Carbon Intensity of Construction and Building Materials Act Passes Committee

Sacramento, CA – Today, Assemblymember Chris Holden’s bill, Assembly Bill 2446: Carbon Intensity of Construction and Building Materials Act, passed the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications.  This measure is the first in the nation, and would require the State to develop a framework for measuring and then reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the construction of all public and private buildings. 

“Working together across sectors to reach our carbon emission goals and to secure better practices for the people and the planet is essential for generations to come,” said Assemblymember Chris Holden. “With AB 2446, we hope to bring conscious design to reduce materials used and the employment of low carbon construction materials.”

The bill would require the Energy Commission to design the framework to achieve an eighty percent net reduction in new construction by 2045, which is aligned with Executive Order B-55-18 from 2018 that sets a statewide goal of carbon net neutrality, no later than 2045.

“AB 2446 will help focus the powerful entrepreneurial spirit and tireless work ethic of California’s amazing workers and businesses, both old and new, on solving this key driver of the climate crisis – the most pressing issue of our time and one that presents an existential risk – which in turn will positively impact the many intractable problems that it intersects, such as housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and so many more. The time to act is now and show that there is a path to a brighter future,” said Sam Ruben, Chief Sustainability Office and Co-Founder of Mighty Buildings, a sustainable construction company.

This bill would require a life cycle assessment to determine the carbon intensity of both residential and non-residential buildings in the State.  Following this assessment, the Energy Commission will begin efforts on a framework to reduce the carbon intensity over time.  AB 2446 would also require the Commission to leverage State and Federal incentives to reduce the cost of implementing the framework and to increase economic value for the State.

AB 2446 will now head to the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality for further review.

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