Golden State Rules
Margaret Kriz © National Journal Group, Inc.
03-26-05 Volume 37, No. 13

California has more climate-protection efforts under way than any other state. "Californians have always considered themselves leaders in environmental policy," said Alan Lloyd, secretary of the state Environmental Protection Agency. "For us, addressing climate change is a natural progression."

Golden State programs or regulations that are on the books or in the works include:

§ Automakers will be required to reduce the greenhouse
gases emitted by new cars and trucks sold in the state. The
mandate, scheduled to take effect next January, would apply
to new vehicles beginning with the 2009 model year.
Although the rule is being challenged in court, 11 states
are preparing to follow California's lead.

§ Local utility companies contracting to buy power in 2007
or later must estimate how much more the energy would cost
if the state or federal government were to begin regulating
greenhouse-gas emissions. The intention is to force
electric-power companies to consider the probable future
costs of coal and to thus discourage them from flocking to
coal while it's still a relatively cheap option.

§ Power companies will have to generate at least 20 percent
of their energy from renewable sources annually, beginning
in 2017.

§ The California Public Employees' Retirement System, the
nation's largest pension fund, is asking all companies in
its $180 billion portfolio to disclose data on their carbon
dioxide emissions. The board is also supporting shareholder
resolutions at Ford and General Motors that seek
information on how the automakers will comply with
California's new greenhouse-gas emissions standards.

§ Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is championing
state legislation to create rebates and tax credits for
homes and businesses that install solar-power systems.
According to Schwarzenegger, the measures would spur
installation of 1 million solar-power systems over the next
13 years.

§ To encourage automakers to build hydrogen-fueled cars,
and to encourage Californians to buy them, Schwarzenegger
is seeking to build a system of hydrogen refueling stations
along the state's major highways.

§ The state has adopted energy-efficiency standards for
dozens of products, such as residential ceiling fans and
commercial refrigerators. Eight of those standards were
imposed in 2004.

For more on environmental efforts around the nation, please click here

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