California just two legislative steps from enacting ‘100% renewables’ law

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email
California's Governor, Edmund G 'Jerry' Brown. Image: Flickr user Neontommy.

Governor of California Jerry Brown, who likened the Trump administration’s environmental stance as a “declaration of war on America”, looks set to commit his state to a “100% renewable energy” policy.

“This is a declaration of war against America and all of humanity – it will not stand. Truth and common sense will triumph over Trump’s insanity,” Brown had said just over a week ago, of the president’s moves to push back on the US Clean Power Plan and to prop up the coal industry in America.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Unlock unlimited access for 12 whole months of distinctive global analysis

Photovoltaics International is now included.

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Unlimited digital access to the PV Tech Power journal catalogue
  • Unlimited digital access to the Photovoltaics International journal catalogue
  • Access to more than 1,000 technical papers
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

While it is understood two more short steps are required – the Senate, which has already green-lit the bill, SB100, must approve it once more and then Brown must sign it into law – the commitment for California to deliver 100% of retail sales of electricity by 2045 has already been hailed by environment and renewables industry groups. The bill was authored by Senator Kevin de León.

Known as the “100% clean energy act of 2018”, SB100 states that “the Public Utilities Commission, State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission, and State Air Resources Board should plan for 100 percent of total retail sales of electricity in California to come from eligible renewable energy resources and zero-carbon resources by December 31, 2045”.

The bill is also designed to counter certain potential unintended consequences of the policy. For example, electricity served to retail customers or to state agencies from renewable sources in California should not be at the cost of raising emissions elsewhere in the western US grid. Regulator PUC and the Energy Commission have been tasked with ensuring this does not happen.

The state’s electricity providers have a pathway of incremental steps to reach the 100% goal. By the end of 2021, 33% of California’s total retail sales of electricity should be from renewable sources, by the end of 2026, 50%, and by the end of 2030, 60%.

“Together we can and must build a 21st century energy economy that benefits everyone. Let the nation and the world take note: a bright, prosperous and one hundred percent clean energy future is one hundred percent possible,” the executive director of advocacy group Vote Solar, Adam Browning, said.

“We applaud all of the state lawmakers who acted on behalf of their constituents, answered the overwhelming call for an economy powered entirely by clean energy, and demonstrated Democracy at its best.

“When the world’s 5th largest economy votes to go 100% clean, there’s no room left for the naysayers to say it can’t be done.”

The bill document sets out a long list of other conditions and rules that cover other possible consequences, such as ensuring the rapid deployment and integration of renewables do not result in big rises in retail electricity prices and honouring already-signed contracts for existing thermal generators.

8 October 2024
San Francisco Bay Area, USA
PV Tech has been running an annual PV CellTech Conference since 2016. PV CellTech USA, on 8-9 October 2024 is our second PV CellTech conference dedicated to the U.S. manufacturing sector. The event in 2023 was a sell out success and 2024 will once again gather the key stakeholders from PV manufacturing, equipment/materials, policy-making and strategy, capital equipment investment and all interested downstream channels and third-party entities. The goal is simple: to map out PV manufacturing in the U.S. out to 2030 and beyond.

Read Next

Subscribe to Newsletter

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
April 10, 2024
Dallas, Texas USA
Solar Media Events
April 17, 2024
Lisbon, Portugal
Solar Media Events
May 1, 2024
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
May 21, 2024
Napa, USA