The California State Senate has approved renewable energy bill SB 605 by Senator Steve Padilla (D-Chula Vista), putting the state on track to developing renewable sources of energy, according to a May 25 press release.

The California Energy Commission will now study the feasibility of wave and tidal energy and report findings to the state legislature and governor to reach carbon-free goals.

AltaSea, a non-profit science and education collaboration based in California, is the sponsor of SB 605. Terry Tamminen, president and CEO of AltaSea, said the state must find new ways to incorporate renewable energy sources if it hopes to achieve its climate goals.

“This important measure would set California on the path towards becoming a global leader in ocean energy and developing this untapped source of clean, resilient, abundant and renewable energy,” Tamminen said in the release.

SB 605 was passed by the Senate with unanimous, bi-partisan support and now moves to the California State Assembly for consideration.