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Reducing emissions 40 percent over the next 14 years is a great goal for California, and the rest of the US can learn from their leadership. This level of reduction is no small feat. Improving energy-efficiency is included among other clean technology initiatives, and Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology can make a major impact on building energy savings.
According to the “Winnable” War on Energy Waste, changing the lights to LEDs across the US would generate the following:
3 Trillion lbs of CO2 Emissions Reduction
PLUS
Over 500,000 NEW JOBS
A Quarter Trillion in Cost SAVINGS
LED Lighting may be the most cost-effective way to reduce emissions, create jobs, and save money.
Article from NPR online:
California Gov. Jerry Brown Signs New Climate Change Laws
Source: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/09/08/493191842/california-gov-jerry-brown-signs-new-climate-change-laws
California is already on track to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
Now under legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, the state will ratchet up its fight against climate change by launching an ambitious campaign to scale back emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.
"This is big, and I hope it sends a message across the country," Brown said.
California reduced emissions by imposing limits on the carbon content of gasoline and diesel fuel, promoting zero-emission electric vehicles, and introducing a cap-and-trade system for polluters.
The new plan, outlined in SB32, involves increasing renewable energy use, putting more electric cars on the road, improving energy efficiency, and curbing emissions from key industries.
Brown signed another bill, AB197, that gives lawmakers more oversight of regulators and provides aid to low-income or minority communities located near polluting facilities such as oil refineries and factories.
California's crusade against climate change started under former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who signed the state's original emissions-control law, known as AB32.
"Here we are, 10 years later, emissions have gone down and the economy has gone up," said Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills), who wrote AB32 as well as SB32. "It's a success story."
But not everyone agrees. The two new laws signed by Brown faced fierce opposition from the state's business community, including the oil industry, as well as from Republicans.
In a statement, California Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Allan Zaremberg said, "Taken together, SB32 and AB197, impose severe caps on the emission of greenhouse gases in California, without requiring the regulatory agencies to give any consideration to the impacts on our economy, disruptions in everyone's daily lives or the fact that California's population will grow almost 50 percent between 1990 and 2030."
Brown noted at the signing ceremony that opponents are not going away. The San Francisco Chronicle carried this quote: "There's powerful opposition," Brown said. "These are real people with real bucks and real influence."
The fight against climate change faces other hurdles. Revenue from the state's cap-and-trade system is falling. That program allows companies to buy permits to pollute at auctions; the money is then spent to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There are concerns about the program's long-term viability.
