Business targets global warming law

Business interests, including the California Chamber of Commerce, have formed a new coalition and launched a website focused on the state's new global warming law. The approach is very much like a political campaign - even though the law has been signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the California Air Resources Board is preparing regulations.

The campaign is being run by Woodward & McDowell, the political PR firm, which made sure to include a peaceful photograph of orange poppies on the coalition website. But implementation of the global warming law won't be a walk in the meadow. A marathon fight is expected over the creation of a marketplace where companies can trade credits for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

The business group wants swift action on the ARB regulations, "scientific review" over how carbon emissions are tracked, lower fees and costs for retrofitting equipment and reducing pollution, and "permit streamlining."

Vince Sollitto, spokesman for the Chamber, said fight over the legislation is "far from over. ... The stakes in California getting this right are huge and the route California will take is far from set or certain. Now that AB 32 is law, our coalition ... believes the governor's market-based approach is the correct way to implement this law."