First Name | Jennifer |
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Last Name | De Lurgio |
Email Address | environmental-steward@hotmail.com |
Affiliation | |
Subject | Cap-and-Trade Concerns |
Comment | Greetings Chairwoman Nichols and Board Members: I am an energy management student at the wonderful Environmental Studies Division of De Anza Community College, and an Environmental Programs intern at the City of Morgan Hill. I am inspired by AB 32 legislation, and am committed to helping California succeed in it's specified goals. As you know, climate chaos due to human-caused actions contributing to global warming may very well mean the end of our lives as we know them on this beautiful planet. Because California is a sentinel for our country, and indeed the world, we need solid and exact measures to ensure we meet AB 32 emissions reductions requirements. I am concerned that with a number of aspects to the the proposed cap-and-trade program. First, a cap-and-trade program is vulnerable to special interests manipulation which is often hard to prove. Entities can fudge accounting so that CO2 emissions actually increase, even though reductions are claimed. Emissions reductions results would be too hard to quantify, enforce, and verify. Although certain businesses would profit from the market mechanism of cap-and-trade, the customer will pay more, while getting less. The Scoping Plan proposes that up to 49% of emissions reductions will be allowed to take place from offsets. Much less innovation and alternatives would be encouraged with a cap-and-trade program allowing offsets, than would with a carbon tax. Californian residents will also see less benefits as offsets for California emissions are allowed to occur outside of the state. As you know, many environmental and economic experts are in favor of a carbon fee. The IPCC estimates that in order to stabilize GHG emissions at an acceptable level, a tax of around $50 for each metric ton would be needed worldwide. I believe a cap-and-fee program would be a much better alternative and should be thoroughly considered before California sets the precedent with measures which are inadequate to get the job done. Thank you for reading my comments! -Jennifer De Lurgio |
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted | 2008-12-10 11:55:46 |
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