California’s agenda for climate change has recently focused on an ambitious goal – generating the majority of the state’s power through renewable energy sources by the year 2030. Despite the predicted increase in costs that would result from implementing these targets, a majority of Californians support this proposal as a meaningful attempt to combat harmful environmental gases.
The push toward aggressive climate change policies is certainly at odds with the current administration’s position on environmental legislation. Nevertheless, California has not retreated from exploring revolutionary environmental proposals. For example, lawmakers have suggested a more aggressive cap and trade program that would impose increasing costs on certain industries, such as cement makers and food processors, who are largely responsible for emitting large quantities of greenhouse gases.
Most significantly, the California Senate approved legislation at the end of May that would require the state to receive 100% of its energy from renewable sources. SB 100 is arguably the most ambitious climate change policy in the country. The legislation, which calls for the use of energy sources such as solar and wind power, accelerates the state’s goal of reaching 50% from 2030 to 2026. The bill also mandates that certain state agencies adopt the new 100 percent target in their planning and proposals.
The California Energy Commission estimates that about 27 percent of the state’s electricity currently comes from renewable sources. Nevertheless, California’s most significant electricity source is natural gas. Natural gas, which is still regarded as a fossil fuel, comprises 44 percent of the state’s energy composition according to data released in 2015.
While SB 100 establishes a target for 100 percent renewable energy, it does not require that standard to be achieved. This is welcome news for these legislators who are skeptical that the state can meet this goal. One of the most challenging aspects of incorporating renewable sources is balancing and meeting supply and demand requirements. In addition, solar and wind energy present the problem of intermittency – essentially solar power must be created when there is no sunshine and wind power must be produced when there is no wind.
Contact Shane Coons at 949-333-0900 or visit his website at www.ShaneCoonsLaw.com to find out more about his practice.