Russ Steele
As we know, today Governor Brown signed marching orders for the state's public utilities to ramp up their renewable energy resources to 33%.
KQED's Climate Watch has the full story here.
California’s utilities now have their marching orders: to provide one third of the state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020.
Now that the "33-by-20″ target is a mandate backed by state law, supporters say it will lure more renewable energy investments to California. There's evidence that it already is.
Calling it a “breakthrough,” Governor Brown signed the bill into law at the dedication of a new SunPower Corp. manufacturing plant in Milpitas, near San Jose. And he laid down a challenge:
“Last year six thousand megawatts of solar installations were produced by China and one thousand by the United States. Now, are we up for changing that? I think we are.”
The Republican were not too happy and released this statement:
"Governor Brown is pressing ahead as if the pieces of papers he signs magically and automatically result in higher revenues or a better standard of living. The laws of economics, however, overrule Brown’s political laws.
Energy Secretary Steven Chu took the occasion to announce $50 million in federal funding for renewables in California. More tax payer subsidies for increasing California's energy bill. We get to pay twice, once as subsidies and once again with higher electric rates. And, if enough utility customers to do not sign up to let the public utilities control your AC and water heater, and maybe your big screen TV when the wind does not blow and it is dark out, we will get to experience the pleasure of rolling black outs.
Steve Holliday, CEO of the UK National Grid, recently alerting UK citizens to their future energy usage from renewables:
Electricity consumers in the UK will need to get used to flicking the switch and finding the power unavailable, according to Steve Holliday, CEO of National Grid, the country’s grid operator. Because of a six-fold increase in wind generation, which won’t be available when the wind doesn’t blow, “The grid is going to be a very different system in 2020, 2030,” he told BBC’s Radio 4. “We keep thinking that we want it to be there and provide power when we need it. It’s going to be much smarter than that.
“We are going to change our own behaviour and consume it when it is available and available cheaply.”
However, that was not Energy Secretary Steven Chu view of our future:
“Thanks to forward looking policies and forward-looking businesses, California will be the center of the action in helping the United States in building a bright energy future,” said Chu at the signing.
Texas has already dealt with the electrical issues of renewable energy according to an article in The Dallas Morning News:
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas said 7,000 megawatts of generating capacity tripped ["tripped" means failed]Tuesday night, leaving the state without enough juice. That’s enough capacity to power about 1.4 million homes. By rotating outages, ERCOT said it prevented total blackouts.
“We have the double whammy of extremely high demand, given the lowest temperatures in 15 years, combined with generation that’s been compromised and is producing less than expected or needed,” said Oncor spokeswoman Catherine Cuellar. Oncor operates power lines in North Texas and facilitated the blackouts for ERCOT.
An investigation by independent investigator found that the wind had stopped blowing. More details here. Now that we have the "33-by-20" mandate are you ready for California's rolling black outs. I was ready for Gov Gray Davis's rolling blackouts, we have a diesel generator. It should come in real handy for the next round of Governor generated blackouts. Are you ready for the alternative energy blackouts?
