Sac Bee: Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders have agreed to set aside a dispute over cap-and-trade revenue until after adopting the state’s annual spending plan, eliminating a point of contention in budget talks 10 days before the deadline for its approval.High speed rail, a proven global warmer worse than cars, as is the San Jose Light rail and other transit projects.
H.D. Palmer, spokesman for Brown’s Department of Finance, said in an email Friday that Brown, Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León and Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins agreed to pick up negotiations surrounding cap-and-trade – money polluters pay to offset carbon emissions – “outside of the budget process.”
While removing a hurdle for the budget’s passage, cap-and-trade remains a sticking point for Brown and legislative Democrats.
Senate leaders have proposed a spending plan that exceeds Brown’s proposal by about $500 million, mostly for greenhouse gas reducing programs benefiting disadvantaged communities, according to a report by the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office.
The cap-and-trade debate does not affect the largest portion of the fund – 60 percent, or $1.2 billion, continuously appropriated for high-speed rail, transit and other programs agreed to last year.
Palmer said removing cap-and-trade from the budget talks would “ensure that there’s ample time to put in place a thoughtful expenditure plan.”
How much more global warming does transit cause?
This study from UCLA says a fully operational light rail costs $10 per seat -hour, the cost of moving one seat per one hour, even if the seat is not occupied! If the average trip is 20 miles in one hour and 50% capacity that comes to about $20/trip, of the equivalent of five gallons of gas per 20 miles. That is total costs. Even if we cut the MPG on a car by half to cover capital costs, we still get the typical light rail is at least a third as inefficient as the typical car.
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