Members of the California Jobs Initiative and other opponents to California’s 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act have gathered over 800,000 signatures in an effort to stall the Act’s implementation. Only 433,000 signatures are required to put legislation to a popular vote.

The ballot question will demand that implementation of the Act be delayed until unemployment in the state stays at or below 5.5% for a year. Unemployment is currently hovering at around 12%.

Supporters of the Act say that while it will raise energy costs, especially for energy-intensive industries, it will create jobs in other sectors and lead California into a clean, green recovery as it emerges from the recession. It is also the driving force behind California’s full participation in the Western Climate Initiative, and gives the state legislative authority for the implementation of the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). About a dozen other states have indicated that they would follow California’s LCFS, which will reduce the carbon content of fuels by 10% by 2020, and the LCFS is being used a model for national fuel standards.

Opponents to the Act cite a 2009 report that claims the bill is a massively expensive job killing measure. Several economists and California’s Legislative Analyst Office say the report is seriously flawed, and cite their own report on the economic impacts of the Act which shows more moderate costs and significant cost savings, especially from improved energy efficiency. The plebiscite will be held concurrently with the gubernatorial elections in early November.

By Jeff Beyer, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)