Promote Clean Energy

We have enormous untapped power. In California, we can harness the wind and sun to power our future, create a green economy, and leave dirty, dangerous energy behind. We support measures that:

1. Triple Renewable Energy in California: Increase California’s minimum renewable energy goals to at least 33% by 2020.

2. Help Build A Million Solar Roofs: Increase access and availability of incentives for going solar through rebates, net metering and solar financing.

3. Repower America: Create a first-ever minimum renewable energy standard for the county, getting to 20% renewable energy nationwide by 2020.

Fight Global Warming

Global warming is the most profound threat of our time. From the threat of rising sea levels and shrinking snowpack, to extreme drought and increased wildfires, the dangers of climate change are cause for immediate action. The pathway to solving global warming is straightforward: cut the amount of global warming pollution emitted by automobiles, power plants and the other major sources in half. We support measures that:

1. Make Polluters Pay: Ensure the state auctions 100% of carbon emissions allowances in any cap-and-trade program and invests at least $1 billion per year in efficiency and clean energy solutions.

2. Cap Pollution Nationwide: Build support for a science-based, nationwide cap on global warming pollution to reduce emissions 80% by 2050 (Rep. Waxman).

3. Promote Green Cars: Expand California’s clean cars regulations to put over 1 million electric and other ultra-clean cars on the road by 2022, and shift us to 100% clean cars by 2035.

Curb Toxics

There are currently over 80,000 chemicals on the market in the United States. We lack even basic information on the potential adverse health effects regarding the vast majority of these chemicals. We do know that at least 1,400 chemicals have known or probable links to cancer, birth defects, reproductive impacts and other health problems, such as learning disabilities. We support:

1. Implementing the Green Chemistry Initiative in Cal EPA, and passing legislation to enhance this program and its work.

2. Polish without Poison: Banning the use of nail polish containing toxic chemicals that harm workers and users.

3. Safe Cribs: Banning the use of formaldehyde in baby furniture

Protect Our Ocean Environment

California’s coastal and ocean environments are invaluable assets to our state. California has an impressive record of taking bold and innovative actions to protect our coastal natural resources, yet recent studies have shown that the ocean need more protection. We support measures that:

1. Defend Marine Life: Establish more Marine Protected Areas to give marine life places to thrive.

2. Protect California’s Coast: Stop any new oil and gas development off the coast of California.

3. Reduce Ocean Pollution: 2,000 miles off the coast of California, 100 million tons of plastics and artificial debris have created the Pacific Garbage Patch. We’re working on measure that cut pollution:

A. Ban cigarettes from state beaches and state parks (Sen. Oropeza).

B. Reduce plastic bags and encourage the use of reusable or biodegradable bags.

C. Ban single use Styrofoam take out containers (Assemblymember Hill).

D. Require bottle manufactures to design bottles so caps remain connected (so the caps do not become detached, at which point they are commonly mistaken for food).

Preservation

California is home to some of the country’s most beautiful places, with eight national parks, hundreds of state parks and over 4 million acres of wild forests. Unfortunately, too many of our beautiful places have been lost to logging, mining, oil drilling and overdevelopment. That’s why we are working to protect California’s parks and critical wildlife habitat, and the laws that protect them.

1. Preserve State Parks: Ensure that California state parks are not closed or neglected by fiscal cuts. Make sure state parkland lost to development.

2. Preserve National Forests: Protect our National Forests from dangerous development like oil drilling and mining. Reinstate the 2001 Roadless Rule.