Fine Particle Pollution Causes 9,000 Premature Deaths Annually in CA
According to a new report issued by the California Air Resources Board (ARB), approximately 9,000 people in California are estimated to die prematurely each year as a result of exposure to fine particle pollution from a variety of sources including diesel engine exhaust. The ARB report was based on recent science assessments by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as part of its periodic review of national air quality standards for fine particle matter, which was peer review by the federal Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee. As a result of its review, the EPA concluded that there is a causal relationship between exposure to fine particle pollution and premature death. A causal relationship indicates the highest level of scientific certainty. “There is no question particulate pollution is causing premature deaths here in California and nationwide. This study is further evidence that we are on the right track, and ARB will continue to work with truckers and equipment owners to clean up diesel emissions, improve our air quality and protect public health. ARB is committed to reducing this staggering statistic because one premature death is one too many,” said ARB Chairman Mary Nichols. California has the most extensive particulate monitoring network in the nation and in 2006, California voters approved Proposition 1B, a $1-billion bond initiative to transition to cleaner technologies and clean up emissions from school buses, heavy-duty trucks and diesel equipment. Over the last year, the ARB has conducted extensive outreach to create awareness of financial assistance available to companies and truck owners wishing to transition to cleaner fuels and technologies.
Source: California ARB Report Finds Fine Particle Air Pollution Responsible for 9,000 Premature Deaths in State Each Year; Based on US EPA Peer-Reviewed Study, Green Car Congress

Bill Granting Carpool Stickers to Plug-in Hybrids Signed into CA Law
40,000 plug-in hybrids will be eligible for carpool lane access in California starting in 2012. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a new bill (SB 535) into law, granting carpool lane access to plug-ins starting in January 2012, and expiring January 2015. SB 535 also extends the current carpool perk for hybrids by six months, until July 2011. The governor had already signed AB 1500, which extended until 2015 the current carpool privileges for owners of electric vehicles and cars running on compressed natural gas. Those owners can immediately apply for white stickers, and there is no limit to how many can be issued. SB 535 was sponsored by General Motors, maker of the Chevy Volt—one of the vehicles expected to qualify. The bill had the support of the California Electric Transportation Coalition, the California Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition, Chrysler, PG&E, Tesla and Toyota. “It is imperative that we find ways to limit our carbon footprint,” said state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, who authored the bill. “SB 535 will provide a great incentive for car manufacturers to develop higher emission standards and for individuals to purchase greener vehicles.”
Source: Bill granting carpool stickers to plug-in hybrids signed into law, San Jose Mercury News

Shell Signs on for $12B Alternative Fuel Project
Energy giant Shell International has signed binding agreements with Brazilian company Cosan to begin forming a new $12 billion joint venture project that will develop ethanol and next-generation biofuels, plus explore opportunities to produce and sell ethanol globally. The joint venture will produce and commercialize ethanol from sugar cane and distribute a variety of industrial and transportation fuels throughout Brazil. With annual production capacity of over 2 billion liters, the proposed Shell/Cosan joint venture will be one of the world’s largest ethanol producers. Furthermore, the inclusion of Shell’s interests in Iogen Energy and Codexis would enable the joint venture to deploy next-generation biofuels technologies in the future. “The proposed joint venture is set to pool our complementary businesses, enhance our growth prospects in ethanol production globally and support our growth platform for our retail and commercial fuels businesses in Brazil,” said Mark Williams, Shell Downstream Director. “Over the next 20 years, sustainable biofuels are one of the most realistic commercial solutions to reduce CO2 emissions from transport,” he said.
Source: Shell and Cosan sign joint venture, Shell NewsRoom

Peru Expects to Surpass 100,000 Natural Gas Vehicles by End of 2010
Peruvian compressed natural gas (CNG) station operator, Peruana de Gas Natural (PGN) has announced that, by the end of 2010, they expect to see 105,000 natural gas vehicles (NGVs) on the road in Peru, representing a substantial 30% growth in NGVs over the past year. To serve that growing market, PGN also announced the construction of up of 10 new CNG stations in Lima by year end, which would bring their total to 35 stations in the Lima area. Currently 86% of NGVs are public transportation units, said PGN General Manager Edgardo Escobar Ochoa. Ochoa said that the company would invest about US$15 million to expand the CNG network. Achieving 105,000 NGVs would constitute a growth rate of 30% in 2010 compared to 2009, when there were 81,000 NGVs in the country.
Source: Peru Expects 105,000 NGVs On Roads by End 2010, NGV Global

Nissan and Hawaii Partner on Electric Vehicles
Nissan North America and the state of Hawaii have formed a partnership to promote the development of electric vehicles (EVs), and an electric-vehicle charging network, throughout the state. The partnership, announced at the Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit in Honolulu, marks Nissan’s first definitive agreement in the United States, the company said. Nissan is committing to bringing a supply of Nissan LEAF EVs to Hawaii and readying the dealer body to sell and lease them to consumers—the Nissan LEAF will be available in Hawaii beginning in January 2011. Hawaii is providing a $4,500 state tax credit towards the purchase of an EV and a $500 state tax credit towards the purchase and installation of a home charging station. The state tax credit, paired with an available $7,500 federal tax credit, could bring the price of a Nissan LEAF, which carries a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $32,780, to as low as $20,780 for Hawaii consumers. As part of the agreement, Nissan and the State of Hawaii will develop plans to promote a charging infrastructure for EVs, as well as the deployment, operation and maintenance of a charging network. The partners also will work to coordinate the establishment of policies and help streamline the deployment of an EV infrastructure.
Source: Nissan and Hawaii Partner on EVs