News brief extra

1. Warming could trigger hurricanes in the Mediterranean
Historically, hurricanes have formed the North Atlantic or North Pacific (where they’re called typhoons) and followed pretty much the same paths. But now, as the climate warms, some storms are starting up in new places and that could be a threat to the Mediterranean, a group of European scientists is saying. In 2005, Hurricane Vince formed near the Madiera Islands and was the first ever to make landfall in Spain. A year earlier, Catarina had formed in the South Pacific and hit Southern Brazil, which was unusual. An increase of 5.4 degrees F could threaten the Mediterranean in this century, according to scientists in Spain and Germany. Combined with rising sea levels, hurricanes could put highly populated coastal areas at serious risk, the scientists, from the University of Castilla-LaMancha and Max Planck Institute, said in a paper published recently in the American Geophysical Union Journal. (Source: PlanetArk.com)

2. Northeast faces extreme temperature change, few lobsters
Under a business-as-usual scenario, the Northeast U.S. could have average temperatures 8-12 degrees F higher in winter and 6-14 higher in summer by the end of the century, according to a study released last week by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Boston, New York and Atlantic City would see severe flooding. Coastlines would erode and the fishing industry would be decimated. Already the once-profitable lobster catch off Long Island has taken a serious hit and could be all but finished by century’s end. UCS points to some efforts, such as the multi-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, as holding some promise for avoiding the most serious repercussions, if strong action is taken soon. To read the report, go to http.www.climatechoices.org/ne/. Click under Highlights, on New Report on Climate Impacts. There also are individual states reports to download. (Source: Greenwire)

3. Small melting glaciers will add most to sea-level rise this century
The hundreds of thousands of small glaciers all over the world will likely account for 60% of sea-level rise this century as they melt from Global Warming. These smaller melting glaciers will likely add 4-10 inches to sea level, researchers said in the journal Science Express last week. Combined with continuing melt from the ice sheets of Greenland (projected to contribute 28%) and Antarctica (12%), plus the expansion of warming water, they could raise seas about a foot and pose a serious danger to the 100 million people who live less than 3.3 feet above sea level. Glaciers of Alaska, Russian, Canada and Scandinavia are of most concern, because of the way they move, the study said. They are thinner and slide more rapidly into the sea. Greenland and Antarctica, of course, are viewed as the biggest long-range threat to rising seas because of their tremendous volume. (Source: PlanetArk.com)

4. Sweet. Dow Chemical to use sugar ethanol to make plastic
The Dow Chemical Co. announced Thursday it has reached agreement with Brazilian biofuels company Crystalsev to turn sugarcane ethanol into polyethylene, the most widely used plastic in the world. A plant will be built in Brazil – not near the rainforest – with a capacity to produce about 350,000 metric tons a year. Dow sees it as cost- effective as well as a curb on greenhouse gases, since plastic is commonly natural gas- or petroleum-based. The plant is expected to be up and running by 2011. (Source: Greenwire)

5. Renewables bill gathers steam in House as sponsors sign on
With support from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, advocates for a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) in the House are optimistic about passing a bill before the Aug. 2 break. The bill (H.R. 969), which would be offered as an amendment by Reps. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Todd Platts (R-Pa.), would require utilities to get 20% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Opponents include representatives from coal states and Energy Chair John Dingell (D-Mich.), who wanted to put off “controversial” legislation till fall. But with 135 co-sponsors last week, according to Udall’s office, advocates were hoping to pass the bill in the House to get it into Conference. An RES bill was blocked in the Senate and never came to a vote. Environmental groups urge those concerned about Global Warming to call their representative in support of Udall-Platts, to try to swing more votes. The Congressional Switchboard number is (202)225-3121. (Source: E&E Daily)

6. Fuel economy gets muddied in House, with several bills
Over the objections of auto-industry ally John Dingell (D-Mich), Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Todd Platts (R-Pa.) developed an amendment to mandate a corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) of 35 mpg by 2018, slightly stronger than the Senate-passed bill. In response, the auto industry threw its support behind a bill by Reps. Baron Hill (D-Ind.) and Lee Terry (R-Neb.), which set separate standards for cars and light trucks, with a slow ramp-up and an overall average of 32 mpg by 2022. Hill-Terry (H.R. 2927) contains many escape hatches and pre-empts any stronger tailpipe laws states have passed or might want to pass. Auto dealers were out in force on Capitol Hill last week lobbying for that bill and signing up co-sponsors. Then, at week’s end, a third bill, from Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Rep. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and others, was thrown into the mix, calling for 35 mpg for cars and 27.5 for light trucks by 2022. Environmental groups strongly support Markey-Platts (H.R. 1506) and dislike the other bills, which they say are a step backward. They’re asking supporters to call their reps. (Sources: E&E Daily, E&E News PM, Sierra Club, Union of Concerned Scientists)

7. NYC ‘congestion pricing’ plan revived after missing deadline
N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s plan to charge fees for cars driving into the most heavily traveled part of Manhattan was left on the drawing board last week, when the state legislature failed to approve it before adjourning. But three days later a deal was stuck with state leaders to keep the proposal alive. It allows New York City to stay in the running for a pilot program that could bring $500 million in federal transit funds to the city. In the deal, a state commission will review the proposal and has committed to curbing traffic and pollution – if not by congestion pricing than by some other means. In Bloomberg’s plan, the fees collected – $8 for cars and $12 for trucks – would pay for other transportation projects to cut traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions as NYC grows in population. According to the Associated Press, the commission will be weighted toward those who approve the congestion pricing plan. (Source: E&E New PM, AP)

8. Computers must clean up act to save wasted energy
The EPA last week unveiled new Energy Star requirements for computer makers that could cut energy use by 60%. Personal computers use about 2% of the nation’s energy and are notoriously inefficient, wasting nearly half their power. The stricter regulations, which will apply to laptops, desktops, work stations and small servers, require power supplies to be 80% efficient and new computers to go to sleep after 30 minutes of inactivity. The announcement follows a deal Google and Intel announced in June with 25 universities, companies and environmental groups to set new computer efficiency goals. Their “Climate Savers Computing Initiative” requires 90% efficiency for power supplies. Dell, HP, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft and the EPA all signed onto the Initiative, which Google says could cut 54 million tons of greenhouse gases and save $5.5 billion in energy costs. (Source: Greenwire)