A bill that requires California to achieve 100 percent renewable or zero-carbon energy by 2045 was signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in Sacramento on Sept. 10. The new law makes California the second state in America after Hawaii to legislate the abandonment of fossil fuels.
The Golden State was previously aiming at a target of 50 percent electricity coming from zero-carbon or ‘clean’ energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal by the end of 2030, according to the outgoing California Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The newly signed bill, SB 100, serves to increase this mandatory goal to 60 percent by 2030 and plans to make up the remaining 40 percent through other zero-carbon emission sources including hydroelectric and nuclear power by 2045.
