As I discussed in an earlier post, the idea of a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) was a good one -- but getting to the 20% renewable energy target (that is 20% of the State's electricity consumption is to come from renewable sources like wind, solar or geothermal) by 2010 is proving to be a tough challenge. In a meeting with top California government officials this week, those gathered learned that among the top concerns on the energy front this coming year will be trying to secure the 2010 goal.
But how will we get there if the renewable resources are found far from the centers of consumption? That's easy, we'll build transmission, right? Well, there is opposition to new transmission. Interestingly, much of that opposition often comes from the same folks who advocated for the renewable, affordable energy in the first place. Yes, the same folks who fight the projects that could get them what they asked for in the first instance may be the folks who actually keep the state from reaching the 20% renewable goals that they themselves fought for!
Back to 20 % RPS. Can we get there by 2010? Perhaps in some parts of the state we will -- but in others we might fall short. Not because we ignored the mandate, but because a handful of people armed with emotional arguments failed to see the folly of their arguments. So, if we are to make it -- the voices of reason (in the government ranks) will have to speak up to get us back on track.
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