AIR QUALITY AND HEALTH * Editorial: Air Pollution -- Risks at home http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/374356_polluted.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/374356_polluted.html> There is so much talk of late about global warming from air emissions that people could almost forget how much their location affects pollution. But air pollution, waste dumps and fouled water are all part of the challenges in trying to achieve any kind of environmental justice in our and other societies. .. A summary of the study talks about educating people on the problems but also notes that more data could be used on impacts from wood stoves and from port, rail and King County Airport operations. * 'Alarming' elevated cancer risk in South Seattle linked to air pollution http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374066_badair08.html <http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374066_badair08.html> Routine measurement of air pollution is so spotty "there may be 'hot spots' located in residential areas where monitoring is not occurring," says the study by the Health Department and U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. SMOG * Puget Sound smog watch canceled http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008098348_websmog07m.ht ml <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008098348_websmog07m.h tml> * Smog watch canceled in Puget Sound region http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/updates/story/437333.html <http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/updates/story/437333.html> FUELS * EPA Keeps Biofuels Levels in Place after Considering Texas' Request http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f533 7/871e4716874340fe8525749e005b43be!OpenDocument <http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/6424ac1caa800aab85257359003f53 37/871e4716874340fe8525749e005b43be!OpenDocument> Following extensive analysis, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen L. Johnson Thursday announced his decision to deny a request submitted by the State of Texas to reduce the nationwide Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). As a result, the required total volume of renewable fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, mandated by law to be blended into the fuel supply will remain at 9 billion gallons in 2008 and 11.1 billion gallons in 2009. * It came from the West Seattle swamp - to fill your tank http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus1.html <http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus1.html> A host of Puget Sound companies, ranging from tiny startups like Blue Marble to aircraft giant Boeing, are looking to algae as the next big thing in renewable fuel. ENERGY * Giant retailers take shine to solar on roof http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008104849_sola r11.html <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008104849_sol ar11.html> Analysts are not sure how much power the rooftop projects could ultimately produce, but they say it could be enough to help shave total electricity demand. In many communities, stores are among the biggest energy users. Depending on location and weather, the solar panels generate 10 to 40 percent of the power a store needs. * Northwest tidal Power Reaches for Mainstream http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus3.html <http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus3.html> Snohomish County Public Utility District is the only local project on track to generate electricity from the region's tidal currents any time soon. * Wind power hits turbulence in Washington state http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus4.html <http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus4.html> But the industry is facing a strong head wind. The rising costs of steel, concrete and labor are driving wind power costs up. The state's transmission infrastructure is congested, making it difficult to move power from the windy sites where it is generated to the urban areas with the highest power demand. And a major wind power policy decision now rests in the hands of the state Supreme Court, which will decide whether the governor and a state energy siting panel can overrule local politicians when there's a conflict. * Coming soon: Solar system that's made in Washington http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus5.html <http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus5.html> Washington customers have adopted the systems rapidly since the state tax incentive became effective about two years ago. The 639 systems in place today are up from about 179 in summer 2006. * The waste police - Boeing energy detectives crack the case http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus6.html <http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus6.html> During the course of the three-day "lean energy assessment," the team found numerous systems to improve in the site's 2.2 million square feet of enclosed space. For instance, atop a cafeteria building there was an air conditioning system fighting a heating system, with both running at the same time, a problem rooted in a bad signal from a temperature sensor that operators at the centralized console couldn't see. CLIMATE * The Ton Also Rises -- On calculating CO2 weight http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2008/08/06/ <http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2008/08/06/> The overall problem regarding the planet is that greenhouse-gas concentration in the atmosphere is increasing. Greenhouse gases like CO2 trap and radiate sunlight and heat, so as more of them enter the atmosphere, the global mean temperature rises. To discover, chart, and study the problem -- and then talk to each other about it -- scientists everywhere need to measure atmospheric gases in the same way. * Growing interest in the trees - Starbucks takes job down on the farm http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus7.html <http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus7.html> To save forests in coffee-growing areas, Starbucks and Conservation International hope to tap the emerging carbon market to reward farmers for protecting and restoring forests rather than destroying them. That's easier said than done. TRANSPORTATION CHOICES * Universities push pedalling to reduce emissions http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008104830_bikes11.htm l <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008104830_bikes11.ht ml> Cycling already has a foothold at many colleges, where hefty parking fees, sprawling campuses and limited roads make it tough to travel. Still, most students are reluctant to leave their cars parked. * Comparing hybrid's costs with gas savings http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2008100427_fixit09.html <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2008100427_fixit09.html> The U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sponsor a nifty calculator for figuring these costs and comparing them with your present car. Go to www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/savemoney.shtml <file:///\\www.fueleconomy.gov\feg\savemoney.shtml> . * Help Me, Honda -- On diesel hybrids http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2008/07/30/?source=most_popular <http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2008/07/30/?source=most_popular> Coming to the U.S. in the next few years are new and efficient diesel vehicles by manufacturers other than VW and Mercedes (Honda, Honda, Honda hooray!). Still, not a single diesel model currently available in the U.S. made the annual Greenest Vehicles list from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy... Emissions regulations in Europe and California, the largest car market in the U.S., are still difficult to meet with a diesel engine, and automakers apparently fear they won't make fat enough profits. But the technology does seem to be moving forward, so keep posted. * Community Transit seeks broader service http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080809/NEWS01/728162624#Community.Tra nsit.seeks.broader.service <http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080809/NEWS01/728162624#Community.Tr ansit.seeks.broader.service> A ballot measure will decide whether the agency can annex land east of Mill Creek. * Transit fares likely to go up with more use http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/440835.html <http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/440835.html> * My gas-free tryout - burning rubber without guilt http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus2.html <http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/08/11/focus2.html> On behalf of readers, I selflessly let go of my admittedly less-than-throbbing Toyota Camry for a few days recently, and tried out the life of the future: commuting and running errands with Zenn, a zero-emissions, no-noise electric car 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