The California law increases a previous mandate of 20% renewable energy by 2020. U.S. energy secretary calls the law a model for other states, and an industry group says it could create 100,000 jobs.
Calling the law the most ambitious clean-energy effort in the nation, the governor predicted that it would help jump-start the state's economy. He said he expects the aggressive shift away from coal and natural gas to create jobs while putting the state on the cutting edge of new technology.
"It's about California leading the country. It's America potentially leading the world," Brown said at a signing ceremony in Silicon Valley.
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His bill was opposed by many Republican lawmakers who predicted that utilities would have to significantly raise electricity rates, leading some firms to move manufacturing jobs out of the state. One state study said that meeting the mandate would cost utilities about 7% more than current levels of coal and natural gas use.
Californians "should brace themselves for utility-bill sticker shock," said state Sen. Bob Dutton (R-Rancho Cucamonga), leader of the Senate's minority caucus.
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http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-renewable-energy-20110413,0,3118203.story