California, which has adopted stricter gas emissions, is striving to become the first state in the United States to achieve energy independence while fighting global warming.
With Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as a strong advocate, the state said it is taking the lead in the nation to reduce gas emissions.
"Our state, nation and world are facing unprecedented challenges from global warming, high energy prices and threats to our energy security," Schwarzenegger said on Tuesday at an on-going national energy meeting outside Los Angeles.
"California has the power, the innovation and the will to become the first state in the nation to achieve energy independence while fighting global warming," the governor said in an address to more than 400 scientists, business executives and political leaders from all over the country.
Among other topics, the participants were discussing California's progress in finding alternative energy sources that will help us meet our state's aggressive renewable energy goals.
"It won't happen overnight, but I know that it will happen if we remain committed," Schwarzenegger said. "We can show the world how protecting the environment and growing the economy go hand in hand. Let's put the power of California capitalism, California research and California ingenuity to work and see how much we can accomplish."
Schwarzenegger has led California in establishing laws and policies aimed at helping the state achieve energy independence and fight global warming.
California has set a goal to increase the state's renewable energy sources to 20 percent by 2010, while trying to reach 33 percent by 2020.
To encourage more Californians to use renewable energy and increase supply, the governor has signed his Million Solar Roofs Plan into law, which will provide 3,000 megawatts of additional clean energy and reduce the output of greenhouse gases by three million tons, equivalent to taking one million cars off the road. The 2.9-billion-dollar incentive plan for homeowners and building owners who install solar electric systems will lead to one million solar roofs in California by the year 2018.
Last October, the governor also signed the Solar Water Heating and Efficiency Act of 2007, which provides incentives to reach a goal of installing 200,000 solar water heating systems in the state by 2017.
California companies are producing a growing share of green technology patents and numerous energy efficient products and services, allowing companies and individuals to expand while reducing their energy use.
According to "California Green Innovation Index," California patents account for 44 percent of all U.S. patents in solar and 37percent in all U.S. patents in wind technologies.
In addition to California's policies aimed at spurring renewable energy growth, the state has also launched the most aggressive energy efficiency and conservation program in the world. Over a three-year period, this program will eliminate the need to build three power plants, cutting energy costs for homes and businesses by 5 billion dollars.
Last October, California and a coalition of European Union countries, U.S. states, Canadian provinces, Norway and New Zealand formed the world's first International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP) to develop solutions to global climate change.
ICAP will provide an international forum in which governments adopting enforceable caps on greenhouse gas emissions will share experience and best practices on the design of emissions trading mechanisms. ICAP will help ensure trading mechanisms are compatible and work to boost demand for low-carbon products and services, promote innovation and reduce the cost of effective reductions to allow swift and ambitious cuts in global warming emissions.
Source:Xinhua
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