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More states join Calif. in lawsuit against EPA greenhouse gas ruling

08 01 08 - 21:35


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More states join Calif. in lawsuit against EPA greenhouse gas ruling

States demand right to regulate tailpipe emissions in EPA lawsuit



By Dave Porter





Reno - More states are joining California in a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over its greenhouse gas ruling preventing states from regulating tailpipe exhaust limits. Pennsylvania's Governor Rendell said the State was backing California's move to fight the EPA's ruling.

Governor Edward G. Rendell said Wednesday that Pennsylvania is joining a multi-state lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with a goal of allowing states to better protect the health of residents.

California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced Wednesday that the state was suing the EPA for "wrongfully and illegally" blocking the state's landmark tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions standards.


More states join Calif. in lawsuit against EPA greenhouse gas ruling

States demand right to regulate tailpipe emissions in EPA lawsuit





Reno - More states are joining California in a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over its greenhouse gas ruling preventing states from regulating tailpipe exhaust limits. Pennsylvania's Governor Rendell said the State was backing California's move to fight the EPA's ruling.

Governor Edward G. Rendell said Wednesday that Pennsylvania is joining a multi-state lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with a goal of allowing states to better protect the health of residents.

California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced Wednesday that the state was suing the EPA for "wrongfully and illegally" blocking the state's landmark tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions standards.

Brown filed the lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to challenge the EPA's denial of California's request to implement its emissions law—which requires a 30 percent reduction in motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by 2016. California's new standards require federal approval in the form of a waiver from the EPA. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson denied California's request on December 19, 2007 in a letter to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"The denial letter was shocking in its incoherence and utter failure to provide legal justification for the administrator's unprecedented action," California Attorney General Brown said. "The EPA has done nothing at the national level to curb greenhouse gases and now it has wrongfully and illegally blocked California's landmark tailpipe emissions standards, despite the fact that sixteen states have moved to adopt them."

Under the Clean Air Act, passed by Congress in 1963, California is expressly allowed to impose environmental regulations that are stricter than federal rules in recognition of the state's "compelling and extraordinary conditions" which include unique topography, climate, and high number and concentration of vehicles.

The administrator stated in his decision that California did not need its tailpipe emissions standards to meet "compelling and extraordinary conditions," a finding which reversed decades of agency practice and ignored the dangerous consequences of global warming to the State of California.

Global warming threatens California's Sierra mountain snow pack, which provides the state with one-third of its drinking water. California also has approximately 1,000 miles of coastline and levees that are threatened by rising sea levels.

In a press release given shortly after Brown's announcement, Penn. Gov. Rendell said, "The EPA wrongfully and illegally blocked our efforts to do something about climate change - all they should have done was step aside and let the states take the lead."

Cars generate 20 percent of all man-made carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, Gov. Rendell noted. "At least 25 percent of greenhouse gases in Pennsylvania can be attributed to transportation," he said.

Pennsylvania has adopted the stricter California emission rules, but will not realize greenhouse gas reductions from the rules unless the Golden State is permitted to enforce that portion of its clean vehicle program. New cars and light trucks starting with model year 2008 that are sold, titled and registered in Pennsylvania must be certified by the California Air Resources Board.

"This issue presents an opportunity for the federal government to combat climate change that threatens all life on Earth," said Governor Rendell. "Our planet's basic life support systems are imperiled and we need to take action. We are proud to stand with California and fight this unlawful decision by the EPA that will hamper the commonwealth's ability to battle global warming."

In April, the U.S. Supreme Court made a landmark ruling, deciding that the EPA has the authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide as air pollutants. This decision paved the way for states to adopt regulations controlling greenhouse gas pollutants from automobiles sold within its borders.

In addition to Pennsylvania and California, other states intervening in the suit are: Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Used tags: , ,


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Costs of climate change spur greening of business

Tuesday 29 January 2008 at 05:55 am


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Costs of climate change spur greening of business




By Brad Knickerbocker





From the time the words "global climate change" were first uttered, it was inevitable that there would be an economic dimension to the issue - the price of global warming and the cost of adapting to it.

Over the years, it's also become clear to some experts and activists that rising temperatures are affecting different parts of the world differently. Researchers this week reported on what they claimed was the "first systematic global analysis," quantifying the environmental impact on poor countries of the high consumption levels of richer countries. While, for example, greenhouse emissions from low-income countries cost $740 billion in damages to rich countries, they in return have imposed $2.3 trillion of damage, reports The Guardian. more

Scientists urge speedy emission cuts

Tuesday 29 January 2008 at 05:49 am


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Scientists urge speedy emission cuts




By Peter N. Spotts






Stepping up the pressure for political action on global warming, scientists for the second time in two months have called for strong measures to curb greenhouse-gas emissions.

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) - the world's largest scientific organization dedicated to Earth, atmospheric, and space sciences - warned Thursday that the world will need to reduce emissions by 50 percent below 1990 levels within this century if countries are serious about holding down warming to around 3.6 degrees F. by 2100.

Significantly warmer temperatures over that period would lead to seriously disruptive changes for societies as well as for ecosystems around the planet, many scientists say. more

Backers want renewable energy incentives in stimulus bill

Tuesday 29 January 2008 at 05:36 am


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Backers want renewable energy incentives in stimulus bill




By Jonna Knappenberger





Washington - Energy policy is hot. Politicians and providers alike are pushing to develop energy policy as public awareness grows.

But there is a fight over the best way to provide energy, for the economy as well as the environment. The renewable energy industries - solar, wind, geothermal and hydropower - depend on tax credits from the federal government and contend they are being left out of legislation.

In December, President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act, which sets standards for vehicle and appliance efficiency. The law also supports green building projects by establishing the Office of High Performing Green Buildings.

The law hardly seems to satisfy anyone completely. Those who felt left out of last year's law are now preparing to lobby for their proposals this year. more

New research raises concern on biofuel safety

Friday 18 January 2008 at 04:49 am


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New research raises concern on biofuel safety




By Brad Knickerbocker






Creating fuel from plants seems like a win-win proposition. It reduces dependence on foreign oil, and it doesn't produce the greenhouse gases that cause global warming - at least that's what advocates claim. But biofuels are not without their critics.

Some recent research suggests bio fuels could have a greater environmental impact - biodiversity loss, destruction of farmland, and the energy necessary to produce them, for example - than burning fossil fuels, reports The Guardian, a British daily. more

How green are the world's banks?

Wednesday 16 January 2008 at 11:29 pm


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How green are the world's banks?






By Ron Scherer





New York - Some of the world's top financial institutions are starting to think of green as something other than cash.

They are adding chief environmental officers, committing themselves to sustainable-energy projects, and reducing their greenhouse-gas emissions. In a sense, many of them are going from wingtips to green sneakers.

Turning the bankers into budding Al Gores has significance because of their impact on financing and investment, not to mention that they have considerable real estate holdings. more

More states join Calif. in lawsuit against EPA greenhouse gas ruling

Tuesday 08 January 2008 at 9:35 pm


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More states join Calif. in lawsuit against EPA greenhouse gas ruling

States demand right to regulate tailpipe emissions in EPA lawsuit



By Dave Porter





Reno - More states are joining California in a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency over its greenhouse gas ruling preventing states from regulating tailpipe exhaust limits. Pennsylvania's Governor Rendell said the State was backing California's move to fight the EPA's ruling.

Governor Edward G. Rendell said Wednesday that Pennsylvania is joining a multi-state lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with a goal of allowing states to better protect the health of residents.

California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced Wednesday that the state was suing the EPA for "wrongfully and illegally" blocking the state's landmark tailpipe greenhouse gas emissions standards. more