California To Other 49 States: Can You Match Our Clean Energy Economy?

California To Other 49 States: Can You Match Our Clean Energy Economy?

by Matt Kasper, Guest Blogger

While the prospects of comprehensive energy legislation remain grim in Washington, real action to address climate change and grow the clean economy is being taken on the state level.
California in particular is a shining example of state-based leadership on climate, having established its own cap-and-trade mechanism — a key element in the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (also known as AB 32) — that will soon be linked with the Province of Québec which will decrease overall greenhouse gas emissions and provide greater flexibility to California businesses. The state also has a Renewable Portfolio Standard of 33 percent by 2020 (the state utilities have already met 20 percent of its electricity needs through renewables), and a net metering program allowing customers to receive financial credit for power generating by their onsite system.http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/03/17/1730481/california-to-other-49-states-can-you-match-our-clean-energy-economy/