CA: State emissions bill in doubt (AB 32 would conflict with federal regulations)

ap on LA Daily News ^ | 9/25/06 | Samantha Young - ap

[NormsRevenge]

SACRAMENTO - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday is expected to sign into law the United States' first state cap on greenhouse gas emissions, after striking a deal with legislative Democrats that brought California and the governor global publicity.

But even before the bill is signed, the law's future is in doubt.

Federal lawsuits related to greenhouse gas issues, involving California, Vermont and Massachusetts, could cloud California's latest attempt to be a leader in the fight against global climate change.

At the heart of California's attempt to curb the gases believed responsible for global warming are state auto regulations that are being challenged by U.S. and foreign automakers. The rules, adopted in 2004 by the state Air Resources Board, would force auto companies to cut emissions from their cars and light trucks.

Rulings favorable to the industry would greatly complicate efforts to cut overall emissions in California, knocking out nearly a quarter of the state's reduction strategy. The goal is to reduce emissions to 1990 levels over the next 14 years.

"Reducing greenhouse gases is a hugely difficult challenge," said Daniel Sperling, director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis. "It's going to be very difficult with the auto regulations. Without them, it's going to be impossible."

Automakers have sued California and Vermont for setting greenhouse gas emission standards on vehicles, saying the rules are tantamount to imposing a fuel-economy standard.

Only the federal government can set gas-mileage rules.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts and 11 other states, including California, are challenging the Bush administration's decision not to regulate heat-trapping carbon dioxide as a pollutant. The case is before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Many scientists believe greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are trapping heat in the atmosphere, leading to a warming of the Earth and altering weather patterns, shrinking wildlife habitat and raising sea levels around the globe.

California is the world's 12th largest producer of greenhouse gases, and experts warn that the state will suffer if industries and autos aren't forced to cut their pollutants.Climate change experts say the state can't afford to wait any longer to begin scaling back its carbon emissions - slashing its use of fossil fuels such as oil, gas and coal.

But a win in court for the auto industry on the previous regulations would send state regulators scrambling to meet the deadlines outlined in the global warming bill that Schwarzenegger is scheduled to sign this week.

[NormsRevenge]

ap article also titled on different sites as

Global warming bill already clouded by lawsuits

Global warming bill has hurdles

[ElkGroveDan]

Many scientists [such as anthropoligists, and medical researchers] believe greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are trapping heat in the atmosphere

...but very few of them are actual climatoligists.

[raftguide]

I wonder how much greenhouse gases California wouldn't be emitting if it had kept open all the nuclear power plants shuttered the past 30 years.

[calcowgirl]

Let's hope there is doubt!

It's not too late, Arnold. VETO this monstrous legislation!