California sets even stricter climate goals

California would enact some of the nation’s strongest clean energy goals under legislation that cleared a key vote in the Assembly on Tuesday, bringing the state a step closer to ending its reliance on fossil fuels by gradually phasing out their use to generate electricity. The bill, which would require California to obtain 100% of its power from clean sources by 2045, has been debated by lawmakers for almost two years due to cost and feasibility concerns. This week, some prominent state and national politicians gave the cause support by arguing the plan would strengthen California’s leadership on the environment. Policymakers supporting the bill said it was important that the state continue its pioneering efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions. A new state report released this week predicted that California will face higher temperatures, more wildfires and sea-level rise in the coming decades due to climate change.
“The damage will continue to be done as long as we refuse to act,” Assemblyman Ash Kalra (D-San Jose) said. “There are no more tomorrows left.”

Bill would require utilities to get more than half their power from renewables

In addition to the 2045 target, Senate Bill 100 would also demand electric utilities and other service providers to generate 60% of their power from renewable sources by 2030, up from the current 50% goal previously set for that date. The bill now heads to the Senate for a vote. If it is signed by the governor, California would become the second state in the U.S. to rely solely on clean energy by 2045. Hawaii was the first to legislate such a plan.
“This is a huge victory for the state of California,” said state Sen. Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), the bill’s author. “It’s a victory for clean air. It’s a victory to tackle climate change and the devastation that it’s leaving in its wake.”

California clean energy proposals face demise as opposition fails to yield 

The measure’s opponents, chiefly Republican legislators, argued that phasing out fossil fuels by 2045 was not achievable, and could significantly increase energy prices while state regulators tried to design policies to reach the target.
“Why would this body come out now and further increase costs on struggling California families?” Assemblyman Steven Choi (R-Irvine) said.
Last year, lawmakers put off SB 100 after they were unable to reach agreement on the plan alongside other climate-related legislation, including a proposal from Gov. Jerry Brown to integrate California's electricity grid with other states in the region.
This year, SB 100 has again been part of the larger debate about energy policy in general. Also included in the discussion are the electric grid bill, which remains in a legislative committee awaiting further action, and comprehensive legislation to investigate wildfires that have raged across California. Brown has not taken a public position on SB 100, and De León said after the vote that he has not received a firm commitment from the governor that he’d sign the bill. The governor used the power of his office to push other climate change bills, including extending the state’s cap-and-trade program last year. Concerning the clean energy bill, representatives for Brown have said the governor doesn’t usually weigh in on pending legislation.

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