California To Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The California Air Resources Board Thursday released a long-awaited draft plan to lower the state's greenhouse gas emissions that relies on an emissions cap-and-trade program for the bulk of the reductions.

Under the draft plan, 85 percent of California's total greenhouse gas emissions would be placed under a declining emissions cap. Other measures set out in the plan, which is designed to meet a state-mandated limit in 2020, include expanding and strengthening existing energy efficiency programs and building and appliance standards, expanding the state's renewable-energy mandates to 33 percent, and implementing other measures such as the state's low-carbon fuel standard and clean car standards.