Comment Log Display

Many Californians support bold action to combat global warming
pollution.
 
1. "Early Action" vs. "Long-Term". Make sure CARB's "early action
items" lay the ground work for a long-term strategy transitioning
into a low-carbon energy economy and infrastructure. Both early
and later solutions must be commensurate with the scale of the
problem. If we "overdo" solutions that would be ok.  We need to do
our absolute best to tackle worst case scenarios immediately.

Please adopt the following early actions...
- Reduce diesel emissions from heavy-duty trucks;
- Require ports to provide shore-side electrification to vessels;
- Require cement factories to use energy more efficiently.

2. Electrify Transportation. Take action now to bring back
California's zero-emission mandates. This means putting plug-in
hybrids and electric cars front and center. Electrification is one
important avenue to achieve state CO2 reduction targets.

3. Biofuels. Biofuels have an important role to play in reducing
carbon emissions, especially in heavy vehicles -- but only if high
environmental and carbon-avoidance standards are set. Biofuels
should come from sources that don't damage the environment, from
local supply, minimizing chemical, carbon and energy inputs in
production and transport. Biofuels must be grown and processed in
sustainable ways.

4. Diesel emissions. We support reducing diesel emissions by a
variety of means. Recent introduction of ultra-low sulfur diesel
is a critical first step that will allow advanced filtration
technology to clean up diesel to even higher levels. Reducing
carbon emissions should be included in this effort.

5. Biodiesel. Expanded biodiesel use is an important carbon
reduction strategy that is superior to existing ethanol
technology. Biodiesel fuel must meet AB32 standards as well as
traditional air pollution tests. CARB needs to expand availability
of biodiesel fuel and work with manufacturers to ensure that cars
that use biodiesel are readily avaiable to consumers.

6. CARB should use its "bully pulpit" to push sensible
legislative, regulatory and local policies even if they are
outside CARB's jurisdiction. There are many examples: improved
public transit, better traffic control, proper urban planning, and
cleaner electricity supply.  Electric vehicles will have far
greater benefit if the 33-percent Renewable Portfolio Standard by
2020 is given the force of law soon enough to avoid building
thousands of megawatts of new fossil fuel power plants that are
planned by utility companies.

7. Methane capture from landfills. Diversion of organic waste from
landfilling to composting/methane operations should get higher
priority. Methane capture from landfills themselves is problematic
-- recent studies show only 20 percent over the lifespans of actual
landfills. So zero-waste strategies -- shrinking the waste stream
and landfilling less and thus avoiding more methane emissions --
will be powerful. Any carbon permit trading regime should avoid
increasing financial incentives for landfilling organic waste and
underregulating methane emissions -- which will happen if they are
excluded from compliance with a carbon cap.
 
CARB should be actively supporting policies which are necessary to
fulfill its mandate under AB 32 to reduce Carbon Emissions.
 
The above measures will both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
protect public health by reducing toxic air pollution.

The whole world is watching the Air Board to see whether it is
willing to take enforceable steps now to implement California’s
historic global warming law.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE DURING THIS CRITICAL PERIOD
OF TIME!