ecovote.org > CLCV blog > The Daily Green: news of 7/28/10
The Daily Green: news of 7/28/10
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Hello all. In today’s news:
- CLCV Blog: Fiorina takes coal money;
- Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association files lawsuit to change California's global warming ballot measure;
- Hiltzik: “Industry tries to buy a California election (part 23);
- Report: Ohio Coal Company Becoming Major Player Against California Dems, Prop 23;
- Most Californians want bullet trains, state poll finds;
- California's clean energy future threatened by federal delays, state officials say;
- California, New Mexico and 3 Canadian provinces outline regional cap-and-trade program;
- ClimateWatch: A Glimpse of How Regional Carbon Trading Might Work;
- How NASA can help California farmers;
- Sonoma County sues feds over energy retrofit policy;
- Whitman up for three debates; Brown still wants 10;
- Whitman ups Facebook ante;
- Funders of new pro-Fiorina group are hard to trace;
- Host of Fiorina event in Sacramento endorses Boxer;
- Front-runner ducks in state Senate debate;
- Democrats hope first-time voters of 2008 turn out again;
- No end in sight for Sacramento budget stalemate;
- On day 100 of the Gulf gusher, a timeline of the tragedy;
- And much more poignant news in David Allgood’s Cure for Insomnia.
Top News
CLCV Blog 7/28/10
“Yet another reason to re-elect Barbara Boxer to the Senate”
“We’ve already discussed Fiorina’s eyebrow-raising comments that Senator Barbara Boxer’s work on climate change solutions is like “worrying about the weather” in a previous post. Now [Fiorina is] revealed to be taking money from out-of-state coal interests who are at the same time funding the Dirty Energy Proposition to repeal California’s landmark climate law.”
http://www.ecovote.org/blog/?p=2765
San Jose Mercury News, Sacramento Bee 7/28/10
“Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association files lawsuit to change California's global warming ballot measure”
“The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association on Tuesday filed a lawsuit seeking to rewrite the ballot description of Proposition 23, a measure voters will consider in November that would suspend California's global warming law.”
http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_15617802
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/28/2919009/prop-23-backers-file-challenge.html
State Environmental News
Los Angeles Times 7/28/10
Hiltzik: “Industry tries to buy a California election (part 23)”
“One interesting development in the fight against Proposition 23, which would effectively overturn AB 32, is that it looks like it will be well-funded. Unlike the efforts against the two June ballot measures, which were David vs. Goliath affairs, the anti-Prop. 23 campaign may have millions to spend, thanks to the participation of hedge fund manager Tom Steyer.”
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/07/michael-hiltzik-industry-buys-a-california-election-part-23.html
CA Majority Report 7/28/10
“Report: Ohio Coal Company Becoming Major Player Against California Dems, Prop 23”
“Why does an Ohio coal company care about California politics? Because while the federal government fumbles in dealing with climate change, California is cracking down on polluters — and the coal companies don't like it.”
http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&aid=4445&ptid=9
Sacramento Bee 7/28/10
Walters: “Bullet train poll mostly propaganda”
“California's already shaky bullet train project suffered a severe blow this month when the University of California's prestigious Institute of Transportation Studies issued a sharply critical report on its ridership projections.”
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/28/2919088/dan-walters-bullet-train-poll.html
San Jose Mercury News 7/28/10
“Most Californians want bullet trains, state poll finds”
“Although nearly half of Californians have reservations about paying for the state's high-speed rail line, three-fourths of them want to be able to ride bullet trains between the Bay Area and Southern California, a poll released Tuesday shows.”
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_15618849
Los Angeles Times 7/28/10
“California's clean energy future threatened by federal delays, state officials say”
“The U.S. Department of Energy is accused of foot-dragging in approving loan guarantees to finance several major projects worth an estimated $30 billion.”
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-solar-energy-20100728,0,5792412.story
Los Angeles Times 7/28/10
“California, New Mexico and 3 Canadian provinces outline regional cap-and-trade program”
“The Western Climate Initiative would cut greenhouse gas emissions 15% below 2005 levels by putting restrictions on the energy sector, large industrial plants and transportation.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-climate-pact-20100728,0,5740672.story
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/cap-and-trade-is-dead-long-live-cap-and-trade/
KQED Climate Watch 7/27/10
“A Glimpse of How Regional Carbon Trading Might Work”
“After three years of deliberations, participants in the regional carbon trading pact known as the Western Climate Initiative have released a "comprehensive strategy" for how the coalition will achieve its goals of reducing emissions 15% below 2005 levels by 2020. ”
http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2010/07/27/a-glimpse-of-how-regional-carbon-trading-might-work/
California Watch 7/28/10
“How can NASA help California farmers?”
“Generally preoccupied by such celestial phenomena as brown dwarves and solar flares, NASA is now turning its sights to a more provincial domain: farms.”
http://www.californiawatch.org/watchblog/nasa-help-california-farmers-43-9
Santa Rosa Press 7/28/10
“Sonoma County sues feds over energy retrofit policy”
“At issue is whether the federal agencies have the power to set rules affecting home loans on properties where
the owners have participated in retrofit programs.”
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100727/articles/100729543
State Politics
San Francisco Chronicle (Politics blog) 7/28/10
“Whitman up for three debates; Brown still wants 10”
“We're all for candidates "challenging" each other to debates, but remember how Brown, the former governor and current state attorney general, announced last month that he was up for 10 debates? It seems like he had accepted Whitman's challenge before she even issued it.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/nov05election/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=68828
Los Angeles Times (PolitiCal blog) 7/28/10
“Whitman ups Facebook ante”
“Facebook users have seen ads soliciting thoughts on everything from their favorite vacation spot to the best engagement ring. Now Republican gubernatorial nominee Meg Whitman is using so-called polling ads to determine what Facebook users see as the most important issue facing California, hoping to boost her online network in the process.”
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/07/whitman-ups-facebook-ante.html
Los Angeles Times 7/28/10
“Funders of new pro-Fiorina group are hard to trace”
“Today in Los Angeles, a group called The Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles announced what they say will be a $1-million campaign for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina. But finding out where the money comes from — if and when it actually does come — is virtually impossible.”
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/07/funders-of-new-pro-carly-fiorina-group-are-hard-to-trace.html
Sacramento Bee (Capitol Alert blog) 7/28/10
“Host of Fiorina event in Sacramento endorses Boxer”
“Republican U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina might have picked the wrong restaurant to announce her Latino outreach effort.”
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2010/07/host-of-fiorina-event-endorses.html
San Jose Mercury News 7/28/10
“Front-runner ducks in state Senate debate”
“Three of the four candidates running to replace Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado in the state Senate squared off in a debate Monday night, trading views on oil-extraction taxes, the state budget and education spending, among other topics. But Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee, the Republican candidate, did not attend — even though the debate was held in his hometown.”
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_15617128
Los Angeles Times 7/28/10
“Democrats hope first-time voters of 2008 turn out again”
“More than 1 million Californians, mostly young and minorities, cast their first ballots in the presidential race. Strategists say getting them to the polls again may be an uphill battle.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-newvoters-20100725,0,6238500.story
San Bernardino Sun 7/28/10
“Expanding the vote”
“Call 13,000 people, and you'll talk to about 3,900. Of those, about 2,300 will like what you have to say. And of those, about 1,380 will show up to vote in November.”
http://www.sbsun.com/ci_15618542
Los Angeles Times 7/28/10
“No end in sight for Sacramento budget stalemate”
“The two parties are staging stunts as the state's unpaid bills pile up heading into the fifth week without a spending plan.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-state-budget-20100728,0,1598122.story
Sacramento Bee 7/28/10
“Feeling little heat, California leaders drag out budget battle”
“Exactly one year ago today, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a state budget package after nearly a month of IOUs and serious closed-door, cigar-fueled negotiations. And where are we now? Nowhere close.”
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/28/2919214/schwarzenegger-lawmakers-stuck.html
National Environmental News:
Grist/Agence France Presse 7/28/10
“On day 100 of the Gulf gusher, a timeline of the tragedy”
http://www.grist.org/article/2010-07-28-timeline-of-gulf-of-mexico-oil-gusher-day-100
David Allgood’s Cure for Insomnia:
The Big Spill, Day 100:
Where has all BP’s oil gone?
http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/0727/Gulf-oil-spill-Where-has-the-oil-goneBP wants $10 billion tax credit for cost of catastrophe it created.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/07/27/98224/bp-to-claim-10-billion-us-tax.htmlEconomic damage from BP disaster could take years to identify.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/07/27/98242/oil-spill-experts-gulf-damage.htmlConcern still high about volume of BP spill.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-spill-20100728,0,1628139.storyBP catastrophe criminal probe focuses on three firms and their ties to regulators.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/27/AR2010072706052_pf.htmlIgnoring science, Louisiana Gov. Jindal presses on with jetties to contain oil spills.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/07/despite_science_against_jettie.htmlBP tees up asset sales to pay for disaster.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65O5TA20100728Fossil Fuel Funtime:
Offshore drilling legislation fast-tracked in Congress.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/07/offshore_drilling_legislation.htmlCrews rush to contain massive oil spill in Kalamazoo River.
http://www.detnews.com/article/20100728/METRO/7280370/Crews-rush-to-contain-massive-oil-spill-in-Kalamazoo-RiverOil spill creates state of emergency in Michigan.
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2010/07/state_of_emergency_declared_as.htmlNew oil spill in Gulf, tugboat hits underwater well.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/27/louisiana-oil-geyser-20fo_n_660874.htmlAccident with abandoned well creates mile long oil slick in Gulf.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/7913940/New-oil-spill-in-the-Gulf-of-Mexico-after-tug-boat-strikes-well.htmlWill Alaskan oil pipeline be BP’s next disaster?
http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/27/video-alaskan-pipeline-at-risk-for-disaster/Supreme Court campaign spending decision frees coal industry to target Democrats for defeat.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/07/27/98242/oil-spill-experts-gulf-damage.htmlNatural gas is the Gulf’s invisible villain.
http://motherjones.com/environment/2010/07/methane-impact-gulf-oil-spillBP’s new CEO warns against limiting further Gulf drilling.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128815039White House sends no experts to testify at Senate Committee considering drilling moratorium.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/07/deepwater_drilling_moratorium_9.htmlBP’s toxic release at Texas refinery under investigation.
http://www.propublica.org/blog/item/bps-toxic-release-in-texas-city-under-investigationSloppy fire fighting may have doomed BP drilling rig.
http://www.publicintegrity.org/articles/entry/2286/Mississippi county fights dumping of BP spill waste in landfill.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/US/07/27/bp.landfill.dispute/Gas drilling companies claim to use safer chemicals.
http://www.texastribune.org/texas-environmental-news/environmental-problems-and-policies/gas-companies-claim-to-use-safer-chemicals/News from the Homeland:
Climate change poses water risk for US, 70% of counties face shortages.
http://www.grist.org/article/u.s.-faces-climate-change-caused-water-shortages/Obama vows to fight for climate legislation.
http://www.grist.org/article/2010-07-27-obama-vows-to-fight-on-for-climate-change-bill/Stripped down energy bill leaves out cap and trade.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0727/Stripped-down-energy-bill-leaves-out-cap-and-tradeBaby turtles released in Gulf despite threat.
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/840563–baby-turtles-released-into-gulf-despite-oil-threat250 class action lawsuits with millions of plaintiffs filed due BP catastrophe.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-spill-lawsuits-20100728,0,563444.storyWind energy drives growing use of batteries.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/business/energy-environment/28storage.html?_r=1&ref=earthUrban pollution may damage babies’ IQ before drawing first breath.
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/air-pollutants-and-childrens-iqsLocal News from the Golden State:
Nation’s largest wind energy farm grows Kern County’s clean energy industry.
http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/economy/x424732113/Nations-largest-wind-project-grows-Kerns-clean-energy-industryMarin Water board sends two desalination measures to the ballot.
http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_15615780Controversial land use measures headed to Merced ballot.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2010/07/28/1509641/merced-county-starts-its-own-ballot.htmlModesto to cut solar incentives.
http://www.modbee.com/2010/07/27/1269756/mid-to-cut-incentives-in-solar.htmlBenecia proposes solar powered city hall.
http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_15620134Funders pro-Fiorina Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles hard to trace, Latino hero Grover Norquist sits on board of directors.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/07/funders-of-new-pro-carly-fiorina-group-are-hard-to-trace.htmlWhitman plays down Presidential ambitions.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/07/whitman-downplays-white-house-ambitions.htmlNews Of The World:
Executives see biodiversity as key to business growth.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/58961Scientists say soot is a key factor in global warming.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/27/MN5H1EK6BV.DTLNews from the EU:
Buyers retreat from carbon market.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66R3D620100728Six genetically modified corn strains approved for import.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66R3CI20100728News from the Land of 1.4 Billion People:
Environmental accidents double as growth takes toll.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-28/china-s-environment-accidents-double-as-growth-spurs-demand-for-metal-oil.htmlChemical explosion injure hundreds in Nanjing.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/jul/28/chinese-factory-explosion-nanjingNews from the Damp Isles:
Energy bills could rise by a third if UK is to keep the lights on.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/7913610/Energy-revolution-could-put-bills-up-by-a-third.htmlElectric car grants cut by 80%.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/28/electric-car-grant-schemeBusinesses face steep rise in energy bills.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/27/huhne-wind-nuclear-energyWind turbine manufacturing plant open on Isle of Wight.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/27/vestas-wind-turbineScottish wind energy plans would create 5,000 jobs.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66Q4F320100727News From The Land Of the Four O’Clock Sun:
Biggest provinces push to cap emissions.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/biggest-provinces-push-plan-to-cap-emissions/article1653672/Gov’t says shipping nuclear generators across Great Lakes is safe.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario/council-told-plan-to-ship-nuclear-generators-across-great-lakes-is-safe/article1652915/Watchdog says eco-fee problems linger.
http://www.thestar.com/news/ontario/article/840605–eco-fee-problem-lingers-says-watchdog?bn=1News from the Rest of the World:
Indian mining company denies human rights abuses.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/jul/27/vedantaresources-miningScientists fear hundreds may die from Moscow smog.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/58949Chronic oil spills sully Lake Maracaibo, livelihoods.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=52291India’s success is killing its holy river.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2002524,00.htmlFrogs In The News:
Goa frog poachers feed taste for “jumping chicken”.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iDqJNMs0zU2FkKF7dNEhiQbMGE2gNoisy frogs fill Corkscrew swamp.
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/jul/27/plenty-noisy-frogs-be-heard-and-seen-corkscrew-swa/Scientist explains why frogs cross the road.
http://www.canada.com/frogs+cross+road/3330242/story.html“Safe” levels of chemicals feminize male frogs.
http://www.examiner.com/x-55941-SF-Sustainable-Foods-Examiner~y2010m7d27-Pesticides-hormones-and-healthBest Headlines Ever:
Skunk hunt leads to cat’s death.
http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com…Australia blames Americas for originating nasty marsupials.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-10774536Iowa warns of wild skunk danger.
http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/98924379.html?ref=379Humans banned from caves to protect bats.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/us/28brfs-HUMANSBANNED_BRF.html?ref=todayspaperChina mobilizes fox army to keep rats at bay.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-07/28/content_11063153.htm
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