In an age of spineless US Senators, de-investments in education, and other critical causes being put on the chopping block, it’s satisfying to hear that some states are continuing to show leadership.
California has long been the leader in the states for renewable energy. For sixty years, the state has explored solar and wind energy, and numerous clean energy firms have gotten their start in the Golden State. Now California marks their next step into the 21st Century with the passing of the nation’s strongest Renewable Portfolio Standard.
California’s new renewable energy standard, which requires that utilities purchase 33% clean energy by 2020, is now the highest in the nation. California Governor Jerry Brown signed the mandate into law today, once again reassuring the state’s trailblazing position on the clean energy front.
“With this vote,” American Wind Energy Association CEO Denise Bode said in a statement, “public officials have decided to create thousands more jobs for Californians–jobs in manufacturing, construction, operations and maintenance, and other areas. This action is pro-business and pro-California.”
Indeed — the clean energy sector is one of the few that has continued to grow during the recession. The state was actually reportedly already on the verge of meeting the previous RES, which set 20% clean energy as the standard. Hoping to continue to spur investment in the industry, policymakers bumped up the bar once again.
Here’s the list of state renewable energy standards: (note, the following means that electric utilities in Arizona, for example, will have to get 15% their power from renewable sources)
Arizona: ………………15% by 2025California: …………..33% by 2030Colorado: ……………30% by 2020Connecticut: ……….23% by 2020D.C.: …………………….20% by 2020Delaware: ……………20% by 2019Hawaii: ……………… .20% by 2020Illinois: ………………..25% by 2025Iowa: ……………………105 MWMassachusetts: ……15% by 2020Maryland: ……………20% by 2022Maine: ………………….40% by 2017Michigan: …………….10% by 2015Minnesota: …………..25% by 2025Missouri: ……………..15% by 2021Montana: ……………..15% by 2015New Hampshire: …23.8% by 2025New Jersey: …………22.5% by 2021New Mexico: ……….20% by 2020Nevada: ……………….20% by 2015New York: …………..24% by 2013North Carolina: ….12.5% by 2021North Dakota:* …..10% by 2015Oregon: ……………….25% by 2025Pennsylvania: ………8% by 2020Rhode Island: ……..16% by 2019South Dakota*: ……10% by 2015Texas: ………………….5,880 MW by 2015Utah*: …………………20% by 2025Vermont*: ………….10% by 2013Virginia*: …………..12% by 2022Washington: ………15% by 2020Wisconsin: …………10% by 2015
(* denotes a state with a voluntary standard)
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