California shows the way, again

The California Air Resources Board has unanimously approved a sweeping plan for reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels — an average cut of four tons of annual emissions per person — by 2020.

With rules for nearly every sector of California’s economy, the scheme will encourage investment in energy efficiency and renewables while creating hundreds of thousands of green jobs in California.

It includes strategies to enhance and expand proven cost-saving energy efficiency programs; implementation of California’s clean cars standards; increases in the amount of clean and renewable energy used to power the state; and, implementation of a low-carbon fuel standard that will make the fuels used in the state cleaner. More fuel-efficient cars and plug-in hybrids on showroom floors; better public transportation; housing nearer to schools and businesses; and utility rebates to make homes more energy-efficient are what the average Californian can expect.

San Jose is working hard on its Green Vision, part of which is recycling 100% of its used water by 2022. Well underway is expansion of the South Bay Water Recycling, a program that ensures water is cleaned and reused for industrial purposes to help take the load off the water table so drinking water is always available.

One way to prevent water shortages is to reduce use, and the city is providing big monetary incentives for businesses willing to cut back on water consumption. By 2020, serious water shortages in the South Bay are expected unless things change. The goal for water included in San Jose's Green Vision sets a target for 100% water recycling and reuse by 2022.

News reports talk of plunging water table levels in Bangalore. What else can one expect with the number of industries and high-rise apartments that have mushroomed in the last decade. With no action taken yet on the draft bill on mining groundwater, it’s merry-making time for racketeers who dig borewells and sell water to the residents.

Our question is: what prevents our governments from taking proactive action like the state of California? Why not link incentives to cut-backs in consumption, both of water and power? And make it real big. Why not? Why can't a Karnataka take the lead?

Isn't that a better, and cleaner way of managing demand than announcing new coal-based thermal plants? Agreed, we cannot dump coal for now but why isn't there a push for energy conservation where it is possible?