News
Opinion
With multiple propositions under consideration on this year's ballot, it's often difficult to see how many of them directly impact the voter personally. Passage of Proposition 23 would be different, however, and not in a good way.
Nevada County has received an F grade on high ozone days from the American Lung Association, with ozone levels putting the public at risk, particularly those with respiratory, pulmonary and/or cardiovascular problems.
The ozone doesn't come from Nevada County, of course, but stems from pollution, i.e. smog, generated in the Sacramento Valley and settles here largely as a reflection of elevation and prevailing winds.
Air quality in California was addressed in 2006 via Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, which was passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger and established a 2020 greenhouse emissions reduction goal, with reductions measures to be instituted by the beginning of 2011.
Since much of the enforcement of AB 32 would be directed at oil and gas companies, there has been substantial push back from that industry, which found a champion in Republican Assemblyman Dan Logue, representing District 3 which includes Nevada County.
Logue is the key sponsor of Proposition 23, which would suspend AB 32, and 4th District Republican Congressional Representative Tom McClintock has endorsed Prop 23.
Two Texas-based oil companies, Valero Energy Corporation (with refineries in Benicia) and Tesoro Corporation (with refineries in Martinez) have provided substantial (over $2 million) financial support in promulgating Proposition 23.
Both of these companies have been identified as major sources of pollution in Northern California.
Proponents of Proposition 23 claim that AB 32 will be a job-killer, when it is apparent that the opposite is true, and that “green” jobs in alternative energy generation will be created throughout the state.
California has traditionally been a leader in the development of new technologies to meet new challenges, and there's no reason to think that implementation of AB 32 would present insurmountable difficulties to those technological advances.
So let's review. The status quo (dirty air) is hazardous to human health, specifically in Nevada County. The Republican party representing Nevada County has embraced that status quo by doing the bidding of sources of the dirty air, the oil and gas industry, with apparent disregard for the health and welfare of their constituents, via Proposition 23.
Are you surprised? You shouldn't be. Vote No on Proposition 23.
Nevada County has received an F grade on high ozone days from the American Lung Association, with ozone levels putting the public at risk, particularly those with respiratory, pulmonary and/or cardiovascular problems.
The ozone doesn't come from Nevada County, of course, but stems from pollution, i.e. smog, generated in the Sacramento Valley and settles here largely as a reflection of elevation and prevailing winds.
Air quality in California was addressed in 2006 via Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, which was passed by the Legislature and signed by Governor Schwarzenegger and established a 2020 greenhouse emissions reduction goal, with reductions measures to be instituted by the beginning of 2011.
Since much of the enforcement of AB 32 would be directed at oil and gas companies, there has been substantial push back from that industry, which found a champion in Republican Assemblyman Dan Logue, representing District 3 which includes Nevada County.
Logue is the key sponsor of Proposition 23, which would suspend AB 32, and 4th District Republican Congressional Representative Tom McClintock has endorsed Prop 23.
Two Texas-based oil companies, Valero Energy Corporation (with refineries in Benicia) and Tesoro Corporation (with refineries in Martinez) have provided substantial (over $2 million) financial support in promulgating Proposition 23.
Both of these companies have been identified as major sources of pollution in Northern California.
Proponents of Proposition 23 claim that AB 32 will be a job-killer, when it is apparent that the opposite is true, and that “green” jobs in alternative energy generation will be created throughout the state.
California has traditionally been a leader in the development of new technologies to meet new challenges, and there's no reason to think that implementation of AB 32 would present insurmountable difficulties to those technological advances.
So let's review. The status quo (dirty air) is hazardous to human health, specifically in Nevada County. The Republican party representing Nevada County has embraced that status quo by doing the bidding of sources of the dirty air, the oil and gas industry, with apparent disregard for the health and welfare of their constituents, via Proposition 23.
Are you surprised? You shouldn't be. Vote No on Proposition 23.
