AB 32

AB 32 requires that California's statewide greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020, and that the California Air Resources Board adopt regulations by January 1, 2008 regarding the reporting and verification of statewide greenhouse gas emissions.

This September in a Joint Decision by the California Public Utilities Commission and the California Energy Commission, the CPUC and the CEC stated "AB 32 governs statewide GHC emissions, including electricity consumed in California (including imports) and in-state generation that is exported out of California."

The need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions will create an increased appetite for renewable energy from Nevada. The cost to mitigate the emissions may well drive California to participate in the cost of the transmission necessary to deliver that renewable energy. This scenario would benefit Nevada rate payers.

California Energy Commission's Renewable Energy Transmission Initiative

(RETI)

RETI was created to help identify the transmission project needed to accommodate California's aggressive renewable energy goals. RETI will "...assess all competitive renewable energy zones in California and possibly also in neighboring states that can provide significant electricity to California consumers by the year 2020." 

In a presentation made during RETI's September 30, 2007 Kick-Off meeting of the Plenary Stakeholder Collaborative, Phase 1 of the Scope of Work was identified as "...assessment of developable renewable resources in CA and neighboring states."