More than 20 power plants are being planned, and they will all burn coal so that the good people of California can keep their air-conditioners running. These power plants will be among the USA's most potent producers of gases that can lead to global warming. California's response? Say no to dirty power.

Unless the power plants are able to produce power with the lowest possible emissions of greenhouse gases, the state of California will not accept power. Las Vegas and Phoenix might still buy from the polluters, but California won't. And California has 38 million customers. Isn't it great when capitalism and economics can be used to make the world a better and cleaner place?

California also has legislation to cut down carbon dioxide emissions by 25% by 2020, so it won't just be power plants that have to shape up. Oil refineries and cement plants also have to cut down on their greenhouse gases. Of course, electric utilities companies are not all that happy and are saying that California will only harm itself by driving electricity costs sky-high. But if we don't start cleaning up our act, what kind of mess are we going to leave for the next generation?