California takes on global warming - emission caps, pollutant reduction

[Strk]

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: Strk

Originally posted by: Genx87
I am curious, how do these business credits work?
I may have to startup a business out there and sell my credits to come indutrial giant.

This will fail, either they wont make the cut or business will simply close up shop and move elsewhere.

Pessimist! I think it can succeed. There is a lot of great technology out there for reducing emissions and it is believable that it will work out by 2020. California needs to keep pushing clean forms of energy. It was recently, or about to be anyways, overtaken by Texas as far as wind energy.

That cost money, the costs move onto the consumer, if it cant be moved to the consumer the business moves or closes shop.

Do you think the only reason so many factories move to other countries is because of the cost of labor? It is much cheaper to actually run the factory in other countries due to lack of enviornmental laws.

Safety laws too!

But yeah, there is a huge push to avoid a lot of those laws. Simply look at China. Odds are that number is even higher (they tend to lie a lot when it comes to negative figures of any kind).

 

[Genx87]

Originally posted by: Strk

Originally posted by: Genx87

Originally posted by: Strk

Originally posted by: Genx87
I am curious, how do these business credits work?
I may have to startup a business out there and sell my credits to come indutrial giant.

This will fail, either they wont make the cut or business will simply close up shop and move elsewhere.

Pessimist! I think it can succeed. There is a lot of great technology out there for reducing emissions and it is believable that it will work out by 2020. California needs to keep pushing clean forms of energy. It was recently, or about to be anyways, overtaken by Texas as far as wind energy.

That cost money, the costs move onto the consumer, if it cant be moved to the consumer the business moves or closes shop.

Do you think the only reason so many factories move to other countries is because of the cost of labor? It is much cheaper to actually run the factory in other countries due to lack of enviornmental laws.

Safety laws too!

But yeah, there is a huge push to avoid a lot of those laws. Simply look at China. Odds are that number is even higher (they tend to lie a lot when it comes to negative figures of any kind).

Just as long as you acknowledge the issues about higher costs I can give you respect for continuing wanting the reduction. Because you should understand when industry starts leaving the state

btw in National Geographic this month they have a thing about China. They ave about 16 deaths a day in their coal mines, about as much as we lost in a single year(20) in 2005. So much for state controlled industry being more safe.

 

[BaliBabyDoc]

Originally posted by: BrownTown
The increadibly funny thing about Californias energy laws is that it simply means that everyone builds their plants in other states and ships the power into California, so in reality they arent saving anything. Also, next time California has blackouts, they had better realise that its thier own d@mn fault, the same goes for the fact that their electricity prices are absurdly high.

I believe the law requires purchasers of energy (utility companies) to use CA-clean suppliers. So a coal-fired plant in AZ, UT, NV, or OR would still have to meet CA-stds. The truth is everybody wants to sell something to CA. So companies will either clean-up or lose access to the market. I doubt anything that dramatic will happen b/c it appears to be a 'glow slow but definitely go' approach that leaves it up to industry to decide how to meet the requirements. I'm sure cap-and-trade is going to be huge. Also CA is likely to redouble conservation efforts . . . but if prices really do rise . . . people will find a way to use less.

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: CycloWizard

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Similar to our state's stem-cell funding bill that funds stem-cell research to the tune of $3 Billion dollars, while Bush did nothing, California has just moved to impose caps on greenhouse-gas emissions where Bush's "clear skies" BS pretends that greenhouse gasses like CO2 don't exist and aren't harmful.

It's good to live in a state that knows how to do the right thing.

The 'right thing' on stem cells was to spend $3 billion that you didn't have? The 'right thing' on the environment is to impose unrealistic environmental restrictions, such as reducing the CO2 output of power plants by 25% when they will undoubtedly need to increase power output over this same timeframe? This sounds like a very poorly thought out measure constructed by politicians for political purposes, neglecting any and all practical implications, much like the stem cell measure.

Sure, harp about the cost of the programs themselves ... yet I don't see you lamenting the cost impact of doing nothing. Try putting a dollar figure on our state's environment or the health of our people for once and stop looking at only half the equation.

 

[BadThad]

Just another nail in CA's coffin. While the idiots that supported this legislation sit around and pat themselves on the back for "saving the planet", hundreds of businesses are packing up and moving out of the state. Great job CA! Reduced your tax base even more in an effort to appease the wacko enviromental weenies.

 

[bobdelt]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Similar to our state's stem-cell funding bill that funds stem-cell research to the tune of $3 Billion dollars, while Bush did nothing, California has just moved to impose caps on greenhouse-gas emissions where Bush's "clear skies" BS pretends that greenhouse gasses like CO2 don't exist and aren't harmful.

It's good to live in a state that knows how to do the right thing.

California takes on global warming

SACRAMENTO, California (AP) -- California will impose broad caps on its greenhouse-gas emissions under a landmark plan that marks a clear break with the federal government and which backers hope will become a national model.

Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who helped assemble the plan, called Wednesday's agreement "an example for other states and nations to follow as the fight against climate change continues."

The plan came after weeks of difficult negotiations and was sent to the state Senate, which approved it late Wednesday with a 23-14 vote. If approved as expected by the Democrat-controlled Assembly, the bill would then go to the governor's desk.

"My main objective was getting a bill that the environmental community can champion around the country and say, 'California did this, and you should be too.' And we did that," said Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, a Democrat.

25 percent cut by 2020

The bill requires the state's major industries -- such as utility plants, oil and gas refineries, and cement kilns -- to reduce their emissions carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by an estimated 25 percent by 2020.

One of the key mechanisms designed to drive the reductions is a market program that will allow businesses to buy, sell and trade emission credits with other companies.

"Today it feels as if the whole world is watching, and I hope they are," said Ann Notthoff of the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of the environmental groups involved in the negotiations.

The agreement was announced simultaneously by the governor's office and Democratic leaders in the Senate and Assembly. It gives the governor a key environmental victory as he seeks re-election this fall.

The bill states that the California Air Resources Board -- an 11-member panel appointed by the governor -- must identify "market-based compliance mechanisms" that might be used as part of its plan to reach the cap.

Environmentalists praise bill

The cap was praised by environmentalists as a step toward fighting global climate change. It was criticized by some business leaders, who say it will increase their costs and force them to scale back their California operations.

Republicans blasted the bill, saying the bill would have little effect and make California an expensive place to do business. "This bill is the road to economic ruin for California," Sen. Dennis Hollingsworth said.

The nation's most populous state is the world's 12th largest emitter of greenhouse gases and could suffer dire consequences if global temperatures increase only a few degrees. (The process of global warming)

In the absence of federal action, much of the effort to combat climate change has been focused in the states. More than 100 climate-related bills have been held up in Congress, including one that calls for a national cap on greenhouse gas emissions.
State a leader in cutting auto emissions

California has led the country in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through its renewable energy policies and a 2004 law reducing tailpipe emissions from vehicles.

Ten other states are poised to enact California's auto rule, while more than 20 states have required utilities to eventually generate some power from renewable sources such as solar, wind and geothermal.

The bill includes a so-called "safety valve" sought by Schwarzenegger that would allow California's governor to delay the emission-cap mandate if the state is hit with a natural disaster, terrorist attack or some other emergency.

In addition to the emissions cap, California lawmakers voted to approve related global warming legislation. That bill would prohibit the state from entering long-term contracts with any out-of-state utility that fails to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. The bill passed by a 43-30 vote in the Assembly. It goes to the Senate for final approval.

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Too bad its going to cripple California's economy. Their insane high unemployment\disability taxes forced many companies to leave already, and now this is going to force even more to do so. It's nice that its getting done, but companies will just find a different state to do their work.


Remember when California use to be the fifth largest economy in the world? Well, its going to continue to drop in the ranks.