[Tinordi]

Renewable energy, waste of money, terrible investment.

http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/...e59845756.html

The notion that renewable energy would drive up electricity costs for ratepayers has been treated as conventional wisdom by opponents. Since adoption of the first renewable portfolio standard in 2002, increases to average retail rates charged by utilities such as Pacific Gas and Electric Co., have been lower than the rate of inflation. During this same period, with innovation from Silicon Valley and elsewhere, solar power costs have declined to one-tenth of what they were. Today, utility-scale solar and wind have reached cost parity with fossil fuels.

The lower cost of renewable energy has helped California wean itself from coal, the dirtiest of all fossil fuels. In-state coal-fired generation has almost disappeared and direct imports from coal facilities outside California are slated to end within a decade.

California has a proven formula. Stable, long-term policies steadily ratchet up renewable energy procurement by utilities and provide the certainty that the private sector needs for investment, innovation and cost reduction.

Thanks to the steady hand at the wheel provided by the governor and legislative leaders, California is leading the race to a clean-energy future. Far from being an expensive option for ratepayers, renewable energy is proving to be one of California’s smartest investments.