State AGs Ready to Attack Constitutionality of California’s AB 32
An important postscript to my earlier post regarding Berkeley Law's/CLEE's newly-published white paper on Proposition 23. That's the California initiative measure that, if approved by voters this November, would suspend implementation of that state's Global Warming Solutions Act, better known as AB 32. The San Francisco Chronicle reports today that the Attorneys General of Alabama, Nebraska, North Dakota and Texas are devising an AB 32 back-up plan: if California voters...
CONTINUE READINGBerkeley Law/CLEE Publish White Paper on Efforts to Suspend California’s AB 32
Berkeley Law's Center for Law, Energy & the Environment (CLEE) has today published, "California at the Crossroads: Proposition 23, AB 32 and Climate Change." This white paper is intended to provide an objective, non-partisan analysis of California Proposition 23, an initiative measure that will appear on California's November 2nd general election ballot. If enacted, Proposition 23 would suspend implementation of California's well-known AB 32, the "Global Warming Solu...
CONTINUE READINGClean Ports Program Moves Ahead — A Little
A few days ago, District Judge Christina Snyder issued her 57-page ruling in American Trucking Ass'n v. City of Los Angeles, the trade association's challenge to the city's clean ports program. The ruling gave the city a crucial victory, and it has more than local significance: if its reasoning is accepted, it could lead to similar labor-environmental coalition efforts throughout the country. But the reasoning will need to withstand review in the 9th Circuit. The cl...
CONTINUE READINGSolar Power — More Reliable Than You Might Think
Wind and solar power are intermittent -- we can rely on them to make power only when the wind blows or the sun shines. And it can cost a lot (in terms of dollars and the environment) to fill in the gaps with conventional power sources. That's why the development of energy storage is so important. As the story goes, if you think wind is unreliable, just look at the sun. While winds can gust and ebb, the sun can be hidden behind clouds one minute, shining brightly t...
CONTINUE READINGHot Off the Presses
So to speak. Our friend and colleague Matt Kahn's new book, Climatolopolis: How Our Cities Will Thrive in the Hotter Future, has just been published. Matt is a real rarity among economists in two ways: 1) He writes in English; and 2) He does not think that economics can explain everything and anything, and has nothing to learn from other disciplines. So when Matt says something, I always listen and I always learn something. I don't always agree, but as one of ...
CONTINUE READINGGOP, Dems, and Energy Policy
I took a look at the Democratic and Republican parties to see what they had to say about the issues. Given that the Republicans are set to gain ground in the upcoming election, this could help see where potential exists for policy changes. Republicans: Stress goal of energy independence. In addition to renewables, favor nuclear, natural gas, clean coal, and offshore drilling . Oppose "so-called cap and trade legislation." Democrats: Would fast-track investmen...
CONTINUE READINGNational Conversation on Chemical Exposure Drafts Available
I previously wrote about the National Conversation on Public Health and Chemical Exposures, the effort by the CDC and ATSDR to develop recommendations for action regarding chemical exposures. The National Conversation formed a series of work groups to focus on a set of specific areas, and develop draft recommendations. Today through September 20th, the draft work group reports are available for public comment at www.resolv.org/nationalconversation. They are worth...
CONTINUE READINGGood News from the Amazon
Recent satellite studies indicate a major decrease in the rate of deforestation in the Amazon. The journal Science reports: The Brazilian government says that a preliminary survey by a low-resolution satellite shows that deforestation in the Amazon declined by 47.5% over the past 12 months. The figure is the largest decline since measurements began in 1988 and, if confirmed by data from a second set of satellites due out later this year, would amount to nearly a 90% dr...
CONTINUE READINGNew million-dollar donation from out-of-state oil company helps the attack on California’s climate change law
According to a story in today's Los Angeles Times, a new $1 million cash infusion from Kansas-based oil company Koch Industries --the second-largest private company in the U.S. -- is buoying the campaign in favor of Proposition 23, which would block implementation of California's landmark law to limit greenhouse gas emissions. The company is owned by billionaire brothers who also happen to back the tea party movement. [Update/correction: the contribution was actuall...
CONTINUE READINGFollow-up on refrigeration: the history of the idea of food “freshness”
My colleague Jonathan Zasloff's recent post on refrigeration reminded me of a fascinating book published last year: Fresh, by Susanne Freidberg. This book -- authored by a college classmate of mine who teaches geography at Dartmouth -- chronicles the evolution of the culturally-constructed concept of "freshness" in 19th and 20th-century America, and the development of modern food storage technology, through the lens of six common household food products. Among other...
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