Posted on 09/27/2006 11:49:24 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
You're going to hear an awful lot today about Assembly Bill 32. But in my mind, the real story is elsewhere.
We've known for weeks that Governor Schwarzenegger was going to sign AB 32, the landmark global warming bill authored by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-LA) and Assemblymember Fran Pavley (D-LA) which was crafted largely through a series of intense negotiations at the end of the legislative session.
The legislation, designed to reduce carbon emissions, has been in the center of an international media spotlight for months. And it will get the star treatment today, too... with not one, but two bill signing events... one on San Francisco's Treasure Island, and one in Malibu. (One wonders how the governor will sign the bill twice; might he sign his first name in SF and his last name in SoCal?)
But yesterday afternoon, it became known that Schwarzenegger will also sign into law SB 1368 by Senate President Don Perata (D-Oakland). This legislation will require that all electricity provided to California must be generated from plants that meet the state's greenhouse gas standards-- even if the power is generated outside of California and is imported.
Because some 20% of the energy used here is generated from coal-fired power plants outside the state lines, and is purchased by utility companies in the state under long-term contracts, critics say SB 1368 will end up raising power prices. They also argue it could limit supplies, given that many non-California plants will no longer be able to sell their power to utilities in the state.
In a letter to legislators this month, a consortium of business groups argued that Perata's bill will "result in higher costs and electricity prices across the board, eventually reaching the pocketbooks of all Californians. This increase in energy costs will make California less attractive to business, having an adverse effect on the state's economy."
Environmentalists disagree with the business community, as they do on many issues. But these business organizations have long been the foundation of Schwarzenegger's political base. And they have openly wondered how the governor will square his often stated interest in protecting the state's economy with this new law.
All of this makes makes SB 1368 the more interesting story of the day, in my mind. Environmentalists love it, businesses largely hate it... and the governor is taking what some might think the more politically risky road by signing it.
Proof that Mr Meyers is a blithering idiot.
So, how does the bill affect existing long-term contracts? Are the suppliers on the hook to update their plants, or is there a clause to exempt existing contracts?
I see some lawyers getting richer off of this mess.
Every resident should hate it. It will make everything more expensive--absolutely everything--just to satisfy some envirowacko chicken-little doomsayers!
Said contracts are at the inflated prices of the power cisis of 2002. I doubt the bill can, nor do I think it would affect existing contracts. This bill isn't what it would appear to be.
I see some lawyers getting richer off of this mess.
A lot more than them. Please read the whole post.
The average businesses do hate it, don't they?
I am not talking about the vulture capitalists and various companies that use every government tool they can to manipulate the market and enrich themselves. Other than those on the receiving end of the follow-the-money trail, why would any business like this?
The Terminator should know better. I think he has become and enviro wheeney!
Sure, but what do they matter to the CCoC?
When Mr. Meyer blathers about "business hates it" the only businesses that make noise the mediots hear are those who can afford professional spokesmouths.
Long read, but worth it.
Nasty, isn't it?
The problem is global. What we see here is just a fair sized piece of it.
What problem. There has no global warming seen in 20 years of satellite monitoring. There were times, in the past that was warmer than now and I'm tired of being roiled with Global Warming Alarms. Before this were the Global Cooling Alarms of the 70s.
If you want Global warming. Talk to Mr. GlobalWarmedOver himself - Al Gore. He can give you a lot of hot air.
The "global problem" to which I referred is using environmentalism as a foil for global corruption.
Why not try reading the linked post to which Fudd referred instead of assuming that I was even talking about global warming?
Back to brown outs and black outs again, especially in So Cal where imported juice is often from Arizona's coal burners.
What is your position on whether the office corrupts the politician or the corrupt politicize the office?
The NRDC is a favorite target of yours; wasn't it founded by two fellow graduates coincident with the formation of the EPA with the expectation of creating both a new worldview and a comfortable living for themselves?
Would you consider public office for yourself?
This would also apply in the neighboring county, San Mateo County. It's interesting to observe. One thing that gives me the heebs is the not if but when we get a major fire ala the Uhmunhum - Loma Prieta blaze in say, Woodside. Wanna talk about an insurance hit! When I walk in our backcountry, the amount of understory and deadfall is totally out of control and the densities are probably 3 times what they ought to be. Scary, scary, scary!
This would also apply in the neighboring county, San Mateo County. It's interesting to observe. One thing that gives me the heebs is the not if but when we get a major fire ala the Uhmunhum - Loma Prieta blaze in say, Woodside. Wanna talk about an insurance hit! When I walk in our backcountry, the amount of understory and deadfall is totally out of control and the densities are probably 3 times what they ought to be. Scary, scary, scary!
Limited government limits the potential for corruption. It is up to us to elect leaders who will institute systems capable of adressing complex problems with simple solutions within that scope. In that regard, the public needs education badly as to how conservative solutions based in free enterprise can address complex problems such as environmental management.
The NRDC is a favorite target of yours; wasn't it founded by two fellow graduates coincident with the formation of the EPA with the expectation of creating both a new worldview and a comfortable living for themselves?
Hard to read their initial motives, but it's certainly turned out that way.
Would you consider public office for yourself?
I'd rather teach prospecitve candidates. I've actually done that a couple of times.
You can tell our property from the surroundings from 20,000 feet on GoogleEarth. If you want, I'll FReepmail you the coordinates.
-b-
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