California to be home to $600 million global warming research center (5-0 PUC vote)

Mercury News ^ | 4/10/08 | Matt Nauman

[Dog Gone]

Shouldn't global warming be proved before millions of dollars are committed to the solutions of a theory?

Of course not, because the solution is a political one. Transfer wealth.

We don't need no steenkin' facts.

[John Jorsett]

Spending the money on R&D is probably the least-worst “solution” to the non-problem. It's better wasting billions subsidizing e.g. ethanol-from-food, or large scale solar installations (in the hopes that economies of scale drive costs down).

Trouble is, when it's a government agency controlling the purse strings, there's an irresistible urge to meddle. I have no doubt that only the politically-correct, fashionable lines of inquiry will be pursued, lest the masters be displeased.

[Brian S. Fitzgerald]

the hot air this will generate will take 1000 years to control

[Digger]

The money will come from ratepayers of the state's major utilities, including Pacific Gas & Electric, which serves much of Northern California

These dumb-arses would not complain if 98% of their income was taken. Why do they do this? Because nobody will stand up to it. I'm all for a doubling of this cost - why not triple it? These dummies won't mind. I have to travel to San Fran-sicko twice a year for 3-4 days. I see these idiots stting in all of these starbuck-types reading that horrible newspaper like it was all truth. Sickos - all of them.

[Ditto]

Spending the money on R&D is probably the least-worst “solution” to the non-problem.

Considering that this will be a state run outfit filled with state employees, do you actually expect them to develop anything other than every increasing budget requests?

[rdl6989]

I’ve never seen on of those in Celsius.

[rdl6989]

on=one

[sheana]

$600 million would sure put up alot of solar panels on houses in the state. I bet the government could get a heckuva price on them too.
That would do a heckuiva lot more good than their damn Institute for Climate Solutions. Oh wait, if people had solar homes they wouldn’t use as much electricity and PG&E would collect alot less money.
Nevermind.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

I didn't say it was a “good” solution (if a non-problem can even have a solution). It's just the least-worst; because governments could (and are) spending many times that amount on stupider projects. Governments are also busy passing all sorts of “mandates” and other regulations to meddle into our lives.

If an actual useful innovation comes out of this, that'll be a bonus.

[AndyJackson]

it is well nigh time to sharpen the pitchfork tines and prepare to roust the buffoons from their leatherback chairs.

You forgot the part about boiling up a fresh batch of tar and collecting chicken feathers.

[AndyJackson]

Commissioners elected?? HAHAHAHA!!!

The Governor appoints the five Commissioners, who must be confirmed by the Senate, for six year staggered terms. The Governor appoints one of the five to serve as Commission President.

[hinckley buzzard]

By cramming all these well-meaning proposals into electric bills, we may be creating more problems than we’re solving

As soon as the poverts begin to whine about having to choose between power and food the government will set up a system to help pay the utility bills inflated by the government's "greening." This sh*t has no end, does it.

[devere]

Al Gore could have taught Hitler and Goebbels a thing or two about “Big Lie” technique.

[CaspersGh0sts]

“Isn’t California having major budgeting problems?”

Priorities, man! Priorities!

[informavoracious]

Irony of ironies. Arnold got voted in to replace Davis, who emptied ratepayers’ wallets and the state coffers to make Enron, et al, rich from a manufactured energy crisis. Arnold won on not being a career politician and on being independently wealthy and immune to bribes and dirty politics. He was going to root out and eliminate all the waste in Sacramento. HA! Now PG&E is going to rape the ratepayers once again. Ratepayer, taxpayer, it all boils down to us, the suckers. Obama reminds me of Arnold with his “I’m a political outsider, you can TRUST me.” HA! HA!

[eyeamok]

isn’t this “Government Establishing a Religion”?? since it is a theory based on faulty science that requires a leap of faith to prove, It is by definition a RELIGION. Where is the ACLU??
looks like I am moving to Arizona sooner than I thought.

eyeamok

[Need4Truth]

This is appalling. With a vote of only 5 people, they can raise rates to fund whatever nonsense they want. It’s no wonder that people are leaving. How often does the PUC do this, ie. raise rates to expand government?

[Charlespg]

When gubamint becomes a burden on the people instead of remaining a passive protector of all.. it is well nigh time to sharpen the pitchfork tines and prepare to roust the buffoons from their leatherback chairs.

Don't forget the tar and feathers

[stevem]

They had better get it built before the ground gets too frozen to dig a place for the foundation.

[smoketree]

Ten to one they recommend tax increases in a variety of areas.