California Energy War Heats Up as State Adopts New Renewable Energy Goal

September 25th, 2010 by Tina Casey

The renewable energy gloves are off in the great state of California, as state regulators have just okayed a new rule that requires utilities to get a full one-third of their power from renewable energy including solar and wind power. That’s right in the face of an aggressive push by the fossil fuel industry to roll back AB 32, California’s new state law that requires greenhouse gas reporting by major polluters.

New Renewable Energy Goal Sets a High Bar

The new rule was approved this week by the California Air Resources Board, after the state legislature failed to take a vote on a bill that would have accomplished pretty much the same thing. Bloomberg News reports that the new rule requires three major utilities to meet the 33 percent renewable energy goal, up from a current goal of 20 percent. That gives California bragging rights to the highest renewable energy goal among thirty-three other states, plus Washington, D.C., that have set goals.

More Renewable Energy for California – Hey, Not So Fast!

Reality bites, and renewable energy is no exception. The deadline for the new goal may need to be pushed back, depending on how quickly new projects can be brought on line, to say nothing of the need for transmission, storage, and other grid improvements. On top of that, the fossil fuel industry is pushing hard for Proposition 23, a referendum that would cripple the greenhouse gas reporting requirements of AB 32. Although the fossil fuel industry prefers to call Prop 23 the “California Jobs Initiative,” the official name of Prop 23 is actually much longer and starts with a more accurate description of its effect, namely “Suspends Air Pollution Control Laws Requiring Major Polluters to Report and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions…”

AB 32…Proposition 23…I’m So Confused!

Or at least, one gubernatorial candidate in California seems to be confused. That would be Meg Whitman, who intends to suspend AB 32 immediately if she is elected. However, in a somewhat weird twist, Whitman has also declared her opposition to Proposition 23. So…er…I wonder what she thinks about the new 33 percent renewable energy rule?

Image: Greetings from California by heymarchetti on flickr.com.

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Tags: AB 32, Air Resources Board, California, Meg Whitman, Proposition 23, renewable energy goal

About the Author

Tina Casey Tina Casey specializes in military and corporate sustainability, advanced technology, emerging materials, biofuels, and water and wastewater issues. Tina’s articles are reposted frequently on Reuters, Scientific American, and many other sites. Views expressed are her own. Follow her on Twitter @TinaMCasey and Google+.

Earl Richards

The California Jobs Initiative (CJI) is an oil corporation farce and fraud. There is no connection, whatsoever, between greenhouse gas emission reduction and the loss of jobs. This notion is an insult to the intelligence of the people of California. In fact, there is job growth in the clean renewable energy industry. Chevron employs 65,000 worldwide and CJI is not going to change this. The only jobs created by the oil industry are clean-up jobs after oil spills and deep water, blow-outs and pump-handler jobs. CJI will make fantastic profits for the oil industry, increase air pollution, especially in communities around their refineries, and there will not be lower gas prices. Koch Industries, Valero and Tesoro are super Enrons. Since when did the oil companies start to show any concern for the unemployed and their families and or small businesses?
- Tina Casey
  
  Earl: Thank you for your comment. It’s worth mentioning that much of the money behind Prop 23 (the so-called California Jobs Initiative) is coming from companies based outside of the state such as those you cite (Koch, Valero, Tesoro).
  - Earl Richards
    
    Chevron, Aera Energy (a joint venture of ExxonMobil and Royal Dutch/Shell) and Occidental Petroleum are silent partners in CJI.