AB 32 and SB 375 -- Local Solutions Need to be Creative and Practical

by San Luis Obispo County 4th District Supervisor Katcho Achadjian, Candidate for the 33rd Assembly District seat

AB32, known as the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, requires greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to 1990 levels by the year 2020 (a 25% reduction) and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. SB 375 requires smart or strategic growth policies in Planning organizations.

In SLO County, employee commute is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. With Global Warming in mind, the County Government is developing several ideas and policies for its 2,500 employees to help reduce emissions. Carpools, flexible work schedules and telecommuting are among these ideas. These are creative and practical methods to use. The challenge to comply with AB32 and SB375 comes from emissions that the county has no control over such as traffic on Highways 101 and 1 which are two major North/South transportation corridors connecting California’s major cities.

The impact of these two Bills on our local economy and future job opportunities is a concern. How will it affect new businesses wanting to locate to California if they need transportation of their goods and materials to outside markets, equating to more vehicle miles? I have concerns when the reduction of vehicle miles affects the ability of local businesses and agriculture to operate efficiently or prevents tourists from visiting our beautiful Central Coast.

I also see an impact that will burden new construction adding greatly to the cost of new homes. Due to Title 24, newly built homes today are 50% more energy efficient than those built 10 years ago and additional energy efficient requirements may make the cost of new homes unaffordable. Smart Growth encourages reduction of emissions by placing more development inside urban areas but does not necessarily take into account the resources available within each urban area such as water, sewer, roads, infrastructure etc. We end up penalizing rural development with higher fees and reduced land usage.

We need to continue to be flexible and creative with solutions to Global Warming and be cautious about creating onerous rules and regulations which will hurt or destroy our local businesses, tourism, agriculture and way of life for Central Coast residents.

Katcho Achadjian has been a small business owner for 31 years and has served on the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisor since 1999. In 2006, he was appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger to the California Coastal Commission where he continues to serve as a Commissioner.

Katcho is a graduate of California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo and holds a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Management. He is active in many civic community based boards including Five Cities Rotary Club, Latino Outreach Council, First Five Commission, CenCal Health and the SLO Law Enforcement Assistance Foundation.

Katcho's Assembly candidacy website can be found here.