SINCE THE SIGNING OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL LAST December, the
Clinton Administration has assured the public that greenhouse
gas emissions reductions can be achieved with little or no cost
to the American people or the U.S. economy. Disputing this claim
is a Consumer Alert & Pacific Research Institute (www.pacificre
search.org) report, Impact of Potential 'Greenhouse Gas'
Emission Limits on the People and Economy of California. Using
California as an example, the report shows that meeting average
emissions levels targeted from 2008 to 2012 would mean economic
penalties that will affect every citizen and company in the U.S.
California's population of 32.6 million and its large economy -
exceeded in size by only six nations in the world - make an
interesting case study. Any greenhouse gas emission reduction
would force the state to reduce its dependence on oil. Yet oil
supplies 43.4 percent of the state's energy. Natural gas, which
supplies 25.8 percent of energy used, also would have to be
reduced, as would electr