News From California
Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 12:04 am
.
Internet Mormons, Chapel Mormons, Critics, Apologists, and Never-Mo's all welcome!
https://discussmormonism.com/
Brackite wrote:
Thank God that I am a California Republican instead!.
moksha wrote:Brackite wrote:
Thank God that I am a California Republican instead!.
What's the buzz at the Bohemian Grove?
Gay marriage in California won't resume for now, appeals court rules:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... uling.html
This is bad news. A Federal District Judge appointed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan rightly ruled that California's Proposition 8 is Unconstitutional.
Same-sex couples should have the right to marry each other in the State of California.
Power play
Alternative energy law expected to raise rates
Andrew Edwards, Staff Writer
Posted: 04/12/2011 07:58:07 PM PDT
Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed legislation mandating California utilities to generate one-third of electricity from alternative sources by 2020.
Achieving the state's new standards will require billions of dollars from utilities to build new plants and power lines, and is also expected to lead to higher electric rates for businesses and residents.
Whereas the governor and other supporters view the mandate as a boon for the environment and "green" jobs, others say the law could deter business from relocating to the state. California is already known for regulations and shaky public finances, and the law would increase energy costs for businesses, critics said.
Brown signed the legislation at a public ceremony in Milpitas, near San Jose. The new law gives California the most aggressive mandate for alternative energy use in the U.S.
"There are people who think we can drill our way to happiness and prosperity," Brown said at the event. "Instead of just taking oil from thousands of miles away, we're taking the sun and converting it."
Jay Prag, professor at Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management in Claremont, had a more critical perspective.
The new law may be based on unreasonable expectations of how much electricity can be produced from alternative sources by 2020, Prag said.
He also questioned the wisdom of embarking upon an ambitious program when Sacramento has many other demands on tax dollars, such as pension obligations.
"If I were a business, I'd say `Fine. I'll wait until 2020 and we'll see if things work out. Then we'll come,"' Prag said.
A 2009 report from the California Public Utilities Commission forecasts $12 billion worth of new transmission lines will be needed to meet the new energy mandate.
The commission also predicted electric rates will be higher in 2020, but that the new standard will result in power being 7.1 percent more expensive than under the one-fifth mandate.
Southern California Edison, headquartered in Rosemead, supports the new law, said Laura Genao, an attorney for the utility.
Edison must now double its renewable energy portfolio, Genao said. She acknowledged the mandate will lead to higher rates.
She also said the law's multiyear targets, rather than single-year benchmarks, reduces the threat of spiking costs for new technology.
Edison reported delivering 19.5 billion kilowatt-hours of alternative energy to customers in 2010. That amount represented about 19 percent of the Rosemead utility's deliveries.
Operators of the Ivanpah solar plant in northern San Bernardino County will deliver one-third of power to be produced there to Edison, said Kristin Hunter, spokeswoman for Oakland-based Brightsource Energy.
The remainder of power to be generated there is contracted to Pacific Gas & Electric, she said.
Brightsource on Monday announced search engine firm Google's investment of $168 million in their Ivanpah plant. Brightsource also has a $1.6 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy backing the Ivanpah project, which Hunter said is set to begin generating power in 2013.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
bcspace wrote:Gay marriage in California won't resume for now, appeals court rules:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2 ... uling.html
This is bad news. A Federal District Judge appointed by U.S. President Ronald Reagan rightly ruled that California's Proposition 8 is Unconstitutional.
That the state won't recognize gay marriages is always a good thing. Who cares if RR appointed the judge? He was wrong to strike down the righteous and constitutional will of the people.Same-sex couples should have the right to marry each other in the State of California.
They already do. There is no compelling or constitutional reason for the state to recognize such marriages.