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_29c928ffb5-ebf899e381-327747457


Natural systems could protect against climate-fueled disasters.
Congress could reshape how Americans bounce back from disasters
in places that are vulnerable to climate change by making it
easier to approve protective infrastructure and by discouraging
development in flood-prone areas, the National Wildlife
Federation and private insurers said yesterday in a new report.
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/06/22/stories/1060039180 

Race to save hidden treasures under threat from climate change.
THOUSANDS of ancient relics unearthed by climate change could
soon be lost forever, destroyed by weathering and pests. The
crisis is so acute that some archaeologists are urging colleagues
to abandon their current field sites and focus instead on these
newly exposed treasures before they vanish. Rising seas, raging
storms, melting ice and forest fires are exposing artefacts that
have much to tell us about our history on Earth – from sunken
shipwrecks in…
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23030794-000-race-to-save-hidden-treasures-under-threat-from-climate-change/


DROUGHT

It will take years of wet weather before California recovers from
drought, study finds. When forecasters last year warned of a
massive El Nińo, some Californians held out hope that a single
extremely wet year could bust the state’s severe drought. But a
study published Tuesday in Geophysical Research Letters, a
journal of the American Geophysical Union, offered support for
the argument that state hydrologists…
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-drought-snowpack-20160621-snap-story.html
 
http://bakersfieldnow.com/news/local/research-california-years-away-from-making-drought-recovery

Before and after: A Tustin garden goes from thirsty lawn to
drought-tolerant oasis. We're asking Southern California readers
to share photos of their lawn-to-drought-garden makeovers. Here’s
how one Tustin couple did it: After they let their lawn die last
year, Lorna and Phil Sikorski took advantage of Orange County’s
Turf Removal Program and transformed it into a low water oasis.
http://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-0618-tustin-lawn-makeover-20160620-snap-story.html


Sacramento City Council rejects plan to increase watering days.
As temperatures race toward the triple digits, City Council
members voted unanimously to reduce water conservation goals but
maintain a twice-weekly watering restriction. The Department of
Utilities presented a plan to drop conservation goals from 28
percent over 2013 levels…
http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article85161817.html#storylink=cpy


California Snowpack Won't Recover From Drought For Years. The
winter of 2015 capped four years of drought that resulted in an
unprecedented water deficit in Sierra Nevada snowpack. Much of
California’s water comes from snowmelt. Researchers at UCLA say
in a new study, that this winter’s strong El Nińo didn’t make up
for that deficit.
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2016/06/21/california-snowpack-wont-recover-from-drought-for-years/


Sacramento-Area Water Conservation 31 Percent In May. The
Sacramento Regional Water Authority says people in the
five-county region reduced water use 31 percent in May, compared
to 2013. The RWA says the May reduction is the same as April's
rate.
The RWA represents water providers in Sacramento, Placer, El
Dorado, Yolo and Sutter counties. http://www.capradio.org/76211 

What Lake Mead’s Record Low Means for California. When in the
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced last month that the
country’s largest reservoir, Lake Mead, had fallen to its
lowest-ever level at 1,074ft (327m), the question many asked was:
How will it affect one of California’s primary drinking sources?
After all, some 19 million Californians, nearly half the state’s
population, receive some part of their water from the Colorado
River…
http://ww2.kqed.org/science/2016/06/21/what-lake-meads-record-low-means-for-california/

DIESEL ACTIVITIES

Push renewed to ban trucks older than ’07 at NJ/NY ports. The
Coalition for Healthy Ports and key Newark, N.J. politicians want
the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to reinstate a plan
to prohibit trucks with engines older than 2007 by next year.
At a June 16 press conference, Mayor Ras Baraka and Council
President Mildred Crump asked PANYNJ to return to its original
plan to bar pre-2007 diesel engines…
http://www.ccjdigital.com/push-renewed-to-ban-trucks-older-than-07-at-njny-ports/


Diesel emissions worse in cold weather. One testing company found
that emissions from diesel cars significantly rise when the
temperature decreases. After testing 213 models from 31
manufacturers, Emissions Analytics said that when the temperature
is below 64.4 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius), the
pollution becomes much worse.
http://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2016/06/22/stories/1060039212 

TRUCK ENFORCEMENT/INSPECTION – OTAY MESA

http://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=1380&DateTime=6%2F21%2F2016+4%3A10%3A04+PM&Term=california+air+resources+board&PlayClip=TRUE

http://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=1385&DateTime=6%2F21%2F2016+5%3A17%3A30+PM&Term=california+air+resources+board&PlayClip=TRUE

http://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=6670&DateTime=6%2F21%2F2016+5%3A35%3A07+PM&Term=california+air+resources+board&PlayClip=TRUE

http://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=2555&DateTime=6%2F21%2F2016+5%3A37%3A23+PM&Term=Air+Resources+Board&PlayClip=TRUE

http://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=2555&DateTime=6%2F21%2F2016+6%3A37%3A15+PM&Term=Air+Resources+Board&PlayClip=TRUE

http://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=1385&DateTime=6%2F21%2F2016+6%3A38%3A54+PM&Term=california+air+resources+board&PlayClip=TRUE

http://mms.tveyes.com/Transcript.asp?StationID=1380&DateTime=6%2F21%2F2016+10%3A34%3A50+PM&Term=california+air+resources+board&PlayClip=TRUE


FUELS

Federal court kills BLM fracking rule. The Obama administration's
hydraulic fracturing rule is dead. In a monumental ruling last
night, the U.S. District Court for the District of Wyoming struck
down the years-in-the-making regulation, concluding that the
Bureau of Land Management has no authority over fracking.
http://www.eenews.net/energywire/2016/06/22/stories/1060039204 

VEHICLES

Infiniti recalls sedans to fix electronic steering. Nissan is
recalling 60,000 Infiniti luxury sedans worldwide because the
electronic steering can malfunction. The recall covers certain
Q50 gasoline and hybrid cars from the 2014 and 2015 model years.
It includes more than 28,000 in the U.S. The company said
Wednesday in documents posted by the U.S. government a
combination of low battery voltage…
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/foreign/2016/06/22/infiniti-recall/86223140/
 

California EV Buyers May See Rebates Disappear for Now.
California may lose its status as the beacon for electric vehicle
purchase incentives, at least for now. The California legislature
has passed a new budget, awaiting Governor Jerry Brown’s
signature, which cuts off funds for the state’s clean vehicle
subsidies.
http://www.hybridcars.com/california-ev-buyers-may-see-rebates-disappear-for-now/


VW RECALL

VW Chairman Under Fire From Investors for Dual Role in Crisis.
Volkswagen AG Chairman Hans Dieter Poetsch bore the brunt of
investor dissatisfaction over the automaker’s handling of the
emissions cheating scandal during a raucous shareholder meeting,
with some even trying to remove him as host of the gathering.
Poetsch received a tongue-lashing from investors for his shift
last year from…
http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-O8X1ADSYF01V01-10OVJEKRGS2NMMN55CH929UN9M


Volkswagen Shareholders Air Grievances at Annual Meeting.
Volkswagen shareholders had a lot to complain about on Wednesday.
Management bonuses, sagging profits and an emissions scandal have
all caused the company’s stock to plunge. Whether those
complaints will make any difference is another question.
Institutional investors and individual shareholders have grown
increasingly restive…
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/23/business/international/volkswagen-shareholder-meeting.html?_r=0


Volkswagen Board Accused Of Stock Market Manipulation, &
Considers Completely Dropping Diesel Development. Volkswagen
chief Matthias Mueller has hinted in a newspaper interview that
his company might completely abandon diesel engine technology in
the wake of the its massive emissions cheating scandal. “Against
this background, we have to ask ourselves whether… we want to
spend more money on the further development of diesel,”…
http://cleantechnica.com/2016/06/22/volkswagen-board-accused-stock-market-manipulation-considers-completely-dropping-diesel-development/


GREEN ENERGY

Elon Musk Aims to Shore Up SolarCity by Having Tesla Buy It. Elon
Musk has built an ambitious business empire on three pillars:
electric cars, solar energy and space travel. Now, the
billionaire entrepreneur is trying to shore up his embattled
solar panel provider by merging it with the electric carmaker.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/22/business/dealbook/tesla-solarcity-elon-musk.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share&_r=0


Related Articles
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/06/22/stories/1060039200
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2016/06/22/this-is-why-elon-musk-is-buying-solarcity/

New clean energy authority selects its CEO. The Silicon Valley
Clean Energy Authority has appointed its chief executive officer.
Tom Habashi has been chosen by the authority's board of directors
to oversee the organization that plans to bring residents and
businesses renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power
from providers other than PG&E.
http://www.mercurynews.com/campbell/ci_30042115/new-clean-energy-authority-selects-its-ceo


Va.'s offshore wind prospects weather financial doldrums. Just
last year, Virginia was poised to become the first U.S. state to
tap the Atlantic coast's offshore winds. That's when Dominion
Resources Inc., the commonwealth's largest electric utility,
doubled down on its promise to build a 12-megawatt wind power
facility 25 miles…
http://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2016/06/22/stories/1060039179 

MISCELLANEOUS

PG&E to close Diablo Canyon, California's last nuclear power
plant. One of California’s largest energy utilities took a bold
step in the 21st century electricity revolution with an agreement
to close its last operating nuclear plant and develop more solar,
wind and other clean power technologies. The decision announced
Tuesday by Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to close its beleaguered
Diablo Canyon…
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-diablo-canyon-nuclear-20160621-snap-story.html


OPINIONS

The goal of cap-and-trade is to fight climate change, not raise
tax revenue. To the editor: California’s cap-and-trade program
should be viewed as part of the state’s comprehensive package of
climate policies, including efficiency standards for new homes
and appliances, which have driven emissions reductions…
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/readersreact/la-ol-california-cap-and-trade-climate-change-20160620-snap-story.html


Jerry Brown’s vow to slash oil use in California’s cars in
trouble. The meltdown of California’s cap-and-trade system of
reducing carbon emissions has not only thrown its climate change
crusade into disarray but caused collateral damage. One victim is
Gov. Jerry Brown’s $3.1 billion plan to spend auction proceeds,
now on indefinite hold.
http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/dan-walters/article85150877.html#storylink=cpy


New water rules make good sense.  After a year of heroic water
conservation under state-mandated emergency rules, Californians
will shift this summer to ongoing water-saving practices guided
by local conditions. Under new rules adopted by the State Water
Resources Control Board, California is transitioning from last
year’s one-size-fits-all mandatory reductions in water use…
http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/soapbox/article85095117.html#storylink=cpy


Obama's carbon footprint. It’s was nice to see President Obama’s
concern in regards to climate change and the “carbon foot print”
we all leave. Does the President follow what he preaches? I
checked the logistics of the President and his family’s past trip
to India and found the following: The trip included Air Force
One, a C-17 plus 38 other aircraft…
http://www.bakersfield.com/News/Opinion/2016/06/20/Obama-s-carbon-footprint.html


BLOGS

Volkswagen Diesels Cheated Us. Here’s How VW Should Pay. The sun
is finally setting on the days when Volkswagen and other
automakers could disregard emission standards. Here’s how we can
make sure it happens. Nearly coinciding with the summer solstice,
June 28 is the deadline imposed by U.S. District Judge Charles
Breyer in San Francisco for VW, federal and California officials
to decide how…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-becker-and-james-gerstenzang/volkswagen-diesels-cheate_b_10485350.html


Corporate Demand for Renewable Energy Could Rock the Grid.
Renewable energy is good for customers, the environment and the
bottom line of corporations that run their operations with it. In
the United States, though, renewables (including solar, wind,
hydropower and biomass) account for only about 10 percent of all
energy used and 13 percent of total electricity generated – even
as corporate contracts for renewable energy…
http://www.forbes.com/sites/manishbapna/2016/06/21/corporate-demand-for-renewable-energy-could-rock-the-grid/#511286cd5b23


Dieselgate: The End Is Nigh, If Not For Volkswagen, Then At Least
For Diesel. The timing could not have been better, or worse: 
Tomorrow, June 22, Volkswagen convenes its General Shareholder
Meeting. Shareholders will face a board that is with “one foot in
prison,” as the German figure of speech goes. Compared to that,
the news that Volkswagen sees no big future in diesel sound
harmless. The news was released in steady drips for maximum
effect.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/bertelschmitt/2016/06/21/dieselgate-the-end-is-nigh-if-not-for-volkswagen-then-at-least-for-diesel/?yptr=yahoo&ref=yfp#3f4786e5b630






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