Global Warming Solutions Act

Re "California's looming blunder on biofuels," Opinion, April 16 The Low Carbon Fuel Standard soon to be adopted by California's Air Resources Board will help kick the state's petroleum habit, contrary to Gal Luft's view. CARB's first-in-the-world low carbon standard will promote the development of cleaner alternatives to petroleum by sending clear signals to investors to reduce the carbon content of transportation fuels used in California. The standard requires all providers to reduce the carbon content of their fuels by 10% by 2020, considering "cradle to grave" emissions.

Backers of Proposition 23 , a November ballot initiative to suspend California's 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act, filed suit in Sacramento County Superior Court on Tuesday against Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown for what they called "false, misleading and unfair" language that would describe the measure on voters' ballots. The ballots, which must be printed by mid-August, would say that the measure "Suspends Air Pollution Control Laws Requiring Major Polluters to Report and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions That Cause Global Warming Until Unemployment Drops Below Specified Level for Full Year."

Backers of Proposition 23 , a November ballot initiative to suspend California's 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act, filed suit in Sacramento County Superior Court on Tuesday against Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown for what they called "false, misleading and unfair" language that would describe the measure on voters' ballots. The ballots, which must be printed by mid-August, would say that the measure "Suspends Air Pollution Control Laws Requiring Major Polluters to Report and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions That Cause Global Warming Until Unemployment Drops Below Specified Level for Full Year."

A state law that requires power plants, factories and other businesses to cut greenhouse gas emissions could cause energy prices to rise and prompt businesses to delay expansion or flee California, according to a study by the state Legislative Analyst's Office. The landmark global warming law, which is being enforced in phases, could put the state's businesses at a competitive disadvantage unless other states and the federal government come up with similar plans, the study by the nonpartisan agency said.

As the June 12 article "Western Governors Take Aim at Global Warming" reported, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was instrumental in the passage of a global warming resolution by the Assn. of Western Governors. Given the absence of action at the federal level, state leadership is our best hope for solving this important issue, and Schwarzenegger is right to push state action. Unfortunately, resolutions and promises are only good if followed by action. Schwarzenegger should endorse the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32)

A state law that requires power plants, factories and other businesses to cut greenhouse gas emissions could cause energy prices to rise and prompt businesses to delay expansion or flee California, according to a study by the state Legislative Analyst's Office. The landmark global warming law, which is being enforced in phases, could put the state's businesses at a competitive disadvantage unless other states and the federal government come up with similar plans, the study by the nonpartisan agency said.

Re "State on Verge of Greenhouse Gas Restrictions," Aug. 31 In opposing the greenhouse gas bill, Republicans in the state Legislature say the federal government should take the lead. That would be fine, except that they have never called for federal action on climate change and they know that President Bush is in denial about the problem. They're fighting for their business friends over the public interest. California once again leads the nation in environmental protection. BILL COLLINS San Diego Thanks for the Ohio jobs bill.

California's overall economy will not suffer, and many parts of it will prosper under the state's landmark http://lawglobal warming law, according to an analysis by the California Air Resources Board that rebuts an industry-led ballot effort to suspend the regulations. The 103-page report, to be released Wednesday, comes after earlier projections were criticized as flimsy. It was vetted by a panel of independent academics and policy experts. "This shows we can implement the law and that growth in the California economy will be large and unabated," said board Chairwoman Mary D. Nichols, who acknowledged that "shifting the economy away from fossil fuels and toward more renewable energy means that some businesses, including green technology, will benefit, while others will see their costs go up. "This won't go down easily," Nichols said.

The California Teamsters, one of the state's most powerful unions, has voted to oppose a proposed ballot initiative to delay enforcement of the state's Global Warming Solutions Act, the nation's toughest law to control greenhouse gas emissions. The Teamsters, with more than 250,000 members in California, is the first major union to officially oppose the measure, which is backed by a group of oil companies, Republican legislators and conservative activists. The group is gathering signatures to place the initiative on the November ballot.

Re "Greenhouse Gases Rise 85% in 4 Decades," June 21 Global warming affects the whole world, and California, being one of the largest global warming polluters on Earth, is a great place to start fighting it. Within 40 years, the state's emissions grew by 169.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. By mandating statewide cuts in pollution by greenhouse gases, the governor and other state leaders would place California at the top of the fight against global warming and set a great example for the rest of the country.

The California Teamsters, one of the state's most powerful unions, has voted to oppose a proposed ballot initiative to delay enforcement of the state's Global Warming Solutions Act, the nation's toughest law to control greenhouse gas emissions. The Teamsters, with more than 250,000 members in California, is the first major union to officially oppose the measure, which is backed by a group of oil companies, Republican legislators and conservative activists. The group is gathering signatures to place the initiative on the November ballot.

California's overall economy will not suffer, and many parts of it will prosper under the state's landmark http://lawglobal warming law, according to an analysis by the California Air Resources Board that rebuts an industry-led ballot effort to suspend the regulations. The 103-page report, to be released Wednesday, comes after earlier projections were criticized as flimsy. It was vetted by a panel of independent academics and policy experts. "This shows we can implement the law and that growth in the California economy will be large and unabated," said board Chairwoman Mary D. Nichols, who acknowledged that "shifting the economy away from fossil fuels and toward more renewable energy means that some businesses, including green technology, will benefit, while others will see their costs go up. "This won't go down easily," Nichols said.

Re "California's looming blunder on biofuels," Opinion, April 16 The Low Carbon Fuel Standard soon to be adopted by California's Air Resources Board will help kick the state's petroleum habit, contrary to Gal Luft's view. CARB's first-in-the-world low carbon standard will promote the development of cleaner alternatives to petroleum by sending clear signals to investors to reduce the carbon content of transportation fuels used in California. The standard requires all providers to reduce the carbon content of their fuels by 10% by 2020, considering "cradle to grave" emissions.

Re "State on Verge of Greenhouse Gas Restrictions," Aug. 31 In opposing the greenhouse gas bill, Republicans in the state Legislature say the federal government should take the lead. That would be fine, except that they have never called for federal action on climate change and they know that President Bush is in denial about the problem. They're fighting for their business friends over the public interest. California once again leads the nation in environmental protection. BILL COLLINS San Diego Thanks for the Ohio jobs bill.

As the June 12 article "Western Governors Take Aim at Global Warming" reported, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was instrumental in the passage of a global warming resolution by the Assn. of Western Governors. Given the absence of action at the federal level, state leadership is our best hope for solving this important issue, and Schwarzenegger is right to push state action. Unfortunately, resolutions and promises are only good if followed by action. Schwarzenegger should endorse the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB 32)

Re "Halos and pitchforks," editorial, Sept. 28 While The Times is right in supporting SB 210, it misses the mark on AB 118, a bill driven by the crisis of air pollution plaguing California that deserves the governor's support.

In California's first auction of greenhouse gas pollution credits, companies paid just a few cents more than the minimum price per ton of carbon, generating almost $290 million from the sale held last week. The state Air Resources Board announced Monday that it sold all 23.1 million allowances available for 2013 at $10.09 each, generating $233.3 million. The minimum price was $10. Additionally, the state sold only 14% of almost 40 million credits available for 2015. That generated an additional $55.8 million.