Dive Brief:
- Half of California's power supply can come from renewables “without any real problem,” according to California Public Utilities Commission President Michael Peevey. “I see this as a strategy for reducing greenhouse gases, the greatest challenge to this state and the world.”
- Dealing with the retirement of the 2,200-MW San Onofre nuclear plant is one of the largest issues on the PUC's agenda for 2014, Peevey said. The PUC must decide of Southern California Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric should be allowed to recover all their investments in the plant.
Dive Insight:
50% renewables? A few years ago that would have been laughable. But Peevey, former SoCal Ed president, has been head of the PUC since 2002, so when he talks, people listen. California's renewable portfolio standard (RPS) climbs to 33% by 2020 and utilities are on track to meeting the target ahead of schedule.
State lawmakers are already talking about expanding the RPS to higher levels, partly to help California meet its aggressive targets for cutting carbon emissions. The California Legislature will likely take up the issue in 2014. Whether or not California sets a 50% RPS target, the trajectory is clearly up.
