U.S. States With Renewable Power Standards

[RestoreGore]

My personal opinion is that anything beyond 2009-2010 in beginning to address this and anything below 30-40% is not enough, but I am very gratified to see 23 states joining in doing something. I wish they were all like Massachusetts time wise though, because we do need to get this online in all states by at least 2009. Although 4% is too low (depending on of course population, amount of industry, and other factors,) so it does seem like even though states are doing something they are still afraid to push the envelope because of pressure from utility companies and other interests. That's why we need citizens who live in all states to start applying pressure to their legislatures and to work with businessses to adopt greener strategies and practices that will lead to more investment in greener technologies and demand for such power. This is a pretty good start, but we have much more to do.


http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/40496/story.htm

USA: February 23, 2007


Twenty-three of the 50 US states have established "renewable portfolio standards" that, depending on the state, are either guidelines or rules regarding the share of renewable power generation of electricity delivered to customers.


The following list is not a direct comparison because the definition of renewable power varies by state.

Comparisons may not be proportional. For instance, New York requires 24 percent renewables by 2013, including large hydropower generation, which currently accounts for 19 percent of power consumed in the state, while California's 20 percent standard by 2010 does not count large hydropower projects in place now. Large US hydropower projects are considered a mature source of energy and are not significantly expanding.

The following table shows states with renewable energy portfolio standards, compiled by the North Carolina State University's Solar Center.

STATE STANDARD BY YEAR

Iowa 105 megawatts 1983

Maine 1% more annually to 10% by 2017

Massachusetts 4% 2009

California 20% 2010

Connecticut 10% 2010

New Mexico 10% 2011

* Vermont 10% 2013

New York 24% 2013

* Illinois 8% 2013

Nevada 20% 2015

Montana 15% 2015

Colorado 10% 2015

Wisconsin 10% 2015

Texas 5,880 new MW by 2015

Delaware 10% 2019

Maryland 7.50% 2019

Hawaii 20% 2020

Pennsylvania 18% 2020

Rhode Island 15% 2020

Washington 15% 2020

New Jersey 22.50% 2021

Washington,D.C. 11% 2022

Minnesota 25% 2025

Arizona 15% 2025


* A renewable portfolio goal, which is voluntary, as opposed to a renewable portfolio standard, which is generally enforced by a state regulatory agency.

Maine has goal to increase the share of renewable power by 10 percent by 2017.

A megawatt, by US average, can power about 800 homes, but the number is lower for areas with high air-conditioning use, such as Arizona and Florida, where a megawatt can power about 400 homes.