California to extend carbon cap-and-trade program
California will expand a key climate under a Bill State politicians by sending the measure to the Governor Gavin Newsom, who advocates as an important tool to respond to the environmental rolls of the Trump administration.
The democratic ruling legislature voted to re -authorize the carbon emissions of the state, which will end after 2030, the border and trade program.
At that time, Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law that allowed the program in 2006 and was launched in 2013.
The program determines the limit of a decrease in large pollutants’ total heated emissions of the total planet in the state.
Companies should reduce their emissions, purchase allowance from the state or other enterprises, or fund projects aiming to balance their emissions.
The state’s sales funds reducing climate change, affordable housing and transportation projects and invoice loans for California.
Months ago, a democratic and legislative leaders, who said that they would give priority to the re -authorization of the program, almost ran out to introduce the proposal before wrapping the state house for the year.
“After working hard with the Legislative Assembly for months, we accepted historical reforms that will save money from your electricity bills, reduce your gas supply and toxic air pollution-while watching California’s transition to a clean, green business-creating economy.” He said.
The proposal will re -authorize the program to 2045, will align the decreasing cover on emissions better with the climate targets of the state and increase carbon retention projects.
It will also change its name to “CAP and Invest” to emphasize its financing to climate programs.
The legislature will vote for another bill that provides annual financing from the revenues of the program.
The state decided for US $ 1 billion (A1.5 billion) ($ A1.5 billion) ($ A1.5 billion) for a long -standing high -speed railway project for a long time, $ 800 million for an affordable housing program (A1.2 billion), USD $ 250 million for community air protection programs and $ 1 billion (A1.5 $) for authorization.
The votes come while struggling with the authorities’ ambitious climate targets and living costs of the state.
California has the highest benefits and gas prices in the country.
According to energy regulators, the authorities face increasing pressure to balance the fuel cost and supply between the planned closes of the two oil refineries, which make up about 18 percent of the state’s refining capacity.
The advocates of the extension say that companies will give certainty about the future of the program.
According to a report of Clean and prosperous California, a group of economists and lawyers who supported the program, the state generated $ 3.6 billion ($ 5.5 billion) revenue for the last one and a half years due to uncertainty.
Some environmentalists say that the Trump administration’s attacks on climate programs, including the first prohibition in the nation for the sale of new gas -powered cars by 2035, are urgent for re -authorization efforts.
California Environmental Defense Fund State Director Katelyn Roedner Sutter, CAP and Ticaret is an important cost to reduce carbon emissions, he said.
“Supporting this program and directing this commitment to the future – now more than ever,” he said.
However, environmental justice, advocates who oppose proposal, does not go further enough and lack strong air quality protections for higher color communities near low -income California and large pollutants.
“This really continues to allow great oil to reduce his emissions on paper instead of real life,” the State Policy Manager of the Justice and Calculation Council State Policy Manager. He said.
Republicans criticized the program and said it would make living in California more expensive.
