Authors: Senator Kevin de León and Senator Mark Leno
Several members from the California State Senate introduced a package of legislative proposals Tuesday intended to strengthen California’s leadership in powering a new clean-energy economy. The proposals include historic benchmarks for pollution reduction, energy efficiency, and petroleum use that will spur innovation and investment and maintain California’s lead in creating jobs in the advanced energy sector. This will be the first series of bills introduced by Senate Democrats to combat climate change and preserve the environment.
SB 350 (De León-Leno) executes on Governor Jerry Brown’s bold vision mentioned in this year’s State of the State to reduce petroleum use by 50%, have 50% of electricity come renewable sources, and increase energy efficiency in all existing buildings by 50% — all by the year 2030.
Fifteen years ago, California enacted the nation’s first law requiring energy companies to buy 20% of their power from renewable sources. Prior to this mandate, renewable energy comprised less than 8% of the overall electrical mix in the state. Within 5 years of implementation, most energy companies were close to, or had purchased under contract, enough power to meet or exceed 20% RPS.
In 2011, Governor Brown signed legislation to increase RPS to 33% by the year 2020 [SB 2-1X chapter 1 Statutes of 2011]. Currently, most energy utilities have bought or have built enough energy resources to meet the 33% RPS before the target year. Also, according to numerous studies, California’s RPS standard has created hundreds of thousands of new jobs, millions of new investment and tax dollars, and significant clean air and climate benefits.
This legislation increases the RPS to 50% by the year 2030.
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