The Los Angeles Times reported yesterday that the world’s sixth largest economy has taken another step toward reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by effectively prohibiting its municipalities from signing new contracts to purchase electricity from coal-fired power plants. While California has largely eliminated coal-fired power plants within its borders, it currently buys about twenty percent of its electricity from coal-fired power plants in neighboring states.

“While this is certainly a significant and exciting development, it falls short of a total ban on coal-fired power in California,” said Appalachian Voices’ In-house Council, Scott Gollwitzer. “The new rules allow municipalities to renew these contracts if the carbon dioxide can be sequestered underground–an unproven technology.”

Click here for the full story from the LA Times