The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has instituted a standard that mandates that 33% of the power electric utilities and electricity providers sell to their customers come from renewable energy sources by 2020.
The regulation is the product of coordination and cooperation by CARB, California Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission and the California Independent System Operator.
Work on the standard began immediately following the governor's Renewable Electricity Standard Executive Order, signed on Sept. 15, 2009.
The goal of 33% renewable electricity was also a major measure in the Scoping Plan, adopted by CARB in December 2008 toward fulfilling A.B. 32, the requirements of California's climate change legislation.
According to CARB, the regulation ramps up the amount of electricity from wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable sources of energy while preserving the existing authorities of the energy agencies and the grid operation.
The regulation applies to all entities that deliver electricity, including investor-owned utilities, publicly – owned utilities and municipal utilities.
The phased-in approach provides interim targets for renewable energy: 20% in 2012 to 2014; 24% in 2015 to 2017; 28% in 2018 to 2019 and 33% for 2020.
SOURCE: California Air Resources Board
