CLIMATE * New US climate report dire, but offers hope <<http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090617/ap_on_sc/us_sci_climate_report;_ylt=And7cqPkv95mITeOlmiYsJcPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJtY3ZuZ28zBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwNjE3L3VzX3NjaV9jbGltYXRlX3JlcG9ydARjcG9zAzIEcG9zAzYEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDbmV3dXNjbGltYXRl>> Amid the warnings, scientists and government officials seemed to go out of their way to soften the message. It is still not too late to prevent some of the worst consequences, they said, by acting aggressively to reduce world emissions of heat-trapping gases, primarily carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels. The new report differs from a similar draft issued with little fanfare or context by George W. Bush's administration last year. It is paradoxically more dire about what's happening and more optimistic about what can be done... The document, a climate status report required periodically by Congress, was a collaboration by about three dozen academic, government and institute scientists. It contains no new research, but it paints a fuller and darker picture of global warming in the United States than previous studies. * Scientists: Global warming is real, and it is only getting worse http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2009348033_warming17.html The report, "Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States," covers much of the same ground as previous analyses from U.S. and United Nations science panels. It finds that greenhouse-gas emissions are "primarily" responsible for global warming and that rapid action is needed to avert catastrophic shifts in water, heat and natural life. What's different this time is the report's scope - at 196 pages, the report attempts to present the fullest picture yet of the threats to the United States - and its timing. It comes out as Congress is considering a mammoth bill that would impose the first national cap on emissions, and then seek to reduce them sharply over the next 41 years... Today's report says that the evidence of global change is "unequivocal." And, in language stripped of the usual scientific jargon, it sketches out some of the costs of doing nothing to bring down emissions. * $10 Million in First EPA Grants to Develop Climate Change Showcase Communities http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f5337/e2d4e47e1638fb46852575d6005fc2af!OpenDocument EPA is announcing the availability of up to $10 million in first of its kind, "Climate Showcase Communities" grants to local and tribal governments to establish and implement climate change initiatives that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The agency expects to award approximately 30 cooperative agreements, each one ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. Approximately 5 percent of the funds ($500,000) are set-asides for tribal governments... EPA requests proposals from local governments, federally-recognized Indian tribal governments, and inter-tribal consortia to create replicable models of sustainable community action, generate cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions, and improve the environmental, economic, public health, and social conditions in a community. A 50 percent cost-share is required for recipients, with the exception of tribal governments and intertribal consortia which are exempt from matching requirements under this grant. * ConocoPhillips chief warns of impending oil crisis http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090617/ts_alt_afp/useconomyenergywarmingoil;_ylt=AlbVTQCvLuuzuDmgXqBkOOJpl88F Government efforts to curb climate change could soon spur an oil crisis more severe than those already experienced, the head of oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips has said. "We're very concerned that if we don't keep the supply up we're going to see another crisis," said chief executive officer Jim Mulva... Mulva acknowledged that climate change was a "serious problem" but said attempts to limit the use of fossil fuels through taxes and restrictive regulations will simply raise the cost for the consumer and harm the economy. ENERGY * Energy bill advances in Senate http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090617/ap_on_go_co/us_energy_bill Legislation that would require greater use of renewable energy, make it easier to build power lines and allow oil and gas drilling near Florida's coast advanced Wednesday in the Senate. The Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 15-8 to clear the measure, although both Democrats and Republicans - for different reasons - said they had concerns about the bill and hoped to make major changes on the Senate floor. The legislation's primary thrust is to expand the use of renewable sources of energy such as wind, solar and geothermal sources as well as deal with the growing concerns about the inadequacies of the nation's high-voltage power grid. TRANSPORTATION CHOICES * Honda Insight hybrid may miss U.S. sales goal by 33% http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/780055.html First-year sales of Honda's gasoline-electric Insight, which debuted at U.S. dealerships in late March, may be 50,000 to 60,000 units, said John Mendel, U.S. executive vice president for Honda. "I don't think we'll get to 90,000," he said in a June 11 interview. Gasoline prices have fallen 35 percent over the past year, eroding demand for fuel-efficient cars, even as the overall car market has plunged 37 percent due to the recession. * For 48th day in a row, gas prices rise again http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/780056.html Gas prices rose Monday for the 48th straight day, matching a record going back to at least the 1970s, with prices now up nearly two-thirds since the beginning of the year even as demand from motorists remains weak. The price of a gallon of regular gas in Tacoma on Monday was $2.832, up 9 cents from a week ago, according to AAA. * Mukilteo wants to pull parking from ferry commuters -- The city wants to cut overnight parking for commuters, and that has some boycotting shops. http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090616/NEWS01/706169898#Mukilteo.wants.to.pull.parking.from.ferry.commuters Hundreds of ferry commuters from Whidbey Island park their vehicles overnight in Mukilteo and drive to their jobs. Mukilteo officials would like to reduce overnight parking on the waterfront. Commuters are upset, and some are boycotting the city's businesses in protest. A meeting to discuss the parking issue is scheduled for Wednesday. * Save money as gas prices climb http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090616/BIZ/706169950/1005#Save.money.as.gas.prices.climb Avoid idling. Turn off your engine if you think you're going to have to wait. Map out a route and a backup route in case the one you were going to take is too congested. NOTE: If the hyperlink to the article fails, contact Consuelo Davis. Consuelo Davis Communications Dept. Puget Sound Clean Air Agency 206-689-4074 consueloD@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