Comment Log Display

 Thank you 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. I 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, and developing wind
and solar projects in California.