The Clean Energy Race

The Union of Concerned Scientists evaluated how California's 10 largest publicly owned utilities (POUs) performed against the 20 percent by 2010 Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS). While collective RPS-eligible investments rose from 4.1 percent in 2003 to 18.8 percent in 2010, the report found significant variance in utility performance. Three utilities—Silicon Valley Power, Turlock Irrigation District, and Modesto Irrigation District—were categorized as "sprinting ahead," while others were labeled as "on the right track" or a "false start." The analysis highlights that reliance on short-term contracts fails to provide financial security for developers and does not effectively promote new clean energy facilities. To meet the strengthened 33 percent by 2020 requirement, the report recommends that POUs prioritize long-term contracts and direct ownership of projects to reduce fossil fuel reliance and stabilize prices.

• Between 2003 and 2010, California's 10 largest publicly owned utilities collectively increased their RPS-eligible investments from 4.1 percent to 18.8 percent of retail electricity sales.
• Despite progress in renewables, the 10 largest POUs still relied on fossil fuels for two-thirds of their retail sales in 2010.
• The report categorized the 10 largest POUs into three performance tiers: Silicon Valley Power, Turlock Irrigation District, and Modesto Irrigation District were "sprinting ahead"; Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Riverside Public Utilities, and Anaheim Public Utilities were "on the right track, but must keep moving"; and Roseville Electric, Burbank Water and Power, and Imperial Irrigation District were a "false start."
• Short-term contracts are identified as an ineffective strategy for promoting new clean energy because they do not offer sufficient financial security to developers and only temporarily expand RPS portfolios.
• High rates of project failure and delays caused some POUs to miss RPS targets, leading to a recommendation that utilities sign contracts for more than the minimum required electricity to create a safety cushion.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2012). The Clean Energy Race. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/The-Clean-Energy-Race-Executive-Summary.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. The Clean Energy Race. 2012. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/The-Clean-Energy-Race-Executive-Summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=The Clean Energy Race |date=July 2012 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/The-Clean-Energy-Race-Executive-Summary.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2012clean, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{The Clean Energy Race}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2012}, month = jul, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/The-Clean-Energy-Race-Executive-Summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }