UCS: CA Gov. Schwarzenegger Should Sign Clean Energy Bill

SACRAMENTO (September 14, 2009) — The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) joined with environmental and consumer groups today to urge Gov. Schwarzenegger to sign a package of bills (SB 14 and AB 64) that would require California utilities to acquire 33 percent of their electricity from renewable energy by 2020. The state Legislature passed the bills late Friday.

"The Legislature passed these bills to modernize and clean up our states energy system," said Laura Wisland, a UCS energy analyst. "The governor is being misinformed by the people who are advising him to veto them. The bills already provide utilities with substantial flexibility in allowing renewable generation from nearby states to qualify. We need a permanent law on the books, not an executive order than can be easily reversed after the governor leaves office."

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The 33 percent renewable electricity standard bills could reduce global warming emissions in the state by as much as 12.8 million metric tons, equivalent to eliminating the need for 10 to 15 new conventional large fossil-fueled power plants, according to the California Public Utilities Commission.

If Gov. Schwarzenegger signs the renewable electricity legislation into law, California would consume more megawatt hours of renewable electricity than any other state. Twenty-nine other states and Washington, D.C., also have renewable electricity standards. According to the Department of Energy, renewable standards spurred approximately half of the new U.S. wind power capacity from 2001 to 2006. In addition, the latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) Electric Power Monthly Report shows net U.S. electrical generation from renewable sources reached an all-time high this May, comprising 13 percent of the total electrical generation for the month.

Source: The Union of Concerned Scientists