Misguided: Whitman Wants to Roll Back California Climate Plan

In announcing her campaign for governor this week, Meg Whitman emphasized the point that she made last week in a Mercury-News Op-ed. If elected governor, she "would place a moratorium on AB-32 by executive order."

It's hard to imagine a more effective way to choke off the burgeoning clean energy economy.  California's utilities are signing contracts daily for the construction of huge new solar, wind, and geothermal projects that will deliver clean energy, jobs, and energy security to the state.  The potential for an abrupt about-face poses an immense threat to renewable energy businesses who are investing millions of dollars to bring their projects on line.

On the other hand, it's easy to imagine a way to ensure that the clean energy economy will continue to grow regardless of who is elected governor in 2010.  Governor Schwarznegger could sign the 33% renewable portfolio standard legislation recently passed by the California legislature.  As described in a previous post by Peter Miller at NRDC’s Switchboard, this legislation includes a cost cap to protect ratepayers and balances the need for flexibility with the need to create jobs and grow the economy here in California. Claims that the bills are protectionist are simply wrong.

Legislative enactment of the 33% RPS requirement would ensure that Governor Schwarznegger's commitment to leadership on climate change is actually realized.

Follow Heather Taylor-Miesle on Twitter: www.twitter.com/NRDC_AF

Comments

[Sinick]

Witness a genius at work! My bet is that this simple statement will result in millions of dollars of campaign contributions.