Weekly Green: January 18, 2013

In this week's headlines:

• California cold snap threatens $2 billion citrus harvest;
• Salazar Is Latest Departure From Obama's Energy-Environment Team;
• ExxonMobil will give $250K to inauguration;
• Should California make changes to landmark 1970 law?;
• ... and much more!

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Top News

California cold snap threatens $2 billion citrus harvest
An Arctic air mass has sent temperatures plunging across California, threatening the state's lucrative citrus harvest, its winter vegetables and its more cold-sensitive strawberry crop, weather and agricultural experts said on Friday.
http://news.yahoo.com/california-cold-snap-threatens-2-billion-citrus-harvest-013736007.html

Salazar Is Latest Departure From Obama's Energy-Environment Team
Salazar's decision makes him the latest departure from President Barack Obama's energy and environment team. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced last month that she is leaving after the State of the Union address.
http://www.rollcall.com/news/salazar_is_latest_departure_from_obamas_energy_environment_team-220809-1.html?pos=hln

ExxonMobil will give $250K to inauguration
The donation is an important contribution for Obama, who is accepting corporate money for his inauguration for the first time. At least eight corporations have contributed money to the 2013 inauguration, according to donors' names released by Obama's Presidential Inaugural Committee.
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/277901-exxonmobil-will-give-250k-to-inauguration

Comprehensive California Rail Map Available Online
The map includes rail lines of the following agencies: Amtrak, BART, Muni, VTA, Caltrain, Altamont Commuter Express, Sacramento Regional Transit, San Diego North County Transit District (NCTD), San Diego Trolley, LA Metro, and Metrolink.  Key bus and ferry connections between services are also shown on the map.
http://www.californiarailmap.com/

California News

Should California make changes to landmark 1970 law?
Over the years, supporters and detractors have debated the CEQA's flaws and benefits, and in response, the Legislature has tweaked the statute several times. But Gov. Jerry Brown has elevated the issue by declaring that he wants a major modification of the statute in this year's legislative session.
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/13/5108985/should-california-make-changes.html

Army Corps of Engineers clear-cuts Sepulveda Basin
The goal for the 'vegetation management area' in the Sepulveda Basin is to replace trees and shrubs with native grasses, improve access for Army Corps staffers and discourage crime.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-sepulveda-basin-cleared-20121229,0,496760.story

L.A. River: From Eyesore to Opportunity [VIDEO]
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a study to find ways to restore habitats in and around the Los Angeles River, bringing people and wildlife back to the city's original source of life.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323530404578207642711599814.html#articleTabs%3Dvideo

A Brief History of Pinnacles National Park
"This ancient and awe-inspiring volcanic field with its massive monoliths, spires, cave passages and canyons is a place that restores our souls and energizes our bodies with its beauty and abundant opportunities for outdoor recreation," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar declared.
http://www.kcet.org/news/the_back_forty/commentary/golden-green/celebrating-pinnacles-national-park.html

Amtrak, California to team up to buy high-speed rail trains
The two biggest players in the nation's pursuit of high-speed rail said Thursday they'll work together to search for trains that will operate at up to 220 mph along both coasts of the United States.
http://www.mercurynews.com/california-high-speed-rail/ci_22394818/amtrak-california-team-up-buy-high-speed-rail

National News

Drought Shrinks Slightly; NOAA Issues Gloomy Outlook
The national drought footprint shrank slightly this week, as heavy rains fell across the South, Southeast, Midwest and parts of the Mid-Atlantic states, and major snowfall blanketed parts of the Rocky Mountains and Northern Cascades, bringing relief to those regions. However, the hardest-hit drought region — the Great Plains — continued to experience drier-than-average conditions, with the drought continuing to hold on.
http://www.climatecentral.org/news/drought-shrinks-slightly-as-noaa-issues-pessimistic-outlook-15475

EPA faults Shell over Arctic emissions
The Environmental Protection Agency issued two notices of violation this week alleging Shell ran afoul of the Clean Air Act permits governing its Kulluk drilling unit used in the Beaufort Sea and the drillship Noble Discoverer, as well as its support vessels, in the Chukchi Sea.
http://www.chron.com/business/article/EPA-faults-Shell-over-Arctic-emissions-4188066.php

Climate change set to make America hotter, drier, and more disaster-prone
The National Climate Assessment, released in draft form on Friday, provided the fullest picture to date of the real-time effects of climate change on U.S. life, and the most likely consequences for the future.
http://grist.org/climate-energy/climate-change-set-to-make-america-hotter-drier-and-more-disaster-prone/

Can $10 million in prize money spark a solar revolution?
DOE is offering a total of $10 million in prize money to the first teams of Americans that can figure out how to cut through the red tape and make solar installation cheaper on a sustainable basis.
http://grist.org/climate-energy/fiddling-on-the-roof-can-10-million-in-prize-money-spark-a-solar-revolution/

Green energy makes up half of new U.S. capacity
Renewable energy accounted for just under half of all new electrical generating capacity installed in the US over 2012, updated government figures have shown.
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2013/01/18/green-energy-makes-half-new-us-capacity

Eight corporations donate to Obama's inaugural so far
After lifting the lid on donations to his second inauguration and agreeing to accept corporate contributions, President Barack Obama only has eight corporate donors so far, according to an updated donor list posted on the inaugural committee's website over the weekend.
http://reporting.sunlightfoundation.com/2013/eight-corporations-donate-obamas-inaugural-so-far/

As State Department nears completion of Keystone XL review, both sides dig in
The State Department is close to completing a draft of an environmental review that will help determine whether President Obama approves the Keystone XL pipeline, as environmental and energy industry groups sought to bolster their position with new information.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/in-keystone-xl-debate-environmental-group-wants-petcoke-counted-in-impact-statements/2013/01/17/d6b45f0a-609e-11e2-b05a-605528f6b712_story.html

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