Age
Friday 27/6/2008 Page: 11
CALIFORNIA has unveiled an ambitious plan for clean cars, renewable energy and stringent caps on big polluting industries. The plan, which aims to reduce pollutants by 10% from current levels by 2020 while driving investment in new energy technologies that will benefit the state's economy, is the most comprehensive by any US state. It could serve as a blueprint not only for the rest of the US, but also for other big polluting nations such as China and India, planners and environmental groups said.
By taking action here... we will be able to help motivate other states in our nation," said Mary Nichols, chairman of the California Air Resources Board. The initiatives include a cap-and-trade program on carbon dioxide emissions that will require buildings and appliances to use less energy, oil companies to make cleaner fuels, and utilities to provide a third of their energy from renewable sources such as wind and solar power.
The program will encourage development of walkable cities with shorter commuting times and high-speed rail as an alternative to air travel. It will also require more hybrid and hydrogen-fuelled vehicles. CARB said the measures would benefit residents of the most populous US state by reducing pollution-related illnesses and by stimulating investment in new energy technologies that would create jobs. CARB estimated that more efficient appliances and homes would save households about $US200 ($A209) a year. Cleaner cars are expected to save drivers about $US30 a month in fuel.
0 comments:
Post a Comment