Guest Blogger Ken Alex: What’s in it for Me?

Some energy efficiency actions will save Californians money, and at some point solar PV and wind may provide cheaper sources of energy than carbon-based fuels.  But, for the most part, moving in a big way to renewables will increase costs.  So what’s in it for Californians?  Quite a lot.

Let’s start with a big one.  In 2008, the US spent about $450 billion on imported oil, with California’s share exceeding $50 billion.  As we electrify our transportation system through plug-ins, electric cars, other higher mileage vehicles, more mass transit, biofuels, and land use decisions that reduce vehicle miles traveled, we can dramatically reduce reliance on imported oil.  Adding 500,000 plug-ins by 2015, for example, would have a significant impact on our oil import needs, and would improve air quality in urban areas.

Even without considering the costs of imported oil for gasoline, Californians spend billions of dollars on electricity annually, much of it for power generated in Canada, Mexico, and western states and sent here by transmission lines.  Because California has some of the best renewable power resources in the world, including solar, wind, and geothermal, it can provide a higher percentage of its own energy needs and be a significant exporter of electricity.  Electricity generated in California is subject to taxes in the state and results in California jobs.  Multiple studies have concluded that investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency in California is one of the greatest job generators of the new economy.

California companies are also the drivers of a significant portion of renewable and energy efficiency technology, which translates to jobs and tax revenue.

So, cleaner air, reduced imported oil, tax revenues, and jobs.  No small part of California’s future is tied to renewables.  We need to take seriously the 33% renewable requirement and the 80% after that.  We need a greater sense of urgency, as if our well-being depended on it.

Thanks again for the chance to guest blog.

Thank you, Ken!  This was the last (for now) in a series of guest posts on renewable energy by Ken Alex, Senior Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Environment Section of the California Department of Justice.  The views expressed in this blog are his own.  For more info on Ken, click here.

To see all of Ken’s posts, click here.