States in U.S. reach renewable energy milestone

From Renewable Energy Access...

Renewable Electricity Standards Toolkit

"The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) projects that 21 states and the District of Columbia that have adopted renewable electricity standards are on track to reduce their global warming emissions by 108 MMT of carbon dioxide by 2020.

By 2020, the UCS projects the state standards will produce more than 46,000 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable power, enough to meet the needs of 28.5 million typical homes. State renewable electricity standards are expanding, with at least 10 more states considering adopting a requirement or raising existing targets.

The success of state renewable energy standards is helping build momentum for a federal standard of 20 percent renewable energy by 2020. The federal standard would increase renewable energy output nearly four times over current state standards.

To help track and compare state standards, UCS has developed a new, one-stop resource, the Renewable Electricity Standards Toolkit, which includes summaries of all 22 standards, as well as maps illustrating existing standards and projections for future renewable energy development. It offers a database with detailed information about state standards, ranging from how renewable energy technologies are defined to how standards are enforced."

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Videos: Business responds to climate change

From Sea Studios Foundation via RenewableEnergyAccess.com...

"Across the U.S., an increasing number of businesses are becoming serious about addressing climate change. The Sea Studios Foundation recently launched a short film illustrating how major corporations are investing time and money in energy efficiency and renewable energy."

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Utility adds more renewable geothermal energy

From Pacific Gas and Electric Company...

Enough renewable electricity for more than 125,000 PG&E customers

"Pacific Gas and Electric Company announced it has entered into contracts with IAE Truckhaven I, LLC and Northwest Geothermal Company to purchase up to a total of 169 megawatts (MW) of renewable geothermal energy resources to help meet its customers’ future electricity needs. Electric generation from these renewable energy resources will provide enough power to supply more than 125,000 PG&E customers.

The addition of this geothermal generation further adds to PG&E’s diverse and renewable energy resources and ensures that more than thirty percent of our northern and central California customers’ energy needs will come from hydroelectricity and renewable sources,” said Fong Wan, vice president of Energy Procurement. “These new resources will add to a generating portfolio that already has one of the lowest rates of air emissions in the country....

California’s RPS Program requires each utility to increase its procurement of eligible renewable generating resources by 1% of load per year to achieve a 20% renewables goal. These two contracts increase PG&E’s 2005 RFO procurement to approximately 2.5% of load, 2.5 times the annual target. The RPS Program was passed by the Legislature and is managed by California’s Public Utilities Commission and Energy Commission."

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National RPS Bill Introduced on Capitol Hill

From RenewableEnergyAccess.com...

"New legislation that would require many U.S. utilities to generate 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy resources by 2020 was introduced yesterday by Congressman Tom Udall of New Mexico..."

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GEA: Nevada Boosts Geothermal Output

From the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA)...

"Nevada is now on-track to be producing over 1000 MW of geothermal power, quadrupling its current geothermal output -- over the next 3 to 5 years. This level of geothermal production would meet roughly 25% of the state's total power needs."

What has facilitated this surge in geothermal developement? The report cites four factors: (RPS) Renewable Portfolio Standard in the state of Nevada, (PTC) Federal Production Tax Credits, (BLM) Bureau of Land Management administration of leases, and (DOE) Dept. of Energy technical assistance and cost-shared drilling.

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Mass. Governor Signs Greenhouse Gas Initiative

From the Boston Globe...

"Massachusetts power plant owners will have to pay a penalty for every pound of emissions that contribute to global warming under an agreement signed by Governor Deval Patrick..."

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