Posted on 04/04/2006 12:54:23 AM PDT by FairOpinion
A bill would limit releases of greenhouse gas to combat global warming. Governor's team has other ideas.
The bill, backed by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D-Los Angeles) and an array of environmental groups, would set firm limits on the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas released by factories, power plants and refineries.
The measure is more stringent than a series of recommendations released Monday by Schwarzenegger's Climate Action Team.
Some businesses, particularly heavy polluters such as cement makers and refineries, say they oppose mandatory reporting and caps because they would put an unfair economic burden on California companies.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency agrees with groups such as the California Chamber of Commerce that voluntary, incentive-based programs are preferable for dealing with greenhouse gas emissions. They contend that mandatory cap and trade programs could push jobs and dirty air overseas to countries where there are few or no air-quality controls.
The EPA isn't considering setting national limits on greenhouse gas emissions, spokeswoman Roxanne Smith said.
But the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration contends that the regulations are the equivalent of new fuel economy standards, which only the federal government is entitled to set.
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine), along with 19 of their Senate colleagues, wrote to the EPA on Friday demanding that the agency grant California a waiver to the Clean Air Act that would allow the state and others to enforce their own vehicle emission standards and reduce global warming.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
And our fine DiFi wants to make sure it happens, even when it's counter to the Federal regulations.
I have a feeling that title is going to get some jokes.
Yes, the best way the Dems could fight global warming, is to keep their mouths and other orifices shut.
Yeah, it reminds me of that South Park episode where the gang went to San Francisco and the liberals there kept putting their heads between their legs so they could huff their own farts.
Europe tried limiting greehouse gas emissions too. I think just one country has managed to hit the goals.
"Today, California will be a leader in the fight against global warming . . . I say the debate is over. We know the science, we see the threat and we know the time for action is now. Global warming, pollution and the burning of fossil fuels that caused it are threats we see here in California and everywhere around the world . . . We have no choice but to meet this challenge."Source: San Francisco Chronicle- Arnold Schwarzenegger, speaking at World Environment Day
San Francisco City Hall, June 1, 2005
And who gave them the perfect platform to do so?
Schwarzenegger unveiling global warming plan at U.N. conference, Associated Press, June 2, 2005
Declaring climate change to be an indisputable threat, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a plan to combat global warming by setting goals for reducing California's emissions of greenhouse gases. ... Schwarzenegger's plan, released at the opening of the U.N. World Environmental Day Conference, calls for reducing the state's emissions of greenhouse gases to 2000 levels by 2010, 1990 levels by 2020, and 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Under the governor's executive order, the secretary of California's Environmental Protection Agency will be charged with overseeing efforts to meet those goals, and will report on the state's progress in January and every six months after that. ...The governor said he would work with state lawmakers to enact legislation to meet his ambitious targets.
"We have no choice but to meet this challenge," Schwarzenegger said. "We must leave a better world for our children and their children."
The report to the governor calls for mandatory reporting by businesses of greenhouse gas pollution, mainly carbon dioxide. According to the report, creating an inventory of emissions would lead to the development of a market-based trading system that would cap total emissions and provide monetary credits to firms that cut pollution below assigned limits. Those credits could be sold to companies that exceed their emission limits.
The Nuñez bill takes the governor's proposal a step further by directing the California Air Resources Board to set limits on industrial emissions of greenhouse gas. The goal would be to reduce emissions to a target defined by Schwarzenegger in an executive decree last year: 20% below forecast levels for 2020.
It's all the fault of those evil democrats. It is beyond the Governor's control, I'm sure. /s
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