Weekly Green: March 15, 2013

In recent headlines:

• Obama announces $2B alternative fuel research proposal;
• California wants to lead America to a greener future;
• Report: CEQA helping, not hindering renewable development;
• Environmental, labor groups prepare to fight CEQA changes;
• ... and much more!

» Welcome to the latest 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 News

Obama announces $2B alternative fuel research proposal
President Barack Obama returned to Chicago Friday to push an energy policy aimed at weaning the country off of oil by using revenues from increased oil and gas production. Most prominent is his proposal for Congress to establish an "Energy Security Trust Fund."
http://trib.in/XP9ZZ8

Gold and green: California wants to lead America to a greener future
Over the decades California’s green rules have inspired other states, and even the federal government, to follow. That urge to blaze trails remains strong.
http://econ.st/YeMM27

Report: CEQA helping, not hindering renewable development
A new report released this month says that far from hindering the development of a new, greener infrastructure for the state, CEQA may have actually promoted such development compared to states with far less stringent environmental laws.
http://bit.ly/WmsPHm

Environmental, labor groups prepare to fight CEQA changes
A group of environmental and labor organizations is making it clear they'll fight any effort to change the California Environmental Quality Act, also known as CEQA. Sarah Rose, CEO of the California League of Conservation Voters, was one of several speakers at a Tuesday rally outside the state Capitol.
http://bit.ly/Z2AetO

California News

Senate Democrats get back supermajority with Hueso win
California Democrats have recaptured a supermajority in the state Senate as Democrat Ben Hueso sailed to victory in a special election for a vacant San Diego-area Senate seat Tuesday night.
http://bit.ly/WmBBF6

California leads nation in creation of green jobs
Environmental Entrepreneurs' 2012 wrap-up found firms announced the creation of 110,000 green jobs last year. About 26,000 of those jobs were in California.
http://bit.ly/ZOo1Ic

Next big step in Delta tunnels plan unveiled
Gov. Jerry Brown's $23 billion proposal to build two massive, 35-mile-long tunnels that would make it easier to move water from Northern California to farms and cities in the south and other parts of the state took a step forward Thursday with the release of the plan's first details.
http://bit.ly/16yrsIq

California tax revenue dips but surplus remains
California tax revenue slowed in February but is still far outpacing expectations, according to a report released Friday.
http://lat.ms/YhdrIl

USC Report: Fracking may boost state economy 14%
Development of oil-shale deposits through Central California using fracking and other techniques may boost the state’s economic activity by as much as 14.3 percent, a University of Southern California study said.
http://bloom.bg/13Ymfdg

Supervisor's 2nd try to change environmental appeals
When San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener went before the Planning Commission in November proposing to attach a deadline to some CEQA appeals, he was met by 90 minutes of strong opposition from public commenters and commissioners, who told him to come back with a better plan done with more public outreach.
http://bit.ly/YeR1KV

California's earthquake early warning system passes major test
Sensors gave 30 seconds' warning before Monday's desert temblor was felt at Caltech. Scientists hope to get funds to expand the pilot project into a statewide network.
http://lat.ms/ZvO8nw

How NASA scientists are turning L.A. into one big climate-change lab
Southern California's Mount Wilson is a lonesome, hostile peak — prone to sudden rock falls, sometimes ringed by wildfire — that nevertheless has attracted some of the greatest minds in modern science.
http://bit.ly/Y2D7Y9

California Legislature gets 'D' in online open records report
Golden State lawmakers' efforts to make public information accessible on the Web got a "D" grade in a report card released by the nonprofit Sunlight Foundation this week.
http://bit.ly/XHpPqT

Palo Alto becomes latest city to dump plastic bags
On Monday night, the city council voted 5-0 to extend a pioneering 2009 ban on plastic bags at grocery stores to all retailers — even restaurants — and to start charging consumers for paper bags.
http://bit.ly/WmCkWN

Record breaker: California blows past 1,500 megawatt solar mark
California quietly set a new solar record on Sunday. At 10:00 am, the state's grid had 1,500 megawatts of solar power entering the grid for the first time ever. But that record didn't last long. An hour later, the solar contribution to the state's grid reached 1,656 megawatts.
http://bit.ly/12XxZ0i

San Joaquin Valley farmers could be left short of water if the drought persists
Last week's storms failed to add much to water supplies in the Northern San Joaquin Valley, which has started to feel the pain of yet another drought.
http://bit.ly/10TaFeZ

National News

Patchwork of bills cover flame retardants
Bills that would ban flame retardants in upholstered furniture or children's items are being floated in Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont and Washington. California, where critics say a stringent 1975 law started the proliferation of flame retardants in products nationwide, is also moving away from the chemicals.
http://bit.ly/Z4CAFi

Sacramento Bee Editorial: Can Obama build a public lands legacy?
A century from now, people visiting the Escalante National Monument will remember Bill Clinton and Bruce Babbitt for this gift to the nation. Will Obama and Jewell be remembered for anything comparable?
http://bit.ly/12XnPwK

New York Times Editorial: Say No to XL Pipeline
In itself, the Keystone pipeline will not push the world into a climate apocalypse. But it will continue to fuel our appetite for oil and add to the carbon load in the atmosphere. There is no need to accept it.
http://nyti.ms/YAsDmm

Forest Service may let more fires burn
After coming in $400 million over budget following last year's busy fire season, the Forest Service is altering its approach and may let more fires burn instead of attacking every one.
http://bit.ly/Xe79cn

Major grocer to label foods With gene-modified content
Whole Foods Market, the grocery chain, became the first retailer in the United States to require labeling of all genetically modified foods sold in its stores, a move that some experts said could radically alter the food industry
http://nyti.ms/YAweRo

Seen & Shared

Birds of prey join CEQA coalition
CEQA serves a vital role in protecting the state's air, water and the habitat of endangered species. A Swainson's hawk named Angel attended Tuesday's rally to defend CEQA.
IMAGE: http://bit.ly/ZWZkf8

News10: Labor, environmental groups rise to defend CEQA
"An attack on CEQA is an attack on our workers, it's an attack on our families, it's an attack on our communities," said Art Pulaski, executive director of the California Labor Federation.  "We reject all efforts to weaken this important law."
VIDEO: http://on.news10.net/YAspeQ

Explaining Obama's Energy Security Trust
In his 2013 State of the Union address, President Obama called on Congress to create an Energy Security Trust Fund, which would free American families and business from painful spikes in gas prices.
INFOGRAPHIC: http://1.usa.gov/WlekU5

"Nest Cam" is live at Bolsa Chica Land Trust
The camera's goal is to live stream 24/7 (with audio) from a remote nesting area here at Bolsa Chica. Viewers can watch the nesting behavior of the California Least Tern and Western Snowy Plover, two of our threatened bird species.
LIVE STREAM: http://bit.ly/10T7vIf

Fledgling condors in San Diego face uncertain future
It is hatching time for endangered California condors. The first chick born this year at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park emerged from its shell two weeks ago.
VIDEO: http://bit.ly/141A3E4

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