Today, the California Energy Commission voted unanimously to approve new building codes requiring that solar panels be installed on all new homes, beginning in 2020. The new codes will apply to most single-family homes as well as apartments and condos of three stories or less. This historic decision makes California the first state in the country to mandate that all new home construction.
Mayor Eric Garcetti today announced that Los Angeles has the most installed solar power of any city in America after a 44% increase over the last year, according to a report by the Environment California Research & Policy Center.
Since the federal clean car standards were implemented in model year 2012 vehicles, the standards have cut global warming pollution, spurred innovation and saved consumers money. Californians have saved at least $3.9 billion thanks to the pollution standards. Despite these huge plusses for California residents, the federal government plans to roll back our progress.
With electric vehicles (EVs) hitting California streets in record numbers, a new study by Environment California Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group highlights best practices to help local officials make their cities as EV-friendly as possible. The new report, “Plugging In: Speeding the Adoption of Electric Vehicles in California with Smart Local Policies,” includes projected numbers for how many EVs could be in Los Angeles, Riverside, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose by 2030, and how cities can accommodate the electric cars with enough places to park and recharge.
As Governor Jerry Brown puts the finishing touches on his final State of the State address, we urge him to use this platform to announce how California will facilitate the rapid deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging throughout the state. We will be tuning in on Thursday in the hopes of hearing Governor Brown make a strong plug for plugging in.
Environment California Research and Policy Center is part of The Public Interest Network, which operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change.
