California republicans are arguing that the state's environmental laws are hurting the economy. This editorial from the Los Angeles Times questions the wisdom of that argument and wonders what negative impacts would come from lifting CEQA.
The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office recently released a report stating that the California Environmental Quality Act could be costing the state jobs, but other reports have shown that the state's new environmental and carbon emission-cutting rules will actually create jobs.
"The Legislative Analyst's Office is right about one thing: It's almost impossible to predict what's going to happen to the economy a decade down the road. Advocates on both sides of the climate-change debate tend to cite figures that are based on highly suspicious studies, with conservatives generally exaggerating the economic costs and environmentalists downplaying them. What's certain is that curbs on emissions will produce winners and losers. Polluting industries will face higher expenses and will doubtless cut jobs, while new 'green' industries will emerge to replace them. Energy costs will rise but energy efficiency will improve."
FULL STORY: Going green vs. going broke
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