Senate Bill 100
Officially titled “The 100 Percent Clean Energy Act of 2018,” Senate Bill 100 (SB 100, De León):
- Sets a 2045 goal of powering all retail electricity sold in California and state agency electricity needs with renewable and zero-carbon resources — those such as solar and wind energy that do not emit climate-altering greenhouse gases.
- Updates the state’s Renewables Portfolio Standard to ensure that by 2030 at least 60 percent of California’s electricity is renewable.
- Requires the Energy Commission, Public Utilities Commission and Air Resources Board to use programs under existing laws to achieve 100 percent clean electricity and issue a joint policy report on SB 100 by 2021 and every four years thereafter.
2021 SB 100 Joint Agency Report
The 2021 SB 100 Joint Agency Report is a first step to evaluate the challenges and opportunities in implementing SB 100. It includes an initial assessment of the additional energy resources and the resource building rates needed to achieve 100 percent clean electricity, along with the associated costs. It uses a computer model to analyze these factors under various conditions and technologies.
A diverse array of interests informed this report through a year-long series of public workshops and comment opportunities. The joint agencies also consulted with the California balancing authorities, as required by the statute, and the Disadvantaged Communities Advisory Group, which advises the Energy Commission and Public Utilities Commission on energy equity issues.
Key Takeaways from Modeling:
- This initial analysis suggests SB 100 is technically achievable through multiple pathways.
- Construction of clean electricity generation and storage facilities must be sustained at record-setting rates.
- Diversity in energy resources and technologies lowers overall costs.
- Retaining some natural gas power capacity may minimize costs while ensuring uninterrupted power supply during the transition to 100 percent clean energy.
- Increased energy storage and advancements in zero-carbon technologies can reduce natural gas capacity needs.
- Further analysis is needed.
Modeling results indicate that achieving 100 percent clean electricity will increase the total annual electricity system costs by 6 percent relative to the cost under the state’s Renewables Portfolio Standard requirement of having at least 60 percent clean electricity by the end of 2030. These estimates will change over time as markets change, new technologies are commercialized, and additional factors such as grid reliability are included in future analyses.
Recommendations for Further Analysis:
- Verify that scenario results satisfy the state’s grid reliability requirements.
- Continue to evaluate the potential effects of emerging resources, such as offshore wind, long-duration energy storage, green hydrogen technologies, and demand flexibility.
- Assess environmental, social, and economic costs and benefits of the additional clean electricity generation capacity and storage needed to implement SB 100.
Hold annual workshops to support alignment among the joint agencies and continuity between SB 100 reports.
