U.N. climate agency reports carbon dioxide growing at alarming rate

Carbon dioxide accumulation in the atmosphere reached a record high last year and grew at the fastest rate in 30 years, the United Nations' climate agency reported Tuesday.
The World Meteorological Organization's latest Greenhouse Gas Bulletin "injected even greater urgency into the need for concerted international action against accelerating and potentially devastating climate change," the U.N. agency said. http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-un-climate-carbon-dioxide-20140909-story.html#
Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Carol J. Williams

Communities going into power business to cut cost, carbon footprint

Sonoma County, which enticed Americans to forsake factory-made food for artisan wines and farmers market produce, now wants consumers to reconsider another everyday commodity.
New on the menu: locally curated energy.http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-sonoma-power-20140902-story.html#
Article courtesy of the Los Angeles Times by Evan Halper

Downtown L.A. streetcar line cost estimate is shaved by $55 million

Building a streetcar line in downtown Los Angeles may cost about $55 million less than officials previously said — an estimate that has buoyed the spirits of the project's supporters

http://www.latimes.com/local/cityhall/la-me-streetcar-cost-20140903-story.html#

Article courtesy of the Los Angles Times by Laura J. Nelson

 

Somerville’s New Assembly Square MBTA Station to Open Next Week

Somerville’s first Orange Line MBTA station, Assembly Square, is set to open Wednesday, September 2, according to Somerville Alderman At Large John “Jack” Connolly’s Facebook page . The T stop will be the MBTA’s first new rapid transit station in 26 years.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/08/27/somerville-new-assembly-square-mbta-station-open-next-week/SgjW9ub8Oil5uDXXbeK5OO/story.html?p1=Topofpage:Carousel_sub_headline
Article courtesy of Boston.com by Justine Hofherr

Giant Duck Will Stick Around LA Until September

The 11-ton rubber duckie - part art project, part boat - headlined the Tall Ships Festival this weekend, and proving incredibly popular for gawkers who flocked to see it.http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/california/Giant-Duck-Will-Stick-Around-LA-Until-September-272630601.html Article courtesy of NBC Bay Area by Kelly Goff

California Lawmakers Reject Statewide Plastic Bag Ban Bill

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - The Assembly on Monday rejected legislation that would make California the first state to impose a ban on single-use plastic bags, but the bill could be heard again later this week.http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/california/California-Lawmakers--Reject-Statewide-Plastic-Bag-Ban-Bill--272719561.html Article courtesy of NBC Bay Area by Fenit Nirappil of the Associated Press

Complicated case of a leaky radioactive dump in New Mexico

The eruption in February of a 55-gallon drum of nuclear waste buried deep in a salt shaft at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, N.M., has left the facility closed for months and raised questions about the Department of Energy's ability to keep tabs on the content of nuclear waste containers buried at the site.. Some experts say that means the risk of additional eruptions is real. The incident this year wasn't without consequences--21 workers were exposed to low-level doses of radiation. What's the present level of risk? http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-nuclear-waste-dump-wipp-20140823-story.html# Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Ralph Vartabedian