HARRISBURG - By the year 2020, 18 percent of Pennsylvania's energy will have to come from alternative sources - such as wind, solar and waste coal - under a bill passed Saturday night by the House and Senate.
Gov. Ed Rendell made passing the Alternative Energy Portfolio Standards Act one of his top priorities in the legislative session that ended early this morning.
Environmentalists have heralded the new energy standards as a way for the state to wean itself from a dependence on fossil fuel.
But on the way to approving the act by a comfortable 161-35 margin in the House - 32-15 in the Senate - some lawmakers warned the bill was too ahead of its time.
"This bill needs additional work," said Thomas Stevenson, R-42 (Allegheny). "It will result in higher energy costs."
Thomas said he is also worried that the bill will have a bigger impact on high-volume users, such as manufacturers, and would put Pennsylvania at a competitive disadvantage with states that don't have similar standards.
But his fellow Republican, Rep. Carole Rubley, R-157 (Chester), shot back that 19 other states already do have standards for using more alternative energy sources and that another 11 states have stated goals.
"We will see the reduction of nitrous oxides and sulfur dioxides and improve the environment," she said.
"It will allow Pennsylvania to be competitive in attracting new energy-related businesses that in turn will create jobs."
The bill, which Rendell has 30 days to sign into law, will implement the 18 percent requirement in stages over 15 years.
In addition to wind, solar and waste coal, other alternative energy sources covered by the new standards include geothermal energy, coal mine methane, biomass energy and fuel cells.
Rick Martinez can be reached at (717) 705-6330 or rmartinez@calkins-media.com
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