analysis
Clean Power Surge: Ranking the States
In this April 2000 UCS report, we rank state commitments to increasing renewable electricity use based on a variety of different measures. Below is an excerpt from the report's executive summary. You can also view the full report (PDF) and July 2000 Errata.
The rankings include the states' accomplishments in supporting new and existing renewable electricity generation and capacity, increasing the renewables share of state electricity use, providing funding to support renewables, and other notable achievements. In addition to highlighting the states that have made the strongest commitments, we also identify the states that have failed to provide support for renewables.
States have adopted four main approaches to promoting renewable electricity development:
- Renewable Electricity Standards
- Renewable Electricity Funds
- Net Metering
- Disclosure of Fuels and Emissions
Based on the rankings below, we have issued awards to top states in each category. We have also issued awards to a number of states for particular accomplishments. Most of the awards have gone to Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas, New Jersey, Minnesota, and California. In general, these six states have made the biggest commitments to developing new renewables.
And the winners are
Renewable Electricity Standards
- Most New Renewables as a Share of Total Electricity Sales: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Minnesota
- Most New and Existing Renewables as a Share of Total Electricity Sales: Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts.
Renewable Electricity Funds
- Most Total Funding for Renewables: California, Massachusetts, Connecticut
- Highest Long-term Funding per Kilowatt-Hour: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey
- Highest Annual Average Funding per Kilowatt-Hour Over Life of Fund: Connecticut, California, Massachusetts
- Biggest New Renewables Markets: Texas, Minnesota, Massachusetts
- Biggest New and Existing Renewables Markets: Texas, Massachusetts, New Jersey
Net Metering
- Best Net Metering Policies: Iowa, Ohio
Disclosure
- Strongest Disclosure Rules and Label: Illinois
- Requiring Disclosure Outside of Comprehensive Electricity Restructuring: Florida, Colorado
Green Power Choice
- Most New Renewables Installed: California, Colorado, Oregon
- Most New Renewables Planned: Texas, California, New York
- Most Active Competitive Markets: Pennsylvania, California
- Most Active Regulated and Public Utility Markets: Colorado, Wisconsin
Special Awards
- Strongest Commitment to Renewables Outside of Electricity Restructuring: Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin
- Biggest Commitment to New Solar: Nevada
- Biggest Commitment to New Biomass: Minnesota
- Biggest Commitment to New Wind: Minnesota
- Largest Wind Farm in the World: Iowa, Minnesota
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Errata July, 2000
On page 5 and page 13, the report indicates that new state renewables commitments will reduce as much carbon dioxide as "...taking 3.4 million cars off the road or planting 816 million trees covering an area the size of Maryland and Delaware combined." This text should be replaced with "...taking 2.7 million cars off the road or planting 834 million trees covering an area slightly larger than the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined."
On page 9, the report indicates that new and existing state renewables commitments will reduce as much carbon dioxide as planting 1.2 billion trees, taking up an area the size of New Hampshire and Vermont combined. This should be replaced with 1.4 billion trees, taking up an area larger than the size of Maryland.
The information on renewable electricity funds does not include three additional sources of funding that are available in Illinois. First, the Illinois Clean Energy Community Trust Fund will provide $225 million to encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy development in the state. The Trust will be funded through a one-time payment by Commonwealth Edison as a public interest environmental condition of its proposed coal plant sale and as part of legislation approved by the Illinois General Assembly and by Governor Ryan on June 30, 1999. No decisions have been made yet to determine how much of the funding will be allocated to renewable energy. Second, Commonwealth Edison has also agreed to spend an additional $12 million on photovoltaics over the next 5 years. Third, the City of Chicago Energy Reliability and Capacity Account will provide $100 million over the next 4 years for energy efficiency and some renewable energy projects. back to top | |
