California leads in fighting oil addiction
October 2011
California is doing more than any other state to reduce its dependence on oil, a position it has held since 2007, according to a report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council with Sierra Club.
The 2011 edition of "Fighting Oil Addiction: Ranking States' Gasoline Price Vulnerability and Solutions for Change," analyzes state and federal policies. According to the report, California is first among states doing the most to get off oil due in part to its adoption of strong state vehicle emissions and clean fuel standards as well as its policies that prioritize more efficient, sustainable transportation systems.
Although the United States produces only about 11% of the world's petroleum, it consumes abut 22% of the world's oil resources.
Steps that California has taken to reduce oil consumption include:
• adoption of greenhouse gas emission standards,
• increasing the efficiency of the state vehicle fleet,
• adoption of low-carbon fuel standards,
• implementing incentives for electric vehicles,
• adopting a vehicle-miles-traveled reduction target,
• encouraging telecommuting,
• adoption of restrictions on idling vehicles,
• adoption of growth management policies, and
• investment in transit.
< back to all issues
|
