Air board will do the real work on global warming (AB 32 - "revolutionary changes")

Sacramento Bee ^ | October 5, 2006 | DANIEL WEINTRAUB

[calcowgirl]

The legislation California enacted last month to seize for itself a leading role in the fight against global warming is only the beginning of what will likely be five years of intense, behind-the-scenes battles over just how to reduce greenhouse gases to the level emitted in 1990, when California's population and its economy were much smaller than they are today.

AB 32 was titled the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. But the bill does little more than establish the goal of reducing the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent below levels now projected for 2020. That's about 174 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, which, by volume, is equivalent to filling 64 Empire State Buildings from the lobby to the tower above the observation deck.

Most of the heavy lifting will be done by the Air Resources Board, an 11-member panel that includes 10 citizen regulators and one full-time chairman appointed by the governor. The legislation grants the board extraordinary powers to set policies, draw up regulations, lead the enforcement effort and levy fees to finance it all and fines to punish violators.

What will it take to achieve the benchmark? Consider that California could take every one of its 14 million passenger cars off the road, and still be less than halfway toward its goal. Shutting down 100 state-of-the-art, natural-gas-fired power plants still wouldn't get us there. Closing the entire cement industry, although it is a major source of greenhouse gases, wouldn't finish the job.

In fact, none of those draconian steps will be taken -- but regulators hope many smaller steps together can get California to its ambitious goal without ruining the state's economy.

[saganite]

Solution is simple and probably already underway. Move all industry and power production out of Kalifornia. Kali loses and other states benefit. A win/win.

[Boazo]

[headstamp]

"What will it take to achieve the benchmark? Consider that California could take every one of its 14 million passenger cars off the road, and still be less than halfway toward its goal. Shutting down 100 state-of-the-art, natural-gas-fired power plants still wouldn't get us there. Closing the entire cement industry, although it is a major source of greenhouse gases, wouldn't finish the job."

This illustrates the absolute insanity of the "green" agenda.

[Amerigomag]

I love a republican democracy.

Two more than half of the legislature can approve a measure that empowers a regulatory agency, outside the control of the electorate, to write public code, not under constitutional restraints, that controls the life of the electorate.

Ain't it grand.

If you voted for a Democrat or Schwarzenegger, you are getting what you deserved and the rest of us are purchasing Vaseline. Don't expect an invitation to the next Christmas party.

[MaDeuce]

If 3/4 of the States in the country could get up the votes and 2/3 of the Congress ... Commifornia could be tossed out of the union ... in order to save the union.

[concentric circles]

"...These are revolutionary changes, breathtaking in their scope. The technical, legal and regulatory grind to come will represent one of the greatest social engineering projects ever undertaken by state government. It will deserve close scrutiny."

I just wish Weintraub had at least given the briefest lip service to the fact that the scientific argument for reducing greenhouse gases remains unproven. Another question remains unasked; will the greatest greenhouse gas by any measure be unregulated, will the board address the production of water vapor?

[theBuckwheat]

Stand back and watch the wreckage as they solve a non-problem.

[samm1148]

Meanwhile Californians will turn to the falling sky problem. Massive draconian tax increases against businesses were suggested as the primary means to solve that global faux crisis.

[sergeantdave]

"The legislation grants the board extraordinary powers to set policies, draw up regulations, lead the enforcement effort and levy fees to finance it all and fines to punish violators."

Well, there you go - unelected, unaccountable bureaucrats annointed with the power to goosestep all over the citizenry. If the unelected bureaucrats engage in thievery, stomp on citizens rights or round up violators of whatever rules the bureaucracy writes, that's perfectly okay.

That kind of system is called soviet socialism. If the unelected bureaucrats need to be removed from power, see the Declaration of Independence, America, 1776. Follow instructions.