Earlier today, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered that one third of the state's electricity come from renewable resources by 2020.

You may recall yesterday, when the governor threatened to veto a bill that would accomplish the same goal, but would have required solar thermal plants to jump through more regulatory hurdles before construction could begin. The governor's plan also allows power companies to get more of their renewables from outside the state.

The new plan puts California's Air Resources Board in charge of implementing the new renewables standard. Guidelines for the plan are expected next summer.

And here on the east coast, the state of Maryland now seems to be actively pursuing offshore wind with the launch of a new impact study.

According to state energy administrator Malcolm Woolf, an offshore wind farm could help the state fulfill its goal of 20 percent renewables by 2022.

Nearby in Delaware, a 230-megawatt offshore wind farm off Rehoboth Beach is expected to go online in 2012.

Jeff