Brown signs aggressive climate change bill
By Michael R. Blood and Judy Lin, AP
Gov. Jerry Brown signed an ambitious climate change bill on Wednesday, aiming to increase the state’s use of renewable electricity to 50 percent and make existing buildings twice as energy-efficient by 2030.
“The goal is clear, and California is in the forefront,” Brown said at a signing ceremony at the hilltop Griffith Observatory, where a hazy downtown Los Angeles provided the backdrop.
Brown tried for an even stronger measure that would have also directed state regulators to enforce a 50 percent drop in petroleum use in the next 15 years, but oil interests defeated that part of the package.
He characterized the loss as a short-term setback and insisted that the world needs to wean itself off fossil fuels as quickly as possible.
“What has been the source of our prosperity now becomes the source of our ultimate destruction if we don’t get off it. And that is so difficult,” Brown said.
The Legislature approved the watered-down SB350 in the final hours of the legislative session on Sept. 11.
The measure does not specify how California will achieve these far-reaching goals, deferring the details to the state’s Air Resources Board, Energy Commission and Public Utilities Commission. The boards’ members are mostly appointed by the governor and have broad influence over the state’s economic life.
Lawmakers blamed a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign by oil companies, which raised fears of job losses, for defeating the petroleum reduction requirement.
Both houses are controlled by Democrats, but Brown accused Republicans of failing to take action to slow global warming. He recalled that Ronald Reagan, a Republican, was California’s governor when the state created the Air Resources Board in response to the smog in Los Angeles, and that Republican President Richard Nixon signed the Clean Air Act.
“That was a time when Republicans really got it. We hope they are going to come back to the good old days of Reagan and Nixon, when people cared about clean air and clean water,” he said.
Brown, a Democrat, began the year with a vow to push the most aggressive greenhouse-gas emissions benchmark in North America through the Legislature.
His goal builds on landmark legislation signed by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006. That legislation established the first U.S. program to cap and trade emissions as a way to reduce pollutants to 1990 levels by 2020.
That program, second only to the European Union’s in size, imposes extra costs on polluting businesses and has kept the state on track to get a third of its electricity from renewable sources in five more years.
Brown took his campaign around the world, even meeting with the pope in July. But he lost a key political battle among moderate Democrats in Sacramento amid intense lobbying by the oil industry and California’s utilities.
Some lawmakers were willing to accept forced cuts in petroleum use if the Legislature could have more power over the Air Resources Board, which has been implementing the greenhouse gas emissions law.
But Brown refused to give up what he sees as his executive authority.
Brown said cleaner-running cars and energy-efficient appliances will improve the environment, but he warned that the world’s coming transition from carbon-producing fuels to solar, wind and other renewable energies will be difficult.
“I never want to minimize the task ahead,” he said. “It’s not going to be easy, and it’s not going to come overnight. There is no quick, one thing you can do.”
Like every bill this lunatic liberal signs from the liberals, it will drive away huge numbers of people and business and the liberals don’t care as they replace them with poverty recruits to get on the system. They will make energy much more costly and business will be leaving in droves along with the taxpayers. These endless unicorn and rainbow dream bills are lunatic fantasy for a failed state.
More lipservice and ribbon cutting while the middle class bears the cost. Sorry Gov Brown but you don’t get it. Once you break the back of the middle class who pays for all of this stuff? Not the poor, illegal or the unemployed.
What i hate about this bill is that it sets a goal, but doesnt tell us how we will reach the goal. Stating that we will make all existing building twice as energy efficient in 15 yrs. sounds great but how will it be done? Has there been money allocated to implement it? I know there is rebate prgrams out there to provide 50% rebates on LED lights as well as the fixtures. Liberty energy will also provide free energy efficient lights. I know of multiple local hotels that would have loved to know about this proir to renovating.
To meet this goal they will need a outreach program that would include going door to door to each business. Liberty did a presentation last month to the local hotels and none of them were aware of this program but were excited about the savings in energy it could bring.
I can see us getting to 50% on renewable if we increase efficiency, as we will use less electricity.
FINGER POINTERS
Is Moonbeam extremely neurotic or just plain psychotic. And don’t forget his wack job cohorts in the legislature who go along willingly.
Nature, really that is about the most immature post. Your post would be much better if you suggested ways to reach these goals. Heck your suggestions on energy conservation would be better than this bill, because it does not tell us how to reach it. It can be done, but it will require massive outreach and better tech. to bring down the cost of renewable energy. Like what Musks Solar City company came out with last week.
Luckily for all the citizens of California, the cutting-edge environmental changes made by the last generation have made our air breathable and our water drinkable. If we had succumbed to today’s clones of the duped and ignorant back then our families would be choking to death and poisoned by people with the same lame arguments about ignoring the problems. Choosing to do nothing, because one thinks that is an option, is what’s really terminally psychotic.
Gorsh & justn@ss, yep that actor Ah-nold did such a great job… NOT!
And by some “Miracle” all those lazy goof offs in California keep pushing the States Per Capita GDP up and up… “PRAISE MAN IN WHITE CLOUD… IT’S A MIRACLE!” WE JUST PASSED BRAZIL IN WORLD WIDE GDP!
Seems the on “mooning” going on is IN YOUR FACES!
Relo, we have heard that “no details” argument before: Space Race to the Moon, Energy efficient vehicles, solar power…
Perhaps, if we took the Subsides for Oil/Gas/Coal and redirected that money to Solar/Wind/Bio/Thermal we would not have to wait so long for major improvements.
This recipe for disaster is giving the state more power to limit energy sources and it will cost all who use it instate while the majority of states will use the most economical sources that benefit their citizens and keep the rates lower. This is what causes taxpayers and business to leave as they rapidly are while being replaced by illegals and refugees and an ever growing welfare state system that wants complete control over the chains of poverty they place people into.
Justn@ss. THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE GOVERNOR BROWN ACTUALLY DOING HIS JOB FOR A CHANGE INSTEAD OF MAKING UP BUMPER STICKER SLOGANS!
The recipe for disaster is in the US House of Representatives with the “Brain Dead Boehner No Mas’ Do Nothing Morons” in charge who can’t even decide on which hand to use to wipe their collective Tea Bagger Butts!
And all you can add to the conversation is your typical “fear the illegals” and “fear the welfare Mom’s” crap! Better ask McClintock which hand to use @ss.
Your moronic Neanderthal logic still can NOT explain how California is blowing past Brazil on the World economic stage! LOL!
Go back to your Ebola Border scare tactics @ss, that might stir up a couple of your “species” to grunt in.
The biggest threat to the climate and water resources are senile Jerry and his clueless Delta Diversion tunnels to LA plan added to his multi-billion train to nothing and nowhere. If he was even remotely thinking to reverse impact on the climate he would just enforce federal immigration law and deport the millions illegally using the resources of this state. He could greatly reduce the impacts on the environment and save the billions spent on prisons, schools, and welfare for non citizens. This is just common sense that used to be called normal rational thought from people who used to serve their state.
Justice let me see if I’m understanding you. Climate/global warming issues would be reversed by simply deporting all of California’s population of undocumented workers?
WOW! That would be funny if you didn’t really mean it. But of course you are dead serious, aren’t you?
Justn@ss knows absolutely nothing about the Delta Water Tunnel Project and tries to call Jerry Brown senile?! LOL!
He Justn@ss! Who do you think is going to show up for work in South Carolina to clean up the stinking mess… White Caucasians or Hispanics?
Rock, none of these things mentined by you have certain goals set by a state goverment by a certain date. You seem to want to argue cause it feels good. I would much rather see a law that sets goals with how we are going to do it. IE we will get this much by getting biz to upgrade lightin and we are spending this much in out reach. we will get this much via solar had here are the plans on how we will achieve it. We will get this much from geothermo, and here is how we will promote it. We will get this much by retro fitting our hydro electric dams with better equipement.
I WANT TO SEE A WELL THOUGHT OUT PLAN, not something like this that just increases the power of a regulatory agency.
you seem to think that we dont subsidize solar energy. You may want to look up how much subsidies they get. Its alot.
Elon Musk is doing alot in the solar filed, just this week his company announced a breakthrough in increasing solar panel efficiancies, and a purchase of another company.
Yes, rock, moonbutt is senile. I watched him with a glaze in his eyes invite ALL MEXICANS….legal or ILLEGAL in to California. This was as he was rubbing elbows with the corrupt president of Mexico who found his way to sacto. I have no problem with the LEGAL ones coming here, but he invited ALL ILLEGALS as well. Where does he think they will live, and where will water come from for the additional millions coming here illegally?! Who will pay their welfare money? WE WILL. Yes, America is surely the land of the free…….free handouts if you are illegal, or otherwise choose not to work. Cali is the poster child for out of control liberalism and whacked ideas.
BTW: I don’t imagine you will be willing to help out in South Carolina.
It is a myth that legal citizens don’t or won’t do the vast majority of jobs in this country and it is true that underpaid illegals and shysters who underpay them try to steal jobs, they should be arrested for it. Senile Jerry is quoted as saying there isn’t one thing he or people can do to help conserve resources, so he is helpless as he states. He could enforce the immigration law and immediately conserve resources. Liberals are the greatest of liars and frauds and are using climate change for state government expansion and control.
Relo, why spend any energy writing ideas or suggestions when the finger pointers say the exact thing over and over, day after day and no matter what great ideas or suggestions are posted the climate haters and anti obama/brown freaks will only continue to POINT FINGERS and spew hatred, so I will continue to point out the obvious cuz it makes me feel better. You got a problem with that then dont bother reading my posts.
Relo. When JFK said he wanted to send a man to the Moon and safely return him to Earth by the end of the decade (1960’s), we had not even put a man into orbit. And yes, naysayers said it could not be done.
Then in 1969 The Eagle Landed on the Moon.
Kats Crap. Ok then, it must be all those “Illegal Mexicans” you hate that are pumping up the Economy of California!
Your Tea Bagger Ilk are the scourge of the Country now! It is so bad in the House, that Boehner is trying to make deals with Nancy Pelosi before he gets out of town this month.
And why should I go to South Carolina to help, when your pal Lindsey Graham has got it covered. LOL!
YOU AND JUSTN@ASS ARE COMPLETE MORONS!
JFK had people who had a plan, this is a much bigger project and it would involve over 30 million people with no plan in the bill
Kits thinks minority is a proper term to apply to a group that is 73% of the population. Adjust your expectations accordingly.
Relo. Please. Making the Atomic Bomb and sending Men to the Moon were much harder then cutting CO2 related energy consumption.
Hill Billy: Your backwoods thinking is SO off base I won’t even entertain a response. Check the census, and that’s just the legal ones.
Rock: You’re a hopeless, blind liberal. Yes, don’t go help them back east. Just armchair your attitude and expect others to actually do something. Typical liberal.
So Kats Crap. Going to send us a photo post card of you and Lindsey then? Like I said, Lindsey Graham has already asked for Federal Government Aid for the flooding in South Carolina; he just doesn’t want to help out any other States. Karma can be a real b^tch eh’.
As for the hopeless and blind remark; Nah, you must be thinking of fellow Neanderthal, Kevin McCarthy’s, last press conference. LOL!
Rock you are a little naive if you think that those things are harder than convinceing 30 odd million people to come together to do something. Much less convince the billions needed to stop putting more CO2 in the air. Heck we cant even get people to stop fighting wars. NO NO convincing billions to shut down coal burning factories, stop using gas burning autos cars. will be much harder than throwing billions to scientists to build the abomb or put a man on the moon.
Relo, we just had an election in which Governor Brown received over 60% of the vote and he made the issues clear for California; It’s our system.
I understand the problems of Homo Sapiens. Heck, the divorce rate is about 50%. So, Yes, when even two people cannot agree on how to live together major decisions like War, Peace, Jobs, etc are tough. However, doing nothing is not a solution.
CAFE standards are rising and Solar cell costs are dropping.
We will just have to disagree on what is hard to build from scratch (Nuke/Moon Landing) and what can be done with off the shelf technology.
Kits you can ignore your mistake but fortunately everyone can look back at archives and see your actions. Check the census?
That is exactly what I linked to…. you could have referenced that before you commented but you chose not to and now you look (more) ridiculous. That’s your own fault. You’re a joke.