Customers of Pacific Gas & Electric Co. would be able to pay more on their monthly bills to fight greenhouse gas emissions under a program described as the first such arrangement by a U.S. utility, Los Angeles Times.
The voluntary program, approved Thursday by the California Public Utilities Commission, would begin in spring and cost an average residential customer about $52 a year. The San Francisco utility would spend the money on tree-planting projects and other ventures aimed at offsetting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in California.
The state this year passed a groundbreaking law that would attack global warming by cutting greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2020.
“I think it’s a very positive step,” commission President Michael R. Peevey said of PG & E;’s ClimateSmart program.
