Imposed import tariffs could reduce emissions. That would be one good thing

Coming and going container ships make their way on the waters of the San Francisco Bay

The import tariffs the nation’s 47th President, through executive action, imposed (the imposing of said tariffs much to the chagrin of an overwhelming majority of North Americans, or so it would appear), will likely result in the lowering of emissions in the air the countries of Canada, Mexico and the United States commonly share. How … Read more

Limiting global temperature rise now on us

Digital thermostat

On Jan. 20, 2025, action was initiated by the nation’s now newest Chief Executive to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. I understand that doesn’t happen immediately: it will take roughly a year. So what can and should be done during this time and beyond to help ensure that the rise in the … Read more

Being climate-wise requires our being ‘sound-climate-policy implementation-smart’

A zero-emissions heavy-duty vehicle

Experts have declared 2024 the hottest year on record and for the first time in recorded history, the average temperature of air at the Earth’s surface had gone above 1.5 degrees Celsius, the rise being 1.5 degrees C higher than what was present average-surface-air-temperature-wise at the time the Industrial Revolution took effect in 1750. I … Read more

If given a choice, 92 percent of current EV owners revealed in first-ever GEVA-conducted survey they wouldn’t go back to driving a non-EV

Hydrogen car and fuel-filling infrastructure

The weighted results show that only 1% indicate they will return to a petrol or diesel car, and 4% would opt for a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) if they had to replace their car tomorrow. “These results confirm that EV drivers are highly satisfied with their choice, and that reports of declining EV popularity are greatly … Read more

$8.9M in federal funding accepted by Valley Air District for zero-emissions heavy-duty vehicles

A zero-emissions heavy-duty vehicle

The Valley Air District took action today [Dec. 19, 2024] to accept over $8.9 million in additional U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) funding to deploy 26 zero-emission, battery-electric Class 6 and 7 trucks and associated charging infrastructure. “Grant funds such as these highlight the District’s commitment to supporting Valley businesses and agencies in the … Read more

Waiver for Advanced Clean Cars II regulations, granted by EPA

Exhaust spewing from vehicle tailpipes

WASHINGTON – Today [Dec. 18, 2024], the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is granting two requests from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for waivers to implement and enforce its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulations for light-duty vehicles, and its “Omnibus” low-NOx regulation for heavy-duty highway and off-road vehicles and engines. Under the … Read more

In case challenging scope of nation’s landmark environmental law, Supreme Court hears arguments over Utah oil train

Oil tank cars spotted for unloading at unloading facility

WASHINGTON— The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments today [Dec. 10, 2024] in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, a case challenging the scope of the National Environmental Policy Act, the nation’s landmark environmental law. The hearing will take place at 10 a.m. ET; audio will be livestreamed. Utah’s Seven County Infrastructure Coalition and … Read more

U.S. transportation emissions data in 2023: The bigger picture

A transit bus fueled by soybean bio-diesel

In 2023, according to data in the latest (2024) Emissions Gap Report from the United Nations Environment Programme with the clever title “No more hot air … please!,” greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale totaled 57.1 billion (giga) tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. America’s contribution to that total weighs in at 11 percent, … Read more

Retired Caltrain diesel loco, gallery car fleets heading to Peru

Caltrain 916 named California waiting its turn at the 4th and Townsend street station in San Francisco California in October of 1985

Caltrain will send its retired diesel fleet to the Municipality of Lima, Peru to continue operating passenger service. An official solicitation process was initiated to find a new home for this long-serving equipment. Lima, Peru expressed its desire to acquire all of the retired fleet. Following negotiations with the government of Lima, Caltrain has finalized … Read more

If the past is any indication, expect US to withdraw a second time from the Paris Climate Accord

West Texas pumpjack at sunset

I’m fairly confident I’m not sharing information here that you don’t already know. And, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there aren’t certain (meaning some) United States Environmental Protection Agency protections in a second Trump presidential term, that get watered down; some protections maybe even eliminated. So where does that leave air quality? Here … Read more