(AP) 
Schwarzenegger has tried to position himself as a leader on the issue. Last year, he issued an executive order calling for the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 2000 levels by 2010, 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.

He organized a Climate Action Team that recommended a statewide cap and last month signed an accord with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in which California and Great Britain will work together to research cleaner-burning fuels and technologies.

California has led the country in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through its renewable energy policies and a 2004 law reducing tailpipe emissions from vehicles.

Ten other states are poised to enact California's auto rule, while more than 20 states have required utilities to eventually generate some power from renewable sources such as solar, wind and geothermal.

The California bill also would eclipse an effort under way in seven Northeast states, which are seeking to cap emissions from power plants.

"We need to have all important sectors of the economy do their fair share," said Jim Martson, a senior attorney with Environmental Defense, one of the main environmental groups involved in negotiations over the bill. "If you only do electricity or autos, you're only getting at 70 percent of the problem."

In the absence of federal action, much of the effort to combat climate change has been focused in the states.

More than 100 climate-related bills have been held up in Congress, including one by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., that call for a national cap on greenhouse gas emissions.

During the negotiations over the California cap, Schwarzenegger had sought to appease his supporters in the business community by arguing for safeguards for the industries that would be most affected.

Administration officials have spent weeks seeking assurances that any legislation would require a market program similar to schemes in the Northeast and the European Union. The idea would allow businesses to buy, sell or trade emission credits with other companies instead of making their own reductions if those cuts were considered too costly or technology difficult.

Such a program could help industries that may not be able to meet their targets through energy efficiency practices or the use of alternative fuels.

Schwarzenegger also sought a so-called "safety valve" that would allow California to delay the emission-cap mandate if the state is hit with a natural disaster, terrorist attack or some other emergency. It was not immediately clear whether such a measure was included in the final bill.

Silicon Valley entrepreneurs have touted a cap as an opportunity to get California ahead of the rest of the nation in designing new technology to achieve carbon savings.

In addition to the emissions cap, California lawmakers are poised to give final approval to related legislation. It would prohibit the state from entering long-term contracts with any out-of-state utility that fails to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions. The bill by Perata is awaiting an Assembly vote.

©MMVI, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Back To Top