CEQA reform turns into another special-interest exemption
Overall, this is a step back for CEQA reform.
Ethan recently noted the possibility of CEQA reform that might actually make sense: Reducing the focus on aesthetics and traffic in infill developments (which can result in worse environmental outcomes!), ongoing monitoring of impacts of projects after the CEQA process is completed, and providing some transparency in the CEQA litigation process. (Though I still think that changing standing doctrine in CEQA might make some difference too.) But it looks like we won’...
CONTINUE READINGMarket Manipulation in the Renewable Fuel Market Does Not Mean Market Manipulation in California’s Cap-and-Trade Program
It remains to be seen whether EPA will respond to the Times article by regulating the renewable fuel market in a way that virtually all other environmental trading markets do.
The New York Times article yesterday about Wall Street firms exploiting the market for renewable fuel credits and driving up prices could leave some observers worrying about the integrity of California's market for carbon allowances under its cap-and-trade program. It shouldn't. Here's why. Both programs allow businesses covered under the program to trade for credits to meet their environmental obligations. In the case of the renewable fuel standard program, re...
CONTINUE READINGLies, Damned Lies, and Climate Denial
One key question is whether these statements amounted to factual accusations that Mann had engaged in scientific misconduct.
A D.C. trial judge recently refused to dismiss climate scientist Michael Mann’s libel lawsuits against the National Review and the Competitiveness Institute. There are some serious constitutional barriers against such libel suits, which are designed to provide ample breathing room for free speech. Is this one of the rare cases that can jump the hurdles? The story begins with a blog post at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Written after the Sandusky pedoph...
CONTINUE READINGWhy coal cares about FERC
I’ve written before about how fossil fuel industries have a strong incentive to kill (or at least stop the rise of) renewable energy now, so that it doesn’t become a powerful political force. If renewable energy does become a strong enough political force, then there is a risk that it might provide support for ending the various subsidies for fossil fuels and the imposition of more stringent environmental regulations that will make coal in particular less and less ...
CONTINUE READINGNew Report Released Today on Electric Vehicle Deployment in Hawaii
Hawaii may be a paradise, but not if you're driving a fossil fuel car and getting all of your electricity from the grid. The state has the highest gas and electricity prices in the nation, burning imported fossil fuels and costing residents dearly. Yet Hawaii has abundant renewable resources, from solar to wind to geothermal. Coupled with its limited island geography, the state is a perfect fit for all-battery electric vehicles, like the Nissan LEAF, Ford Focus EV, and M...
CONTINUE READINGCan Insurance Markets Handle Catastrophic Risks?
The Congressional Research Service has a new report on insurance for catastrophic risk. At least since Hurricane Katrina, there has been concern about whether the world's insurance companies have the financial capacity to handle catastrophic risks. As usual, the CRS report contains a lot of useful information on the subject. It also highlights the need for giving much more attention to the problem. There's close to a one percent likelihood in any given future of...
CONTINUE READINGCEQA Reform 2013: Long-Overdue Changes for Infill and the Environment
It looks like State Senate pro Tem Darrell Steinberg might finally be putting the “E” back in “CEQA,” at least when it comes to how California’s premiere environmental law treats traffic impacts. His bill SB 731 to reform the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), previously discussed by Eric, is taking aim at the law’s perverse requirement regarding impacts from projects that affect the flow of traffic (known as “level of service” or “LOS"). Cu...
CONTINUE READINGThe Shape of Things to Come
The American Meteorological Society has released a report about the link between recent extreme events and climate change. Such attribution studies are very tricky, since natural variability is high. The most that can usually be said is that events of a certain magnitude have become more likely with climate change. The AMS report reflects a range of methodologies that can be used for this purpose. Some studies looked for statistical trends. Others compared te...
CONTINUE READINGCalifornia Poised to Take a Major Step Forward on Energy Storage
Energy storage isn’t called the “Holy Grail” for nothing. Without it, we simply cannot meet our long-term greenhouse gas reduction goals. To decarbonize the energy supply, intermittent renewable energy from the sun and wind must be stored for later dispatch when those resources aren’t available. We’ve covered this subject extensively here and here. Now California is ready to once again fulfill its promise as a global leader in clean technology and climate ch...
CONTINUE READINGSyria: The Wages of Climate Change
In considering the complex and painful question of whether to intervene in Syria, policymakers should take a close look at the memorandum published Monday on the Atlantic Monthly's website by William R. Polk, a State Department Policy Planning Staff member during the Kennedy Administration. I don't agree with everything Polk says, but it is one of the most thoughtful analyses I have read so far. Of particular interest is Polk's assessment of environmental factors -- i...
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