Proposals to introduce a nation-wide 15% renewable portfolio standard that would require US utility companies to source a fixed percentage of the energy from renewable sources has provoked fierce debate.
As the Senate takes up a procedural motion to begin debate on energy which is expected to see a Democratic RPS amendment added, Pete Domenici, ranking Republican member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, has announced that Florida has become the latest state to join the chorus of disapproval. The Florida State Public Service Commission argues that a one-size-fits-all approach would create a disadvantage for the state, joining nine other southeastern states which oppose a federal RPS due to a lack of natural resources in the region.
Domenici said that while he believes any mechanism must take into account the variety of resources available to individual states, adding “If the Senate takes up an RPS, I plan on proposing a Clean Portfolio Standard (CPS) amendment that will include more clean energy resources like nuclear, hydropower and efficiency standards, in an effort to bring more states into the fold and reduce our emissions.” Under the proposed federal RPS, a much smaller set of resources would be allowed to meet targets.
More than 24 states already have individual RPS standards and Dominici’s opposite number, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman, welcomed a letter from a large group of supporters including GE, BP America and others such as utilities Edison International and Pacific Gas & Electric, who are urging Congress to pass a national RPS this year.
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