Comment Log Display

    I would like to thank CARB 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. This program is one of
many policies CARB is using 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.
    However, I would 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, subsidizing adoption of cleaner PHEVs through tax
credits, and developing wind and solar projects in California.