Shipping:
*California port fee would fight pollution, congestion -- Saying California children shouldn't breathe soot so people across the country can buy cheap televisions, legislators voted Tuesday to impose a fee on every container moving through the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland. The money -- at least $400 million a year -- would be used to ease the traffic congestion and air pollution generated by the ports, which handle more than 40% of the nation's goods. LA Times 7/16/08
CA imposes new fee on shipping -- In an effort to clean up the air around its shipping ports, members of the California House of Representatives voted Tuesday to impose a fee on every container moving through the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland. The bill calls for a $60 fee for every container that passes through the ports and is expected to raise at least $400 million a year in revenues to be put towards easing the traffic congestion and air pollution generated by the ports, which handle more than 40 percent of the nation's goods. Oh My Gov 7/16/08
Emissions:
*EPA unveils first rules on carbon dioxide storage -- The Environmental Protection Agency wants to make sure curbing global warming doesn't contaminate drinking water. In its first regulations on the burial of carbon dioxide underground, the EPA on Tuesday unveiled measures to protect drinking water from the gas behind the bubbles in carbonated beverages. The fledgling technology, known as carbon sequestration, is critical to reducing carbon dioxide released into the air from coal-fired power plants. AP 7/16/08
Grants available to truckers to clean up rigs' emissions -- Bay Area truckers using the Port of Oakland can get a jump on impending environmental regulations by applying for a piece of millions of dollars to clean up emissions on their rigs. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is offering up to $10,000 to equip trucks with filters to cut down on air pollution, said Ralph Borrmann, public information officer for the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. Known as the Bay Area Goods Movement Program, the BAAQMD is teaming with the state's Air Resources Board and the Port of Oakland to offer a financial break to drivers who will have to outfit the trucks in the future anyway. The Reporter 7/16/08
*U.S. EPA funds study on alternative fuel vehicle emissions -- The University of California, Davis, is launching research into how new alternative fuel vehicle emissions will affect air quality, with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA is putting up $900,000 for the project, which will look at flex-fuel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and biodiesel vehicles. Cleantech 7/16/08
Transit and infrastructure:
Big Public Support for Proposition 1 -- Recent polling data from J. Moore Methods (hat tip to Californians for High Speed Trains) shows a significant amount of public support for Proposition 1.
Q: "Would you support or oppose a statewide $10 billion dollar bond measure to build a high-speed train system linking the major population centers in Southern California with the Central Valley and the Bay Area?"
July 2008: 58% support, 33% oppose, 9% no opinion
May 2008: 53-36-11
Feb. 2008: 54-39-7
Nov. 2007: 52-42-6 High Speed Rail Blog 7/15/08
High speed rail on track -- The $9.95 billion bond measure, Proposition 1, would cover about a third of the costs for this initial phase (the plan would eventually extend the tracks to run from Sacramento to San Diego), with the balance borne almost equally by the federal government and private investors. With around 100 million passenger trips per year, and LA-SF tickets projected to cost around $60, fiscal studies show the project will more than pay for itself in less than 20 years, then generate about $1 billion a year in profits. Bay Guardian 7/16/08
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