{"id":18049,"date":"2018-06-27T17:01:29","date_gmt":"2018-06-27T21:01:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=18049"},"modified":"2018-10-23T12:32:48","modified_gmt":"2018-10-23T16:32:48","slug":"100-by-2045-california-evaluates-one-of-the-nations-biggest-clean-energy-goals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2018\/06\/27\/100-by-2045-california-evaluates-one-of-the-nations-biggest-clean-energy-goals\/","title":{"rendered":"100% by 2045: California evaluates one of the nation\u2019s biggest clean energy goals"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>It\u2019s summertime in California, and one thing that means is lots of sunshine. Lucky for us, the Golden State is a national leader in turning that sunshine, and other renewable resources, into electricity to power homes and business across the state.<\/p>\n

Currently, the state is working to produce 50 percent of its electricity from clean energy resources<\/a> like solar and wind and is closing in on that goal. Next month, lawmakers will get the chance to advance that goal even further \u2013 to 100 percent by 2045.<\/p>\n

SB 100, authored by Sen. Kevin de Le\u00f3n, is the bill that, if passed, could solidify the new, bigger, bolder target. California would be the second state in the nation to pass this high of a target \u2013 only behind Hawaii<\/a>. A handful of other states are considering aiming at 100 percent clean energy, including Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Washington, and Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n

California\u2019s leadership could help tip the scale. California has the opportunity to show the rest of these states and countries across the world that 100 percent clean energy is possible. With climate change already affecting us, we don\u2019t have much more time to waste.\u00a0<\/p>\n

100 percent clean energy is achievable <\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve said it before<\/a> and we\u2019ll say it again, 100 percent clean energy is 100 percent possible<\/a>. California\u2019s big utilities are on their way to meeting the current target of 50 percent by 2030 \u2013 they are already meeting, or will soon meet (depending on the utility) 2020 goals ahead of schedule<\/a>. This is a huge feat deserving some serious props.<\/p>\n

[Tweet “100% by 2045: California evaluates one of the nation\u2019s biggest clean energy goals”]<\/p>\n

As of the first quarter of 2017, California leads the nation in installed solar capacity<\/a> with almost 19,000 megawatts. What\u2019s more, last month California\u2019s grid operator hit a new record with solar alone providing more electricity than natural gas<\/a> for the first time on a monthly basis. (It\u2019s important to note that this does not represent the sunshine-powered energy coming from people\u2019s rooftop panels.)<\/p>\n

The clean energy revolution is here, and it\u2019s not stopping or going away any time soon. All of this impressive growth goes to show that California is capable of reaching and exceeding ambitious clean energy goals. And, with its plan to reach high levels of renewables, SB 100 would be no exception.<\/p>\n

100 percent clean energy brings big benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n

As California has proven, a healthy environment and a healthy economy can go hand in hand. All of the progress the state has made in clean energy and climate policy has drawn huge investments and created good, local jobs:<\/p>\n