Los Angeles Measure B Will Aid In Successful Implementation of AB 32
The voters of the City of Los Angeles are currently considering Measure B – The Solar Energy and Job Creation Program. The Proposition is considered controversial by some because is was rushed through the ballot approval process and because it it’s chief supporter besides Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union (the IBEW). If passed, the program will mandate that Los Angeles produce 400 Megawatts of power from solar energy by 2014 and will help the State of California meet the lofty goal set forth in Assembly Bill 32– The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The bill requires that California return to 1990 greenhouse gas emission levels by 2020.
Read the official language of Measure B
The California Air Resources Board recently released their scoping plan which outlines the regulations it plans to implement in order to meet the 2020 deadline mandated by AB 32. The plan has received Governor Schwarzenegger’s nod of approval and the task of implementing short term measures is underway.
Measure B isn’t directly related to AB 32, but Villaraigosa has been committed to reaching the Kyoto Protocols target since taking office in 2005. He even has a comprehensive solar energy plan that intends to exceed the Protocols and AB 32 requirements by 2020.
If AB 32 is going to be implemented effectively, it is going to require collaboration and cooperation between industry, local municipalities and the State of California. Measure B will be major step toward that effort.
Endorsement: Vote Yes on Measure B
You’re endorsement doesn’t suggest any research or understanding of Measure B beyond a superficial reading of the ballot language. Please do some digging. This has nothing to do with solar energy. It is a blank check and a license for stealing. There is no plan, no study, no financial analysis, no engineering — nothing behind a payoff to the DWP/IBEW, who have fought against solar energy development for 12 years and only want to preserve their monopoly on energy. In fact, the solar energy component of this two-part measaure — logrolling under state law — is nothing but a deceit to allow the mayor and City Council to control who gets billions of dollars in solar contracts and change all aspects of renewable energy on a simple majority vote of the council. The charter reform element is what this is is about and the “reform” undermines the entire theory of the commission form of government and eliminates all meaningful oversight and public discussion. Take another look.
Ron’s teeth-gnashing has nothing to do with the point of your post. L.A. will need a ridiculous amount of renewable energy to comply with AB 32, or DWP rates will shoot through the roof because the utility will be required to spend truckloads of money to buy carbon offsets.
Given these circumstances, an aggressive, shoot-the-moon approach by our utility is appropriate. The more we invest, the more we will save in the long run.
Good post. I hope you will continue to write about Measure B as most of the blogging about it has been unsubstantive and driven by a political agenda (see the above comment).