Come January 1, 2011, California will begin phasing out the legal sale and purchase of 100-watt incandescent light bulbs.

Due to federal legislation proudly signed by George W. Bush in 2007, the rest of the country will face the same issue starting in 2012, as per the Energy Independence and Security Act, which phases out the use of traditional light bulbs between 40 watts and 150 watts over a two-year period.

The Golden State is starting a year early to comply with its own energy-reduction mandates.

Reason's Katherine Mangu-Ward wrote about the coming ban back in 2007 and here's a Reason.tv video on why "compact fluorescent lightbulbs" (CFLs), the favored replacement for Thomas Edison's most iconic invention are not all that.

Hat tip: ginthegin's Twitter feed.