Posted on 02/22/2007 5:02:00 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO Targeting truckers, contractors and others, Senate Democrats on Thursday introduced legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beyond the landmark global warming law that took effect this year.
The package of bills would ban methane releases from garbage dumps, reduce exhaust emissions from trucks, construction equipment and school buses, and force utilities to increase energy from renewable sources.
Other lawmakers, including some Democrats, and Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger immediately criticized the legislative package. They said it would overwhelm state regulators who are still trying to decide how to implement last year's global warming law.
That law imposes the country's first economy-wide cap on greenhouse gas emissions, requiring California to reduce emissions of heat-trapping gases 25 percent by 2020.
But Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, said it will take state regulators too long to develop the regulations needed to achieve the mandate.
Schwarzenegger wants to let companies participate in an emissions market where they could sell, buy or trade credits. Promoting such voluntary incentives, while praiseworthy, is too slow, Perata said.
There are things we can do right now, he said. These bills take direct action ... that will have immediate and long-term benefits.
One of the bills he announced Thursday would require that half of passenger vehicles sold in California be able to run on alternative fuels by 2020. A second could require that a portion of diesel fuel come from renewable sources.
Another would expand the renewable energy requirement for utilities. Last year, lawmakers passed separate legislation requiring that 20 percent of power come from clean sources by 2010; the Senate proposal boosts the goal to 33 percent by 2021.
Two bills would use a portion of bond money authorized by voters in November to retrofit diesel trucks, heavy construction equipment and the state's ports with emission-control devices.
Another part of the legislative package would consolidate global warming efforts from five state agencies into a single one, to be named the California Office of Climate Change Research and Assessment. There would be no new costs to taxpayers, Perata said.
Senate Democrats said their package would flesh out the new global warming law with specific regulations, some of which are in Schwarzenegger's executive orders or under consideration by state environmental regulators.
Steve Maviglio, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, said the Assembly would consider bills that improve the law that took effect in January but was cautious in assessing the new legislative package.
Before we take another giant leap, it seems prudent to implement what we have in place, Maviglio said.
Schwarzenegger spokesman Aaron McLear said in a statement that it is too soon to abandon the global warming accord just seven weeks after it became law.
Perata denied that Senate Democrats are trying to micromanage state regulators' efforts to implement the new law.
We're trying to do it cooperatively, he said. We see regulators and we see private industries as partners in this.
The alternative fuels requirement won tentative support from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which has fought other California emissions controls.
The auto alliance does support greater use of diverse fuels, spokesman Wade Newton said.
There are 60 alternative fuel vehicle models now available, up from 12 models in 2000, and many more are planned, he said.
I'm sure the teamster's union will like that.
Click graphic for full GW rundown
Ping me if you find one I've missed.
Best laugh of the day ping.
In VA, we love the green power we sell to CA. It doesn't polute VA, and they pay a premium for it, so our electricity rates are cheap, in comparison.
Of course, the GET the same old dirty power from NV, but they pay our higher rates, just for bragging rights.
LOL.
The fools and their money will soon be parted.
The reason that these idiot politicians can do this is that they do not expect any consequences. Push has come to shove, and someone needs to follow an action with an equal and total reaction.
Let's see how the state likes being without power. They can all sit there in their houses, and stare at the walls!
I know it would never happen, but I would love to see it.
This is what happens when Republicans compromise. Schwarzenegger supports global warming, but the Dims are crying "not enough!" and want more onerous regulations.
Just like them!
Sure is nice to see how well California works now that it has a second-term Republican Governor.
What do they do for a third term, draw and quarter them?
California wont be happy until every independent business man in the state has been forced out of business and out of the state.
"Another would expand the renewable energy requirement for utilities. Last year, lawmakers passed separate legislation requiring that 20 percent of power come from clean sources by 2010; the Senate proposal boosts the goal to 33 percent by 2021."
It's absolutely vital that nuclear is included as a clean energy source, since it is emissions-free and safe.
If this is not done, it become a compelte boat anchor to the economy.
As was said at a recent energy conference.
Gentlemen, we have three choices.
1) Drill for more oil and gas.
2) Re-develop nuclear capability.
3) We all go back to living like cavemen.
I will choose any combination of 1) and 2). Caveman is not my thingy.
ban methane releases
Let's see how the state likes being without power. They can all sit there in their houses, and stare at the walls!
Truckers need to converge on Sacramento,the docks and the bay bridges, park their trucks and walk away. The Dems fear nothing at this time and the Gov is brain dead...
If the dims have their way, we will all be wiping our butts with leaves again.
Only this time, we will be required to eat those leaves to save the endangered species..... prime rib.
Sorry, dude. Both (1) and (2) are entirely impolitic. That only leaves (3). Embrace the Stone Age with high taxes and without cooking fires.
How about we prove global warming exists first?
Got a link?
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