DIESEL SOLUTIONS * New Law Bolsters U.S. Efforts to Make Ocean-Going Ships Cleaner http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f533 7/f1e6594e8e04fdd88525748e0069fb1f!OpenDocument <http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f53 37/f1e6594e8e04fdd88525748e0069fb1f!OpenDocument> With the president's July 21 signature of the Maritime Pollution Protection Act of 2008, U.S. agencies are setting course to implement a key international agreement to reduce air pollution from large ships. This key step clears the way for U.S. ratification of the international treaty regulating emissions - known as MARPOL Annex VI -- from large diesel-powered, ocean-going vessels. Under MARPOL Annex VI, container ships, tankers, cruise ships and bulk carriers must limit NOx emissions from their category three diesel engines. It also sets a cap on the sulfur content of the fuel they burn and includes a program for designating areas where more stringent fuel controls apply, such as near coastlines that have more severe air quality concerns. RENEWABLE ENERGY * In the push for alternative energy, what happened to geothermal? http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/national/2008/07/21/in-the-push-for- alternative-energy-what-happened-to-geothermal.html <http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/national/2008/07/21/in-the-push-for -alternative-energy-what-happened-to-geothermal.html> Geothermal energy, which has been heralded by some scientists over the years as a rich untapped resource, has garnered much less attention than other alternative energy sources, particularly from politicians. * Wind power: A reality check. http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/22/news/economy/pickens_wind/?postversion=2 008072214 <http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/22/news/economy/pickens_wind/?postversion= 2008072214> High-profile personalities have been telling the nation to ditch that dirty fossil fuel and turn to renewable energy. * In trees vs. solar battle, old trees score a new law http://origin.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9961578?nclick_check=1 <http://origin.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_9961578?nclick_check=1> Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday signed into law a bill that guarantees if California property owners plant a tree before a neighbor installs solar panels on their roof, then the neighbor can't require the tree to be cut or trimmed, even if it grows to cast shade on the panels... Under the old law, property owners could be required to trim back their trees or face criminal prosecution for public nuisance and fines of up to $1,000 per violation if the branches grew to shade someone's solar panels. It didn't matter if the trees were planted before or after the panels were installed. * On clean coal: If By Clean You Mean Filthy http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2008/07/23/index.html <http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2008/07/23/index.html> In the U.S., electricity from coal already produces more carbon dioxide emissions than the entire transportation sector... Should we spend money and time researching and developing technology to make coal less awful? Or is this a misdirection of human capital, better spent on solar, wind, hydro, ocean power, and conservation? PLUG-IN HYBRIDS * Utilities say grid can handle rechargeable cars. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/ELECTRIC_CARS_MIOL-?SITE=MIDTN&SE CTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT <http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/ELECTRIC_CARS_MIOL-?SITE=MIDTN&S ECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT> Which draws more juice from the electric grid, a big-screen plasma television or recharging a plug-in hybrid car? * GM building electric car infrastructure. http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/07/22/gm/ <http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/07/22/gm/> General Motors is asking more than 30 utility firms to help deploy a network of recharging stations before the launch of its plug-in electric car in 2010. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING * Sound Transit plan is expected to be approved for ballot http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371862_soundtransit22.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/371862_soundtransit22.html> A 15-year Sound Transit expansion plan that includes adding 34 miles of light rail and expanded bus service, costing more than $17.8 billion and financed with an increase in sales taxes, is expected to be discussed and approved Thursday for placement on the November ballot. * Commentary: 10 lame reasons to delay mass transit | by Greg Nickels http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008066476_nicke lsop23.html <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008066476_nick elsop23.html> * Commentary: The wrong investment at the wrong time | by Ron Sims http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008066479_simso ped23.html <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008066479_sims oped23.html> ALTERNATIVE FUELS * EPA postpones decision on ethanol requirements http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080722/ap_on_re_us/epa_ethanol_3;_ylt=Agnwx SM2Y993pZCeLMD1lb3YeMUA <http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080722/ap_on_re_us/epa_ethanol_3;_ylt=Agnw xSM2Y993pZCeLMD1lb3YeMUA> The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday put off a decision on Texas' request to temporarily lower ethanol requirements for gasoline, a change Gov. Rick Perry says is needed to rein in corn prices... An energy bill passed in December required 9 billion gallons of ethanol to be blended into gasoline from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31 of next year. Perry, a Republican, asked the EPA in April to drop the Renewable Fuels Standard requirement to 4.5 billion gallons because the demand for ethanol is raising corn prices for livestock producers. CLIMATE CHANGE * Warming world 'drying wetlands'. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7513638.stm <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7513638.stm> Scientists warn that if the decline of the world's wetlands continued, it could result in vast amounts of carbon being released into the atmosphere and "compound the global warming problem significantly". * Commentary: Diverse groups coalesce to protect environment http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/371794_evang23.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/371794_evang23.html> "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves," says Proverbs 31:8. Scripture and teachings throughout the world call us to act with caring and justice for the vulnerable. Today "vulnerable" includes the Earth -- and people, plants and animals threatened by climate change... Climate change calls us to be innovative, courageous and compassionate. Inspired by our beliefs, informed by science, and using our intellect, we can answer this call to care. NOTE: If the hyperlink to the article fails, contact Consuelo Flores. Bill Smith Senior Environmental Specialist City of Tacoma Solid Waste Management 3510 S. Mullen Street Tacoma, WA 98409 253-593-7719 Phone 253-591-5547 Fax