Will the Golden State Find Cap-and-Trade Golden?

October 20, 2011 Patriot 10

The gold rush is over but California is experiencing a rush of a different kind. In just over ten weeks, California will become the first state to implement cap-and-trade; however, full implementation of the carbon bill is not expected to be complete until 2013. The Golden State will hold two auctions of allowances next year.

The cap-and-trade program edged closer to its January 1, 2012 startup date after California’s state Supreme Court refused September 28^th to review the Association of Irritated Residents’ petition and application for stay of the Scoping Plan. The Scoping Plan was issued by California Air Resources Board, also known as CARB, and is CARB’s outline for implementing AB 32. AB 32 is the measure requiring reduction of California greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and further reduces emissions by 80% of 1990 by 2050. At the heart of the Scoping Plan is you got it, cap-and-trade.

CARB was given until October 28,2011 to wrap up its rule-making process and finalize those rules but some say CARB could face more legal stumbling blocks that would need to be cleared out of the way before the carbon bill becomes a reality for California residents. One such stumbling block is an appeal of the May 20, 2011 trial court ruling stating CARB fell short of considering alternatives to cap-and-trade, which, again, is at the heart of its Scoping Plan. That appeal is pending. CARB has since taken up a so-called supplement to the Scoping Plan that includes more comprehensive analysis of the feasibility of a carbon tax. CARB stipulates in its analysis that it is not due to requisite approval of tax and fee hikes by a supermajority in the legislature or by voter initiative. Some warn, though, that once CARB adopts the final cap-and-trade rules more lawsuits are sure to follow by industries affected by the program.

California State officials say they hope other states will move forward with similar plans. Stanley Young, CARB spokesman, has been quoted as saying he hopes California’s climate plan will serve as a role model for a national program once Washington D.C. determines how to address climate change. And, Young says he believes Washington will.

What Cap-and-Trade Could Mean

 for Home Sellers 

Patriot 10

Thinking about selling your house? Then take note. 

We encourage you to read the provisions of the Cap and Trade Bill which was passed by the House of Representatives and was under consideration by the Senate in 2010. We have provided this imformation so that you will be better informed should this administration, including the EPA, pass any part of the orignial cap-and-trade bill. Just click on the link provided below and read what some members of the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors have to say about the proposed legislation. 

http://www.nachi.org/forum/f14/cap-and-trade-license-required-your-home-44750/

A Snap-shot of the Cap-and-Trade

Bill

Courtesy: Grassfire Nation News Alert: Cap and Trade Energy Tax
4/21/2010

The Cap and Tax Energy Tax is set to be unveiled on Monday. It’s the start of the full-court press to expand government control over the energy and manufacturing sectors of the economy — and impose a huge “global warming” tax on every American consumer.

Details are starting to leak out. Here’s some of what Reuters is reporting…

         –Cap and Trade regulation of the utilities in
           2012, creating a pass-through utilities tax
           for consumers…

         –Manufacturers come in line in 2016, causing
           American products to have a built-in carbon
           tax that, once again, is passed on to consumers…

         –Green carbon “offsets” which amount to nothing
           more than a global warming guilt offering…

         –Tariffs on overseas products, which is an
           admission that the Cap and Tax scheme will
           greatly increase the cost of goods produced
           in the United States and reduce our global
           competitiveness…

And here’s the kicker…

         –A new “fee” (i.e. tax) on refined motor fuels
           (i.e. gasoline) as “the mechanism for reducing
           carbon emissions in the transportation sector”
           (Reuters).

           While we do not yet know how large this gas
           tax will be, it must be large enough to cause
           people to use less gasoline in order to achieve
           the goal of “reducing carbon emissions.”

A carbon tax on utilities, manufacturing and gasoline…all passed on to consumers.