This study mainly focuses on how energy policies can improve the efficiency of new energy use. More specifically, this research addresses three major questions: 1) To what extent does California local planning addresses the new energy policies? 2)Which policies have local jurisdictions adopted to directly improve new energy use, and which strategies have received the most and least attention? 3) What methods or models can other place learn from California? In the United States, California has established a successful new energy use system. This paper uses California as a study area. California has 58 counties. The study sample is 37 counties which have energy plans and have updated them at least once. To systematically evaluate new energy use in these counties, the author examines six policies from energy and general plans. After that, the paper describes the characteristics of the six policies. Then discussion part may provide some helpful suggestions. In addition, these six policies could be adopted in other places; the suggested location is Guangdong Province in China, which has similarities with California and is deficient in adoption of new energy plans and new energy use.

Liu Xun, come from Chengdu, China. The birth date is May, 1986. From 2006 to 2009, I was in Chengdu University of Technology, Land resource management program for my bachelor degree. From 2009 to 2012, I came to University of Nebraska Lincoln, Community and Regional Planning program for master degree, and graduated in May 2012.