Jerry Brown signed legislation Friday that prohibits the California Transportation Commission from providing money for any new bulk-coal terminals in the state, and he urged cities with ports to take action to reduce such shipments. “I believe action on multiple fronts will be necessary to transition away from coal,” Brown wrote in a signing message. “In California, we’re divesting from thermal coal in our state pensions, shifting to renewable energy, and last year coal exports from California ports declined by more than one-third, from 4.65 million to 2.96 million tons. “Other localities should follow suit — and the state should, too — to reduce, and ultimately, eliminate the shipment of coal through all California ports," Brown wrote. Opponents said the measure might violate U.S. treaty obligations and commerce laws because it singles out one commodity.

Source: Los Angeles Times August 26, 2016 21:01 UTC