GreenTechMedia reports:
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Monday signed an executive order that would speed up renewable energy development and require 33 percent of utilities' electrical power to come from renewable sources by 2030.
The governor is aiming to use Executive Order S-14-08 to compel two state agencies, the California Energy Commission and the Department of Fish and Game, to work more closely on dealing with conflicts between renewable energy developers and environmentalists over building power plants and transmission lines (see California Lukewarm to Sunrise Powerlink).
This executive order will maintain California's dual leadership in the renewable power and energy efficiency.
As California goes, so goes the nation. Under Obama, you can expect a much stronger federal renewable portfolio standard and expedited transmission line siting and permitting.
If the Obama administration can successfully translate the best policies from California and other states, then we need never build another traditional coal plant again.
Kudos to Arnold. He would indeed make a very capable secretary of energy.
This post was created for ClimateProgress.org, a project of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.
Carbon trading: Worthy of Feinstein’s ire?
Comments
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greentiger Posted 7:59 am
18 Nov 2008
speaking of the Sec. of Energy...
I'm pretty curious about what the Sec. of Energy and the DOE do on a day-to-day basis, and what areas really fall under their jurisdiction... what makes a 'good' Sec. of Energy?
I'm hoping Mr. Romm, given his former role, uses this time of cabinet-picking intrigue to give us the low-down on what they do over there in the DOE.
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Ken Johnson Posted 11:27 am
18 Nov 2008
Why 33%?
Here's the problem:
Schwarzenegger has been promoting a California cap-and-trade system, whose fundamental policy objective is to achieve least-cost emission reductions. The California Air Resources Board has estimated that the incremental cost of going to a 33% RPS (from the existing 20% mandate) would be $133/MT. The trading price for the cap-and-trade portion of California's AB 32 legislation is projected to be $10/MT, which means that utilities will (according to economic projections) be compelled to incur marginal costs of $133/MT while alternative, GHG-equivalent compliance options are available for around $10/MT. (SEE CARB's Proposed Scoping Plan for AB 32.) How can the cost be justified?
CARB asserts that there are "energy diversity" benefits that justify the $133/MT cost. But while petroleum dependence in the transportation sector is also an issue of energy diversity, CARB is not imposing similar costs on transportation. (In fact, the proposed AB 32 regulations for passenger vehicles would yield projected net savings of $262/MT.) So how can you justify $133/MT when the trading system is yielding emission reductions for $10/MT and transportation is getting $262/MT savings?
There's another even more fundamental problem:
If if the benefits of a 33% RPS (including "energy diversity") would justify the $133/MT cost, then those benefits would justify an even higher RPS if costs turn out to be much lower, as will very likely be the case. (Conversely, the 33% target would probably not be justified if costs turn out to be $1000/MT.) So a fixed target, like 33%, only makes sense if we don't care about costs. But we evidently do care about costs; otherwise the target would be 100%.
I'm totally confused. Can someone please explain this to me?
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Tasermons Partner Posted 11:34 am
18 Nov 2008
It's good that...
...he's involving the Fish and Game Dept. to help mitigate and compromise on issues where renewables and the environment might come into conflict.
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David Roberts Posted 12:19 pm
18 Nov 2008
Ken,
No.
grist.org
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amazingdrx Posted 1:12 pm
18 Nov 2008
Ahnoldt or Newt
Who makes a better leader for the crippled GOP?
I guess Newt and Sarah are better for those of us in the opposition, but Ahnoldt could actually revive and transform it kind of like Reagan did, but in a greener smarter mode.
Maybe it's best if the social conservatives keep on running the GOP? Ahnoldt can keep doing good stuff out west. Terminate GHG!
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin
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Ken Johnson Posted 2:12 pm
18 Nov 2008
Correction
"All retail sellers of electricity shall serve 33 percent of their load with renewable energy by 2020" (not 2030).
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Lhogue Posted 2:35 am
19 Nov 2008
Sunrise Powerlink is Not Renewable Energy
Just have to point out that the Sunrise Powerlink, a proposed transmission line mentioned in Joe's quoted article, is NOT about bringing renewable energy to Southern California. If there weren't already enough proof of this, California Public Utilities Commission President Mike Peevey just proved it again with his proposed decision to allow the line to be built with no requirements that it actually carry renewable energy. Another proposed decision would require SDG&E to guarantee that 91% of the line's capacity be renewable, a requirement that would seem to make sense, given that SDG&E has always sold this as a "renewable energy project." But SDG&E strenuously objected to any such requirement, and now Peevey is giving the company everything it wants. We could end up with a situation where the Sunrise Powerlink carries all or mostly carbon-based energy, while SDG&E meets California's new 33% renewable mandate through buying credits. Find out more at www.desertblog.net.
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