Gov. Brown signs law requiring 33% of energy be renewable by 2020

[Kablooie]

The California law increases a previous mandate of 20% renewable energy by 2020. U.S. energy secretary calls the law a model for other states, and an industry group says it could create 100,000 jobs.

Calling the law the most ambitious clean-energy effort in the nation, the governor predicted that it would help jump-start the state's economy. He said he expects the aggressive shift away from coal and natural gas to create jobs while putting the state on the cutting edge of new technology.

"It's about California leading the country. It's America potentially leading the world," Brown said at a signing ceremony in Silicon Valley.

...


His bill was opposed by many Republican lawmakers who predicted that utilities would have to significantly raise electricity rates, leading some firms to move manufacturing jobs out of the state. One state study said that meeting the mandate would cost utilities about 7% more than current levels of coal and natural gas use.

Californians "should brace themselves for utility-bill sticker shock," said state Sen. Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga), leader of the Senate's minority caucus.


hhttp://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-renewable-energy-20110413,0,3118203.story

[Newest Reality]

1. That's nice!

Yet, it is far too little, far too late.

By 2020 we will be well down the slippery slope of Peak Oil as well as peak everything else. We will also find ourselves sick and dying from the results of frac'ing if it continues in its current form.

Our attempts to shift our energy needs over to natural and sustainable sources will prove to be unrealistic if we don't make a rapid shift in a short, ASAP time. Otherwise, we will see simply see a continuation of the current paradigm where one, small faction of our world has access to the modern lifestyle while the rest fall into an unexpected form of primitive existence without preparation or planning for it. There will be horrendous die-offs and a new form of slavery or Serfdom.

We are currently beholden to those who hold tightly onto profits gained by the current system. They will not let go of what can be charged for and will never, (without force) yield to a fuel-free, natural form of energy production. Yet, that is the only way we can live a form of hybrid existence in the future where we combine old technology and a more simple lifestyle with some of the modern conveniences that can enhance our survival and comfort.

While we brace ourselves for the series of peaks now in progress, our preparation, re-localization, and reevaluation of our own lifestyles in relation to their viability and sustainability in a New World just on the horizon is going to make a tremendous difference in how it will go and how we will fare it, individually and collectively.

The current, slow and delaying process is of little use to what we have to contend to. Those numbers are based on the Status Quo's needs and are unrealistic, to say the least. Massive change and unified responses are essential to our continuity and stability as individuals and as a culture.

[JDPriestly]

3. Thanks, Newest Reality. You are so right.

[JDPriestly]

2. The problem is that when Republican politiicians

and utility companies talk about energy prices, they don't discuss the externalities -- the costs that the public has to pay and that are indirectly caused by the kinds of dirty energy we use.

When I was a kid, we lived in big old houses with coal furnaces -- and had colds and sore throats all the time. Our furnace was quite a polluter, but we didn't know better. We should have included the doctors' bills in our energy costs.

Similarly, oil pollutes. If you counted the cost of cleaning up old filling stations when you calculated the cost of using oil and gasoline for fuel, you would find that that solar and wind are more competitive.

And now we are seeing the real cost of nuclear energy. Fukushima will take a heavy toll on the Japanese economy, and the healthcare costs and loss of life over the coming years will be very expensive in both human and financial terms.

I support Brown's effort. We could cut back on our energy consumption as could most businesses.