Here is a remarkable step forward in fighting global warming here on the Left Coast. "The State energy commissioners on Thursday unanimously adopted a proposal that would financially reward or punish California's largest utilities for their performance on energy-efficiency programs. Members of the California Public Utilities Commission voted to award up to $450 million over three years to Pacific Gas and Electric Co., Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Co. if they meet specific goals to trim energy consumption. While the money would come from approved rate increases, said Commissioner Dian Grueneich, who co-wrote the proposal, the increases would be more than offset by up to $4 billion in reduced energy costs for consumers." Follow the dancing money.
http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/390798.html
I just created a global warming prediction market here:
ReplyDeletehttp://globalwarming.inklingmarkets.com/
Please sign up and trade ($5,000 of play money). Let's hope we can get a real market up and running, and better inform our policy on global warming.
The market will save us yet again.
ReplyDeleteNote that the 'rewards' for climate mitigation' only go to corporations. And as the long and painful unwinding of deregulated financial markets occurs; as the polar ice caps melt at frightening speed, after decades of unfettered environmental abuse. Well, we are now given public assurances that the State is capable of regulation after all.
It would be helpful to find out who the members of this Commission are.
In 40 seconds of internet search I came up with this story so far:
http://www.turn.org/article.php?id=519