Meeting today on California SB 375

The San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Association hosts a meeting today to discuss California Senate bill 375, which aims to address greenhouse-gas emissions and reduce carbon production through better land use, transportation and city planning.

As the bill's author, state Sen. Darrell Steinberg, told The Planning Report, SB 375 "requires the 18 metropolitan planning organizations across the state of California to show that their future planning scenarios will result in a reduction in carbon."

While SB 375 isn't about clean technologies per se, it certainly is linked to cleantech in many ways. Most literally, urban in-fill construction and densified new construction is more likely to use green building methods than traditional suburban construction.

More importantly, though, you might think of dense cities as clean technology writ large. Dense cities that are pleasant to live in enable residents and workers to walk or take efficient mass transit to their destinations, and they encourage people to live where the environment is already built up -- instead of in areas that serve important agricultural, environmental or even industrial purposes. People in dense cities are able to use energy and water much more efficiently than people living in most rural or suburban situations.

SPUR's meeting is for the members of its Housing Committee and Sustainable Development Committee, but the think tank could host a public presentation or publish an article on the bill in the future.

More about SPUR.

Read more of The Planning Report's interview with Steinberg.

California green policies aid economy, says UC Berkeley study

Contrary to the fears of opponents, California's policies seeking to increase energy efficiency and fight global warming are actually good for the economy, according to a new study.

David Roland-Holst writes for the University of California, Berkeley's Center for Energy, Resources and Economic Stability that based on past state policies and practices, implementing California's historic "Global Warming Solutions Act" -- also known as AB 32 -- would create as many as 403,000 new jobs, boost household incomes statewide by as much as $48 billion and increase the Gross State Product by $76 billion.

Looking ahead, California’s ambitious plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as mandated by the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) puts the state on a more stable economic path by encouraging even greater investment in energy saving innovation.

The California Air Resources Board is on track to consider and possibly adopt an implementation plan for AB 32 in December.


Read the full report in PDF form here.

Brea Mall hosts show of greener cars

BREA, Calif. /CalEPA-ARB/– The California Air Resources Board and vehicle manufacturers will be available Saturday and Sunday at the Brea Mall to showcase clean, efficient, advanced technology vehicles.

Vehicle experts will be on hand to provide details about each vehicle's smog score, global warming impact and fuel economy, and describe incentives offered by state, federal and local agencies.

Starting in 2009, new Environmental Performance Labels will be required on all new cars sold in California. The label displays a smog score and global warming score on a scale of 1-10, with the highest scores indicate the cleanest vehicles.

WHO: ARB spokespeople and vehicle experts from Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday Oct. 19, 11 a.m. - 6: p.m.

WHERE: Brea Mall
1065 Brea Mall
Brea, CA 92821

Photo Opportunity: The following vehicles and technologies will be on display:

2008 Honda Civic GX: compressed natural gas
2008 Nissan Altima: hybrid-electric
2008 Toyota Highlander: hybrid-electric
2008 Volkswagen Convertible Beetle: clean gasoline

For more information on the cleanest, most efficient vehicles available today, visit www.DriveClean.ca.gov