By Robert Walton, Utility Dive.

Southern California Edison has developed a plan in a new white paper to help California meet its ambitious climate and air quality goals by electrifying the state's transportation, and water and space heating sectors, while also utilizing more carbon-free energy.

The approach "builds upon existing state programs," the utility said, to help reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions by 40% from 1990 levels in the next 12 years and 80% by 2050. However, the approach could require a 2% annual increase in power prices.

The proposal calls for a doubling California's use of carbon-free electricity, from 40% today to 80% by 2030, in part by rolling out more energy storage projects.