California Plans to Triple Climate Laws

California will launch a broad frontal assault on climate change by attacking greenhouse emissions from a wide array of sources, according to a story today in the San Francisco Chronicle.

The renewed effort would amount to a tripling of anti-pollution rules aimed at meeting California's trail-blazing commitment to slash carbon dioxide pollution by 25% by 2020.

Here's a look at some highlights of the proposals:

• Fitting trucks and trailers with devices to reduce aerodynamic drag
• Reducing perfluorocarbon emissions from semiconductor factories
• Increasing tire inflation on every vehicle by making it a standard part of any oil change or tuneup
• Reducing emissions from idling ships by installing shoreside electrical outlets
• Enforcing or expanding anti-idling rules and rule aimed at curbing pollution from cement plants
• Studying ways to cut nitrogen pollution from fertilizer

While the Northeast, led by then-Gov. George Pataki of New York, is spearheading a regional cap on carbon emissions from power plants, no economy-wide plan to combat climate change goes as far as California's. Expect proposals like this to come to a town near you as others get on board.

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