California Greening

By the year 2020, the state of California will draw 33 percent of its energy from renewable sources.

At least, that's the plan.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger set the plan in motion in 2008, but there were few provisions for actually making the changeover from fossil to renewable fuels. The executive order signed on Tuesday, September 14, says the New York Times, "was more definitive and provided guidance to state regulators about how to carry out the requirement."

California's goal is ambitious. In fact, it's the second-most ambitious green plan in the nation, coming just after Hawaii. Hawaii's new plan states that 40 percent of power generated in the state will come from renewable sources by the year 2030.

While the governor is eager to cut back on coal-fired energy production, there are plenty of roadblocks in the way. Businesses worry that costs will rise and jobs will be lost.

Still, this week's new directive is a step in the right direction, as are the positive steps now being taken by California's power production companies to make the dream a reality.

Photo courtesy of Nate Mandos, via Flickr