The Greening of the States | Green Energy News

April 28, 2002 – Vol.7 No.5

THE GREENING OF THE STATES.

As the U.S. Constitution is written, the states share governing power with the Federal Government. States can do as they see fit on most issues - including the environment - without needing the approval of Washington.

The California State Senate has approved, by a 22-13 vote, AB 1058, a measure that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks sold in the state. Still to be returned for another vote in the California State Assembly (where the bill originated), and then to the Governor’s desk for signing, the bill would require major vehicle manufacturers operating in the state to obtain the maximum feasible cost-effective reduction of those gases from vehicles sold there.

The bill would direct the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to devise standards for manufacturers to follow. CARB would not be allowed (and has no authority anyway) to impose taxes as a way to meet the ruling.

AB 1058, expected to pass in a final vote in the Assembly (it passed a vote in February) and if signed by Governor Gray Davis, would go into effect in 2006.

The State of New Jersey has contracted to buy 12 percent of its electricity from greener sources for 196 facilities owned by the state. This power purchase, 113 million kilowatt hours over 15 months, is Green Mountain Energy’s Enviro Blend, a Green-e certified product. Green-e certification guarantees that 50 percent of the power must come from renewables - solar, wind, geothermal, low-impact hydro or bio-sources. Green-e certification also opens the power provider to annual audits to insure that power is actually being delivered from renewable sources.

The States of Maryland (at 6 percent), Pennsylvania (at 5 percent) and Tennessee (at 2 percent) have also purchased green power for state-owned buildings. New York State has a green power goal for state-owned buildings of 10 percent by 2005.

Visit Green Mountain at http://www.greenmountain.com/ , Green-e at http://www.green-e.org/ .