Comment Log Display

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.