Oh My, Sac Bee Editorial Board questions CARB's economics and wants independent review

Russ Steele

Once again we have another case were reality is not negotiable, the world has changed since AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, as was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, and it appears the big boys at the Sac Bee are getting nervous in:  Lead the World? Yes, but  do it wisely.

Much has changed since 2006. The economy cratered and has since shown meager signs of recovery. Despite the gulf oil spill, Congress and Obama botched their best chance in decades to enact meaningful energy and climate legislation. Meanwhile, numerous states have dropped out of the Western Climate Initiative, an effort led by Schwarzenegger to create a multi-state coalition to cap and trade greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite all these setbacks, California continues to implement its 2006 warming law with little reconsideration of the last four years. On Thursday, the California Air Resources Board approved cap-and-trade regulations that, while well intentioned, carry serious risks in a go-it-alone mode. If not closely monitored and modified over time, the program could end up repeating the mistakes of other market trading experiments, such as Europe's initial foray into cap and trade.

Yes we could have some of the same EU Cap and Trade Fraud in California. Last December “Europol, the European criminal intelligence agency, announced that Emissions Trade System fraud had resulted in about five billion euros in lost revenues as Europe’s carbon traders schemed to avoid paying Europe’s VAT and pocket the difference. In announcing the raid, the agency said that as much as 90% of Europe’s carbon trades were the result of fraudulent activity.” (Canada Free Press)

The Sac Bee was major opponent of Prop 23, now the big guns on the editorial board are wondering of they got it right?

This editorial board was an early supporter of the Global Warming Solutions Act, a conditional supporter of cap and trade and a fierce opponent of Proposition 23, the effort by Texas oil companies to roll back the state law. But opposing an indefinite delay is not the same as unswerving support for a "full speed ahead" approach. Given the eyeballs that are watching California worldwide, we need to get this right.

Upon taking office, Gov.-elect Jerry Brown shouldn't hesitate in convening an independent review of the state's climate strategy, not just on cap and trade but other programs, including the low carbon fuel standard, clean cars and electricity energy efficiency.

Read the rest here.  My concern is who is going to conduct this independent review and will they delve in the the fraudulent science that AB32 is based on.  We would not need a costly cap-and-trade program, or a low carbon fuel standard, have to buy short legged electric cars, and pay of expensive alternative energy sources if the independent review panel found that current climate science no longer supports the claims made in AB32 for human caused global warming. We could just put this whole unfortunate mess behind us and start creating wealth in California again.