CLIMATE * State joins suit filed against the EPA http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/376417_refinery26.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/376417_refinery26.html> Washington has joined 11 states, the city of New York and the District of Columbia in a federal lawsuit technically aimed at curbing air pollution from oil refineries but mostly intended to force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to use its regulatory authority to better fight global warming. "Washington state is doing its part to address climate change... This is another example of the EPA failing to recognize the human health end of environmental consequences of air pollution," Gov. Chris Gregoire said in a statement. * Washington joins EPA suit http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/25/daily5.html <http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/25/daily5.html> The state of Washington said it's joining 12 other states in a suit against the Environmental Protection Agency, asking for more regulations on oil refinery emissions. The states, along with the District of Columbia and New York City, want the EPA to adopt regulations that would control global warming pollution emissions from refineries. <<Washington joins EPA suit - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle).htm>> * Commentary: State, local Democrats lead progress against climate change <http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080824/OPINION03/46000710/-1/OPINION #State.local.Democrats.lead.progress.against.climate.change <http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080824/OPINION03/46000710/-1/OPINION #State.local.Democrats.lead.progress.against.climate.change> > In the next 20 years our county population is predicted to increase by more than 300,000 new residents. Our leaders need to prepare for this growth. It will affect the quality of our life and that of future generations. We can take steps now that will positively affect our environment and decrease greenhouse gas emissions... * Plan gives developing countries some leeway on pollution targets http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/376185_climate23.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/376185_climate23.html> Delegates at a key U.N. climate conference made headway Friday on a plan to encourage developing countries to regulate carbon emissions by focusing on their largest industries. The emerging plan sidesteps objections from countries such as India and China, which refuse to accept national targets for the overall emission of the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. * Commentary: A simple plan to save the world http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/375977_saveworldonline24.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/375977_saveworldonline24.html> Carbon capture and storage is now the only realistic response to climate change in the future we are about to live through, yet there is more urgency about developing new computer games... The key fact in all of this is a simple one: to generate its electricity, the world is going to continue to burn more and more coal, the most carbon-intensive of all the fossil fuels, and therefore the greatest contributor to climate change. Never mind what you may want to happen; this is what is going to happen. It is a monumental and terrifying threat to the stability of the atmosphere. FUELS * Commentary: Produce biofuels to renew a declining resource: soil <http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080817/OPINION03/40866665/-1/OPINION #Produce.biofuels.to.renew.a.declining.resource.soil <http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080817/OPINION03/40866665/-1/OPINION #Produce.biofuels.to.renew.a.declining.resource.soil> > Sustainable biofuels are possible, and beneficial. But the industry's objectives must be changed... Now that we've learned what biofuels can't do -- allow guilt-free driving -- it's time to focus on what they can -- catalyze a soil-building industry that makes agriculture environmentally and economically sustainable. Washington state, with its strong tradition of conscientious, sophisticated farming, has every reason to lead the way. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING * Editorial: Ridership crunch is a chance for Metro to reinvent itself for the future http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/25/editorial1.htm l <http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/25/editorial1.ht ml> The King County Council is now considering a second fare increase this year. Asking riders to help pay for Metro's higher fuel expenses seems only fair. The agency needs to expand its existing partnership program, in which cities and large employers help pay for dedicated transit services. It's an additional source of revenue for more buses and routes. Also, state and local governments should continue to make street improvements that will help Metro's buses run more efficiently. <<Ridership crunch is a chance for Metro to reinvent itself for the future - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle).htm>> TRANSPORTATION CHOICES * Automakers aim to boost mileage http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008138447_gasm ileage26.html <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008138447_gas mileage26.html> With gasoline still hovering around $4 per gallon, many manufacturers are making far more than the usual tweaks to cars and trucks between model years to squeeze out one or two more miles per gallon and catch customers who increasingly rank fuel economy as a top factor when buying a vehicle. AIR QUALITY * Beijingers ask how long blue skies will last http://www.reuters.com/article/idUST29235620080820 <http://www.reuters.com/article/idUST29235620080820> Environmental officials have promised that some of the gains this month will be continued into the future, with plans to monitor ozone levels and the finest particulate matter. NOTE: If the hyperlink to the article fails, contact Consuelo Flores. Consuelo Flores Communications Dept. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency 206-689-4074 consueloF@pscleanair.org 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