State Programs & Research

California Energy Commission: Renewable Energy Programs
Learn about the California Energy Commission’s efforts to help increase total renewable electricity production statewide.

California Clean Energy Future
Learn about how the California Air Resources Board, California Public Utilities Commission, California Energy Commission, and California Environmental Protection Agency are partnering with the California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) to ensure California's continued leadership in clean technology over the coming decade.

California Public Utilities Commission: RPS
Information on California's Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS), one of the most ambitious renewable energy standards in the country. The RPS program requires investor-owned utilities, electric service providers, and community choice aggregators to increase procurement from eligible renewable energy resources by at least 1% of their retail sales annually, until they reach 20% by 2010.

California Public Utilities Commission: 33% Renewables
Learn about the state’s efforts to procure 33 % of its energy from eligible renewable energy resources.

Clean, Renewable Energy

California leads the nation in clean energy leadership and performance. The state also ranks first in clean energy businesses.

Read on to learn about my package of legislation to increase access to clean, renewable energy and help California reach its energy and renewable energy goals.

-- Senator Wolk

Wolk Legislation

Senate Bill 489—Renewable Energy Equity Act: This new law enables all eligible renewable energy types, including biomass and biogas, to utilize California’s Net Energy Metering program, which allows customers to offset some of their power usage with the energy they generate on site.

Click here to learn more.

Senate Bill 618—Williamson Act, Solar: This new law strives to balance the competing needs of large-scale solar development with the need to protect critical California habitat and farmland by offering incentives to encourage new solar facility developments on lands that are less suited for agricultural use or have lower habitat value.

Click here to learn more.

Senate Bill 843—Off-Site Solar: This measure would establish an innovative new program that allows local governments, businesses, residents, and schools to invest in cost-effective, clean renewable energy and create local jobs. The bill allows all customers of Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs) to choose to get a portion of their power from an off-site renewable energy facility, and also removes the significant obstacles facing schools and local governments which have tried to pursue off-site solar opportunities.

Click here to track SB 843's progress.