

Clean energy in California

On its own sunny path


See article

Readers' comments






Many Americans refuse to swallow the global warming Kool-Aid because we know a noxious cocktail of scientific fact and enslavement of the public to an overweening government bureaucracy when we smell one.


The proper way to play energy policy in middle America is not by leading with the global warming card, but by appealing to national energy security. Chavez and Ahmadinejad are scarier than rising sea levels to people that live 1000 miles from the ocean.


The United States as a whole needs to take a page from California's book. Republicans need to recognize that energy and pollution is a problem and it needs to be solved. As for the environmentalists, sacrifices need to be made in order to make strides so if that means losing a species of rodent then so be it.


California is doing a right thing by becoming more eco friendly and making all of these regulations. Global warming and pollution may not seem so critical at the moment, but it will be. If everyone could follow California's footsteps and have at least some of the same regulations, our world would be healthier and more prepared for the future. If California can afford to make these regulations, on top of all the budget cuts and their faltering economy, then other states are more than capable of doing the same.

Sense Seeker


Climate science is not in its infancy. Sure, science is never complete, but there is no doubt that rising greenhouse gas concentrations (mainly CO2) are responsible for the current global warming. Natural causes alone simply cannot explain the observations.

As for climate change and agriculture, that is clearly an area in need of much more study. The overview wikipedia gives shows that it's a mixed bag. Good for some areas, bad for others. Sea level rises are certainly bad, drowning land and increasing salinity of ground water. I'm not sure how things are expected to pan out in California.


And when California defaults on it's debt, already being one of the worst economies in the US because of their bone-headed macro economic policies? California Energy Crisis 2.0 anyone?


Did you know that increased CO2 in the atmosphere, from 310 ppm to 390 ppm in 70 years,
allows crops and forests to grow much faster? There are many studies and experiments to
show rates of ten to fifty percent.
Did you know that a warmer atmosphere is good? The Vikings settled Greenland when it was
warmer than now but had to leave during the Little Ice Age - about 1300 to 1850. But they're
back, now. And we have had warming since 1850 but not back to when the Vikings first went.
And do you know there are other reasons for atoms warming besides CO2? There are several,
and they all compete in importance with carbon dioxide. This science is not settled. Atmospheric
science is in its infancy, so we'll not have good answers for quite awhile.
Let's wait..!


It is interesting that the United States is so behind on environmental regulation. Industrialized nations such as China are far ahead of the United States in terms of attempting to put a cap on air pollution, and taking a step in the direction of cleaner energy. The United States has made attempts to control air pollution, but we are still far behind countries like Australia, India, and much of the EU. It's great to see that California, who was in an energy crisis, is taking the first steps to alternative energy sources. As nonrenewable energy sources are being depleted, it is good to start looking at alternatives and perhaps the costs.



Ah Beng


tjp612 in reply to Sense Seeker

Hmm...well it turns out that there has been no "warming" for the past 10 or so years (temps have leveled out). But yet CO2 output has increased during this same period...Makes one wonder, doesn't it?

So "climate change and agriculture" are "clearly an area in need of much more study" but yet "science" has settled the "fact" that there is a direct correlation between increasing CO2 levels and increasing temperatures (and humans are largely responsible). How convenient...

What is the "optimal" temperature of Earth's surface? Warmer? Cooler? Why is status quo considered "optimal" when Earth's temperature has ALWAYS been variable, including significant swings?


The cap-and-trade system is a great start, and other countries should follow suit. As for the small drawbacks that California and its environmentalists have been experiencing: currently, there is no single perfect solution for the country's energy and pollution problem. California is at least taking the first step towards being more environmentally conscious, an action that should be applauded.


Living on the opposite side of the country (Virginia), I envy California's way of thinking. The ignorance regarding climate change is astounding; all we have to do is look at the mounds of scientific proof to see that global warming is happening. California tends to lead the way a lot of the time, so I think that many other states, probably liberal, will follow in time.


California has long been the breeding and testing ground for new policies. The state has led the way in environmental policies and in environmental innovation. California has led the U.S.on policy because the people get to vote on the issues through referendums. This way the politicians don't have to lose political capital.


For me this is great news that California is taking initiative and stepping up in the United States. I have a feeling this will cause a domino effect for the rest of the states in the US. Countries have been arguing about these issues for far too long. With China growing and growing they will be adding more pollution to the atmosphere more and more each year. Rather start alternative energy sources now and California is doing just that. From here on out I believe many jobs will open up in the US installing solar panels. It does not just stop there. They can also explore wind and more nuclear energies. I see the world becoming over 50% green in my life time. This is a bold statement but it has to happen. When it starts it is going to be a landslide and happen quickly.


Maybe this is America's future, instead of having Congress at Washington battle it out on what America's stance is on renewable energy, when they're preoccupied with more "important" issues, each individual state could take a stance, and act towards creating a better world for our posterity, and perhaps even faster.


The cap-and-trade system seems like a good start toward the cleaner air goals that California has set; that is if it goes as planned. If industries try to meet the "capped" off level, then pollution levels are likely to go down, but California needs a lot of cooperation for things to change. If bigger industries that cause more pollution simply buy rights from smaller companies that fall below the capped level, they can continue to pollute at the same rate and get around the system. It seems like it would be a good idea to provide incentives to those companies that practice green initiatives, and buckle down on the contaminant levels to make a difference.


It's a good thing that California is taking action. They seem to do things different than the rest of the country, but hopefully the rest of the US takes notice to this. If the government began taking a more serious approach to energy consumption and gave incentives to company's to reduce their emissions they would have no choice but to do so. The downside to this is that it is costly for the government and for companies. That said, the American people have to understand that this is a two way street, and that if costs go up for a company, the company will raise prices or look to cut cost elsewhere. So if more states begin to adopt this make sure you are prepared for the side effects.


Latest blog posts - All times are GMT
The crisis in Venezuela: Another day, more bodies
Americas view March 13th, 16:49
A tribute to Robert Ashley: A perfect life
Prospero March 13th, 16:22
Commodities and the economy: Copper bottomed
Buttonwood's notebook March 13th, 15:58
Germany's Hoeness trial: Uli goes to jail
Charlemagne March 13th, 14:18
El Salvador's election: An extraordinary result
Americas view March 13th, 14:13


Products & events