Catch this three-minute video about the drought in Cali: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/06/us/california-governor-focuses-on-energy-consumption-as-final-term-begins.html?ref=earth
As I’m sure you know, this is the third year of major drought in California. Plants are withering because the state has stopped providing water to farmers in some areas. As California farmers provide the rest of the nation with 90% of its tomatoes, 95% of its broccoli, and 99% of its almonds, we’re probably looking at a three-and-a-half billion dollars in lost revenue for 2014.
In his inauguration speech, Governor Jerry Brown has pledged for 50% of California’s electricity to come from renewable energy sources by 2030, and he’s also pledged to reduce gas consumption by cars and trucks by 50% in the same time frame.
“I envision a wide range of initiatives: more distributed power, expanded rooftop solar, micro-grids, an energy imbalance market, battery storage, the full integration of information technology and electrical distribution, and millions of electric and low-carbon vehicles,” Mr. Brown said.
“All of this is a very tall order,” he added. “How we achieve these goals and at what pace will take great thought and imagination mixed with pragmatic caution. It will require enormous innovation, research and investment.”
(Note: the three-minute video is inside the NY Times article on Gov. Jerry Brown and it was filmed on July 5, 2014)
According to Commondreams.org, Brown hasn’t come clean about his support of fracking. (http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/01/05/california-governor-brown-issues-call-climate-action-prevent-potentially)
“Brown has tried to have it both ways. He allows oil companies to do more drilling and fracking while touting himself as a leader in the fight against global warming. More California communities are showing him that they will not accept this contradiction, which comes at the expense of their community and quality of life.”
(Quote attributed to both Adam Scow of Food & Water Watch California and Hollin Kretzmann, an attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity.)
Leave a Reply