CLIMATE * Policy Perspectives -- Global climate change prompts new thinking for the new year http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/01/05/editorial5.htm l <http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/01/05/editorial5.ht ml> <<Global climate change prompts new thinking for the new year - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle).htm>> * Philip Mote, UW climate expert, moving south http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008597820_webmote07.htm l <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008597820_webmote07.ht ml> Mote, Washington's state climatologist for the past six years, will leave his University of Washington post to lead the Oregon Climate Change Research Institute. The institute is at Oregon State University but is shared by the statewide university system. He will be a professor in OSU's College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences and will relocate to Oregon full time in August. Mote has led research on climate change in the Pacific Northwest and was a lead author of a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which received a Nobel Prize. * NASA climate scientist pens personal appeal to Obama http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/01/05/nasa-climate-scient ist-pens-personal-appeal-to-obama/ <http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/01/05/nasa-climate-scien tist-pens-personal-appeal-to-obama/> James Hansen, one of the world's most eminent climate scientists, and his wife, Anniek, have written an open letter to Barack and Michelle Obama on the urgency of the need to halt global warming. The four-page letter [PDF], which Hansen has asked Mr. Obama's science adviser, John Holdren, to forward to the president-elect, warns of the "profound disconnect between actions that policy circles are considering and what the science demands for preservation of the planet." * Obama's Preferred Bill? EPA's first administrator is bullish on Obama, but not cap-and-trade http://www.grist.org/feature/2008/12/29/ <http://www.grist.org/feature/2008/12/29/> Instead of a cap-and-trade plan, Bill Ruckelshaus favors a tax on carbon emissions. Such a move would still let the market decide where reductions should happen, but it would be much simpler for the government to administer, he said. "It has the desired effect," he said. "It moves consumption toward less carbon-intensive activities. It does everything a cap-and-trade system does, but it's about ten times simpler. And about one-tenth as popular, which is why we don't have it." * Japan to monitor greenhouse gases from space http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090107/sc_nm/us_climate_japan_satellite;_yl t=AuM3nvYYCrfS7TYe2LVTFOVpl88F <http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090107/sc_nm/us_climate_japan_satellite;_y lt=AuM3nvYYCrfS7TYe2LVTFOVpl88F> Japan's space agency will launch a satellite later this month to monitor greenhouse gases around the world, officials said Wednesday, hoping the data it collects helps global efforts to combat climate change. The Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT), to be launched on January 21, will enable scientists to calculate the density of carbon dioxide and methane from 56,000 locations on the Earth's surface, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said. * The curse of carbon. Most people can appreciate the seriousness of rising sea levels. http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displaystory.cfm?story_id=127984 28 <http://www.economist.com/specialreports/displaystory.cfm?story_id=12798 428> Much harder to grasp are most of the other consequences of global warming--and especially of the build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. ENERGY/FUEL * Tacoma pulp plant to generate power, too http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/01/05/story5.html <http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/01/05/story5.html> $90M biomass project to squeeze energy out of Simpson Tacoma wood waste <<Tacoma pulp plant to generate power, too - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle).htm>> * Idaho Power Asks to Keep Energy Credits http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=16637 <http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=16637> Within the next few years, Oregon and Washington will require utilities to provide some of their power from so-called "green" sources. But Idaho has no such requirement. That hasn't stopped the state's largest utility from acting on the assumption that someday it will have to meet renewable energy requirements. * Inland Empire Oilseeds sells first batch of refined biodiesel http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008583740_webb iofuel02.html <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008583740_web biofuel02.html> the plant in Odessa, Lincoln County, began refining canola oil into biodiesel in November, then awaited certification of the fuel's quality before proceeding with the 33,000-gallon sale. The plant, which will soon include a crusher, will restart next week using another 35,000 gallons in canola-based oil already in storage. * Green revolution: still possible amid deep recession? http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0107/p05s01-wogn.html <http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0107/p05s01-wogn.html> Economic retreat could hamper green investment - but it could also spur a drive to move economies away from fossil-fuel dependencies. * Green technology feels the pinch -- VC investments fade in fourth quarter http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/395035_greenvc07.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/395035_greenvc07.html> Known alternately as green tech or clean tech, the industry develops new fuels and renewable power as well as more efficient ways to use existing resources such as water. In recent years, the industry has become the darling of the venture capital community, bringing in a steadily increasing stream of funding. * A coal giant rethinks coal http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/01/07/a-coal-giant-rethin ks-coal/ <http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/01/07/a-coal-giant-rethi nks-coal/> Battered by the financial crisis and under pressure from the Sierra Club and other environmental groups, the Houston-based energy giant Dynegy announced that it is abandoning plans to construct six coal-fired power plants. TRANSPORTATION * Oregon looks at taxing mileage instead of gasoline http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090102/ap_on_re_us/mileage_tax <http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090102/ap_on_re_us/mileage_tax> Oregon is among a growing number of states exploring ways to tax drivers based on the number of miles they drive instead of how much gas they use, even going so far as to install GPS monitoring devices in 300 vehicles. The idea first emerged nearly 10 years ago as Oregon lawmakers worried that fuel-efficient cars such as gas-electric hybrids could pose a threat to road upkeep, which is paid for largely with gasoline taxes. * Motorists' habits spur call for tax increases http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090102/ap_on_go_ot/gas_tax <http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090102/ap_on_go_ot/gas_tax> Motorists are driving less and buying less gasoline, which means fuel taxes aren't raising enough money to keep pace with the cost of road, bridge and transit programs. A federal commission created by Congress to find a way to make up the growing revenue shortfall in the program that funds highway repairs and construction is talking about increasing federal gas and diesel taxes. DIESEL * U.S. EPA, California agencies showcase "greener" tractors, bulldozers / New cleaner off road equipment will improve air quality, save lives http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f533 7/2af6dc68d856abce852575350076277f!OpenDocument <http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f53 37/2af6dc68d856abce852575350076277f!OpenDocument> Officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the California Air Resources Board, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District met today at the Puente Hills Landfill to showcase cleaner burning tractors, bulldozers and other earth moving equipment that is ahead of schedule in meeting the state's new, stringent diesel emissions standards. The state's estimated 180,000 pieces of off road equipment emit nearly as much smog-forming and fine particle pollution as the one million diesel trucks that ARB recently adopted regulations for... The ARB adopted a precedent-setting regulation in 2007 that will reduce toxic and cancer-causing diesel emissions from the state's estimated 180,000 off road vehicles used in construction, mining, airport ground support and other industries. The regulation requires the installation of diesel soot filters and encourages the replacement of older, dirtier engines with newer emission-controlled models. By 2020, diesel particulate matter will be reduced by 74 percent and smog forming oxides of nitrogen by 32 percent, compared to what emissions would be without the regulation. WOOD BURNING * Firelogs burn cleaner than real firewood http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/athome/393764_smart27.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/athome/393764_smart27.html> Using artificial firelogs is a reasonable alternative to burning real firewood. Firelogs have a unique contour on the top to produce realistic-looking flames. The only drawback is that the cost will be greater than using real firewood. However, for the occasional or short two- to three-hour fire, the cost difference is not significant. Burning real firewood can contribute to air pollution, and in some communities (like Seattle) it is controlled. Firelogs burn much cleaner than real firewood. They typically produce 70 percent less particulate matter, 85 percent less carbon monoxide and 50 percent less smoke. AIR QUALITY * NY adopts clean air rules, stricter than EPA's http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090107/ap_on_re_us/clean_air_rules;_ylt=Akw d6_jM7ibA0mo7eW2zAsBpl88F <http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090107/ap_on_re_us/clean_air_rules;_ylt=Ak wd6_jM7ibA0mo7eW2zAsBpl88F> Under rules adopted by the New York State Environmental Board, new industrial plants - as well as existing ones that modify operations in ways that increase emissions - will have to install state-of-the-art pollution controls. The rules take effect in March. The rules are related to a provision of the federal Clean Air Act known as "new source review," which governs whether plants must install new emissions controls when expanding or making upgrades that go beyond routine maintenance. State Environmental Commissioner Pete Grannis says the changes make the state's regulations stricter than those imposed by the Environmental Protection Agency. * 1 in 5 considering leaving Hong Kong due to pollution: survey http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090105/sc_afp/environmenthongkongpollution airbusiness;_ylt=AuFo7ovSssKMEWOnYySl_kxpl88F <http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090105/sc_afp/environmenthongkongpollutio nairbusiness;_ylt=AuFo7ovSssKMEWOnYySl_kxpl88F> The survey of more than 1,000 residents debunked the myth that concerns about air pollution were confined to the city's foreign residents, as only three percent of the respondents were expats. The research also found that concern about pollution had risen rapidly since 2001, and that managers and administrators were some of the most worried. * Pope: Pollution could destroy world's future http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090106/ap_on_re_eu/eu_vatican_pollution;_yl t=AvzojwBfAb4jiwxVfl5eEOxpl88F <http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090106/ap_on_re_eu/eu_vatican_pollution;_y lt=AvzojwBfAb4jiwxVfl5eEOxpl88F> Pope Benedict XVI is warning that pollution in the world could destroy our present and our future. But his message in an Epiphany Day homily Tuesday in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City is that people should not lose heart in tackling the challenge. Benedict is encouraging what he calls people's efforts to liberate human life and the world from "poisons and pollution." He says even though such efforts against "hostile forces" might not seem successful, Christian hope gives courage and guidance. NOTE: If the hyperlink to the article fails, contact Consuelo Davis. Consuelo Davis 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