The California Air Resources Board (CARB) unanimously voted yesterday to adopt the AB 32 Scoping Plan, the implementing blueprint for California's landmark law to limit global warming pollution.  Across the U.S., in Washington, and the rest of the world, all eyes are on California as we're showing how to fight global warming while recharging our economy at the same time.  Though more work still remains, California is on target, meeting an important milestone set by AB 32 by adopting the scoping plan.  This is the first-ever plan of its kind - anywhere - to reduce global warming throughout the state's sectors through a mix of policies.

Looking forward, the work is far from over, and we'll be participating closely in the rulemaking process to carry out the policies in the plan.  In its vote, the Board emphasized that CARB intends, as required by AB 32, to ensure that disadvantaged communities are not further harmed through the implementation of the plan.  We also plan to hold CARB to its commitment to cut global warming emissions from sprawl through the SB 375 process and make sure California maximizes economic benefits, and protections for public health.  But taking a step back and taking a moment to reflect, it's truly an impressive plan and a great example for the nation and world to follow.

Particularly in these tough economic times, this plan is exactly the economic stimulus we need for a clean energy economy that will generate new jobs, businesses, and innovation.  Not only has the new energy economy already created jobs - more than 1.5 million clean energy jobs have been created in California - more will be produced as we scale up to implement the plan.  Investing in energy efficient technologies during the last three and a half decades has already saved $56 billion in energy costs, and further increasing California's energy efficiency by just one percent a year will expand the state's GSP by $76 billion.  Despite calls for the contrary, California has clearly shown that now is not the time to pause in our efforts to curb global warming.  We don't have time to waste, either for our economy or for our planet.