Rachel Boyer, Sierra Club, rachel.boyer@sierraclub.org
Shane Levy, Sierra Club, shane.levy@sierraclub.org
SACRAMENTO-- Today, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 100 (SB100) into law, setting the fifth largest economy in the world on a path to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. SB100 builds on California’s clean energy leadership by establishing bold new clean energy targets for the state. California is now the largest global economy to commit to 100 percent renewable energy.
In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:
“It's impossible to overstate how significant it is for a state as large and influential as California to commit to 100 percent clean energy.
“California is showing the world that a transition to 100 percent clean energy is within reach and it will continue to drive the transition away from fossil fuels -- and it is doing this while the federal government abandons clean energy.
“Senate Bill 100 reflects the state’s commitment to reduce climate and air pollution, and it builds on the ingenuity and the strength of its workforce.
“Today, over 90 percent of Californians live in an area where the air is unhealthy to breathe. Leaving dirty fuels behind is the only way to deliver clean, breathable air, especially in the communities of color and low-income communities that are home to dirty fossil fuel infrastructure. Moving to 100 percent clean energy will protect all Californians from the dangers of fossil fuel pollution.
“California has long been a leader. Now, its commitment to 100 percent clean energy will serve to inspire even more leadership throughout the country and around the globe in the transition away from fossil fuels.”
###
Background on Senate Bill 100: Senate Bill 100 (SB100) will move California away from dirty fuels like methane gas and towards 100% clean, zero-carbon and renewable sources of energy like wind, solar, and geothermal.
SB100, includes an amendment to California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). An RPS is a regulatory standard requiring a certain amount of energy to come from renewable sources like solar and wind. Currently, the California’s RPS requires half of all electricity delivered by utilities to come from renewable sources of energy by 2030.
SB100 builds on California’s clean energy leadership by establishing bold new targets for the state. SB100 creates a new RPS target of 60 percent of the electricity in our state generated by from renewable sources by 2030. It also establishes that the remaining 40 percent come from zero-carbon sources by 2045. The legislation creates flexibility for California between 2030 and 2045 for new clean, renewable technologies to emerge as the state pursues 100 percent clean energy by 2045.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.