Recent legislation in California has set a State goal of obtaining all of its electricity from clean sources by 2045, the UNEP climate action programme reported in February.
The new bill – SB 584 – was introduced by state Senate leader Kevin de León, and would see California accelerate the 50 per cent target by five years to 2025, and cease using fossil fuels completely by 2045.
In 2016, the Golden State acquired 27 per cent of its electricity needs from clean energy sources, including wind and solar. Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric Company have reportedly sourced 24-35 per cent of their electricity from renewables in 2015, and are on track to meet 41-45 per cent of their power needs from renewable sources by 2020.
Less than two weeks earlier, in mid-February, legislators in Massachusetts also committed the state to meet all of its energy needs from renewables by 2050.