Yesterday Governor Arnold Schwarzanegger issued Executive Order S-14-08 which pushes California further out in front on the issue of renewable energy development. For all his faults (and they are many) Arnold is a strong advocate for renewable energy development and this executive order is a continuation of his committment.
"I am proposing we set the most aggressive target in the nation for renewable energy-33 percent by the year 2020-that's a third of our energy from sources like solar, wind and geothermal," Governor Schwarzenegger said. "But we won't meet that goal doing business as usual, where environmental regulations are holding up environmental progress in some cases. This executive order will clear the red tape for renewable projects and streamline the permitting and siting of new plants and transmission lines. With this investment in renewable energy projects, California has a bright energy future ahead that will help us fight climate change while driving our state's green economy."
Below the fold for details...
Highlights:
>> The Renewable Portfolio Standard is set to make 33% of all energy come from renewable energy resources by 2020. The previous requirement was 20% by 2010 (still in place) and maintained thereon. The previous requirement was already the most aggresive in the nation. The new requirement even more so.
>> This requirement is extended to ALL load serving entities. Previously only investor owned utilites were required (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E). Now publicly owned utilites also must comply (LADWP, SMUD for example).
>> Streamlining permitting process by allowing the California Energy Commission (CEC) and Department of Fish and Game that creates a "one-stop" permitting process that should allow for quicker development.
>> Clearly indicate how conservation will be maintained while trying to facilitate the renewable goals.
Now I know that the scary part in there is about trying to "streamlin" permitting that is held up by environmental regulations. That is a concern, but keep in mind that California has an extrememly onerous permitting process, especially with respect to plant and transmission line development. The key here is to do it smarter, many of the processes and regulations were develped at a time when there was an urgency to end our dependce on natural gas and coal (Califonria uses far more of the former than the latter). This order tries to balance those needs by trying to find a systematic way to provide environmental protections and increasing renewable development.
Now my understanding is that this Excutive Order has the rule of law behind it, i.e. it isn't just a recommendation. I may be wrong, so nonetheless, the legislature probably will turn this into law early next year.
Sac Bee:
Incoming Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, predicted that the incoming Legislature will pass such legislation within 90 days after returning in January.
"When we meet these standards, we will not only be creating our own energy independence, we will also be providing the pathway to high-wage jobs and economic growth for California," Steinberg said.
California is certianly not lacking for renewbale energy potential. A report form a state-wide group of govenrmental, environmental, renewable developers and utilites estimated that there is hundreds of thousand of gigawatts of renewable energy potential in California. Accessing those areas is in fact the difficult question and what the group (known as RETI) is investigating, trying to come up with a sensible, cost effecticve, environmentally sound transmission policy to try and meet the renewable goals of the state of California.
This is part of a larger goal in California to reduce GHG emission to 1990 levels. Much more will need to be done on that end - such as the recently approved High Speed Rail project. But this is the direction needed. Some may say it isn't enough, but it is an aggresively relaistic goal that sets the marker high for other states to follow