By the year 2020 California Gov.Arnold Schwarzenegger has promised to convert at least 33 percent of California’s electricity requirements from renewable sources. This was committed through an executive order signed on Monday.
This announcement was made by Schwarzenegger in a speech addressed by him at a Sacramento solar panel factory. California’s renewable energy mandate is the most aggressive one yet with the order placing renewable energy requirement at 33% by the year 2020.
Just three days ago, a landmark order was passed by Schwarzenegger asking states to be prepared to face rising sea levels due to global warming. A lot of changes in the existing policies are required to support Schwarzenegger’s aggressive measures.
There was opposition from voters in California against Proposition 7 which proposes to improve standards of renewable energy. This proposition was vociferously opposed even by environmentalists as it will affect power providers and small providers.
A legislative language codifying the renewable energy standards will require everyone including private, public and all utilities to work towards achieving the 33 percent target. The RPS program in California will also be eligible to generate renewal energy from Western states according to the executive order.
The Optisolar plant in Sacramento will start production of solar panels in the year 2009. This plant was visited by the Governor where he made the announcement. This plant will be North America’s largest photovoltaic solar panel manufacturing unit which will be spread over one million square feet.
