As President-elect Obama gears up for his big clean-energy push, it’s worth keeping an eye on California’s own green rush, especially since Golden State legislators hold key environment and energy positions in both houses of Congress.

Take L.A.’s new solar-power initiative, announced yesterday by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. His plan calls for L.A. to get 10% of its electricity from solar power in 2020, one of the most ambitious solar-energy targets anywhere. L.A.’s two-part plan calls for both big new solar plantations in...