The plan, which will drive investment in new energy technologies that will benefit the state's economy, is the most comprehensive adopted by any US state.

It could serve as a blueprint not only for the rest of the United States, but also for other big polluting nations like China and India, planners and environmental groups said.

"This is of tremendous importance, not only for California," Mary Nichols, chairman of the influential California Air Resources Board (CARB), said on a conference call with reporters yesterday. "By taking action here ... we will be able to help motivate other states in our nation."

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