SB 1368: Clean Electricity

California utilities buy about 20% of the electricity used in California from out-of-state generating plants that burn coal, which is a heavy contributor to greenhouse gases. As part of the state’s overall strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020, SB 1368 (Perata) requires the California Energy Commission to set a greenhouse gas emission standard for baseload electricity generation (the minimum amount of electricity for California’s day-to-day needs) and prohibits utilities to enter into long-term contracts for electricity that exceeds the standard.