California delays its carbon trading program for a year

Facing continued litigation, California officials will delay enforcement of the state's complex carbon trading program until 2013, state Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols announced Wednesday.

The delay in the cap-and-trade program, which was slated to take effect in January, is proposed, she said, because of the "need for all necessary elements to be in place and fully functional."http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/california-cap-and-trade.html

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times -Greenspace-posted by Margot Roosevelt

 

Washington || Rain Gardens Reduce Need for Municipal Storm System Construction

Two Seattle-based organizations are starting an ambitious campaign urging residents to construct landscaped "rain gardens." Constructing 12,000 new rain gardens across Puget Sound neighborhoods by 2016 could soak up as much as 160 million gallons of water each year. This would help reduce the need for municipal pipe and drain systems to carry away polluted storm water.

http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/blogs/needed-a-deluge-of-rain-gardens-in-the-puget-sound-by-2016

Article courtesy of Smart Growth

Texas || El Paso Water Planner Says Smart Growth, Water Savings Linked

Higher-density neighborhoods could delay by decades expensive plans to pump water to El Paso from other parts of Texas, the city’s top water official stated recently. "It’s not a matter of water supply; it’s a matter of infrastructure," said Ed Archuleta, El Paso Water Utilities president and chief executive officer. The cost of a plan to import water from city-owned acreage outside the city has been estimated at $600 million. "If we can push back the need to build infrastructure 10 or 20 years, let’s do it," Archuleta added.

http://www.waterworld.com/index/display/news_display/1434297046.html

Article courtesy of Smart Growth

Oregon || Portland Develops Healthy Connected Neighborhoods Strategy

The city of Portland’s new Healthy Connected Neighborhoods Strategy proposes to connect people with nature, neighborhoods, businesses and each other through a system of neighborhood hubs linked by a network of greenways and habitat corridors that bring nature into the city.

These neighborhood hubs would be centers of community life, with concentrations of neighborhood businesses, community services, housing and public gathering places

http://www.sustainableportland.org/bps/index.cfm?a=353238&c=51589

Article courtesy of Smart Growth

 

Massachusetts || Smart Growth Projects Receive $1.5 Millio

Five projects that support dense urban development oriented around mass transit have been chosen by the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance to receive $1.5 million in aid. The projects include two in Boston, and one each in Lawrence, Somerville, and Winchester.

http://articles.boston.com/2011-06-23/business/29695530_1_commuter-rail-great-neighborhoods-transit-oriented

Article courtesy of Smart Growth http://www.smartgrowth.org/engine/index.php/news/national/

Los Alamos evacuation ordered because of wildfire

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. (AP) -- Authorities ordered Los Alamos evacuated Monday as a fast-growing and unpredictable wildfire bore down on the northern New Mexico town and its sprawling nuclear laboratory.

The blaze that began Sunday already had destroyed a number of homes south of the town, which is home to some 12,000 residents. It also forced closure of the nation's pre-eminent nuclear lab while stirring memories of a devastating blaze more than a decade ago that destroyed hundreds of homes and buildings in the area.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/06/27/20110627alamo-fire-evacuation.html#ixzz1QZcIgype

Article courtesy of AZcentral.com by Associated Press

Cooking oil to fuel KLM flights

AMSTERDAM — Dutch airline KLM plans to use recycled cooking oil as biofuel to power flights to and from France in a move aimed at cutting carbon emissions.

Starting in September, KLM will begin more than 200 flights between Paris and Amsterdam using the biofuel. KLM managing director Camiel Eurlings said the airline does not have to make any changes to its aircraft engines to use the new biofuel.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2011/06/23/air_france_klm_planes_to_fly_on_cooking_oil/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by The Associated Press

 

 

T rolls out 'quiet cars' on all commuter lines

After a successful test run of a proposed “quiet car’’ program earlier this year, the MBTA and the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co. began implementing quiet zones on all 13 commuter rail lines yesterday.

The quiet cars, where passengers are asked to refrain from cellphone use or conversations above a whisper, are located nearest the locomotive. The mandatory quiet will be imposed during peak commuting hours, from 6 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays.http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2011/06/28/t_rolls_out_quiet_cars_on_all_commuter_lines/?p1=News_links

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Martine Powers

 

 

Bill to reveal what chemicals used in "fracking" process

A bill forcing oil and gas companies to reveal what chemicals they use when using hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," to extract natural gas in California passed the California Senate Natural Resources Committee earlier this month and is set to go before the Environmental Quality Committee next week.

Hydraulic fracturing involves injecting rock formations with high-pressure water, sand and a combination of chemicals, to release tightly-packed hydrocarbons. It is used in the Monterey Shale Formation, which extends from Northern California to the Los Angeles area, including Kern, Ventura, Orange and Santa Barbara counties; it is also used in the Rocky Mountain West, Midwest, East Coast, Texas and Louisiana.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/fracking-hyraulic-fracturing-california-oil-natural-gas-shale-wieckowski.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times -Greenspace Posted by Ashlie Rodriguez

AAA to launch fast-charging trucks for stranded electric vehicles, Edmunds says

To combat range anxiety among electric vehicle drivers, AAA plans to launch trucks equipped with fast charger units to rescue battery-powered cars in need of rejuicing.

The motorist group, which provides emergency services to drivers around the country, will unveil the first system at a North Carolina conference in July, according to the AutoObserver blog at Edmunds.com.

Later this summer, the fleet of trucks will start rolling out in selected cities.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2011/06/aaa-to-launch-fast-charging-trucks-for-stranded-electric-vehicles-edmunds-says.html

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times

High court says emissions case a matter for EPA

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court yesterday unanimously rejected a lawsuit that had sought to force major electric utilities to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions without waiting for federal regulators to act.

The suit was brought by six states, New York City, and several land trusts. Its central contention was that carbon-dioxide emissions from power plants belonging to four private companies and the Tennessee Valley Authority amounted to a public nuisance. The suit asked a federal court in New York to order the defendants to reduce their emissions.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2011/06/21/high_court_says_emissions_case_a_matter_for_epa/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Adam Liptak New York Times

Study reveals long-term rise in sea level

WASHINGTON — Sea level has been rising significantly over the past century of global warming, according to a study that offers the most detailed look yet at the changes in ocean levels during the last 2,100 years.

The researchers found that since the late 19th century — as the world became industrialized — sea level has risen more than 2 millimeters per year, on average. That’s a bit less than one-tenth of an inch, but it adds up over time

http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2011/06/21/study_reveals_long_term_rise_in_sea_level/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Randolph E. Schmid/Associated Press

Monument Fire jumps highway, destroys structures

Southern Arizona's Monument Fire roared back to life Sunday afternoon, breaking containment lines, jumping a highway and destroying an unknown number of structures after giving firefighters the upper hand for the previous two days.

Cochise County Supervisor Pat Call confirmed that at least two restaurants in the Nicksville area were destroyed but said another restaurant and post office in the area remained standing.

Others were more circumspect in describing what was destroyed Sunday but knew buildings had been consumed
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/06/20/20110620monument-fire-arizona-spreads.html#ixzz1PovftAoi

Article courtesy of The Arizona Republic by JJ Hensley and Laurie Merrill

Rocky mountain flowers dwindle, as climate warms

New research finds that the brilliant flowers that bloom in Rocky Mountain meadows during midsummer are dwindling, and likely to fade even more as climate change warms the high country.

Wildflower season once extended summer-long in the Rockies, but the five researchers found that the number of flowers had started to drop significantly during midsummer. There are a variety of reasons, including a warmer climate.

The implications are worrisome, not just for those who enjoy the scenic splashes of color. Pollinators such as bees and other animals such as humming birds depend on a healthy flower system. Their numbers could also drop should temperatures continue to rise and flower populations fall.http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/mountain-flowers-fading.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Greenspace Posted by Nicholas Riccardi

Coastal Commission rejects U2 guitarist's Malibu development plan

The plan for five mansions on a rugged ridgeline was rejected on an 8-4 vote. The agency's executive director called it 'one of the three worst projects that I've seen in terms of environmental devastation.'http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-edge-malibu-project-20110617,0,5823607.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Martha Grove and Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times

When breakthroughs follow failure

Letting scientists fail may be key to motivating the kind of exploration that ultimately leads to big breakthroughs and innovation, according to new research by MIT economists.

Each year, the federal government, nonprofit organizations, and companies funnel billions of dollars into scientific and biomedical research, but the new findings suggest that something as subtle as how grants are structured may influence the type of scientific output: incremental progress or a transformative new idea.

Biologists who were given more time and latitude in their research — as well as the freedom to fail — before they were evaluated produced more hit papers and more duds, according to the new study, to be published in the RAND Journal of Economics

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2011/06/20/creating_incentives_for_breakthrough_ideas/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Carolyn Y. Johnson/Globe Staff

Taking windmill blades to the edge

$30m Charlestown test center puts gear for a growing industry through the paces

Max Eliot stopped just inside the door at the state’s new Wind Technology Testing Center in Charlestown, eyes wide at the nearly 160-foot fiberglass blade bolted to a far wall, left hand tight around a set of model wind blades he made for his sixth-grade graduation project.

Overhead, a large blade from Clipper Windpower of California undulated as workers in a control room used remote controls to replicate the stress a working turbine would endure in its lifetime. It’s here that turbine manufacturers like Clipper, or blade makers like TPI Composites in Fall River, send the blades they have designed to be checked for efficiency, strength, anddurability.

http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2011/06/20/taking_windmill_blades_to_the_edge/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Erin Ailworth/Globe Staff

The locavore's dilemma

Urban farms do more harm than good to the environment

All That is grassy is not green. There are many good reasons to like local food, but any large-scale metropolitan farming will do more harm than good to te environment. Devoting scarce metropolican land to agriculture means lower denisty levels, longer drives, and carbon emission increases which easily offset the modest greenhouse gas reductions associated with less shipping.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2011/06/16/the_locavores_dilemma/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe -Green Blog by Edward L. Glaeser

T announces real-time commuter rail app

The first user-friendly app launched today to make updated MBTA information on train departures and arrivals available to users, officials said. http://www.boston.com/Boston/metrodesk/2011/06/webcommuter/tmMw7E27gnWD6XPQJt14lL/index.html?p1=News_links

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe by Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

Arizona Fires:Wallow Fire becomes the largest blaze in Arizona history

ALPINE - Billowing smoke and crackling flames engulfed treetops just three miles from this eastern Arizona community Tuesday as unparalleled dry conditions and shifting winds caused the Wallow Fire to continue its spread, surpassing the Rodeo-Chediski Fire as the largest in state history.

But fire officials said they were moving extra crews to areas around Alpine, Nutrioso and Luna, N.M., and they expected fire-prevention lines to hold around those communities, as well as in Greer and near Sunrise ski resort.
Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/06/14/20110614arizona-fires-wallow-fire-largest-arizona-fire.html#ixzz1PLslRTzx

Article by Rebekah L. Sanders and Jim Walsh of The Arizona Republic

Land swap for Arizona mine faces challenges

WASHINGTON - A bill to clear the way for the development of North America's largest copper mine, near Superior, appears headed for quick passage in the House, but its prospects in the Senate remain uncertain and the Obama administration said Tuesday that it cannot support the project without changes

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2011/06/15/20110615arizona-land-mine-swap-challenges.html#ixzz1PLs0iIbr

 

Article courtesy of The Arizona Republic by Erin Kelly/Republic Washington Bureau

Pesticide-laden produce: Apples and celery top the list

They may be red and shiny, but apples are the most pesticide-laden fruit, according to the "2011 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce" released Monday by the Washington-based Environmental Working Group. Of  700 apple samples tested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 98% contained pesticides, moving the fruit to the top of the group’s “dirty dozen” list, it said.

The guide was the seventh annual report by the nonprofit organization, which compares pesticide loads on 53 fruits and vegetables. It lists the 12 fruits and vegetables with the highest levels, and also publishes a “clean 15” list of the least affected produce.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/pesticides-fruit-vegetables-ewg-guide.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times -Greenspace

 

 

 

 

Joplin toll rises to 151; some suffer from fungus

JOPLIN, Mo.—The death toll from the tornado that destroyed much of Joplin has risen to 151, and three of the latest victims suffered from a rare fungal infection that can occur when dirt becomes embedded under the skin, authorities said Friday. http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2011/06/10/aggressive_fungus_strikes_joplin_tornado_victims/?camp=obnetwork

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe-Associated Press from Springfield News-Leader,http://www.news-leader.com

 

Hess withdraws controversial LNG Fall River proposal

The Hess LNG energy company has withdrawn a controversial proposal to locate a liquefied natural gas plant in Fall River, welcome news for residents and political leaders who have spent almost a decade trying to prevent the terminal from being built in the crowded Southeastern Massachusetts city. http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2011/06/hess_withdraws_controversial_l.html

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe-Green Blog -posted by Beth Daley

Mattel, under siege, promises new rain forest packaging policy

Greenpeace this week released a report, "Toying with Extinction," including laboratory analyses of packaging for Barbie dolls and other toys containing fiber from Indonesian rain forests. The group also unveiled documents tracing the supply chain from Mattel to Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), a Singapore company that has clear-cut vast swaths of the archipelago’s wildlife-rich forests Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef014e890e1ac9970d-pi

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times/ Greenspace

Group OK's biofuel blend for airlines

 

LONDON — Airlines have won the backing of a US-based technical standards group to power their planes with a blend of traditional fuel and biofuel from inedible plants, the Air Transport Association said yesterday.

Fuel processed from organic waste or nonfood materials, such as algae or wood chips, may comprise up to 50 percent of the total fuel burned to power passenger flights, ATA spokesman Steve Lott and a Boeing official told Bloomberg. Read more: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2011/06/10/biofuel_blends_approved_for_airlines_ata_says/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe –Green Blog by By Bloomberg News

 

 

Ford to build hybrid-only minivan

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich.—Ford Motor Co. will sell a hybrid-only minivan in the U.S. next year in a bid to challenge Toyota's hybrid dominance.

The five-passenger van will come in two versions: A gas-electric hybrid, like Toyota's Prius, that gets more than 41 miles per gallon, and a plug-in hybrid, like the Chevrolet Volt, which will run on electric power but have a backup gas engine that kicks in when the power runs low. Read more: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/06/09/ford_to_build_hybrid_only_minivan/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe Green Blog by Dee-Ann Durbin AP Auto Writer

 

 

Magnitude 4.5 earthquake rattles California border region

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake rattled the California-Mexico border on Thursday morning.

The temblor was recorded at 8:22 a.m. near Seeley, Calif., about 15 miles southwest of Calexico in Imperial County. The area was shaken by last year's 7.1 Easter Sunday quake, which caused more than $90 million in damage.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake was felt across Imperial County as well as in San Diego, Orange County and parts of the Inland Empire. No damage was reported.

Article courtesy of The Los Angels Times

Arizona wildfire threat grows, with no end in sight

Springerville, Ariz., Denver and L.A.—

Thousands of Arizona residents fled a voracious wildfire Wednesday that has devoured a stretch of sparsely populated pinelands the size of Phoenix and shows no sign of stopping.

The Wallow fire, which began May 29, has blackened nearly 389,000 acres, making it the second-largest blaze in state history. It seemed poised to surpass the record-holder from 2002: Because of high winds and bone-dry terrain, the fire was 0% contained, meaning firefighters had not even begun to hem it in, much less get it under control.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-arizona-fires-20110609,0,4031169.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angels Times by Ashley Powers, NIcholas Riccardi and Julie Cart

Environmentalists want slower ship speeds to protect whales off California coast

A coalition of environmental groups is asking the Obama administration to establish a 10-knot speed limit for ships traveling through California’s marine sanctuaries to avoid fatal collisions with whales, a problem they say has climbed to “unsustainable levels.”

In a petition filed Monday, four environmental groups asked the U.S. Department of Commerce to establish a 10-knot limit for large commercial vessels in California's four National Marine Sanctuaries in the Channel Islands, Monterey Bay, Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank. Some freighters travel through those waters at more than twice that speed.

Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/whale-ship-speed-limit-slow-california-marine-sanctuaries.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times Greenspace by Tony Barboza

 

Arizona wildfires force thousands from homes

The Wallow fire in eastern Arizona has burned more than 300,000 acres and threatens nearly 350 structures.

Reporting from Las Vegas—

The second-largest wildfire in Arizona history roared across a craggy eastern swath of the state on Tuesday, chasing thousands of residents from their homes and threatening to march into New Mexico.

Powerful gusts flung embers onto parched vegetation and continued to stoke the Wallow fire, which has burned more than 300,000 acres and destroyed 10 structures in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest area since it began last month. The uncontained blaze threatened nearly 350 structures Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.
Read more:  http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-southwest-fires-20110608,0,5107382.story

Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times By Ashley Powers

Markey says Seabrook nuclear plant asking too soon for license extension

Congressman Edward J. Markey wants the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to deny Seabrook Station – and other nuclear power plants - license extensions if they are asked for too early in the plant’s operating life.

In a letter sent to NRC Chairman Greg Jaczko this morning, Markey noted that inspections at Seabrook uncovered structural weaknesses in concrete surrounding a safety-related tunnel only two decades into the plant’s 40-year license. Seabrook applied for relicensing last year and is hoping to receive approval soon to operate another two decades once its license expires in 2030.  Read more: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2011/06/nuclear_plants_can_be_relicens.html

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe -Green Blog posted by Beth Daley -Globe Staff

 

Japan cites 'lessons' of nuclear accident

TOKYO — Japan admitted yesterday that it was unprepared for a severe nuclear accident like the tsunami-caused Fukushima disaster, and said damage to the reactors and radiation leakage were worse than it previously thought.

In a report being submitted to the UN nuclear agency, the government also acknowledged reactor design flaws and a need for greater independence for the country’s nuclear regulators. Read more: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2011/06/08/japan_says_it_was_unprepared_for_nuclear_disaster/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe -Green Blog by Associated Press

California Senate votes to ban foam takeout containers

Sandwiches, milkshakes and other food items frequently packaged in foam takeout containers will have to be packaged in other materials under a bill that cleared the state Senate on Thursday. SB 568 by Sen. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) would prohibit food vendors and restaurants from dispensing prepared foods to customers in polystyrene foam beginning Jan. 1, 2014. Read more: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/foam-takeout-containers-ban-styrofoam-california.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GreenspaceEnvironmentBlog+%28Greenspace%29

Article courtesy of The Los Angles Times Greenspace by Susan Carpenter

3.4 Earthquake Recorded in South Los angeles

Crime | Government | Medical marijuana | Education | Prop 8 | Traffic | Westside

L.A. NOW

Southern California -- this just in

« Previous Post | L.A. NOW Home | Next Post »

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake occurred early Monday morning in South Los Angeles.

The temblor occurred at 12:07 a.m. and was centered in the Willowbrook area, about nine miles south of downtown Los Angeles.

There were no immediate reports of damage from the small quake.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the temblor was felt across the South Bay, Long Beach and northern Orange County. [Updated, 12:50 a.m. June 6: Residents as far north as Burbank reported feeling the temblor.]

[Updated, 12:50 a.m., June 6: A magnitude 1.5 aftershock was reported at 12:09 a.m. in the Willowbrook area. Four minutes later, a magnitude 1.3 earthquake rumbled through the Santa Monica Mountains west of the 405 Freeway, about halfway between Tarzana in the San Fernando Valley and the stretch of Pacific Coast Highway that connects Pacific Palisades and Malibu.]

-- Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Shelby Grad and Rong-Gong Lin II

Diving into the car pool

Workplace perks, high gas prices drive hike in ride sharing

While many of his co-workers walk as far as a half-mile from parking lot to office, Manish Puri pulls his Honda Accord into a spot about 50 yards from his desk in the IT department at Boston College. The reason for this rock-star treatment is sitting in the passenger seat: a colleague who carpools with him from Malden five days a week.

Puri is among the growing number of local drivers who have taken up carpooling. But, as his experience shows, it’s more than just gas prices getting commuters out of single-occupancy vehicles. In the 21st-century version of ride sharing — driven by climate concerns as well as gas prices — government programs and environmentally conscious employers are providing extra incentives, while Internet technology makes it easier than ever to match riders with drivers. Read more: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2011/05/31/perks_gas_prices_prompt_revival_in_carpooling/

Article courtesy of The Boston Globe-Green Blog by Kathleen Pierce/ Globe Correspondent

Massachusetts || Ordinance May Restrict Banks from Street Levels of Retail Areas

Aldermen and planners in the city of Newton have been reviewing the findings of a local task force, which called for special retail overlay districts to promote smart growth. "One problem we will address," said Newton Alderman Ted Hess-Mahan, "is banks on the first floor in high-traffic areas. Banks can afford to pay higher rents, which can drive out the kind of mom-and-pop businesses we want to foster. And banks close at five, meaning they're not really contributing to the neighborhood after hours."

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/newton/2011/05/newton_aldermen_planners_consi.html

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Online Newsletter June 2011

Virginia || Chesterfield County Comprehensive Plan Looks to Promote Infill Development

Infill development would be favored in Chesterfield County's proposed Comprehensive Plan. The plan would also designate more than 50,000 acres in the southern and western reaches of the county as a green zone, with a maximum density of one housing unit per 25 acres http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/news/2011/may/23/tdmain01-chesterfield-looks-to-avoid-more-sprawl-ar-1057235/

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Online Newsletter June 2011

California || Chula Vista Passes Climate Change Plan

http://www.ci.chulavista.ca.us/clean/conservation/climate/documents/ClimateAdaptationStrategiesPlans_FINAL_000.pdf

The City Council of Chula Vista recently approved plans to implement strategies to reduce the community's vulnerability to climate change.

The decision made Chula Vista the first local government in Southern California to adopt a stand-alone, comprehensive climate adaptation plan. Adaptation strategies in the plan include measures to expand the city's urban forests, incorporate "cool" or reflective roofs, promote gray water and other water reuse, and design future development and municipal projects to be resilient to sea level rise.

Article courtesy of Smart Growth Online-Newsletter for June 2011