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Empresas y finanzas

California's renewable pipeline hits nearly 70 GW


    LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Renewable energy projects proposed in California total nearly 70 gigawatts, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said on Tuesday, a large pipeline that could help the state meet its renewable energy goals.

    California has a mandate to obtain a third of its electricity by 2020 from clean power, spurring utilities and the clean power industry to develop new projects.

    The 244 proposed projects in the state include solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and hydro technologies. In order to be built, renewable energy projects must win regulatory approval.

    About 50 projects in California hope to break ground by the end of 2010 in order to receive federal stimulus funds.

    Toward that goal, Schwarzenegger signed in October an agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior to speed up the permitting process for projects seeking stimulus funds.

    California uses about 8,000 MW of clean power a year. The state needs an additional 15,000 to 25,000 MW to reach its target.

    A mid-sized coal-fired power plant generates about 500 MW of electricity.

    (Reporting by Laura Isensee)