California lawmakers miss historic opportunity by failing to pass SB 100
in the final hours of the 2017 legislative session California’s Assembly failed to pass SB 100 – a bill that would have set an ambitious but achievable 100% clean energy goal for the state. Below is a joint media statement from advocates that supported the bill – Sierra Club, Vote Solar and the California Environmental Justice Alliance.
Advocates vow to continue pushing for a 100% clean energy California
Clean energy and environmental justice advocates expressed disappointment with state lawmakers’ failure to bring up for a vote a historic clean energy bill before the 2017 legislative session ended. Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León’s Senate Bill 100 would have put the Golden State on the path to procuring all of its electricity from zero-carbon sources, including solar and wind, by 2045. The bill aimed to improve community health, create new job opportunities in California’s clean energy economy, and demonstrate the state’s commitment to climate action.
“We are disappointed that legislators failed to bring SB 100 up for a final vote, an outcome that serves special interests rather than Californians who overwhelmingly support clean energy progress,” said Susannah Churchill, California Director at Vote Solar. “We thank bill author Senator de León and legislators who voted for it earlier this year for their leadership on pushing for a bright, bold, and achievable clean energy future. We will continue to work with other clean energy and environmental justice advocates to pass the 100 percent clean energy bill next year. Our health, our communities, and our climate can’t afford anything less than a rapid transition to clean energy.”
“While national leaders endanger our nation’s security and welfare with rollbacks of climate change and environmental protections, all eyes were on California to lead with a robust and equitable 100 percent clean energy goal. In July, the fossil fuel industry got a policy that favors its business interests over the planet with the passage of cap and trade, and it now halted another climate policy that would have ensured the public health and economic benefits of local renewable energy for Californians. CEJA is greatly disappointed that our representatives failed this opportunity, and look forward to working with President pro Tem de Leon to continue advancing this critical and equitable policy,” said Gladys Limon, Executive Director, California Environmental Justice Alliance.
“We are determined to fight climate change and air pollution and one way to do that is to accelerate California’s transition to 100 percent clean energy,” said Kathryn Phillips, Director of Sierra Club California. “The decision to not move the bill this year is disappointing. But we are committed to moving this policy next year. There’s no time to waste.”
Media Contact: , 415-817-6061