By Elizabeth Ridlington, Policy Analyst, Frontier Group 
Rob Sargent, Energy Program Director, Environment California

Rising global temperatures, unpredictable weather and alarming scientific predictions have led to increasing public concern about the impacts of global warming on the environment, health and society. But while the Bush administration continues to resist efforts to reduce global warming pollution, many states are taking effective actions to address the threat—including the adoption of the “Clean Cars Program,” which sets limits on global warming pollution from cars, light trucks and SUVs. The global warming benefit will be significant. Read more »

By Bernadette Del Chiaro
Clean Energy Advocate, Environment California

This past Wednesday the California General Assembly approved a measure to create the nation’s largest solar water heating program, promising to again expand the state’s market for clean, renewable energy.  The bill, The Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007 (AB 1470), authored by Assembly member Jared Huffman, sponsored by Environment California, and supported by hundreds of organizations and businesses, would create a $250 million ten-year program to provide consumer rebates for solar water heating systems, a form of solar power that is currently underutilized in the United States but is thriving in European and Asian countries. Read more »

By Asmb. Lloyd E. Levine
Chairman of the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee

Yesterday in the Assembly’s Utilities and Commerce Committee, legislation that I’ve authored to phase out the sale of incandescent light bulbs in California by 2012 – Assembly Bill 722 – was passed by the Committee on a bipartisan 9-3 vote. It was the first hearing for the bill, which was first announced on January 30, and since that time has garnered an amazing amount of attention around the world – and really, for quite a simple idea.  It takes 18 seconds to change a light bulb – but that 18 seconds can make all the difference to our environment, as well as California’s energy future. The goal of the legislation is to reduce power use while simultaneously cutting carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by 1.8 million metric tons per year, which is the equivalent of taking 400,000 cars off the roads and highways. Read more »