Rhode Island Clean Power Boost

US state almost triples renewables standard to 40% by 2035

Rhode Island has nearly tripled the state’s renewable energy standard to 40% by 2035, up from 14.5% by 2019.

Governor Gina Raimondo signed the legislation into law this week.

“By raising its renewable energy standard, Rhode Island is sending the signal that it’s open for business to renewable energy developers who will invest billions of dollars into the state economy,” said American Wind Energy Association CEO Tom Kiernan.

According to the Wind Energy Foundation, growing wind power in Rhode Island could result in $240m in electricity bill savings by 2050 and up to $744m in savings through lower gas prices.

Rhode Island joins a growing number of states, including California, Oregon, Vermont and Hawaii, raising their existing renewable energy laws.

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Bill Passed Increasing Renewable Energy Standard for Rural Cooperatives in Colorado

Colorado's renewable energy standard for rural cooperative electric utilities will increase from 10 percent to 20 percent by 2020 under Senate Bill 252, which was signed into law on June 6, 2013, by Governor John Hickenlooper. The new law requires rural co-ops with more than 100,000 meters and utilities that generate and supply electricity on behalf of member co-ops to get 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020.

R.I. Renewable Energy Laws Among the Best

While adapting to a changing climate is important, it’s perhaps even more important that we make a commitment to addressing the root causes of climate change. Scientists agree that many chemical compounds found in the atmosphere act as greenhouse gases. These gases allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely. When sunlight strikes the Earth’s surface, some of it is reflected back toward space as infrared radiation — heat.

Reworked energy bill goes to AZ Senate

A Senate panel approved renewable energy legislation Wednesday that its sponsor conceded is designed to provoke a new legal fight with the Arizona Corporation Commission.

Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Glendale, agreed to scrap her original proposal, which would have required the utility panel to get the approval of lawmakers and the governor for any change in rules. An attorney for the Legislature said such a move is unconstitutional.

Her new version of HB 2789 simply says that utilities cannot be forced to obtain more of their power from renewable sources than the current commission mandate of 15 percent by 2025.

Lesko said she believes this simpler version avoids all of the legal problems her first version created by giving one branch of government veto power over the rules of another branch. At the same time, she said, it keeps the regulators from expanding the requirement.