The proposal by state Sen. Jim Nielsen and Assemblyman James Gallagher to pause implementation of California’s landmark 100% clean energy law is the opposite of what California lawmakers should be doing right now, said Ceres State Policy Manager Jennifer Helfrich.
“As the fierce wildfires engulfing our state remind us, the need to combat climate change is urgent,” Helfrich added. “Climate change has exacerbated these fires, making them more frequent and more destructive. Transitioning to clean energy is a critical part of the solution to mitigate the impacts of climate change and prevent wildfires, droughts and floods from getting worse.”
California legislators approved SB 100, which set a target for the state to receive 60% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 and 100% from zero-carbon sources by 2045, in a bipartisan vote last year. SB100 also saw broad, cross-sector support from 28 major companies with operations in California and 20 large investors who partner with Ceres.
“The faster we move to wean ourselves off of greenhouse gas-producing fossil fuels, the more likely our prospects of preventing the worst effects of climate change,” Helfrich continued. Moreover, clean resources such as renewables and energy efficiency are the cheapest form of energy and represent a cost-savings opportunity. Halting implementation of SB 100 has the potential to increase costs for PG&E by slowing its investment in the cheapest and cleanest forms of energy.