Posted on 07/02/2006 5:46:26 PM PDT by calcowgirl
Maybe it's the summer heat, or Al Gore's documentary.
Whatever the cause, California environmentalists and Democratic lawmakers have embarked on an ambitious campaign to catapult the state ahead of the nation on a number of green initiatives.
From greenhouse-gas caps to alternative energy, they say it's time to make significant changes after watching a number of clean-water and air-quality bills vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in recent years. They say the looming election should also help motivate politicians to think green.
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At the center of the debate is AB 32, which would require industries to report how much greenhouse gas they emit -- and place caps on emissions starting in 2012.
"We don't think heavy-handed regulation and bureaucracy is necessary," said Thomas Tietz, who heads the California Nevada Cement Promotion Council.
Backers say AB 32 would spur new technologies, but Tietz warned that such caps will backfire on the local economy. He said the bill would drive cement producers out of state and force California to import materials produced from countries or states with less stringent environmental rules.
Right now there's no emission regulation on major industries like power companies, fuel refineries, manufacturers and landfills. The United States is the biggest contributor to global warming, with power plants and transportation making up more than two-thirds of the nation's carbon dioxide emissions, according to a report from Environment California.
Businesses oppose any emissions cap and prefer the status quo of voluntary emissions reporting.
In April, Schwarzenegger put together a "Climate Action Summit" of business, political, environmental and academic leaders to tout a report on ways California can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He said then he supported emissions caps but cautioned that it might take time to phase them in.
Terry Tamminen, the governor's senior adviser for energy and the environment, said the governor has not said whether he would sign the bill by Nunez and Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, if it makes it to his desk.
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Just another reason for business to leave CA.
(The Palestinian terrorist regime is the crisis and Israel's fist is the answer.)
Exactly right.
And people. I left 4 months ago : )
California enviornmentalism strikes me as elaborate denial. all my life they have had the worst smog in LA. Instea of tackling that themselves they are always passing laws blaming someone else for it.
al gore and aRnold agree on this much..
"The Facts on Global Warming are in."
Very true, and not just on environmentalism : )
I agree. They were hopeless on energy crisis and basket cases on illegal immigration. Look, there's a Mexican crossing my back yard. ET phone home. What's Washington going to do about it?
California is a beautiful state, and an economic giant. One of the reasons I moved to Scottsdale is it became too sad watching it go into decline.
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