Could California Go Completely Green Energy By 2050?

The California Senate will consider this week whether the state’s electricity should come entirely from renewable power by mid-century.

Democratic Senate leader Kevin de León’s measure would double the state’s renewable energy target that lawmakers set less than two years ago.

There’s debate among scientists, environmental groups and industry about whether it’s possible for utilities to go 100 percent renewable by 2050.

UC Berkeley energy and business professor Severin Borenstein says maybe.

"We are making real progress in storage technologies and in renewable energy technologies, so it’s quite possible by 2050 it will be feasible," Borenstein says. "How cost-effective it will be is also an open question."

Senators must pass the measure this week to send it to the Assembly and keep it alive for further debate this year.