Tuesday, February 21, 2017

USA, California: Bill Would Require Golden State to Hit 100% Renewable Energy by 2045

Calif. lawmaker's new bill: 100% clean energy (USA Today)

California Senate leader Kevin de León
Kevin de León has promised to lead the resistance to President Trump. A new bill could make good on that promise.

The California Senate leader has introduced legislation that would require the Golden State to get 100% of its electricity from climate-friendly energy sources by 2045. That's a big step up from the state's current renewable energy mandate, 50% by 2030 — a target that's only been on the books for a year and a half, and that California is still a long way from meeting.

De León's bill would require California to hit 50% renewable energy by 2025, five years sooner than under current law, and phase out fossil fuels entirely by 2045. It's not yet clear whether the Senate leader will move forward the proposal, which he introduced before the state's bill-filing deadline on Friday, almost certainly to serve as a placeholder for more detailed legislation that could be fleshed out later.