Climate Action

Protect and Advocate

WHAT ARE CALIFORNIA’S CLEAN ENERGY AND AIR GOALS?

In 2018, California passed the 100% Clean Energy Act (SB 100) establishing a policy requiring 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2045. In 2015, California passed the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act (SB 350) requiring a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Together, these important pieces of legislation make up California’s forward-looking clean energy and clean air goals. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and companies that make and sell electricity play a vital role in achieving these progressive goals.

WHAT ROLE DO ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS HAVE IN ACHIEVING CALIFORNIA’S CLEAN ENERGY AND AIR GOALS?

All retail sellers of electricity in California (Investor-Owned, Publicly-Owned, Community Choice Aggregators and Electric Service Providers) including San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), are required to replace fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) with increasing amounts of eligible renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, small hydro, renewable methane, etc.) when making electricity sold to retail customers like homes and businesses. This is referred to as California’s “Renewable Portfolio Standard” or more increasingly its “Clean Energy Standard.” SB 100 requires that an increasing amount of the electricity generated by retail sellers must be generated from renewable and zero-carbon sources. Specifically, SB 100 increases the amount of renewable and carbon-free electricity in the retail sellers’ portfolios to 50% by 2025, 60% by 2030 and 100% by 2045. Electricity generated without fossil fuels will help California achieve its clean energy goals.

WHAT OTHER ROLES DO ELECTRICITY PROVIDERS HAVE IN ACHEIVING CALIFORNIA’S CLEAN ENERGY AND AIR GOALS?

The California Legislature determined that electrification of the transportation sector could reduce GHG emissions by 70 percent and ozone-forming air pollutants by 85 percent. [1] SB 350 established transportation electrification (TE) as a critical component of the State’s GHG reduction strategies and mandated the CPUC to direct investor-owned utilities like SDG&E to file applications for programs and investments to accelerate widespread transportation electrification. SDG&E has filed several applications to install electric vehicle service equipment (charging stations) throughout its territory. TE, fueled by clean electricity, will help California achieve its clean air goals.

WHAT ROLE DOES UCAN HAVE IN ACHIEVING CALIFORNIA’S CLEAN ENERGY AND AIR GOALS?

UCAN’s role since 1983 has always been to advocate for safe, reliable, and affordable electricity. In more recent years, UCAN has been supportive of California and the Public Utilities Commission’s strategies, policies and proposals for a clean electricity standard and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, ratepayers cannot bear an unfair share of the cost to achieve these clean energy and air goals. As intervenors, UCAN plays a significant role in reviewing SDG&E’s applications submitted to the CPUC. UCAN helps ensure that as SDG&E helps California achieve its clean energy and air goals, it maintains reasonable customer rates as well as safe and reliable electric service. This is not easy as SDG&E already has the highest rates in the state. UCAN works to ensure that ratepayers benefit from and do not bear an unfair portion of the costs for the state’s clean energy transition.

[1] See Transportation Electrification Framework, Energy Division Staff Proposal, issued February 3, 2020, p. 9, fn. 7.