The future the California economy will be in limbo for decades should AB 32 be signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger. The effort to save us from global warming (an unfortunate name that conveys images of the holidays and family sitting around a ‘warm’ toasty fireplace) the Democratic-led legislature and Democratic-led Governor’s office will seriously damage California’s chance to be competitive in the global economy.
The goal: reduce green-house gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020
Today’s LA Times article gives some good background of the bill. Often quoted Claremont McKenna College government professor Jack Pitney claims that Schwarzenegger has effectively taken yet another issue away from Angelides with this move. No argument there from me. But at what cost? Think about how many voters have held their nose and supported this Republican Governor solely because he has worked to make CA more hospitable to jobs. They not only have a diminished reason to do so now, but more to the point, they may not be employed in the state for much longer.
The Wall Street Journal’s article today delves a bit deeper into some of the motivations behind the legislation.
**There is more – click the link**
August 31st, 2006 at 12:00 am
Most energy experts that do not wear Birkenstocks or play hacky sack will tell you the only reliable and practical way to generat CO2-free energy is with nuclear power. California law prohibits siting nuclear power plants until the federal government identifies a permanent waste storage facility. Unless that law is changed, nuclear plants will be built in other states and new transmission lines will bring the energy to California.