California aims to be carbon-free in 25 years

It will not surprise many to learn that California is leading the way on solar energy. If California was an independent country, it would have the world's fifth largest economy. The state is planning to join Hawaii in going carbon-free by 2045 thanks to a landmark bill to eliminate electricity from fossil fuels in favor of renewable energy. All that remains is Governor Jerry Brown's signature on the bill. The push to fast-track the state's clean energy trajectory lines up with real-world climate change concerns. California is currently experiencing longer and deadlier wildfire seasons exacerbated by climate change even as the Trump administration cuts federal programs for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants, cars, and trucks that contribute to global warming. The administration is even trotting out "clean coal" as a solution to our energy problems. Could there be a more ignorant and dangerous energy policy? As groundbreaking as SB 100 would be, the transformation to green energy wouldn't be a big improvement for California for several reasons, says Laura Wisland, a senior energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The state is already close to meeting 2020 goals

The state is already close to meeting its first target to increase its renewable energy portfolio to 33 percent by 2020, in line with state law SB 350, Wisland says. Another climate law, SB 32, requires California to limit statewide greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. Some of this shift will happen naturally as older power plants retire, Wisland says.

In 2017, about a third of California's electricity came from renewable energy sources, almost triple the amount from 2007. Meanwhile, natural gas and coal made up 34 and 4 percent of California's electric generation in 2017, down from about 45 and 18 percent in 2007.

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Already, new solar and wind-powered projects are beginning to outbid new natural gas plants, says Mark Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University. The kilowatt-hour price of power from new onshore wind and hydroelectric facilities is less than from new conventional energy sources, according to Jacobson. Considering externalities from fossil-fuel derived energy, including health effects from air pollution that harms human health and the environment, and solar energy becomes more affordable in the long term. The Solutions Project, which Jacobson is a part of, provides a carefully laid out plan for California to achieve 100 percent renewable energy by 2050 using a mix that’s about 55 percent solar, 35 percent wind, 5 percent geothermal, and 4.5 hydroelectric.

Climate goals too severe for some climate skeptics

However, some energy experts disagree that aiming for a 100 percent renewable energy portfolio is the most cost-effective path going forward. One problem is the availability of solar or wind power. These often vary by time of day. Since long-term battery storage and extensive transmission networks for moving electricity across large distances aren't financially feasible yet,  natural gas plants with may remain necessary to supplement renewable energy sources. California currently gets about nine percent of its energy from its remaining nuclear power plant, Diablo Canyon. However, it's unlikely that California will be expanding its nuclear energy footprint. Diablo Canyon is set to close in 2025 and a state law prohibits the construction of new nuclear plants until the government finds a way to safely store the radioactive spent fuel. Indeed, the dangers of nuclear power are only beginning to be understood by the masses. That's why SB 100 gives California flexibility around how it will reach 60 percent renewable energy and become 100 percent carbon-free, Wisland says. For one thing, there are bound to be improvements and new technologies between now and 2045. In fact, there are new technologies that are making solar more affordable and efficient.

The way to do your part to solve the overall problem is to install solar!

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