California sees ‘greenrush’ in global warming move

In a land where fortunes were spun from gold, films and silicon chips, California’s leaders envisage a “greenrush” with their groundbreaking law to fight global warming.

California’s legislature approved the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 on Thursday that will make the state the first to cap greenhouse gas emissions, despite opposition from industry and energy groups that call it “a job killer.”

But Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who gets high marks from environmentalists, backed the bill on Wednesday, saying it “strengthens our economy, cleans our environment.”

He and other bill supporters believe business can make more money by switching to energy-efficient systems and developing clean technologies. New jobs will sprout from a burgeoning service industry to cater to companies’ green demands.

REUTERS