First Name | Travis |
---|---|
Last Name | Lyons |
Email Address | rwildfire25@hotmail.com |
Affiliation | |
Subject | California's global warming program is a wonderful step forward--strengthen it! |
Comment | Firstly I would like to thank you for taking the threat of global warming seriously in a time when well-documented scientific findings are constantly under attack by polluters and their allies. It is incredibly heartening that my home state has developed a plan to reduce global warming pollution while at the same time creating jobs and making California a healthier, more prosperous place to live. Much of the proposal is very strong--it is vital, for instance, to set a price on carbon pollution and a limit that declines each year. This steady price signal will help businesses make long-term investments in strategies to reduce global warming emissions. However, the plan needs to be strengthened to be as effective as possible. More of the state’s largest polluters should be required to pay for their global warming emissions, rather than permits being given away for free. Forcing polluters to pay for the emissions they generate by purchasing permits in an auction will allow us to re-invest the auction funds into efforts that will help us transition to a cleaner economy and help lower energy costs for Californians. Such efforts include making homes and businesses more energy efficient, increasing public transit options, and developing wind and solar projects in California. Regarding the role of carbon offsets in the plan, it is vital that you ensure that offsets cannot be sold more than once through different registries, as this would negate the purpose of allowing offsets at all. CARB's role in offset decisions should, in addition, be defined more clearly in order to account for potential conflicts-of-interest in third-party offset registries which receive money from offset developers. Furthermore, over-reliance on offsets can delay investment in transforming California's heavy-polluting sectors. As such, the offset limit should be lowered and the majority of the cap and trade program's required emissions reductions should come from those polluting sectors. In conclusion, I thank you for all the effort you have put into this program and I am encouraged by the fact that California continues to be a leader in the fight against climate change. |
Attachment | |
Original File Name | |
Date and Time Comment Was Submitted | 2010-12-11 01:20:14 |
If you have any questions or comments please contact Clerk of the Board at (916) 322-5594.