fresno elections 2008

Population growth in the Valley and state wide has resulted in enormous increases to private vehicle, goods and services trips in and through central California. Additionally, the transient air pollution from the bay area compounds our air quality issue. The agricultural industry has been responsive to the many changes demanded of them. This valley is known as the ’bread basket’ of the world. We can only hope it remains that way in the future! Contrary to popular belief, most new dairies incorporate sophisticated technologies and many environmental safe guards. They recognize the need to be good neighbors.

As a father, I know the effects our air-quality issues can have on our regions children. That’s why I have supported several measures that would give incentives to reducing emissions. I have successfully fought against cuts to programs like the state’s Carl Moyer Program, which provides grants to replace or retrofit engines to reduce pollution emissions. Innovative programs like this, which provide incentives to people rather than burdensome government regulations, go a long way in cleaning up our air. I think we should develop more programs like the Carl Moyer Program, and look for new and creative ways to reduce emissions. Through tax incentives and other means, we can get businesses to clean up their act without imposing costly regulations that could hurt many of our regions vital industries and jobs.

The air-quality solution has to be incentive-based, easily instituted and clearly beneficial to not only the businesses but also the individual residents of the San Joaquin Valley through obtainable goals. One of the programs currently in effect is the "2008 Clean Green Yard Machines". This program allowed a 62% reduction in cost of an electric lawnmower. One gas mower can emit as much pollution as 40 late-model cars operating over the same period of time, while electric mowers produce no on-site emissions.

The unfortunate part of this program is that it is "sold out". It is obvious that the program is well received by the public however this type of stumbling block affects the public's enthusiasm to participate because of a lack of funding or sponsors. It is a perfect example of an incentive-based, easily instituted and clearly beneficial program which the public is clearly embracing however it is unobtainable at this point. These types of programs with collective sponsor participation from the smallest pollution generator to the largest producing generator have to be obtainable. The incentive-based programs have been proven to be more cost effective than enforcement based programs. Enforcement based programs not only require a bureaucracy to put them in place but also a bureaucracy to enforce a policy.

I have carried legislation that deals with assisting farmers to install solar equipment to their pumps in order to help reduce pollution and energy use, a bill to help remove gross polluting vehicles from the road, supported legislation by Senator Florez SB 240 that would give authority to the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to levy a fee to all vehicles in the 8 county jurisdiction to help pay for programs to reach attainment, additionally I have fought hard at the California Air Resources Board to push for the valley’s equal share of funding for reducing emissions for good movement.

I do not believe that anyone will argue about the importance of agriculture as the driving force for the economy and employment in the Valley, however I do believe that it is important that the industry must also participate in measures that minimize the effects of air pollution. I will work to expand the Carl Moyer program, and to encourage the development of technology that helps farmers in their ongoing effort to be part of the pollution solution. Dairies must also participate.

I also believe that it is appropriate to use public financing to help dairies and other agricultural interest to achieve clean air goals.

And in particular, I think our state’s utilities need to do a lot more to help dairies and other farm industries improve air quality. Whether that means helping to create a market for methane gas or making it more affordable to bring electric power lines out to the fields to run water pumps. I think these services are beneficial to all residents and ratepayers should appropriately subsidize the costs associated with these efforts.

I believe it is important to acknowledge that working together with all industries to improve air quality must be a priority for the health of our valley residents, particularly our valley children.