ARNOLD TO ORDER NEW ENERGY

Schwarzenegger may order a change in green energy rules; An order expected this week would require a third of energy to come from renewable resources -- possibly with no limit on importing such power from other states. He may seek to include nuclear power.
Marc Lifsher, September 14, 2009 (LA Times)

"After vowing to veto this year's biggest environmental bill, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to issue an executive order by midweek that would require all electric utilities to generate a third of their power from renewable resources, such as wind and solar power, by 2020.

"The order presumably would set no limit on how much of the green power could be imported from other states…Schwarzenegger [is also reportedly] considering directing the California Air Resources Board to look at broadening the state's definition of renewable energy sources to include large hydroelectric dams and nuclear energy plants."

Despite California's ample sun, its utilities are struggling to meet their solar energy targets and very well may not if out-of-state solar power plant contracts are excluded. (click to enlarge)

"Critics questioned whether Schwarzenegger's order would be binding once he leaves office at the end of 2010. The validity of the order would be subject to a variety of potential legal challenges [but could be buttressed by a future bill and has sufficient legal teeth to get the Air Resources Board to write tough renewable standards under the authority of AB 32, California's landmark law to curb global warming]…[H]ours after the end of the 2009 legislative session, Matt David, the governor's communications director, said the governor would veto a pair of bills passed by the Legislature that would order electric utilities to get at least 33% of their power from renewable sources by 2020 -- and with limits on how much could be imported from outside the state."

click to enlarge

"State law currently calls for generating 20% by 2010, a deadline that the utilities are unlikely to hit before 2013…SB 14 by Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto) and AB 64 by Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank), were introduced this year to respond to a call from Schwarzenegger for legislative action to increase production of renewable energy in California…[but David called them ‘poorly drafted, overly complex bills’ and ‘protectionist schemes’ that would be counterproductive for the solar industry in California and drive energy prices.]

"The legislation was supported by environmental groups, consumer advocates, labor unions and some major utilities, including Pacific Gas & Electric Co., Sempra Energy and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Raising the renewable energy requirement, they argued, would send a strong message to industry that California is serious…Unions and consumer groups also backed a provision in the bills that would require at least two-thirds of renewable energy be generated in-state…
Among the opponents were the California Manufacturers & Technology Assn., the Independent Energy Producers Assn., the California Farm Bureau Federation and other business and trade organization…They feared that limiting California utilities' use of energy credits in buying renewable energy from out-of-state generators would restrict electricity supplies and drive up prices…[The Governor opposes] any limitations on imports of green power…"