California May Ease "Cap and Trade" Burden

The state's signature green regulations are kryptonite for businesses and jobs

Big business sees California's global-warming law as a job killer, a $1 billion tax that could force some of the state's heaviest industries to flee.

Now state regulators, trying to ease the burden, are studying whether to give hardship breaks to dozens of companies.

Under the plan being considered, the state would dole out extra carbon credits – the precious allowances that will give industries the license to emit greenhouse gases starting in January. The proposal could save companies millions of dollars.