FUEL ECONOMY * Fuel-economy push hits snags. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121729112585291671.html?mod=googlenews_w sj <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121729112585291671.html?mod=googlenews_ wsj> A Bush administration proposal to boost fuel efficiency of automobiles to 31.5 miles per gallon by 2015 is raising hackles on two sides: from car makers, who say it is too tough, and from some Democrats, who say it isn't tough enough. <<Fuel-Economy Push Hits Snags - WSJ_com.htm>> * In search of fuel-efficient rental cars. http://pubs.acs.org/cen/newscripts/86/8630newscripts.html <http://pubs.acs.org/cen/newscripts/86/8630newscripts.html> All over the country, car rental companies are seeing customers pass up big cars for hybrids and other more fuel-efficient cars, and that is affecting the companies' ability to keep up with demand. CLEAN TRUCKS * Paccar's fuel-saving hybrid trucks aimed at nation's distribution industry. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008078767_hybr idtruck29.html <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008078767_hyb ridtruck29.html> Meet the workhorse cousin of the Toyota Prius - a medium-duty truck running on a hybrid diesel-electric engine that could save distribution and utility companies plenty of expensive fuel and be easier on the planet, too. CLIMATE CHANGE * Huge chunk snaps off storied Arctic ice shelf. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080729.ICE29/TPStory/ Environment <http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080729.ICE29/TPStory /Environment> Scientists say the break, the largest on record since 2005, is the latest indication that climate change is forcing the drastic reshaping of the Arctic coastline, where 9,000 square kilometres of ice have been whittled down to less than 1,000 over the past century. * Climate experts tussle over details. Public gets whiplash. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/science/earth/29clim.html?_r=1&oref=sl ogin <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/science/earth/29clim.html?_r=1&oref=s login> When science is testing new ideas, the result is often a two-papers-forward-one-paper-back intellectual tussle among competing research teams--and lately the phenomenon has been glaringly apparent on global warming <<News Analysis - Climate Experts Tussle Over Details_ Public Gets Whiplash_ - News Analysis - NYTimes_com.htm>> * As ocean warms, coral loses anchor in acidic waters. http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=coral-reefs-lose-grip-under-global-w arming <http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=coral-reefs-lose-grip-under-global- warming> Coral reefs can't find a strong purchase in the eastern tropical Pacific thanks to more acidic waters--a potential precursor of what the ocean will be like under global warming * U.S. should find way to price carbon emissions, say execs. http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN2850849720080728 <http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSN2850849720080728> Two top executives from U.S. industry told a congressional panel on Monday that the country should assign a dollar cost to carbon emissions to encourage investment in efficiency and tackle climate change. LAND USE / PLANNING * Gas prices drive push to reinvent America's suburbs. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-07-29-nosale_N.htm <http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-07-29-nosale_N.htm> What Maricopa, Arizona has been doing is unusual--it is asking builders not to develop just isolated subdivisions behind walls, but whole communities that encourage walking to nearby stores, schools and other services * Gas prices may revive cities. http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/national/2008/07/17/gas-prices-may-r evive-cities.html <http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/national/2008/07/17/gas-prices-may- revive-cities.html> Sure, they feel guilty admitting it, but high energy prices could prove to be the force that brings the urban planners' dreams to fruition: a greener, more sustainable society that is also a throwback to the preautomobile age * Living on the wrong street could be making you fat. http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14409-living-on-the-wrong-street-c ould-be-making-you-fat.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=news3_head_dn14409 <http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn14409-living-on-the-wrong-street- could-be-making-you-fat.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=news3_head_dn14409> The street where you live could be making you fat. That's what a study of 450,000 Americans suggests. TRANSPORTATION CHOICES * Fuel prices force schools to weigh class, staff cuts. http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-07-29-school-fuel_N.htm <http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-07-29-school-fuel_N.htm> Fuel and energy costs are rising so quickly for the USA's public school districts that nearly one in seven is considering cutting back to four-day weeks this fall. * After bike-sharing success, Paris considers electric cars. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/world/europe/29paris.html <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/world/europe/29paris.html> The new car-sharing program, expected to begin in late 2009 or early 2010, would bring a fleet of 4,000 electric cars and would be run by the city of Paris. <<After Bike-Sharing Success, Paris Considers Electric Cars - NYTimes_com.htm>> ENERGY POLICY * 3 gurus of green ponder energy's future. http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/economy/2008/07/24/3-gurus-of-gr een-ponder-energys-future.html <http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/economy/2008/07/24/3-gurus-of-g reen-ponder-energys-future.html> American energy use will change more in the next two decades than it has in the past five. U.S. News spoke with three top executives already helping shape that future. ENERGY CONSERVATION * Energy conservation: starting at home. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92931988 <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92931988> More than a dozen states have adopted ambitious goals to cut back on energy use. My home state, Maryland, has one of the most aggressive plans. AIR QUALITY * As Olympics near, Beijing still can't beat pollution. http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-olyair29-2008jul29,0 ,5903000.story <http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-olyair29-2008jul29, 0,5903000.story> Despite China's removing 1.5 million cars from the roads and shutting down hundreds of factories and construction sites, Beijing's air pollution remains at stubbornly high levels. <<As Olympics near, Beijing still can't beat pollution - Los Angeles Times.htm>> * Rain, wind clears Beijing air ahead of Olympics. http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hyX4mPg2U9mpr9RrUqIlg4SCuXZAD927EBSO0 <http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hyX4mPg2U9mpr9RrUqIlg4SCuXZAD927EBSO 0> After days of hazy, dark skies raised concerns about pollution levels during the Olympics, wind and rain helped clear Beijing's air Tuesday and officials hoped it will stay for the games' start next week. * Olympians prepare for Beijing's bad air. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92987810 <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92987810> As athletes from around the world begin to congregate in Beijing for the Olympics, many are feeling the burn, in their lungs NO IDLE ZONE * Smart clocks to cut idle time at traffic lights. http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/wfaa0807 28_mo_redlightrelief.1219aa82.html <http://www.txcn.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/tv/stories/wfaa080 728_mo_redlightrelief.1219aa82.html> When every drop is precious, sitting at a traffic light can be a waste of gas money. 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