ConservAmerica Talking Points

California Carbon Emissions

2015 California Carbon Emissions Targets

On April 29, Gov. Jerry Brown announced a California plan to reduce California carbon emissions to a level 40% below 1990 levels by 2030

The plan matches the 28-nation European Union goal

The plan moves California towards the goal set by Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger to cut the levels to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050

California is already on track towards its goal of cutting carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 – in part, by imposing a carbon cap-and-trade system

California’s Carbon Reduction Plan

The plan relies on three main elements: Doubling renewable energy production from 25 to 50 percent

Halving gasoline use for vehicles

Doubling the energy efficiency of existing buildings

California’s Plan Needs The ConservAmerica Republican Approach

Incenting US-made renewable energy and integrating it into the grid with appropriate price signals

Increasing the production of natural gas through fracking and supporting the switch to natural gas for vehicles

Investing in energy efficiency

Renewables have reduced GHG emissions by 560 million tons in the past decade,

Energy and vehicle efficiency have reduced GHG emissions by 10.02 billion tons

How Republican Policies Achieve Those Goals

GOP support for increased fracking, pipeline capacity, and underground storage by incenting market mechanisms and allowing exports

GOP support for “Blue Collar” solar installations – leveraging utility investment into installations by allowing utilities to rate base residential solar, without requiring high credit scores like leasing companies, or huge down payments like third-party solar installers

GOP support for moving utility investment in energy efficiency from an operating expense “dollar for dollar” proscribed plan to a capital expense investment opportunity for utilities