California Climate Land-Use Bill Passes Assembly, Next
Step is the State Senate
Legislation will cut drive time and support state global
warming reduction goals
SACRAMENTO (August 25, 2008) – Today, California’s state assembly
reaffirmed its commitment to fighting global warming by passing Senate
Bill 375, a major land-use bill, by a 49-22 margin. Senate Bill 375, by
State Senator Darrell Steinberg aims to reduce global warming pollution
through better land-use planning by providing local governments incentives
to build more compact neighborhoods and promote more transportation
alternatives. The bill is sponsored by the California League of
Conservation Voters (CLCV) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Following is a statement by Ann Notthoff, NRDC California
Advocacy Director:
“Household car and truck pollution accounts for 30 percent of
California’s global warming pollution. The amount that Californians
drive is increasing faster than our population growth rate and we need
to act now to offer people choices to drive less. By limiting sprawl we
can take a big bite out of California’s greenhouse gas pollution. S.B.
375 builds a strong foundation to help California meet our ambitious
global warming reduction goals. Consumers will also save money by
having more transportation alternatives during this era of rising gas
prices.”
Following is a statement by Tom Adams, CLCV Board President:
“California did not invent sprawl; but it made sprawl famous. S.B. 375,
for the first time, turns the corner away from sprawl. In an era of high
gas prices and global warming, the need for S.B. 375 is undeniable. It
will be the first bill in the nation to insert climate change into the
transportation, housing and land use equation. Make no mistake, S.B. 375
is vital to meeting the promise of California's landmark climate change
law, A.B. 32. We will never achieve our greenhouse gas reduction goals
or energy independence unless we stop encouraging sprawl and start
locating housing closer to jobs - because right now, the number of miles
that people drive is increasing almost twice as fast as the population
growth."
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit
organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists
dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in
1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members and online activists, served from
offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and
Beijing.
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