Action call: Renewable Power Standards and the Senate

[pberq]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/6/8/125413/8526

The Senate is considering, amid all the energy legislation, instituting a nation-wide renewable power standard (RPS).

...

CRITICAL to moving toward a prosperous and sustainable energy future.

Take two minutes ... just 2 minutes ... to write your Senators to urge them to support a minimum of a 15 percent RPS by 2020 ...

What is a Renewable Power Standard?

The Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a flexible, market-driven policy that can ensure that the public benefits of wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal energy continue to be recognized as electricity markets become more competitive. The policy ensures that a minimum amount of renewable energy is included in the portfolio of electricity resources serving a state or country, and -- by increasing the required amount over time -- the RPS can put the electricity industry on a path toward increasing sustainability. Because it is a market standard, the RPS relies almost entirely on the private market for its implementation. Market implementation will result in competition, efficiency and innovation that will deliver renewable energy at the lowest possible cost.

In short, an RPS provides guidance to electric utilities as to what percentage of their power (at a minimum) must be derived from renewable resources. The utilities, in essence, can then determine how best to meet that renewable power requirement. And, all consumers share in the costs (if they exist) to reach that renewable power generation level, just as they share in the benefits (such as reduced pollution and economic development).

(Much more at link)

[jpak]

1. K&R

n/t

[MasonJar]

2. Writing Bunning and MCConnell about anything sensible is useless, but I will anyway.