Thursday, May 29, 2003

ELPC just came out with an editorial statement supporting a Renewable Energy Standard (RPS) proposal before the Illinois legislature. What this is, is a requirement of Illinois utilities by law to produce a specified percentage of their generated electricity from renewable sources within a specified time frame. In this case, 5% by 2010, and 15% by 2020.

Two important links; The Chicago Tribune's May 28th 2003 Story on the RPS proposal, and the ELPC's page where you can e-mail your state legislators in support of the Illinois RPS proposal. I strongly urge you to support this proposal for the good of our state, region, nation, and world.

As reported by the ELPC, Wisconsin's Governor, James Doyle, proposed a Wisconsin RPS of 13% by 2013. They've also reported that the Ames Tribune in Iowa has endorsed the idea of Iowa producing 10% of it's power from renewables as an idea that makes sense. Additionally reported, The Denver Post urged the Colorado legislature to require 900 MW of renewable energy production by 2010 in February, and that the number of states with an in-place RPS has gone from seven to thirteen in the past three years.

This clearly is an idea whose time is emerging, and none too soon. The United States should be in a position of leadership in wind energy, as it has the world's best resource and greatest energy per capita consumption. Clean power and less oil dependence enhance national security and global climate stability. Not to mention that global wind energy growth is averaging 25% annually, and this is a very large un-tapped market.

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