Comment Log Display

As Education Director for West Coast Green I work with officials
from the CPUC, CEC, Bay Area Air District, Bay Area governments,
and many businesses and organizations dedicated to creating a clean
economy for California. We thank you for your work crafting and
implementing AB32, and strongly believe that implementing a
Cap-and-Trade program for California is the right step to take for
our economy, our environment, and our communities.

But this policy could be strengthened by holding polluters
accountable, auctioning pollution allowances, and creating a robust
fund to help ratepayers in CA offset the costs of transitioning to
a low-carbon economy.

As I wrote for Climate Biz.com
(http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/09/01/why-were-asking-wrong-questions-cap-and-trade):

Cap and Trade Boosts Economy and Saves Money:
The most recent economic analysis released by the Western Climate
Initiative in July, the proposed cap-and-trade program would
provide net savings across the region of $100 billion by 2020 and
spur long-term job growth. These cost savings are in addition to
other benefits, such as improved public health, and economic
development across a wide range of industries from investing in a
cleaner, greener economy.

Cap and Trade Doesn't Hurt Business and Saves Families Money:
A host of recent reports has concluded that the costs of capping
carbon would have a minimal impact on small businesses and S&P 500
companies alike, and would not compromise economic competitiveness
or force jobs overseas. Likewise, the most recent EPA analysis of
the American Power Bill found it would cost American families
somewhere in the range of $100 a year, while California's new
cap-and-trade program could actually provide net savings of $100 a
year to the average family. 

In fact, WCI calculates that enacting a cap-and-trade program could
provide net savings to the whole region of $12 billion a year.
While significant, this is still less than 1 percent of total
economic activity in the region. This means the net impact to most
businesses and consumers -- in either cost or savings -- will be
largely negligible.

We urge you to continue your work implementing a robust
Cap-and-Trade program for California by auctioning permits in a way
that raises money for California businesses, families, and
communities.