Key Legislative Committee Passes Landmark 100% Clean Electricity Bill
Media Contacts
Environment California
The California Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy voted today to pass the landmark Senate Bill 100 (De León), which will ensure that California generates 100 percent of its electricity from renewable and zero-carbon sources by 2045.
“On this Fourth of July, as we sing about beautiful, spacious skies, let’s commend the Committee on its visionary decision to clear those skies and power California’s future with 100 percent clean electricity,” said Michelle Kinman, clean energy and transportation program director with Environment California. “We applaud Chair Chris Holden and the Committee for acting to create healthier communities today and better lives for our children.”
Scientists agree that we must stop burning virtually all fossil fuels by mid-century to spare children growing up today from the devastating impacts of climate change.
Over the past year, the world has seen many extreme weather events, from the hurricanes striking Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico to unusually devastating floods during the monsoon season in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Here in California, we all witnessed deadly wildfires burning more than one million acres, killing dozens of people and causing more than 200,000 people to evacuate their homes. And climate scientists warn that even greater impacts are yet to come.
Senate Bill 100 will accelerate California’s current mandate to achieve 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by four years, from 2030 to 2026. It will also establish state benchmarks of 60 percent renewable electricity by 2030 and 100 percent zero-carbon and renewable electricity by 2045.
SB 100 will now move to the full California Assembly for consideration.
“We know there’s no time to waste in moving to reduce pollution and complete the shift to 100 percent clean energy,” said Kinman. “We urge the full Assembly to act quickly to pass SB 100 into law.”