Three states pass renewable portfolio standards

Rhode Island enacted a law requiring electricity retailers to include an increasing renewable portfolio in their sales. By December 31, 2006, they will be required to source 3 percent of their sales from renewable energy, with the amount increasing in subsequent years. The legislation is designed to encourage new renewable energy sources (only 2 percent may come from existing sources) and can be read at http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText/BillText04/HouseText04/H7375A.htm.

Hawaii enacted a law imposing a renewable portfolio on the states public utilities in increasing amounts until 2020. The first milestone is a requirement of 8 percent by the end of 2005. The law does, however, allow the utilities to miss the target if they cannot meet it in a cost-effective manner. It can be found at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/SB2474_hd2_.htm.

The Maryland legislature passed a renewable portfolio standard for the states electricity retailers by a veto-proof margin. Electricity suppliers must produce 1 percent of their electricity from “Tier 1” renewable resources in 2006. The requirement will rise by 1 percent every two years, reaching 7 percent in 2017. Tier 1 includes solar, wind, ocean, qualifying biomass, geothermal, landfill or wastewater methane, renewably-fueled fuel cells, and small hydroelectric plants.  In addition, 2.5% of the portfolio each year must be generated by either Tier 1 or Tier 2 resources, until 2017, when all renewable generation must be from Tier 1.  Tier 2 includes hydroelectric power, incineration of poultry litter, and waste-to-energy. The bill can be read at http://mlis.state.md.us/2004rs/bills/hb/ hb1308e.rtf.

The Western Governors Association approved a resolution unanimously that established a feasibility study into providing 30,000MW of clean energy by 2015 and a 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency by 2020. The full resolution can be read at http://www.westgov.org/wga/policy/04/clean-energy.pdf.