There’s a couple interesting things with this. First, it will be fun when the citizens of Colorado realize how many problems this causes in their lives, from a cost of living increase to a problem with acquiring certain appliances. Second, almost no one is covering this. It is mostly a Colorado state story. You’d think this would be big nationally
Polis Signs Colorado Climate Action Plan, Other Key Energy Bills
For more than thirty years, even as scientists issued increasingly dire warnings about the urgent need to tackle climate change, Colorado, like many states, has not only failed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, but those emissions continued to rise to ever more dangerous levels. A slate of climate and energy legislation just signed into law by Governor Jared Polis aims to finally change that.
“This is about the health of our planet,†said Polis at a bill-signing ceremony today, May 30, at the JeffCo Community Solar Garden in Arvada. “Particularly in a state with climate-dependent industries like agriculture and the skiing industry, it’s important that we show leadership.â€
The bills signed into law included House Bill 1261, the centerpiece of Democrats’ efforts to strengthen Colorado climate policy at the legislature this year. Dubbed the Climate Action Plan, the bill commits the state to a series of greenhouse gas emissions reductions, including a 50 percent cut by 2030 and a 90 percent cut by 2050. (big snip)
Some of the other bills Polis signed today are designed to kick-start progress on other fronts. House Bill 1231 will implement new efficiency standards for many household appliances, while House Bill 1250 requires local governments to adopt efficient building codes.
Senate Bill 236, a reauthorization of the state’s Public Utilities Commission, includes a wide variety of measures aimed at transitioning to clean energy. It creates a financial tool for electric utilities to defray the costs associated with retiring coal plants, and for the first time instructs state regulators to consider the “social cost of carbon†in their decisions.
What happens with appliances manufactured in other states/countries? Will they be disallowed to be sold? Do they expect manufacturers to comply and build models just for Colorado? Will Colorado citizens simply drive to a neighboring state and purchase the appliances there? Will the State of Colorado come after people who fail to comply?
As for the social cost of carbon, well, that’s a big red flag that people’s cost of living will soon skyrocket while the availability of reliable, dependable, affordable energy will be reduced.
Of course
That’s an ambitious goal, but some activists are worried it doesn’t go far enough. While U.N. scientists said last year that the world must cut carbon emissions 45 percent by 2030 to avert the most catastrophic effects of climate change, most realistic models for achieving such a cut require rich, developed countries like the U.S. to decarbonize much faster. Activists with the Colorado Coalition for a Livable Climate, among others, have called for a more aggressive timeline.
And you can bet these activists are not practicing what they preach. They’re always just fine with messing with your money and your life, though.
