Southern California Edison said Friday that it has proposed to the California Air Resources Board the first major set of “early action” greenhouse gas reduction projects.

The proposal is the first developed since the state enacted Assembly Bill 32 climate change legislation that aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020.

If approved, Rosemead-base Edison’s plan would provide incentives to its customers to reduce the equivalent of 3.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, comparable to removing approximately 800,000 cars from California roads per year, the company said in a statement.

The utility estimates the early action programs would cost about $23 million and said it will file a request to the California Public Utilities Commission to include those costs in customer rates if the Air Board confirms the plan.

The plan includes eight projects that would apply advanced clean technologies to a variety of emissions sources such as reducing emissions from idling trucks at large truck stops. The truck drivers could plug into electrical outlets and shut off their engines. Another plan calls for converting livestock waste into fuel.

Edison said the proposal is designed to take advantage of provisions in the bill for those who voluntarily undertake early action measures that could begin the greenhouse gas reduction process. The state’s final rules are due Jan. 1, 2012.

This announcement comes a day after Edison received approval from state regulators to proceed with one of the largest wind power contracts in the nation.