Comment Log Display

This is my observation how CARB is crippling California...
Symposium, October 18, 2011. Fresno Chamber of Commerce. Hosted by:

29th District Assembly member Linda Halderman, Chair of the
Legislative Rural Caucus 
30th District Assembly member David Valadao, Member LRC 
32nd District Assembly member Shannon Grove, Member LRC
Mona Shulman - Pacific Coast Producers, Corporate Compliance and
Governance
Ben Curti - Dairymen and Director of Land-O- Lakes Advisory Board 
Marian Balaster - Olan Spices and Vegetables 
Dorene (Dee Dee) D’Adamo - CARB/ Ag Air Quality Adv. Board. 

Mona, Ben and Marian talked about the effects and impact of AB 32,
California’s Cap and Trade law upon their industry.  The common
conclusion is all of the C&T Regulations only deal with California
and not other states or nations.  Modification to their industry is
costly with minimal impact upon our Air Quality. C&T is
unpredictable to their budgets regarding purchase of carbon credits
and corresponding carbon restriction days, usually in summer heat
which traps pollution in the Central Valley. Air Alert episodes
will be declared during summer when conditions are conducive for
ozone formation. When that occurs, the Air District urges residents
and businesses to put air-friendly practices into place that may
avert an exceedance. The industry has done nearly all it can
technologically do to reduce their carbon footprint. Their only
resort now is to reduce the production of  food. This has been
cleverly labeled “Leakage Risk” and CARB, the California Air
Resource Board, has dictated levels: high, medium and low.  Leakage
Risk equates to forced industry shut downs, loss of production,
loss of jobs and loss of food, measured in metric tons.  The far
reaching effect of C&T also will impact the energy production
industry, but again, only in California as the cost of energy in
the future will sky rocket in an effort to further clean our air.
 
August, 2011 was the first time in recorded history that the San
Joaquin Valley air basin did not incur an exceedance for the
standard. Exceeding the 1-hour ozone standard triggers federal
monetary penalties. Because of a handful of exceedances in 2010,
the air basin was assessed a $29 million penalty, which will be
paid through fees on Valley businesses and residents. In order to
reach attainment and remove a $29 million federal penalty, each of
the air basin’s monitoring stations must not exceed the ozone
threshold of 125 ppb more than three times in three years. This
year was the longest the Valley had gone without exceeding the
standard, yet with Clovis exceeding the limits at the very end of
the 2011 ozone season, the Valley cannot show attainment until
2013, the district says. This penalty does not recognize the
incredible improvements we have made across the board in our air
quality.
 
The symposium was also attended by Dorene D’Adamo (Dee Dee) of the
California Air Resource Board and AG Air Quality Advisory Board
member. She is an environmental lawyer married to a farmer! While
she acknowledged the importance of Ag trade in the Central Valley
to the world, she believes the global warming concept that mankind
can effect global temperature. California is the only state in the
nation experimenting with C&T.  The point was made about displaced
industry moving to China, in which it’s pollution is 4 days away
from reaching California. The abandoned industries will move to
other states or nations with loss of a multi-Billion dollar
industry to California. Ag production will be reduced or even cease
and air quality will be minimally impacted.  More loss of jobs,
less use of natural resources.  More poverty and hunger.  Mrs.
D’Adamo appeared unsympathetic and arrogant to industry concerns. 
Several in the audience thanked her for her considering high level
Leakage Risks which was like a child thanking a parent for not
beating them again!  The only solution will be legislation that
will reverse or slow down AB 32 like the failed 2008 Prop 23 which
stopped AB 32 until a 5.5%  State unemployment rate was attained
for 4 consecutive quarters.