The California State Senate recently approved a package of bills to establish new environmental and energy standards in the state, including a measure to cut on-road petroleum use by 50% by 2030. Democratic members first announced the large California Climate Leadership package in February. All of the bills now move on to the California State Assembly.
The petroleum proposal is included in S.B.350, a bill that Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, introduced as part of the package. The bill aims to follow through on a three-point plan Gov. Jerry Brown laid out earlier this year during his inaugural address: reduce on-road petroleum use by 50%, boost energy efficiency in buildings by 50%, and increase renewable energy's portion of state electricity to 50% – all by 2030.
The Senate passed S.B.350 by a 24-14 vote.
In February, the California Air Resources Board suggested one pathway toward halving petroleum use, which would include reducing growth in vehicle-miles traveled, increasing on-road fuel efficiency, and at least doubling the use of alternative fuels. The agency also recently said the measures in S.B.350 align well with Gov. Brown's new executive order to reduce the state's emissions 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.
More information on the California Climate Leadership package and its individual bills is available here.
