by Katy Grimes, E&E Legal Senior Media Fellow and California Globe Editor
As Appearing in the California Globe
Pretty much everything we use in modern society needs to be upended, overhauled, and restricted
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a “sweeping set of laws” Friday that aim to dramatically cut the state’s use of oil and gas, many in the California media reported. That “sweeping set of laws” is 40 new climate change bills regulating California businesses and its people.
Gov. Newsom even launched a new climate dashboard “launched to highlight state’s climate action and progress toward goals.” We hope it is more accurate and up-to-date than the state’s Covid dashboard.
“We’re not interested in doubling down on stupid,” Gov. Newsom said at the signing ceremony on Mare Island, with oil refineries in the background. “We’re not interested in investing in the industries that have created the problems that we’re trying to mitigate. That’s just profoundly ridiculous.” He added, “We’re moving in a completely new direction and I couldn’t be more proud and excited,” CalMatters reported.
Leading off the sweeping package of legislation is the ominous bill, The California Climate Crisis Act, AB 1279. Apparently California has a climate crisis.
According to the bill analysis (below), “this bill declares it the policy of the state to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as soon as possible, but no later than 2045, to achieve that goal with at least an 85% reduction in GHG emissions, and to achieve and maintain net negative GHG emissions thereafter.”
