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Pacific Environment Applauds California’s Decision to Reject Fossil Fuels
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - After determining that the existing electricity supply can meet the state’s system needs through the year 2020, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted unanimously today to defer any new procurement of fossil fuel generation. This ruling establishes for most of the state, that California’s long-term energy needs do not require building more fossil fuel infrastructure, which contributes to global warming.
“What this decision is really about is our society saying no to dirty fossil fuels, and yes to clean energy,” said Alex Levinson, Executive Director of Pacific Environment. “The decision affirms California’s critical leadership in building the clean energy economy of the future.”
The CPUC decision found there is clear evidence that “additional generation is not needed by 2020.” The decision further explains that “[w]hile the focus of this proceeding extends out to 2020, it is important to note that the record similarly does not support a finding of need for additional generation beyond 2020. Accordingly, it is also reasonable to defer procurement of generation for any estimated need after 2020.”
“This is a real opportunity to bring about a just energy system,” said Shana Lazerow, an attorney with Communities for a Better Environment, a party to the proceeding. “This ruling should mean our communities can focus on green jobs that come with building local, sustainable generation, and not have to fend off proposals for new, dirty plants.”
The Commission ordered a new analysis of the state’s long-term energy needs, with an emphasis on meeting the goal of generating one third of the electrical supply from renewable sources and by prioritizing energy efficiency and demand response, resources that lower demand. State law requires that 33 percent of California’s electricity must come from renewables by the year 2020.
In early March Pacific Environment released the Bay Area Smart Energy 2020 Report detailing how the Bay Area can achieve these goals. You can download the full report or the executive summary on our website.
The entire CPUC order is available at: http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PUBLISHED/AGENDA_DECISION/164031.htm
For more information please contact:
Deborah Behles, Golden Gate University School of Law, Environmental Law and
Justice Clinic, 415-369-5336, dbehles@ggu.edu
Shana Lazerow, Communities for a Better Environment, 510-302-0430 ext.18,
Will Rostov, Earthjustice, 415-217-2000, wrostov@earthjustice.org
Jim Metropulos, Sierra Club California, 916-557-1100 ext. 109,
