While President Bush’s State of the Union urged vague goals about ethanol and included megapolluting industries like “clean coal” and tar sands in his alternative energy initiatives, the Governator went at least ten steps further with California’s own energy plan.

Today, State regulators unanimously approved Gov. Schwarzenegger’s plan to completely ban California power companies from buying electricity from dirty sources – even if those sources are out of state. While there are very few coal-fired plants in the Golden State, a fifth of our power comes from coal plants across the West.

The plan will also make it illegal to build new dirty power plants in California, and will shut down existing plants that don’t meet the new clean standards when their current contract agreements run out.

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by Casey Schreiner

Founder and Editor of Modern Hiker, Author of "Day Hiking Los Angeles." "Discovering Griffith Park," and "Cloud Spotting." Walking Meditator, Native Plant Enthusiast.