According to the study, new development in California must be designed to conserve electricity and water, decrease driving time, improve air quality and promote a sustainable lifestyle, according to a landmark study of the state's future growth, according to Peter Calthorpe, head of Calthorpe Associates, the Berkeley firm that wrote the plan.

Vision California explores the role of land use and transportation investments in meeting California’s environmental, fiscal, and public health challenges. The report recommends that growth focus on creating compact development in already established cities. Bringing commuters closer to their jobs can help Californians drive 3.7 trillion fewer miles and save 140 billion gallons of gasoline by 2050.

“This is a great tool that will enable local governments and key regions in the state in their overall land use planning," says Curt Pringle, Chairman of the California High Speed Rail Authority.

The overriding theme is that Californians must conserve increasingly scarce resources.