Interestingly, even as California lawmakers can’t create a budget to save the state’s life, they’re still chugging along on other legislation, and over the weekend approved legislation that requires California to get 33 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. As the New York Times notes, “if signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, it would be the largest ‘renewable portfolio standard’ in the country.” Pretty sweet, right?

Except that Governor Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto the bill. His reasoning is that the bill demands that the renewable energy all come from in-state sources, which he finds untenable. The Governor’s communications director said this:

The poorly drafted, overly complex bills passed by the legislature are protectionist schemes that will kill the solar industry in California and drive prices up like the failed energy deregulation of the late 1990s. The bills as drafted will be vetoed by the Governor. The Governor will sign an executive order implementing the 33 percent renewable mandate administratively.

So, basically, what the Governor wants to do is veto the bill, then issue an executive order asking for the same energy requirements, but without the in-state proviso. The Los Angeles Times reports that not everyone thinks this political maneuver is such a great idea.

Critics questioned whether Schwarzenegger’s order would be binding once he leaves office at the end of 2010. The validity of the order would be subject to a variety of potential legal challenges, they predicted. “I don’t think it will have nearly the effect that the bill would have, and I’m not quite sure it is legal,” said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento).

Well, it’s always good for California to have another political battle on its hands. There weren’t nearly enough already. Oh, how interesting this gubernatorial race is going to be.

photo credit: Nate Mandos’ flickr photostream/Creative Commons