California Senate Passes Landmark Bill for 100% Renewable Electricity by 2045

California bill progresses as Trump considers kicking U.S. to sidelines of international climate agreement

Sacramento –- (RealEstateRama) — While the world waits to learn if President Trump will abandon the United States’ commitment to reducing pollution under the Paris Climate Agreement, the California State Senate passed a bill today that puts the Golden State on the path to 100 percent clean, renewable electricity. Senate Bill 100, authored by Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, would accelerate California’s current mandate to achieve 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources from 2030 up to 2026; it would further establish that California will generate 60 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and 100 percent by 2045.

“We applaud Senator De León’s vision of a rapid, steady transition from the dirty electricity that has been polluting our environment and our communities for far too long to clean, renewable electricity,” said Michelle Kinman, Environment California’s Clean Energy Advocate. “Environment California is committed to a 100 percent renewable energy future and we support this bill 100 percent.”

Scientists agree that we must stop burning virtually all fossil fuels by mid-century in order to spare children growing up today from the devastating impacts of climate change. Environment California Research & Policy Center’s white paper We Have the Power: 100% Renewable Energy for a Clean, Thriving America, reviews seven detailed studies on clean energy systems conducted by academics, government agencies and nonprofit organizations, showing that there are no insurmountable technological or economic barriers to tapping into our vast potential to achieve 100 percent renewable energy. It is no longer a question of whether we will get to 100 percent renewable power, but if it will be fast enough to protect our communities and our environment.

In 2015, Hawaii became the first state to commit to a 100 percent renewable electricity goal, to be achieved by 2045. Massachusetts also has a 100 percent renewables bill under consideration in the state legislature. This state level activity is complemented by a growing number of major businesses, institutions, and cities across the country that have committed to achieve 100 percent renewable energy. San Diego made international headlines in 2015 when it became the largest U.S. city to commit to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035.

SB 100 will now move to the California Assembly for consideration.

“Now more than ever, California must go big on clean, renewable energy and set a strong example for other states to follow,” said Kinman. “Getting to 100 percent renewable energy is 100 percent possible — and it’s 100 percent necessary.”

CONTACT

Michelle Kinman
310-621-8935