Calif. Legislature approves renewable energy rules

Legislature Approves Renewable Energy Rules

March 29, 2011 3:30 PM

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) – California lawmakers have approved a bill that would create the most ambitious renewable energy standards in the nation, giving utilities less than 10 years to receive one-third of their power from wind, solar and other alternative sources.

Tuesday’s 55-19 vote in the Assembly sends the bill to Gov. Jerry Brown. The state Senate approved Senate Bill 2X last month.

The bill’s author, Democratic Sen. Joe Simitian of Palo Alto, says it maintains California’s place as a national leader in clean energy, provides environmental benefits and will create jobs. He says the legislation also protects ratepayers from excessive costs.

Critics say the bill forces utilities to turn to more expensive sources of energy, which will drive up business costs and hurt the state’s competitiveness.

Legislature Approves Renewable Energy Rules

Fred

Does anyone wonder why electric rates are so high when natural gas is so cheap? It is because of this sort of social engineering nonsense. Yet again California pretends to compete by tying one arm behind its back. The march of the windmills – swell.
Jeff Wilson

My thinking is why hasn’t the price of these technologies come down after 20 years so individuals can afford it to put on there own homes and not need power companies??!!! Oh I answered my own question!! POWER COMPANIES!!!

Fred

Not really Jeff. First the price of wind power has come down but do you really want a wind mill in your yard? Solar has gotten cheaper too. Now its merely really expensive as opposed of the chart expensive. The utilities have a lot of warts, but in fairness they haven’t jacked the prices on these technologies. They’re just really expensive to begin with.

jim peck

No way ratepayres can be protested from cost increases. This is a great way for our legislators to feel good about their green credentials at our expense. Job creation? Perhaps in China – they are the worlds leading producer of wind generators and solar panels. Here in CA, the increased power costs will likely cost as many jobs as will be created. Besides, the bill specifies that facilites built outside of the state are eligible.
Henry Marks

Its no wonder this state is a complete mess. This type of legislature is insane. Go ahead, bury us deeper. How can California or this Nation compete with our government putting these types of restrictions in place? They can’t as is well known. There goes more jobs leaving the Country.

Fred

Yeah, but Henry, with this Green House Gas regulations from CARB (thanks to Arnie the RINO) we are gonna save the planet.

Dofuss

When the Sun don’t shine and the wind don’t blow just call up your local assemblyman and have him start peddling his electrical generating bicycle.

Fred

Nope. The utilities will still have to build conventional generation to keep the system running when the renewables aren’t, so we get to pay twice. Ain’t California a great place?

Shudup

Maybe we could put huge hamster wheels in the back yards of all of the people that are on disability and or welfare for being too fat. This would kill two birds with one stone. In 90 days we would cut the number of people living off of the system because they eat too much in half, and they in turn will meet our quota for renewable energy instead of these liberals sending even more businesses out of our state.
Fred

I’m surprised and disappointed that there are so few comments on this article. Folks do’t realize that policies such as these are essentially a tax to achieve a social goal. It just isn’t called a tax, but we qll pay it in the form of higher utility rates. HELLO PEOPLE! PAY ATTENTION!