Climate Break

Shifting to Renewable Energy with Hal Harvey

Episode Summary

What are the top ways that California can shift to renewable energy more quickly and reach zero emissions by 2050? Former California Governor Jerry Brown spoke with Hal Harvey, CEO of Energy Innovation, for a California China Climate Institute discussion. For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/shifting-to-renewable-energy-with-hal-harvey-california-china-climate-institute/

Episode Notes

For a transcript, please visit https://climatebreak.org/shifting-to-renewable-energy-with-hal-harvey-california-china-climate-institute/

Episode Transcription

Ethan: What are the top ways that California can shift to renewable energy more quickly and reach zero emissions by 2050? Former California Governor Jerry Brown spoke with Hal Harvey, CEO of Energy Innovation, for a California China Climate Institute discussion. Zero-emission future by 2050 represents an international science-based goal that Harvey thinks California can achieve.

Mr. Harvey: Recommendations I would offer are to reach 85% clean energy by 2030. That's something that the public utilities commission or the legislature could make happen. The second thing I would do is prohibit natural gas hookups in new buildings in California. We can't afford to burn fossil fuels at scale and have a clean and safe climate. With the advent of heat pumps, you don't need natural gas; with the advent of induction stoves, you don't need natural gas. There's a much better way with heat pumps powered by the grid to condition our buildings. A third idea is to expand the buy clean program, which commits the state to purchase its raw materials from the cleanest 25% of product on the market. And then finally, I would say the cap and trade program in California should issue fewer permits until we are on that trajectory of zero by 2050.

Ethan: This is Ethan Elkind of Climate Break, bringing you 90 seconds of climate solutions. For further information on Harvey's work at Energy Innovation, and for more climate solutions, go to climatebreak.org, or wherever you get your podcast.