Contents

1. UCS predicts a milestone in carbon pollution reduction
2. Momentum builds for strong national renewable electricity standard
3. UCS campaigns for renewable electricity standards in MI, OR, and NH
4. UCS releases new renewable electricity standard toolkit
5. UCS activists promote key renewable energy incentive
6. EnergyNet available for energy activists

Summary

With state renewable electricity standards—legislation requiring utilities to provide a certain percentage of energy from renewable sources—expected to curb global warming pollution by as much as taking 17.7 million cars off the road, momentum is building for Congress to pass a national standard. To help advocates and activists be even more effective in state and federal policy, UCS released a new, online renewable energy standard toolkit. Be sure to check out this cool, new feature today!

UCS Predicts a Milestone in Carbon Pollution Reduction

Over many years, UCS activists have provided crucial public support for passing and raising renewable energy standards in 21 states and the District of Columbia. Already this year, Minnesota, New Mexico, Colorado, and Maryland have significantly boosted their renewable electricity standards. These expansions reflect a growing trend in state level renewable electricity standard policy as 10 states have now increased or accelerated their requirements since 2005.

As a result of these state renewable standards, UCS projects that states are on track to reduce their global warming emissions by 108 million metric tons (MMT) of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 2020, an amount equivalent to taking 17.7 million cars off the road. The recent clean energy victories in Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Maryland, which together account for 20 MMT of CO2 reductions by 2020, helped put the states over the 100 MMT milestone.

By 2020, UCS also projects the state standards will produce more than 46,000 megawatts of clean, renewable power—enough to meet the needs of 28.5 million typical homes. State renewable electricity standards are expanding, with at least 10 more states—including California, Illinois, Michigan, and Oregon—considering adopting a requirement or raising existing targets. The success of state renewable electricity standards is helping build momentum for a federal standard of 20 percent by 2020.

Momentum Builds for a Strong National Renewable Electricity Standard

In Washington, UCS has been promoting strong national renewable electricity standards that would increase renewable energy output nearly four times over current state standards. Activists have already been critical in gathering early support for strong standards in the House and Senate. Constituents will also need to let their representatives know they don’t want good renewable standards diluted with loopholes or converted to promote nuclear power or coal.

In the House, Representatives Tom Udall (D-NM) and Todd Platts (R-PA) introduced a 20 percent by 2020 renewable electricity standard, HR 969. UCS analysis in 2004 found that a 20 percent standard would create 355,000 jobs, increase farm income by $16 billion, save consumers $49 billion, and reduce global warming pollution by 15 percent from business as usual. In the days after the introduction of the Udall-Platts bill, more than 11,000 UCS activists sent messages urging their representatives to co-sponsor it. In addition to making phone calls in many states, UCS activists in six states met with their representatives over the Easter recess and asked them to co-sponsor the bill.  The bill currently has 73 co-sponsors.

In the Senate, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), chair of the Energy Committee and a renewable energy champion, has said he will support a 15 percent renewable standard. In mid-April, more than 18,000 activists sent messages to their senators urging them to support a strong and clean standard, free of any incentives for nuclear power or coal.

UCS Campaigns for Renewable Electricity Standards in MI, OR, and NH

UCS staff, consultants, and activists are supporting three on-going renewable energy standard campaigns in MI, OR, and NH. Following Washington voters’ decision last fall to adopt a 15 percent by 2020 renewable energy standard, OR is pressing ahead to pass a 25 percent by 2025 standard. On April 10, the state senate approved the bill by a 20-10 margin; action in the state house is expected soon. Advocates in MI are pushing a short- and a long-term renewable standard, of 10 percent by 2015 and 20 percent by 2020. The New Hampshire house passed a renewable energy standard, and the senate is expected to pass it.  We’ll alert our activists in those states when their help is needed to pass or protect the bills.

UCS Releases New Renewable Electricity Standard Toolkit

To help track and compare the myriad state standards, UCS has developed a new, one-stop resource, the Renewable Electricity Standards Toolkit.The toolkit includes summaries of all 22 standards as well as maps illustrating existing standards and projections for future renewable energy development. In addition, the toolkit features a database with detailed information about state standards ranging from how renewable energy technologies are defined to how standards are enforced. The toolkit makes it easy to evaluate how the standards compare with each other overall and on key elements, and to access the standards themselves.

UCS Activists Promote Key Renewable Energy Incentive

UCS activists have been promoting another key incentive for renewable energy, a renewable energy tax credit.  The production tax credit (PTC) is the fastest way to spur investment in renewable energy systems. The PTC makes renewables competitive with fossil fuels by giving developers a 1.9 cent credit for each kilowatt hour of renewable energy they generate. Periodic expiration of the legislation has made investors wary and led to a "boom-and-bust" investment cycle. Renewable energy developers, who may depend on the PTC to improve a facility's cost effectiveness, need assurance that the credit will still be available to them when the facility is completed. HR 197 would extend the tax credit for five years. Combined with the market created by the national renewable electricity standard, the long-term extension of the PTC would provide investors the security they need to invest in renewable energy.  More than 7,500 UCS activists asked
their representatives to co-sponsor this critical bill.

EnergyNet Available for Energy Activists

Interested in taking the next steps to promote renewable energy, efficiency, and other global warming solutions? If so, EnergyNet may be for you. EnergyNet provides readers with information, analysis, and leadership. We share practical solutions for growing the economy, reducing our emissions, generating clean energy, and creating good jobs.

EnergyNet is for you if you are an energy activist, an energy expert, a landowner or farmer interested in installing a turbine or methane digester, or if you work on energy issues as a reporter, regulator, or advocate. Join EnergyNet today!