Let Them Eat Electric Cake

[merh]

California first state to ban natural gas heaters and furnaces
“While this strategy will clean the air for all Californians, it will also lead to reduced emissions in the many low-income and disadvantaged communities that experience greater levels of persistent air pollution.”

By Gianna Melillo | Sep. 23,2022


Story at a glance
Natural gas use contributes to air pollution and can threaten gains made in the fight against climate change.
This week, California implemented a plan aimed at phasing out the use of natural gas heating appliances throughout the state by 2030.
Environmentalists hope the step will lead to other states implementing similar bans.
A new proposal passed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) cements the state as the first to ban natural gas heaters and furnaces.

The decision, which was passed unanimously, aims to phase out sales of the space heater and water heater appliances by 2030.


The commitment is part of a broader range of environmental efforts passed by the board this week to meet the federal 70 parts per billion, 8-hour ozone standard over the next 15 years.

“While this strategy will clean the air for all Californians, it will also lead to reduced emissions in the many low-income and disadvantaged communities that experience greater levels of persistent air pollution,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph in a statement.

Residential and commercial buildings in California account for approximately five percent of the state’s total nitrogen oxide emissions due to natural gas combustion, according to the originally proposed plan, released in August 2022.

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In addition, space and water heating make up nearly 90 percent of all building-related natural gas demand.

When burned, natural gas does emit less carbon dioxide than oil or coal. However, natural gas leaks pose health risks to homeowners, as they contain varying levels of volatile chemicals linked with cancer.

“We’re really hopeful that this is the beginning of a domino effect and other states will follow California’s lead,” Leah Louis-Prescott, a senior associate at RMI, a non-profit focused on the transition to clean energy, told Bloomberg about the decision.

The new regulations will rely on adoption of heat pump technologies, which are being sold to electrify new and existing homes.

Although the proposal does not include gas stoves, several cities and towns in the state currently ban or discourage use of gas stoves in new buildings.

California’s Public Utilities Commission also eliminated subsidies for new natural gas hookups last week, marking the first state to do so. The move will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower utility bills for consumers.

Randolph lauded the state’s steps towards achieving the ozone standard, but stressed more federal action is needed to reach the goal.

“California needs more federal action to clean up harmful diesel pollution from primarily federally controlled sources, from locomotives and ocean-going vessels to aircraft, which are all concentrated in communities that continue to bear the brunt of poor air quality,” Randolph said.

“We simply cannot provide clean air to Californians without the federal government doing its part.”

[abbey1227]

Sept 25, 2022 4:42:59 GMT merh said:

California first state to ban natural gas heaters and furnaces
“While this strategy will clean the air for all Californians, it will also lead to reduced emissions in the many low-income and disadvantaged communities that experience greater levels of persistent air pollution.”

By Gianna Melillo | Sep. 23,2022


Story at a glance
Natural gas use contributes to air pollution and can threaten gains made in the fight against climate change.
This week, California implemented a plan aimed at phasing out the use of natural gas heating appliances throughout the state by 2030.
Environmentalists hope the step will lead to other states implementing similar bans.
A new proposal passed by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) cements the state as the first to ban natural gas heaters and furnaces.

The decision, which was passed unanimously, aims to phase out sales of the space heater and water heater appliances by 2030.


The commitment is part of a broader range of environmental efforts passed by the board this week to meet the federal 70 parts per billion, 8-hour ozone standard over the next 15 years.

“While this strategy will clean the air for all Californians, it will also lead to reduced emissions in the many low-income and disadvantaged communities that experience greater levels of persistent air pollution,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph in a statement.

Residential and commercial buildings in California account for approximately five percent of the state’s total nitrogen oxide emissions due to natural gas combustion, according to the originally proposed plan, released in August 2022.

America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.

In addition, space and water heating make up nearly 90 percent of all building-related natural gas demand.

When burned, natural gas does emit less carbon dioxide than oil or coal. However, natural gas leaks pose health risks to homeowners, as they contain varying levels of volatile chemicals linked with cancer.

“We’re really hopeful that this is the beginning of a domino effect and other states will follow California’s lead,” Leah Louis-Prescott, a senior associate at RMI, a non-profit focused on the transition to clean energy, told Bloomberg about the decision.

The new regulations will rely on adoption of heat pump technologies, which are being sold to electrify new and existing homes.

Although the proposal does not include gas stoves, several cities and towns in the state currently ban or discourage use of gas stoves in new buildings.

California’s Public Utilities Commission also eliminated subsidies for new natural gas hookups last week, marking the first state to do so. The move will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower utility bills for consumers.

Randolph lauded the state’s steps towards achieving the ozone standard, but stressed more federal action is needed to reach the goal.

“California needs more federal action to clean up harmful diesel pollution from primarily federally controlled sources, from locomotives and ocean-going vessels to aircraft, which are all concentrated in communities that continue to bear the brunt of poor air quality,” Randolph said.

“We simply cannot provide clean air to Californians without the federal government doing its part.”

I foresee more wildfires being set........if only to keep warm

[merh]

Sept 25, 2022 16:56:03 GMT abbey1227 said:

Sept 25, 2022 4:42:59 GMT merh said:

I foresee more wildfires being set........if only to keep warm

It was 73 last night around midnight.

Hitting freezing is rare.

[abbey1227]

Sept 25, 2022 19:51:58 GMT merh said:

Sept 25, 2022 16:56:03 GMT abbey1227 said:

I foresee more wildfires being set........if only to keep warm

It was 73 last night around midnight.

Hitting freezing is rare.

People around here are already griping when it goes below 65 at night....... I can only imagine what it's like there

[merh]

Sept 26, 2022 11:45:46 GMT abbey1227 said:

Sept 25, 2022 19:51:58 GMT merh said:

It was 73 last night around midnight.

Hitting freezing is rare.

People around here are already griping when it goes below 65 at night....... I can only imagine what it's like there

Today & tomorrow are supposed to be the hottest in this streak, then we are supposed to cool.


Hell...
Today is supposed to hit 85° with a low of 65°
Tuesday 86/67
Wednesday 87/68
Thursday 87/65
Friday 81/62
Saturday 78/62
Sunday 77/63

Humidity is 72%

LIARS!

They said hot Monday & Tuesday, cooling Wednesday.

[abbey1227]

Sept 26, 2022 16:13:40 GMT merh said:

Sept 26, 2022 11:45:46 GMT abbey1227 said:

People around here are already griping when it goes below 65 at night....... I can only imagine what it's like there

Today & tomorrow are supposed to be the hottest in this streak, then we are supposed to cool.


Hell...
Today is supposed to hit 85° with a low of 65°
Tuesday 86/67
Wednesday 87/68
Thursday 87/65
Friday 81/62
Saturday 78/62
Sunday 77/63

Humidity is 72%

LIARS!

They said hot Monday & Tuesday, cooling Wednesday.

Currently 57 with sunshine and a lite breeze. Beautiful weather and finally humidity below 70 percent. I even went out and filled up the wife's bird feeders.

[merh]

You should be happy.

There's rumors of a coup in China.
Xi on house arrest.

The official line is he is quarantined for Covid.

Here's what we know so far on claims of a coup in China:



Is Xi Jinping under house arrest?



After Xi Jinping's outing at SCO in Samarkand, claims of the president being under house arrest went rife. The claims have been dismissed by experts saying that there is a strong possibility that the Chinese premier is under quarantine owing to the country's strict zero-Covid policy that mandates every individual who enters China from abroad to undergo quarantine.

Are international and domestic commercial flights in China being cancelled?



Reports of fewer passenger flights in and out of Beijing were also shared across social media in addition to claims that all trains and buses have been cancelled. Beijing Capital International Airport's website, however, showed that some flights were cancelled, several others were scheduled, slightly delayed, or had already landed. Nevertheless, China's flight traffic has not returned to pre-pandemic level which could be a reason for the data showing less number of flights out of Beijing.



What has been happening in China for the past one week?



Two former ministers were sentenced to death and four officials were sent to life in jail in China last week as the Communist Party continues its anti-corruption campaign strongly initiated by Xi Jinping. The removal of officials, said to be opponents of Xi, is an indication of his influence on the party and China at large.

[abbey1227]

Sept 26, 2022 17:06:33 GMT merh said:

You should be happy.

There's rumors of a coup in China.
Xi on house arrest.

The official line is he is quarantined for Covid.

Why? Is he the person solely responsible for China's plans?

Will they abandon them if he's removed?

[merh]

Sept 26, 2022 17:15:35 GMT abbey1227 said:

Sept 26, 2022 17:06:33 GMT merh said:

You should be happy.

There's rumors of a coup in China.
Xi on house arrest.

The official line is he is quarantined for Covid.

Why? Is he the person solely responsible for China's plans?

Will they abandon them if he's removed?

Depends what the new dude wants

Who is China's Li Qiaoming - Army General rumoured to replace Xi Jinping in a coup
Last Updated: Sep 26, 2022, 01:02 AM IST


Massive rumour making round on social media - many of them originated from China - have said that Chinese President Xi Jinping is under threat of military coup, and is set to be replaced as country's President by a powerful military General Li Qiaoming. Li Qiaoming, who is among the most senior officials of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), has served as commander of the Northern Theater Command from September 2017 to September 2022.

Li Qiaoming has served in various significant positions in the Chinese army, including as the Chief of Staff of the 361st Regiment, Commander of the 364th Regiment, Chief of Staff of the 124th Division, Deputy Chief of Staff of the 42nd Group Army, and Commander of the 124th Division of the 42nd Army.

In 2017, Li Qiaoming was elected as a member of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.

Rumours of China Military Coup and Xi Jinping's house arrest

Social media is abuzz with the rumours of Chinese President Xi Jinping being put under house arrest, and a possible coup taking place in the country, a week after two of its former minister were sentenced for corruption - a highly controversial decision in nation's history.

As per the social media posts, many by experts across the fields from China itself, an unprecedented military movement was seen towards Xi Jinping's residence in Beijing. Military vehicles were seen making a movement close to Xi's residence. A few puported videos of such movements have also gone viral on social media. However, their is no official confirmation on the same.

A number of social media users from China said that a coup was almost confirmed as the country, without giving any specific reason, cancelled over 9,000 domestic flights. Some even said that military chief General Li Qiaoming is set to become next President.

"PLA military vehicles heading to #Beijing on Sep 22. Starting from Huanlai County near Beijing & ending in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, entire procession as long as 80 KM. Meanwhile, rumor has it that #XiJinping was under arrest after #CCP seniors removed him as head of PLA," a Twitter user who goes by the name Jennifer Zeng said.

zeenews.india.com/world/china-coup-army-general-li-qiaoming-xi-jinping-house-arrest-new-president-2514163.html

[merh]

The lawsuit, filed in New Jersey Superior Court in Mercer County, targets the five following companies: ExxonMobil Corporation, Shell Oil Company, Chevron Corporation, BP, ConocoPhillips. Plus, the lawsuit also targeted the American Petroleum Institute (API), a major lobbying group for the oil industry.


TEXT:

New Jersey has joined the ranks of Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Vermont as the latest state to sue some of the world’s largest oil companies for their role in delaying climate policy and increasing the climate impacts, risks and costs borne by state governments. Like Minnesota and the District of Columbia before it, New Jersey has also included the industry’s top US trade group, the American Petroleum Institute, in its suit, which includes not only liability, but also fraud claims against five oil majors: ExxonMobil, Shell Oil, Chevron, BP and ConocoPhillips.

Some two dozen climate liability suits have been making their way through the courts since 2015, bolstered by media investigations and attribution studies that are able to accurately pinpoint the precise contribution climate change has made to the damages inflicted by extreme weather events. A 2021 study in the journal Nature, for example, found that just over $8bn (£7bn) of the $62.7bn (£55.3bn) in damages caused by Superstorm Sandy across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, is attributable to sea-level rise caused by climate change.



Patrick Parenteau, professor and senior fellow for climate policy at Vermont Law School says that while these cases started as common law nuisance claims – these companies created the nuisance of climate change, which caused financial damages to various cities and states – they “have evolved to where the failure-to-warn based claims and duty of care type claims are coming to the forefront”, which is why the more recently filed cases all tend to include fraud claims as well. The damages and the fraud go hand in hand, the argument goes. The costs of dealing with climate change today are measurably higher because oil companies, aided by the American Petroleum Institute in this case, misled the public about climate change.

This “failure to warn” approach helps to narrow the fraud claims to something a court can actually rule on, according to Doug Kysar, deputy dean and professor at Yale Law School. “Earlier cases took a broader approach to fraud.”



“Like the industry engaged in a conspiracy of misinformation,” Kysar says. “And it ended up looking like a fraud on democracy … like this industry was so powerful and so diabolical in their efforts that they hoodwinked the entire government for the last few decades. To be honest, I think that that is what happened. But that’s an uncomfortable place for a court – to be willing to pronounce that an entire governmental system was manipulated and defrauded by powerful actors.”


Kysar says this approach instead poses a simple and relatively narrow question: “Would people have behaved differently? Would they have stopped buying gas-powered vehicles if they had a better understanding of the hazards of those products, not only to future generations, but now immediately to us – like would they behave differently? And I think that that’s probably a smart move from the plaintiffs’ lawyers’ perspective.”

In states like New Jersey, the damage caused by the delay is clear, according to Shawn M LaTourette, the state’s commissioner of environmental protection. “Our communities and environment are continually recovering from extreme heat, furious storms and devastating floods,” he said at a press conference announcing the case.



“These conditions will sadly only worsen in the decades ahead, leaving us scrambling to prepare for a parade of harmful climate changes. All this while we rush to wean ourselves off the very products these companies have long known would fuel our pain but deceived New Jerseyans about, because keeping us addicted was better for their bottom line.”



Like all of the previous cases, the New Jersey case will no doubt meet with various motions to dismiss from the fossil fuel defendants. So far, none of those arguments have worked, although lawyers for the city of Boulder, Colorado are waiting to see whether the supreme court will take up an appeal in that case.

www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/18/new-jersey-sues-oil-companies-climate-crisis-misinformation

[abbey1227]

Oct 19, 2022 5:17:29 GMT merh said:

The lawsuit, filed in New Jersey Superior Court in Mercer County, targets the five following companies: ExxonMobil Corporation, Shell Oil Company, Chevron Corporation, BP, ConocoPhillips. Plus, the lawsuit also targeted the American Petroleum Institute (API), a major lobbying group for the oil industry.

f'n lawyers

How'd that suing Big Tobacco turn out? Everyone quit? No more smokers?

Same for Big Pharma?

[merh]

And stoves

Study: Cancer-causing gas leaking from CA stoves, pipes
By DREW COSTLEY
October 20, 2022
In this 2022 image provided by PSE Healthy Energy, a gas stove is tested for benzene in California. Stoves in California homes are leaking the cancer-causing gas benzene, researchers found in a new study published on Thursday, Oct. 20, though they say more research is needed to understand how many homes have leaks. (PSE Healthy Energy via AP)

Gas stoves in California homes are leaking cancer-causing benzene, researchers found in a new study published on Thursday, though they say more research is needed to understand how many homes have leaks.

In the study, published in Environmental Science and Technology on Thursday, researchers also estimated that over 4 tons of benzene per year are being leaked into the atmosphere from outdoor pipes that deliver the gas to buildings around California — the equivalent to the benzene emissions from nearly 60,000 vehicles. And those emissions are unaccounted for by the state.

The researchers collected samples of gas from 159 homes in different regions of California and measured to see what types of gases were being emitted into homes when stoves were off. They found that all of the samples they tested had hazardous air pollutants, like benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX), all of which can have adverse health effects in humans with chronic exposure or acute exposure in larger amounts.

Of most concern to the researchers was benzene, a known carcinogen that can lead to leukemia and other cancers and blood disorders, according to the National Cancer Institute.

The finding could have major implications for indoor and outdoor air quality in California, which has the second highest level of residential natural gas use in the United States.

“What our science shows is that people in California are exposed to potentially hazardous levels of benzene from the gas that is piped into their homes,” said Drew Michanowicz, a study co-author and senior scientist at PSE Healthy Energy, an energy research and policy institute. “We hope that policymakers will consider this data when they are making policy to ensure current and future policies are health-protective in light of this new research.”

Homes in the Greater Los Angeles, the North San Fernando Valley, and the San Clarita Valley areas had the highest benzene in gas levels. Leaks from stoves in these regions could emit enough benzene to significantly exceed the limit determined to be safe by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessment.

This finding in particular didn’t surprise residents and health care workers in the region who spoke to The Associated Press about the study. That’s because many of them experienced the largest-known natural gas leak in the nation in Aliso Canyon in 2015

Back then, 100,000 tons of methane and other gases, including benzene, leaked from a failed well operated by Southern California Gas Co. It took nearly four months to get the leak under control and resulted in headaches, nausea and nose bleeds.

Dr. Jeffrey Nordella was a physician at an urgent care in the region during this time and remembers being puzzled by the variety of symptoms patients were experiencing. “I didn’t have much to offer them,” except to help them try to detox from the exposures, he said.

That was an acute exposure of a large amount of benzene, which is different from chronic exposure to smaller amounts, but “remember what the World Health Organization said: there’s no safe level of benzene,” he said.

Kyoko Hibino was one of the residents exposed to toxic air pollution as a result of the Aliso Canyon gas leak. After the leak, she started having a persistent cough and nosebleeds and eventually was diagnosed with breast cancer, which has also been linked to benzene exposure. Her cats also started having nosebleeds and one recently passed away from leukemia.

“I’d say let’s take this study really seriously and understand how bad (benzene exposure) is,” she said.

[abbey1227]

Oct 22, 2022 19:39:06 GMT merh said:

And stoves

Study: Cancer-causing gas leaking from CA stoves, pipes

Clearly the only answer is to switch everyone to electric only.

When you getting your new EV vehicle?

[merh]

Oct 23, 2022 0:55:03 GMT abbey1227 said:

Oct 22, 2022 19:39:06 GMT merh said:

And stoves

Clearly the only answer is to switch everyone to electric only.

When you getting your new EV vehicle?

Since my truck smogged I am looking at a year from now. Hopefully inflation will have cooled. However I have 2 yrs before it needs to smog again.

[abbey1227]

Oct 23, 2022 2:28:22 GMT merh said:

Oct 23, 2022 0:55:03 GMT abbey1227 said:

Clearly the only answer is to switch everyone to electric only.

When you getting your new EV vehicle?

Since my truck smogged I am looking at a year from now. Hopefully inflation will have cooled. However I have 2 yrs before it needs to smog again.

Maybe the Chinese will have a vehicle sold here for less than $25K by that time, too

[merh]

Too bad we can't have a Tony Stark type trying to provide a warm light for all mankind to share.

[abbey1227]

Oct 31, 2022 2:12:14 GMT merh said:

Too bad we can't have a Tony Stark type trying to provide a warm light for all mankind to share.

Not enough Jonas Salks or Nikola Teslas around?

[merh]

Oct 31, 2022 9:21:14 GMT abbey1227 said:

Oct 31, 2022 2:12:14 GMT merh said:

Too bad we can't have a Tony Stark type trying to provide a warm light for all mankind to share.

Not enough Jonas Salks or Nikola Teslas around?

Note the complaint from MIT is solar lowers the price of electricity to the negative zone. 

So sad the electric companies can't gouge us

[abbey1227]

Oct 31, 2022 19:44:27 GMT merh said:

Oct 31, 2022 9:21:14 GMT abbey1227 said:

Not enough Jonas Salks or Nikola Teslas around?

Note the complaint from MIT is solar lowers the price of electricity to the negative zone. 

So sad the electric companies can't gouge us

Getting paid is now gouging? I'll have to remember this term the next time a Union wages discussion comes up.

[merh]

Oct 31, 2022 21:31:27 GMT abbey1227 said:

Oct 31, 2022 19:44:27 GMT merh said:

Note the complaint from MIT is solar lowers the price of electricity to the negative zone. 

So sad the electric companies can't gouge us

Getting paid is now gouging? I'll have to remember this term the next time a Union wages discussion comes up.

Stop.

Have you forgotten Enron?

In October 2000, Daniel Scotto, the most renowned utility analyst on Wall Street, suspended his ratings on all energy companies conducting business in California because of the possibility that the companies would not receive full and adequate compensation for the deferred energy accounts used as the basis for the California Deregulation Plan enacted during the late 1990s. Five months later, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) was forced into bankruptcy. Republican Senator Phil Gramm, husband of Enron Board member Wendy Gramm and also the second-largest recipient of campaign contributions from Enron, succeeded in legislating California's energy commodity trading deregulation. Despite warnings from prominent consumer groups which stated that this law would give energy traders too much influence over energy commodity prices, the legislation was passed in December 2000.

As the periodical Public Citizen reported, "Because of Enron's new, unregulated power auction, the company's 'Wholesale Services' revenues quadrupled – from $12 billion in the first quarter of 2000 to $48.4 billion in the first quarter of 2001."

After the passage of the deregulation law, California had a total of 38 Stage 3 rolling blackouts declared, until federal regulators intervened during June 2001. These blackouts occurred as a result of a poorly designed market system that was manipulated by traders and marketers, as well as from poor state management and regulatory oversight. Subsequently, Enron traders were revealed as intentionally encouraging the removal of power from the market during California's energy crisis by encouraging suppliers to shut down plants to perform unnecessary maintenance, as documented in recordings made at the time. These acts contributed to the need for rolling blackouts, which adversely affected many businesses dependent upon a reliable supply of electricity, and inconvenienced a large number of retail customers. This scattered supply increased the price, and Enron traders were thus able to sell power at premium prices, sometimes up to a factor of 20 × its normal peak value.

The callousness of the traders' attitude toward ratepayers was documented in an evidence tape of a conversation regarding the matter, and sarcastically referencing the confusion of retiree voters in Florida's Miami-Dade County in the November 2000, presidential election.

"They're fucking taking all the money back from you guys? All the money you guys stole from those poor grandmothers in California?"

"Yeah, Grandma Millie man. But she's the one who couldn't figure out how to fucking vote on the butterfly ballot." (Laughing from both sides.)

"Yeah, now she wants her fucking money back for all the power you've charged right up, jammed right up her ass for fucking $250 a megawatt-hour."

The traders had been discussing the efforts of the Snohomish PUD in Northwestern Washington state to recover the massive overcharges that Enron had engineered. Morgan Stanley, which had taken Enron's place in the lawsuit, fought the release of the documents that the PUD had sought to make its case, but were being withheld by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Not to mention all those wildfires they've caused?
Do they make their stockholders take the hit?

Nooooo.
They raise our rates because they have to keep their stock prices up.