Try again: A national US renewable energy standard will

James Montgomery, co-editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com

New Hampshire, USA-several U.S. Senators be resurrected legislation for a national renewable energy standard (RES), to create the search, while crop changes in some quieter markets more proposed RPS.

Senate S. 1595 by Mark Udall (D-Colorado) and Tom Udall (D - New Mexico) and days later "American renewable energy and efficiency Act" by Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass.), both demand demand a national RES policy proposes to introduce a short-term requirements 6 percent renewable energy adoption (2015 for the Udall Bill 2014 for Markey) gradually increase up to 25 percent by 2025. Both would complement (not override) individual State programs RPS; renewable, include both handed out for purchase (Markey's plan offers a bonus for distributed power generation and renewable energy projects on Indian countries and distributed brownfield sites.). Both quote billions in economic benefits in certain States and communities, energy independence and a cleaner future for all benefits for hundreds of thousands of jobs at the national level.

There was a communication between the Senators offices over these bills before they were started within two days of each other, noted Mike Saccone, Communications Director for Senator Mark Udall.

But there are some differences in the proposals:

Low-impact biomass. Markey's plan calls for use of biomass, that 50 percent greenhouse gas emissions vs. reduced yields a combined cycle natural gas plant (20-year life cycle). "" This distinction between perennial crops and grasses, wood waste and reclaimed wood and tree crowns and branches --vs. cut and burn whole Baume--Associate Director of Government Affairs for the natural resources Defense Council (NRDC) is important, because "All trees are anything but 'CO2-neutral', a major CO2 polluters as coal,", emphasizes Franz Matzner. Markey to track the bill charges of also the EPA, such emission reductions.

Energy efficiency. Markey's Bill also emphasizes energy-efficiency programs through combined heat/electricity, to switch fuel, reducing network losses, codes and standards, and end-use energy efficiency receives from equipment upgrades. Energy companies would have to implement energy efficiency programs that save 1 percent of sales by the year 2015 and cumulative 15 percent of sales by the year 2025 required. Natural gas plants have similar requirements to: half a percent to 2015 and cumulative 10% by the year 2025. U.S. households would such improvements to savings of $49 per year and cumulatively by 2030, adding $90 billion while reducing CO2 emissions by 480 million tons annually up to the year 2025, the corresponding output of 120 coal-fired power plants.

The Udall does not include energy efficiency legislation, but it is introduced as an amendment to the proposed Shaheen-Portman-energy efficiency law. The Bill has garnered welcome broad bipartisan support but has been bogged down in debates over some other changes and other political diversion.

The question of national RPS has come up often in recent years, but there were enough lasting impulses. Udall even hoisted the 25 x 25 banner before, in 2002, while members of the House and later repackaging and reintroduce it the Senate in 2009. Markey, offered in the meantime its own crack on energy efficiency in 2009 with the Waxman-Markey Bill in the House are there many echoes from this proposal in his latest one

It is hard to say, what will get traction a national RPS debate (let because two separate ones), much less in the Senate as the Republican House dominated already in direction to them, before you stopped the current status was unfriendly. In the meantime more than half of U.S. States have developed their own RPS standards and some are their objectives approaches now sooner than planned. RPS policies continue to work and at State levels, repeatedly attempting it in (ALEC et al.) rule fend off popular. But probably more direct accountability of fossil fuels costs and negative effects need always enough momentum behind any national RPS policy, and this should not happen in the current situation.

Senator Mark Udall wants to see that RES "Way present themselves," Saccone adopted, said, whether as an amendment to the Bill Shaheen Portman or as stand-alone legislation-means, or maybe even a combination with the Markey Bill. "We'll certainly be open."

Meanwhile arise some updates on renewable portfolio standards (RPS) at the level of the Federal States:

-Vermont 2011 comprehensive energy mandates plan (CEP) 90% renewable energy by 2050, but the State renewable companies want to push more short-term goals: 20% of total energy consumption from renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by 2020 (the State current renewable energy use lies at about 11 percent, according to renewable energy Vermont, the State non-profits renewable energies Association.) REV wants also an official State renewable portfolio standard (RPS) of Vermont "Goals" for provider dictate integration of renewable energies in their annual electricity retail sales. Other items on the wish list of the REV are Community-scale more solar and wind, a stronger net metering program and a CO2 tax. "This is a demanding and difficult challenge, but we have to start somewhere," said David Blittersdorf, President and CEO of AllEarth renewables.

-Introduced in 2008 in Ohio, SB-221, and in 2012, set changed 12.5 percent RPS by a half percentage point carve-out solar. A new law is now to chip away at the State RPS criteria. SB 58 would substantially rewrite, that these rules: eliminates the requirement of half of this hit in the State include Canadian Hydro and cost caps fit. It would also tweak the language to sanctions optional, if utilities not to make the RPS goals.

-Michigan established 2008 RPS policy is for 10 percent until 2015 under the more robust State, although at that time began to fair Michigan renewable energy its portfolio by a much smaller place. Last year Michigan tried unsuccessfully to expand its RPS, but approaching the target date 2015 a new report shows that a 30% RPS is economically feasible.

Wider political movements over State RPS arise in Midwest States of Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota.

View the original article here