, responsible for nearly a quarter of our greenhouse gas emissions. Our power sector is one of America’s cleanest, and ourwill dramatically cut transportation emissions. That makes industry the largest remaining hurdle to achieving our net-zero emissions target set by the 2022
Achieving our climate goals requires ambitious government policy to ensure clean industrial technologies are deployed on factory floors, reward innovative manufacturing, and build domestic markets for clean industrial products. California has pioneered several forward-thinking policies, but we can build on these to become a clean industrial leader and achieve zero-carbon industry.
For instance, the state Legislature should set a date after which newly installed industrial equipment may produce no emissions from fossil fuel combustion, akin to California requiring newly sold 2017’s Buy Clean California Act mandated state infrastructure projects prioritize steel, glass and insulation produced using low-emissions processes. The state Legislature should extend this program to additional building materials like cement, concrete and aluminum.could provide incentives without worsening our budget deficit since financing is ultimately repaid and can come from the private sector through credit enhancements or bond sales.
These straightforward steps would help accelerate the deployment of technologies such as green hydrogen, renewable electricity, energy and material efficiency, and electrified heating in the industrial sector. Electrical technologies like industrial heat pumps, electric resistance heaters, electric arcs and electromagnetic induction can provide the heat needed by industry, and some can achieve temperatures higher than fossil fuel combustion- — more than hot enough for any industrial process.