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MADISON, Wisconsin, US, April 26, 2006
(Refocus Weekly)
Raising a renewable portfolio standard in the
state of Wisconsin will create 2,160 new jobs, 960 more than
generating electricity from fossil fuels, concludes a study from the
Union of Concerned Scientists.
The current RPS requires 2.2% of the state’s electricity to come
from wind, bioenergy and solar power by 2011, but legislation will
boost that level to 10% by 2015, explains ‘Increasing Wisconsin’s
Renewable Electricity Standard: Benefits to Consumers, Workers &
Rural Communities.’ The increase would provide a significant source
of new income for rural areas, help stabilize energy bills, and
provide more revenues for school districts, it concludes.
“Producing 10% of our electricity from home-grown renewable sources
will be a win for workers, consumers, the environment, and
especially rural communities," explains Chris Deisinger of UCS.
“This is a start on achieving true energy independence.”
The RPS upgrade is consistent with the recommendations of a task
force on renewables and energy efficiency created by governor Jim
Doyle, which was a bi-partisan multi-stakeholder group of
legislators, utilities, companies and environmental organizations.
Raising the RPS to 10% by 2015 will create 2,160 new jobs, US$1.3
billion in new capital investment, $31 million in new tax revenues
for local communities and school districts, and $21.5 million in
lease payments to farmers and rural landowners from wind turbines.
At most, it would result in a “very modest increase in electricity
bills” of 18¢ per month per family by 2011, with net savings after
2017. If federal incentives for green power are extended or policies
are enacted to limit global warming pollution from power plants, the
10% level could save consumers $100 million per year by 2020 or 80¢
per month for each household.
“Increasing renewable energy use reduces air and global warming
pollution generated by fossil fuel power plants while helping to
protect consumers from rising energy bills,” adds Steve Clemmer of
UCS. “Because Wisconsin has the technical potential to produce
almost three times its electricity needs from clean renewable energy
sources, setting standards and building toward that potential is
good economic and public health policy.”
While the 10% standard would more than triple renewable generation
over current levels in Wisconsin by 2015, “it represents a modest
step in developing this abundant potential,” the report explains.
Wisconsin would develop 1,750 MW of new green power capacity by
2015, sufficient for 850,000 homes, of which 95% would be installed
in the state.
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