Udall, Bennet Help Lead Effort to Boost Clean Energy Economy, Create Jobs by Introducing Bipartisan Bill Calling for a National RES

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet helped introduce legislation essential for the country to realize the potential of the clean energy economy. The Senators joined a bipartisan group, including Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman and Republican Sam Brownback of Kansas, in introducing a bill to create a national Renewable Electricity Standard.

The national RES would set a requirement that 15 percent of the nation's electricity be generated from renewable sources by 2021. Sellers of electricity to retail customers would be required to generate a set proportion of their electric supply from renewables, such as the sun or the wind. The bill rapidly ramps up clean, domestic sources of electricity by requiring the gradual increase of the amount of renewable energy utilities produce.

Senator Udall has been a leader in pushing for a state and national RES. He joined with Colorado's former Republican House Speaker Lola Spradley in campaigning for Amendment 37, which created Colorado's first standard in 2004. And as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, he successfully teamed with his cousin, now Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico, to get a national RES passed in the House in 2007 - although the bill died in the Senate.

"Since voters approved Colorado's RES in 2004, we've created 20,000 new clean energy jobs in the state and we can do the same across the country," said Senator Udall, a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. "A national RES is one of the most important things we can do to unleash the potential of the renewable energy sector, create jobs and ensure America continues to lead in the global marketplace. We have bipartisan support, and I know we can pass an RES this year."

"Across Colorado, I've met with entrepreneurs, small business owners and renewable energy companies that are already tapping into the potential of clean, renewable energy sources to create jobs across our state," Senator Bennet said. "Colorado is already leading the nation with a robust renewable energy standard and this bill builds on the successes that we've seen in Colorado. I'm proud to support this legislation that will reduce pollution and create good-paying jobs in Colorado and across the nation."

In addition to Senators Bingaman, Brownback, Udall and Bennet, the bill was so-sponsored by Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and John Ensign (R-Nev.).

The bill exempts utilities selling less than 4 million megawatt hours per year. Qualifying renewables include wind, solar, ocean, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas, incremental hydropower, hydrokinetic, new hydropower at existing dams, and waste-to-energy.

Under the bill, utilities must produce the specified amount of electricity or efficiency savings; purchase renewable energy or efficiency savings; purchase renewable energy credits or energy efficiency credits from entities that have an excess; or make alternative compliance payments.

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