Gov. Brown proposes 50% renewables goal in inaugural speech

Debra Kahn | E&E Publishing | Link to article

Jerry_Brown

California Gov. Jerry Brown (D) today proposed requiring that his state’s energy mix include at least 50 percent renewables by 2030, among a host of environmental initiatives he floated in his inaugural address to state lawmakers.

As Brown was sworn in for a historic fourth term, he vowed to continue a panoply of the state’s progressive energy policies: expanding distributed generation, rooftop solar, microgrids, energy storage and electric vehicles. In addition to the renewables goal, he proposed by 2030 doubling the efficiency of existing buildings and reducing use of petroleum in cars and trucks by up to 50 percent below today’s levels.

“Taking significant amounts of carbon out of our economy without harming its vibrancy is exactly the sort of challenge at which California excels,” he said. “This is exciting. It is bold, and it is absolutely necessary if we are to have any chance of stopping potentially catastrophic changes to our climate system.” (complete article)