Comment Log Display

December 2, 2008



Mary Nichols
Chair, California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street 
P.O. Box 2815
Sacramento, CA  95814

RE:  City of Taft Comments on California Air Resources Board
Proposed  Scoping Plan

Dear Chair Nichols:

On behalf of the City of Taft, thank you for the opportunity to
comment on the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) proposed
Scoping Plan.  

We are proud of the work we have done already on reducing our
City’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  In August 2008, the City
enrolled all of its accounts into the Pacific Gas and Electric
(PG&E) ClimateSmart Program. The ClimateSmart Program is a new
voluntary option from PG&E that enables local governments and
community residents and businesses to take action against climate
change by reducing the GHG emissions associated with their energy
use. Funds generated by the ClimateSmart Program will be invested
in new California-based GHG emissions reduction programs. 

The City is making an effort to make the public aware of the
things they can do to reduce GHG emissions and recycle. The City
published an article in the local newspapers entitled “10 things
you can do to combat Global Warming”. The article informed the
public of the everyday things they can do to reduce greenhouse
gases and improve air quality. Also, the City put together a
detailed list of all the recycling centers in the area and
published it in the local newspapers. 
      
The City also worked with PG&E to make its facilities energy
efficient in order to conserve energy and reduce costs. The City
will further encourage and implement programs to do its part in
reducing GHG emissions and improving the air quality in the
Southern San Joaquin Valley Air Basin. 

While the City of Taft is generally supportive of a number of
programs and policies outlined in the Scoping Plan, it is crucial
State policymakers take account for the means that will be needed
to achieve the goals of reducing GHG. California Health & Safety
Code (HSC) §38560 requires California Air Resources Board (CARB) to
adopt rules and regulations in an open public process to achieve
the maximum technologically feasible and cost-effective GHG
reductions. HSC §38562 (b)(5) states that CARB shall consider the
cost-effectiveness of these regulations.  

In addition, the City is supportive of the model proposed in the
Scoping Plan that recognizes that regional transportation related
to GHG targets will be set by the process outlined in Senate Bill
(SB) 375. Although, CARB should retain the 5 million metric tons
(MMT) figure for regional transportation-related GHG targets in the
Scoping Plan and let the regional target process set out in SB 375
operate as it was intended. The City will work with its regional
transportation agency to comply with SB 375.   

As State and local governments deal with critical budget shortages
and deficits, additional costs to invest in the reduction of GHG
emission technologies in the next 2 to 3 years may become more of a
financial burden for local governments. Local governments can
influence and change development design standards, but the reality
is that developers will only develop projects that will be
appealing to customers in order to stay in business.  In order to
effect the desired change, incentives must be provided to the
development community and local agencies in order to encourage more
development in areas where the reductions in GHG emissions will be
the greatest.  The City of Taft strongly encourages that CARB
consider these limitations as it moves forward with the Scoping
Plan.

Thank you again for the opportunity to comment on the Scoping
Plan.  

Sincerely,



Dave Noerr 
Mayor 


c:	League of California Cities, 1400 K Street, Ste. 400,
Sacramento, CA  95814
Robert T. Gorson, Jr., Taft City Manager
Ronald E. Brummett, Executive Director, 1401 19th Street, Suite
300, Bakersfield, CA 93301  
Taft City Council Members