California takes major step toward 100 per cent clean energy use

The state is pushing to rely only on clean energy sources, like wind power ( REUTERS )

California has taken a big step towards a sustainable energy future with the approval of a bill that will require the state to run 100 per cent on renewable energy sources.

The bill still needs approval in the state Senate and the signature of Governor Jerry Brown, but it would require the state to shift to all clean energy sources by 2045, boosting the local wind and solar energy economies.

The legislation marks an ambitious goal for a state that has led the climate change charge in the wake of President Donald Trump’s decision to pull the US out of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

A provision in the bill being considered would also require the state’s utilities to shift their current energy portfolio to rely on clean energies for 60 per cent of their output by 2030. The current goal for utilities is 50 per cent by 2030.

The effort to convert to clean energy sources has been a point of major contention in the state for years, drawing criticism from Republicans who say that a transition is not feasible and would lead to a spike in energy prices.

In spite of that opposition, California has led the charge in the United States to address the dangers posed by climate change since Mr Trump announced that the country would withdraw from the Paris Climate Change Accord last year.

In addition to the new goal to rely only on clean energy, Mr Brown and his government have set out other ambitious goals including increasing the number of electric cars on the road, and legislation that requires new homes in the state to be equipped with solar panels.

Those efforts have had a noticeable impact, with state officials saying that they had reached carbon emission levels under the rate of emissions in 1990 even though the state economy has been growing.

The stakes are high in the state, as well, with a recent report indicating that the state is on course to experience devastating impacts from climate change, including an erosion of two-thirds of its coastline, thousands of premature deaths, and major heat waves that will pound the state.