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SACRAMENTO, California, US, May 03, 2006
(Refocus Weekly)
California will produce at least 20% of its
biofuels within the state by 2010, rising to 75% by 2050.
“Biomass as a source of energy has the potential to power more than
three million homes or produce enough fuel to run more than two
million automobiles on an annual basis,” states Executive Order
S-06-06 signed by governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. “Biomass is a
renewable resource which currently contributes 2% of the state's
electricity mix, or nearly 1,000 MW of the state's generating
capacity, and is one of the options needed to achieve the state
Renewables Portfolio Standard requirements.”
California produces less than 5% of the ethanol it consumes and
biomass fuels, including ethanol from cellulose and biodiesel from a
variety of sources, can reduce reliance on petroleum fuels and work
to lower fuel costs for consumers, it explains. The state consumes
900 million gallons of the green fuel each year, which is
one-quarter of all the ethanol produced in the U.S.
“Biofuels can be a clean renewable source for hydrogen” and the
state has invested US$6.5 million under its Hydrogen Highway to
support a network of 16 filling stations and a growing fleet of
vehicles that use green fuels. Not only do biofuels offer GHG
reduction benefits, but “improvements in the use of waste and
residues from forests and farms for energy production can actually
decrease the GHG emissions associated with biomass decomposition
that otherwise would occur.”
“Harnessing California's biomass resources to produce energy and
other products is good for the state's economy and environment and
contributes to local job creation, and the increased use of biomass
resources contributes solutions to California's critical waste
disposal and environmental problems, including the risk of
catastrophic wild fires, air pollution from open field burning, and
GHG emissions from landfills,” the order continues. “Sustained
biomass development offers strategic energy, economic, social and
environmental benefits to California, creating jobs through
increased private investment within the state.”
Schwarzenegger’s order sets targets to increase production and use
of ethanol and biodiesel fuels from renewable resources, and the
state must produce at least 20% of its biofuels within California by
2010, 40% by 2020 and 75% by 2050. For green power from biomass, the
state must meet a 20% target within the established state RPS for
2010 and 2020.
The California Public Utilities Commission was directed to “initiate
a new proceeding or build upon an existing proceeding to encourage
sustainable use of biomass and other renewable resources by the
state's investor-owned utilities,” and the order asked the
California Air Resources Board to consider “the most flexible
possible use of biofuels” as part of its rulemakings and the Energy
Commission to report to the state legislature on progress made in
achieving sustainable biomass development in California.
A number of state agencies were told to continue working on a
bioenergy working group, including the Air Resources Board, Energy
Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Public Utilities
Commission, Department of Food & Agriculture, Department of Forestry
& Fire Protection, Department of General Services, Integrated Waste
Management Board, and state Water Resources Control Board. The
Energy Commission was told to coordinate with other state agencies
to identify and secure federal and state funding to advance the use
of biomass resources for electricity generation and biofuels for
transportation.
“It is critical that we do everything we can to reduce our
dependence on petroleum-based fuels,” says Schwarzenegger. “Turning
waste products into energy is good for the state's economy, local
job creation and our environment.”
Last year, Schwarzenegger introduced the Million Solar Roofs
Initiative which includes $2.9 billion in incentives for the
installation of solar PV systems. The California Public Utilities
Commission is implementing the program, which is expected to result
in one million solar roofs by 2018.
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