California is now the second US state mandating transition to 100 percent clean energy by 2045. Hawaii is the first state to commit in emission-free energy sources.
According to a report from CBS, the California Assembly passed S.B. 100, the proposal to move the state to 100 percent clean electricity sources in less than 30 years.
The bill passed with 43 to 32 votes, as climateassessment.ca.gov released a detailed report exposing future effects of climate change. The report found that California could lose up to two-thirds of its beaches and a comparable amount of the state’s water supply. Additionally, summer heat would rise to 5 to 8 degrees Fahrenheit, and yearly wildfires would soar up to 75%.
The majority of residents in California agrees to the bill. About 72 percent thinks moving to 100 percent energy is a good step. However, the minority, including some businesses and utilities aren’t in favor due to job-related concerns.
Currently, California acquires only one-third of the state’s energy from solar, wind and geothermal sources. The information from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, also found that the other 9 percent of the nation’s largest state come from nuclear plants. While 49 percent of California’s energy source is natural gas, which is a “cleaner” fossil fuel.
Supporters of the bill, such as Dan Jacobson, Environment California’s state director believes that the state, which is also the world’s fifth-largest economy, would set an example for the rest of the nation to utilize other sources of electricity besides fossil fuel.
In 2017, Hawaii was the first US State that committed to 100 percent emission-free energy.
