by Jbs100708 d3 — October 10, 2008—Continuing California’s environmental leadership in fighting global warming, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that he has signed SB 375, which builds on AB 32, California’s first-in-the-nation law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, by adding the nation’s first law to control greenhouse gas emissions by curbing sprawl.
SB 375 is designed to help Californians rethink how they plan their communities in order to reach the greenhouse gas reduction goals set out in AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, by providing emissions-reduction goals around which regions can plan—integrating disjointed planning activities and providing incentives for local governments and developers to follow new conscientiously planned growth patterns.
Additionally, SB 375 provides incentives for creating attractive, walkable, and sustainable communities and revitalizing existing communities. The California government asserts that spending less time on the road is the single most powerful way for the state to reduce its carbon footprint.
The bill also establishes a Strategic Growth Council to coordinate the programs of various state agencies in order to meet the goals of AB 32; encourage sustainable land use planning; revitalize urban community centers in a sustainable manner; and meet other related goals.
