Why California REALLY sucks

[eunhye]

California appears poised to be first to ban power-guzzling big-screen TVs -- latimes.com

California appears poised to be first to ban power-guzzling big-screen TVs
Industry lobbying efforts appear to elicit little sympathy from the state Energy Commission, which may vote as soon as Nov. 4.
Big TVs

The proposed ban on electricity-guzzling big-screen TVs could result in average first-year savings of $30 per set in California. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / September 17, 2009)
By Marc Lifsher

October 14, 2009

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Reporting from Sacramento - The influential lobby group Consumer Electronics Assn. is fighting what appears to be a losing battle to dissuade California regulators from passing the nation's first ban on energy-hungry big-screen televisions.

On Tuesday, executives and consultants for the Arlington, Va., trade group asked members of the California Energy Commission to instead let consumers use their wallets to decide whether they want to buy the most energy-saving new models of liquid-crystal display and plasma high-definition TVs.

"Voluntary efforts are succeeding without regulations," said Doug Johnson, the association's senior director for technology policy. Too much government interference could hamstring industry innovation and prove expensive to manufacturers and consumers, he warned.

But those pleas didn't appear to elicit much support from commissioners at a public hearing on the proposed rules that would set maximum energy-consumption standards for televisions to be phased in over two years beginning in January 2011. A vote could come as early as Nov. 4.

The association's views weren't shared by everyone in the TV business. Representatives of some TV makers, including top-seller Vizio Inc. of Irvine, said they would have little trouble complying with tighter state standards without substantially increasing prices.

"We're comfortable with our ability to meet the proposed levels and implementation dates," said Kenneth R. Lowe, Vizio's co-founder and vice president.

Last month, the commission formally unveiled its proposal to require manufacturers to limit television energy consumption in a way that has been done with refrigerators, air conditioners and dozens of other products since the 1970s.

"We would not propose TV efficiency standards if we thought there was any evidence in the record that they will hurt the economy," said Commissioner Julia Levin, who has been in charge of the two-year rule-making procedure. "This will actually save consumers money and help the California economy grow and create new clean, sustainable jobs."

Tightening efficiency ratings by using new technology and materials should result in "zero increase in cost to consumers," said Harinder Singh, an Energy Commission staffer on the TV regulation project.

California's estimated 35 million TVs and related electronic devices account for about 10% of all household electricity consumption, the Energy Commission staff reported. But manufacturers quickly are coming up with new technologies that are making even 50-inch-screen models much more economical to operate.

New features, such as light-emitting diodes that consume tiny amounts of power, special reflective films and sensors that automatically adjust TV brightness to a room's viewing conditions, are driving down electricity consumption, experts said.

The payoff could be big for TV owners, said Ken Rider, a commission staff engineer. Average first-year savings from reduced electricity use would be an estimated $30 per set and $912 million statewide, he said.

If all TVs met state standards, Rider added, California could avoid the $600-million cost of building a natural-gas-fired power plant. Switching to more-efficient TVs could have an estimated net benefit to the state of $8.1 billion, the commission staff reported.

Consumer Electronics Assn. officials disputed that figure, arguing that it was based on out-of-date numbers that fail to account for recent industry innovations. "With voluntary compliance, manufacturers can meet the targets over time, managing the cost impact, yet not in any way impeding innovation," said Seth Greenstein, an association consultant.

[Abandon]

lulz

[Xno Kappa]

This sucks how?

[Tyche]

ROFL, how the hell do you enforce this. They going to do random checks of every house to see the type of television used?

[Seraph]

ROFL, how the hell do you enforce this. They going to do random checks of every house to see the type of television used?

I'm assuming they would just ban the future sale of such TVs, not start popping into houses to check.

[Devolver]

Up next, capping power. If you go over your allowance, you pay a fee.

[Akucaen]

In before people just buy their sets in Oregon or Nevada, lol.

[Mamimikun]

ban black cars and now this, I have even heard about the cable co. thinking about chargeing by usage -.-

[Egon]

Nanny state at work! And people wonder why I'm a conservative.

[Correction]

This doesn't sound like an outright ban as it does regulations on the power consumption of new TVs sold in California. Which will be fun when retailers can't carry some models in Cali because they don't meet the regulation and lose business.

Doesn't mean shit to existing TVs if the 'ban' is anything like the bans on high power consuming appliances like washers/refrigerators. And unless LED/OLED TVs never drop below 3k this is ultimately a net win for people shopping for new TVs 3-4 years from now.

[Olo401]

Up next, capping power. If you go over your allowance, you pay a fee.

Enron already tried that.

[Absolutely Virtue]

Energy efficiency, reducing emissions, taking responsibility for our impact on the planet- what a bunch of whining liberal bullshit. This is America, and I want to fucking consume everything now! I don't give a shit about the future, I only care about my own needs in the next ten minutes. Future generations be damned!

Besides, history clearly shows that when special interests and trade groups argue for less regulation, the results are always positive. Look at the tremendous success we've seen on Wall Street and in the housing market!

This is an outrage. If Jesus were alive today, he would certainly side with big business and special interest, and the consumers willing to destroy the planet god gave us in order to accumulate more superfluous material possessions.

[MarkM.]

I hear they are going to have job openings in the same department as the matress tag police.

[Cantih]

This doesn't sound like an outright ban as it does regulations on the power consumption of new TVs sold in California. Which will be fun when retailers can't carry some models in Cali because they don't meet the regulation and lose business.

Yes, because the car industry in cali just took a nosedive in response to California's higher environmental standards.

[Biddinger]

Aren't most new tvs pretty energy efficient if not energy star?

[Correction]

Aren't most new tvs pretty energy efficient if not energy star?

Yep, but it's just not good enough unless government can take credit for it.

[archibaldcrane]

So California is leading the way again on environmentally friendly products. Why do you think those new super-clean, great MPG diesel vehicles exist? Because California got sick of how polluting diesel vehicles were and banned them until they could get up to snuff.

That actually hurt for a bit until it got figured out - this on the other hand will just make television manufacturers use currently available technology and methods to make their products as efficient as many of the currently existing ones.

Nobody's current TV is getting "banned" here - there's no nanny state coming into your house and fining you for having an unregulated television.

If THIS is why California really sucks for you, holy shit.

[Zalius]

solar panels yo

[Xno Kappa]

Straw man arguments for the usual few. Since you know...the technology between cars and televisions are completely freaking different.

[Zalius]

Straw man arguments for the usual few. Since you know...the technology between cars and televisions are completely different.

robots and explosions