One can only hope that the same rationale will be applied to the AB 32 regulations, once they are finalized. The present schedule calls for ARB to finalize the regulations by 2011, and implementation for most regulations begins in 2012. A few are already being implemented.
The successful lobbying by the off-road fleet industry can be emulated and applied for other areas where AB 32 will impact the greatest.
AB 32 will, among other things, increase the price of new cars by requiring very high miles per gallon, which virtually dictates many hybrids which are expensive and beyond the reach of a vast segment of the population. AB 32 also has bio-fuel mandates that increase the price of gasoline and diesel, further impacting all who purchase those fuels. AB 32 also mandates 33 percent renewable energy by 2020, and 20 percent by the end of December, 2010. More renewable energy increases the price to consumers of electric power. AB 32 also mandates additional costs for new home construction, some estimates state by $50,000 or more.
But perhaps the greatest impact of AB 32 is the inevitable loss of jobs, the economic disruption caused by reduced tax revenue, reduced consumer spending, and population migration to other states. Will ARB soften the draconian impacts of AB 32 in the face of such hardship?
The precedent has now been set.
2 comments:
The 50K in costs stat that you use comes from a highly flawed study that has been roundly dismissed. The "study" assumes zero cost benefit from energy efficiency. It also makes several other very flawed assumptions. The vast majority of independent studies of this issue find a small net economic gain for CA over business as usual.
Mr. Mous, the figure I quoted is consistent with the sober and realistic cost estimates for the damage that is being done, and will escalate as AB 32 reaches full implementation. Government mandated programs are an economic distortion. If there were sound economics behind any of it, the projects would be implemented already without any government intervention.
Or, perhaps you dismiss the unbiased and expert reviews that were performed on the economic section, in which the entire AB 32 Scoping Plan was found woefully lacking, and overstated benefits.
AB 32 will be known as the Bill that Killed California.
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