I wanted to let you know what's going on with the Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) part of the aggressive "Energy Bill 2007" that my consortium and I are trying to into law. I have been focusing on CAFE Standards, 35 mpg by 2020, but there is also a renewable energy component that would increase the proportion of solar, wind, and others, to 15% by 2020. Don't ferget to please sign our petition over at http://www.energybill2007.org, if you would be so kind!
Analysis of the House-passed 15% by 2020 Renewable Electricity Standard
In August 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives passed energy legislation (H.R. 3221) that included a 15 percent by 2020 national standard. Although the Senate passed an energy bill in June 2007 that did not include a national standard, it has supported the policy three times since 2002 (most recently in June 2005). House and Senate negotiators will have to decide whether to include a national standard in the final bill. UCS updated our July 2007 Cashing In on Clean Energy analysis to examine the effects of the House-passed standard and found that it would provide the following benefits:
Consumer Savings
$13 billion to $18.1 billion in lower electricity and natural gas bills by 2020 (growing to $27.7 billion to $31.8 billion by 2030)
Energy Diversity
Increase in clean, renewable energy capacity to between 3.6 and 4.5 times over 2005 levels
Climate Solutions
Reductions in global warming pollution equal to taking between 13.7 and 20.6 million cars off the road
Download the updated Cashing In on Clean Energy analysis including a breakout of consumer energy bill savings by state.
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