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March 31, 2009
For More Information, Contact:
Melissa Figueroa at (916) 651-4011
SACRAMENTO – Senate Bill 14, which requires all energy providers to buy 33 percent of their energy from clean renewable energy sources by 2020 has been approved by the Senate 21-16. The bill, authored by State Senator Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) now heads to the Assembly.
“California can and should act sooner rather than later to increase the use of renewable energy,” said Simitian. “Renewable energy provides an immediate response to the threat of global warming, cuts air pollution, reduces our dependence on foreign energy and helps to limit the threat of another energy crisis.”
Moreover, said Simitian, “Increased use of renewable energy here in California has tremendous potential as an economic development tool. These are clean, green jobs that belong in California”, said Simitian.
The legislation is jointly authored by Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, Senator Alex Padilla and Senator Christine Kehoe. The Senate President Pro Tempore encouraged the legislature to pass a comprehensive renewable energy policy in the state within the first 120 days of the legislative session.
“Senate Bill 14 sends the clear and unambiguous signal that California will continue to be the world’s leader in promoting new clean technologies, jobs and economic activity,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento). “I commend Senator Simitian for all the hours of hard work on this bill and his continued environmental leadership in the Legislature.”
“Since clean and green energy is essential for the environment and for the future of the Silicon Valley economy, we support Sen. Joe Simitian’s SB 14, requiring 33 percent of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020,” said Carl Guardino, President and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. “We also applaud his ongoing efforts to work with all stakeholders to provide a reliable energy supply at a competitive price.”
Current law requires that investor owned utilities procure 20 percent of their renewable resources by December 31, 2010. The law “caps” the amount of renewable energy that the Public Utilities Commission may order utilities to buy or build at 20 percent. This bill would remove this cap and require utilities to acquire at least 33 percent of their energy from renewable resources by 2020.
Electricity generation now accounts for 32% of California’s gross carbon dioxide emissions. According to our state energy agencies, California’s electricity sector produced about 108 million metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2004, an increase of 35% over 1990 levels. Furthermore, emissions from the electricity sector are increasing twice as fast as emissions from any other sector, including transportation.
“We applaud the Senate’s support for streamlining and reforming California’s renewable energy program by passing Senator Simitian’s legislation,” said The Clean Power Campaign’s Legislative Director, V. John White. “We look forward to working with Senator Simitian to enact a strong and workable bill that will revitalize California’s economy and realize California’s extraordinary renewable energy potential.”
Senator Simitian serves as Chair of the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality, and authored SB 107 which requires the state to get 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2010. In signing the bill two years ago, Governor Schwarzenegger noted “the science is clear. The global warming debate is over. We have a responsibility to act now. This bill…will help California reduce greenhouse gas emissions and continue our leadership on protecting the environment.”
To learn more about SB 14, please visit http://www.senatorsimitian.com
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