The Next Step: A Higher Percentage of Renewables in Portfolio Standard

August 1, 2004 – Vol.9 No.19

THE NEXT STEP - A HIGHER PERCENTAGE OF RENEWABLES IN PORTFOLIO STANDARD.

California, already committed to building renewable capacity that will provide 20 percent of its power sourced from renewables by 2010, is already looking beyond that date for greater renewable capacity.

The state is concerned that without vigorous and long term commitments to renewables it will become more and more dependent on natural gas which itself is already developing supply problems.

At this early stage of possible legislation to build greater renewable capacity beyond its current Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), the California Energy Commission has published a draft Staff White Paper entitled Accelerated Renewable Energy Development.

The draft white paper, like all white papers, is the beginning of a long process of commentary. The paper is available at http://www.energy.ca.gov/ (click News Releases)