Newsom’s New Climate Targets Include Offshore Wind but Exclude New Natural Gas
Governor requests new actions and goals added to the 2022 Scoping Plan that include increasing the offshore wind target to 20 gigawatts and avoiding new natural gas plants during energy transition.
Governor Gavin Newsom outlined new more ambitious climate targets at an accelerated pace. This involves new targets for renewable energy, clean buildings, carbon removal, and clean fuels in the transportation sector. Newsom also announced the launch of a new climate dashboard, which highlights state climate action and progress toward key targets.
Newsom released a letter to the Chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in which he stated that the “final Scoping Plan must lay out a clear path to achieve both our 2030 climate goal and statewide carbon neutrality no later than 2045.” Newsom requested that the final plan incorporate new efforts to advance offshore wind, clean fuels, climate-friendly homes, carbon removal and addressing methane leaks.
He asked that the following goals and actions be incorporated into the final Scoping Plan:
Increase offshore wind targets: The California Energy Commission to establish a planning goal of at least 20 gigawatts of offshore wind in 2045. This goal would be a part of meeting the AB 525 goals. He asked the CEC to work with the federal government to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind.
More “climate friendly” buildings: A goal of 3 million climate-ready and climate-friendly homes by 2030 and 7 million by 2035, supplemented by 6 million heat pumps by 2030. At least 50 percent of investments are to be directed toward low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Avoiding new natural gas: State agencies to plan for an energy transition that avoids the need for new natural gas plants to meet long-term energy goals, while ensuring reliability and meeting growing electricity demand. He requested CARB to establish a 20 percent clean fuels target for the aviation sector and requested that CARB evaluate a more stringent Low Carbon Fuel Standard and accelerate refinery transitions to clean fuels production.
Addressing methane emissions: CARB and CalGEM to form a Task Force to identify and address methane leaks from oil infrastructure near communities, recognizing the threats these leaks can pose to community health and safety.
Setting carbon removal target: CARB to set a 20 MMT carbon removal target for 2030 and 100 MMT carbon removal target for 2045. This should emphasize the role of natural and working lands and the need for safe and equitable engineered carbon removal.
Newsom also stated that he is committed to working with the legislature to make carbon neutrality state law and accelerate progress toward California’s 2030 target. This includes developing policy to support carbon capture and sequestration from natural and working lands while incorporating industrial carbon capture in carbon neutrality efforts.
The California Air Resources Board will meet in the fall to consider adopting a final draft of the 2022 Climate Change Scoping Plan.