Transportation Daily News July 31

Emissions:

 

*States, environmentalists to sue EPA over greenhouse gases -- California, New York City, three other states and a coalition of environmental groups will file notice Thursday that they'll sue the Environmental Protection Agency to push it to regulate pollution from ocean ships and aircraft that's causing global warming.  Under the Clean Air Act, a U.S. district court can compel the EPA to take action to protect the public's welfare if the agency delays doing so for an unreasonably long time. The law requires that a notice of intent to sue be filed 180 days in advance, the step that the groups are taking now. McClatchy 7/31/08

 

Planned suit would target ships' and planes' pollution -- California, New York City, three other states and some environmental groups plan to file notice today that they'll sue the Environmental Protection Agency to push it to regulate pollution from ocean ships and aircraft causing global warming. Sacramento Bee 7/31/08

 

*LA utility wary of California's emissions strategy -- The Department of Water and Power relies on cheap, out-of-state coal for some of its energy, which has helped keep its electricity rates among the lowest in the state. But it's one of the dirtiest ways to generate power, making coal-fired plants a major liability for the utility as California forges ahead with a strategy to cut carbon emissions dramatically under the greenhouse gas law Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed in 2006. The debate has exposed a rift between the state's largest utilities and divided the politicians who helped craft the law, which has received international acclaim. AP 7/31/08

 

Transit and infrastructure:

 

California's gas consumption falling -- Gasoline consumption in California, the most populous state, dropped in April from the same month a year earlier, a sign this could be the third straight year of declining demand, according to a state agency report. Inside Bay Area 7/31/08

 

*PLAN AFOOT TO GET S.F. WORKERS OUT OF CARS -- Businesses with more than 20 employees working in San Francisco would be required to help their workers ditch their cars and commute to work on transit or in vanpools under a proposal being considered by city officials. The goal of the plan, which would be the first in the nation, is to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality by getting more people out of polluting cars. SF Chronicle 7/31/08

 

Californians fight cost by reducing their driving -- As gasoline prices climbed in April, Californians continued a trend of using less gasoline, according to figures released Wednesday. The California Board of Equalization said 2.2 percent less gasoline was used in the state in April than in the same month in 2007. Sacramento Bee 7/31/08