Late last week, California lawmakers passed a bill, The Clean Energy and Reduction Act, requiring the state's utilities to derive not less than one half of their electricity from renewable energy sources by the year 2030. If signed into law by Governor Brown, as expected, the bill also will require a 50% increase in energy efficiency buildings by 2030.
According to its authors, the California legislation sets forth standards that will be "permanent, trackable, and enforceable" and will build on "accountability mechanisms already in existence to ensure they are implemented fully."
The legislation was trumpeted by environmental groups: "Today, California demonstrated once again that it is a world leader in tackling the climate crisis, protecting public health, and expanding the booming clean energy economy," said Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune in a statement. "Ensuring that renewable energy makes up half of all electricity sold in the state by 2030 is both necessary and eminently achievable — and the significance of this move will echo around the world."
The passage of the bill might not be a total victory for environmentalists, however. As reported by Dan Morain, of the Sacramento Bee, demands from the oil industry and Democratic legislators led to the gutting "of the most significant part of ... Senate Bill 350, the sections that sought to force a 50 percent reduction in oil use."
The debate over the "true" purpose of the bill and many other steps taken in California likely will not end any time soon. The debate leading up to the passage of the bill – including the modifications and proposed amendments to the bill – was heated and well-financed on both sides. There is no reason to think the debate will stop just because the bill has been enacted.
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