Landmark 100% Renewable Electricity Bill Gains Momentum in Assembly

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Senate Bill 100 passed Natural Resources Committee

Environment California

Sacramento — Today, the California Assembly Committee on Natural Resources voted in favor of Senate Bill 100, authored by Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León, to establish a landmark goal for California to achieve 100 percent clean, renewable electricity by 2045. This vote comes just 24 hours after the bill cleared the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy.

“As President Trump and his administration attempt to roll back decades of environmental progress, Californians know there’s no time to waste in moving to reduce pollution and complete the shift to 100 percent renewable energy,” said Michelle Kinman, Environment California’s Clean Energy Advocate. “We thank Chair Cristina Garcia and the Committee for standing with Californians and moving us all one step closer to a clean energy future.”

Senate Bill 100 will accelerate California’s current mandate to achieve 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources from 2030 to 2026; it will also establish that California will generate 60 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and 100 percent zero carbon and renewable electricity by 2045.

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, and a number of other California cities, such as Lancaster, Los Angeles, San Jose and San Francisco, are pursuing a 100 percent renewable electricity future.

SB 100 will now move to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.

“It’s up to state and local governments – none with more clout than California – to take the lead on reducing pollution, and there’s no better way than expediting the shift to 100 percent renewable energy,” said Kinman. “Now more than ever, California must go big on clean, renewable energy and set a strong example for other states to follow.”