Fox & Hounds: The 12th annual Verdexchange Conference kicked off in Los Angeles this week with a discussion on how the recent election results will boost environmental politics and the green economy in California. But in the tradition of the old Rodney Dangerfield joke that, “I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out,” the panel discussion on elections and climate change took a wayward turn and targeted Proposition 13. Taxes seem to be on the mind of panelists to move the green agenda ahead.
The Verdexchange conference is designed to bring together green tech marketers to advance the new energy economy.
California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols was optimistic that members of the newly sworn-in legislature would be competing with each other to push transformative energy and environmental laws. But she also warned that there are those who want to stand up to change. She claimed that attitude along with underinvestment (and other disreputable and harmful positions) were “part of the legacy of Proposition 13.”
State senator Bob Wieckowski indicated that the super majority Democrats were ready to do a number of things, and while saying he would not give away specific ideas, he did mention some overall topics including Prop 13.