The California Climate Commitment, a 54 billion-dollar investment towards efforts to combat climate change, has firmly solidified California’s position as number one in the race to net zero. Further bolstering their position, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law bold new legislation on September 16, 2022, that will decrease pollution, provide restrictions for California’s biggest polluters, and accelerate the state’s transition to clean energy. 

Governor Newsom collaborated with legislative leaders to draft the legislation that will be a meaningful addition to the California Climate Commitment. Over the next twenty years, the California Climate Commitment will: 

  • Create 4 million new jobs
  • Cut air pollution by 60%
  • Reduce state oil consumption by 91%
  • Save California $23 billion by avoiding the damages of pollution
  • Reduce fossil fuel use in buildings and transportation by 92%
  • Cut refinery pollution by 94%

The latest additions to the California Climate Commitment are a series of bills that will support state-wide carbon neutrality, protect communities from oil drilling, lay the pathway towards a 100% clean electric, remove carbon emissions, and work towards carbon removal of natural and working lands. 

In addition to this new legislation, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has greenlit a statewide plan to meet EPA regulations that limit ozone emissions to 70 parts per billion. To help further this effort, CARB will ban the sale of new gas furnaces and water heaters as of 2030. 

Efforts towards a greener California are also being made by the California Public Utilities Commission as they have voted to do away with subsidies that encourage builders to install gas lines into new buildings starting in 2023. 

These changes will have a huge impact on our industry creating a tailwind of changes at the city and community levels. ID360 will continue to keep you updated on California’s innovative push for clean energy as well as how legislation impacts those in the architecture, construction, design, and code enforcement industries. 

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