Daily Green

Hello and good afternoon all. In today’s news:

• California air board set to adopt cap-and-trade program;
• State adopts network of protected marine areas;
• Delta twin-tunnels plan backed by U.S., Calif.;
• David Allgood, and much more.

Top of the Ticket

Multiple sources 12/16/10
California air board set to adopt cap-and-trade program
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-climate-cap-trade-20101216,0,428888.story
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_16868556
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/16/BUO21GQG0D.DTL&type=green

Climate Watch 12/15/10
Lonely Road for Cap and Trade
http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2010/12/15/lonely-road-for-cap-and-trade/

San Francisco Chronicle 12/16/10
Calif. air board set to vote on 2 crucial issues
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/16/MNDG1GQ3JR.DTL&type=green

Los Angeles Times, San Diego Union-Tribune 12/16/10
State adopts network of protected marine areas
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-1216-marine-reserves-20101216,0,1895962.story
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/15/state-doubles-regions-marine-reserves/

Multiple sources 12/16/10
Delta twin-tunnels plan backed by U.S., Calif.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/16/MNVO1GRB1B.DTL&type=green
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-water-tunnel-20101216,0,4140245.story
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_16868146

Climate Watch 12/15/10
Californians Who Rely on Delta at "Severe Risk"
http://blogs.kqed.org/climatewatch/2010/12/15/californians-who-rely-on-delta-at-severe-risk/

San Francisco Chronicle 12/16/10
Opposition to Calif. Green Chemistry rules grows
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/16/MNQO1GR549.DTL&type=green

CA Environmental News

Associated Press 12/16/10
Feds identify best places for solar on US lands
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/12/16/3263076/plan-identifies-best-places-for.html

Washington Post 12/16/10
Obama administration unveils blueprint for solar energy development in West
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/16/AR2010121604898.html

Associated Press 12/16/10
Marin County moves closer to banning plastic bags
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/12/16/3262345/marin-county-moves-closer-to-banning.html

California Watch 12/16/10
Common plastic chemical linked to infertility
http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/common-plastic-chemical-linked-infertility-7507

San Diego Union-Tribune 12/16/10
Agreement safeguards huge swath of forest
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/16/agreement-safeguards-huge-swath-forest/

Capitol Weekly 12/16/10
Enviros target Fish & Game commissioner
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=zcm05v7iulp4kt

Capitol Weekly (opinion) 12/16/10
Lynn Schenk: California is taking a bold step into the future
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=zconozs03yded3&xid=zcm5idij6d5t60&done=.zconqay7csrel4

L.A. Now 12/15/10
Court upholds Southern California storm water runoff standards
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/12/court-upholds-southern-california-storm-water-runoff-standards.html

San Diego Union-Tribune 12/15/10
Barn owl crowned Audubon's 'Bird of the Year'
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/dec/15/barn-owl-crowned-audubons-bird-year/

Santa Rosa Press-Democrat 12/16/10
San Rafael to get SMART
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20101215/ARTICLES/101219671

State Politics

Capitol Weekly 12/16/10
A note to the freshman class
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=zcm4g2vdmldo6h

Capitol Alert 12/16/10
Pérez announces leadership, committee assignments
http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2010/12/perez-announces-dem-leadership.html

Sacramento Bee (column) 12/16/10
Dan Morain: Republican power grab resurrected
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/12/16/3261120/new-gop-power-grab-resurrected.html

PolitiCal 12/16/10
Kamala Harris’ star-studded transition team
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2010/12/kamala-harris-star-studded-transition-team.html

San Francisco Chronicle 12/16/10
Primary election overhaul clears state high court
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/15/BAIB1GR7QD.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Los Angeles Times 12/15/10
California will suffer as the U.S. grows, forecast says
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2010/12/california-forecast.html

Los Angeles Times (column) 12/16/10
George Skelton: Jerry Brown reflects as Pat Brown gets his due at the Hall of Fame
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-cap-20101216,0,4879269.column

National and International Environmental News

Los Angeles Times 12/16/10
Obama administration sues BP, other companies in gulf oil spill
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-spill-suit-20101216,0,3894332.story

New York Times 12/16/10
Berms Built to Stop Oil Are Seen as Ineffective
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/science/earth/17berm.html?_r=1&hp

Washington Post 12/16/10
Polar bear survival linked to greenhouse gas cut
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/16/MN631GR5PG.DTL&type=green

Green (NY Times blog) 12/16/10
The Energy Future Ain’t What It Used To Be
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/the-energy-future-aint-what-it-used-to-be/

Associated Press 12/16/10
Mummified forest provides climate change clues
http://www.sacbee.com/2010/12/16/3262489/mummified-forest-provides-climate.html

David Allgood’s Insomnia Corner

FOSSIL FUEL FUNTIME:

Administration sues BP, other firms involved in creating Gulf spill.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-spill-suit-20101216,0,3894332.story

BP stock plunges with news of government lawsuit.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BF1BZ20101216

Federal investigation reveals oil companies fail to learn from previous disasters.
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/12/15/15greenwire-federal-investigators-find-oil-industry-failin-66767.html?ref=earth

Safety inspector warned PG&E of risks to fatal San Bruno gas lines in 2009.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/12/16/MNMJ1GQ0UK.DTL

BP tried to cover up blow out similar to Gulf catastrophe months before Gulf rig explosion.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/15/wikileaks-bp-azerbaijan-gulf-spill

Conoco’s National Petroleum Reserve project full of contradictions.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/12/16/105376/conocos-national-petroleum-reserve.html

Cabot Oil & Gas fined $4.1 million for water contamination.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1518374720101216

Coal waste disposal stirs heated debate.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10350/1109210-114.stm

NEWS FROM THE HOMELAND:

Fox “News” chief ordered reporters to encourage climate change skepticism despite facts.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/dec/15/fox-news-climate-change-email

Panel discourages early curbs on artificial life.
http://www.latimes.com/health/la-sci-synthetic-biology-20101216,0,5846571.story

Eagles returning in record numbers.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/15/record-number-eagles_n_797468.html

New way to buy wind power.
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/a-new-way-to-buy-a-bit-of-wind-power/

American made drywall emerges as potential toxic danger.
http://www.propublica.org/article/american-made-drywall-emerges-as-potential-danger

Senate votes to extend ethanol subsidy.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BE4XY20101215

BPA linked to infertility problems.
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/bpa-fertility-problems

Massachusetts bans bottles, cups with BPA.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/12/16/state_bans_bottles___and_cups__with_bpa/

New Jersey Superfund site puts lead into food chain.
http://www.northjersey.com/news/111989959_Lead_found_in_the_food_chain.html

Despite cessation of use, mercury from chemical plant expected to linger.
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2010-12-15/olin-mercury-could-stay-beyond-2012?v=1292460294

Iowa okays fish deemed risky by feds and neighboring states.
http://iowaindependent.com/48978/iowa-ok%E2%80%99s-fish-deemed-risky-by-feds-neighboring-states

LOCAL NEWS FROM THE GOLDEN STATE:

Environmental groups expected to mount protests at CARB emissions hearing.
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101216/A_NEWS/12160321

New wildlife protection zone approved from coast of Santa Barbara to Mexico.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/greenpage/environment/global-warming-study-finds-slight-hope-for-polar-bears-no-tipping-point-for-loss-of-sea-ice-111937399.html

Judge grants injunction against Tessara solar power project.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BF0XQ20101216

How to choose between fish and farmers.
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/15/how-to-choose-between-fish-and-farmers/

First high speed rail lines to link Fresno, Bakersfield.
http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/article_c2af626a-07b9-11e0-9006-001cc4c002e0.html

State & Federal officials support underground tunnels to solve Delta water woes.
http://www.ivpressonline.com/news/quicknews/ivp-underground-tunnels-proposed-f-121510,0,4358887.story

Lake County considers ordinance to regulate genetically modified crops.
http://www.record-bee.com/ci_16871393

Humboldt residents protest environmental damage posed by Navy training program.
http://www.times-standard.com/news/ci_16872775

NEWS OF THE WORLD:

Global warming study finds slight hope for polar bears.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/greenpage/environment/global-warming-study-finds-slight-hope-for-polar-bears-no-tipping-point-for-loss-of-sea-ice-111937399.html

Vanishing sea ice will pit polar bears against grizzly bears.
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/arctics-vanishing-sea-ice-presents-polar-bear-with-a-new-danger-ndash-grizzlies-2161640.html

Melting Arctic may result in cross breeding.
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-arctic-animals-20101216,0,439283.story

Desertification said to be greatest threat to the planet.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/dec/16/desertification-climate-change?intcmp=122

NASA releases global warming map.
http://www.enn.com/climate/article/42126

NEWS FROM THE EU:

50% cod quota reduction said to be not enough to stop population collapse.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/dec/15/europe-cod-fishing-quota

Paris electric car scheme accelerates.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BF21T20101216

Bulgaria’s carbon trade could be restored by spring.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/60591

Draft deal to curb gas guzzling vans received.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/60589

NEWS FROM THE LAND OF 1.4 BILLION PEOPLE:

China tops India as worst pollution threat.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/13/AR2010121304565.html

Mineral riches comes at a cost in Inner Mongolia.
http://china.globaltimes.cn/society/2010-12/601532.html

NEWS FROM THE DAMP ISLES:

Energy firms get new incentives to invest in low carbon technologies.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12005593

London bee scheme criticized by bee people.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/dec/16/boris-capital-bee-beekeepers-criticise

Gov't will not warn public about pesticide spraying.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/dec/16/uk-medical-advice-pesticide-spraying

NEWS FROM THE LAND OF THE 4 O’CLOCK SUN:

Study says regulation of oilsands is deficient.
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6BE5P820101215

Inuits object to restrictions on sales of slaughtered narwhal tusks.
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/greenpage/environment/inuit-object-to-government-ban-on-sales-of-valuable-narwhal-tusks-111962719.html

FROGS IN THE NEWS:

5 new species of frogs discovered in Brunei.
http://www.brudirect.com/index.php/2010121535363/Fourth-Stories/unrecorded-frog-toad-species-found.html

New lawsuit launched to protect red-legged frogs from pesticides.
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2010/12/15-4

Frog population still declining.
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/45340/

Climate change affects toads.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/60592

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