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.
]]>On Thursday, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will vote on the Proposed Scoping Plan to implement AB 32. Once adopted, this Scoping Plan will be the blueprint for the comprehensive, binding statewide plan to curb global warming; no other state has done the same. There is certainly no silver bullet to fighting global warming, and California will make history by putting in place policies for across the board emission cuts in all sectors and industries in the state.
This vote is historic and timely for millions of Californians and the country, especially during this recession when we need to build jobs and economic security. Thursday's vote means our state is closer to implementing legislation not only to curb and reduce global warming emissions, but also spur California's green energy economy at a time we need it most.
This is a critical opportunity to invest in long-term, sustainable solutions to not only reduce global warming emissions, but also recharge our economy. According to a recent University of California report, implementing the plan's policies to increase the use of energy efficient technologies will add more than 400,000 jobs and millions of dollars to the state's economy - and our pocketbooks - through lower energy bills.
There is much to be done to meet California's aggressive global warming emission reduction goals. If we are to fight global warming, it must be done across the board, and California is leading the way. More hard work is yet to come to carry out the plan, but California is on track. With CARB's scheduled adoption of the scoping plan on Thursday, California will prove we can fight global warming and recharge our economy at the same time.
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