The State of California and the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on renewable energy, building on existing collaboration by California and its federal partners to facilitate the development of renewable energy resources in the state. The MOU stems from California and DOI energy policy directives, and California’s legislative mandate to reduce greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, and produce 33% of California’s electrical needs from renewable energy sources by 2020. The MOU notes one reason for California and DOI to really get the ball rolling on their collaboration: the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act specifically directs economic stimulus funding to qualified renewable energy projects that begin construction by December 1, 2010.

The California-DOI MOU complements and expands on several MOUs issued over the past year to establish and outline the activities of the California Renewable Energy Action Team (REAT). The REAT was provided for in California Executive Order S-14-08, issued November 17, 2008, to “establish a more cohesive and integrated statewide strategy, including greater coordination and steamlining of the siting, permitting, and procurement processes for renewable generation … .” In other words, let’s dispense with the permitting hang-ups and delays that plague development projects in California and get more renewable energy facilities online.  While Executive Order S-14-08 does not focus on the development of solar energy in particular, this MOU is geared to faciliting California’s burgeoning solar energy industry.Continue Reading California and the U.S. Department of Interior Sign an MOU on Renewable Energy