News brief extra


1. NYC plan would levy charges on cars, electricity use
As he prepares to host a Large Cities Climate Summit May 14-17, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) has unveiled a massive plan to cut GHG emissions 30% by 2030. Everything from power plants, to motor vehicles, to mass transit are included in PlaNYC, released on Earth Day. Plans – for a population likely to grow by 1 million – include:
• A $2.50/month surcharge on electricity use, to finance retrofitting building for greater energy efficiency.
• An $8/day charge on automobiles and $21 for trucks coming into Manhattan below 86th Street. Those already in Manhattan (except cabs) would pay $4 a day. The money would finance mass transit improvements.
• A million new trees in the next decade.
• Replacement or modernization of diesel-powered school buses.
• An increase in bike paths.
• Better energy efficiency in buildings.
• Improved mass transit, especially in neighborhoods without subway access.
• Elimination of the sales tax on hybrid vehicles.
• Replacement of energy-guzzling power plants.
The surcharge on cars has stirred controversy. But London and Shanghai have found it eased congestion and improved air quality. Much of the NYC plan will need financial help from the state and federal government. (Sources: NYC.gov, New York Times, Environment News Service.)

2. NYT/CBS poll: environment outweighs economy
If a trade-off has to be made, people think protecting the environment (58%) is more important than stimulating the economy (32%), a New York Times/CBS News poll showed last week. And they are willing to make sacrifices – up to a point. 75% would pay more for electricity from wind or solar. And 64% would pay higher fuel taxes if the money were used for research on renewables. But they are more likely to favor that tax if its purpose is to reduce dependence on foreign oil than if it is to reduce Global Warming. A $2/gallon tax would be too much, though, 76% said. They were evenly split on nuclear power. In an energy pinch, most favor conservation (68%) over producing more power from fossil fuels (21%). Democrats are more likely to protect the environment, say 57%, with 14% favoring Republicans and 14% saying neither party. (Source: New York Times)

3. Ethanol may cause more asthma, respiratory deaths
A new study out of Stanford says ethanol generates toxic ozone gas that could pose a health hazard. Widespread use could aggravate asthma and other respiratory problems in urban areas, said Professor Mark Jacobson, especially in Los Angeles with its reliance on cars and concentration of smog. LA could end up with 9% more deaths from respiratory ailments in 2020 than would be caused by gasoline, the study said. Jacobson’s model, which he’s been working on for 18 years, assumes use of E85 (85% ethanol). Another Stanford professor, Chris Summerville, said ethanol might turn out be a transitional fuel, until new technologies are discovered. Summerville heads the executive committee of the BP-funded Energy Biosciences Institute, charged with developing a new generation of carbon-neutral biofuels. (Source: San Francisco Chronicle)

4. Silicon Valley’s next new thing seems to be alt energy
While an explosion like the high tech boom of the ‘90s may be years away, Silicon Valley is nonetheless hard at work developing technologies to combat Global Warming, as venture capitalists invest in research on alternative energies like solar, wind and biofuels. "The best brains in the country are no longer working on the next pharmaceutical drug or the next Silicon Revolution. They want to work on energy," Vinod Khosla, a top venture capitalist in Silicon Valley, told Greenwire. Nationwide, $300 million in VC went into alternative energies the first quarter of this year, compared with just $60 million last year, says a report by Dow Jones VentureOne and Ernst & Young. (Source: Greenwire)

5. S.C. lawmakers ask candidates to address climate change
A majority of state legislators have signed a letter asking candidates running in the early South Carolina presidential primary to address Global Warming and the need for a comprehensive energy policy. A recent poll showed that climate change and energy independence are top priorities for voters in the state. About 80% in each party said action is needed to reduce fossil fuels. (Source: Greenwire)

6. China’s prime minister is new point man on environment
Chinese Prime Minister Jiabao Wen said last week his country must increase its efforts to stop pollution and GHG emissions. He called for energy savings this year of 50 million tons of coal equivalent in power plants and 20 million in state-owned industrial companies. A 5-year plan (2006-10), putting the environment at the heart of government policy, had sought to cut energy use 20% per unit of GNP by 2010. But GNP is growing at more than 10% a year, which means a substantial increase in emissions even if China meets the goal, which so far it isn’t. Wen said he will lead a new task force on the environment, needed because local officials, more concerned about boosting economic growth, were blocking efforts to cut energy use. An internal study showed that by 2020 climate change would cause more flooding in the east of China and droughts in the north and west, with a significant impact on agriculture. (Sources: London Telegraph, Greenwire)

7. Enhanced geothermal could provide 10% of power in 2050
The U.S. could generate as much power by 2050 from heat far underground as it does from nuclear energy today – about 10% of American power. A study commissioned by the Energy Department said that by drilling holes in rock and shooting water 2-3 miles down to be warmed by the 400-degree temperatures, then up again, we could get steam to power electricity. Europe, Australia and Japan are using this method successfully. Estimated cost would be $1 billion over 15 years. The study has 18 authors, from government, academia and industry. (Source: New York Times)

8. Virgin buys 23 more efficient planes, will test ethanol mix
Environmental advocate Richard Branson has ordered nearly 2 dozen of Boeing’s new, more energy-efficient Dreamliner, and formed a partnership to test biofuels in his Virgin Airlines planes. The Dreamliner cuts gasoline use 20% through lighter materials and more aerodynamic design, according to Boeing. Branson hopes to run part or all of his fleet on E85. Meanwhile, competitor Airbus has pledged to cut its fuel use in half by 2020, through lighter materials, more energy-efficent engines and design, and improved air traffic control. (Sources: E&E News PM, Greenwire)