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Shedding Light on the Energy Crisis:

More Renewable Energy for California

Global warming is the most difficult environmental problem of our time. Our persistent use of fossil fuels, the biggest creators of greenhouse gasses that contribute to warming, shows no sign of slowing down. California currently ranks sixth in the world for global warming contributions, one notch above industrial Germany and slightly lower than India—a country with a population of over a billion. As the effects of global warming intensify, California has at stake everything from increases in health problems like asthma and lung disease to scarcity of water due to major climate changes. Senate Bill 1478 (Sher) addresses the global warming problem by speeding up the switchover to and increasing the amount of renewable energy used in California.

While cars contribute greatly to global warming, electricity supplied from natural gas significantly adds to carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions—the main global warming gas. Transitioning to cleaner sources of energy will help curtail global warming by dramatically reducing CO₂ emissions. Moreover, investing more in renewable energy will stimulate the economy by creating new jobs and putting California at the forefront of the rapidly growing clean energy industry. One of the biggest lessons learned from the Enron-exacerbated energy crisis is that California cannot afford to be dependent on out-of-state gas companies. By switching to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and geothermal, California moves toward self-sufficiency.

Currently, over 90 percent of California's energy comes from environmentally degrading sources that result in air and water pollution, global warming, and toxins in our communities. However, California has an abundance of sunshine, wind, and geothermal energy that easily could be harnessed to provide clean, renewable power. Under current law, the "Renewable Portfolio Standard" (RPS) mandates that California achieve 20 percent renewable electricity by 2017, with 17 percent by 2006. SB 1478 would raise the bar by advancing the deadline of 20 percent renewable energy to 2010. The Governor has already stated his support for "20 percent by 2010" and has even proposed 33 percent by 2020.

California has a history of setting trends for environmental standards. Let's not miss out on the opportunity to lead the way with renewable energy.

What You Can Do

SB 1478 provides a major opportunity to address the underlying problem of energy supply in California. The bill has passed through the Senate and is now being heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee. Please contact your Assembly Member and encourage him or her to support SB 1478 in committee and on the Assembly floor. Also, ask the Governor to support the bill by encouraging fellow Republicans to vote for it and by signing the bill when it reaches his desk.

See our sample letters for the Governor and your Assembly Member!

Your Assembly Member
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814

To find your Assembly Member's contact information, see the Assembly web site and click on "Find My District."