AB 118 – Energy Efficiency, Lower Carbon Fuels, and a Critical Investment in California’s Economic and Transportation Future

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By John Boesel
President and CEO
CALSTART
and
Karen Douglas
Legislative Director
Environmental Defense

Recent projections that California’s population is expected to almost double from 35 million people today to 60 million people in 2050 are sobering. Even more sobering are proposals that seemed visionary in the 1950s but outdated for the 2050s: double-decking our freeways, expanding toll road systems and generally laying more concrete. In the 21st century we need to invest in new technologies, fuels and systems to carry us forward in a sustainable way.

Fortunately, we have the opportunity to create new fuels and transportation solutions as we strive to meet the requirements of AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act that requires a steep reduction in global warming emissions down to 1990 levels. But in order to meet this objective, we must plan for new population growth and transportation infrastructure in a sustainable way.

Currently, the state lacks the alternative fueling infrastructure, fuels and vehicle options necessary to meet the requirements of AB 32 into the future. More than half of California’s global warming emissions come from the transportation sector when you include the emissions from drilling, pumping, transporting, and refining oil. Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles), a primary author of AB 32, has offered AB 118 to reduce greenhouse emissions from California’s transportation sector.

AB 118 directs critical focus where California’s regulatory needs are most urgent: energy efficiency and lower carbon fuels. This important investment in our future would be generated from small increases of $1 to $8 on smog checkups and vehicle registration, the equivalent of a few cups of Starbucks coffee. It is a small price to pay to spur the deployment of more clean vehicle and fuel choices while protecting our natural environment and public health from the risks of an unstable climate.