Gavin Newsom on Saturday gave the greenlight for the state's transportation and energy officials to figure out how to install solar panels, battery storage and other renewable energy sites along highways.
According to the state's Department of Transportation, California has 250 state highways containing more than 15,000 miles of road.
The empty land alongside those roads could be used to generate one gigawatt of potential solar energy, which could power over 270,000 California homes, according to a joint report from Environment California, a nonprofit backer of SB 49, and highway solar advocate The Ray.
In 2008, Oregon became the first state to develop a solar highway project, which now has nearly 600 solar panels.
Using empty space along highways to install clean energy sites would help alleviate pressure on the state's deserts where many solar panels are currently housed.
Persons:
Gavin Newsom, Ray, Sen, Josh Becker
Organizations:
Port, Los Angeles , California ., Los Angeles , California . California Gov, Saturday, Department of Transportation, state's Department of Transportation
Locations:
Port of Los Angeles, San Pedro, Los Angeles , California, Los Angeles , California . California, state's Department of Transportation , California, California, Environment California, Oregon