25% Renewable Energy Standard (by 2020) Introduced into Senate

[jpak]

http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/02/17/25-renewable-energy-standard-introduced-into-senate/

Two freshmen U.S. senators—who also happen to be cousins—have introduced a bill that would create a national renewable energy standard (RES) of twenty-five percent by 2020.

The bill would initiate a federal minimum standard mandating retail energy suppliers to diversify their portfolios with the first requirement of six percent for 2012, and consistently increase thereafter until meeting the 2025 goal. The proposal dovetails with that of President Obama who has proposed a goal of doubling renewable energy within the next three years.

Twenty-eight states already have renewable generation standards with various timelines and targets and this legislation would not pre-empt states that have stronger standards.

On paper, the proposed RES would appear to surpass the EU enewables requirement of twenty percent by 2020. But municipal and other publicly-owned power plants and rural electric co-ops would be exempted from the requirements.

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[kristopher]

1. I don't like the looks of this on the surface...

Given the current climate of aggressive pursuit of renewables, it looks to me like this bill limits more than it challenges. How many states are already at or above the goals set by this standard? Would the Fed standard exempt utilities from those higher standards in those states that want to do more?

This is a fairly frequent problem with environmental legislation at the federal level. It could be good for the recalcitrants, but if it isn't done properly, it can actually be a very effective way of blocking momentum that originates at the local level.