California Pushing Green Power

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a mandate that requires the state’s utilities to get 33% of their electricity from renewable sources such as geothermal, wind and solar by 2020. Biomass is in that mix. The move, which gives California the most aggressive clean-energy requirement in the nation, is expected to create clean-tech jobs throughout the state as utilities race to secure contracts with renewable energy power producers.

California’s three largest utilities were already required to procure 20% of their power from renewable sources by 2010. The law expands the mandate to 33% by 2020, and extends to all utilities in the state.­

Biomass, geothermal, solar, wind, wave and tidal power and small hydroelectric dams all count toward meeting the law, known in energy and policy circles as the “Renewable Portfolio Standard,” and utilities can use a combination of renewable power sources to meet the 33% target.

Currently, most utilities heavily rely on hydropower, biomass and geothermal. But solar and wind are expected to make up the vast majority of new contracts in the coming decade.

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