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Hello and good afternoon all. In today’s news:

• PPIC poll shows Californians’ strong support for climate law, opposition to oil drilling;
• Poll: Brown, Boxer lead GOP opponents;
• Brown holds edge among environment-minded voters in survey;
• Will governor’s race be a “climate campaign?”;
• California Republicans shunning one traditional path to victory: the environment;
• Drilling foes pose challenge for GOP hopefuls;
• Joel Fox (in the minority) believes Whitman’s position on AB 32 could appeal to voters;
• Brian Leubitz: “PPIC Poll Shows Californians Actually Do Care about the ‘Weather’”;
• Proposition 23 backers sue over ballot language;
• Gulf spill lacks societal punch of Santa Barbara;
• Florez, Valley air district leader debate ag burning;
• Mother Nature helps firefighters battle Calif fire;
• Calif. adds more appliances to rebate program;
• Cap-And-Trade Is Coming To The West;
• David Allgood: “Inaction On Climate Change May Cost Us Dearly”;
• More opinions on CEQA exemptions, plastic bag ban, Green Chemistry, nasty MLPA opponents and more;
• Whitman’s strategy in doubt;
• More in state politics;
• David Allgood’s Cure for Insomnia has all the latest BP oil spill news and more.

Top News

Multiple Sources 7/29/10
PPIC poll shows Californians’ support for climate law, opposition to oil drilling”
“An expansive new poll on environmental attitudes suggests that despite the recession, Californians are holding fast to their environmental priorities. Among the findings in the report released this week by the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California is that support for the state’s climate change strategy remains strong, even in the face of a well-financed campaign against the law known as AB 32. Two-thirds (67%) of the respondents support the 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in California–about the same level as when PPIC polled the question last year… In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon calamity in the Gulf of Mexico, the poll showed a dramatic swing in attitudes about offshore oil drilling in California.”
http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2010/07/28/poll-shows-support-for-climate-law/
http://www.calbuzz.com/2010/07/ppic-voters-rejecting-offshore-oil-ab-32-rollback/
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/07/new-poll-shows-steady-support-for-states-climate-change-law-opposition-to-drilling-shoots-up.html
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/bp-disaster-regnites-californias-anti-drilling-fervor/
http://sciencedude.ocregister.com/2010/07/28/59-in-state-oppose-offshore-drilling/106737/

Multiple sources 7/29/10
“Poll: Brown, Boxer lead GOP opponents”
“Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown and Sen. Barbara Boxer are holding on to lead their Republican opponents in a new poll by the Public Policy Institute of California. Brown, the state’s attorney general, leads businesswoman Meg Whitman, 37 percent to 34 percent with 23 percent of the likely California voters surveyed undecided. In the Senate race, three-term incumbent Boxer leads former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, 39 percent to 34 percent with 22 percent undecided.”
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2010/07/ppic-poll-finds-close-duels-fo.html
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/28/2922089/poll-calif-governors-senate-races.html
http://www.ocregister.com/news/percent-259783-poll-brown.html
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/07/poll-shows-top-ticket-races-are-still-close.html

Read the findings of the poll on Californians and the environment here: http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=949

PPIC Poll Coverage & Commentary

California Watch 7/29/10
“Brown holds edge among environment-minded voters in survey”
“If the environment is a very important issue to you, you’ll probably be voting for Jerry Brown this November. If it’s just kind of important to you, Meg Whitman is your candidate.”
http://californiawatch.org/watchblog/3survey-reveals-59-californians-opinions-environment

Capital Notes 7/29/10
“A Climate Campaign?”
“If you’re a backer of Jerry Brown’s gubernatorial campaign and you read tonight’s new statewide poll, you’ve got to be saying to yourself: can he make this campaign about climate change? Okay, maybe not a campaign exclusively about the issue. But the poll certainly could be used to make a case that Meg Whitman comes down on the issue — specifically, the state’s landmark law — somewhere differently than the voters she’ll need to win over on November 2.”
http://blogs.kqed.org/capitalnotes/2010/07/28/a-climate-campaign/

Los Angeles Times 7/29/10
“California Republicans shunning one traditional path to victory: the environment”
“In previous elections, GOP candidates have been rewarded for responding to voters’ environmental concerns. Those concerns continue, a study finds, but Fiorina and Whitman are focusing elsewhere.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-environment-20100729,0,5523418.story

San Francisco Chronicle 7/29/10
“Drilling foes pose challenge for GOP hopefuls”
“The findings present a challenge for Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman and U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina, who like the idea of drilling as a revenue source for the state and want to back away from the climate law, saying it’s a job-killer.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/07/29/MND61EL4B1.DTL

Fox and Hounds Daily 7/29/10
Joel Fox: “Whitman’s Position on AB 32 Could Appeal to Voters”
“The newly hatched PPIC poll on the environment indicates Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman’s middle path related to California’s greenhouse gases law and a controversial November ballot measure could serve her well come Election Day.”
http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/blog/joel-fox/7442-whitmans-position-ab-32-could-appeal-voters

Calitics 7/29/10
Brian Leubitz: “PPIC Poll Shows Californians Actually Do Care about the ‘Weather’”
“Remember back to early June when Carly Fiorina called climate change ‘the weather’? Well, it seems that while Carly might have impressed the GOP base with that message, it’s not really a winning message for the general electorate.”
http://www.calitics.com/diary/12212/ppic-poll-shows-californians-actually-do-care-about-the-weather

State Environmental News

Los Angeles Times 7/29/10
“Proposition 23 backers sue over ballot language”
“The suit, filed against Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, says the wording describing the measure is ‘false, misleading and unfair.’ The ballots will be printed in mid-August.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-climate-ballot-20100729,0,4281700.story

Associated Press 7/29/10
“Gulf spill lacks societal punch of Santa Barbara”
“In 1969, Sen. Gaylord Nelson was so moved after seeing the devastation of an oil spill off the California coast near Santa Barbara that he called for a national teach-in on the environment. The resulting ‘Earth Day’ the following year kick-started the modern environmental movement and shaped the way Americans thought about their air, water and soil. Forty years later, the magnitude of the Gulf oil spill far exceeds Santa Barbara’s spill of up to 100,000 barrels, but there hasn’t been a comparable societal transformation.”
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jul/29/gulf-spill-lacks-societal-punch-of-santa-barbara/

Fresno Bee 7/29/10
“Florez, Valley air district leader debate ag burning”
“ State Sen. Dean Florez held what could be his last legislative hearing Wednesday doing what he has done for most of his Capitol tenure — grilling Valley air regulators over their pollution-fighting policies.”
http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/07/28/2022300/florez-valley-air-district-head.html#ixzz0v6sEAoa9

Associated Press 7/29/10
“Mother Nature helps firefighters battle Calif fire”
“Calm, cool weather Thursday morning dampened a wildfire that destroyed 25 buildings north of Los Angeles, but crews were prepared for afternoon winds that could kick up the flames again, a fire spokesman said.”
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/jul/29/mother-nature-helps-firefighters-battle-calif-fire/

Associated Press 7/29/10
“Calif. adds more appliances to rebate program”
“California is expanding a rebate program for shoppers purchasing energy efficient appliances.”
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/28/2921793/calif-adds-more-appliances-to.html

The New Republic 7/29/10
“Cap-And-Trade Is Coming To The West”
“Don’t look now, but cap-and-trade is coming to the United States—and there’s nothing the Senate can do about it. Earlier today, California, New Mexico, and three Canadian provinces—Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia—unveiled a plan to set up a carbon-trading system for greenhouse gases by January 2012. This is all part of the multi-state Western Climate Initiative, a partnership that was set up in 2007, and you can read all the gory details of the new program here.”
http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-vine/76638/cap-and-trade-coming-the-west

State Environmental Opinions

CLCV Blog 7/29/10
David Allgood: “Inaction On Climate Change May Cost Us Dearly”
“Yesterday, a report was released jointly by the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and Britain’s National Weather Service with stark facts about the planet’s climate. The report states unequivocally that our climate is warming , that 2010 is the hottest year yet measured and that the decade of the 2000’s is the hottest decade measured. The report reminds us that the decade of the 90’s was the previous record holder. Hope you’re seeing the trend here.”
http://www.ecovote.org/blog/?p=2791

Capitol Weekly (opinion) 7/29/10
Mark Massara, Deborah Sivas: “Why exempting NFL stadiums from environmental laws is a bad idea”
“What does the California budget process have to do with a new NFL stadium in downtown Los Angeles? The talk on the political street is that stadium proponents Tim Lieweke and his company AEG are pressing the Governor and the Speaker of the Assembly to exempt their project from the state’s most fundamental and effective environmental law – the California Environmental Quality Act or CEQA – as part of any budget deal. Such an exemption would allow AEG to avoid evaluating and mitigating the project’s environmental impacts, like air pollution and traffic congestion, or even disclosing them to the public. At least 112 of California’s leading environmental organizations have now joined together to oppose the effort.”
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=z0rqskcrkohpmq&xid=z0p7cafovxtucu&done=.z0rqvhp36gtqf8

California Majority Report 7/29/10
Lloyd Levine: “MLPA Opponents Misinformation Campaign Gets Nasty and Backfires”
“Assembly Speaker John Perez is the latest target of the nasty misinformation campaign waged by opponents of the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA), the state’s popular measure to protect key parts of fragile ocean habitat along its coast. In a blog post and email rant last night to members of the California Democratic Party’s Progressive Caucus, a leading foe of ocean protection, in full Tea-Party mode, called upon Speaker Perez to resign… Pushing the misinformation effort has been Dan Bacher. Who is this guy? He calls himself ‘Dangerous Dan’ in fishing circles, and is editor of The Fish Sniffer, a publication gets the majority of revenue from charter fishing operators, boat companies, and gear manufacturers.”
http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&aid=4448&ptid=9

Sacramento Bee 7/29/10
Dan Morain: “Oceans protector gets tossed off ship”
“Don Benninghoven is an unlikely martyr to the cause of ocean protection. He built a solid reputation for honesty as director of the League of California Cities for three decades, retired a decade ago to Santa Barbara, and was working on his tennis game when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger enlisted this fellow Republican to become immersed in ocean issues.”
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/07/29/2921968/oceans-protector-gets-tossed-off.html

Capitol Weekly (opinion) 7/29/10
Bill Allayaud: “Green chemistry program must be strong, efficient and open to public”
“California’s Green Chemistry Initiative, launched by AB 1879 (Feuer, 2008) has been touted as an innovative move toward more effective regulation of chemicals in consumer products. It is intended to protect consumers, workers, and the environment while spurring development of safer alternatives that will be the foundation of a vibrant green economy. But the Department of Toxic Substances Control’s draft regulations to implement the Initiative fall far short of meeting its worthy goals.”
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=z0rqskcrkohpmq&xid=z0p7fshs2o5usj&done=.z0rqvhp36gtqf8

California Majority Report 7/29/10
Lee Fang: “The Politician Behind The Campaign To Repeal California’s Clean Energy Standards”
“In the California legislature, the loudest voice to kill the landmark clean energy climate change law AB32 has become Assemblyman Dan Logue (R-Linda). Described by Sacramento insiders as a “backbencher,” Logue has built a powerful coalition of former tobacco lobbyists and Texan oil companies to orchestrate Prop 23, an initiative to essentially rescind AB 32. But who is Logue?”
http://www.camajorityreport.com/index.php?module=articles&func=display&aid=4449&ptid=9

Capitol Weekly (opinion) 7/29/10
Peter Foy: “$20 billion in debt, 12 percent jobless, no budget — and we ban grocery bags?”
“A recent Field Poll found that 79 percent of Californians believe the state is on the wrong track – the highest rating in the venerable history of the survey. Stop and think about that for a moment.”
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=z0rqskcrkohpmq&xid=z0qodq06fl5lva&done=.z0rqvhp36gtqf8

State Politics

Contra Costa Times 7/29/10
“Whitman strategy in doubt after poll”
“She has spent a fortune — $100 million and counting — and Republican Meg Whitman has not moved the dial against Jerry Brown in the gubernatorial race.”
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_15624300

Capitol Weekly 7/29/10
“Campaign Notebook: The week in California politics”
“This week, 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.”
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=z0p6hlvn1g1qew

Los Angeles Times 7/29/10
“Brown unveils education reform plan”
“The Democrat calls for changing the state’s end-of-year testing system so teachers receive results quickly, and he backs increasing the amount of spending on colleges.”
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0729-brown-20100729,0,6860337.story

Capitol Alert 7/29/10
“Obama plans Calif. trip to raise cash for House Democrats”
“President Barack Obama is reportedly hosting yet another West Coast fundariser, this time to boost the bank account of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.”
http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/07/29/2022808/capitol-alert-obama-plans-calif.html

Talking Points Memo 7/29/10
“PPP Poll: CA Now Prefers Gray Davis Over Arnold (And Still Loves Ballot Initiatives)”
“Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), who ousted Democratic Gov. Gray Davis in a stunning 2003 recall election, has now suffered all the natural consequences of actually being governor of California — in fact, he’s so unpopular that voters might actually prefer having Gray Davis back. But beyond that, the state’s systemic problems that have ruined the both of them are here to stay.”
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/07/ppp-poll-ca-now-prefers-gray-davis-over-arnold-and-still-loves-ballot-initiatives.php

David Allgood’s Cure for Insomnia

The Big Spill, Day 101:

Still plenty of cleanup to do in Gulf.
www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-spill-20100729,0,1693676.story

As BP catastrophe celebrates 100 day anniversary, here’s what we know.
www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/07/28/98297/oil-spill-reaches-100-day-mark.html

Process for compensation for damages inflicted by BP is frustrating businesses.
www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec10/compensation_07-27.html

BP spill cases head to court as other oil companies wring their hands.
www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65O5TA20100729

BP lies again, this time about drilling mud.
http://motherjones.com/blue-marble/2010/07/bp-lies-again-time-drilling-mud

BP control threatens scientific freedom on Gulf spill research.
www.nature.com/news/2010/100728/full/466538a.html

BP catastrophe leads to 2200 beach closings.
www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hICeZc6oQC-o8rFtIlYUQ3m8fvWAD9H897FG0

Fossil Fuel Funtime:

Two North Dakota coal mines fined for soil erosion.
www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20100728/nd-coal-mining-fines/

BP objects drilling ban, says it would cost US jobs.
www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-29/barring-bp-from-drilling-would-cost-jobs-in-u-s-company-tells-congress.html

Texas proposes new rules for oil and gas drillers.
www.star-telegram.com/2010/07/28/2368758/state-proposes-new-rules-for-drillers.html

Oil industry rethinks costs, risks of drilling in US.
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128831285

On day 100 of BP spill, two new spills to deal with.
www.propublica.org/blog/item/on-day-100-of-the-bp-disaster-u.s.-still-fighting-two-other-oil-spills

Exxon profit tops Wall Street.
www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66S2TH20100729

Shale gas drilling, well of wealth or woe?
www.post-gazette.com/pg/10210/1075861-55.stm

Michigan oil spill spreads 35 miles, response called inadequate.
www.detnews.com/article/20100728/METRO01/7280396

Local News from the Golden State:

Survey shows Californians favor high speed rail.
http://hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/article_fb6fc688-9a79-11df-a45c-001cc4c002e0.html

West Nile virus thriving this summer.
www.sbsun.com/news/ci_15624731
Residents urge air board to control pollution from off road vehicle park.
www.sanluisobispo.com/2010/07/28/1231661/nipomo-mesa-residents-urge-county.html

News from the Homeland:

Senate Republicans and some moderate Democrats say energy bill goes too far in holding oil companies accountable for damages.
www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66R5M520100728

A call for Obama to take lead on climate change, soon.
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/cif-green/2010/jul/28/sachs-obama-climate-change

Solar thermal seeks US breakthrough.
www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66R5IB20100728

Fight gears up over biomass energy.
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/fight-gears-up-on-biomass/?hp

Senate unveils energy bill amid doubts about passage.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/58971

Energy bill gives boost to natural gas vehicles.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/58967

Judge rejects Forest Service plan on use of fire retardants.
www.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/us/29wildfires.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1280415676-6SJhXdHrxiOecR3TMOtBgg

Health group sues FDA over anti-microbial soaps.
www.reutershealth.com/archive/2010/07/28/eline/links/20100728elin010.html

News Of The World:

Global warming evidence is unmistakable.
www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/7914611/Met-Office-report-global-warming-evidence-is-unmistakable.html

Plankton, the basis of the oceans’ food chain, is in steady decline.
www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/plankton-the-base-of-the-oceans-food-web-steadily-declining/article1654702/

Global warming pushes 2010 temperatures to record highs.
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/28/global-temperatures-2010-record

World experiences hottest decade ever recorded.
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/state-of-the-climate-hottest-decade-ever/

Vital ocean phytoplankton a casualty of climate change.
www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/0728/Vital-ocean-phytoplankton-a-casualty-of-global-warming

Giant asteroid to hit earth on September 24, 2182.
www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/7916088/Giant-asteroid-heading-for-Earth-in-2182.html

Expert says conservation projects to save wildlife do more harm than good, criminalize locals.
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/29/wildlife-conservation-projects-more-harm

News from the EU:

BP spill oozes into Norwegian Arctic drilling debate.
www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66S2QL20100729

Europe headed toward dispersed power generation.
www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66S2VB20100729

Greece to invest 12 billion Euros into green economy.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/58963

News from the Land of 1.4 Billion People:

3,000 barrels of chemicals wash into Songhua River.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-10799219

China lags in environmental accident prevention.
www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2010/0729/China-flood-and-oil-spill-response-improves.-Prevention-Not-so-much.

Exploding gas pipeline kills an even dozen in Nanjing.
www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-china-explosion-20100729,0,5448839.story

News from the Damp Isles:

New BP CEO will focus company’s future efforts on riskiest drilling opportunities.
www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-07-29/bp-s-dudley-targets-riskiest-deepwater-drilling-after-32-billion-blowout.html

Grocery chain criticized for selling squirrel meat.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7915674/Budgens-criticised-for-selling-grey-squirrels-for-food.html

Saving Britain’s natural world piece by piece.
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/series/piece-by-piece

Farmland bird numbers fall to record low.
www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/farmland-bird-numbers-fall-to-record-lows-2038552.html

Gov’t needs to start acting on energy.
www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66S2U320100729

News From The Land Of the Four O’Clock Sun:

Ottawa praises 3 provinces set to introduce cap and trade system.
www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-praises-three-provinces-set-to-introduce-cap-and-trade-system/article1655271/

Crackdown on coal fired plants in US will bring cleaner air to Ontario.
www.thestar.com/news/world/article/841530–crackdown-in-u-s-will-bring-clean-air-to-ontario?bn=1

News From the Rest of the World:

India to reintroduce cheetahs after hunters wiped out native cheetahs 100 years ago.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-10798747

Indonesian palm oil firm’s broken rainforest pledge exposed.
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/29/palm-oil-indonesia-greenpeace

Heat wave smog turns Muscovites into heavy smokers.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/58964

Frogs In The News:

Common herbicide suspected cause of sex changes in frogs.
www.ibtimes.com/articles/39008/20100728/epa-probes-atrazine-safety.htm

Calaveras frog nearly doubles sepcies’ leap distance record.
www.calaverasenterprise.com/articles/2010/07/28/news/news02_frogresearch.txt

Invasive bull frogs drive western pond turtle to near extinction.
www.calaverasenterprise.com/articles/2010/07/28/news/news02_frogresearch.txt