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Clear Renewable Energy

Bill Kloepfer

Clear Renewable Energy

Twenty-three states have already enacted legislation that requires their utilities to obtain a certain percentage of their electric power from renewable sources or increased energy efficiency.  Renewable sources include wind, solar, micro-hydro, animal waste and landfill methane.  Increased energy efficiency must be the result of a physical change to a building or equipment that results in a permanent reduction in demand for power.  These laws are typically referred to as a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) or a Renewable Energy and Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS).  In the states that have already passed this legislation, the standard has typically been set between 10 and 20 percent. However, New York has a 25% standard, Maine and Minnesota have a 30% standard and California is considering enacting a 33% standard.

In the current session of the North Carolina Legislature bills to establish a renewable standard for North Carolina has been introduced in both the House and Senate.  House Bill 77 would require utilities to supply 20% of their power from renewable sources or increased efficiency by 2021.  Senate Bill 3 is similar but sets the renewable and efficiency standard at only 10%.  The Sierra Club believes that the higher standard specified in the House version is obtainable, appropriate and necessary if our state is going to make a significant effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

The co-sponsors of Senate Bill 3 from the Cypress area are Senators Charles Albertson and Clark Jenkins. 

The co-sponsors of House Bill 77 from the Cypress area include Representatives Van Braxton, Marian McLawhorn, Timothy Spear, Alice Underhill, Edith Warren, and Arthur Williams.