CITY COUNCIL VOTE on suspending CA Law against Climate Change – May 27, 2010

Hello breathers,

Next thursday, May 27th, the board of the Air Quality District will decide whether to support a letter requesting suspension of California’s landmark Global Warming Solutions law AB 32.   This Global Warming  law, opposed by big oil and some of Butte County’s elected officials, grants the state the rights to set emission standards and implement greenhouse gas guidelines. Additionally, the state will be able to promote alternative fuels and technologies by way of rebates and other incentives.   The focus of A.B. 32 is to drive down harmful emissions statewide with a goal of turning back the clock to emissions levels seen decades ago.

Unfortunately, this effort to suspend AB 32 seems to have some traction here in Butte County. If you don’t think that our Air Quality Board (or any Air Quality Board) should be opposing a statewide law that reduces harmful air pollution

1. Come speak up at the meeting. Chico City Council Chambers, 10.15 am thursday May 27th.

2. Write to the local papers and make some noise about how absurd this is.

Also, we are in need of some letters, emails and phone calls to Maureen Kirk and Jane Dolan.  At the moment, the county is refusing to even consider supporting the city’s efforts to reduce woodsmoke on the most polluted winter days.  What it will mean if the county doesn’t support the city ordinance is that whole sections of the city that happen to be unincorporated will continue to burn as usual.  This will make the process a real mess and make it very hard to reduce the particulate levels in the city as a whole.

Please email or call Maureen and Jane to let them that as Chico’s representatives on the Board of Supervisors, we would appreciate their support on this. Maybe they are concerned about losing votes in the upcoming election by supporting the city’s new air quality ordinance? Let them hear from people who vote for them that air quality is a priority

jane@janedolan.com Phone: (530) 891-2830

MKirk@buttecounty.net Phone: (530) 891-2800

Thanks for being active

Luke Anderson
Chico Healthy Air Alliance