took gov davis long enough! about bloody time!

[Guest guest]

USA: March 20, 2002

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO - In his ongoing campaign to keep the lights from flickering off

again in California, Gov. Gray Davis endorsed new legislation aimed at nearly

doubling the amount of electricity produced through renewable energy in the

nation's most populous state.

 

 

The state Senate bill would require California's three investor-owned utilities

to increase their renewable energy output to 20 percent by 2010 - a step that

would also help avoid a repeat of last year's crippling energy crisis.

Energy from the wind, sun, water and other such sustainable sources currently

provides about 12 percent of the state's electricity supply - more than any

other state, the governor noted.

 

" California has long been the nation's leader in renewable energy, " Davis said.

" This legislation will continue that tradition of ensuring that renewables are a

critical part of our energy future. "

 

Davis' endorsement comes as the Democrat seeks to shore up his energy

credentials for a reelection battle following a costly power crisis that brought

days of rolling blackouts and pushed Pacific Gas & Electric Co., the state's

biggest investor-owned utility, into bankruptcy protection last April.

 

The governor also said aggressively boosting the world's fifth biggest economy's

reliance on alternative energy would spur an $11 billion economic development

windfall in the form of new jobs and in-state spending.

 

He added the legislation would reduce pollution, the emission of greenhouse

gases, as well as electricity market volatility by easing California's

dependence on natural gas.

 

 

 

REUTERS NEWS SERVICE