One million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles on the road and one third of electricity to come from renewable sources – they are the ambitious goals of four California state agencies and the independent power grid for California’s energy future in 2020.
Among its targets is to develop enough charging stations at home, work and in public areas to accommodate one million electric and hybrid vehicles with the document intended to guide the next decade of co-ordinated strategic planning in the state and bring cleaner sources of electricity online.
It also asks for an integrated approach to energy issues that have not always been addressed in a co-ordinated manner previously. Issues covered include job training and retraining for the new clean energy economy; as well as planning for new electricity generation; and the development of enhanced transmission and new distribution requirements. There will also be a closer look at infrastructure opportunities with the expected influx of plug-in hybrid and electric cars.
There are several factors in the plan to support plug-in vehicles including alternative fuel-vehicle rulemaking; an alternative and renewable fuel and vehicle technology programme; and zero emission regulation.
Other targets outlined for 2020 include reducing electricity (13,200-18,000 gigawatt-hours) and natural gas use (800million therms); to install 5,000 megawatts of renewable distributed generation state-wide; to develop at least one large scale carbon capture and storage facility in the state; and 1,000MW of additional storage capacity.
