US senators introduce bill to establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard 31.10.2013: US Senators Tom Udall (D-NM), Mark Udall (D-CO) and Benjamin Cardin (D–MD) yesterday introduced a bill (S.1595) to establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) in the US that, according to Tom Udall, would create jobs, reduce pollution and save consumers money. The RES would require utilities to generate 25% of their power from wind, solar and other renewable energy sources by 2025. The bill includes a 6% requirement for 2014 as well as gradual increases that ultimately reach the 25% by 2025 goal. Utilities would be able to meet the federal requirements by purchasing credits from renewable energy power generation facilities. The senators claim that implementation of the RES would create an additional 274,000 to 297,000 jobs in the US, mostly in the manufacturing sector; would save consumers almost $100 billion on their utility bills by 2030; would provide $13.5 billion to farmers, ranchers and other landowners in the form of lease payments; and would add $11.5 billion in new local tax revenues. Since 2002, the US Senate has passed an RES bill three times. In 2007 and again in 2009, the House of Representatives passed an RES. However, a federal RES has never been passed through both houses of congress. The 2007 House bill was also sponsored by Tom and Mark Udall. The first cousins moved from the House to the Senate in 2008. A total of 29 states and the District of Columbia, representing over half of the US electricity market, already have renewable generation standards with various timelines and targets. This legislation does not preempt states that have stronger standards. © PHOTON
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 07:41:55 +0000
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