Comment Log Display

Thank you for taking global warming seriously and developing a plan
to reduce global warming pollution while at the same time creating
jobs and making California a healthier and more prosperous place to
live. The proposed program will decrease global warming emissions
from the state’s largest polluters and establish a market price on
these emissions. I am very proud and have been a strong supporter
of California's program to reach the state’s goal of reducing
global warming emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, along with
renewable energy, energy efficiency, and cleaner transportation
standards.

Parts of the proposal are strong, such as setting a limit that
declines each year, and setting a minimum price on carbon
pollution. This steady price signal will help businesses make
long-term investments in strategies to reduce global warming
emissions. 

I would like to recommend that the program be strengthened by
requiring more of the state’s largest polluters to pay for their
global warming emissions instead of giving permits away for free.
By forcing polluters to pay for the emissions they generate by
purchasing permits in an auction, we can then re-invest the auction
funds into efforts that will help us transition to a cleaner
economy and help lower energy costs for Californians—such as making
homes and businesses more energy efficient, increasing public
transit options, and developing wind and solar projects in
California.

I also urge that the language that would allow carbon offsets
through clear cutting and burning biomass be deleted from the
program. Clear cutting weakens our forests and not only makes them
susceptible to errosion and wild fires, but severly reduces the
lands ability to hold carbon in the soil, and for that matter,
water, which is so precious in California. Using methods to offset
carbon that decimate our forests and belch smoke from burning
biomass seems like an oxymoron to me. 

Thank you for hearing me on an issue that is extremely important to
me. 

Sincerely, 
Bonnie Breckenridge
San Diego, CA