Weekly Green: April 21, 2014

Good afternoon, all. In recent headlines:

• U.S. delays final call on Keystone XL pipeline;
• Kochs aim their sights at solar;
• The latest on the drought;
• National Parks Week is underway;
• ... and much more!

» Welcome to another edition of the Weekly Green, your no-frills news roundup provided free of charge by the California League of Conservation Voters. If you're not a regular subscriber, sign up today! Get your free subscription here: http://ecovote.org/wg

Above the Fold

National Parks Week starts Saturday, April 19
National Parks Week starts this Saturday, April 19, and that means lots of activities, volunteer opportunities, and FREE ADMISSION to many of California's pristine National Parks!
http://ecovote.org/nationalparksweek

U.S. Delays Final Call on Keystone XL Pipeline
The State Department will delay its decision on construction of the Keystone XL pipeline until it has a clearer idea of how legal challenges to the pipeline’s route through Nebraska will be settled, State Department officials said Friday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/19/us/politics/us-delays-decision-on-keystone-xl-pipeline.html

Conservation League backs two rivals for Waxman's House seat
The California League of Conservation Voters has endorsed two rival Democrats in the crowded race to succeed Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Beverly Hills).
http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-enviro-endorse-waxman-20140418,0,679622.story

Renewables vs. Fossils

Conservative heavyweights have solar industry in their sights
The Koch brothers and large utilities have allied to reverse state policies that favor renewable energy. Environmentalists are pushing back, but the fight is spreading and intensifying.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-solar-kochs-20140420,0,7412286.story

A blow to corn-based biofuels
Biofuels made with corn residue release more greenhouse gases in the short term than conventional gasoline, a federally funded study says.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-biofuels-study-20140421,0,6597246.story

Sticky subject of drilling divides beach town
At issue is a simple question voters figure to answer in November: Should Hermosa Beach let Layton’s company, E&B Natural Resources, drill for oil over the next 35 years and share revenue with the city and school district, or should residents pay $17.5 million for the Bakersfield-based firm to get lost?
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hermosa-610450-beach-oil.html

Air quality board to consider another relaxation of diesel rules
Under pressure, air quality board might again give small trucking operations more time to comply with rules to clean up diesel emissions.
http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-diesel-trucks-20140421,0,2697249.story

California Legislature

California lawmakers face divisive bills, special session
Lawmakers return from their spring recess this week focusing on hundreds of bills that have to pass from one house to the other by the end of May, but the most contentious issues will come later.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/article/20140420/NEWS/140429984

Skelton: Fighting season for Brown, lawmakers
The governor and legislative leaders are about to begin an intense period of bartering on cap-and-trade, the bullet train and a rainy-day fund.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-cap-budget-20140421,0,7036205.column

Drought

Water wars: Senators' strengths may help dissolve standoff
Barbara Boxer is the firecracker, guarding environmental protections, while Dianne Feinstein is the negotiator, working with Republicans and Democrats. But those differences might make the pair particularly suited to get a California drought relief bill approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives and signed by President Barack Obama.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/feinstein-610581-boxer-senate.html

Food banks drying up, too
The effects of California's drought could soon hit the state's food banks, which serve 2 million of its poorest residents.
http://www.sfgate.com/politics/joegarofoli/article/California-drought-Food-banks-drying-up-too-5416846.php

March rains mean small increase in water supply, but not enough to make a major difference
In a minor bright spot after more than a year of drought, state and federal officials announced Friday that because of March storms, they will be able to deliver slightly more water to California farms and cities this year than expected a few months ago. Farms and cities will receive 5 percent of their contracted amounts from the State Water Project -- up from nothing in January.
http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_25594876/spring-rains-mean-small-increase-water-supply-california

California’s Thirsting Farmland
Heading into the third year of a prolonged drought, the Allens are among the many California farmers forced to make dire choices that could leave as much as 800,000 acres, or about 7 percent of the state’s cropland, fallow.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/21/business/energy-environment/californias-thirsting-farmland.html

California's Governor Wants Water Tunnels. Antitax Group Wants to Know Who Pays
California has a $25 billion plan to transport snowmelt from the northern Sierras through a pair of 37-mile tunnels to farms and cities in the south. But there’s no indication of how much water users will owe for the huge project or who’s on the hook if they can’t pay for it, according to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the state’s leading antitax group.
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-04-18/californias-governor-wants-water-tunnels-dot-antitax-group-want-to-know-who-pays

More California Environmental News

L.A.'s $400 million trash train going nowhere, to O.C.'s benefit
The Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County have spent a decade and $430 million building a railway system to haul trash to a desert landfill, but the system is sitting idle because it is too expensive to use. Instead, Los Angeles County is dumping its trash in Orange County.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/trash-610499-county-landfill.html

Beekeepers search for answers as colonies show up damaged after almond farm pollination
As many as 80,000 bee colonies have died or been damaged this year after pollinating almond trees in the San Joaquin Valley, and some beekeepers are pointing to pesticides used on almond orchards as a possible cause.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/04/19/6338235/beekeepers-search-for-answers.html

New Aquarium of the Pacific exhibit to honor the steelhead
$850,000 display will depict the steelhead's journey from mountain streams to the Pacific. It's meant to spawn support for restoring the fish's habitat.
http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-steelhead-20140420,0,4413691.story

Ban on coyote killing contests moves forward
The California Fish & Game Commission approved a process this week that could lead to a vote this summer on a law banning predator killing contests and tournaments.
http://blog.sfgate.com/stew/2014/04/18/ban-on-coyote-killing-contests-moves-forward/

Oceanside Unified Adopts ‘Zero Waste’ Goal
The 23 schools in the Oceanside Unified School District are the first in California to adopt a zero waste program. The commitment pushes the district to reduce waste at all school sites and the district office by 75 percent by 2020.
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2014/apr/20/oceanside-unified-adopts-zero-waste-goal/

California Ramps Up Preparations for Coming Fire Season
Lingering drought and wildfires occurring at twice the normal rate this year have prompted increased concern and accelerated preparations for the traditional peak fire season in California.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304626304579505810643905196?mg=reno64-wsj

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