As part of its effort to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, an official California body has released its proposed greenhouse gas cap-and-trade regulation.

The plan unveiled late last month by the California Air Resources Board underscores the importance and value of the numerous renewable energy projects during the past two months, according to the Solar Home & Business Journal. It also comes as electric automobiles begin entering the market.

"This program is a crucial element of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions," Board chair Mary D. Nichols said in a news release. "It will help drive innovation, create more green jobs and clean up our air and environment."

During rough economic times, solar-related businesses are growing very rapidly in California, where the state and the federal government have approved permit requests for massive solar projects. These projects attract billions of investment dollars and create thousands of construction jobs.

Additional projects are being planned, subject to approval and permitting procedures. Statewide military bases also have been rapidly expanding their usage of photovoltaic systems, some of which include large-size utility-scale production capacity.