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Dear Board Members,

The cost of air pollution has long existed and it has been a slow
gain in efforts to protect people and the environment. At the same
time, industries have been able to become well established
technologically and financially. The slow changing gears of our
economy and society toward a cleaner future needs proper
investment. In order to lead we must pick up where we left off or
pick up where we never bothered to. As much as we can look toward
the future to invest in the proceeds of cap and trade, we must also
look to the past as a lesson.

Looking to the past means finding solutions to environmental
endeavors that have both succeeded and failed. In cases of success,
preservation of natural habitats and sceneries over demolition for
new roads has stood out. Yet, the issue of traffic congestion
persists and making public transportation more user friendly needs
to happen. In addition, the acquisition of natural gas or oil off
shore has brought awareness to our need for sources of energy and
the need to preserve our coast. There is a false concept amongst
consumers that if resources are constantly being recovered and
refined the cost of those items will be reduced; although, prices
have been allowed to increase regardless of supply. It is important
that transparency on the part of the Cap-and-Trade Program make up
where a lack of transparency has existed in industry. We must,
also, look beyond these issues to see what takes place in areas
that are highly populated

A large factor in the hidden cost of our current means of energy
production and consumption are those that suffer from air
pollution. In densely populated areas there is a tendency by
families to ignore regulatory costs and, to a further extent, the
health of the most prone to air pollution complications, children.
As there currently is a means for reporting vehicle pollution, it
is seldom spoken of or reported in terms of results. There, also,
is a lack of awareness of symptoms or viability of treatment for
those who are affected or can be potentially affected by air
pollution. Looking forward, preventing exposure means urban
planning with sources of air pollution in mind and retrofitting
vehicles, such as school buses, to minimize exposure.

To make steady progress in the switch to reduced carbon sources of
energy, we must confront the hurdles that will be encountered by
localities and the efforts to capitalize by false claims that will
be made by companies. Also, investing in reliable green enterprises
in California that will create jobs, boost the economy and be
competitive at a global scale will prove to establish a viable
economic alternative. This will be a product of our educational
system and leading research schools that must not only emphasize
this in research but in teaching, as well.

Sincerely,
Carlos Naranjo Jr.

Original File Name:

Date and Time Comment Was Submitted: 2012-06-02 12:51:26