SACRAMENTO – (INT)- Governor Jerry Brown issued an statement after President Barack Obama announced new nationwide limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

"I welcome this bold and absolutely necessary carbon reduction plan. California is fully engaged in tackling climate change, and we look forward to working with other states and the White House as we implement these new mandates," governor Brown said

Power plants are the largest emitters of greenhouse gases among stationary sources in the United States, making up roughly one-third of all emissions. The new Clean Power Plan sets greenhouse gas emissions guidelines for each state based on current levels of pollution. On average, this plan will help cut pollution from existing power plants nationwide approximately 32 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.

California is already on track to meet and exceed these new, national reduction targets, having committed to cutting emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 under an executive order Governor Brown issued earlier this year.

Earlier this year, Governor Brown issued an executive order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030 - the most ambitious target in North America and consistent with California's existing commitment to reduce emissions 80 percent under 1990 levels by 2050.

In another comment, the California Public Utilities Commission said "California has made progress on cleaner power plants and we will reach our 2020 goal of providing 33 percent of our electricity from renewable energy. We also have a functioning cap-and-trade market that is helping to bring down costs of compliance with greenhouse gas rules. President Obama’s national approach to greenhouse gas reduction offers a further opportunity to save everyone money."

California Air Resources Board Chair Mary D. Nichols said "We will move quickly to implement it and urge other states to do the same."

Story Date: August 6, 2015