California’s Got a Massive Upgrade on Renewable Energy

Have you heard?

California has pushed the envelope in terms of environmental protection. Several times in recent years, the state has achieved 100 percent renewable electricity.

What exactly does this imply? This indicates that in this state, the utilization of alternative energy sources such as solar panels and biomass energy is at an all-time high. Whether you’re a California corporation or a regular person, chances are you’ve made significant efforts to lessen your carbon footprint.

The Stats And Details

California has a long history of being progressive, and environmentalism is no exception. California has converted practically all energy sources to renewable sources just in time for Earth Month. They’ve already set some great marks this year;

• Early April saw a new record of 97.6% renewable power, which increased to 99.9% by May 2nd.
• Not giving up there, California broke its own record by obtaining103% renewable power, even if just for a few hours. 

So, you might be wondering, “What’s the big deal?” Why’s everyone going nuts over this? It’s because California is simply one state in a much larger country. California, of course, has its own set of advantages. Being a blue state is really beneficial. Not to mention that California’s 3.14 trillion-dollar economy would rank sixth in the world if it were an independent country.

This, however, demonstrates that any first-world country can accomplish something comparable. Politicians behave as if making environmental improvements is difficult, yet Californians are living it up with their tidal energy and wind turbines. Seriously, if one state can do it, the rest of the country can as well.

The Future

People in California are still working to improve the environment. By the year 2045, politicians want to have created a carbon-free state. To do so, they’ll need to build three-times-faster solar and wind installations. In addition, their battery storage expansion will have to be eight times faster.

I’m willing to bet they can do it based on what they’ve accomplished thus far. Just by looking at the effort put into this, it’s evident that California is committed to improving and innovating their conservation methods.

What concerns me most are the other states. What will they say about California’s victory this year? Hopefully, these events will encourage other nations to follow suit. California, I believe, will be used in the future as an example of how a government may establish environmentally concerned laws and regulations.

A government that wishes to save energy must be persistent and take small steps at a time. First and foremost, it starts with the people. Citizens must elect officials who’ll strongly advocate for these ideas. That, in my opinion, is the most challenging element. People usually vote for issues that benefit them immediately. Climate change and carbon emissions are two topics that bore people to death. Not because they don’t care, but because it has no immediate impact on their lives.

Fortunately, as time goes on, we’re seeing a shift in attitudes among the general public. Global warming is creeping up on us at a freakishly fast pace. So, let’s keep pushing forward and create a safer, more environmentally conscious future.