THE HOT HOUSE

November 30, 2007

Air board launches its Noah's Ark: The scoping plan

Now it starts to get fun.

After all the hype and platitudes about California's global warming law, the Air Resources Board is now getting down to the nitty gritty of implementing a 29 percent reduction of greenhouse gases by 2020.

The first big decision point is a "scoping plan" that ARB will formulate to determine what sectors of the economy are subject to regulations or a planned cap and trade program.

The ARB will hold its first Sacramento workshop on this plan in two weeks. As The Bee's Jim Downing notes in a story today, the scoping plan is likely to become highly contentious because it will affect so many industries and basic activities across California.

First up, the agency must consider how to divide the state's greenhouse-gas sources into six economic sectors: electricity; local initiatives and land use; transportation; business and industry; agriculture; and forestry.

"There are a lot of animals on this ark, and we have to examine each separately," said agency spokesman Stanley Young.

You can find more info on the scoping plan here, at the ARB's ever-improving Web site.

Posted by Stuart Leavenworth at 06:17 PM | Comments

Hayes: "Junk the term carbon offsets"

Former Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes makes a good argument for why carbon "offsets" -- often derided in the media -- can be beneficial in the fight against global warming.

Or, more precisely, he argues that we should junk the term "offsets" and recognize there are some smaller, scattered, non-industrial sources of CO2 that could be controlled with financial incentives.

"Think methane emissions from landfills and animal feedlots (no kidding!) and carbon releases from poorly managed forests and farms," writes Hayes in a Bee op-ed. "These are the emissions that can and should receive additional attention – not as enigmatic 'offsets,' but instead as the target of a 'climate incentives' program that uses financial incentives to reduce emissions from these sources."

Posted by Stuart Leavenworth at 05:58 PM | Comments

November 21, 2007

Blog for C02 legal beagles

In my Nov. 14 entry, "White House uses California as a shield," I examined the the two-faced nature of a White House-approved State Department report that hails California's climate laws, even as the White House works to block their implementation.

The Community Rights Counsel, a non-profit law firm in D.C., has been examining this thread for some time on its warming law blog. Warming Law has also been tracking the U.S. District Court case in Fresno that pits the automakers against California on its clean cars law.

The Bee's Dale Kasler also had a good story updating the court case on Tuesday.

Posted by Stuart Leavenworth at 04:18 PM | Comments

Schwarzenegger, the salesman, goes national

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has joined two other western governors -- Brian Schweitzer (D-MT) and Jon Huntsman (R-UT) -- in a national television ad that urges the federal government to take action to cap greenhouse gases.

The ad, launched by Environmental Defense, juxtaposes the three governors against backdrops of natural beauty. It is clearly designed to put pressure on the White House and Congress as it debates energy legislation and bills to cap emissions.

"We are leading," say Schweitzer.

"Now's it their turn," adds Schwarzenegger.

In coming weeks, the ads will appear in 17 markets in 11 states, according to a story in the New York Times. You won't see it in California, though -- it costs too much to run it statewide, according to ED officials. Thus you will have to check it out here.

Posted by Stuart Leavenworth at 03:43 PM | Comments

November 16, 2007

Arnold @ LA Auto show: Applying pressure? Or greenwashing?

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger hung out with auto industry bigwigs at the L.A. auto show yesterday, helping them show off some of their alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles.

It seemed like an uncomfortable moment for everyone involved.

The automakers are suing California over its 2002 law to limit greenhouse gases from vehicle fleets. Schwarzenegger, meanwhile, is seeking a waiver from the EPA so California can implement the law and get cleaner cars on the road, faster.

Adding to ackward moment: The 9th Circuit Court of Appeal on Thursday struck down the federal government's national fuel efficiency standards, ruling they didn't go far enough in improving gas mileage and reducing greenhouse gases.

That prompted the governor, done chumming with the auto executives, to issue this statement:

"Today's 9th Circuit Court decision is another win for the environment and for consumers. At the L.A. Auto Show this morning, I saw firsthand how automobile companies are harnessing new technologies to create cleaner and more fuel efficient cars. Clearly, automobile companies have the capability to produce environmentally friendly cars, and today's court ruling underscores the need for the federal government to step in and provide the extra push necessary to make these vehicles widespread."

The statement seemed designed to shield the governor from criticism that his appearance with the auto giants didn't seem to jibe with his policy. Even so, enviros accused the auto makers of "greenwashing" the L.A. Auto Show.

David Friedman, research director of the Clean Vehicles Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists, released this statement today:

"The problem is that while auto companies are using their engineers to put a green halo around their brands, their lobbyists are working behind the scenes to stop Congress from adopting a compromise bill that would bring cars and trucks to 35 mpg by 2020."

Photo courtesy of William Foster, Office of Governor Schwarzenegger. Pictured are GM Environment & Energy Public Policy Center Executive Director Al Weverstad, Chrysler Executive Vice President of Product Development Frank O. Klegon, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Toyota Group Vice President of Corporate Communications Irv Miller.

Posted by Stuart Leavenworth at 04:22 PM | Comments

November 14, 2007

White House uses California as a shield in defending its climate policies

The Bush administration has a lot of gall.

At the same time the administration is holding up a waiver California needs to implement its state law reducing greenhouse gases, the federal government is using California as an example of states "that have developed comprehensive climate change action plans through stakeholder processes that lay out cost-effective strategies for reducing their GHG emissions."

That's the description that can be found on page 51 of this White House-cleared report that was dug up by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Apparently, the State Department is using this report to defend the administration against international claims that the United States isn't doing its part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In other words, White House officials are trying to claim credit for California's laws even as they work to undermine them. Stunning.

Posted by Stuart Leavenworth at 05:12 PM | Comments

November 09, 2007

How will EPA justify rejecting the waiver?

EPA officials insist they will rule by year's end on California's request for a Clean Air Act waiver. The state needs the waiver so it can enact a 2002 law requiring automakers to reduce greenhouse gases released from vehicles sold in the state.

Most experts assume the EPA will turn down the request, which is why California went ahead and sued the agency yesterday for failing to make a decision after nearly two years.

So what justification will EPA use in turning down the waiver? Ann Carlson, a professor of environmental law at UCLA, thinks the federal agency may conclude that greenhouse gas emissions are a national problem, unlike the smog-causing emissions that were the target of earlier waivers for the state.

"If EPA denies a waiver, I think it will say that climate change is not unique to California," Carlson told the San Francisco Chronicle. On the other hand, she said the Supreme Court had strengthened the state's position by ruling that states have legitimate interests to protect from global warming.

EPA officials had their sound bites ready when the lawsuit -- delayed by the Southern California wildfires -- was finally filed yesterday.

"Clearly, California's more interested in getting a good headline than in getting us to make a good decision," said EPA spokeswoman Jennifer Wood.

Posted by Stuart Leavenworth at 04:59 PM | Comments

What's Catherine Witherspoon up to?

Catherine Witherspoon, former executive officer of the California Air Resources Board, resigned in a huff earlier this year after Gov. Schwarzenegger fired board chairman Robert Sawyer. Both Witherspoon and Sawyer complained that the governor's aides were meddling in policy decisions that should be the province of the board's staff and appointed board members.

Ever since, the Hot House has been curious about what Witherspoon has been doing with herself.

Turns out she is still pining for fixed terms for CARB members so they can't be summarily whacked by the governor. In a letter to The Bee, Witherspoon suggests that board members will need political protection in the near future, as they weigh tough choices on reducing greenhouse gases.

"The most difficult policy decisions are yet to come," she wrote in her letter.

Posted by Stuart Leavenworth at 03:48 PM | Comments

Sea change in attitudes

It's stunning to see how quickly public attitudes have changed on global climate change.

Three in 10 Californians surveyed now list global warming as the world's major environmental threat, according to survey results released yesterday by the Field Poll.

Seven in ten Californians believe the issue of global warming is extremely or very important to them personally, much higher than the 52% of Americans who reported similar sentiments in a national poll earlier this year.

The Field Poll also suggests that Californians will support increased regulations and taxes to reduce greenhouse emissions. To no surprise, support for such measures declines when people are asked if increased taxes or regulation would increase the cost of goods and services they buy.

Undoubtedly, increased media attention has heightened public awareness. On the other hand, a recent study suggests that British media outlets devote about three times more coverage to the issue than their U.S. counterparts do. Read about the study here on the desmog blog.

Posted by Stuart Leavenworth at 03:33 PM | Comments

Back in the saddle

Excuse the light blogging of the last week or so.

I've been mired in lots of interesting but complicated local issues, including the Field of Dreams, otherwise known as the Sacramento railyard. I've also been delving into the rousting of homeless camp north of the Field of Dreams, Natomas politics and prospects for health care reform.

Plus, our newspaper has a new executive editor -- Melanie Sill -- who is moving here from The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., where I worked for seven years before joining The Bee.

The News & Observer, fyi, has a Web page called "Global Warming Hits Home" that tracks GW issues in the Tar Heel state. It's an interesting read. You can find it here.

Posted by Stuart Leavenworth at 03:09 PM | Comments