Already committed to producing 33% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, California is raising its goal to 50% by the year 2030 under a proposal from Gov. Jerry Brown.

The governor said during his inaugural address the new target was “exciting” and “bold” and essential in averting potentially catastrophic climate changes, but he didn’t offer any specifics on how it might be accomplished, The Los Angeles Times reported.

At the same time, Brown called for doubling the energy efficiency of new buildings in California, and a 50% cut in the gas and diesel used in cars and trucks.

Brown’s new goal is a “game-changer”

California utilities are so far along toward the 33% goal for renewables they haven’t been eager to sign contracts that would spur the development of new solar and wind facilities. But Brown’s announcement probably will bring on a fresh round of development for renewables, according to one industry insider.

“50% is a game-changer,” said Jerry R. Bloom, who helps energy developers with permitting and financing.

John White, executive director of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies, told the newspaper that getting more renewably sourced energy to mesh with the utility grid smoothly will be a greater challenge than generating the power.

At the moment, California is third in the country in wind-power production, and first in installed solar. The Obama administration has earmarked 22 million acres in California for renewable energy and pledged to generate 20,000 megawatts of power on federal land by 2020, The Times said. 

Progress to date is “impressive” but not enough

Greentech Media said that while Brown didn’t spell out the specifics of how he would achieve his new energy goals, he did list initiatives he would support. They included more distributed power and rooftop photovoltaic systems, battery storage, the “full integration of information technology and electrical distribution” and more electric vehicles.

The state has made a good deal of progress toward meeting greenhouse-gas reductions approved by lawmakers in 2006, Brown said, but it won’t be enough to limit global warming to 2 degrees C. by 2050, Greentech Media said.

“If we have any chance at all of achieving that, California, as it does in many areas, must show the way,” Brown said. “We must demonstrate that reducing carbon is compatible with an abundant economy and human well-being. All of this is a very tall order. It means that we continue to transform our electrical grid, our transportation system, and even our communities.”