Will Congress Follow California's Lead on Climate?

"First, the longest standing and most successful policy, originating in the early 1970s by the California Energy Commission, which set strict standards for appliance and building energy efficiency. This policy was so effective that since 1974, the California per-capita electrical consumption has held constant while the U.S. per-capita electric consumption, as a whole, has risen by 80 percent." -Robert Hertzberg

"I come from Oregon. I will tell you that 35 years ago we implemented legislation that dealt with statewide land-use planning, linking transportation to land use, and things that you are now being celebrated for enacting into law last year. But we're from Oregon. Who knew? If it happens in California, people pay attention." -Rep. Blumenauer

"Fourth, we need to change our focus to performance-based objectives. Many of our programs and processes are based on outmoded, narrow requirements that often work at cross-purposes to our goals. That means we're spending our time meeting requirements that may be obsolete instead of accomplishing our objectives. We need to set definite and comprehensive standards, then allow state and local governments the flexibility to meet those standards in ways that make the most sense for their situations." -Rep. Blumenauer