SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California senators on Wednesday pushed through a climate-change package to further reduce the state's carbon footprint and boost the use of renewable energy to 50 percent in 15 years.
The state Senate passed bills that would enact Gov. Jerry Brown's order to curb greenhouse gas emissions by setting what the administration calls the most aggressive benchmark in North America. Republicans objected to the legislation, saying such regulation would kill working-class jobs.
California aims to boost statewide renewable electricity use to 50 percent, have drivers use half as much gasoline and make buildings twice as efficient under the proposal by state Senate President Pro Tempore Kevin de Leon, a Democrat. His bill advanced to the State Assembly on a 24-14 vote.
"California has demonstrated our global climate leadership over the last decade," de Leon said. "These policies will further cement our leadership, further strengthen our economy while protecting the health of our communities."
Democrats in the state Senate also approved a proposal to further reduce California's greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.
The goal is a mile marker on the way to cutting emissions by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050. That goal was set by Brown's predecessor, former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
That bill, by Democratic state Sen. Fran Pavley, passed in the Senate on a 22-15 vote.
California, which already has an aggressive plan to combat global warming, currently is on track to meet a goal of cutting carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, partly by forcing companies to pay for their pollution.
The state's cap-and-trade program, launched nearly three years ago, offers one of the few real-world laboratories on how to reduce the emissions that scientists blame for climate change. It expanded this year to levy fees on companies that produce gasoline and other fuels, prompting predictions that consumers will see a spike in prices to cover the costs.
Pavley's bill incorporates an executive order Brown issued in April to further emissions reductions -- the equivalent of taking 36 million cars off the road, more than all the vehicles registered in California last year.
Although the executive order lacked details, state officials have said it would require accelerated development of renewable energy and alternative fuel sources, and getting more electric cars and zero-emission heavy-duty trucks on the road.
GOP members said the package would mean the government will pick economic winners and losers, raise utility and gasoline prices, and drive out good-paying jobs just so California can feel good about leading an environmental fight.
They also said there is inadequate oversight of the rule-setting process.
"This is really a stab in the dark, and it's unknown," said state Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff, a Republican.
Information for this article was contributed by Julia Horowitz of The Associated Press.
Business on 06/04/2015