Pretty sure they are real credits... As with all tax credits, they are done to drive behavior. Mortgage tax credit, child care tax credit, energy efficient electric water heaters, windows, etc. etc. etc. Nothing new here.
I agree if that’s the way Californians want to have their laws, so be it.
But $130 million of Tesla’s income in 2013 was “greenmail” payments from other companies that sell non-electric vehicles in California.