California, the wealthiest state in the United States and the fifth wealthiest economy on Earth, will become the first "country" to obtain 100 percent of its electricity from clean sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower. This historic changeover is expected to be completed by 2045.
California Governor Gerry Brown yesterday signed into law Senate Bill 100 that will make this historic event possible. The new law modifies the existing California Renewables Portfolio Standard Program to increase the amount of renewable energy supplied to California's electricity grid. It requires that 50 percent of the state's electricity come from renewable energy by 2026 and 60 percent by 2030 compared to the current level of 32 percent.
The law also requires that retail sellers and local publicly owned electric utilities buy a minimum quantity of electricity from eligible renewable energy resources to the total kilowatt hours of electricity sold to their retail end-use customers achieve 44% of retail sales by December 31, 2024; 52% by December 31, 2027, and 60% by December 31, 2030.
The new law keeps California as the champion in the fight against climate change. It gives California the most far-reaching clean energy goals of any U.S. state.
Supporters of the law included most of the state's leading environmental groups and renewable energy trade associations. The law is also backed by the American Lung Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the League of Women Voters and business groups, including the Silicon Valley Leadership Council, Adobe, Nike, Gap Inc., and Levi Strauss, among others.
Political pundits said the new law is also the most high-profile pushback by California on environmental issues against Donald Trump, who denies the existence of climate science, and who has begun steps to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Trump is also expanding the use of coal, one of the most polluting fuels.
Former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote a letter of support for the new law. He said California must take a stand and tell the world it is, as always, undeterred by those that wish to stop its progress and move backward. He noted that California continues to move forward, and passing SB 100 is one of the boldest moves the state can make to help save our climate and way of life.
Californians support the law. A poll in July showed that 67 percent of likely voters favored the 100 percent clean energy measure while 21 percent opposed it.
