Republican Wave Boosts Anti-Renewable Energy Efforts — Again
Every state that’s tried to repeal renewable energy standards has failed, but attacks may resurface in several states this year.
| JANUARY 2015
Republicans in the Kansas Legislature are talking again about ending the state’s renewable energy standard. Two years ago, a bill to repeal the standard made it through the Kansas Senate, but was defeated in the House. A vote just two months later was much closer, but also failed. Now, however, Kansas Republicans have added five seats to their majority in the House and think they may have enough votes to kill the standard once and for all.
Kansas’ renewable portfolio standard (RPS) requires utility companies to get 20 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020. Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have adopted RPS, while eight other states have set renewable energy goals. Renewable portfolio standards came under attack about three years ago, when the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) developed model legislation to repeal or roll back such standards. In 2013 alone, 20 states tried to end RPS. All those bills came up short.
But in the wake of a Republican wave in several states in November, attacks on renewable energy standards may resurface in Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio, to name a few. At issue for opponents is the cost — fears that RPS will lead to rate increases for electric customers — and whether renewable energy should compete with fossil fuels in the free market rather than being mandated by the state. RPS supporters counter that ending standards could have a negative impact on the development of clean energy industries. Kansas, for example, is home to the second largest wind industry in the nation. Repealing standards there, advocates argue, could kill jobs and hurt the fight against climate change.
