This commentary, authored by Nekya J. Young, originally appeared on EDF's Climate Corps blog.

In June, President Obama called for action during his milestone climate change speech. He said, “…we've got a vital role to play. We can't stand on the sidelines. We've got a unique responsibility.”

Melting ice glaciers are out of sight, out of mind in Houston where extreme heat and hurricanes are the norm and where I’ve spent the last year studying at Texas Southern University (TSU). What I have learned while studying at TSU surprised me – urban, minorities communities, like those surrounding TSU, are among those already struggling with the effects of climate change. In fact, numerous studies document the unequal burden of climate change and the differential application of climate policies within African American communities. For example, the Race, Poverty and Environment Journal for Social and Environmental Justice reports that African-Americans spend 30 percent more of their income on energy than their white counterparts, despite emitting 20 percent fewer greenhouse gases per household. In addition, the journal reports that “the six states with the highest African American populations are all within Atlantic hurricane zones expected to experience more storms like Katrina in the future.” In Texas, more than 20 weather and climate disasters that cost over one billion dollars have impacted the state over the past decade.

As an EDF Climate Corps fellow, I am excited to spend my summer on TSU’s campus and in the community laying the groundwork that will educate and enable students and administrators to address climate issues already impacting our community. I had the opportunity to connect with the university President, student government and other key personnel to discuss the negative effects of climate change. In these conversations, I emphasized the importance of making energy efficiency upgrades and improvements a part of the university’s capital budget. Although I was hired as an EDF Climate Corps fellow to ultimately identify the savings from energy efficiency projects, I am working diligently to educate the entire campus about climate change, sustainability and best energy practices.

In addition to my task of helping the campus to improve the efficiency of its energy use, I’m working with a team of Barbara Jordan Mickey Leland Scholars to build upon the Climate Education Community University Partnership (CECUP) groundwork developed by Dr. Robert Bullard, Dean of TSU’s School of Public Affairs. The goal of this partnership is to establish a climate change research consortium for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the Gulf-Coast and Southern-Atlantic.

HBCUs have played a key role in conceptualizing Climate Justice Principles and serving on advisory boards of environmental groups that produced some of the first reports and research that addresses African Americans, global warming and climate policy. For instance, representatives from HBCUs were founding members of the Environmental Justice Leadership Forum on Climate Change, a coalition of over 45 organizations working to advance climate justice and impact policy to ensure the protection and promotion of communities of color and low-income communities. More importantly, environmental justice scholars from several HBCUs helped organize the first Climate Justice Summit in 2000 at the UN Climate Summit–COP5 meeting in The Hague, Netherland. Knowing that my work this summer is critical to this movement is nothing less than inspirational.

By identifying both the economic and environmental benefits of energy-efficiency, HBCUs are establishing the groundwork for sustainable and healthy communities. At TSU, the School of Public Affairs is exploring the possibility of retrofitting the lighting in one building by taking advantage of Center Point Energy’s Retro-Commissioning program. By upgrading one campus building, TSU would continue driving Texas’ momentum towards low-carbon buildings. Through President Obama’s Better Buildings Challenge, Houston, El Paso and Fort Worth all committed to reducing energy intensity 20 percent by 2020 in a combined 38.2 million square feet of buildings. Additionally, TSU is also considering advocating within the Pleasantville super neighborhood, by supporting community representatives working to ensure fair environmental protection for vulnerable populations that border Houston’s Ship Channel.

This summer has been an amazing experience. EDF Climate Corps enabled me to collaborate with diverse and vulnerable populations and fight climate change. However, the years ahead are outlined with lots of hard work. Relationship building, stable funding mechanisms and behavior change initiatives are all needed to help lighten the disproportionate burden of climate change on urban communities. Despite the challenges ahead, I’m hopeful that my generation will continue to lead our communities, nation and planet in changing the way we consume energy.

By Tim O'Connor

This commentary originally appeared on EDF's California Dream 2.0 blog. 

For a window into two vastly different visions of our state’s future, take a look at the comments filed last week as part of the AB 32 Scoping Plan update process. The 2008 Scoping Plan lays out the approach that California will take to achieve its goal of reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and this is the first 5 year update.

EDF’s comments reflect what most Californians have already asked for – a laser focus on expanding emission reductions and providing ample clean energy opportunities for businesses throughout the state.

This includes:

 

• Increasing emission reductions from vehicles, goods movement and the agriculture sector;
• Developing diversified low-carbon fuels that yield cost reductions;
• Integrating clean energy and energy efficiency through programs like “time-of-use” pricing and On-Bill Repayment;
• And, extending the cap-and-trade program and low carbon fuel standard beyond 2020;

All of the opportunities outlined by EDF aim to fulfill the Scoping Plan’s mission: achieving the maximum technologically feasible reductions in greenhouse gas pollution in a cost-effective way.

A recent report by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) shows that refineries and other businesses are investing in the future by taking advantage of energy efficiency and savings opportunities under AB 32 – at a rate that has increased since the adoption of the 2008 Scoping Plan. A price signal for cap and trade beyond 2020 would reduce uncertainty, create a robust and stable market, and is key if California wants to continue driving these energy and money saving opportunities.

Comments filed by the California Chamber of Commerce (Cal Chamber) tell a different story.

Rather than encourage long term planning and a robust low-carbon economy, they've joined in lockstep with organizations like the Western States Petroleum Association (a representative of large oil including Exxon and Chevron) to try and hinder the state’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas pollution. Just as their frivolous lawsuit shows they would rather expend resources on litigation rather than innovation, they used the entirety of their comments to discourage CARB from using the Scoping Plan update as a tool to drive the state forward towards a clean-energy future.

Although they admit “the AB 32 mandate does not vanish in 2020,” they’re short on ideas that reduce greenhouse gas pollution in the state at the lowest possible cost.

They also fail to recognize that under the current cap-and-trade program, businesses have the tools and flexibility to reduce emissions through cost-effective means, and ignore the over 350,000 jobs created from California’s green economy.

A major part of the Cal Chamber’s argument is that California is going it alone, creating an unfair playing field for businesses in the state. They conveniently forget that Quebec will link with California’s cap-and-trade program in January 2014, and that there are complementary programs nationally and globally: RGGI has proposed severely lowering its emissions cap, and even China – the world’s biggest polluter – has started pilot emissions trading programs in an effort to potentially move towards a nationwide carbon cap in 2016.

While ideas like extending the market signal and expanding programs that help integrate clean energy and energy efficiency point us towards a bright future of innovation under AB 32, oil companies continue to stand in the way of progress and resist moving toward a robust, low-carbon economy. With apologies to Charles Dickens, this is a tale of two (very different) visions for California’s clean energy future.

Levee board's suit moved to federal court
By The Associated Press. Aug. 13, 2013.
"NEW ORLEANS — A New Orleans-area levee authority's lawsuit against dozens of oil and gas companies was transferred Tuesday from state to federal court at the request of one of the companies, but the move may be temporary…" (read more).

Coal exporter, state detail pact on river diversion
By Amy Wold, The Advocate (Baton Rouge). Aug. 14, 2013.
"A proposed coal export terminal on the lower Mississippi River has environmental and community groups questioning the state’s commitment to coastal restoration while state officials say they’ve found a way for the facility’s permit to continue while moving forward with a river diversion on the same property…" (read more).

BP oil spill cleanup: US says the coast is nearly clear. Is it? (+video)
By Mark Guarino, The Christian Science Monitor. Aug. 14, 2013.
"With about 100 miles of coastline remaining to clean up following the Gulf of Mexico oil spill three years ago, the states most impacted by the disaster say it is too soon to stop, because the environmental damage is ongoing…" (read more).

BP: Halliburton’s expected guilty plea undermines Gulf spill arguments
By Harry Weber, FuelFix. Aug. 13, 2013.
"BP said Tuesday that Halliburton’s admission it destroyed evidence after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill undermines key claims by the U.S. government in a civil trial over the disaster…" (read more).

Wine Island may be wiped off map
By Nikki Buskey, The Houma Courier (Houma, La.). Aug. 14, 2013.
"Terrebonne's Wine Island may soon be wiped off the map…" (read more).

Federal sequester limits coastal restoration payouts
By Jordan Blum, The Advocate (Baton Rouge). Aug. 13, 2013.
"WASHINGTON — The ongoing federal budget stalemate that led to the so-called “sequester” also could affect more than $1 billion in anticipated coastal restoration funds for Louisiana and other Gulf Coast states…" (read more).

BP Sues EPA to Get New Contracts
By Tom Fowler, The Wall Street Journal (New York). Aug. 13, 2013.
"BP PLC has sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, saying the agency is abusing its discretion by continuing to bar the company from new government contracts following guilty pleas related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill…" (read more).

Major green groups keeping mum on flood authority lawsuit opposed by Jindal
By Bob Marshall, The Lens (New Orleans). Aug. 13, 2013.
"With three of the nation’s largest environmental groups working out of local offices to help save Louisiana’s drowning coast, it seemed only a matter of time before they voiced support for the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – East’s lawsuit against oil and gas companies for damages to the region’s wetlands…" (read more).

New Orleans shows striking potential, persistent problems, 8 years after Hurricane Katrina, economic report says
By Mark Waller, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). Aug. 14, 2013.
"With the eighth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina impending, the New Orleans area is showing encouraging signs that it might be pulling off a rare reversal of a once-entrenched economic decline, but some weaknesses persist, concludes the latest check on the region's economic health by the Greater New Orleans Community Data Center…" (read more).

Louisiana Wetlands: Why We All Need Them, And Why Oil Companies Aren't The Only Ones On The Hot Seat
By Kelli Barrett, Ecosystem Marketplace. Aug. 12,2013.
"Author John Barry is best known for his eminently readable accounts of scientific advances, while humorist Harry Shearer is best known for his improve and voice acting skills. Barry, however, is also vice president of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – East, (SLFPAE)…" (read more).

BP fine money affected by budget cuts
By WEAR (Pensacola, Fla.). Aug. 13, 2013.
"PENSACOLA BEACH — Some of the fine money coming to the gulf coast from the oil spill in 2010 is getting tied up by federal budget cuts. Transocean was fined $1 billion for its role in the disaster…. and violations of the Clean Water Act. The Restore Act guarantees that 80 percent of that fine money be directed to the five gulf coast states affected by the spill…" (read more).

BP whines some more about how rough life is
By John Upton, Grist. Aug. 13, 2013.
"BP killed 11 workers when the Deepwater Horizon rig blew up, and then it obstructed government investigators. That’s not editorializing — the company pled guilty to manslaughter and obstruction charges. Since you can’t imprison a corporation, it was punished in other ways. One of those punishments was a temporary ban on getting new federal contracts…" (read more).

Gulf Shrimpers Taste Victory
By William Mauldin, The Wall Street Journal. Aug. 13, 2013.
"American shrimpers got a boost Tuesday from a U.S. ruling that could lead to duties being slapped on imports from five major producing countries, including China…" (read more).

Warmer temperatures drive swamp rats out of the marshes and into new environments
By The Daily Climate, Mother Nature Network. Aug. 13, 2013.
"As fans of "Duck Dynasty" can attest, hunting for nutria – big, water-loving rodents with bright orange front teeth – is hugely popular in Louisiana. This might not be exclusive to the bayou for long. As winters warm, nutria could migrate across the country, according to new research…" (read more).

Live blog Wednesday: Flood Protection Authority appears before legislators
By Bob Marshall, The Lens (New Orleans). Aug. 13, 2013.
"Two members of the local Flood Protection Authority will appear Wednesday before a joint meeting of state House and Senate committees to discuss its lawsuit against oil and gas companies…" (read more).

Sick Of The Deepwater Horizon Disaster, BP Gets Aggressive With Lawsuits
By Rebecca Leber, Think Progress. Aug. 14, 2013.
"BP has dropped any pretense of playing nice over the worst offshore oil disaster in U.S. history with a lawsuit filed Tuesday to reopen federal oil and gas leases…" (read more).

By Tomas Carbonell

Source: Sage Metering

This post originally appeared on EDF's Energy Exchange blog. 

EPA’s recent decision regarding storage tank standards is of particular interest to Texas.  In 2009 alone, there were 6,120 storage tanks built in Texas large enough to be subject to EPA’s standards. The standards will apply only to new tanks. Since the number of new tanks is related to the number of existing wells, and Texas accounts for approximately 23% of new oil wells and 33% of new gas wells drilled in the U.S. (far greater than any other state), Texas is likely to account for a large share of the country’s new storage tanks. From a health standpoint, this rule preserves important protections for Texans, but much more remains to be done. Many counties in Texas fail to meet health based air quality standards. EPA needs to fortify thoughtful rules that place public health above all else, so that Texans (and many others) can breathe safe, healthy air that is free of ozone and other harmful contaminants. 

August is typically a quiet time of year, and particularly so for work that concerns the nation’s capital. But amidst the dog days of summer, federal regulators made a fairly significant move this month to preserve stricter emissions controls for thousands of large storage vessels used to temporarily house crude oil, condensate and other liquids.

Last Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a rule that keeps in place an important aspect of its oil and gas pollution standards (or New Source Performance Standards, NSPS) issued last year, including provisions for storage tanks that emit six or more tons of ozone-forming air pollutants annually. These standards were intended to help reduce ground-level ozone and methane emissions in areas where oil and gas production occur. EPA proposed revisions to these standards in April of 2013 in response to industry petitions for less stringent requirements that would have considerably diminished important gains made by the NSPS to protect public health and the environment. EDF and five other environmental organizations joined together to strongly encourage EPA’s reconsideration, opposing these revisions in detailed technical comments filed with the agency.

EPA’s final rule is good news in the fight for cleaner, healthier air.  Whereas the April 2013 proposal would have created a broad exemption from emission controls for thousands of recently-built tanks, the final rule ensures that operators of all new storage tanks that pass the six ton threshold will be required to reduce emissions by 95 percent.  Controlling emissions from oil and gas storage tanks is important.  Roughly 20,000 newly constructed tanks have been added in the field since August 2011 and these receptacles, if not properly managed, could be a large source of ozone forming pollution, as well as climate altering methane emissions.  Had EPA proceeded to establish a broad exemption for these tanks, millions of tons of additional ozone-forming pollution and hundreds of thousands of tons of methane would have been released into the atmosphere.

Ground-level ozone pollution (commonly known as “smog”) is a public health issue known to cause a host of respiratory problems. Exposure, even in low concentrations, can contribute to serious adverse health impacts, including decreased lung function and premature mortality. Children, the elderly, Americans with existing lung and heart disease, and those active outside are especially vulnerable. Oil and gas development is a significant source of pollutants that result in ozone formation and also a contributor to degrading air quality in several states around the country, including Wyoming and Colorado.

Proven, cost-effective technologies needed to meet EPA’s storage tank standards already exist and many leading companies in the oil and gas sector have been using such technologies for years, even though some industry groups pushed back against regulations. As part of EPA’s ruling, regulators mandated emission controls for all storage tanks added since August 2011 on a phased-in schedule (the new compliance date was pushed back from October 2013 to April 2015).

Despite this welcome news on storage tanks, the final EPA rule includes several other provisions EDF and its partner organizations have objected to in comments – including a 6-month delay in the compliance deadline for certain newer storage tanks and a provision allowing tanks that bring their emissions below a certain level to stop using emission control devices.  Going forward, EDF will continue to advocate for rigorous implementation of these standards, as well as the adoption of additional protective measures to reduce emissions of harmful pollutants from the oil and gas sector.

Elizabeth Floyd, a legal intern in EDF’s Washington, DC office, assisted in preparing this post.  

By Jason Mathers

Finally! There’s someone out there who is just as excited about shipping as I am.

Today, Rose George, a British journalist and author, releases what I think will be the blockbuster of the summer – Ninety Percent of Everything – zeroing in on the overlooked world of freight shipping. Or, what Ms. George refers to as “the foundation of our civilization.” I couldn’t agree more.

Besides the fact that this book looks at the world of freight as a grand adventure full of perils and twists, I’m excited because now the mainstream can look at shipping and freight in terms of environmental effects.

Most of us don’t spend a lot of time thinking about how the clothes we wear, the food we eat and the TV’s we watch get from wherever they were created into our lives. I, however, do.  And now so does Ms. George.

Our growing demand for products at competitive prices has put a ton of pressure on the freight industry. This demand has in turn driven up global freight emissions – to the tune of nearly three billion metric tons of heat-trapping carbon emissions each year. That’s equal to over 700 coal plants.

Looking at just the shipping industry, according to this book, if you added shipping to the list of the world's most carbon polluting countries, shipping would come in sixth place. This is despite the fact that shipping is the most carbon-efficient way to move products long distances.

The shipping industry often points to this last fact, but the kicker of the environmental impact of these ships is their direct impact on human health. These vessels run on low grade “residual fuel” or “bunker fuel.” This fuel contains sulfur levels 1,800 times greater than U.S. law allows for other diesel engines. These ships are also a significant source of smog-forming oxides of nitrogen.

Dr. Elena Craft, a health scientist with EDF, has noted that “the dangerous air pollution from these floating smokestacks is a threat to tens of millions of Americans who live and work along our coastlines.”

It is because of this impact that the U.S. established an Emission Control Area (ECA) within 200 nautical miles of U.S. coastlines. Within the ECA, large ocean-going ships must now use cleaner fuel and — starting in 2016 — achieve an 80 percent reduction in smog-forming oxides of nitrogen (NOx).

This ECA provides the strongest clean air standards available under international law for ships, slashing ozone-forming and particulate pollution from oceangoing vessels and saving up to 14,000 lives a year by 2020 and 30,000 lives by 2030.

I agree with Elena’s sentiment that “America has the ingenuity to meet these vitally important clean air standards and protect human health and the environment from the serious impacts associated with shipping pollution.”

The shipping industry is a true marvel of modern society. It enables all of us to obtain a higher standard of living because it fosters international trade. It also has a significant environmental footprint.

Our demand for global goods isn’t going to diminish. So, we need to find a way to address the freight industry’s environmental impact.  At EDF we’re doing what we do best. We’re actively supporting the development and enforcement of the emission control areas; piloting innovative programs to clean-up our nation’s ports; and we are working with some of the largest companies relying on freight to find ways to reduce emissions throughout their operations.

I’m excited to buy Rose George’s new book today and get a peek inside the fascinating system.  And, it’s the freight system, of course, that I’m relying on to get the book to my local bookstore.

For more cocktail party tidbits from Ninety Percent of Everything, check out these 10 fascinating facts.

 

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By Elena Craft, PhD

A couple of weeks ago, the China Green Ports Technology Reverse Trade Mission brought Chinese transportation officials to Houston to introduce them to U.S. technologies and the trade industry’s best practices to reduce ports’ environmental impact. Green port technologies are of particular interest in China, because seven of the ten largest ports in the world are located in China. The Chinese government and private sector are making efforts to modernize and strengthen China’s maritime management, while reducing its environmental footprint.

The purpose of the mission was to introduce the delegates to innovative technologies and service provider firms associated with green ports. As I spoke with the delegation, the conversation focused on many of the same efforts we are pursuing in the U.S. and right here in Texas, including:

• Reducing the environmental impact of our nation’s seaports;
• Improving the health of communities affected by port activities;
• Increasing the efficiency and sustainability of ports;
• Highlighting best management practices currently deployed at leading ports.

As we move forward with developing a port recognition system to highlight green port efforts across the nation, we know that our partners to the East are thinking likewise. We look forward to continued conversations such as these with new partners on novel technologies, continually improving port environmental impacts.

By Tomas Carbonell

Source: Sage Metering

August is typically a quiet time of year, and particularly so for work that concerns the nation’s capital. But amidst the dog days of summer, federal regulators made a fairly significant move this month to preserve stricter emissions controls for thousands of large storage vessels used to temporarily house crude oil, condensate and other liquids.

Last Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a rule that keeps in place an important aspect of its oil and gas pollution standards (or New Source Performance Standards, NSPS) issued last year, including provisions for storage tanks that emit six or more tons of ozone-forming air pollutants annually. These standards were intended to help reduce ground-level ozone and methane emissions in areas where oil and gas production occur. EPA proposed revisions to these standards in April of 2013 in response to industry petitions for less stringent requirements that would have considerably diminished important gains made by the NSPS to protect public health and the environment. EDF and five other environmental organizations joined together to strongly encourage EPA’s reconsideration, opposing these revisions in detailed technical comments filed with the agency.

EPA’s final rule is good news in the fight for cleaner, healthier air.  Whereas the April 2013 proposal would have created a broad exemption from emission controls for thousands of recently-built tanks, the final rule ensures that operators of all new storage tanks that pass the six ton threshold will be required to reduce emissions by 95 percent.  Controlling emissions from oil and gas storage tanks is important.  Roughly 20,000 newly constructed tanks have been added in the field since August 2011 and these receptacles, if not properly managed, could be a large source of ozone forming pollution, as well as climate altering methane emissions.  Had EPA proceeded to establish a broad exemption for these tanks, millions of tons of additional ozone-forming pollution and hundreds of thousands of tons of methane would have been released into the atmosphere.

Ground-level ozone pollution (commonly known as “smog”) is a public health issue known to cause a host of respiratory problems. Exposure, even in low concentrations, can contribute to serious adverse health impacts, including decreased lung function and premature mortality. Children, the elderly, Americans with existing lung and heart disease, and those active outside are especially vulnerable. Oil and gas development is a significant source of pollutants that result in ozone formation and also a contributor to degrading air quality in several states around the country, including Wyoming and Colorado.

Proven, cost-effective technologies needed to meet EPA’s storage tank standards already exist and many leading companies in the oil and gas sector have been using such technologies for years, even though some industry groups pushed back against regulations. As part of EPA’s ruling, regulators mandated emission controls for all storage tanks added since August 2011 on a phased-in schedule (the new compliance date was pushed back from October 2013 to April 2015).

Despite this welcome news on storage tanks, the final EPA rule includes several other provisions EDF and its partner organizations have objected to in comments – including a 6-month delay in the compliance deadline for certain newer storage tanks and a provision allowing tanks that bring their emissions below a certain level to stop using emission control devices.  Going forward, EDF will continue to advocate for rigorous implementation of these standards, as well as the adoption of additional protective measures to reduce emissions of harmful pollutants from the oil and gas sector.

Elizabeth Floyd, a legal intern in EDF’s Washington, DC office, assisted in preparing this post.  

By Tim O'Connor

For a window into two vastly different visions of our state’s future, take a look at the comments filed last week as part of the AB 32 Scoping Plan update process. The 2008 Scoping Plan lays out the approach that California will take to achieve its goal of reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and this is the first 5 year update.

EDF’s comments reflect what most Californians have already asked for – a laser focus on expanding emission reductions and providing ample clean energy opportunities for businesses throughout the state.

This includes:

• Increasing emission reductions from vehicles, goods movement and the agriculture sector;
• Developing diversified low-carbon fuels that yield cost reductions;
• Integrating clean energy and energy efficiency through programs like “time-of-use” pricing and On-Bill Repayment;
• And, extending the cap-and-trade program and low carbon fuel standard beyond 2020;

All of the opportunities outlined by EDF aim to fulfill the Scoping Plan’s mission: achieving the maximum technologically feasible reductions in greenhouse gas pollution in a cost-effective way.

A recent report by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) shows that refineries and other businesses are investing in the future by taking advantage of energy efficiency and savings opportunities under AB 32 – at a rate that has increased since the adoption of the 2008 Scoping Plan. A price signal for cap and trade beyond 2020 would reduce uncertainty, create a robust and stable market, and is key if California wants to continue driving these energy and money saving opportunities.

Comments filed by the California Chamber of Commerce (Cal Chamber) tell a different story.

Rather than encourage long term planning and a robust low-carbon economy, they've joined in lockstep with organizations like the Western States Petroleum Association (a representative of large oil including Exxon and Chevron) to try and hinder the state’s efforts to cut greenhouse gas pollution. Just as their frivolous lawsuit shows they would rather expend resources on litigation rather than innovation, they used the entirety of their comments to discourage CARB from using the Scoping Plan update as a tool to drive the state forward towards a clean-energy future.

Although they admit “the AB 32 mandate does not vanish in 2020,” they’re short on ideas that reduce greenhouse gas pollution in the state at the lowest possible cost.

They also fail to recognize that under the current cap-and-trade program, businesses have the tools and flexibility to reduce emissions through cost-effective means, and ignore the over 350,000 jobs created from California’s green economy.

A major part of the Cal Chamber’s argument is that California is going it alone, creating an unfair playing field for businesses in the state. They conveniently forget that Quebec will link with California’s cap-and-trade program in January 2014, and that there are complementary programs nationally and globally: RGGI has proposed severely lowering its emissions cap, and even China – the world’s biggest polluter – has started pilot emissions trading programs in an effort to potentially move towards a nationwide carbon cap in 2016.

While ideas like extending the market signal and expanding programs that help integrate clean energy and energy efficiency point us towards a bright future of innovation under AB 32, oil companies continue to stand in the way of progress and resist moving toward a robust, low-carbon economy. With apologies to Charles Dickens, this is a tale of two (very different) visions for California’s clean energy future.

America's chemicals policy is badly broken. As your Members of Congress to support moving and improving the Chemical Safety Improvement Act. C4.

Feds cite sequestration for 5% cut of Restore Act funds
By Stephanie Riegel, Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. Aug. 12, 2013.
"Among the latest victims of the federal budget cuts known as sequestration is the pot of money that is supposed to go to Gulf Coast states affected by the Deepwater Horizon spill…" (read more).

BP orchestrates media blitz to sway public opinion
By David Hammer, WWL-TV (New Orleans). Aug. 12, 2013.
"NEW ORLEANS — With its efforts to rein in a costly oil spill damage settlement going nowhere, BP has unleashed a media blitz to try to turn the tide in the court of public opinion…" (read more).

No Surprises: BP Tries to Back Out of Their Responsibilities in the Gulf
By Brian Young, Huffington Post. Aug. 12, 2013.
"Shortly after an explosion on British Petroleum's Deepwater Horizon oil rig killed 11 people and spilled an estimated 210 million gallons of oil off the coast of Louisiana, the company sprung into action to protect what matters — its public image…" (read more).

Gulf oil spill claims administrator must respond to BP request to halt claims payments
By Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). Aug. 12, 2013.
"U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier on Monday ordered the administrator of the court-supervised settlement of private claims against BP stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster to respond by Aug. 26 to BP's request for an injunction temporarily halting millions of dollars in claims payments until an investigation into possible wrongdoing in the program is completed…" (read more).

BP sues federal government to get new contracts in wake of oil spill
By The Associated Press. Aug. 12, 2013.
"HOUSTON — BP is suing the U.S. government over a decision to bar the oil giant from getting new federal contracts to supply fuel and other services after the company pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other criminal charges related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill…" (read more).

US shrimp industry seeks import duties to thwart foreign producers
By James Politi, Financial Times (London). Aug. 12, 2013.
"American shrimp producers from the Gulf of Mexico are asking the US government to slap duties on $3.4bn of annual imports from seven developing countries including Thailand, Indonesia and India in an effort to thwart what they see as damaging competition driven by illegal subsidies…" (read more).

Sequester hits Restore Act funding for Louisiana other Gulf states
By Bruce Alpert, NOLA.com | Times-Picayune (New Orleans). Aug. 12, 2013.
"WASHINGTON – The automatic budget reductions known as sequestration are cutting into the funding available for coastal restoration and economic recovery under the Restore Act, the 2012 legislation that funnels 80 percent of fines from the 2010 BP oil spill to the five Gulf States…" (read more).

NOAA Fisheries Seeks Public Comment on a Proposed Rule to Increase Red Snapper Quotas
By KATC (Lafayette, La.). Aug. 12, 2013.
"NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that would increase the commercial and recreational quotas for Gulf of Mexico red snapper and potentially re-open the recreational season for 2013. The proposed rule will publish in the Federal Register on August 14, 2013…" (read more).

By Larissa Koehler

The 5-year update to the 2008 AB 32 Scoping Plan is being met with great anticipation, since it will continue California's trajectory down a path toward a healthier environment and economy.

The Scoping Plan update from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will certainly lay out a vision for the years ahead, with its north star being a goal of reaching 1990 greenhouse gas emission levels by 2020.

The emission reduction opportunities in the Scoping Plan update are a blueprint and encompass improvements and coordinated efforts across all sectors of the California economy.

To maximize reductions, here are five concrete areas to consider, from the nine topics in which EDF submitted recommendations.

Ultimately, the Scoping Plan update should:

• Make it clear that the low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) and cap and trade will extend beyond 2020.  Consumers need some certainty regarding California’s policy future upon which to base investment decisions. Clear incentives and a long-term regulatory structure will enable CARB to achieve the reductions it needs to meet 2020 and 2050 goals.  It is imperative that CARB create an expectation that both the LCFS and cap and trade will remain in effect post-2020 in order to implement long-term change.  This will mean that consumers are more likely to make choices with long-term impacts, like buying a more fuel efficient car or even an electric car.

• Establish a plan for meeting the state-wide goal of a 75% recycling rate. Recycling 75% of the state’s waste will help to generate valuable greenhouse gas emissions and go a long way towards meeting the state’s goals.   Further composting can be encouraged by finding valuable uses for compost and creating markets that allow composters to sell their products. For example, EDF has conducted research on the benefits of applying compost to rangelands which can facilitate further GHG reductions. Other areas to consider include developing offsets for compostable materials and streamlining the permitting process for new composting and anaerobic facilities.

• Implement a comprehensive strategy to reduce emissions from freight transportation.  As the demand for goods and services increases, emissions are expected to rise in freight transportation by 74 percent.  Measures such as investing in lower carbon modes of transportation are critical but there are also innovative approaches that might not be as obvious.  For example, by working together, companies like Hershey's and Ferrero have saved impressive amounts of GHGs and money by combining shipments so that they maximize cargo capacity for every trip.  EDF has profiled companies that are already seeing the benefit of these  and other similarly innovative approaches and believes that California can see large-scale change if they’re implemented state-wide.

• Use On-Bill Repayment (OBR) to lower financing and transactional cost of clean energy projects.  OBR solves the problem many consumers have of the high up-front cost of clean energy projects.  It allows participants to borrow from private investors and pay the loan back directly through their utility bill, often lowering the overall amount of the bill despite the loan because of decreased energy demand. OBR accelerates clean energy investments and emission reductions without direct costs to taxpayers or ratepayers.  EDF estimates that OBR will avoid 200 million metric tons of CO2e over ten years (which translates to taking approximately 50,000 cars off the road), and OBR has the potential to create many jobs in the state as it spurs demand for clean energy projects.

• Develop a comprehensive methane reduction plan.  As a short-term pollutant that has a high global warming potential, even small amounts of methane can have a tremendous negative impact.  This source of emissions is often overlooked because methane emissions can often occur indirectly as methane leaks from wells, pipelines, storage areas, or natural gas vehicles.  CARB can take charge of this challenge by creating an inventory of methane emissions that provides a comprehensive understanding of the scope and location of methane emissions sources, by implementing measures to reduce methane leakage, and by requiring energy efficient solutions to reduce the amount of natural gas used.

Integrating these five opportunities into the Scoping Plan update can, and will, go a long way towards mitigating the effects of climate change and creating a healthier environment and thriving economy for Californians that is built to last.

 

August 2, 2013

August 6, 2013

August 7, 2013

By Amy Hardberger

Thanks for visiting the blog.  We have moved to a new location.  We are now housed on the Texas Living Waters website. Please come visit, subscribe to the blog and join in the conversation.  There is a lot going on in Texas water and we'll be talking about all of it.

By Namrita Kapur

Aligning incentives – this is why executive compensation is linked to financial performance. Corporate America wants to promote financial performance, so it compensates its executives directly for it. With the increasing risk that natural resource scarcity and climate change poses to businesses, what about aligning compensation to sustainability performance?

A  2012 Glass Lewis report states that 42 percent of publically traded companies interviewed across 11 major markets across the world disclosed a link between compensation and sustainability. Last year Ceres found that only about 10 percent of S&P 100 companies have reportedly incorporated sustainability into their bonus structures.

These statistics point not only to an emerging trend, but also to the varying degrees of transparency and rigor with which corporations are linking executive compensation to sustainability goals and results.

On one end of the spectrum, some companies mention a sustainability-compensation link in their CSR reports, yet do not provide further details.  On the other end, there are companies that clearly articulate the connection. Alcoa, for example, in 2010 started tying 5 percent of executives’ annual bonus to the company’s CO2 emissions reduction goals. Intel is another example—since 2008 it has tied 3 percent of all its employees’ annual bonuses to specific company-wide sustainability goals (in 2012 the focus being energy efficiency in the company’s operations and products).

On the exemplary side, Xcel Energy ties one-third of its’ CEO’s annual bonus to renewable energy, emission reduction, energy efficiency, and clean technology goals.

What is driving those companies that are aggressively linking executive compensation to sustainability?

A 2012 Conference Board report notes two factors:

1. Financial benefits: Given the inchoate nature of the field, there is little data yet to show the correlation between this practice and better long-term financial profitability. But, EDF in its 20+ years of corporate partnerships has numerous case studies of how environmental innovation can save companies millions of dollars, and be a critical component of long term value creation. In our Green Returns work alone, we have seen a sustainability lens lead to $650 million in financial benefits while avoiding 1 million metric tons of GHG emissions, 3.4 million tons of waste, and 13.2 million cubic meters of water use across 38 portfolio companies.
2. Reputation and culture benefits: Linking compensation to sustainability is a powerful marker of a company’s environmental leadership—the Conference Board found that such leading companies were more likely to link their compensation than others.  Additionally, this practice can serve as a powerful tool to increase accountability and promote action around environmental goals, a sentiment echoed in Intel’s 2012 CSR report, and articulated by Tom King, president of National Grid U.S.—who notes: “linking executive pay and climate change deliverables has increased accountability and positively impacted our culture. Employees across the company are increasingly incentivized to put sustainability at the heart of the way we do business.”

If you want to learn more about linking executive compensation to sustainability, the Conference Board report is a good place to start.  As everything from water scarcity to carbon constraints start impinging on your company’s growth, now is a good time to think about implementing such a powerful tool to position your company for success in this new environment (pun intended).

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By Elena Craft, PhD

(Source: Getty Images)

We at EDF have written a lot about the need to transform the nation’s aging electricity system.  Now, more than ever, we have to transition away from fossil fuel electricity to reduce our out-of-control greenhouse gas emissions.  With renewables poised to make up a quarter of the world’s electricity mix by 2018, it appears we’re making steady progress toward a modern, clean energy grid.

But there’s another global energy system that’s often overlooked: the transportation system.  An overwhelming majority of the world’s transportation infrastructure is powered by fossil fuels.  Ordinary passenger vehicles, short and long-haul trucks, freight rail, and large cargo ships are all fueled by petroleum.  And unlike the grid, we’re still far from transitioning to a clean alternative.

EDF has spearheaded a number of initiatives to help reduce the environmental impact of transportation.  Last month, we released a request for proposals for a marine port environmental recognition program.  The program will help establish performance benchmarks for ports, so that we can identify and acknowledge those ports making strides toward reducing emissions and improving air quality.  EDF is also part of the brain trust of organizations, such as the National Research Council’s Transportation Research Board, working to understand the best practices to modernize the global transportation system and reduce transportation’s environmental footprint.

But there’s plenty more work to do.  Achieving marked improvement in environmental performance from the global transportations system is a daunting task – all stakeholders need to be at the table.  That’s why the City of Irving, located just outside Dallas, invites a prestigious group of national and international thought leaders and government officials for the Annual Transportation & Infrastructure Summit each year.  Irving co-hosts the summit with dozens of other major transportation stakeholders.  By bringing together leading experts on transportation issues, the summit’s hosts hope to reveal innovative solutions to bolster the nation’s aging transportation infrastructure and drive growth in the future.

This year, the summit covered a diverse set of international transportation topics, including transportation finance, rail, roadways, water infrastructure, ports, aviation and more.  I attended the summit to meet with international transportation stakeholders and be a voice for what EDF’s been doing to reduce the environmental impact of transportation.  I spoke on a panel addressing what’s been termed as “the commerce of transportation” and described how EDF is supporting efforts to improve efficiency across supply chains by employing a few basic principles, including:

• Improving the Hot-Spots within your supply chain
• Choosing the most carbon-efficient mode possible
• Collaborating with other shippers and suppliers
• Getting the most out of each move
• Redesigning your own network for efficiency

More about the principles are outlined in EDF’s Smart Moves Report released earlier this year.

What were some of the coolest things I learned at the summit?  There are plans for a bullet train between Dallas and Houston by 2020.  With 100,000 people traveling between the two cities every day, it’s hard to believe that this idea wasn’t developed sooner.

Also, a company called Grid Logistics introduced a revolutionary idea to handle containers at ports using automated technology that could dramatically reduce the footprint of ports in both size and emissions.

Summits like this one in Irving offer the promise of inventive solutions and encouragement for those of us working collaboratively to improve the environmental impact of the world’s transportation systems.  I was happy to be a part of this year’s summit.  Going forward, I’ll continue working with international transportation stakeholders to champion EDF’s innovative ideas to reduce the environmental impact of the global supply chain.

Fishing in the developing tropics looks very different from fishing in the United States. It’s easy to forget that millions of people around the world rely on wild fish for their daily protein and survival, rather than being able to purchase it from a grocery store. This is the case in the countries where EDF [...]

Video: Hunt for BP oil continues on La. coast
By Amy Wold, The Advocate (Baton Rouge). Aug. 11, 2013.
"More than three years after the Deepwater Horizon/BP disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, crews are still searching the Louisiana coast for evidence of oil pollution…" (read more).

Restoration in the Gulf: The View From BP
Letter to the Editor by Geoff Morrell, BP. The New York Times. Aug. 11, 2013.
"“Shirking Responsibility in the Gulf,” by Stephen Teague (Op-Ed, July 31), paints an incomplete picture of BP’s efforts to help economic restoration efforts in the Gulf…" (read more).

Louisiana coastal erosion lawsuit: State levee association committee comes out against it
By Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). Aug. 9, 2013.
"Already besieged by the governor's opposition, the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East and its sweeping lawsuit against about 100 oil, gas and pipeline companies drew another opponent on Friday…" (read more).

Levee board association comes out against oil and gas lawsuit
By Jeff Adelson, The Advocate (Baton Rouge). Aug. 11, 2013.
"Presidents of 22 levee boards in Louisiana came out unanimously Friday against a massive lawsuit against nearly 100 oil and gas companies filed by the New Orleans-area flood protection authority…" (read more).

What the levee authority really wants for Louisiana's coast: John M. Barry
Op-Ed by John Barry, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). Aug. 10, 2013.
"The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East — the levee board responsible for protecting metropolitan New Orleans east of the Mississippi River — filed suit July 24 against Exxon Mobil, BP, Shell and 94 other oil, gas and pipeline companies for destroying the land and marsh buffer that once provided natural protection to New Orleans from hurricanes…" (read more).

Making industry pay its share
Op-Ed by Foster Campbell, The Houma Courier (Houma, La.). Aug. 9, 2013.
"The lawsuit against major oil companies by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East is long overdue…" (read more).

New Orleans is America's comeback city: Bobby Jindal
By Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). Aug. 11, 2013.
"Eight years ago this month, Hurricane Katrina struck our shores, devastated our state and left the city of New Orleans in peril. Many people thought the city would never fully recover, but state and local leaders have worked together to prove the doubters wrong…" (read more).

Gulf oil spill: Halliburton gets off easy
By Editorial Page Staff, The Boston Globe. Aug. 12, 2013.
"THE PROPORTIONS of the Gulf oil spill in 2010 were truly staggering, and the punishments handed down to the companies responsible should be in keeping with the damage that they caused…" (read more).

Oyster hatchery ‘dream building’ soon to open on Grand Isle
By Amy Wold, The Advocate (Baton Rouge). Aug. 12, 2013.
"GRAND ISLE — After years of planning and years of catastrophes, a building to house oyster hatchery operations on Grand Isle is under construction and expected to provide a big boost to Louisiana’s oyster industry…" (read more).

BP must cover actual losses
Op-Ed by William Large, President of the Florida Justice Reform Institute. Pensacola News Journal. Aug. 10, 2013.
"Recent news reports and court filings have raised some troubling questions about who is benefiting from the BP Deepwater Horizon settlement, whether claimants are being treated equally and what that might mean for the economic victims of future industrial accidents…" (read more).

Forecasts still call for six to nine hurricanes
By Amy Wold, The Advocate (Baton Rouge). Aug. 11, 2013.
"Expectations for an above-average 2013 hurricane season remain, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s midseason forecast update that was released Thursday…" (read more).

August 6, 2013