Cities Choose Renewable Energy Sources

Oakland, Santa Monica and Palmdale have become the first cities in the state to choose "green power."

1 minute read

June 30, 2000, 7:45 AM PDT

By Laura Kraft


Several California cities have used their municipal clout to choose energy which comes from renewable sources. Santa Barbara, San Jose and Santa Cruz are next in line to choose this option. The additional costs are negligible -- Oakland is expected to pay an additional $100,000 on its $4 million electricity bill. In California, about 12% of electricity comes from renewable sources, much higer than the national average. However, in a twist of irony, the power "green" cities use isn't necessary generated by renewable sources, since all power (from convenetional and renewable sources) goes into an overall pool. Promoters say that buying green increases the market demand for energy from renewable sources.

Thanks to Laura Krafft

Thursday, June 29, 2000 in The Los Angeles Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 21, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Flat modern glass office tower with "County of Santa Clara" sign.

Santa Clara County Dedicates Over $28M to Affordable Housing

The county is funding over 600 new affordable housing units via revenue from a 2016 bond measure.

3 hours ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Aerial view of dense urban center with lines indicating smart city concept.

Why a Failed ‘Smart City’ Is Still Relevant

A Google-backed proposal to turn an underused section of Toronto waterfront into a tech hub holds relevant lessons about privacy and data.

4 hours ago - Governing

Pale yellow Sears kit house with red tile roof in Sylva, North Carolina.

When Sears Pioneered Modular Housing

Kit homes sold in catalogs like Sears and Montgomery Ward made homeownership affordable for midcentury Americans.

5 hours ago - The Daily Yonder