Renewable Energy for California: Challenges and Solutions

Paul Douglas, Renewables Portfolio Standard Program Manager, California Public Utilities Commission

Roy Kuga, Vice President of Energy Supply, PG&E

Diane Fellman, Director of California Regulatory Affairs, FPL Energy

Carl Zichella, Regional Director for California, Sierra Club

Cliff Chen, Energy Analyst, Union of Concerned Scientists - Moderator

How fast should electric power companies change their game plans? Al Gore has challenged the nation to produce 100 percent of its electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years, and the California legislature has directed the state's investor-owned utilities to generate 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy by 2010. So, how are we doing so far? Only a small proportion of the utilities' contracts for clean energy have resulted in visible construction. What is causing the delay, and what are the solutions?