While California continues to make good progress in sustainable energy by doubling down on proven strategies and taking the lead on developing and implementing some “first-in-the-world” solutions, the magnitude of change needed to address the threats of climate change and meet more stringent federal air quality standards in the state will require even further innovation in the energy and transportation sectors.
Indeed, in his inaugural address, Governor Brown proposed “three ambitious goals to be accomplished within the next 15 years: increase from one-third to 50 percent our electricity derived from renewable sources, reduce today’s petroleum use in cars and trucks by up to 50 percent, double the efficiency of existing buildings, and make heating fuels cleaner.”
Given the importance of making progress in these sectors, the 2014 Integrated Energy Policy Report Update (2014 IEPR Update) focused on next steps for transforming transportation energy use in California. This report highlights the importance of incentives in helping speed this transition and specifically explores the role Assembly Bill 8 (Perea, Chapter 401, Statutes of 2013) (AB 8), which makes more than $2 billion available for public investment, can play in helping to achieve this progress. AB 8 extends clean transportation investment programs such as the Energy Commission’s Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program (ARFVTP) through January 1, 2024. The report also provides updates on incorporating environmental information in renewable energy planning, the electricity infrastructure in Southern California, and the electricity demand forecast.
http://www.energy.ca.gov/2014publications/CEC-100-2014-001/CEC-100-2014-001-F.pdf