California's Government Partnerships are Driving the Green Economy

Partnerships between regional and state authorities are a big part of California’s green leadership. According to Greenopia, California is the fifth greenest state in the US. Berkeley and Oakland are but two examples of green cities in the state of California. According to a report titled, 2010 Smarter City for Energy, Long Beach, San Francisco, Huntington Beach, Santa Clarita and Santa Cruz are also among the leading eco-municipalities.

The Bay Area is home to a range of local and regional coalitions and partnerships many of which target environmental issues. The Bay Area is an extensive region of Northern California that encompasses the metropolitan areas of San Francisco, San Jose and other cities and towns.

Municipal authorities have developed innovative programs including an energy efficiency pilot program in affordable multi-family housing in Oakland, San Francisco and Berkeley. Dozens of local governments are providing residential outreach and guidance for the Energy Upgrade Alameda Program.

California’s cities benefit from the state’s progressive environmental policies including a renewable portfolio standard that pressures investor-owned utilities to use renewable sources of energy. The California Climate Plan is the state’s roadmap for emissions reductions and development of the green economy. Funding including California’s State Energy Program supports energy-saving initiatives in cities throughout the state. California is also phasing out materials deemed hazardous to the environment including global warming causing auto air conditioning refrigerants.

A 2008 New York Times article reported that “Green policies have created 1.5 million jobs over 30 years in California, while eliminating only 25,000.”

In California, government intiatives are working with private enterprise in ways that are of benefit to people, profits and the planet.
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