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Please consider the following ARB press release announcing the
availability of an Economic and Technology Advisory Committee
final report on greenhouse gas reduction strategies.
You can read the release online here:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/nr021408.htm .
Thank You 
Dimitri Stanich
ARB/PIO

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Release 08-08
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 14, 2008
	  	  	
Stanley Young
916-322-2990
www.arb.ca.gov

Economic and Technology Advisory Committee releases final report
on greenhouse gas reduction strategies

Business and scientific experts identify strategies to
accelerate greenhouse gas reductions, stimulate innovation, grow
Cleantech sector


SACRAMENTO -- Today, a 20-member state advisory committee issued
a report recommending 55 economic and technology advancement
policies for a cleaner and more competitive economy to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and develop the California Cleantech
industry.

"Our report sounds the call for early action to develop low- and
zero-carbon transportation and energy technologies to cut
greenhouse gases and improve public health," said Dr. Alan
Lloyd, Chair of the Economic and Technology Advancement Advisory
Committee (ETAAC). Dr. Lloyd, a former Secretary of Cal/EPA and
former chair of the California Air Resources Board, is currently
the President of the International Council on Clean
Transportation. "This cleaner, more efficient economy holds the
promise to provide jobs and reduce greenhouse gases-but only if
we act now."

"Policy matters," said Dr. Bob Epstein, the committee's
Vice-Chair and co-founder of Environmental Entrepreneurs. "This
report identifies a full suite of policies that can stimulate
innovation, encourage early action to reduce greenhouse gases,
and create jobs."

The committee was established under the requirements of
California's ground-breaking Global Warming Solutions Act (or AB
32) to facilitate the development of new economic and
technological advancement as quickly as possible. The committee,
composed of a cross-section of scientific, business, non-profit
and government leaders, is charged with advising the state on
strategies to achieve a 25 percent reduction of greenhouse gases
by 2020 under AB32, and addresses long-range policies to achieve
the 80 percent reduction by 2050 as called for in Governor
Schwarzenegger's landmark 2005 Executive Order.

The report, to be presented to the California Air Resources
Board at its February 28 hearing, is the first to present
standards, incentives, and investments for cleaner
transportation and energy technology across California's
economy. Those sectors include finance; transportation;
industrial, commercial and residential energy use; electricity
and natural gas; agriculture; forestry, and water.

To accelerate the transition to a cleaner and more competitive
economy, the report proposes the development of a California
Carbon Trust if revenues are available from sales of carbon
allowances. The proposed trust would direct investments in the
research and development of promising and high-potential
technologies, finance technology pilot projects, and achieve GHG
and air pollution reductions in disadvantaged communities and
throughout the state of California.

Other examples of specific recommendations to meet the pressing
need for greenhouse gas emission reductions and economic
development include:

    * Build on California low- and zero-emission vehicle
initiatives
    * Change planning policies to encourage Smart Growth and
transit-friendly development
    * Institute motor vehicle congestion charges and other
financial incentives
    * Facilitate deployment of renewable energy, and delivery
when and where it's needed
    * Establish significant new programs and incentives for
water efficiency and recycling
    * Promote aggressive energy efficiency programs, and
advanced lighting technology (LEDs)
    * Support soil carbon and biological carbon sequestration 


The report also notes that adopting strategic policies will help
California capture larger percentages of the growing pool of
nationwide Cleantech investment. Total U.S. investment in
Cleantech industries was more than $3.7 billion in 2007 with
nearly half flowing to California. "Reducing our greenhouse gas
emissions presents an unprecedented economic opportunity to
harness California's renowned technological ingenuity and can-do
spirit," said Mary Nichols, Chairman of the California Air
Resources Board, the lead agency implementing AB32. "I applaud
the committee's hard work and look forward to examining these
thoughtful recommendations with the Board."

The Air Resources Board is currently preparing a policy
framework-known as the scoping plan-to achieve reductions from
all economic sectors. The draft version of that plan will be
released for public comment in June.

The report identified five key strategies for promoting economic
and technology advancement.

    * Accelerate GHG Emission Reductions
    * Balance a Portfolio of Economic and Technology Policies
    * Create Innovative Public Funding to Complement Private
Investment
    * Foster International and Domestic Partnerships
    * Leadership Across State Agencies 


The report also identified five key area of opportunity where
the state must focus its attention to deliver the GHG emissions
reductions and ancillary benefits needed for climate success:

    * Accelerate efficiency measures
    * Remove carbon from energy sources
    * Rethink transportation to lower demand and carbon
emissions
    * Reduce GHG emissions from industry, agriculture, forestry
and water
    * Capture Cleantech, economic, health and environmental
justice co-benefits 

For a copy of the ETAAC report please see:
http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/etaac/etaac.htm

The Air Resources Board is a department of the California
Environmental Protection Agency. ARB's mission is to promote and
protect public health, welfare, and ecological resources through
effective reduction of air pollutants while recognizing and
considering effects on the economy. The ARB oversees all air
pollution control efforts in California to attain and maintain
health based air quality standards.



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