40 California Leaders, Academics, and Legislators Join Project in Support of Acceleration of 100% Renewable Electricity Goal

Media Contacts
Elizabeth Nickerson

The California Voices for 100% Project highlights prominent individuals from across the state who favor a smooth, and speedy transition to renewables in the next ten years.

Environment California Research and Policy Center

Sacramento, Calif. — Today Environment California Research and Policy Center launched the California Voices for 100% Project, highlighting 40 prominent California leaders, legislators, and academics who are calling to accelerate the state’s renewable electricity goal. The project launches ahead of the California Energy Commission’s Thursday meeting on SB100 — the 2018 law that commits California to acquiring all its electricity from clean, renewable sources by 2045. By law the California Energy Commission needs to send a report to the legislature by Jan. 1, 2021 on the state’s progress to date on meeting our renewable energy targets, and alternative scenarios for meeting the 100% renewable energy target ahead of schedule.

The “California Voices for 100%” include State Senator Toni Atkins, Dr. Dan Kammen of the Energy Resources group at UC Berkeley, and State Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, and others.

The call comes after a difficult year of raging wildfires, record-breaking temperatures, and hazardous air quality that have generated a new sense of urgency around tackling climate change. Governor Newsom himself stated during a press conference in August, “I think 2045 is too late,” a sentiment echoed by forty California leaders.

“We’ve got to act now to avoid a repeat of this year. If we fail to act on climate and reduce our emissions we can expect a more aggressive fire season, rising temperatures, and drying climates. Luckily, we have the chance to fight global warming, keep greenhouse gases out of the air, and protect Californians,” said Elizabeth Nickerson, Clean Energy Associate for Environment California Research and Policy Center. “These California leaders understand the importance of achieving carbon-free electricity by 2030.”

California has enjoyed explosive growth in renewable energy over the past decade and the cost of solar, wind, and battery storage continues to fall with further innovation. A Lawrence Laboratory report found that our state could achieve a carbon-free power sector by 2030 with little additional stress on financial resources. 

“Science knows. This is a climate emergency. And this is the decade that will decide our fate,” said state senator Henry Stern (Los Angeles). “If we’re going to survive a future of injustice and disaster, California must supercharge our efforts to get to 100% renewable energy by 2030 among many other climate solutions that may feel like moonshot aspirations but in fact, are must dos. If not us, who? If not now, when?”

“California has the opportunity to cement its status as a climate leader by setting an even more ambitious 100% renewable electricity goal. We have the technology, and now we have the support,” Nickerson said. “We need 100% renewable electricity in the next ten years, and the state should make this happen.”

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Environment California Research and Policy Center is dedicated to protecting our air, water and open spaces. We work to protect the places we love, advance the environmental values we share, and win real results for our environment.