New California law doubles renewable energy target
Date: 13-Sep-02
Country: USA
The bill, by state Sen. Byron Sher, means the state's investor-owned utilities and other retail sellers of electricity will have to boost their use of renewable resources by at least 1 percent a year until the 20 percent goal is met by a 2017 deadline.
About 10 percent of California's electricity can already be traced back to renewable resources like wind, geothermal, biomass and solar power.
But natural gas remains California's biggest fuel source, accounting for about half of the state's power generation.
Consumer and environmental groups supported the legislation, saying it would cut power plant emissions, secure more reliable energy supplies, and bring down power prices in the long run.
Davis also signed another bill by Sher that continues various programs to encourage the use of renewable energy and conduct energy research.