Tell FedEx to go solar on its warehouses
State and local policies help clean energy progress soar in California
City leaders, advocates mark California’s clean energy progress with ‘Renewables on the Rise’ press conference at Los Angeles City Hall
California is a leader in deploying clean energy technologies
California is now getting more of its energy from clean, renewable sources than ever. Environment California Research & Policy Center’s updated Renewables on the Rise online dashboard shows that as of 2023, the equivalent of 40% of California’s retail electricity sales were generated by renewable solar, wind and geothermal power, up from just 15% a decade earlier. Moreover, California leads the nation in solar generation, battery storage capacity, electric vehicle registrations, electric vehicle charging ports and energy savings from efficiency measures.
That’s what local leaders and advocates celebrated at an October 23rd press conference at Los Angeles City Hall. First, Clean Energy Advocate Steven King highlighted the dashboard’s findings and California’s statewide progress. Later, City Council President Emeritus Paul Krekorian and Los Angeles Business Council’s Sustainability Director, David Fink, emphasized how the City of Los Angeles has been a significant force driving the adoption of clean energy technologies in the Golden State.
Watch coverage of the press conference on “LA This Week”:
California isn’t just setting ambitious climate and clean energy goals, we’re making real progress on deploying crucial clean energy solutions and defining what’s possible in the transition away from polluting, dangerous fossil fuels.Steven King
Clean Energy Advocate
These things don’t happen on their own. They happen because policymakers enact policy that causes these shifts.Paul Krekorian
Los Angeles City Council President Emeritus
Progress in Los Angeles
Council President Emeritus Krekorian discussed how the City of Los Angeles has set an example for other cities and states to follow, having committed to reaching 100% clean energy by 2035, a full decade before the statewide goal. Krekorian authored the original motion for the LA100 plan, which created the City’s detailed strategy to reach 100% clean energy.
The city of Los Angeles should be commended for setting among the most ambitious clean energy goals anywhere in the United States.David Fink
Sustainability Director, Los Angeles Business Council
Los Angeles also leads the nation in installed solar capacity, according to Environment California Research & Policy Center’s latest Shining Cities report. Supportive policies such as the City’s Feed-In-Tariff program help tap into the abundant rooftop space of big commercial buildings to install solar panels. LA also recently started a Commercial Energy Storage to Grid pilot program, the nation’s first municipal utility vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and energy storage-to-grid program. This crucial program will help increase battery storage capacity, helping to power more hours of the day with clean energy.
Toward more clean energy progress
Millions of Californians and Angelenos are already reaping the benefits of the clean energy transition. With federal tax credits turbocharging clean energy adoption, now is the time to lean in on policies that turn the vision of 100% clean and renewable energy for California into a reality even faster.
Renewables On The Rise Dashboard
Tell FedEx to go solar on its warehouses
FedEx owns and operates more than 5,000 facilities with thousands of acres of rooftop space, but has not publicly announced a goal or plan to install solar on those roofs.
Topics
Authors
Steven King
Former Clean Energy Advocate, Environment California Research & Policy Center
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