Comment Log Display

Californians have lead the country in improving our bottom line by
protecting the environment, so it's a lot to say that the state has
reached a critical historical point with its effort to cut carbon
pollution.

I think it would be better to say that the efforts we've made so
far, and the profits, have been leading up to this big change for
decades. We've known that there was such a thing as too much
atmospheric greenhouse gases. What we didn't know was that national
governments would scandalously ignore their own science academies
and leave the cleanup work for local governments to do.

Fortunately we have the necessary experience.

We know how to grow markets for green practices & products. We know
how to set price signals to spur investment in cleaner equipment,
safer procurement, and less waste. We know how to reach necessary
high standards in progressive steps, and we know how to leap ahead
when need & opportunity present.

It's no wonder we voted so strongly in support of building a clean
energy economy in California: in a time of difficultly, when so
many of us are afraid or hurting, we're not the kind of people who
walk away from a chance to make a big move forward.

That said, because of the state's revenue shortfalls, and both
federal & private investor reluctance, I think it would be wise to
put that price on carbon pollution as soon as possible, by
increasing the share of permits that are auctioned. That may sound
counterintuitive to opponents of fast implementation, but the
undeniable facts are that the cost of implementation is at a
historic low, and new opportunities are more greatly needed now
than at any time since the 1930s.

Thank you.