Rep. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) intends to offer a scaled-back renewable power amendment to the House energy bill tomorrow that would require utilities to provide 15 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2020, reducing the level from 20 percent to gather more votes.
An aide said Udall made the change because of "indications that 15 percent would better ensure we could get a [renewable electricity standard] for consideration in the conference report and through the House."
"The point is the House needs to put something in place. Inaction is not an option any more," said Udall spokeswoman Marissa Padilla. The congressman is proposing the standard with Reps. Todd Platts (R-Pa.) and Ciro Rodriguez (D-Texas), she said.
With the House Democratic leadership shelving plans for an auto mileage amendment (see related story), the national renewable power mandate becomes the marquee battle in the floor debate. Environmentalists, the wind energy industry, the National Farmers Union and others strongly back the renewables standard, which is not included in Senate-passed energy legislation.
A national renewables standard is a top priority for environmentalists, and they are supporting the scaled-back plan.
Marchant Wentworth, a lobbyist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the change would bring additional support and expressed confidence it would work. "I think this amendment appeals to a broad spectrum of people on the House floor," he said.
"We feel very confident that this is the winning formula for the House, and it will put us over the top when the bill comes to the floor," added Justin Tatham, assistant director for government relations with the National Audubon Society.
At the same time, a top U.S. Chamber of Commerce lobbyist yesterday predicted opponents would defeat the renewables standard. Investor-owned utilities and the chamber are fighting the plan, arguing that utilities in states -- especially in the Southeast -- that lack strong renewable resources will be penalized through having to buy credits or make federal payments.
Dan Riedinger, a spokesman for the Edison Electric Institute, said the group remains against the plan at the lower 15 percent level. "Those are essentially fuel-use mandates that for the most part are unachievable," especially in some parts of the country, he said.
The renewables plan aims to help substantially expand wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and several other forms of renewable power, which today make up a very small fraction of overall electricity generation. The plan also allows a renewable credit trading system. Municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives are exempt from the renewables mandate.
Padilla said the amendment also clarifies that states would retain authority to implement a higher standard and protects the higher standards already in place. Nearly half the states have some kind of renewables standard, though the levels, timelines and structures vary considerably. It also exempts Hawaii, she said.
Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), the chairman of the Senate Energy Committee, tried to attach a 15 percent standard to the Senate's energy bill in June. Republicans objected, and the measure never came up for a vote.
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