California passes ambitious laws on emissions and energy efficiency

Source: The Guardian

California passes ambitious laws on emissions and energy efficiency

More electricity from renewables, fewer gasoline-powered vehicles and lower
power consumption by buildings mandated under ‘50-50-50’ agenda

Anita Chabria
Thursday 4 June 2015 04.47 BST

California lawmakers have passed a dozen ambitious environmental and energy bills setting high goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and petroleum use, and creating new standards for energy efficiency.

Dubbed the California climate leadership package, the 12 bills represent a Democratic-driven push in the Senate to advance an agenda of technological innovation and conservation that was put into play by an executive order by California Governor Jerry Brown in April. The package will next move to the assembly for debate.

One of the cornerstones of the program is SB 350, which calls for a “50-50-50” reduction in major areas of climate concern. It mandates a 50% reduction in petroleum use by vehicles by 2030, the equivalent of removing 36m cars and trucks from the road.

It also calls for 50% of the state’s electricity supply to be derived from renewable resources by that date, and 50% better energy efficiency in buildings through retrofits and upgrades.

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/04/california-passes-ambitious-laws-on-emissions-and-energy-efficiency