A 33% RPS as contained in SB 2X [formerly SB 23] will provide environmental and economic benefits that include:

• displacing nearly 13 million metric tons of global warming emissions in 2020—equivalent to removing almost 3 million cars from the road, or enough to avoid 10 to 15 new large fossil fuel power plants;
• stimulating clean technology investment and innovation, and creating “green collar jobs;”
• diversifying the state’s energy supply and protecting consumers from natural gas price volatility;
• helping to meet our pollution cap under the Global Warming Solutions Act, AB 32;
• promoting long-term planning for infrastructure needed to support high levels of renewable energy development; and
• improving air quality in vulnerable communities.

A 33% RPS for all utilities would continue to expand California’s renewable energy market and its clean technology industry.California’s clean tech sector received $2.1 billion in investment capital in 2009—60 percent of the total in the United States. In fact, data from 1995 to 2009 shows the energy sector created the most green jobs, adding nearly 20,000 jobs across the state, including almost 3,000 jobs in 2008, at the height of the economic recession (Next 10 report Many Shades of Green, 2011).

By 2020, a 33% RPS will result in 13,000 megawatts of new renewable power—enough to meet the electricity needs of 6 million typical homes. Action is needed now to make sure the opportunity doesn’t pass us by.