Earlier in the week, Governor Schwarzenegger tapped Democrat Mary Nichols, formerly Deputy EPA Administrator in the Clinton Administration and a senior environmental offical for both Governors Jerry Brown and Gray Davis, to be the new Chairman of the California Air Resources Board.  My initial take on that appointment is here, and below is a defense of that appointment by Republican Dan Skopec who until last week served as Deputy Secretary of the Cal-EPA.  He has started his own consulting firm now.  This piece was submitted by the Schwarzenegger Administration:

I was very glad to see the Governor appoint Mary Nichols to chair the Air Resources Board.  In Mary Nichols, the Governor has selected an experienced veteran in environmental issues spanning three decades. 

Mary’s presence at the Air Resources Board could not come at a better time.  California is just beginning to implement the historic Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), a law that requires the State to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020.  This is a monumental task that dwarfs other environmental challenges the State has faced, and conquered, in years past. 

To implement this law, California will have to change the way we produce and use energy, the way we move goods and services around the state, and the way we grow our population and economy.  This monumental change cannot be accomplished with the same regulatory "command and control" tools that so many environmentalists are comfortable with.  It will require a combination of familiar tools and new ones, to get the job done.  In implementing this new law, our goals should be to meet the statutory targets in the most cost-effective manner possible.  If we fail to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a cost-effective way, we threaten jobs and economic growth.  History is littered with examples of environmental laws thrown overboard when they cause severe economic harm.  We cannot let that happen.

That’s why Mary’s appointment is so timely.  Mary helped implement the nation’s first major cap and trade program to reduce Sulfur Dioxide emissions from power plants.  That law, signed by President George Bush Sr., has been hailed by business and environmentalists as a shining example of environmental achievement in the most cost-effective manner.  In fact, the Sulfur Dioxide cap and trade program reduces air pollution emissions at a fraction of the cost that a command and control regulatory approach would have.  It was a "win, win."

Clearly, California needs to consider all options as it attempts to tackle global warming.  Mary Nichols knows that both regulations and market mechanisms must be used to achieve our targets.  I am confident that she will lead the Air Board toward a balanced program to implement AB 32; one that achieves the environmental goals, but always keeps in mind the effect on our economy. 

Dan Skopec is former undersecretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency under Governor Schwarzenegger.  Prior to that, he served as a deputy cabinet secretary for the Governor on environmental and energy issues. Prior to joining the Schwarzenegger Administration, Skopec was staff director for the Congressional Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural Resources and Regulatory Affairs in Washington D.C. Skopec also served as Congressman Doug Ose’s (R-CA) legislative director where he oversaw legislative strategy.

You can write to Dan, via the FR, here — or comment below.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 5th, 2007 at 12:00 am and is filed under Blog Posts.