California Businesses Campaign Against AB32

August 22, 2008

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It turns out, California Assembly Bill 32, also known as the Global Warming Solutions Act, which aims to cut GHG emissions by 30 percent by 2020, is popular until people learn how much it could end up costing them, according to a new poll by EMC Research commissioned by AB32 Implementation Group, a group of 160 business groups and chambers of commerce.

The poll reveals that support for AB32 drops from 63 percent to 47 percent when voters consider the economic implications. Seventy-seven percent say consumers will end up paying for the costs of implementation.

But Keith Johnson of the Wall Street Journal writes, “like any poll, the devil is in the way the questions are asked.”

For example:

– “Requiring energy companies to produce more of their electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar,” received 72 percent support.
– “Requiring energy companies to produce more of their electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar, increasing energy costs for California families and businesses,” received 50 percent support.

Here’s another surprising finding – only 20% of the survey takers had heard about AB32 or the Global Warming Solutions Act.

The poll conducted interviews with 1,000 registered California voters from August 3 to 10, 2008.

In May, AB32 Implementation Group said 4.4 cents per ton of carbon dioxide emission tax makes business in the Bay Area less competitive.

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