Are Feed-in Tariffs a Possibility in California?

[jpak]

http://www.renewableaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50748

In a dramatic about face from previous policy, the California Energy Commission is expected today to recommend that the state adopt feed-in tariffs to spur renewable energy development.

The recommendation is contained within the Energy Commission's 2007 Integrated Energy Policy Report. The Energy Commission is expected to approve the report December 5 at its regularly-scheduled meeting.

The 300-page report concludes in part that the state's current programs have failed to deliver significant amounts of new renewable generation and California will not meet its renewable energy objectives unless corrective action is taken soon.

Feed-in tariffs are widely used in Europe, notably in Germany, France, and Spain.

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[Oerdin]

1. D.O.A.

Out of state energy producers will sue and win claiming the state tariffs are an unconstitutional restriction on interstate commerce. Only out of country energy could be tariffed and by law those tariffs must be set by the Congress and not individual states. This proposal is D.O.A..

How on Earth could you not know this?

[happyslug]

2. This is NOT a Tariff on imports, but a fee to the PRODUCERS of such power

Thus this has nothing to do with the Constitutional provision against tariff between the states (Which would be a TAX on imported energy, which is NOT what is being discussed).

The problem is the term "Tariff" is the term used by many state Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) for the fee utilities can charge, NOT a tax on imported energy (Which would be unconstitutional, but that is NOT the Tariff being set in this proposed law). Such PUC "Tariffs" are set every day by State Public Utility Commissions (PUCs), that is the term used by Public Utilities when it it set WHAT YOU PAY THE UTILITIES for Utility Service.

Furthermore, all California has to do to permit out of state energy producers to get the same "Tariff" if the power gets to California (Remember this is a fee to be paid by California NOT a fee to be collected by California). Since the issue is Renewable sources of Power the state can impose any reasonable restriction it seem fit, including reserving it to California only.

My point is simple, this is NOT the type of Tariff banned in the US Constitution.

[jpak]

3. L .O . L .

:evilgrin: