Re: The op-ed in the Feb. 8 issue headlined "Putting a Chill on California's Economy'"

In an effort to convince your readers that AB 32 is a job killer that will do little to address climate change, Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association cites a study released by the UC Berkeley Center for Labor Research and Education—erroneously.

The center's study findings do not fit Coupal's dismal outlook about the opportunities green business can bring to California. While he's entitled to his opinion, he is not entitled to misquote and misconstrue our work, which concluded that successful implementation of AB 32 will provide tremendous economic opportunities for California. The state has the potential to become a center for green innovation, and to export new technologies, products and services, thus creating well-paying, quality jobs. AB 32 and other climate change policies will certainly transform the California economy. There are opportunities and risks, and with planning and specific job safeguards, we can take advantage of the opportunities and reduce the risks.

I urge Business Journal readers to read the study for themselves. The report, "Addressing the Employment Impacts of AB 32, California's Global Warming Solutions Act," is available on the Labor Center's Web site at laborcenter.berkeley.edu/greenjobs/AB32_policy_brief09.pdf.

Carol Zabin

Director of Research at UC Berkeley's Center for Labor Research and Education and co-author of "Addressing the Employment Impacts of AB32, California's Global Warming Solutions Act"

Original Article