Posted by
Defend America on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 8:27:52 PM
California watchdog sees climate policy job losses
California is likely to see modest job losses
in the near term from its aggressive climate change policy due to
higher energy costs and other factors, the state's independent
Legislative Analyst's Office said. Skip related content
The
budget watchdog was responding to a request by Republican state Senator
Dave Cogdill to study the effects of California's 2006 climate change
law, which mandates changes to cut greenhouse gas emissions to 1990
levels by 2020.
California's environmental vanguard approach is
being hotly debated in the state ahead of a November gubernatorial race
and in the midst of an economic downturn that has pushed unemployment to recent records. Many other states and the federal government are watching closely.
"We
believe that the aggregate net jobs impact in the near term is likely
to be negative," said the report, dated March 4. "Reasons for this
include the various economic dislocations, behavioral adjustments,
investment requirements, and certain other factors," it said.
The
total effects on the economy near- and long-term are likely to be
modest, since energy costs are a relatively small share of expenses for
most people living and doing business in California, it said.
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