Surge of Energy around SB 2X

Last week saw a major victory for Senator Joe Simitian's renewable energy bill, SB 2X. 

This special session bill came up for its floor vote in the State Senate where it passed 26 -11.  This is no small feat -- several years in the making, last year's version of SB 2X came to it's death on the floor of the Senate.

We would have not seen this success without the grassroots actions of our members.  Collectively, a combination of almost 700 calls and emails went to key Senators in support of SB 2X!  This is huge since legislators know that for each contact that they receive from a constituent, it represents the shared opinion of multiple times more people in their district.

Moreover, the bill even received bi-partisan support, something that it failed to do even as recently as last year.  Republicans apparently are beginning to realize the economic benefits of renewable energy mandates, especially those like Sen. Tony Strickland (Thousand Oaks) whose district is home to renewable energy development. 

This bill really is about more than just clean energy and a reduction of global warming pollution.  SB 2X will help stimulate one of the bright spots in California's economy.  Investors are waiting for this kind of green light indicating that California is moving forward on renewable energy.  Without the mandate for an increase in renewable energy that SB 2X calls for, investors will take their projects and jobs to other states.

Passing the Senate was the first hurdle. The next step for SB 2X is to make it through the Assembly [TAKE ACTION].  If we can get it through this house, we already know that we have Governor Brown on board.