In spite of allegations that private meetings held by a key panel created to advise regulators on developing market methods to reduce greenhouse gases violate state law, the committee said it would continue to meet behind closed doors. Although a First Amendment rights lawyer concluded that it violated the state constitution and the open-meetings law (Circuit, April 13, 2007), Market Advisory Committee members that participated in an April 17 meeting would not respond to Circuit's query as to why they continue meeting in private. This week's meeting was only the committee's second public meeting to date. The meeting included 150 participants, according to the California Environmental Protection Agency. As of press time, also left unanswered was Circuit's request for the list of participants at this week's public meeting. Committee vice-chair Larry Goulder told meeting participants that under consideration was a load-based cap for both in- and out-of-state power supplies, similar to the one under development by the California Public Utilities Commission. The committee also is weighing a hybrid cap, which would apply a limit on overall utility emissions - known as a load-based cap - as well as a cap on out-of-state power plants - known as a source-based cap. Goulder, who provided few specifics, said other issues to be tackled include how broad to make a cap-and-trade program, what level to set the CO2 emissions cap at, and how fast to require lowering a greenhouse gas ceiling in future years.
