National Renewable Electricity Standard Campaign
Updates, resources, and how you can help ensure
clean, renewable energy for America.
A strong national renewable electricity standard (RES) would reduce
global warming pollution, create “green” jobs, and save consumers
money. An RES would require utilities to generate an increasing
percentage of their electricity from clean, renewable resources such as
the sun, wind, heat from the planet’s interior, and plant and animal
waste.
Contents:
1.
UCS analysis of the benefits of a strong RES
2.
Action: Steps you can take to help pass a strong RES
3.
History and Congressional Update (Senate
and
House of Representatives)
4.
More information
- Currently, twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia have
enacted enforceable renewable electricity standards. However, a
strong federal-level RES would create a national market for
renewable energy and would lead to additional renewable energy
generation. Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) analysis shows that
a 25 percent RES would create a large and growing market for clean,
renewable sources of energy like solar, wind, geothermal, and
bioenergy. According to UCS analysis, a 25% national RES would:
- save consumers $64.3 billion by 2025 and $95.5 billion by 2030
in their electricity and natural gas bills;
- create 297,000 new, green jobs;
- produce $263.4 billion in new capital investment; and
- take the equivalent of 45.3 million cars off the road through
reducing the global warming pollution from power plants.
The creation of a renewable energy market through an RES is crucial for
the development of renewable energy technology and is a key component of
energy and climate legislation.
Thousands of UCS members and others are telling their senators and
representatives in Washington that they want to increase renewable
energy generation and reduce our dependence on dirty energy sources like
coal. Here are three quick and easy steps you, too, can take to help
pass a strong renewable electricity standard:
Status in
Congress
Since 2002, the U.S. Senate has passed an RES bill three times.
In 2007 and again in 2009, the House of Representatives passed an RES.
However, a federal RES has never been passed through both houses of
congress.
Senate
In June 2009, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee passed the
American Clean Energy Leadership Act (ACELA), which contains an RES
requirement of 15 percent by 2021. Approximately three percent of that
goal may be met through energy efficiency measures.
In addition to its low standard, UCS believes the ACELA RES has other
serious shortcomings. UCS
analysis details how the various provisions weaken in the senate RES
lower the renewable energy generation to levels at or below business as
usual.
A separate bill (S. 433) introduced by Senators Tom and Mark Udall that
establishes a 25% RES by 2025 has been referred to the Senate
Environment and Natural Resources Committee.
Early in 2010, the senate is expected to consider an energy and climate
bill that includes an RES.
See more information on the
National Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) Senate Status.
House of
Representatives
In June 2009, the House of Representatives passed an RES as part of a
comprehensive climate and energy bill (H.R. 2454), the American Clean
Energy and Security Act (ACES). Originally H.R. 890, the RES as passed
was nominally a 20 percent by 2020 standard, but was weakened with
various utilities exemptions and other provisions. UCS and our coalition
are working to strengthen ACES and the RES as it moves to the Senate.
See more information on the
National Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) House Status.
Clean Energy, Green Jobs (2009)
What is a Renewable Electricity Standard and how does it work?
National Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) Senate Status
National Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) House Status
See the benefits
for the Southeastern United States
Key Driver of Renewable Energy:
Experts Agree: Renewable Electricity Standards are a Key Driver of New
Renewable Energy Development
Global Warming Solution:
Mitigating Global Warming—Renewable Electricity Standards
Text of S. 1462 (Bingaman bill)
Text of S. 433 (Udall Bill)
Text of S. 1733 (Boxer-Kerry Bill)
Text of H.R. 890
Text of H.R. 2454 (ACES)
The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading U.S.
science-based nonprofit organization working for a healthy environment and a
safer world. Founded in 1969, UCS is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts,
and also has offices in Berkeley, Chicago and Washington, D.C. To subscribe or
visit go to: http://www.ucsusa.org
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