Beam me to Planet Gore !
Posted on 06/24/2008 9:41:46 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO – California's top air-quality agency for the first time on Thursday will reveal a long-awaited strategy for how it expects business and the public to respond to the challenge of dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions from factories, power plants and cars.
By itself, the draft plan before the Air Resources Board will not impose specific regulations to curb greenhouse gas emissions linked to global warming. Instead, the plan is widely expected to set the course for establishing state policies that will redefine energy use in California.
No sector will be excused. The proposal will lay out blueprints for refineries, utilities, manufacturing, automakers, waste management, forestry, agriculture and even local government, among others.
“It's going to be a mix of regulations that push technology through incentives, market-based programs and fees,” said Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the air board. “It will create an incentive for people who have new ideas.”
Costs are undetermined and any new fees are not expected to be handed down immediately.
The plan may lead to surcharges on gas guzzlers that would be used to provide rebates to those who buy hybrids or other fuel-efficient vehicles. Tax breaks could be used to encourage utilities to invest in renewable energy sources and provide coupons to lower the price of energy-friendly products, from appliances to light bulbs. Mass transportation will grow in importance, perhaps taking in more state subsidies or through directives to build homes near rail and bus stops.
Business will continue to confront stiffer limits, including a looming emissions cap. Regulators could levy a tax for every ton of carbon released or, more likely, will reward companies that curb emissions by allowing industry to sell pollution credits to other businesses that cannot meet thresholds.
“I can't imagine a program that doesn't increase energy costs,” said Eloy Garcia, representing a pro-business coalition of the California Chamber of Commerce and California Manufacturers and Technology Association.
Nichols and her allies are quick to say that price increases will be offset by future savings as vehicles go farther on a tank of gas and appliances use less electricity. Conserving power and fuel will be cheaper than building plants and refineries, she argued.
Industry is not convinced, noting that the state has not finished its comprehensive economic analysis.
“Businesses and consumers are asking the simple question, 'What's it going to cost me?' ” Garcia said.
State officials say a broad economic impact study will be released before the plan is adopted.
Cities, counties and air pollution districts also will be targeted, but they likely will have more autonomy over how to best comply. Options include designing land-use plans around minimizing commutes and reducing energy consumption, such as rewarding developments that use solar or other renewable power.
It will be the role of the Air Resources Board to convert the plan into practicality. After the plan is adopted later this year, regulators will build a regulatory and incentive framework – potentially a two-year process with most of the rules going into effect in 2012.
Once unveiled, the plan no doubt will inflame the debate over the price of California's fight to curb global warming, particularly during a weak economy with gas prices approaching $5 per gallon. Some legislative Republicans have urged the governor to delay the plan's launch, even though most regulations will not go into effect until 2010 at the earliest. The air board has vast power to impose regulations, but some legislation may be needed, state officials say.
Audrey Chang of the Natural Resources Defense Council said price spikes at the pump are proof that tough measures are needed now.
“It will accelerate the availability of cars that use less gas and that have more choices of different fuels and cleaner fuels,” Chang said.
Industry representatives warn that some businesses could flee to the more business-friendly confines of other states unless regional and national approaches are adopted.
“The more California-only features we put into it, the more we're betting everyone will come around to our view of the world,” Garcia said. “There may be some danger in doing that.”
Businessman Steve Chadima, a vice president of a Pasadena-based solar-electric-power firm, said venture capitalists and renewable-energy interests are excited about the emerging green-technology era, spurred by a growing market as well as grants, subsidies and tax breaks.
“This is a market that is about to explode,” Chadima said.
Environmentalists and advocates for the poor are wary that the state will bend too much in favor of industry, providing neighboring communities with little relief from health-threatening smog.
The Natural Resources Defense Council is releasing an analysis today that suggests aggressive action will have the benefit of saving lives and money by reducing smog.
“The measures that are under consideration have the potential to tremendously improve air quality. With that comes tremendous public health benefits,” said Diane Bailey, the group's senior scientist.
Garcia cautioned that both programs would be ineffective if the state uses greenhouse gas regulations to also crack down on smog generators.
Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and mostly Democratic legislators set the course two years ago in Assembly Bill 32, a landmark measure that requires a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.
California is a world leader in the campaign to curb global warming linked to greenhouse gases primarily formed by the burning of fossil fuel. Left unchecked, climatic swings caused by even slightly higher temperatures would be disastrous for the state, from lost water supplies to tinder-dry forests.
A large share of the emission reductions to be outlined relies on existing programs or those in the works.
The most contentious is California's law to reduce tail-pipe emissions that has been stalled by the administration of President Bush. However, both leading presidential contenders have promised to clear federal roadblocks and allow the regulation to go into effect.
Other measures include reducing carbon intensity in fuels, mandating “cool paints” that reflect sunlight and cut air conditioner use, and requiring truckers to retrofit engines to cut black-soot emissions.
Perhaps the most contentious component to be worked out is the business-friendly “cap-and-trade” system.
Under this program, businesses that cannot attain reduction targets can buy credits from companies that have curbed emission levels more than required. There is also debate over offsets, which allow companies to invest in other emission-saving projects, such as carbon-absorbing forests, and to receive credit.
Questions remain over how to not punish businesses that are moving ahead faster, who should run the program, whether the state should control prices, and whether trading emission credits or collecting offsets should be confined to within California.
“I don't think (companies) have to worry that we'll be starting a California-only program,” Nichols said. “Our emphasis is on the fact that any trading has to be clearly focused on delivering results.”
What's changing: The California Air Resources Board on Thursday will unveil an outline to meet that goal.
The future: Ultimately, the board is likely to adopt a specific mix of fees, surcharges, tax breaks and other incentives encouraging businesses, public agencies and residents to reduce emissions linked to global warming.
The plan may lead to surcharges on gas guzzlers that would be used to provide rebates to those who buy hybrids or other fuel-efficient vehicles. Tax breaks could be used to encourage utilities to invest in renewable energy sources and provide coupons to lower the price of energy-friendly products, from appliances to light bulbs.
More social engineering. It will cost us big time.
It is like ‘Alice in Wonderland’ has come to life before our very eyes.
Ye Gads! The mindset of the zero-growth munchkin!
The source of green house gasses is all of the hot air coming out of the state goverment complex in Sacramento. We need to put a plug in the mouths of bureocrats and legslators to reduce THEIR emissions.
RE: CA: Air board to outline emissions strategy
By Michael Gardner
Considering that government of Ca will impose strict taxes and regulations in order to fight Global Warming, don’t you think that it is imperative that the public be shown the proof that we have manmade global warming and that the proposed changes will actually have an positive affect worth the coast we will pay?
What if manmade climate change is a hoax? Don’t we deserve to see the proof before we give our soles away?
These are the vacuous idiots that forced MTBE upon us. Arrogant ne’er-do-well jerks. Political hacks likely with no other means of supporting themselves.
Translation:
No one will be spared. Young and old alike will be completely destroyed. Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated...
Rather than improve the infrastructure - force the masses to change the accessories that rely on it.
Puts the cost on the people and provides for huge profits to the people who set the rules.
(Of course, adding demands onto existing food sources (corn) and obsolete electricity capabilities is now defined as a good idea?)
Prediction: two years from today your Prius will be worth about the same as my T-Bird because technology advances will take the same path as our cellphone: sell today's wonder car 'till it levels off, then announce the next new gimmick.
The area of the state of Kaliforneea is approximately .0008 of the Earth's area.
The Troposphere is up to about 10 miles from the Earths surface and Kalifornia has a mean elevation of about .05 of that.
Using my rudimentary math skills these data would seem to mean to me that if the complete surface of Kalifornia were cremated...the mass of the gases created by the conflagration would mean virtually nothing to Earths air quality.
Question:
Who, if anyone, is planning to market a hybrid semi-tractor?
Once all us little folks are tooling 'round with battery packs, does all the imported oil go to transporting goods from coast to coast at ten or twenty bucks a gallon?
Question:
Do the manufacturers intend to license independent shops to work on their new wonders or do they become sealed packages to be returned to the manufacturer whenever a circuit burps?
Urban legend?
The stepson claims he is looking at a used Prius, real cheap.
The politically correct "old folks" who'd bought it couldn't afford to replace the battery (?)
Sounds ro me like Ms. Nichols just keeps the governor and the legislators around the way us little people have house pets.
CARB will single handedly destroy California. It has to be the most
dangerous government agency in the history of the United States.
Another major vote will occur in September for the regulations
regarding on-highway diesel powered equipment.
Basically CARB is wanting to ban all diesel powered equipment
above 14,000 lbs 1998 and older from operating in California and
progressively get tougher.
By 2014 only 2010 and newer vehicles will be allowed to operate.
The proposed regulations also include not allowing out of state
trucks to enter California if the don’t meet the regulations.
This should help the illegal immigration problem.
Won’t be much trucks to haul the veggies to market
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/onrdiesel/onrdiesel.htm
“price increases will be offset by future savings as vehicles go farther on a tank of gas”
This is BS. for the past 4 to 5 years as emissions reduction mandates have
been placed on the diesel engine manufactures. fuel mileage has dropped
significantly. late 1990’s engines were capable of 6-7 mpg and higher
depending on driving habits, now with MPH and RPM limits in place
MPG is down to 4.5 – 5.5. at a time when diesel is $5 a gallon in Cali.
Emissions mandate is probably the major factor for Caterpillar leaving
the on-highway truck market next year, before the 2010 regulations kick in.
Luddites...
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