California Governor Calls for 50% Reduction in Petroleum Use in Cars and Trucks from Today’s Levels by 2030

In his inaugural address delivered Monday in Sacramento, re-elected California Governor Jerry Brown set out three major environmental goals for the next 15 years, to 2030:  reducing today’s petroleum use in cars and trucks by up to 50%; increasing renewable electricity levels from one-third to 50%; and doubling the efficiency of existing buildings and making heating fuels cleaner.

Brown also called for reductions in the release of methane, black carbon and other potent pollutants across industries, along with managing farms, rangelands, forests and wetlands so they can store carbon.

California has the most far-reaching environmental laws of any state and the most integrated policy to deal with climate change of any political jurisdiction in the Western Hemisphere.  Under laws that you have enacted, we are on track to meet our 2020 goal of one-third of our electricity from renewable energy.  We lead the nation in energy efficiency, cleaner cars and energy storage.  Recently, both the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the World Bank made clear that properly pricing carbon is a key strategy.  California’s cap-and-trade system fashioned under AB 32 is doing just that and showing how the market itself can generate the innovations we need.  Beyond this, California is forging agreements with other states and nations so that we do not stand alone in advancing these climate objectives. These efforts, impressive though they are, are not enough.

… It means that we continue to transform our electrical grid, our transportation system and even our communities. I envision a wide range of initiatives:  more distributed power, expanded rooftop solar, micro-grids, an energy imbalance market, battery storage, the full integration of information technology and electrical distribution and millions of electric and low-carbon vehicles.  How we achieve these goals and at what pace will take great thought and imagination mixed with pragmatic caution.  It will require enormous innovation, research and investment.  And we will need active collaboration at every stage with our scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, businesses and officials at all levels.

—Gov. Brown

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