Berkeley Scientist Calls State's Greenhouse Emission Ambitions 'Attainable'
BERKELEY (KCBS)— A new study finds California's goal of reducing greenhouse emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020 is quite ambitious.
The study published in the journal Science is the first peer-reviewed analysis of its kind claiming residents would have to drive only electric cars to reach the goal.
The study's co-author, the head of the Climate and Carbon Sciences Program at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory Margaret Torn, said though it sounds daunting, she believes it is possible.
KCBS' Margie Shafer Reports:
"California has a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050 and to do that we have to transform our energy system," Torn said.
She said it will take an investment on the Golden State's end in order to continue innovating technology.
"We have to get better battery storage. We have to start building our houses to be more energy efficient. We have to start replacing the car fleet to be much more energy efficient and electric."
Torn hopes the study acts as a blue print for other states as well.
The study estimates that CA could meet three quarters of its electricity needs through renewable energy.
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