>> SB 375, aka the anti-sprawl, smart growth bill’s become law in California, now that Schwarzenegger’s signed it. looks likely to make it through both the Cali Senate and Assembly. However, Schwarzenegger killed SB 974, a bill that would have curbed port smog pollution by charging a $60 fee for each 40-foot container moving through the ports of L.A., Long Beach or Oakland.

>> The ports of L.A. and Long Beach will still get a bit cleaner though. Today a new anti-smog plan that bans 2,000 dirty diesel trucks and forces other trucks to meet tougher anti-pollution laws went into effect.

>> Schwarzenegger also signed two green chemistry laws “designed to encompass 80,000 chemicals now in circulation, focus on the most dangerous, widespread substances first and control them at the manufacturing stage, before they leach into the air, water or human skin.” EWG should be happy. Earlier: Our chemical romance.

>> The Downtown Streetcar project could get $5 million in funding tomorrow, if a vote of the Community Redevelopment Agency goes its way tomorrow. According to blogdowntown, “The Downtown Streetcar program is estimated to cost $90 million to complete. 30% – 50% of that total is expected to come from the private sector via an assessment on surrounding property owners.” Update: The funding was approved.

>> Pasadena’s a small step closer to banning plastic bags. Roger Gray of Easy Green says the step was “a mostly unheralded decision” — unsurprising, since the move was just a vote to recommend a plastic bag ban — from a subcommittee of a commission that advises the city council.

Photo by sobergeorge

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