Energy and Climate Change Policy Overview

The Bay Area Council supports changes in California’s energy policy to create a reliable supply of energy for the region with a market-driven structure that lowers costs.  Employers and consumers alike must have a reliable, affordable, clean, high-quality power supply to sustain a prosperous economy and high quality of life.  The portfolio of energy options must contribute to a carbon neutral economy whereby energy sources, conservation, and energy efficiency measures continually reduce net carbon contributions to help meet the greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets established in AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.

Recent Accomplishments

• The Bay Area Council was the only business organization to negotiate AB 32, then the first to endorse it, working to ensure its successful passage.

• Established Task Force to develop a financial framework to accelerate the use of renewable energy and clean technologies.

• Established regional public – private investment to create electric vehicle corridor for rapid battery transfer from San Francisco to San Jose.

Priorities

• Increase the share of cleantech jobs in the Bay Area compared to other regions in the U.S. and globally.

• Create financing schema for renewable energy and increase market share in Bay Area and California.

• By 2012, have the highest Electric Vehicle driven workforce in the nation per capita.