Brigham A. McCown Twitter Facebook Linkedin Instagram Home About Articles Video Contributor National Journal Forbes Huffington Post Fuel Fix Newsletter Contact Environmental Benefits v. Economic Demands December 20, 2013 National Journal State mandated policies such as cap-and-trade, LCFS, and RPS initiatives in California are the most ambitious renewable standards in the country. The state’s focus on environmental conservatism, however, has created a systemic crisis, beset by economic disaster and political paralysis. It would be foolish indeed for the United States to adopt all of the renewable-energy and climate-change policies before it becomes economically viable. In economic terms, California is simply broke: issuing IOUs as payments for goods and services, begging the federal government to back state debt and bail out companies, and watching its credit rating plummet. Even now, as the economy slowly rebounds, California ranks as the worst state in America to do business, has the highest state income tax, the highest sales tax rate, one of the highest gasoline tax rates, and the 8th highest corporate income tax rate. Economic woes indeed. These tax rates make it possible for the state to mandate renewable policies to further its environmental aspirations, championed by politicians eager to appear enlightened. Today’s environmentalism in California is a long way from old-fashioned conservation. The mindset that began with John Muir’s efforts to turn Yosemite into a national park has devolved into a reflexive urge to impede the gears of commerce at every turn, notwithstanding efficiency. For example, just this past year, between 4.9 and 6.1 million pounds of radioactive waste was created to build wind turbines, one of the more aggressively lobbied renewable solutions. All this to say, by requiring rigorous environmental standards, California has severely debilitated its economic development. Such is the fate of Californians: to live in a state where environmentalism is a religion and economics a superstition. Renewables have a place in an “all-of-the-above” energy plan for the United States. Technology, however, must be significantly developed and tested until the environmental benefits are matched by the economic demands. Search Archives April 2022 October 2017 August 2017 May 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 April 2013 September 2012 October 2011 October 2008 August 2008 Meta Log in ThemeMakers Copyright © 2017 Brigham A. McCown. All rights reserved.