by Tabitha Naylor
Signing of AB 32 - 2006
It has been three years since Arnold Schwarzenegger vowed to reduced green house gas emissions to their 1993 levels. And now that the Governators bill is just about to be put in action, cities are starting to plan rate hikes.
City councils across California are unanimously adopting enforcement methods in keeping with the law. From the looks of it, these changes may go into effect by as early as Jan 1 of 2012. The law will go into effect as of December 10, 2011 and cities must have a plan outlined by the beginning of 2012. This law comes with a hefty price tag: $120 million over nine years for the electric company of the city of Roseville. As of now, Roseville uses 17% of renewable resources, not the 33% required by this new law. A five percent increase in electric rates is in the works to pay for the costs of compliance. Source: http://rosevillept.com/detail/193641.html
The city council does realize that the cost of this renewable energy mandate is going to land squarely on the shoulders of the residents, but truth be told, they also realize that there is no other way – or is there? Sunbolt Energy Systems has cost-effective solutions that will meet the goals of compliance without the tax payer losing his shirt in the process. With an average savings of eighty five percent on electricity, what Sunbolt yields on a residence can translate into savings for the city and therefore directly benefit the resident.
The Turlock Irrigation Department, a neighbor of the Roseville Electric Company, has been meeting regularly to come up with plans to comply with state mandates. Compliance is going to cost the residents of Turlock a four percent increase in their electric rates, however. Four percent to someone in the low income bracket can be devastating. Source http://www.turlockcitynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1997:tid-hears-rate-increase-concerns-and-will-set-rates-on-december-6th&catid=44:news&Itemid=26
The last time we checked, there wasn’t a four percent increase in income to cover those costs. But there is an anticipated 4% increase in the income of retirees. This is the worrisome trend that is expected to spread across the state, which is what most Californians have to look forward to in the coming year as the state reaches for ways to cover costs.
The truth is that California has spear-headed the movement and continued to make strides in addressing the green house gas reduction program. The Global Warming Solutions Act, also known as AB 32, was signed into effect by Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggar as part of a comprehensive approach to address the Cap and Trade program in improving overall air quality across the state. While this road is paved with good intentions, the common man may once again have to bear the brunt of paying for new climate policies. A look into Sunbolt’s renewable energy sources may be the answer to doing the right thing the right way. Helping the environment does involve sacrifice but should not come at the cost of breaking the bank. What do you think?