[Source: The Seattle Times] Royal Dutch Shell opts to sit on the sidelines while BP shovels money into opposing Initiative 1631. In speeches, reports and online posts, BP and Royal Dutch Shell leaders proclaim support for government rules that put a price on greenhouse-gas pollution resulting from the combustion of oil, natural gas and coal. Read More…
Newsroom
CARB adopts blueprint for statewide community air protection in areas most impacted by pollution
[Source: CARB Office of Communications] Opening a new chapter in California’s fight against air pollution, the California Air Resources Board today took key steps toward implementing the Community Air Protection Program, a first-of-its-kind effort to improve air quality in local communities that face the worst impacts of air pollution. “This program represents a completely new Read More…
Anger in California’s carpool lanes as more than 200,000 drivers are set to lose decals
[Source: Los Angeles Times] For some California commuters, cutting down on carbon emissions isn’t a sexy enough reason to buy an electric car. But the ability to bypass freeway traffic without having to carpool — that’s another story. So there is grumbling in high-occupancy-vehicle lanes across California these days. On Jan. 1, the owners of Read More…
Gavin Newsom, John Cox a world apart on environmental issues
[Source: San Francisco Chronicle] Gavin Newsom and John Cox both drive zero-emission Teslas. That’s about where the common ground ends between California’s candidates for governor when it comes to the environment. Until recently, Cox said he wasn’t sure how much humans contribute to climate change. “I’m not a climatologist,” the Republican candidate would say. As Read More…
Neighbors in Hacienda Heights concerned over lead-smelting plant expansion plans leave meeting frustrated
[Source: San Gabriel Valley Tribune] More than 150 people attended a chaotic meeting Thursday night to hear about plans for a 25 percent increase in the recycling of toxic lead batteries at Quemetco’s facility in City of Industry, the lone lead-smelting plant remaining in Southern California. Many were frustrated over a workshop format chosen by Read More…
California to rely on 100% clean electricity by 2045 under bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown
[Source: Los Angeles Times] All of California’s electricity will come from clean power sources by 2045 under legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown on Monday, the latest in a series of ambitious goals set by the state to combat the effects of climate change. Brown hailed the move as another example of the state’s global Read More…
Americans haven’t felt this good about income growth since 2001
[Source: Bloomberg] Economists say the country is close to full employment, but pay gains for American workers have been flat since 2015. Even last week’s upward blip in wage growth could be wiped out by inflation. Yet Americans haven’t been this optimistic about future pay raises since the century began, according to the Conference Board’s Read More…
Some small business owners could avoid cap on state and local tax deduction after IRS clarifies new rules
[Source: Los Angeles Times] Small business owners could avoid a new federal limit on state and local tax deductions after the Internal Revenue Service said Wednesday that rules it released last month to prevent efforts in California and other states to circumvent the cap apply only to individuals. Businesses will be allowed to claim a Read More…
State Supreme Court ruling protects employers, preserves workers’ comp exclusivity
[Source: CalChamber] The California State Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of employers finding that an employee’s tort claims against a doctor who reviewed workers’ compensation cases is preempted by the workers’ compensation law. In December 2016, the California Chamber of Commerce filed a friend-of-the-court brief in the case of King v. CompPartners, Inc. (S232197), arguing Read More…