[Source: Capitol Alert] Sales of new gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles would be banned in California after 2040 under a bill that Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, plans to introduce. France and the United Kingdom are doing it. So is India. And now one lawmaker would like California to follow their lead in phasing out gasoline- Read More…
Month: September 2017
The environmental consequences of your second car
[Source: Pacific Standard] New research finds Californians who buy a fuel-efficient car often purchase a bigger, less environmentally friendly second vehicle. Bad news for those of us who hoped the increasing popularity of hybrids and other high-mileage cars and trucks would be a game-changer in the fight against climate change. It seems we forgot about Read More…
End of legislative session brings brief respite from higher energy prices
[Source: The Orange County Register/Opinion] Legislation that would have required all electric power sold in the state to be generated by renewable sources by 2045 was held up in the final days of the recently-completed legislative session. But it will come back. Should the idea ever become law, we’ll remember these as the easy days Read More…
Despite liberal California Legislature, Chamber of Commerce kills most ‘job-killer’ bills
[Source: The Mercury News] From all appearances, the California Legislature’s 2017 session was one of the most liberal – or progressive, as liberals prefer to say – in the state’s history. In fact, legislative leaders such as Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon are saying as much. However, despite the overall left-of-center tone to the session that ended last week, the California Chamber of Read More…
Angry that Scott Pruitt pulls agents off of environmental investigations for his security detail?
[Source: Washington Examiner] Scott Pruitt is under fire, this time for trying to stay safe. Because the EPA chief requires 24/7 security, according to a new Washington Post report, the agency has pulled agents from environmental investigations to serve on his security detail. There is an obvious solution to this staffing problem. End the demonization Read More…
California lawmakers make key decisions on environment, infrastructure
[Source: ABC 10News] California lawmakers are wrapping up their year with key decisions that came early Saturday morning. The most notable piece of legislation was a “sanctuary state” bill that would limit police cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It will now be considered by Governor Jerry Brown, who announced his support after the top state Senate Read More…
California’s growth slowdown continues in August as the state loses 8,200 job
[Source: Los Angeles Times] California’s slowing economic expansion was evident in August as the state lost 8,200 net jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 5.1%, from 4.8% a month earlier, according to data released Friday from the state’s Employment Development Department. The drop in employment follows a robust July in which the Golden State Read More…
California leads the way in growth of climate change lawsuits
[Source: Capitol Public Radio] Lawsuits will help drive how climate change policy evolves in the years to come. More of those lawsuits are originating in California than any other state, according to a new study out of George Washington University. Not only is there a growing number of climate-change related lawsuits, but roughly 25 percent of Read More…
Stopping nasty smells at Rotterdam’s port
[Source: Port Technology] In the port of Rotterdam, work takes place to stop the unintentional release of all sorts of substances. Some gases are hazardous or irritating and not all gases are perceptible to human senses. An ‘e-nose’ (electronic nose) can do this and responds to changes in the composition of the air. The Port Read More…