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Use this form to search our database of policies at the city-, county-, and state-level that promote the Green Economy.

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Public Policies for the Green Economy

California, and particularly the East Bay, is at the forefront of policy initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and hasten the transition to a green economy. At the state level, Assembly Bill 32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) calls for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Three of the East Bay cities (Richmond, Berkeley, and Oakland) have signed onto the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement, which calls for a reduction of 7% below 1990 levels by 2012. Emeryville's target is 25% below 2004 levels by 2030.

There are many state and city-level policies that impact various sectors of the green economy. The following list highlights key policies in different sectors.

Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency

At the state level, the following policies are driving innovation and creating new markets in renewable energy and energy efficiency:

California's Renewable Portfolio Standard requires the state to get 33% of its electricity from renewables by 2020.
California also has strong energy efficiency standards for appliances (Title 20) and for buildings (Title 24); these standards have helped drive California's average per capita energy consumption below the national average over the past 30 years.
The California Solar Initiative, which has a budget of $2.2 billion for 2007-2016, offers several incentive programs for residential and commercial building owners who install solar photovoltaics and solar thermal. The goal is to reach 1 million solar roofs in California by 2018.

Locally, the city of Berkeley has been a pioneer in financing renewable energy and energy efficiency for homeowners through its BerkeleyFIRST program. The City of Berkeley's Residential Energy Conservation Ordinance (RECO) and Commercial Energy Conservation Ordinance (CECO) require property owners to comply with certain energy efficiency standards upon sale or transfer of property, renovations valued at $50,000 or more, additions to the property, or participation in the BerkeleyFIRST program. The RECO/CECO standards meet or exceed the state's Title 24 standards.

The City of Richmond offers an incentive of $1,000 per solar thermal system, as long as locally-trained labor is used to install the system. (back to the top)

Green Building

California's Long Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan, produced by the California Public Utilities Commission, calls for all new residential construction to be zero net energy by 2020 and all new commercial construction to be zero net energy by 2030. In addition, California's New Solar Homes Initiative, part of the California Solar Initiative, aims to have solar electric systems on 50% on all new homes built in CA by the end of 2016.

Oakland and Berkeley require new municipal buildings to meet LEED Silver standards; Richmond also requires LEED certification of municipal buildings. Oakland offers fast-track permitting for non-municipal buildings meeting strict LEED standards and provides free green building resources for developers. (back to the top)

Recycling & Remediation

California's Recycling Market Development Zones provide low interest loans, technical assistance, and free marketing to companies that make use of recycled products. There are 2 such zones in the East Bay: Richmond and Oakland/Berkeley.

Berkeley and Oakland both have goals of zero waste by 2020; Richmond's goal is zero waste by 2040. Currently Oakland requires a 50% reduction of waste to landfills from construction and demolition in order to benefit the city's recycling industry. (back to the top)

Transportation

California's pioneering Low Carbon Fuel Standard requires a 10% reduction in the carbon content of CA transportation fuels by 2020. Cities in the East Bay have also made efforts to green their city fleets: Oakland fuels non-emergency vehicles on alternative fuels wherever possible, Berkeley has converted its fleet to 100% biodiesel, and Richmond has purchased 13 hybrid or electric vehicles. (back to the top)

Workforce Development

California Green Collar Jobs Act of 2008 (AB 3018) established a Green Collar Jobs Council to develop a comprehensive array of programs, strategies, and resources to address the workforce needs that accompany California's growing green economy and to establish green job training programs.

Regionally, the City of Richmond has been a pioneer in job training programs for the green economy through the Richmond BUILD program, a public-private partnership providing training in high wage construction and renewable energy. Oakland has also recently established a Green Jobs Corps, which enrolled 40 students in its first year and will place its graduates with ten local green businesses. (back to the top)