Law360, New York (February 07, 2012, 5:01 PM ET) -- Despite the sluggish economy, the California Legislature provides hope for 2012 by supporting development of renewable energy projects and innovative environmentally green projects in California. The keystone of the Legislature’s commitment to “green development” is California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS), the amendment of which Governor Brown approved on April 12, 2011.

This amendment calls for 33 percent of all utility energy procured be from renewables by 2020, which is the most ambitious RPS target in the nation. Faced with this aggressive mandate, the Legislature worked to promote...