California Lawmakers Approve Aggressive Renewable Energy Bill

[Fledermaus]

California lawmakers on Tuesday approved the most aggressive U.S. renewable- energy mandate, requiring utilities to use solar, wind or other renewable power for a third of the electricity they sell by 2020.

California utilities have been signing contracts and developing their own solar-power and transmission facilities in anticipation of the mandate, which is a key component of the state's 2006 plan to combat climate change. Gov. Jerry Brown, a Democrat, is widely expected to sign the bill, which the state Assembly passed Tuesday. The state Senate previously approved the measure.

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201103292030dowjonesdjonline000426&title=california-lawmakers-approve-aggressive-renewable-energy-bill

[ixion]

1. Other states should follow suit

if they were smart. Converting to renewables means jobs, and less stress on the lower and middle classes.

[madokie]

2. Heres your fifth rec

good for the Californians

[txlibdem]

3. Great news: this should continue the downward pressure on solar panel and wind turbine prices

Solar is still far too expensive for most middle class families, not even in the dreams of the poor right now. Anything that helps to bring the cost of solar down is a win, IMO.

The only remaining danger for California's solar hopes: misguided so-called "environmental" groups who try to block every solar and wind project that has been proposed. End the idiocy of these short-sighted groups and we can move forward with solar.