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California sets new renewable energy goals
California has raised the mark for the state's electricity utilities. By 2020, they must generate 33 percent of their power from renewable, non-fossil fuel sources, such as solar and wind generation. The new standard, hailed as the most ambitious in the nation, extends the state's previous renewable energy generation target of 20 percent, which was approved last year.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed the legislation Tuesday, saying it would stimulate investment in green technologies in the state, create tens of thousands of new jobs, improve local air quality, promote energy independence and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "While reaching a 33 percent renewables portfolio standard will be an important milestone, it is really just a starting point — a floor, not a ceiling," Brown said in a statement. "Our state has enormous renewable resource potential. I would like to see us pursue even more far-reaching targets. With the amount of renewable resources coming on-line, and prices dropping, I think 40 percent, at reasonable cost, is well within our grasp in the near future."
Brown also said that some provisions in the bill could create implementation difficulties or inefficiencies for some regulatory agencies, and he suggested that those provisions should be amended quickly. "Therefore, while I am signing this bill today, I ask the legislature to immediately begin work on additional legislation to correct these problems," Brown said in a statement, though he did not specify to which provisions he was referring.
Read Brown's entire statement.
