California has approved the nation’s first carbon fee on polluting industries, as well as the country’s most aggressive energy plan. In a whirlwind of new environmental regulations, it also has adopted a regulation for more stringent controls of chemically-created consumer products such as air fresheners, paint thinners and multi-purpose solvents, and has proposed tighter restrictions on energy efficiency for televisions.

California Air Resources Board (ARB) regulators have passed the nation’s first carbon fee on polluting industries, including utilities and oil refineries, reports AP. The fee will go into effect by the end of 2010 and raise $63.1 million annually during its first three years and level off at $36.2 million in the fifth year, according to the article.

California has claimed the nation’s most aggressive energy efficiency plan, slating $3.1 billion to retrofit homes and other programs that will save energy equivalent to three 500-megawatt power plants, avoid 3 million tons of green house gas (GHG) emissions, and create between 15,000 to 18,000 jobs, according to the California Public Utilities, reports Reuters.

via California Initiates Carbon Fee on Polluting Industries – Nation’s First · Environmental Leader · Green Business, Sustainable Business, and Green Strategy News for Corporate Sustainability Executives.

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