Posted on 01/31/2011 6:14:57 AM PST by Hojczyk
"Green chemistry" isn't just a slogan. It is a full employment concept for government regulators and private-sector lawyers that will have the effect of costing American business billions even as it produces minimal benefits for consumers. Just like "global warming" and "clean energy," "green chemistry" is a phrase containing worlds within it, almost all of them dangerous or downright deadly to market-driven innovation and productivity. We are entering the third decade of the "green chemistry" movement, and a handy guide to its history is in Katharine Sanderson's article in the Jan. 6 issue of Nature.
The would-be regulators of all chemistry have not had an easy time of it these past 20 years. Anderson quotes a proponent of the movement as telling her that "a mention of green chemistry in a gathering of chemists can still provoke sighs and eye-rolling."
Among government bureaucrats eager to expand their regulatory reach, however, that mention is likely to produce clasped and rubbing hands, while manufacturing executives reach for the aspirin and their lawyers reach for the time sheets. "Green chemistry" got a toehold in California and from there will climb its way on to the backs of the rest of America.
Then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a pair of bills into law in September 2008 that together are known as California's "Green Chemistry Initiative." In June of last year, California's Department of Toxic Substances Control released a draft set of regulations that according to the department "sets forth a process for the design of safer products," while creating "a systematic, science-based process to evaluate chemicals of concern in products." The regulations mandated that "manufacturers seek safer alternatives to toxic chemicals in their products, and create tough governmental responses for lack of compliance."
The proposed rules were then massaged and reworked, and when the 92-page final set of commands was issued in November, the "green community" was disappointed with the "green initiative," and demanded a rewrite with tougher requirements.
In late December, Team Arnold caved and postponed issuance of the new regs, saying in a letter to the key legislator, California Assemblyman Mike Feuer, that the department "has agreed to take additional time to be responsive to the concerns raised and revisit the proposed regulations."
Now the new governor, Jerry Brown, will superintend the rules that almost certainly will mandate testing and labeling changes on tens of thousands of products and almost certainly trigger a new generation of product recalls.
"Take the most onerous regulatory regimes you have heard of," Liz McNulty, one of my law partners, told me, "like those associated with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act or the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act."
"Take whatever you think is the worst regulatory regime out there, and expand it exponentially," she continued, "and then you get a glimpse of what is coming to California."
McNulty is already a guru on California's costly Proposition 65, which spawned a million useless warning signs around the state, but now her office light is on late figuring out what California will do next to manufacturers.
With taxes already sky-high and the regulatory environment among the worst in the nation, some manufacturers will simply join the exodus of job creators to Texas and elsewhere. But the long arm of California's regulatory zealots won't let them go at the state border -- not if their products are going to circulate in the Golden State.
For a state with 12 percent unemployment, the zeal for new job-killing laws and rules seems insane, but proponents have told themselves the new dictates are "technology-forcing" and thus job creators.
California has had two decades of such "job creators," and the consequences are obvious. A dead economy is apparently also a "green economy."
I predict that you will begin to see products advertised that say "Not available in California."
Speaking of “green chemistry,” I recently bought a jug of mineral spirits for cleaning up around the wood shop and found that Home Depot only sells this new “green” product. I figured I’d give it a try. It’s advertised as odor free, cleaner for the environment, etc.
I dumped some it into a bucket and tossed some stain brushes and tools into. I came back and hour later, and the brush bristles were still sticky, and the tools were no cleaner than when I put them in. I took it back for a refund and asked them if they sold REGULAR mineral spirits. The reply was no they did not. So I simply said, “Well, until you do, I’ll be shopping for my stain products at Lowe’s.”
Screw the green crap. I’m cautious with the use and disposal of volatile chemicals. This reminds me of the removal of phosphates from dishwashing detergent. The “green” crap never works as well as the regular counterparts.
A mean, green, job killing machine.....................
Why do any businesses keep trying to do anything there?
“This reminds me of the removal of phosphates from dishwashing detergent”
Somewhat ironically, that same paint aisle in Home Depot sells boxes of TSP (Tri-sodium phosphate), as a paint de-glosser. A few tablespoons of that added to the dishwasher with each load, and presto - the dishes get clean again (just make sure you don’t get the TSP substitute that they also sell).
A new building code took effect that basicly states you can only use LED lighting in 50% of your house. If LED lighting is so good and it is at a fraction of the cost why not use it though out the house.
Well seems the problem is if we all did that So. California Edision Co. would suffer a huge drop in demand and they would lose money.
See folks, this green crap is all about money.
AHNOLD N MOONBEAM....lead the way.....
I predict that you will begin to see products advertised that say “Not available in California.””
I have been told that the Jeep Liberty is already in that category.
Friend tried to buy one in So Cal & was told he could not.
I’m all for green. I prefer good old natural vinegar to other cleaners for many things around the house. But sometimes you just need the nasty stuff. I’d have been screwed a while back if they didn’t still sell acetone.
My business uses dye powders that are made in and shipped from CA. They all carry a statute code that warns that fine particles can be inhaled and are therefore dangerous. Some colors/formulations carry a hazardous substance warning. But they are still manufactured and sold, so far. Since both companies are run by liberals and cater to greenies, they may be forced out of business. I hope not.
I wear gloves, don’t stick my nose into the dry material and avoid ingesting it. Has worked just fine for 26 years.
We use vinegar everywhere in the house. For the workshop and tool cleanup, nothing strips better than good old fashioned mineral spirits. I use denatured alcohol for stripping cosmoline from antique rifles; works like a charm!
Can you use a bit of TSP in the clothes washer also?
LED is very expensive -- up front. The benefit is that when done right they last almost forever in standard living environment temperature ranges, and they use less electricity. Maybe they're saying 50% because of how expensive it is to install.
Well seems the problem is if we all did that So. California Edision Co. would suffer a huge drop in demand and they would lose money
They definitely would. Maybe the greenies want that demand to be replaced by electric cars? There's already talk about how much stress the popular adoption of electric cars would put on the grid.
I tried the “green” stuff to get window tint off a car. It doesn’t work. Acetone is nasty stuff, I hate being around it, but it works beautifully to remove tint. The windows come out squeaky clean, not a trace of glue.
ping
I’ve used a 10:1 water:denat alcohol mix to do the very same thing and it worked pretty well.
I agree, acetone is way too caustic for my taste, but it does get super glue off of just about anything.
I don't think you're supposed to be eating it though ... [smile]
When you’re cleaning super glue off your fingers and can’t get that last little piece off... sometimes teeth just get the job done.
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