There is no standard renewable energy goal for the United States as of yet.
But individual states are creating standards of their own.
California is the leading state in renewable energy, home to many solar projects and to Governor Jerry Brown.
Well, Governor Brown is back in office again this year, and he has some plans for renewables.
According to California’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), the state is aiming to raise its renewable energy use to 33% by 2020.
The last RPS goal of the state was missed, according to Reuters, when renewable energy was at 18% in 2010, falling short of the 20% goal.
But now Governor Brown has returned with his mind set on renewable energy, and he is hoping that, as California has one of the largest economies, this will be feasible.
Hawaii has announced its goal of 40% by 2030, according to Reuters.
Brown believes this is a realistic venture, and that with some energy conservation renewable energy output could reach the height of 40%.
He even likes the sound of it for California.
In his estimate, this sort of increase in renewable energy could create as many as 500,000 jobs. It’s a huge venture, and there are employment possibilities in many related fields.
As California’s Public Utilities Commission President Michael Peevey told Reuters, “I think the state can go to 40% renewables by 2020, because it’s a function of reducing your demand through energy efficiency and increasing your supply of renewables.”
Though he acknowledged that cost would certainly be a factor.
Solar and other renewable costs have been decreasing, but there is still a great deal of technology to be developed in the field before the decrease is significant.
Environmentalists, though liking the sound of cleaner energy, aren’t quite so gung-ho on the idea of more wind farms and power plants.
These kinds of construction projects take away from the natural environment and cause harm to the California ecosystem, they argue.
But you have to take the good with the bad. More reliance on clean energy would reduce carbon emissions, something that can also harm ecosystems.
Although the U.S. government has not set a standard for renewable energy consumption, they have created the SunShot Initiative, the goal to one day make renewable energy competitive with other energy sources.
California is on its way to doing this.
That’s all for now,
Brianna
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