Bill Introduced to Delay Implementation of the Global Warming Solutions Act

California Assemblywoman Shannon Grove recently introduced Assembly Bill 333, which seeks to delay California’s AB 32, commonly known as the Global Warming Solutions Act. Adopted in 2006, the Global Warming Solutions Act aims to reduce California’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The act tasked the California Air Resources Board (CARB) with implementing this goal. CARB’s efforts to date include the recent adoption of cap and trade regulations.

According to Assemblywoman Grove’s press release, AB 333 “will relieve California business from the costly and burdensome regulations associated with AB32 until the unemployment rate in the county where the business resides falls below 7% for six consecutive months.”

This follows San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith’s finding that CARB violated the California Environmental Quality Act by failing to conduct the required environmental review in implementing the Global Warming Solutions Act. Given the controversy surrounding the Global Warming Solutions Act and California’s sluggish economy, more challenges to the act from different sectors are certain to come.