Weekly Green: August 6, 2014

In recent headlines:

• Brown Calls For New, Smaller Water Bond;
• Cap-and-trade skeptic Perea exits alternative energy panel;
• Dirty Energy Bill Alert;
• California Residents Are Painting Their Lawns Green;
• ... 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

TOP NEWS

Brown Calls For New, Smaller Water Bond
Governor Jerry Brown wants to scrap the $11 billion water bond scheduled for California’s November ballot and replace it with a smaller proposal of his own. Six billion dollars. That’s what the governor says he’s willing to spend. Not $11 billion, like the existing bond; not $8 or $9 billion, like some of the proposals floating around the Legislature.
http://capitolweekly.net/brown-outlines-6-billion-water-bond/

Cap-and-trade skeptic Perea exits alternative energy panel
It would have made for a delicate situation: a panel on California’s alternative energy future, featuring a state Assembly member who has been vocally questioning part of the state’s landmark emissions-reducing program.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/06/6609824/cap-and-trade-skeptic-perea-exits.html

Dirty Energy Bill Alert!
Remember how we said Big Oil was up to its old tricks? Well, not much has changed. Polluters are still trying to slither out of complying with California's clean air and clean energy laws, and they've got their hopes set on passing AB 69, a bill that was radically altered in a process known as gut-and-amend to include language that gives a free pass to oil companies.
http://www.ecovote.org/blog/dirty-energy-bill-alert

California Residents Are Painting Their Lawns Green
For Jay Torres, the hardest part of California's devastating drought wasn't the shorter showers or the fact that he couldn't wash his car. It was looking at his lawn, which withered and died when he cut back on watering.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/california-residents-are-painting-their-lawns-green-20140805

CALIFORNIA DROUGHT NEWS

Are You as Water Smart as Conan O'Brien?
Conan O’Brien, Andy Richter, NRDC, and the State of California have teamed up to create a new series of very funny Public Service Announcements to encourage water conservation during California’s historic drought. This new partnership follows the debut of Conan’s first drought PSA just a few weeks ago after the State adopted wise Emergency Regulations to cut outdoor water waste.
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/sfleischli/are_you_as_water_smart_as_cona_1.html

Paddle boat that ran aground is freed in Lake Tahoe
A historic Mississippi paddle boat that ran aground in Lake Tahoe was freed Tuesday, leaving officials with rising concerns about the lake’s dropping water levels.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/05/6608024/paddle-boat-that-ran-aground-is.html

California drought: Flightless geese rescued from dried-up pond
As an extreme drought tightens its vise grip on Northern California, images of peeling dirt where bodies of water once covered mud have become commonplace. But in the town of Woodland, the drought has sparked a rescue operation.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-california-drought-geese-rescued-dried-pond-20140805-story.html

Drought Brings Earlier Start To California Grape Harvest
Wine growers say the dry, hot weather is the reason the grape harvest throughout California will start a couple weeks or more earlier than normal.
http://www.capradio.org/29389

Drought watering regulations may leave trees high and dry
The stress comes from watering restrictions that are turning lawns brown around the region and could also weaken trees, arborists warn.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/04/6597274/new-state-watering-regulations.html

Santa Cruz pushes the limit with the state's toughest water rationing laws
In most California cities, if you see neighbors on the sidewalk this summer, they're probably jogging or walking their dogs. But in Santa Cruz, there's a new pastime: people lifting up the cement covers in front of their houses to read the water meter.
http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_26269016/california-drought-santa-cruz-pushes-limit-states-toughest

Brown moving forward on water bill to protect homeowners from fines
A bill that would prohibit local governments from fining residents — who are trying to conserve water — for having brown lawns is expected to be introduced when the Legislature reconvenes from summer session this month.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/article/20140803/NEWS/140809816

California lawmakers struggle to reach drought relief deal
Prospects for a drought relief bill to help California farmers appear as likely as the state being deluged by three straight days of rain.
http://www.dailynews.com/article/20140802/NEWS/140809916

Migratory waterfowl face flight of doom
In the next few weeks, the first of these birds will begin their annual trek south. For the 3.6 million or so ducks whose genetic coding tells them to take the Pacific Flyway to California's Central Valley, they will be embarking on a flight of doom.
http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/migratory-waterfowl-face-flight-of-doom_64226203

Southland businesses finding ways to save water in severe drought
Businesses, which face the same fines as water-hogging homeowners, are beginning to inculcate the water-conservation message by cashing in on turf-removal programs just like homeowners. Some businesses are using recycled sewage water to dye carpets, make products or irrigate golf courses and cemeteries, while clothing makers are experimenting with zero-water processes.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/article/20140802/NEWS/140809869

Drought conditions, travelers can spread Valley fever into California’s northern counties
Don Hopkins, a former Davis police officer and professional ballroom dancer, is having some trouble staying on his feet.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/02/6600836/drought-conditions-travelers-can.html

Drought drains Folsom Lake businesses, recreation
As platoons of people descended on Brown’s Ravine in January to see the exposed gold rush town, Ken Christensen figured his 670 dock slots might not float boats at all this summer. But rains came and saved the season – somewhat.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/01/6599807/drought-drains-folsom-lake-businesses.html

California breaks drought record as 58% of state hits driest level
More than half of California is now under the most se -- 8/1/14vere level of drought for the first time since the federal government began issuing regular drought reports in the late 1990s, according to new data released Thursday.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-california-drought-worsens-record-20140731-story.html

California’s Biggest Water Source Shrouded in Secrecy
Public information about groundwater is sketchy, even in regions where over-pumping is a chronic problem, according to the report from Stanford University’s Water in the West program, a project of the Woods Institute for the Environment and Bill Lane Center for the American West.
http://blogs.kqed.org/science/2014/07/31/californias-biggest-water-source-shrouded-in-secrecy/

Drought contributing to waterfowl deaths; public asked to help
California wildlife officials are asking the public to help spot ducks, geese and other waterfowl that may be suffering from disease linked to the drought gripping the state.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/07/30/6593565/drought-contributing-to-waterfowl.html

Annenberg Foundation donating $500,000 to assure water for center
Amid California’s crippling drought, the aquifer beneath LARC Ranch is empty, and LARC’s wells have run dry. A permanent solution is both expensive and tangled in a bureaucratic mess involving multiple government agencies.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-larc-water-20140730-story.html

Salmon will only get more water if die-off starts
A federal agency said Wednesday it will release extra water into Northern California's Klamath and Trinity rivers once salmon start dying from drought-related disease, but not before.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/07/30/6594104/agency-no-water-to-prevent-klamath.html

WATER BOND NEWS

Brown Calls For New, Smaller Water Bond
Governor Jerry Brown wants to scrap the $11 billion water bond scheduled for California’s November ballot and replace it with a smaller proposal of his own. Six billion dollars. That’s what the governor says he’s willing to spend. Not $11 billion, like the existing bond; not $8 or $9 billion, like some of the proposals floating around the Legislature.
http://capitolweekly.net/brown-outlines-6-billion-water-bond/

A short primer on the California water bond debate
California lawmakers and the governor want a smaller water bond than the one scheduled for the November ballot.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2014/08/05/a-short-primer-on-the-california-water-bond-debate.html

Valley officials support bigger water bond than what Gov. Brown wants
But Wednesday a cross-section of city and county officials from around the Valley, as well as farming and business interests, joined together at Fresno City Hall to support a water bond larger than Gov. Brown wants
http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/08/06/4057892/valley-officials-support-bigger.html

Enviro coalition offers its own water plan
A day after Gov. Brown proposed a $6 billion water bond for the November ballot, an environmental coalition offered their own plan with a similar price-tag and with $1.5 billion for recycling and conservation, and $800 million to treat waste water and develop drinking water projects.
http://capitolweekly.net/enviro-coalition-offers-6-billion-water-bond/

Time Running Out To Reach Water Bond Deal
Legislative Democrats and Governor Jerry Brown want to replace the $11 billion bond currently on the November ballot with a smaller bond. Senate President Darrell Steinberg says the exact amount is still up for debate.
http://www.capradio.org/29436

MORE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS

Pollution cap gets wealthy backing
Gasoline producers have a new, wealthy opponent to contend with as they fight to delay California's cap on greenhouse gas emissions for fuels in the transportation sector.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/aug/05/carbon-cap-gasoline-embraced/

Analysis: Cap-and-trade delay doomed, but illuminating on multiple fronts
A proposal to delay California's cap-and-trade program on vehicle fuel is probably doomed, given the governor's recent praise of California's climate change law -- but the effort is still valuable, say supporters of the bill.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2014/08/01/analysis-cap-and-trade-delay-doomed-but.html

Sacramento leaders: Risk of oil train explosions needs to be acknowledged
Sacramento area leaders say the city of Benicia is failing to acknowledge the risks of explosions and fires that could happen if the Bay Area city approves Valero’s plan to run crude oil trains through Northern California to its refinery.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/05/6607840/sacramento-leaders-oil-trains.html

Amtrak provides crude oil train details states had withheld
Two loaded and two empty crude oil trains operate daily over Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor in Maryland and Delaware, according a document submitted by the passenger railroad in response to a Freedom of Information Act request.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/08/04/235391/amtrak-provides-crude-oil-train.html

Gov. Brown declares state of emergency for California wildfires
Gov. Jerry Brown on Saturday declared a state of emergency due to the effects of several wildfires burning in central and northern California counties.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-california-wildfire-20140802-story.html

14 big wildfires scorching California; evacuees include a hospital
Thousands of firefighters on Sunday continued to battle 14 large wildfires -- most sparked by lightning strikes -- in northern and central California that combined were burning more than 117,000 acres Sunday, officials said.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-fire-wildfires-california-20140803-story.html

2014 is the warmest year on record in California
Forecasters averaged high and low temperatures from January to July for the entire state this year and recorded an average temperature of 60.2 degrees, said Paul Iniguez, National Weather Service Hanford's science and operation officer.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-californias-warmest-year-20140804-story.html

Plastic industry hitting TV again to oppose bag ban
Plastic bag makers are hitting the airwaves again in their latest attempt to keep the California Legislature from passing a bill to ban free plastic grocery bags, launching new TV and radio ads scheduled to go live on Tuesday.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/04/6604874/plastic-industry-hitting-tv-again.html

Los Angeles' plastic bag ban gets mixed reviews from San Fernando Valley store owners
Clad in a white top and jeans, Jackie David entered Lanark Market on a gritty strip of Van Nuys Boulevard last week and casually asked the woman at the counter if she hands out plastic bags. When co-owner Jackie Saleh said she did and showed her the now illicit items, David's friendly demeanor turned stern.
http://www.dailynews.com/article/20140803/NEWS/140809858

State to consider emergency protection for tricolored blackbird
The California Fish and Game Commission on Wednesday will consider an emergency listing of the tricolored blackbird as a threatened or endangered species in response to a statewide survey showing its population has plummeted 44% since 2011.
http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-tricolored-blackbirds-emergency-listing-20140805-story.html

Blast lawsuit seeking money from PG&E execs gets go-ahead
A San Mateo County judge lifted an order Tuesday that put roadblocks in the path of shareholders who have sued Pacific Gas and Electric Co. executives for alleged mismanagement leading up to the 2010 San Bruno gas explosion.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Blast-lawsuit-seeking-money-from-PG-amp-E-execs-5668164.php

California water agency wins damage suit against feds
Judges concluded that the government owes additional damages for the Bureau of Reclamation’s failure to deliver enough water to the Stockton-based Central San Joaquin Water Conservation District. Potentially, the district could collect millions of dollars.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/04/6604021/california-water-agency-wins-damage.html

Santa Barbara County oil-drilling project elicits worries
It's been 45 years since a calamitous spill off Santa Barbara coated the picturesque coast with oil, killed wildlife and prompted tough new pumping restrictions. But new worries have emerged in Sacramento.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-oil-drilling-ban-20140805-story.html

California Plans Bullet Train Without More U.S. Aid
California's Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, who has won billions in state funding to build a high-speed bullet train from Los Angeles to San Francisco, said he will move forward on the project without additional federal commitments.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/california-plans-bullet-train-without-more-u-s-aid-1407107839

Court gives new life to California high-speed rail
A state appellate court ruling has given new momentum to Gov. Jerry Brown's $68 billion high-speed rail project by providing the state with a substantial funding source and lifting one cloud over a plan that has been widely criticized for its cost, route, construction plans and environmental reviews.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Court-gives-new-life-to-California-high-speed-rail-5663396.php

California: The next grizzly habitat? Some want to see it happen
Black bears are a cherished part of the community here, a woodsy gateway town that funnels tourists to Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks, where the first question visitors ask of rangers is "Where can I see a bear?"
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-adv-california-grizzly-20140803-story.html

Mammoth Geothermal Project Dragged Into Court
An Eastern Sierra water agency will be filing suit over the approval of a geothermal power plant expansion, saying the project poses a threat to the local water supply.
http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/geothermal/mammoth-geothermal-project-dragged-into-court.html

Independent Commission: Fix Parks System, Then Ask Voters to Pay For It
Here’s the recipe from an independent commission to turn around a California Department of Parks and Recreation in turmoil after financial scandals and budget cuts: Fix the broken bureaucracy, then ask voters to approve new taxes or fees to pay for the parks system.
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2014/07/30/independent-commission-fix-parks-system,-then-ask-voters-to-pay-for-it/

Richmond approves massive Chevron refinery project with $90 million in community benefits
Chevron's five year-plus quest to initiate a $1 billion upgrade to its century-old refinery, the largest in Northern California, was approved by the City Council late Tuesday after the company and city staff hammered out a last-minute deal upping community investments and installing safety and piping upgrades as part of the project.
http://www.mercurynews.com/my-town/ci_26242230/richmond-approves-massive-chevron-refinery-project-90-million

L.A. Using Only a Fraction of its Rooftop Solar Potential
Los Angeles has installed only two percent of the rooftop solar that's feasible in the city, and raising that figure to just ten percent would create 47,000 new jobs. That's according to a new report from UCLA's Luskin Center for the Environment and Environmental Defense Fund.
http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/solar/photovoltaic-pv/los-angeles-using-just-one-fiftieth-of-its-rooftop-solar-potential.html

Osprey expand nesting areas to San Francisco Bay shoreline
Scientists aren't sure why the raptors have made the move. They speculate it may have something to do with changes in bay water quality, clarity and abundance of fish.
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_26249115/osprey-expand-nesting-areas-san-francisco-bay-shoreline

Ships to be paid to slow off California to save whales
Cargo ships will be paid to slow down to avoid hitting whales and cut air pollution, under a new voluntary program being launched off Southern California. Shipping firms will receive $2,500 incentives for each low-speed trip they complete through the Santa Barbara Channel, a prime feeding area for migrating blue whales, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.
http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/local/ships-be-paid-slow-california-save-whales/ngw2d/

END OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION DRAWS SPOTLIGHT

Seven Sacramento Debates in August You Won’t Want to Miss
California’s Legislature returns to Sacramento as the week begins for its final month in session. And there are plenty of important, or just politically fascinating, debates to watch before lawmakers head home at the end of August for the last time in 2014.
http://blogs.kqed.org/newsfix/2014/08/04/7-California-legislature-debates-to-watch-in-August/

Water bond leads agenda as California lawmakers return for final month
Looking ahead to the crush of down-to-the-wire bills that will consume their August, California lawmakers have a unified message: It’s all about the water bond.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/03/6602416/water-bond-leads-agenda-as-california.html

California lawmakers return to a mountain of bills
The measures would require all smartphones sold in California to come equipped with anti-theft technology, guarantee all workers at least three days of paid sick leave annually and ban plastic grocery bags. All of the bills drew intense opposition earlier this year, and their fate remains uncertain.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_26269173/california-lawmakers-return-mountain-bills

California lawmakers have a busy month ahead
Lawmakers return from summer recess Monday with less than a month left to act on key issues such as gun control measures introduced after the massacre in Isla Vista last spring and ethics measures proposed after three state senators were charged with crimes.
http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-pol-legislature-20140804-story.html

Walters: Many issues unresolved as legislative session enters final month
Among some fans, the rap on professional basketball is that players run up and down the court for 45 minutes, exchanging buckets, but games are often decided in the final three minutes of intense physicality.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/04/6601220/dan-walters-many-issues-unresolved.html

Is California Legislature nation’s most polarized?
New data show the Golden State continues to have the nation’s most polarized Legislature by a measure of the ideological divide between Democrats and Republicans.
http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/03/6601399/the-buzz-is-california-legislature.html

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