In Yo’ Face, Anti-AB32ers!!

In 2006, the California Legislature passed AB32, a landmark bill that once implemented will place a cap on carbon emissions and mandate the reduction of California’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. It was the first of its kind in the United States. Conservatives have been arguing since it passed that it was another regulation that was going to drive businesses and jobs away from California, as they say about any laws put in place to protect our environment. This year, businesses, mainly oil companies, are funding an initiative that would suspend AB32 until unemployment dropped below 5.5% for four quarters, which would essentially overturn it.

Earlier this year, the NUMMI automotive plant in Fremont closed. One conservative called it a “telling Bay Area tale” about how regulation and taxes are driving away jobs and that AB32 would accelerate this trend. Well, guess what? Today, Toyota and Tesla Motors, a young Bay Area electric car company, announced that they will reopen the NUMMI plant to produce electric cars. Add another 1,000 green jobs to the 150,000-500,000 already here and subtract a talking point from the anti-AB32 campaign.

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