Weekly Green: July 1, 2013

In the news in the past week:

• In Defense of Unreasonableness;
• Sharks in the News;
• President Obama's Climate Plan;
• High Speed Rail on the Political Track;
• ... and much more!

» Welcome to another edition of the Weekly Green, a 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 of the Ticket

CLCV Honors Environmental Champions at Annual Leadership Awards
The event was held at the Julia Morgan Ballroom in San Francisco on the evening of Thursday, June 27th.

• CLCV Chief Executive Officer Sarah Rose's Address to Attendees:
  http://www.ecovote.org/blog/why-it-matters-2020-almost-here
• Honorees Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins & Green for All:
  http://www.ecovote.org/blog/making-environmental-movement-green-all
• Honorees Steve Blank & Alison Elliott:
  http://www.ecovote.org/blog/masters-innovation-and-conservation
• Honorees Jim & Becky Morgan:
  http://www.ecovote.org/blog/jim-and-becky-morgan-preserving-californias-majestic-sierras

In Defense of Unreasonableness - Saving the California Coast: by Steve Blank
Last night Alison and I along with others were honored for environmental leadership by the California League of Conservation Voters. Here are the remarks I made... As you know, for the last 35 years we've been running a science experiment on the California Coast: How would the Coastal Act affect California's coastal economy? The results are now in.
http://steveblank.com/2013/06/28/in-defense-of-unreasonableness-saving-the-california-coast/

Sharks in the News

Federal Rule Could Upend States' Shark Fin Bans
Several members of Congress representing coastal states are voicing concern about a proposed federal regulation that could pre-empt state bans on buying or selling shark fins.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/federal-rule-upend-states-shark-fin-bans-19527132#.UdHOG5yevoS

Agency says Pacific great white shark not in danger of extinction
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announces that the northeastern Pacific Ocean population of great white sharks does not warrant listing under the Endangered Species Act.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0629-great-whites-20130629,0,3365279.story

With shark fin ban, a slice of Asian culture ends in California
Chinese Americans are divided over the state's ban on sale or possession of the delicacy. The cruel practice of shark finning has decimated populations worldwide.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-shark-fins-20130629,0,7176667.story

California Environmental News

Q&A: Obama's Climate Plan Could Ease Path to Clean Energy On Tribal Lands
From New America Media: NAM's Ngoc Nguyen spoke with Wahleah Johns, who co-directs the grassroots Black Mesa Water Coalition, on what lessons their work has for a national shift toward cleaner and renewable energy.
http://newamericamedia.org/2013/06/qa-obamas-climate-plan-could-ease-path-to-clean-energy-on-tribal-lands.php

California's Sierra a 'living lab' for climate change
In parts of California's Sierra Nevada, marshy meadows are going dry, wildflowers are blooming earlier and glaciers are melting into ice fields.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CLIMATE_CHANGE_SIERRA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Fracking near Shafter raises questions about drilling practices
One afternoon last fall, Tom Frantz cradled a video camera in his hand and pointed it at an oil well on the edge of this San Joaquin Valley farm town.
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/30/5534452/fracking-near-shafter-raises-questions.html

Drought conditions threaten Sacramento River salmon
In a sign of growing drought in California, state officials recently took the unusual step of loosening environmental water quality rules in hopes of protecting salmon in the Sacramento River.
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/06/27/5527560/drought-conditions-threaten-sacramento.html

Port Hueneme to spend $2 million to fight beach erosion
Port Hueneme officials plan to put boulders to protect the coastline while appealing to U.S. for money to restore the eroded sand.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0626-hueneme-erosion-20130701,0,2874401.story

Riverside County: Spending formula created for solar fee
Twenty-five percent of the money gained through fees on Riverside County solar energy projects will be spent in areas directly affected by those projects, according to a new funding formula.
http://www.pe.com/local-news/politics/jeff-horseman-headlines/20130630-riverside-county-spending-formula-created-for-solar-fee.ece

California's high-speed rail traveling a difficult political track
California's high-speed rail plan is heading for some "Perils of Pauline" moments on Capitol Hill.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/06/28/195319/californias-high-speed-rail-traveling.html#.Uc66CGLvv_Q

San Jose gets closer to Green Vision goal with 38 electric cars
San Jose and three other Bay Area cities received 50 battery-powered cars in a deal announced Thursday that was hailed as the largest single all-electric municipal fleet vehicle deployment in the country.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_23554588/san-jose-gains-38-electric-cars

San Onofre: How do you dismantle it?
It could take a generation - or two - to dismantle the San Onofre nuclear plant. The decision this month to shut the plant's two existing reactors for good sets in motion an elaborate engineering feat that hinges on keeping workers safe from radiation as they cut up, cart away or entomb reactor entrails.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jun/27/dismantling-san-onofre/

Solar project south of Silicon Valley wins a major victory in appeals court
A proposal to build one of the world's largest solar farms south of Silicon Valley took a major step forward this week when a state appeals court rejected a lawsuit by environmental groups who have tried to stop it on the grounds it could harm endangered species.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/breaking-news/ci_23554919/court-hands-solar-project-south-silicon-valley-major

California trash on the decline
Californians trimmed their trash to a record low last year, according to state figures showing that residents discarded an average of 4.3 pounds per day of garbage last year.
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jun/28/california-trash-record-low-recycling/

As Southern California heats up, Edison calls for energy conservation
Temperatures are expected to blow past the century mark in some Southland communities over the weekend, and Southern California Edison is asking customers to conserve energy.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_23555728/southern-california-heats-up-edison-calls-energy-conservation

Statewide plastic bags ban likely dead for this term
While nearly 80 local governments have taken steps to ban single-use plastic bags for supermarkets, efforts to pass a statewide ban mostly have failed this year.
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2013/06/25/statewide-plastic-bags-ban-likely-dead.html

Military Quietly Becoming A Major Environmental Steward
The Department of Defense is quietly becoming a force for habitat conservation in Southern California and the rest of the nation.
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/jun/27/military-quietly-becoming-major-environmental-stew/

National News

Obama sets strict test for Keystone XL Pipeline
President Obama set a high bar for approval of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, declaring for the first time that he would let the project go forward only if it does not "significantly increase" emissions of greenhouse gases.
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-obama-test-keystone-xl-pipeline-20130625,0,2461643.story

President Obama's climate speech: 10 takeaways
President Barack Obama outlined a wide-ranging climate plan Tuesday that's centered on greenhouse gas regulations for power plants - while making a surprise mention of the Keystone XL oil pipeline and defending his increasingly embattled nominee for EPA administrator.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/obama-climate-speech-10-takeaways-93362.html

Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins: Obama's Climate Plan Must Build for Tomorrow, Address the Needs of Vulnerable Communities Today
Simultaneously, an effective climate plan must also include measures that will protect Americans who are most vulnerable right now. While the pollution that causes climate change threatens all of us, low-income communities and people of color are hit first and worst.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/phaedra-ellislamkins/obamas-climate-plan-must_b_3499258.html

How President Obama's Climate Speech Could Have Rocked Even More               
President Obama's speech Tuesday on climate change is getting pretty high marks. Or as Al Gore put it, it was "the best address on climate by any president ever."
http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2013/06/how-president-obama-climate-speech-could-have-rocked-more

Report rebuts a concern about Keystone XL tar-sands oil
Tar-sands oil for the Keystone XL pipeline is no more likely to cause leaks than other types, a new study finds.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-keystone-pipeline-20130629,0,2006401.story

Coming to a Theater Near You...

Review: 'Gasland Part II' probes a deeper layer in the 'fracking' controversy
Documentary 'Gasland Part II' plays out like an environmental horror movie.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-gasland-ii-review-20130627,0,694272.story

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