In November 2005, the California Public Utilities Commission issued a report concluding that California can technically and economically achieve by 2020 a renewable energy target of 33% of the state's total electricity consumption. If implemented, this 33% target will substantially increase the state's future demand for renewable energy. In parallel, the British Columbia government has been promoting development of the province's vast renewable energy potential to meet the province's excess demand not met by resources already in place or planned. Is there potential for a Northern California-British Columbia renewable energy partnership? This viewpoint answers a cautious "yes", illustrating the usefulness of this kind of partnership for other locations. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.