Then back to the AB32 debate because we’re in agreement that a funding of research and subsidies to the renewable sector is in our Nation’s strategic best interest.
AB32, however is about forcing the transition to the technology now. Primarily through penalizing the lower cost solutions.
Are you reducing your electricity consumption by 40%? That’s one of the assumptions of AB32, that the goals can be met by consumers reducing their demand through purchasing higher efficiency items.
Here is California’s energy consumption:
[img_assist|nid=14080|title=California Energy Sources|desc=California Energy Sources|link=node|align=left|width=466|height=200]
And the detail breakdown on renewables for Electricity:
Fuel Type>
In-State Generation (GWh)
Percent of California In-State Power
Northwest Imports
Southwest Imports
Total System Power
Coal
3,735
1.8%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Large Hydro
25,094
12.2%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Natural Gas
116,716
56.7%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Nuclear
31,509
15.3%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Oil
67
0.0%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Other
7
0.0%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Renewables subtotal
28,567
13.9%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Biomass
5,685
2.8%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Geothermal
12,907
6.3%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Small Hydro
4,181
2.0%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Solar
846
0.4%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Wind
4,949
2.4%
N/A
N/A
N/A
Total
205,695
100.0%
19,929
71,201
296,827
Looking at renewables, you can see the near term challenges of growing it to a substantial supply. BTW, 2020 for primary grid is very very near term.
