Water-starved California slows development
Jennifer Steinhauer, NY Times, June 7, 2008
As California faces one of its worst droughts in two decades, building projects are being curtailed for the first time under state law by the inability of developers to find long-term water supplies.
Water authorities and other government agencies have begun denying, delaying or challenging authorization for dozens of housing tracts and other developments under a state law that requires a 20-year water supply as a condition for building. The state law was enacted in 2001, but until statewide water shortages, it had not been invoked to hold up projects.
“The water in our state is not sufficient to add more demand,” said Lester Snow, the director of the California Department of Water Resources. “And that now means that some large development can’t go forward. If we don’t make changes with water, we are going to have a major economic problem in this state.”
Governor Schwarzenegger sees addressing the state’s water problem as one of his key goals, and he is hoping against the odds to get a proposed $11.9 billion bond for water management investments through the Legislature and before voters in November. The plans calls for water conservation and quality improvement programs, as well as a resource management plan for the delta. Among its most controversial components is $3.5 billion earmarked for new water storage, something that environmentalists have vehemently opposed, in part because they find dams and storage facilities environmentally unsound and not cost effective. The critics also point out that the state’s agriculture industry, which uses far more water than urban areas, is being asked to contribute little to conservation under the governor’s plans.
Read the complete story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/07/us/07drought.html?ex=1213416000&en=bb2d5c43a447a415&ei=5070&emc=eta1
Monday, June 9, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
Heated Exchange: Update
Vote on climate bill is blocked in Senate
H. Josef Hebert, AP, June 6, 2008
Senate Republicans blocked a global warming bill that would have required major reductions in greenhouse gases, pushing debate over the world's biggest environmental concern to next year for a new Congress and president.
Democratic leaders fell a dozen votes short of getting the 60 needed to end a Republican filibuster on the measure and bring the bill up for a vote. The Senate debate focused on bitter disagreement over the expected economic costs of putting a price on carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas that comes from burning fossil fuels. Opponents said it would lead to higher energy costs.
Read the complete story here: http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/C/CLIMATE_CONGRESS?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-06-06-10-56-14
H. Josef Hebert, AP, June 6, 2008
Senate Republicans blocked a global warming bill that would have required major reductions in greenhouse gases, pushing debate over the world's biggest environmental concern to next year for a new Congress and president.
Democratic leaders fell a dozen votes short of getting the 60 needed to end a Republican filibuster on the measure and bring the bill up for a vote. The Senate debate focused on bitter disagreement over the expected economic costs of putting a price on carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas that comes from burning fossil fuels. Opponents said it would lead to higher energy costs.
Read the complete story here: http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/C/CLIMATE_CONGRESS?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-06-06-10-56-14
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Let's Get Ready to Ration
Schwarzenegger declares statewide drought in California
Don Thompson, AP, June 4, 2008
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proclaimed a statewide drought after two years of below-average rainfall, low snowmelt runoff and the largest court-ordered restrictions on water transfers in state history.
The governor issued an executive order Wednesday that directs the state Department of Water Resources to speed water transfers to areas with the most severe shortages. Schwarzenegger has ordered state officials to help local water districts with water conservation efforts and directed them to help farmers suffering losses from the drought.
Dry conditions are damaging crops, harming water quality, and causing extreme fire danger across the state. Many communities already are requiring water conservation or rationing.
Find the story here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/06/04/state/n092400D94.DTL&tsp=1
More here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/04/BANO1138CB.DTL
Don Thompson, AP, June 4, 2008
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proclaimed a statewide drought after two years of below-average rainfall, low snowmelt runoff and the largest court-ordered restrictions on water transfers in state history.
The governor issued an executive order Wednesday that directs the state Department of Water Resources to speed water transfers to areas with the most severe shortages. Schwarzenegger has ordered state officials to help local water districts with water conservation efforts and directed them to help farmers suffering losses from the drought.
Dry conditions are damaging crops, harming water quality, and causing extreme fire danger across the state. Many communities already are requiring water conservation or rationing.
Find the story here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/06/04/state/n092400D94.DTL&tsp=1
More here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/04/BANO1138CB.DTL
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Heated Exchange
Is the US Ready to Put a Price on Carbon?
Zachary Coile, SF Chronicle, June 3, 2008
The Lieberman-Warner bill titled the "Climate Security Act" (S2191) began debate in the Senate this week. The bill's aim is to reduce US carbon emissions by nearly 70% by 2050. President Bush has already threatened to veto it, but it is unlikely to reach his desk. Senate Democrats acknowledge the bill has little chance of passing, but believe the debate will increase the chances for passage in the next Congress. The bill would require about 2,100 major U.S. emitters - mostly coal-fired power plants, oil refineries, and chemical plants - to pay for the right to emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Proceeds from selling or trading those permits could total over $6 trillion over the next 40 years, and would be reinvested in renewable energy and rebates to consumers.
Read more here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/03/MNPU111UGU.DTL
...and read and hear more from Marketplace, American Public Media:
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/29/cap_and_trade/
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/06/02/carbon_price/
Zachary Coile, SF Chronicle, June 3, 2008
The Lieberman-Warner bill titled the "Climate Security Act" (S2191) began debate in the Senate this week. The bill's aim is to reduce US carbon emissions by nearly 70% by 2050. President Bush has already threatened to veto it, but it is unlikely to reach his desk. Senate Democrats acknowledge the bill has little chance of passing, but believe the debate will increase the chances for passage in the next Congress. The bill would require about 2,100 major U.S. emitters - mostly coal-fired power plants, oil refineries, and chemical plants - to pay for the right to emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Proceeds from selling or trading those permits could total over $6 trillion over the next 40 years, and would be reinvested in renewable energy and rebates to consumers.
Read more here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/03/MNPU111UGU.DTL
...and read and hear more from Marketplace, American Public Media:
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/05/29/cap_and_trade/
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/06/02/carbon_price/
Friday, May 30, 2008
The Quicker Cleaner-Upper
Nanowire mat could be an important new tool for cleaning up oil and other organic pollutants
Elizabeth A. Thomson, MIT News Office, May 30, 2008
MIT researchers and colleagues have created a membrane that can absorb up to 20 times its weight in oil, and can be recycled many times for future use. The oil itself can also be recovered. In addition to its environmental applications, the nanowire paper may also have applications for filtering and purifying water.
Two key properties make the system work. First, the nanowires form a spaghetti-like mat with many tiny pores that make for good capillarity, or the ability to absorb liquids. Second, a water-repelling coating keeps water from penetrating into the membrane. Oil, however, isn't affected, and seeps into the membrane. The membrane is created by the same general technique as its low-tech cousin, paper.
Read more about it at: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oil-paper-0530.html
Elizabeth A. Thomson, MIT News Office, May 30, 2008
MIT researchers and colleagues have created a membrane that can absorb up to 20 times its weight in oil, and can be recycled many times for future use. The oil itself can also be recovered. In addition to its environmental applications, the nanowire paper may also have applications for filtering and purifying water.
Two key properties make the system work. First, the nanowires form a spaghetti-like mat with many tiny pores that make for good capillarity, or the ability to absorb liquids. Second, a water-repelling coating keeps water from penetrating into the membrane. Oil, however, isn't affected, and seeps into the membrane. The membrane is created by the same general technique as its low-tech cousin, paper.
Read more about it at: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oil-paper-0530.html
Friday, May 23, 2008
EPA Joins Sustainable Remediation Bandwagon
Green Remediation: Incorporating Sustainable Environmental Practices into Remediation of Contaminated Sites Green Remediation: Incorporating Sustainable Environmental Practices into Remediation of Contaminated Sites (EPA 542-R-08-002)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, April 2008
The EPA has issued a primer on "green remediation". The primer, which provides topical introductory information as opposed to "guidance", outlines the principles of green remediation as the EPA views the subject. The document describes opportunities to reduce the footprint of cleanup activities throughout the life of a project, and best management practices (BMPs) to help decision-makers, communities, and other stakeholders identify sustainable strategies. The EPA views these strategies as complements rather than replacements in the process used to select remedial options. BMPs can be incorporated into all phases of remediation, including site investigation, remedy construction, O&M, monitoring of treatment processes and progress, and site closure.
Follow this link to the document: http://www.clu-in.org/download/remed/green-remediation-primer.pdf
Northgate also has a copy of the primer available on our internal server.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, April 2008
The EPA has issued a primer on "green remediation". The primer, which provides topical introductory information as opposed to "guidance", outlines the principles of green remediation as the EPA views the subject. The document describes opportunities to reduce the footprint of cleanup activities throughout the life of a project, and best management practices (BMPs) to help decision-makers, communities, and other stakeholders identify sustainable strategies. The EPA views these strategies as complements rather than replacements in the process used to select remedial options. BMPs can be incorporated into all phases of remediation, including site investigation, remedy construction, O&M, monitoring of treatment processes and progress, and site closure.
Follow this link to the document: http://www.clu-in.org/download/remed/green-remediation-primer.pdf
Northgate also has a copy of the primer available on our internal server.
Study on Premature Deaths Associated with Particulate Matter
Pollution danger higher than earlier estimated
Jane Kay, SF Chronicle, May 23, 2008
The State of California just released a draft report titled "Methodology for Estimating Premature Deaths Associated with Long-term Exposures to Fine Airborne Particulate Matter in California". The study presented in the report found a direct correlation between increased pollution from specks of dust, soot, metals and soil and a greater number of hospitalizations, emergency visits and missed school days. Assuming that a safe level is 7 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air, there would still be about 14,000 to 24,000 premature deaths every year in California associated with these small particles. That is two to three times the number of deaths previously predicted.
The California Air Resources Board will accept comments on the report until July 11.
Read the complete article here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/23/BAFB10RFT5.DTL
Read the complete report here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/health/pm-mort/pm-mortdraft.pdf
Jane Kay, SF Chronicle, May 23, 2008
The State of California just released a draft report titled "Methodology for Estimating Premature Deaths Associated with Long-term Exposures to Fine Airborne Particulate Matter in California". The study presented in the report found a direct correlation between increased pollution from specks of dust, soot, metals and soil and a greater number of hospitalizations, emergency visits and missed school days. Assuming that a safe level is 7 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter of air, there would still be about 14,000 to 24,000 premature deaths every year in California associated with these small particles. That is two to three times the number of deaths previously predicted.
The California Air Resources Board will accept comments on the report until July 11.
Read the complete article here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/23/BAFB10RFT5.DTL
Read the complete report here: http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/health/pm-mort/pm-mortdraft.pdf
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Pollution to Profit
Once Polluted, Now Profitable for New Jersey Builders
Alex Tarquinio, NY Times, March 5, 2008
A decade or two ago, New Jersey’s brownfields would not have appealed to many developers, no matter how many carrots the state dangled in front of them. But in the past decade, the state has protected large swaths of relatively pristine land through statewide conservation initiatives, while also providing incentive programs for redeveloping brownfields.
“We want to encourage much more development in our urban centers, where we already have the infrastructure and transportation,” said Kenneth J. Kloo, the administrator of the brownfield program of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The state defines brownfields as former commercial or industrial sites where the authorities know or suspect that the soil or the groundwater has been contaminated.
The Brownfield Reimbursement Program, which the state created in 1998, allows developers to recoup 75 percent of the costs they incur for the environmental cleanup of brownfields.
Read the complete story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/business/05brown.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Alex Tarquinio, NY Times, March 5, 2008
A decade or two ago, New Jersey’s brownfields would not have appealed to many developers, no matter how many carrots the state dangled in front of them. But in the past decade, the state has protected large swaths of relatively pristine land through statewide conservation initiatives, while also providing incentive programs for redeveloping brownfields.
“We want to encourage much more development in our urban centers, where we already have the infrastructure and transportation,” said Kenneth J. Kloo, the administrator of the brownfield program of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The state defines brownfields as former commercial or industrial sites where the authorities know or suspect that the soil or the groundwater has been contaminated.
The Brownfield Reimbursement Program, which the state created in 1998, allows developers to recoup 75 percent of the costs they incur for the environmental cleanup of brownfields.
Read the complete story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/business/05brown.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Stay Classy San Diego
Nearly built-out city revamps its long-term growth plan
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, March 2, 2008
With just 4 percent of its 331 square miles available for new development, San Diego faces the daunting challenge of absorbing future growth without expanding ever outward into distant suburbs.
On March 10, the City Council will be presented with a general plan of more than 360 pages that seeks to guide San Diego's evolution over the next two to three decades as its population grows as much as 25 percent from its current 1.3 million.
Eight years in the making, the plan has been the product of hundreds of public meetings and formal hearings. Among the plans's key elements are: land use and community planning, mobility, public facilities, conservation, recreation, and economic prosperity.
However, according to community activists, the proposed general plan is chock-full of well-meaning goals and principles, but in the end, they're still just platitudes. Assurances are needed that ensure public facilities and services in older neighborhoods will be paid for before new development is allowed to proceed. While city planners have long promised that a detailed financing plan would be crafted, it remains unfinished.
Read the complete story here: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20080302-9999-1h02genplanm.html
Lori Weisberg, San Diego Union-Tribune, March 2, 2008
With just 4 percent of its 331 square miles available for new development, San Diego faces the daunting challenge of absorbing future growth without expanding ever outward into distant suburbs.
On March 10, the City Council will be presented with a general plan of more than 360 pages that seeks to guide San Diego's evolution over the next two to three decades as its population grows as much as 25 percent from its current 1.3 million.
Eight years in the making, the plan has been the product of hundreds of public meetings and formal hearings. Among the plans's key elements are: land use and community planning, mobility, public facilities, conservation, recreation, and economic prosperity.
However, according to community activists, the proposed general plan is chock-full of well-meaning goals and principles, but in the end, they're still just platitudes. Assurances are needed that ensure public facilities and services in older neighborhoods will be paid for before new development is allowed to proceed. While city planners have long promised that a detailed financing plan would be crafted, it remains unfinished.
Read the complete story here: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20080302-9999-1h02genplanm.html
Friday, February 1, 2008
Future Retro
Green Energy Industry Takes Root in California
Matt Richtel and John Markoff, New York Times, February 1, 2008
Interest in alternative energy is climbing across the United States...and in California, especially solar. Entrepreneurs, academics and policy makers say solar industry of today is different from what was tried in the 1970s, when Jerry Brown invited derision for envisioning a future fueled by alternative energy.
In recent months, the industry has added several thousand jobs in the production of solar energy cells and installation of solar panels on roofs. A spate of investment has also aimed at making solar power more efficient and less costly than natural gas and coal. At present, solar power is three to five times as expensive as coal.
There has been a surge in private investment, led by venture capitalists. In 2007, VC put $654 million in 33 solar-related deals in California, up from $253 million in 16 deals in 2006, according to the Cleantech Group, which tracks investments in alternative energy. California received roughly half of all solar power venture investments made in 2007 in the US.
Read the complete story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/technology/01solar.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5087&em&en=3c94b2d421f827be&ex=1202014800
Matt Richtel and John Markoff, New York Times, February 1, 2008
Interest in alternative energy is climbing across the United States...and in California, especially solar. Entrepreneurs, academics and policy makers say solar industry of today is different from what was tried in the 1970s, when Jerry Brown invited derision for envisioning a future fueled by alternative energy.
In recent months, the industry has added several thousand jobs in the production of solar energy cells and installation of solar panels on roofs. A spate of investment has also aimed at making solar power more efficient and less costly than natural gas and coal. At present, solar power is three to five times as expensive as coal.
There has been a surge in private investment, led by venture capitalists. In 2007, VC put $654 million in 33 solar-related deals in California, up from $253 million in 16 deals in 2006, according to the Cleantech Group, which tracks investments in alternative energy. California received roughly half of all solar power venture investments made in 2007 in the US.
Read the complete story here: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/technology/01solar.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5087&em&en=3c94b2d421f827be&ex=1202014800
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