Calif. to cap greenhouse gas emissions (Gub and dems agree on landmark deal)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 8/30/06 | Samantha Young - ap

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California would become the first state to impose a limit on all greenhouse gas emissions, including those from industrial plants, under a landmark deal reached Wednesday by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative Democrats.

The agreement marks a clear break with the Bush administration and puts California on a path to reducing its emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by an estimated 25 percent by 2020.

The bill still needs lawmakers' approval, but that appears likely, given that Democrats control the Legislature.

The deal gives Schwarzenegger a key environmental victory as he seeks re-election this fall.

"We can now move forward with developing a market-based system that makes California a world leader in the effort to reduce carbon emissions," the governor said in a statement.

The bill would require the state's major industries — such as utility plants, oil and gas refineries, and cement kilns — to reduce their emissions of the pollutants widely believed to contribute to global warming.

The key mechanism driving the reductions would be a market program allowing businesses to buy, sell and trade emission credits with other companies.

The agreement came after weeks of difficult negotiations and was announced by the governor's office and Steve Maviglio, spokesman for Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, a Los Angeles Democrat.

Schwarzenegger had insisted that the California Air Resources Board, which will oversee the program, be required to implement the market-based strategy.

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

Republicans in the Legislature say climate change should be addressed at the national level, not on a state-by-state basis.

"Adopting costly and unattainable regulations will drive businesses and jobs out of California into other states and even into other countries with no commitment to improve air quality," said Assembly Republican leader George Plescia, a LaJolla Republican.

Schwarzenegger and the Legislature's Democratic leadership have embraced a cap on vehicle and industry emissions as a way to make California a trendsetter in fighting global warming.

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. Reports by state agencies indicate that a 2- to 3-degree rise in temperature could melt the Sierra Nevada snowpack earlier each year, leading to flooding in the Central Valley and threatening the state's long-term water supply for cities and farms.

The two sides overcame obstacles including election-year politics to make the deal happens, said Sen. Don Perata, an Oakland Democrat and the chamber's president pro tem.

"This is not anecdotal legislation; this is rooted in fact," he said at a news conference. "The facts are if we do not do something to stop carbon emissions in this world, we will see a diminution in the quality of life."

Schwarzenegger has tried to position himself as a leader on the issue. Last year, he issued an executive order calling for the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2010, 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

He organized a team that recommended a statewide cap and last month signed an accord with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in which California and Britain will work together to research cleaner-burning fuels and technologies.

During the negotiations over the California cap, Schwarzenegger sought to appease his supporters in the business community by arguing for safeguards for the industries that would be most affected.

Administration officials have spent weeks seeking assurances that any legislation would require a market program similar to those in the European Union. The idea would allow businesses to buy, sell or trade emission credits with other companies instead of making their own reductions if those cuts were considered too costly or technology difficult.

Such a program could help industries that may not be able to meet their targets through energy efficiency practices or the use of alternative fuels.

Schwarzenegger also sought a "safety valve" that would allow California to delay the emissions limit if the state is hit with a natural disaster, terrorist attack or another emergency. It was not immediately clear whether such a measure was included in the final bill.

Nunez, the Democratic leader of the Assembly, said he hoped industry representatives would be "much more comfortable" with the bill once they had a chance to read it.

[shankbear]

Just take all the left wing moron.org leaning celebrities SUVs away and that will save a bunch of CO2 from happening. Cut their private jet travel. Hey....give it up for the cause.

[samadams2000]

Negotiate our country away you F'n Rinos.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Why don't CA build nuclear power plants and they won't have to worry about so-called, stupid Greenhouse gases.

The funny thing is, is that the envirowackos won't give RINOld credit for this.

[EricT.]

*Shakes head in amazement*

Got out in the nick of time.

[dr_lew]

That's right. No private jets out of LAX and cut operations by 25% . Put up or shut up.

[NormsRevenge]

State Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, center, accompanied by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, and Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, right, discusses a landmark global warming agreement reached with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger during a Capitol news conference in Sacramento, Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2006. The measure, authored by Pavley, will make California the first state to impose a cap on all greenhouse gas emissions, including those from industrial plants. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Puts California on a path to reducing its emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by an estimated 25 percent by 2020.

Dream on.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Nissan is in the process of moving their North American headquarters from California to Tennessee. We have room here for anyone else who wants to relocate.

[stocksthatgoup]

Maria wearing the pants in the Governator's office.

[RoadGumby]

Room for anyone that will NOT whine about needing an Income Tax.

[markman46]

yep

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I'm in Wisconsinstan. If Doyle's re-elected we're definetly considering a move to your state. My brother already lives near Jackson, TN and he loves it.

[RoadGumby]

OK, so CA unilaterally places limits on CO2 emissions. The biggest effect this will have is to complete the process of dragging CA into the dirt.

HEY, let's force our economy to be non-competitive, over an issue that the worlds biggest polluters won't even address. Let's force companies to move, so there are less jobs, so we can whine about that too. The more poor people, the more Dem voters, so let's make them ALL poor.

I grew up in CA, it is dead to me. Beautiful but dead.

[NormsRevenge]

AB 32 .. done deal.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Arnold should have never stuck his nose in the recall race. I remember when Leno was pimping him on his show non-stop until Arnold came on at the last second to run.

[Brad from Tennessee]

I live about 50 miles from Jackson in a small town. The climate is moderate here, it's a cheap place to live, and it's become a red state over the last 15 years or so. Many of the Democrats I know are Dixiecrats who in some was are more conservative than me.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Tennessee ranks as 47th in the U.S. in tax rate per capita.

[saganite]

ping

Arnie. Doing the jobs Democrats want him to do.

[Cobra64]

Nissan is in the process of moving their North American headquarters from California to Tennessee.

Didn't Boeing close a plant and cut 'n run from CA too?