AB 32 Implementation Group Hosts Capitol Briefing on Updated Scoping Plan

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AB 32 Implementation Group (AB32IG) held its second Legislative Briefing designed to communicate and educate legislators and staff regarding the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) ongoing AB 32 implementation efforts.  The topic focused on what the 2013 Updated Scoping Plan (USP) means for the economy and provided input about CARB’s efforts to inject post-2020 planning in the USP.  CARB is required to update the AB 32 Scoping Plan every five years.  2013 marks the year for the update since the 2008 Scoping Plan was approved. CARB is expected to vote on the update sometime next year. 

The event, held at the State Capitol, was open to all members of the Legislature and staff.  About 40 persons attended the presentation to hear the overview, insights, and comments on CARB’s efforts to update the Scoping Plan for AB 32.  

Attendees and panelists included: Dorothy Rothrock, CA Manufacturers & Technology Association; Bob Raymer, CA Building Industry Association; and Tamara Rasberry, Sempra Utilities.  Each of the invited panelists offered an industry perspective regarding the direction of the Scoping Plan update. Raymer focused on CARB’s effort to promote Zero Net Energy Buildings (ZNE) while Sempra representative Raspberry talked about the efforts to eliminate natural gas use by 2050.  All industry speakers expressed criticism of CARB’s efforts to include post-2020 issues in the update. 

The overarching message was the need for immediate legislative oversight.  The panel presented a number of examples of CARB exceeding the authority provided in AB 32.  Speakers did not challenge CARB’s authority to update the Scoping Plan as to the progress toward 2020 goals.  However, Rothrock called on CARB to cite publicly by what authority they were addressing post-2020 issues in the USP.  The panel also made it clear they would support more legislative involvement and oversight given CARB’s recent actions.

CLFP, an AB32IG steering committee member, noted that CARB’s efforts on emissions reductions were threatening to become the major determinant in energy ratemaking and in industrial/residential program funding at both the Public Utilities Commission and the Energy Commission, calling it an unforeseen consequence that the Legislature should address. The Western States Petroleum Association criticized CARB staff’s failure to provide either economic analysis or funding criteria in support of their numerous proposed post-2020 programs for further emissions reductions.

The panel urged staff members to familiarize themselves and their legislative members with CARB’s implementation process and to support increased legislative oversight as the program moves forward.

Article written by John Larrea, Government Affairs Director, California League of Food Processors

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