California’s Energiewende: A Strategic Challenge

California and Germany are among the largest economies of the world, and they also share similarly ambitious goals for achieving climate-neutral energy systems.

California’s efforts increased dramatically in 2018. In January, Governor Jerry Brown called for 5 million vehicles with zero-carbon emissions by 2025.  In May, the California Energy Commission approved new building standards to require all new homes after 2020 to include PV panels and higher energy efficiency. Finally, in September the legislature enacted a new law to promote the use of renewable energy sources for the generation of 100 percent of California’s electricity by 2045.  Thus, in 2018 California fully embraced a strategy of transition to renewable energy, with minimal or no uses of fossil fuels or nuclear power. In his presentation, John Perkins will assess the need for a strategic approach to changing energy sources and outline the essential elements of such strategies.  He will also offer a preliminary assessment of California’s tactics.  He believes the State will succeed but faces significant challenges.

We cordially invite you to discuss these issues and questions with John Perkins, who will present first insights from his current book project on California’s Energiewende.

Please register here until April 26, 2019.

The lecture will be followed by a small reception.

John Perkins is member of the Faculty Emeritus of The Evergreen State College. His background in biology, history of science and technology, and environmental history provides a broad framework for his current work in energy and earlier work in agriculture. He is a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley. His current book project assesses California’s efforts to transform its energy economy to renewable energy sources.

Facilitated by Leslie Quitzow, scientific coordinator of the Leibniz Research Alliance on Energy Transitions.