BIOMASS HUB

John M. Broder writing for NY Times explains that the latest petition drive by Texas oil companies to challenge California’s landmark  climate change law (AB 32) “may prove to be a bellwether for national efforts to address global warming.”

The California law — the first of its kind in the nation — is intended to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 15 percent below current levels by 2020 through a variety of means, including a regional cap-and-trade system.  The bill also calls for greater efficiencies in buildings and transportation, more use of renewable sources of energy, and greater reliance on clean-burning biofuels.  These are all major elements of climate change proposals now being discussed in Washington, explains Broder.

The petition, led by Valero Energy Corporation and Tesoro, would prevent AB 32 from taking effect until unemployment in California falls to 5.5 percent or lower for four consecutive quarters.  The state’s current unemployment rate is 12.5 percent.  The average statewide unemployment rate in 2006 was 4.9 percent.

Meanwhile, a general malaise has settled in among state capitals around climate change legislation.  Arizona announced this year that it was pulling out of a regional greenhouse gas emissions trading group, and more than a dozen state attorneys general have challenged the Environmental Protection Agency’s plans to regulate global warming gases, explains Broder.

Read more on oil companies challenging California’s climate regulation.