Drawing up a Green Plan for CA

Q: What’s the best way to come up with a game plan to push California as a leader in green innovation?

A: Model after plans that are proven to work.

This is the approach that Gavin Newsom is taking in his new role as Lieutenant Governor.  While Newsom was mayor of San Francisco, he oversaw the implementation of numerous green pilot projects that turned the city into a national leader.

Some of the ideas that Newsom would like to take to the state level include the expansion of renewable energy for consumers through financial incentives and for utilities through investments.  San Francisco helped encourage residential and commercial purchases of solar panels by providing rebates.  Similarly, Newsom would like to give a boost to the Property Assessed Clean Energy solar financing program which has been tied up in Federal red tape.

Newsom’s ideas for investment in alternative energy will be a boost to the state’s economic recovery as well. He estimates that “a $1 billion investment in coal would yield 890 jobs, compared to 1,000-1,500 jobs in nuclear, 1,900 jobs in solar, and 3,300 jobs in wind.” It's easy to see where we get the biggest bang for the buck.

Other green proposals of his would bring economic benefits, too.  With older buildings, Newsom is promoting retrofits to improve their energy efficiency.  Programs like this will not only provide much needed jobs, but also save building owners and renters money on their energy bills in the long run. 

Newsom also wants to tackle the number one source of CO₂ emissions in the state - vehicles.  While he was Mayor, San Francisco’s taxi fleet greened itself to the extent that now over half of the vehicles run on alternative fuels.  Newsom's idea for encouraging the use of alternative-fueled vehicles on a state level includes installing electric vehicle charging stations at rest stops.  It’s believed that the only way the public will invest in electric vehicles on a large scale is if recharging is convenient. In other words, people are willing to go green if they don’t have to settle for compromised driving ranges.

It will be exciting to see how far Lieutenant Governor Newsom will be able to take his plans for the state. The good news is that all of these ideas will not only benefit the state’s ability to address our energy needs and climate change, but they will also help with our economic recovery.