Legislature's Vote To Raise Renewable Energy Requirement Will Boost Air Quality And The Economy

(14 July - Austin)  The Texas House of Representatives Thursday passed a bill that will require Texas utility companies to get more of their electric power from low- or non-polluting “renewable” energy sources such as wind, hydroelectric, solar or biomass.

“This is a big deal,” explained Jim Marston, director of the Texas office of Environmental Defense, a national non-profit advocacy group.  “It will keep Texas moving forward in the shift to cleaner power.  It will improve our air quality and give a boost to the burgeoning alternative energy industry in Texas.” 

Texas’ current “renewable portfolio standard” (RPS) requires utility companies to use renewable sources for at least 2,880 megawatts of electrical power annually by 2009, a target that may well be met this year, well ahead of schedule. The bill sent to the governor by the legislature on Thursday will more than double the requirement to 5,880 megawatts annually by 2015.

“Texas has plenty of wind and sunshine,” Marston said. “The more wind and sunshine we use right here at home, the less coal we need to import from Montana and Wyoming. Renewable energy is a homegrown industry with enormous potential for Texas. The RPS is good for our Texas economy as well as our lungs, and the higher RPS requirement will give utility companies the signal they’re been waiting for that Texas is serious about promoting clean energy.

“We’re grateful to Senator Troy Fraser and Representatives Phil King, David Swinford and Bob Hunter for their leadership on this issue,” Marston added.  “And we thank Governor Perry for adding it to the special session agenda.”

Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 400,000 members.  Since 1967, Environmental Defense has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems.

www.environmentaldefense.org