In recent weeks, states have continued to find their way down the road to energy independence without any leadership from the federal government. Here are some of the big stories.
Utah Creates Renewable Portfolio Standard
Though not as strong as the standards put forth by states like California and Colorado, Utah created its own renewable portfolio standard that sets a 20% renewable energy goal for municipal and privately owned utilities by 2025. The catch is, the bill signed by Governor Jon Huntsman adjusts the base 20% against power generated by nuclear power and coal plants using carbon capture and sequestration. In addition, it sets no interim targets and imposes the requirements only if they are "cost effective."
Tim Wagner of the Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club said the bill accomplishes little more than codifying what major Utah utilities already planned to do. "This bill is so fuzzy in terms of who it is really protecting," he said.
Colorado Bill Finances Renewable Energy Systems
Colorado is following a model set by Berkeley, California that would allow home owners and business to pay for renewable energy systems, like solar and wind turbines, though assessments on their property taxes.
The state House passed The Clean Energy Home Financing Act by a vote of 63 to 1. It allows cities and counties to provide low- and no-interest loans for upfront costs on renewable energy systems that would be repaid through property Liens.
Clean Energy Wisconsin Plan Launches
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle launched his Clean Energy Wisconsin plan at the end of las month that includes generating 25% of electricity and fuels for cars and trucks from renewable sources by the year 2025, capturing 10% of the market share for renewable energy and bioproducts, and utilizing the state’s capability for research. The state currently has a renewable portfolio standard in place that requires 10% of the state’s electricity to come from renewable resources by 2015.
“This year our state will launch a $150 million energy independence fund,” Doyle said. “April 1 begins the first round of applications to this fund. And we expect to award about $15 million annually to find new ways to free us from foreign oil.”
Kansas CO2 Tax Shenanigans
In a strange turn of events the Kansas House passed a proposal to add a $37 carbon dioxide tax for utilities to an existing bill and then turned around and voted against the bill the following day.
The Associated Press reported the proposal was drafted in such a way that it probably would have been applied only to the Board of Public Utilities in Kansas City. Some suggested the proposal was designed to punish legislators from Wyandotte County who opposed two new coal-fired power plants in Southwest Kansas.
The proposal was put forward by three Republicans who supported the coal-fired plant. They say it was a sincere attempt to address greenhouse gas emissions, but some Democrats an environmental watchdogs said it was just another move in the ongoing tug-o’-war between coal supporters and Governor Sebelius’ administration.
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