Sacramento - According to the newest data, California is falling behind other states in terms of building new renewable energy projects such as wind farms and solar power plants.  Data released today by Environment California Research & Policy Center shows California in fifth place behind Texas, Iowa, Minnesota and Colorado in terms of new large-scale renewable energy projects developed in states with Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS).  Environmental groups gathered today with top policy makers to call for removing barriers to renewable energy development and increasing the state's RPS goal to at least 33% by 2020.

“If developing renewable energy were an Olympic sport, California surprisingly wouldn’t even win a bronze medal,” said Bernadette Del Chiaro, clean energy advocate for Environment California. “It is high time California gets back in the race by upping our mandate and commitment to removing barriers to renewable energy.”

The data provided a backdrop for a coalition of environmental, health and community groups calling for removal of the barriers to increased renewable energy in California along with an increased minimum standard to at least 33% by 2020. California currently requires utilities generate at least 20% of their electricity from renewable resources such as solar, geothermal and wind power by 2010 and the Schwarzenegger Administration has called for an increase to 33%. Across the country, 25 states and the District of Columbia have RPSs representing 5% of the nation’s total electricity supply according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. To date, Texas has added more than 3,500 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, Iowa more than 1,200 MW, Minnesota nearly 1,000 MW and Colorado almost 800 MW. In the meantime, California has added 683 MW of utility-scale renewable energy projects since the state’s RPS was passed.[1]

 

"Dozens of states are in the race to build renewable energy because of the win-win benefits of reduced reliance on fossil fuels and a cleaner environment," said Dan Kalb of Union of Concerned Scientists.  "California should reassert itself as the nation's clean energy leader and bring more jobs and cleaner air to the state."  

According to a recent report by the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, a 33% by 2020 RPS would create well over 200,000 new manufacturing jobs. In addition, according to the California Air Resources Board, a 33% by 2020 RPS is needed to reduce global warming pollution by more than 20 million metric tons, a critical component to the state’s proposed plans to meet its global warming pollution cap by 2020.

Environmental justice and health groups are also supportive of a 33% by 2020 mandate because of the concern that without it, the states utilities will continue to build fossil fuel power plants in already polluted regions such as the Los Angeles basin.

“California has one simple choice: continue to build polluting fossil fuel power plants or shift to clean, non-polluting renewable energy projects,” said Dr. Joseph Lyou, executive director of the Environmental Rights Alliance. “Nearly every proposal to build or expand fossil fuel power plants in California directly impacts a low-income community of color.  The renewable energy path protects their right to breathe clean air.”

“Ramping up renewable energy production is a critical public health measure.  Clean renewable power can help California avoid public health emergencies linked to polluted air, including asthma attacks, lung and heart illnesses and premature death,” said Tony Gerber, MD, an American Lung Association of California volunteer and a pulmonary specialist and assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco.

A bill to increase California’s RPS to 33% by 2020, and a package of RPS reforms necessary to get there, continues to be debated in the state legislature. If passed, it would become the nation’s strongest renewable energy mandate.  Environmental groups urged the Legislature and the Governor to work together to get this done this session.

 

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