North American Windpower: New California Law Increases U.S. Military's Involvement In Clean Energy

by NAW Staff on Friday 28 September 2012

California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. has signed a bill designed to strengthen the clean energy partnership between California and the U.S. military.

The legislation, the Energy Security Coordination Act of 2012, was authored by State Sen. Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills.

Under the new law, the governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR) will serve as a liaison between the state and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to coordinate and collaborate on clean energy policy.

OPR will work directly with state energy agencies, including the California Energy Commission and the California Public Utilities Commission, to ensure the military is included in the development and implementation of state energy and environmental policy.

“[The legislation] recognizes the existing partnership between the military and California in the development of renewable energy technology, resources and the large potential for future enhancement of this partnership,” says Christopher L. Stathos, deputy department of defense regional environmental coordinator. “With the military’s aggressive renewable energy goals, and California’s leadership and innovation, S.B.1409 provides the governor’s Office of Planning and Research additional tools that will enable further success.”

This state legislation is just part of a broader effort by the DOD to increase its involvement in clean energy. Last month, the U.S. Army issued a $7 billion renewable energy request for proposals (RFP). More information on the RFP is available here.

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