Californians are likely to pay more for gasoline, electricity, food and new homes — and to feel their lives jolted in myriad other ways — because their state broadly expanded its war on climate change this summer.
The ambitious new goals will require complex regulations on an unprecedented scale, but were approved in Sacramento without a study of possible economic repercussions.
Some of the nation’s top energy, housing and business experts say the effort may not only raise the cost of staples, but also slow the pace of job and income growth for millions of California families.
And now that Donald Trump, who has dismissed climate change, is headed for the White House, Californians may find themselves making sacrifices while the residents of other states are missing in action.
Two key laws this summer kicked California’s climate change fight into high gear.
Senate Bill 32 requires the state to cut greenhouse gases 40% below their level of 1990 — based on evidence that a global reduction at that level would limit warming to 2 degrees Celsius above the temperature levels of a few decades ago.
Senate Bill 1383 requires similar reductions in methane, refrigeration gases and black carbon.
Before signing SB 32, Gov. Jerry Brown said he didn’t expect problems.
“California is doing something no other state has done,” he said. “We are bringing into law real measures backed up by the real power of the state of California. It will take some balance that we don’t overdo it, but I am not afraid we are going to get to that point.”
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