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| 29 May 2009 10:48:58 pm |
 The Newest Crop in Iowa Makes the Phone Book Cover |
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Category : AWEA News
| Posted By : Chris Madison |
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| 29 May 2009 08:34:53 pm |
| Coalition Forming to Advocate for Stronger RES |
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A number of key wind industry companies will join with the biomass industry soon to announce a new coalition to work for a stronger Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). The group will be called the RES Alliance for Jobs. Their mission: to explain to leaders in Congress that a stronger RES will create jobs.
Both House and Senate committees have drafted RES provisions that are not likely to require significant new wind resources. The House bill includes what is effectively a 12% RES, and the Senate bill includes an 11% RES. AWEA supports a 25% RES by 2025, which would spur increased wind power. During the campaign, the Obama Administration supported a 25% RES, but has been silent on that standard lately and has put more emphasis on the cap and trade provisions of the legislation.
Wind industry advocates have begun arguing that a strong RES will make cap and trade targets easier and more cost effective to achieve and, therefore, should be included in the cap and trade package. |
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Category : AWEA News
| Posted By : Chris Madison |
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| 27 May 2009 01:42:09 pm |
| Iadaho Power Shareholders Strike a Blow for Renewables |
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The Associated Press (AP) reported last week that Idaho Power Co. shareholders approved a resolution urging the utility to increase its renewable energy portfolio and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The resolution, passed at the company's annual meeting, was introduced by two shareholder groups.
Idaho Power relies on hydroelectric power for more than half of its needs, but uses more coal during dry periods. A company spokeswoman told the AP the utility was preparing to address climate change and was seeking an additional 150 MW of wind power. |
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Category : AWEA News
| Posted By : Chris Madison |
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| 21 May 2009 10:00:07 pm |
| Modest RES Survives First Test in Senate Energy Committee |
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The United States has moved closer to adopting a national Renewable Electricity Standard, however modest.
By a vote of 9-13, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted today against an amendment offered by Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) to strike the Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) from the comprehensive energy bill proposed by Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) was the only Democrat to vote in favor of the Sessions amendment.
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), who was not in attendance, voted to “pass” by proxy. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Senator Bob Corker (D-TN) were the only Republicans to oppose the amendment. More than 50 amendments have been filed to the RES title, and the Committee will continue action after the Memorial Day Recess.
As it now stands, the Senate bill requires that states meet a 15% RES by 2021. However, 4% could be supplied by energy efficiency measures. The House Energy and Commerce Committee bill includes a 20% renewable electricity standard. Governors would be permitted to allow up to 8% of the standard to be met through energy efficiency improvements.
Most opponents of the Sessions amendment on the Committee said they would like to see an even stronger RES emerge at some point in the legislative process. Supporters of the Sessions amendment argued that there is a need for more energy sources to be included in the RES and that the Bingaman proposal would harm consumers in the Southeast because the region lacks renewable resources. |
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Category : AWEA News
| Posted By : Chris Madison |
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| 21 May 2009 04:51:51 pm |
| A Good Overview of the RES |
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The Center for American Progress (CAP) has a good analysis of the Renewable Electricity Standard: why it makes sense, and how it's been working in the states.
Here's an excerpt:
Quote : Many of those state standards are more stringent than the one outlined in the Waxman-Markey bill, which would establish a 15-percent RES by 2020, with an additional requirement that utilities reduce electricity demand by 5 percent via efficiency measures. Among its benefits would be a substantial reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases because new power needs would be meet by clean wind or sun. A similar bill considered by Congress in 2007 would have reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 100 million metric tons by 2030, according to an analysis by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. This is comparable to removing 23 million cars from the road.
The CAP analysis, by veteran environmental writer Tom Kenworthy, does not focus on why the Waxman-Markey bill is weaker than most state's standards, but it makes the overall point that RES is working to get renewables up and running, while reducing carbon emissions and creating jobs. |
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Category : AWEA News
| Posted By : Chris Madison |
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