Wednesday, August 29, 2018

USA, California: Legislation to Require 100% Renewable Energy by 2045 Passes Assembly

Plan to power California with all renewable energy clears major hurdle (Sacramento Bee)

The California state capitol in Sacramento
(Courtesy Wikimedia Commons)
The California Legislature is poised to send a bill to the governor that would require all retail electricity to be generated from solar, wind and other renewable energy sources (including geothermal) by 2045.

Despite objections from utilities and oil companies, the Assembly voted 43-32 to eliminate fossil fuels in the state’s energy sector on Tuesday. Senate Bill 100, introduced by Sen. Kevin de León, must return to the Senate, and is all but guaranteed to reach the Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk before the legislative session ends this week.

In addition to setting the no-carbon standard, the bill would revise interim goals along the way. The bill bumps up an existing target by four years to hit 50 percent renewable energy in 2027 and sets the state on track to meet the 60 percent threshold by the end of 2030.