California Defies Trump Over Power Production

“Regardless of who occupies the White House, California will always lead.” With these clear words, former Senate President Kevin de León (Democrats) accompanied the signing of the SB100 bill commiting California to 100% renewable energy by 2045. A sharp edge against President Donald Trump, who is unlikely to like the solo run of his most populous state.

Democratic Governor Jerry Brown also emphasized in his note to the Senate that California is claiming nothing less than to take the lead in promoting clean energy and climate protection in the U.S. At the same time, however, he warns that there is still a long way to go before California "and the rest of the world" can access emission-free energy. Immediately after Trump announced that the US would turn away from the Paris Agreement, the California government hastened to emphasize that climate and environmental protection would continue to be a priority on the West Coast.

And the state is receiving support from the industry. At the Global Climate Action Summit, currently taking place in San Francisco/CA, entertainment giant Sony committed itself to completely switching to renewable energies by 2040.

Helen Clarkson, CEO of the non-profit organization The Climate Group, which co-organizes the San Francisco Summit, said: "We are excited to welcome Sony aboard RE100. From PlayStation® and image sensors to consumer electronics, music, and film, this is the largest entertainment and technology business in the world stepping up and switching its entire operations to 100% renewable electricity. Sony is at the forefront of cutting edge innovation and is showing the global market that renewable energy is the future."

The organization is also hoping to send a signal to other consumer electronics companies. "By stepping up and joining RE100 these leading companies are saying loud and clear that 100% renewables are the solution – they reduce business risk and drive down greenhouse gas emissions. By putting renewables at the heart of their business strategies, RE100 members are sending the demand signals needed for national governments to increase their own ambitions on clean energy," Clarkson added.

Sony's committment is particularly important: "With a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, Japan’s electricity market is a hard nut to crack if you’re looking to source 100% renewable electricity, but Sony is showing what can be done. We welcome Sony’s intention to work with RE100 peers to demonstrate growing demand to suppliers – just the kind of leadership we need to see," said Paul Simpson of CDP, also a non-profit organization committed to reducing CO2.

And exactly the kind of leadership that California now wants to show: "California is committed to doing whatever is necessary to meet the existential threat of climate change." And Governor Brown even goes one step further: "California has been doing things that the rest of the world hopes it will do some day."