Currently, the state gets 10.9% of its electricity from renewable sources, said Claudia Chandler, assistant executive director of the California Energy Commission.
That percentage has not changed much since the state set its renewable energy target in 2005, but it has kept pace with growing energy demands, she said.
"Electricity demand is growing a little less than the population, and that dampening is clearly a function of energy efficiency building standards and energy-efficient appliance standards in the state," Chandler said.
A boost in demand for solar-energy systems from home and business owners has also contributed to the state's slowed increase in electricity demand, she said.
In recent years, various rebates and incentive programs created by federal and state legislative initiatives have made home solar-energy systems more affordable.
In Glendale alone, there are currently about 30 Glendale Water & Power customers who are getting a portion of their home's energy from solar panels mounted to their roofs, and another 10 customers are in the installation process, said Craig Kuennen, Glendale Water & Power public benefit programs marketing director. In 2000, there were no homes using home solar-power systems, he said.
With no central solar-power plant in the state, small solar-power systems installed on homes and businesses make up all of California's solar energy production, Chandler said.
In order to meet the 20% by 2010 goal, the state will need to facilitate the construction of new, large-scale renewable energy facilities as well as the transmission lines associated with the facilities, Krekorian said.
