Good idea, but a much better one would be to sell that amount of bonds for dam construction and the development of the hydroelectric power coming from their construction.
We could start with the Auburn Dam, which would produce about the amount of power we lost by shutting down Rancho Seco (a decision looking dumber by the day).
Lockyer: Sell bonds for 'green' buildings
A $5 billion measure could retrofit state's holdings, he says.
By Peter Hecht - Bee Capitol Bureau
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, August 15, 2007
State Treasurer Bill Lockyer on Tuesday proposed a $5 billion bond measure to combat global warming by getting California's largest building owner -- the state government -- to improve its energy efficiency.
Lockyer said he wants the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign off on a November 2008 ballot measure to retrofit the state's massive building inventory with solar panels and other clean energy technologies.
In a meeting with The Bee Capitol Bureau, Lockyer said the state needs to move "as rapidly as possible" to "green our buildings" if it is serious about its commitment to cut California's greenhouse gases by 25 percent by 2020.
Lockyer, who has served in state government since 1973, also all but ruled out that he will seek to crown his career by running for governor in 2010.
For now, Lockyer said he is hoping to persuade the current governor and two-thirds of the Legislature to place a measure on the ballot to help state government battle climate change, starting with its own buildings.
