California adopts new green energy laws

California Gov. Jerry Brown signed three bills into law meant to encourage the use of solar energy and other renewable resources in the nation's most populated state.

The governor went to Marshall Elementary School in Fowler, Calif., on Thursday to showcase the beneficiaries of SB 585, which helps school districts finance solar installations on school buildings through a $200 million grant to the California Solar Initiative.

California bills streamline solar project permitting

California’s legislature has sent a trio of bills, S.B. 267, S.B. 16 and A.B. X1 13, to Gov. Jerry Brown’s (D) office to streamline the permitting process for large-scale renewable energy projects. The bills were popular among both parties and provided certainty for project developers, and Brown is expected to sign them.