SB 722: Renewable Portfolio Standards Bill

No. of Jobs

20,000

Category

Expanding jobs in the new economy

Proposal

Increasing California’s usage of renewable energy.

Summary

This enacts a 33 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) target by 2020 that supports and promotes green jobs in California.

Background

Last year, the Legislature passed SB 14 (Simitian/Steinberg) and AB 64 (Krekorian) establishing a 33 percent RPS for public and private utilities. The legislation was supported by a broad coalition of energy providers, environmentalists and labor organizations as a realistic target to help create jobs and promote development of renewable energy sources.

The target of a 33 percent RPS by 2020 is estimated to create 20,000 jobs, according to the University of California Center for Energy, Resources and Economic Sustainability.

The Governor vetoed the bill but pledged to work with the Legislature to pass a bill this year.

Read the Bill