Ira Ruskin Works to Improve Water Efficiency

The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Communication passed Assemblymember Ira Ruskin's AB 662, a bill that will improve the water-efficiency of commercial appliances in California. Based on the evidence that water-related energy consumption equates to nearly a third of commercial energy use and twenty two percent of industrial use, AB 662 grants the Energy Commission the authority to regulate water efficiency.

Amid calls for conservation, Assemblymember Ruskin's bill offers California the chance to improve water-use sustainability. Not only is the California snow pack at a dangerously low level this year, but a steadily growing population and increased agricultural and industrial production place strains upon our water supply. Further compounding the problem are expectations from the scientific community that global warming may lead to a continual decrease in snow fall accumulation in the Sierra Mountains.

The federal government regulates the efficiency of certain appliances for all of the states, but the national regulations fall short in a number of cases, including commercial dishwashers and restaurant-based steaming equipment. It is in cases such as these that Assemblymember Ruskin's bill will improve energy efficiency and save those who use these appliances money through reduced energy and water use.

AB 662 now goes before the Senate Appropriations Committee. It previously passed the full Assembly on June 4th by a 47 to 31 vote.

Ruskin Tours NUMMI Auto Manufacturing Plant

Assemblymember Ruskin pictured with Nummi president Yuki Azuma (right) and NUMMI vice president Dave Ciesco (left).

NUMMI's near-six thousand employees produce over 400,000 vehicles a year and utilize approximately one million pounds of steel for each day of production. The NUMMI plant builds GM’s Pontiac Vibe, the Toyota Corolla, and the Toyota Tacoma, all of which are among the cleanest vehicles on the market based on greenhouse gas emissions. It is estimated that the NUMMI plant provides an additional ten jobs in California for each manufacturing job to supply parts and services to the facility.

Assemblymember Ruskin toured the plant to get a firsthand understanding of its operations and to discuss ways to preserve good manufacturing and support jobs, like those NUMMI provides in our region.