California governor seeks to boost renewable energy

Reuters ^ | March 17, 2002 | Reuters

[xeno]

California governor seeks to boost renewable energy

SAN FRANCISCO, March 18 (Reuters) - California Gov. Gray Davis on Monday backed legislation that would force the state's investor-owned utilities to almost double the amount of power they get from renewable energy sources.

The state Senate bill, if approved, would require California's three investor-owned utilities by 2010 to get around 20 percent of the electricity they supply to their customers from renewable sources such as the wind and sun.

Such renewable energy sources currently provide about 12 percent of the state's power.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto), has already cleared the state Senate and is now before the California Assembly's Utilities and Commerce Committee.

``California has long been the nation's leader in renewable energy,'' Davis said. ``This legislation will continue that tradition of ensuring that renewables are a critical part of our energy future.''

California created a public power authority last year as part of the state's efforts to avoid a repeat of the energy crisis that led to blackouts and skyrocketing electricity prices in 2000 and early 2001.

That agency has said it plans to finance a total of 3,500 megawatts of ``clean'' power by 2006. That would be the equivalent of three big nuclear power plants or enough electricity for 3.5 million homes.

``You need someone to buy it. This bill deals with the demand side,'' said Kip Lipper, chief of staff for Byron Sher.

Pacific Gas & Electric spokesman John Nelson said the utility has some concerns about the bill ``as it is written'' and was working with its author to address them.

``We are certainly supportive of the concepts behind the bill,'' he said, but added that his company was concerned that it only applied to investor-owned utilities.

California is home of the nation's largest municipal utility, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.

The state has three investor owned utilities, PG&E Corp. (NYSE:PCG - news) unit Pacific Gas & Electric, Edison International (NYSE:EIX - news) subsidiary Southern California Edison and Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE - news) unit San Diego Gas & Electric.

[onedoug]

"...would require California's three investor-owned utilities...."

We'll see if the investors will go along.

[boris]

Brilliant. With one of the highest per-kilowatt rate in the nation, unable to keep brown/black-outs from happening in summer time, this bunch of geniuses wants to make sure we use even more expensive and unreliable sources of power.

I live in California by necessity--not (I assure you) by choice. I fervently wish to be elsewhere, so I could watch with detached amusement as the whole rotten mess founders.

Someday, perhaps.

--Boris

[Fish out of Water]

fyi

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the ping!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Yuk!

calgov2002:

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[monkeyshine]

Davis doesn't need to pander to the left in this election... or does he?

hahahahaha!

[dalereed]

The only renuable energy that I would go for is a generator attached to greyout davis's bicycle.

Build nuke plants and burn oil and quit burning natural gas.

[meyer]

I hate to put it this way, but if I were one of California's investor owned utilities, I'd be cutting my poles down and rolling up the wire to sell as scrap in another state.

Dang statists like Davis have absolutely no concept of property rights. "Force investor owned utilities" indeed. They're already bankrupt and he expects them to continue to make forced bad business decisions. If Davis wants to develop renewable energy, get the taxpayers to approve or disapprove on the ballot. Let them know the expense up front and they will decide if its worth it.

[quimby]

Davis doesn't need to pander to the left in this election... or does he?

Poor grayout panders, but doesn't get SQUAT. (Just $50 million).

[scouse]

"A Chicken in every pot & a windmill in every garage".

New dem motto

[rmlew]

He can start attaching a power generator to his mouth to harnass the hot air.
To this East coaster, DAvis sounds like a Gov Moonbeam in a jacket.

[Bonaparte]

This is terrific news, boris! Davis has just driven energy builders/providers even further away from California. That "pick your preferred energy provider" program failed dismally because so-called "green power" cannot be produced as cheaply or abundantly as conventionally produced power. Nobody wanted it and everybody just stuck with the big 3 providers. The greenies went under. Now he's requiring the big 3 to sink more dollars into a proven loser. What a moron is Gray-out "I Don't Get Squat" Doofus!

[SierraWasp]

"Davis on Monday backed legislation that would force the state's investor-owned utilities to almost double the amount of power they get from renewable energy sources."

As his heineousness strode up to the podium... He commanded and the sun began setting in the east!!!

And I thought MN was nuts for electing a WWF star!!!

[ProudGOP]

I fervently wish to be elsewhere, so I could watch with detached amusement as the whole rotten mess founders.

Keep trying. It is quite enjoyable.

[SierraWasp]

"The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Byron Sher (D-Palo Alto)"

The "Pencil Necked Geek" of CA's State Senate and Chief "Lap Dog" of CLUB SIERRA!!!

Are any of you guys in his Senatorial District?

[Dog Gone]

Unbelievable. If renewable energy made sense, it would be here without forcing companies to buy it. If anyone thinks this makes sense when California is already paying too much for power, they are a utopian marxist.

Anyone who owns stock in any California utility is already a moron, but after this law is passed, it will drain these of any remaining cash, and the shareholders of any remaining value.

But hey, Gray, why stop at 20%? Why not make it 100%?

[Concentrate]

There are few things that government sposorship will benefit. Developing solar energy is one of them.

[blastdad51]

Davis is a full blown socialist who'd like nothing better than the power companies in Ca. to go broke, then the state under his leadership could be real power brokers. Won't we all have fun then. < sarcasm>

[Concentrate]

Let's not forget the gov't subsidies for nuclear power, without which the industry could not have survived, and which is now a terrorist target.