Democratic leaders in California’s legislature are proposing a clean energy package that would further position the state as the national leader.
Utilities would be required to get a third of their energy from renewable sources by 2020, and to facilitate this, permits for renewable energy projects would be speeded up.
The bill would use a portion of utility ratepayer funds to guarantee loans for residents and small business owners to make energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements.
And it would use $8 million a year in electricity surcharges to give grants to schools to establish 90 "green partnership academies" statewide that would train students for clean technology jobs.
Currently, 18% of California’s energy comes from renewable sources. The state is on track to reach 21% by the end of 2011, according to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).
A previous bill to set the 33% renewable energy requirement failed in last year’s legislative session.
Thomas Steyer, founder of the hedge fund Farallon Capital Management, and who helped finance the campaign against Proposition 23, told the Associated Press, "Everyone is watching us. We’re going to be the test case, and in fact the kinds of policies these legislators are trying to pass are critical for us to be able to get the private sector going, to create the businesses, to create the jobs and to show the country and the world that this can be done."
Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown will look to pass the package of bills after that of the state budget. His spokesman said the bills are consistent with his clean energy and jobs goals.
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