Jerry Brown pledges 20,000MW more clean energy in California

Former governor and former Mayor of Oakland, as well as three-time presidential hopeful, Jerry Brown is seeking to return as California Governor with a clean energy agenda

California’s Attorney General, Jerry Brown, has promised to set targets to build 20,000 megawatts of new renewable energy generating capacity by 2020, if state voters re-appoint him as state governor.

Mr Brown, who was Governor of California during the late 1970s and early 80s, set out a Clean Energy Plan yesterday that he said could create more than half a million “green” jobs.

The plan aims to build 12,000 megawatts of localized electricity generation facilities along with 8,000MW of large-scale renewable energy plants.

Necessary transmission infrastructure would also be put in place.

The proposals also include energy storage systems to help manage California’s peak energy requirements, while energy efficiency standards would be adopted and steps would be put in place to require new homes and commercial buildings to have a net zero energy footprint.

The state Attorney General also said 6,500MW combined heat and power capacity would be developed, to provide more efficient energy.

As context for the 20,000MW goal, California’s highest peak demand for electricity in high summer is about 52,000MW. According to 2007 data, the state had the capacity to generate 15,774MW of renewable energy in high summer, 24.7% of its requirements.

Jobs

Speaking to technology executives in Silicon Valley on Tuesday, the Democrat Party candidate for governor said investments in clean energy produce “two to three times as many jobs per dollar” compared to gas, oil or coal investments.

Mr Brown said: “Dollars invested in clean energy tend to stay in California, instead of going to other states or other countries. Clean energy jobs and businesses have grown much faster than the economy as a whole in the past 15 years, and have continued to grow even during the economic downturn.”

Once the world leader in wind energy generation, California has since been overtaken by states like Iowa and Texas, while China has become the “global leader”, according to Mr Brown.

But he said the state could produce “at least” 1.3 million megawatts of renewable energy, 22 times current electricity capacity.

“Over the next decade, the market for renewable energy will triple to more than $2 trillion,” Mr Brown said. “California must be at the forefront of this 21st Century economic engine. We led the way once, and I know how to put California first again.”

California must be at the forefront of this 21st Century economic engine” - Jerry Brown

Improvements

Within Mr Brown’s plan, the time it takes to award permits for new transmission projects would be “dramatically reduced” to no longer than three years.

The state and utilities would help local governments, businesses and homeowners to finance the upfront costs of energy efficiency improvements.

Mr Brown also intends to appoint a single “renewable energy czar” to drive progress.

“The transition to clean energy is vital not only to our environment, but to our economic future as well,” Mr Brown said. “The next Governor has to be focused and totally committed to capturing the innovation and the growth that will come with clean energy. I will designate one person, directly accountable to the governor, who will be responsible for ensuring that all energy job goals and deadlines are met.”

California is already seeking to source 33% of its electricity from renewable energy projects by 2020.