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California Group Moves to Regulate Greenhouse Gases
September 6, 2006
The California Legislature made an historic move last
week to limit greenhouse gas emissions by passing Assembly Bill (AB)
32. Under AB-32, California industries will reduce emissions of
carbon and other greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020. This means
emissions reductions of almost 25% from today's levels. This effort
will require a cap-and-trade system that will begin to take effect
in 2012. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced last
week he will sign the bill.
See the September 1 article in the Washington Post:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/31/AR2006083100146.html
See also the California Chapter of the Union of
Concerned Scientists, which published several reports supporting and
a fact sheet summarizing the legislation:
http://www.climatechoices.org/
Although the rules have yet to be written for how it
will be enforced, AB-32 could have far-reaching impacts on the
electric utility and coal industries in Colorado and the West. Many
coal-fired power plants currently under construction are targeting
the power-hungry markets of California and the Southwest. If
California limits imports of electricity generated from conventional
coal-fired power generators, the markets for their electricity will
be restricted. |
