A new study finds that the 15% renewable electricity standard (REC) currently under consideration in energy bill legislation before Congress, would save Amercans billions of dollars on their energy bills and would meaningfully reduce global warming pollution.
The analysis, “Cashing in on Clean Energy”, by the Union of Concerned Scientists, found the REC would:
–Save $13-$18 billion in lower electricity and natural gas bills by 2020, with the savings growing to $27.7-$31.8 billion by 2030.
–Cut energy bills in every state.
–Cut global warming pollution by the equivalent of the emissions from 13.7-20.6 million cars.
–Produce enough renewable electricity to supply 68 million American homes with clean energy.
“With this renewable electricity standard, Congress would give Americans three gifts: lower electric bills, cleaner air, and more homegrown energy,” said Marchant Wentworth, Washington representative with UCS’s Clean Energy Program. “When you combine this renewables requirement with one that would force automakers to produce more fuel-efficient cars, the bill would represent a big step forward in addressing the threat of global warming.”
The national renewable electricity standard provision that passed the House would require utilities to supply 15 percent of their power from wind, bioenergy, solar or geothermal power by 2020. States could meet a quarter of their obligation through energy efficiency measures. Currently, about 2.5 percent of the country’s power supply comes from non-hydroelectric renewable sources.
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