Assemblyman Paul Krekorian (D-Burbank) said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s executive order altering terms of the renewable energy package that just passed the California legislature is “window dressing.” Krekorian authored AB 64 and helped put together the renewable energy initiative.
“This executive order adds nothing to getting us to our goal of liberating us from our over-dependence on carbon-emitting fossil fuels, improving our air quality, reducing fuel price volatility, and creating a vibrant and growing source of jobs, innovation and economic vitality in California,” the assemblyman said at a press conference today. “The hope for real solutions was encompassed in AB 64, SB 14 and the slate of renewable bills the Legislature passed last week, not window dressing solutions. I am hopeful we can still reach a compromise, but on the strength of this executive order, we won’t be getting to 33 percent by 2020.”
Schwarzenegger criticized the bills as too protectionist because they restrict out-of-state and other sources of renewable energy. According to the LA Times (September 16),
The governor objected particularly to a provision that would limit utilities from using credits purchased from out-of-state wind and solar projects to cover more than 30% of their renewable obligations.
The proposed limit, labor unions and ratepayer advocates insist, is needed to ensure that the bulk of renewable projects are built and operated in California, providing high-paying jobs.
Krekorian was joined by environmental activists Darrel Clarke, chair of the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter and Faramarz Nabavi, deputy director of the California Wind Energy Association.
Navabi’s statement: “It is crucial to California’s renewable energy future that these bills become law this year. Without a statute to give clear authority to the agencies, any dissatisfied party will have plenty of grounds to litigate, causing further delays and possibly derailing the whole program. Furthermore, investors will continue to face great uncertainty about the future rules of California’s renewable energy market and thus focus their efforts elsewhere. California has fallen out of the top dozen states in the amount of new wind energy installed last year, in part because previous bills to raise the RPS had not passed. The legislature successfully put together a bipartisan package this year and I urge the government not to veto these bills and make 33% law today.”