California adopts nation's strictest emissions regulations

California's Air Resources Board has adopted the nation's most stringent environmental regulations, with plans to cut emissions by 15 percent in the next 12 years.

Under the regulation, the state would require utilities to generate a third of power from renewable sources by 2020.

The plans curb the emissions from electrical plants, automobiles, landfills and city planning. Businesses and automakers have said the requirements will be too expensive to implement.

• a cap-and-trade system for utilities, refineries and other large industries.
• obligations for automakes to produce cleaner vehicles, reiterating a 2002 state law that was overturned by the Bush administration (see U.S. EPA rejects Calif. car emissions waiver and California sues EPA, again).
• requirements for fuel companies to reformulate fuels so they are 10 percent less carbon-intensive by 2020.
• incentives by local governments to curb urban spawl.
• prohibiting cargo and cruise ships from running engines while docked.
• stricter energy-efficiency standards for appliances and buildings.

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