LOS ANGELES — California is not only fighting to protect its legacy of sweeping environmental protection, but also holding itself out as a model to other states — and to nations — on how to fight climate change.
The price of solar cells, for example, plummeted in recent years, allowing states like California — a role model for climate policy at the state level — to substantially increase investment in that technology.
Other major factors that will keep driving the change to renewable energy are the plummeting price of solar and wind power across the country — a recent study from financial advisory firm Lazard found both to be cheaper in most circumstances than new coal-fired generation — and lifestyle benefits associated with it.
The Golden State has soaked up enough rays to generate 67.2 per cent of its energy from renewable sources last month, smashing previous records. When combining California’s largest grid with hydropower facilities, renewable energy rose even further to 80.7 per cent of total energy generation on 13 May.
Wetter weather and continued growth in renewable energy sources resulted in some big changes in electricity generation in California in 2016, according to numbers recently released by the California Energy Commission.
Natural gas still accounted for the largest single share of in-state power generation but the amount deployed dropped 10% last year.
The argument that renewables will inherently destabilize the grid is nonsense, nothing more than a reflexive objection from those who see their fossil fuel investments dwindling.
Citing fears the federal government may weaken environmental protections, the California state Senate on Tuesday passed a “Preserve California” package of bills.
The three bills keep in place President Barack Obama-era federal environmental regulations, discourage the sale of federal public land without the state’s permission and safeguard federal whistleblowers authorized to work in California. Los Angeles-area Democrats wrote all three bills, which were met by opposition from Republicans at every step.
Legislation introduced that would require state agencies in Illinois to enforce environmental standards adopted under the Obama Administration, if those standards are rolled back under Trump is nearly identical to one advancing in the California legislature.
The Illinois bill, HB 1438, co-sponsored by Rep. Katie Stuart (D-Collinsville), is nearly identical to one that cleared the California Senate with a substantial majority in late May. California’s SB 49 could reach the floor in the Assembly by late September.
California's unique authority to set tougher air quality standards than the federal government isn't being targeted right now, according to Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt.
“Currently the waiver is not under review," Pruitt said Thursday.
The comment, made during a Capitol Hill hearing, could deescalate what appeared to be a brewing battle between California and President Trump's administration.
The head of President Trump's Environmental Protection Agency may not be prepared to battle California over air regulations, but the man who led Trump's transition team for the department is ready.
Myron Ebell, who works at the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington and helped devise Trump's environmental agenda, said California should not be allowed to set its own standards for greenhouse gas emissions from vehicle tailpipes.