The California state Senate approved a bill 26-11 that gives utilities 10 years to get 33 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources. It still has to get approval from the state Assembly and Gov. Jerry Brown.

Until now, the appointed California Air Resources Board has been responsible for implementing former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's executive order, which set the 33 percent goal. A story by Bloomberg said administrative rules such as those by the air board are more easily undone than laws approved by the Legislature. Some clean-air advocates reportedly worried the regulatory body's rules had loopholes that would allow utilities to sidestep clean-energy mandates.

Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill in 2009. The new bill would establish the renewable energy goal as state law. The legislation also would limit the costs that can be passed on to ratepayers.

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