Proposition 7 would require California utilities to procure half of their power from renewable resources by 2025. In order to make that goal, levels of production of solar, wind and other renewable energy resources will more than quadruple from their current output of 10.9%. It will also require California utilities to increase their purchase of electricity generated from renewable resources by 2% annually to meet Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirements of 40% in 2020 and 50% in 2025.
lbpost.com columnists Daniel Brezenoff and Dennis C. Smith weigh in on Prop 7, below.
Daniel Brezenoff
What it does: Mandates the use of more “renewable” energy by utility companies
Pros: Would reduce greenhouse gases to some degree, and encourage some wider use of solar and wind power.
Cons: Probably favors larger businesses. Views natural gas as a greener energy source than it actually is. Doesn’t do enough to assist solar and wind power producers. Centralizes too much, instead of decentralizing, which is far greener.
How I’m voting: I’m on the fence, leaning no.
We need green energy. California ought to be the world leader in alternative energy production and green industries. But if we spend millions on the wrong approach, the right approach becomes harder.
I am suspicious of the opposition to this bill, coming as it does in large part from the big electricity producers and the major political parties. On the other hand, there are also a gaggle of environmental groups opposing prop 7, and very few significant supporters. My party, the Green Party, opposes it.
We’ve waited too long for a real alternative energy plan state, but I’d rather wait a bit longer than hitch my wagon to the wrong train.
Will it pass? No.
Trivia: Sustainability in a nutshell – How long before natural gas reserves run out? Perhaps a century. How long before the sun explodes? About 5 billion years.
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Dennis C. Smith
Prop 7: Renewable Energy Generation. Initiative Statute. Requires government owned utilities to generate 20% of their electricity from renewable energy by 2010. Levels rise to 40% by 2020 and 50% by 2025. So if they cannot increase their levels of renewable energy generation to meet the threshold for current energy generation they drop their total energy generation to meet the threshold. Our electricity prices skyrocket due to reduced supply and the higher cost of importing electricity from neighboring states where the proposition will not be in effect. My bureaucracy, more costs to the consumer, less business for the State of California and more for Arizona and Nevada. My vote is No on Prop 7.