Speakers At Natural Resources Summit Criticize Government Policies

Sonora, CA -- TuCare's 9th annual Natural Resources Summit primarily focused on forestry, water and global warming.

"If we thin our forests, science proves that we get more water yield," says TuCare President Mike Albrecht. "There's a real strong connection between forests and our watersheds."

The three and a half hour informational event was held Friday morning at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds.

Speakers included Senator Dave Cogdill, Albrecht, Steve Brink with the California Forestry Association, Donn Zea with the Northern California Water Association, T.U.D. board member Joseph Day, and the keynote speaker was Myron Ebell with the Washington, DC based Competitive Enterprise Institute.

"The California which used to be the richest and most dynamic economy in the world, is in the process of making itself into an economic backwater through energy rationing policies," says Ebell. "Global warming may be a problem, but it is not a crisis. The policies that have come out of California and are now being considered by Congress and the Administration regarding energy rationing pose much more of a threat than global warming."

Cogdill told the crowd that he hopes Governor Schwarzenegger will suspend AB 32, the greenhouse gas emissions bill, until the economy gets back on track. He also spoke about the challenges of getting water legislation passed in Sacramento.

The event was put on jointly by TuCare, Senator Cogdill and Assemblyman Tom Berryhill. Berryhill was unable to attend because he has come down with the flu.

Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.