Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to soon announce specific 2030 and 2040 greenhouse gas reduction targets, presumably 40 percent and 60 percent below 1990 levels respectively. Earlier this month, the governor said targets were in the works, but he offered no specifics as to the levels of the cuts or how to achieve them—be it through regulation and/or legislation. “We need to meet strict, science-based targets not just in 2020 and 2050, but at every point in between, as well. California’s leadership will be defined not just by its emissions level in 2050, but also by the pathway it takes to get there,” Dave Clegern, California Air Resources Board spokesperson, said Oct. 29. The governor’s proposal is expected to reflect the Air Resources Board’s plan for further global warming gas cuts post 2020. In its greenhouse gas reduction scoping plan update released in May under AB 32, the Air Board did not commit to any set reductions, but did highlight its advisory committee’s recommendation to slash global warming gases 40 percent by 2030 and 60 percent by 2040 to reach an 80 percent reduction below 1990 levels by 2050. A mid-term target post-2020 and pre-2050 “will provide greater levels of market certainty in the near term, while allowing flexibility to review and adjust our course based on future technology and market conditions,” according to Clegern. It will “create an enviable framework that others will look to follow,” he added. “If California is going to stay on track to achieve deep reductions in greenhouse gases, it is imperative that we establish an enforceable target for 2030,” added V. John White, Center for Energy Efficiency & Renewable Technologies executive director. “California has an abundance of world class renewable resources, and the technical ability and scientific know-how to put all the pieces together for the low carbon grid of the future.” Legislation seeking to direct the Air Board to set specific greenhouse gas targets by Jan. 2016 failed last session. Although not considered essential to the target setting, a bill is likely to be introduced to solidify specific post-2020 carbon dioxide gas curbs going forward to 2050. What that means for the utility sector is unclear. Utilities and some others have been pushing for a “clean energy” standard in place of a renewable mandate, which is now set at 33 percent for 2020. They assert focusing on procurement with lower greenhouse gas emissions would give them more flexibility and options for cleaning up the energy sector. At this point, upcoming specified 2030 greenhouse gas cuts are not expected to replace a renewable power mandate.