Posted on 02/17/2006 7:11:00 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Edison International, PG&E Corp. and other suppliers of electricity in California will be required by state regulators to cut greenhouse-gas emissions.
Power companies in the most populous state will face a cap intended to bring emissions down, possibly to 1990 levels, according to a measure approved Thursday by the California Public Utilities Commission.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said last year that he wanted the state to cut greenhouse-gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The state would be the first to regulate emissions by electricity providers.
"It's a very positive first step in the right direction," said Dan Kalb, the California policy coordinator for the Union of Concerned Scientists, which works on environmental issues.
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Details on how the emissions caps will be imposed and the level of pollution the electricity companies will be limited to has not been decided, the commission said.
"This decision states our intent to develop a cap on greenhouse-gas emissions," said Michael Peevey, president of the utilities commission. "It lays the foundation."
Although Schwarzenegger's targets are achievable, California has yet to pass any laws that would give the government the tools to enforce the greenhouse-gas emissions goals, Kalb said.
The standards contemplated by the commission will be applied to utilities such as Edison International's Southern California Edison Co., PG&E's Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Sempra Energy's San Diego Gas & Electric Co. and other companies that supply electricity within the utilities' service territories.
"We support the concept of what the commission did," PG&E spokesman John Nelson said. Curbing emissions will bring benefits to the public health and economy that should outweigh implementation costs, Nelson said.
Utilities owned by governments or local communities aren't subject to commission regulation and would not face a cap on emissions unless mandated by the state legislature.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
California is not a blue or a red state.
It is a progressive state.
It's what all Blue States yearn to become, however. California is an acknowledged leader, that sets examples other (Blue) states want to follow.
So typical. Which means these kooks are not all that interested in reducing emissions.
The main objective is to subsidize alternative energy producers and encourage municipalization of utilities. It will also mean most new energy plants will be located outside the state.
A good start would be to silence the politicians in the state capitol.
Silly bastards.
Looks like a good opportunity for someone to start re-manufacturing kerosene lanterns. Always wondered what it was like to read with one.
Pure Kyoto.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said last year that he wanted the state to cut greenhouse-gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The state would be the first to regulate emissions by electricity providers.
And Arnold wants it, along with another electricity crisis.
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