Daily Green

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

• New York Times front page: “California Braces for Showdown on Emissions”;
• Oil refiners fund Prop 23;
• Major California utilities reject Prop 23;
• California Licenses World’s Biggest Solar Thermal Plant;
• Silicon Valley leaders debate taxes, education and global warming measure;
• Judge strikes down rules for new piers, ramps and buoys at Lake Tahoe;
• San Bruno is part of PG&E pipeline probe;
• Proposition 21 (would fund state parks) debated on “Forum”;
• Microfinance Goes Green in Bay Area;
• Early snow in the Sierras - and worries about another drought;
• Marin plastic bag ban plan back on the table after statewide ban fails;
• USD receives grant to raise climate-change awareness;
• More taking advantage of Cash for Appliances;
• Valley cotton growers respond to growing demand;
• Clinton coming to California to campaign with Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom;
• More on CA governor’s and Senate race;
• National and international environmental news;
• And even more in David Allgood’s Cure for Insomnia.

Top News

New York Times 9/17/10
“California Braces for Showdown on Emissions”
“This latest embrace by the Koch brothers of a conservative cause jolted environmental leaders who are worried that a vote against the law in this state — with its long history of environmental activism — would amount to a powerful setback for emission control efforts in Washington and statehouses across the country. Gene Karpinski, president of the League of Conservation Voters, who has been traveling California to rally support against the proposition, called it ‘by far the single most important ballot measure to date testing public support for continuing to move to a clean energy economy.’”
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/us/17pollute.html

Wall Street Journal 9/17/10
“Refiners Fight Emissions Law”
“Oil refiners are stepping up their campaign to suspend a landmark California environmental law, and proponents of clean technology are writing their own checks to defend the law.”
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704394704575495902377602556.html

Climate Watch 9/17/10
“Major California Utilities Rejecting Prop 23”
“While some oil & gas companies are behind it, none of California's three major electric utilities appear to support Proposition 23, the ballot measure to upend the state's comprehensive climate law, known as AB 32.”
http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2010/09/16/major-california-utilities-rejecting-prop-23/

Green (NY Times blog) 9/17/10
“California Licenses World’s Biggest Solar Thermal Plant”
“California regulators have licensed what is for the moment the world’s largest solar thermal power plant, a 1,000-megawatt complex called the Blythe Solar Power Project to be built in the Mojave Desert.”
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/california-licenses-worlds-biggest-solar-thermal-plant/

San Jose Mercury News 9/17/10
“Silicon Valley leaders debate taxes, education and global warming measure”
“Participants also worried about a November ballot measure that threatens to suspend California's landmark global warming law and could severely impact the valley's cleantech industry.”
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16096813

State Environmental News

Associated Press 9/17/10
“Lake Tahoe: Judge strikes down rules for new piers, ramps and buoys”
“A federal judge on Thursday struck down regulations allowing new buoys, piers and boat ramps around Lake Tahoe, saying a regulatory agency did not go far enough to make sure the environmental quality of the lake would be protected.”
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/09/lake-tahoe-piers-ramps-buoys.html

San Francisco Chronicle 9/17/10
“San Bruno is part of PG&E pipeline probe”
“Pacific Gas and Electric Co. was concerned last year that liquids were corroding the metal in four of its Bay Area natural gas pipelines - including the one that exploded last week - according to a document obtained Thursday by The Chronicle.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/17/MND91FFA2D.DTL

Forum (KQED-FM) 9/16/10
“Prop. 21”
“Proposition 21 on California's November ballot would establish an $18 annual vehicle license surcharge to help fund state parks and wildlife programs. We hear from both sides.”
http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201009160900

Bay Citizen 9/17/10
“Microfinance Goes Green in Bay Area”
“Dry cleaning and janitorial business seeking loans to be environmentally friendly.”
http://www.baycitizen.org/business/story/microfinance-goes-green-bay-area/

California Watch 9/17/10
“Early snow in the Sierras - and worries about another drought”
“Vermillion Valley Resort is a cluster of wooden structures at the end of a narrow, boulder-dodging track that climbs east into the High Sierras from Shaver Lake.”
http://californiawatch.org/watchblog/early-snow-sierras-and-worries-about-another-drought-4782

Marin Independent Journal 9/16/10
“Marin plastic bag ban plan back on the table”
“ A move to ban plastic bags at Marin County grocery stores and other retail outlets is back on the table after a similar plan was skewered in Sacramento.”
http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_16094797

San Diego Union-Tribune 9/17/10
“USD receives grant to raise climate-change awareness”
“The University of San Diego will use nearly $1 million in grant money to educate San Diego County residents about climate change and its impact on people's health.”
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/sep/16/usd-receives-grant-raise-climate-change-awareness/

Sacramento Bee 9/17/10
“More taking advantage of Cash for Appliances”
“California's Cash for Appliances program continues to gain momentum. As more appliance buyers took advantage of the federally funded program, the state shaved off another $2 million in available rebate money in the last week.”
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/09/17/3037098/more-taking-advantage-of-cash.html

Fresno Bee 9/16/10
“Valley cotton growers respond to growing demand”
“California cotton is making a comeback. This year, acreage for the state's two primary varieties -- upland and the longer fiber pima -- grew by 76% and 59% respectively after decades of decline.”
http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/09/16/2081711/cotton-aims-to-be-king-again.html

State Politics

Los Angeles Times 9/17/10
“Clinton coming to California to campaign with Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom”
“Former President Bill Clinton is to campaign with Democratic gubernatorial nominee and former presidential rival Jerry Brown in a series of events up and down the state next month. Lt. Gov. candidate Gavin Newsom fills out the Democratic bill. Both candidates' campaigns announced the news Friday, saying that events are planned for Oct. 15 and 17 with more details to come.”
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/09/bill-clinton-coming-to-california-to-campaign-with-jerry-brown.html

San Francisco Chronicle 9/17/10
“Campaign check: Lies and half-truths outed”
“Regularly through the Nov. 2 election, The Chronicle will publish a few of the ‘lies, half-truths and contradictions’ uttered by the California statewide campaigns and their supporters from recent days.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/17/MNQP1FF4G2.DTL

CalBuzz 9/17/10
“Babs Goes Negative (Big Time) on Carly; Flack Notes”
“Barbara Boxer unleashed a forceful attack on Carly Fiorina on Thursday – a purely negative ad noting that, as CEO of Hewlett-Packard, the Republican nominee for Senate laid off 30,000 workers, shipped jobs to China, tripled her own salary, bought a million-dollar yacht and five corporate jets. Jerry Roberts and Phil Trounstine”
http://www.calbuzz.com/2010/09/babs-goes-negative-big-time-on-hurricane-carly/

San Francisco Chronicle 9/17/10
“Fiorina rips 'millionaire' Boxer”
“Signaling a combative round in the California U.S. Senate contest, Republican Carly Fiorina on Thursday defended her new attack ad on "millionaire" U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, charging that the Democrat has consistently tried to ‘play class warfare’ on the issues.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/17/MNLQ1FF3G7.DTL

San Jose Mercury News 9/17/10
“Carly Fiorina welcomes chamber endorsement for U.S. Senate with sharp critique of Barbara Boxer”
“Stopping in San Jose on Thursday to accept the endorsement of the local chamber of commerce, Carly Fiorina accused her opponent of making a career out of killing jobs… Fiorina, interviewed after the chamber event by the Mercury News, was asked whether the conservative positions she staked out on abortion, assault weapons and greenhouse gas limits in the Sept. 1 debate were too far to the right for many undecided voters.”
http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_16096921

San Francisco Chronicle 9/17/10
“California budget stalemate now longest ever”
“The impasse over solving California's $19 billion budget deficit reached an inglorious milestone today when it officially became the longest stalemate over the state budget in history, though some lawmakers think it may end soon.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/09/17/MN411FF3P5.DTL

National & International Environmental News

Greenspace (LA Times blog) 9/16/10
“Gulf Oil Spill: Bacteria mainly ate the gas, not the oil”
“Bacteria that attacked the plumes of oil and gas from the Deepwater Horizon gusher in the Gulf of Mexico mainly digested natural gas spewing from the wellhead — propane, ethane and butane — rather than oil, according to a study published in the journal Science.”
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/09/gulf-oil-spill-bacteria-mainly-ate-the-gas-not-the-oil.html

Associated Press 9/15/10
“Gulf oil spill: After it hit beaches, where did it go?”
“Some crude from the Gulf oil spill has seeped into the sand. It may be altering ecosystems – 'for all time,' one expert says.”
http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/0915/Gulf-oil-spill-After-it-hit-beaches-where-did-it-go

Washington Post 9/17/10
“BP's Macondo well to be permanently 'killed' by Saturday; relief well connected”
“BP's once-gushing Macondo well should be finally and firmly ‘killed’ by Saturday, company officials said Friday morning.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/17/AR2010091702836.html?hpid=topnews

Associated Press 9/15/10
“2010 continues on track to be record hot year”
“After eight months, 2010 is running neck and neck with 1998 for the record as the hottest year at this point.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/15/AR2010091504595.html

Christian Science Monitor 9/17/10
“Nuclear power a viable competitor in US energy market, study finds”
“High costs of building nuclear power plants may put the industry at a disadvantage to fossil-fuel-burning energy producers, says a study from MIT. But reprocessing spent nuclear fuel, a controversial practice, won't be necessary, it finds.”
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0917/Nuclear-power-a-viable-competitor-in-US-energy-market-study-finds

Green (NY Times blog) 9/17/10
“Drillers Fault Study on Moratorium Losses”
“The Obama administration said Thursday that its six-month moratorium on deepwater oil and gas drilling had caused only modest job and economic losses, most of which were offset by new jobs created in cleaning up the BP oil spill.”
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/16/drillers-fault-study-on-moratorium-losses/

David Allgood’s Cure for Insomnia

The Big Spill Day 146:

Group sues to find out why administration low-balled BP spill estimate.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/16/group-sues-to-find-out-wh_n_719628.html

US agencies accused of helping BP hide oil in Gulf.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/17/obama-bp-oil-gulf-spill

Giant fish kill may be linked to BP catastrophe.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/100916-fish-kill-louisiana-gulf-oil-spill-dead-zone-science-environment/

BP spill cleanup spawning mixed messages.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/oil-spill-cleanup-producing-mixed-messages/1121773

Independent scientists studying spill get unsettling calls from federal commission.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/Scientists-Investigating-Oil-Spill-Unsettled-By-Calls-From-Federal-Commission-103095444.html

Fossil Fuel Funtime:

San Bruno blast highlights nation’s aging gas infrastructure.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129925943

Little known regulator lightens gas driller regulatory “burden”.
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/09/17/17greenwire-northeast-regulator-lightens-shale-drillers-lo-66275.html

Five states sue coal powerplant operator over downwind pollution.
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/sep2010/2010-09-16-093.html

Did Massey Energy encourage workers to ignore safety in fatal mine?
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2010/sep/17/ed-mine17-ar-509575/

News from the Homeland:

Veterans Affairs slow to aid victims of Camp Lejeune toxic poisoning.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/09/16/100702/va-says-no-link-yet-between-water.html

Genetically engineered sugar beets banned.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129891767

Washington state searches for grizzlies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/science/earth/17grizzly.html?hpw

Aluminum can recycling increases.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/59557

Toxic chemicals were used to build older Mass. schools.
http://www.myfoxboston.com/dpp/news/undercover/toxic-chemicals-used-to-build-older-mass-schools-20100916

Local News from the Golden State:

Oakland bound cargo ship kills whale.
http://www.montereyherald.com/breaking/ci_16092438?nclick_check=1

Sea otters under attack by great white sharks.
http://www.montereyherald.com/local/ci_16100622

Wine industry succeeding in battle with invasive moth.
http://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/article_e7985f78-c209-11df-9b87-001cc4c03286.html

Inspector says San Onofre nuclear employees fear retaliation if they report problems at nuclear plant.
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/article_4ac064f9-d9ce-5219-9440-0ea7e3b97c48.html

California dolphins suffering skin lesions.
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20727783.300-californias-dolphins-suffer-mystery-skin-lesions.html

News Of The World:

Cities lead way in dealing with climate change.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/17/cities-climate-change

World Bank invests record sums in coal.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/15/world-bank-coal

Arctic sea ice reaches historic summer lows.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2010/09/arctic-sea-ice-reaches-historic-summer-low.html

Ozone layer is recovering.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/59565

News from the EU:

Scientists call for urgent action to deal with invasive species.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11286432

Carbon capture technology doomed in Europe.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/59563

France opposes genetically modified crop plan.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/59560

News from the Land of 1.4 Billion People:

Cleaning up decades of pollution will cost 2% of China’s GDP.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-16/china-set-to-lose-2-of-gdp-fighting-pollution-as-doing-nothing-costs-more.html

News from the Damp Isles:

New species of elephant shrew discovered.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/16/new-elephant-shrew-species

Retailers cut waste by half.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/17/uk-retailers-cut-waste-half

UK poorly prepared for impact of climate change.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/sep/16/uk-climate-impacts

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

Provinces, territories set to debate need for a new national energy policy.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/greenpage/environment/provinces-territories-to-debate-need-for-national-energy-strategy-103094589.html

Mutant fish lead to calls monitor oil sands.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/prairies/mutant-fish-lead-to-calls-for-ottawa-to-monitor-oil-sands/article1711070/

Scientist, aboriginals want monitoring of oil sands fish.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/greenpage/environment/sick-fish-scientists-aboriginals-want-ottawa-to-monitor-oilsands-fish-103073409.html

Canada claims Arctic undersea mountain range.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canada-confident-of-claim-on-arctic-underwater-mountain-range/article1711046/

Small lodge owner highlights contradiction in approval of controversial mining project.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/lodge-owner-reveals-contradictions-in-fish-lake-mine-approval-process/article1711072/

News From the Rest of the World:

Africa makes strides in green energy.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/59562

Fabricated air quality tests go unchecked by Australian government.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/17/3014248.htm?section=justin

Lead takes a toll on some Australian infants.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/the-toll-lead-takes-on-isas-infants/story-e6frg6nf-1225925070875

Frogs In The News:

Giant horned frog, Sumo, turns 30.
http://www.culture24.org.uk/science+%26+nature/ART308593

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