Cap in Hand

California bill would mandate serious greenhouse-gas emissions caps

California will jump (farther) into the lead on state-level action to combat global warming if a soon-to-be-introduced bill requiring stiff emissions caps becomes law. The measure would mandate greenhouse-gas pollution cuts to 1990 levels by 2020; that's 25 percent lower than they would otherwise be by that time, according to the bill's sponsors. Shockingly, California industries are expected to strongly oppose the legislation, with the state Chamber of Commerce arguing that action should be taken at the federal level rather than state by state. "There are some powerful interests that are going to be against this," said State Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez (D), who nonetheless predicts the legislature will pass the bill by summer. No word yet from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) on whether he supports it, but his administration is expected to release a report today recommending, among other things, that power plants and other industrial facilities be required to report their greenhouse-gas emissions.