Weekly Green: December 8, 2011

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Good afternoon all,

CLCV is excited to relaunch the Daily Green in a new weekly format today.

Each Thursday the CLCV team will deliver fresh environmental and political news direct to your inbox, including the week's top stories, analysis from the environmental community, and how you can take action to stand up for California's environment and public health.

For breaking updates and to continue to keep in touch on a daily basis, please be sure to connect with CLCV by liking our page on Facebook or following us on Twitter.

We hope you enjoy our second edition of the Weekly Green!

Leading Off

The GOP Muppet Hearings Begin

“The new Muppets Movie, currently in theaters, features an Muppet villain named Tex Richman, an oil tycoon, bent on destroying their studio to drill for oil. According to Fox this is all part of a liberal conspiracy to get children to hate corporations, in particular oil companies.”

Environmental Champions Honored in West Hollywood

“On December 1, CLCV celebrated four of California’s leading environmental champions at its 18th annual Environmental Leadership Awards gala in West Hollywood. CLCV honored Attorney General Kamala Harris, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, actress and activist Daphne Zuniga, and The Better World Group President Wendy James for their work to advance clean energy and protect the environment and the public’s health.”

View photos from the event here.

In the News

Calif. Takes Big Step Toward Greenhouse Gas Limits

“The air board goal for 2025: a mix of 1.4 million different types of zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road, nearly triple the number being driven today. The board also proposes a 47 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 75 percent drop in smog-forming pollution by then. 'This will define the future of the automobile,' said Don Anair, who tracks the regulations for the Union of Concerned Scientists.”

State pushes tougher auto emission standards

“The state's top analyst on Tuesday not only questioned the legality of launching a high speed-train, but also warned legislators that starting construction on the rail line could be a $6 billion waste of tax funds at the expense of social services, education and other transportation projects.”

Are Parks a Boon to State Economies?

“Challenging the notion that protecting public land locks it up, more than 100 economists, including three Nobel laureates, are calling on the president and Congress to create more parks and other protected preserves in the West as a way to bolster state economies. The economists also urge the creation of something similar to the Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps, which built trails and maintained infrastructure in national parks.”

Field Poll: Californians want a chance to vote 'no' on high-speed rail

“The poll could hardly come at a worse time for the rail authority, which is seeking approval of the Legislature to start construction in the Central Valley next year. Nearly two-thirds of voters, or 64 percent, want the Legislature to call for a re-vote, according to the poll. If such an election were held, 59 percent of voters say they would reject the $9.9 billion bond package Californians approved three years ago, the poll found.”

Transportation secretary defends high-speed rail

“The California high-speed rail project, notably, now has a total 20-year price tag pegged at $98 billion, more than double the original estimates of $43 billion. The predicted completion date also has been pushed back. The first section is supposed to run between Bakersfield and Chowchilla, with construction slated to start next fall near Fresno. Over the long haul, the California High-Speed Rail Authority speaks of connecting San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco with trains traveling up to 220 mph.”

Climate Change Impacts Sequoia National Park

“When Congress created the National Park Service nearly 100 years ago, the goal was to protect places with historic or natural value for future generations. But climate change is throwing a wrench into those plans. Sequoia National Park could be heading toward a future without its signature gigantic trees.”

Investment in state's green car industry increases

“In the first half of this year, California companies developing plug-in vehicles, advanced hybrids, charging stations and related equipment brought in $467 million in venture capital, according to a new report from the Next 10 public policy group. That's 69 percent of all the venture capital invested in electric vehicles around the globe, and 74 percent of the capital invested in the United States.”

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