Calif. sets nation's highest renewable power goals (33% by 2020)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: AP/Houston Chronicle

Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation requiring California utilities to get one-third of their power from renewable sources, giving the state the most aggressive alternative energy mandate in the U.S.

California utilities and other electricity providers have until the end of 2020 to draw 33 percent of their power from solar panels, windmills and other renewable sources. Brown signed the bill Tuesday at a solar panel manufacturing plant near San Jose.

Supporters say the increase from the previous law that required 20 percent renewable power will reassure investors and keep money flowing to develop alternative energy sources. They say that will lead to cleaner air and job growth in the clean-energy sector.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/top/all/7518352....

[proud patriot]

1. Yay!

[Tikki]

2. I LOVE my Governor for this...

Tikki

[freshwest]

3. I love him too, for this and many other things. Good work holding the line in 2010, guys!

[krabigirl]

4. I love my state :)

[Demeter]

5. Wonder if Jerry Brown would like to run in the primary?

[shanti]

11. been there, done that

n/t

[Demeter]

13. Timing is everything

this might be the time

[Auggie]

6. Great news! Let's update building codes next

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mountainlion55]

12. Right direction

Cali is also going to break ground on two more billion dollar solar plants. One in SLO county and another one in the desert. Rep Capps has asked that Diablo Canyon's license be delayed. Hopefully it will be denied. The more solar&wind the better Cali will be.It will take longer than four years to accomplish. Long term its the way to balance that budget!

[slackmaster]

8. They should be fixing the state's budget mess before taking up any other non-emergency business

[diane in sf]

17. This will help the state's budget crisis by creating jobs and cheaper, cleaner energy.

[slackmaster]

19. You may be half right. There will certainly be jobs added, but if you really believe...

...that it will result in cheaper energy, I have some prime real estate in northeastern Japan that you may be interested in.

[mountainlion55]

9. Its the right thing to do

Now if we could stop sending a third of our fed tax monies to support all those red state losers! Most red states are dependent on the kindness of blue states.Solar & wind are our best alternatives right now!Cali also just broke ground on a 1.3 billion dollar solar plant. All you progressives out there looking for some place to move to? Come to Cali. GO SOLAR GO WIND!

[KamaAina]

10. YES! There are plenty of places to put more windmils up here.

Altamont Pass between Livermore and Tracy on 580 is festooned with them. But along I-80 between Vallejo and Fairfield, also a place where the wind blows strongly because it's where the cool, foggy Bay Area meets the hot, dry Central Valley, I have seen ONE.

[valerief]

14. Jerry's the BOMB! nt

[maddogesq]

24. As an investor in renewables, I also say Jerry RAWKS!

Watch my renewable fund go BOING!!!!

We have a gubna (Ricky Snydly Whiplash) that talks about removing incentives for battery production, yadda, yadda, yadda. OY!

[ladjf]

15. That's a good direction. nt

[Odin2005]

16. Not fast enough.

This this is the best we can do as a society then we are fucked.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

18. It also allows them to cheat somewhat

It allows the utilities to count any privately owned grid tie system as part of that 33%. That means if you install a grid tie solar array, PGE, SCE etc will get credit for that as part of the 33%

[slackmaster]

20. As a soon-to-be-operational grid-tied customer, I don't really have an issue with that.

The power I generate (in San Diego) will offset power generated by mostly nuclear and fossil fuel sources.

The only issue I have right now is that the law allows SDG&E not to pay me for being a net producer. I can run my meter backwards to zero, but I don't get paid for any surplus I produce. That fact limited the size of the system I decided to buy. (But I did allow for expansion in case that changes, or my power needs increase.)

[ProgressiveProfessor]

21. You sure about that?

The PUC rules that allowed them to count what I produce also mandated payment for excess production, though at less than the going rate for co-generation.

[slackmaster]

22. Not 100% sure, but I worked out my system to bring my electric bill down to zero

If the rate for surplus is indeed less than that for co-generation, returns on investment for a larger system would be crippled. I have been working under the assumption that it wasn't worth producing more than I use.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

23. You should follow up on that

I have been over producing for years, and under my current agreement get paid for it for the first time soon.

I was able to pick up some used panels for next to nothing and will be adding to my array. The rest of my equipment was sized for doing that originally. No subsidy and I will see payback within 2 years.

[Zorra]

25. Good move. "We have to be bold." Jerry rocks. nt