Senator Jim Jeffords has introduced a revision of his earlier Renewable Portfolio Standard legislation. It is called the Renewable Energy Investment Act of 2005. It requires all retail electric providers to sell an increasing percentage of electricity derived from renewable sources, starting at 5% in 2006 and leveling out at 20% in 2020; and establish a system of tradable renewable energy credits, which creates flexibility in meeting the renewable goals.

To see the press release on early national renewable portfolio legislation introduced by US Senator Jeffords and U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe, R-Me., Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Diane Feinstein, D-Cal., Richard Durbin, D - Il., Edward Kennedy D-Mass., Jack Reed, D-RI, John Kerry, D-Mass, Christopher Dodd, D-CT, Barbara Boxer, D-CA, and Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ, click:

http://jeffords.senate.gov/~jeffords/press/05/02/021705EnergyBills.html

Recent (2008) attempts at a national RPS have generally failed.

MONTANA:

Montana currently has renewable portfolio legislation (SB 415) pending to require 15% of our electricity to come from renewables by 2015. It is a priority of the Montana Conservation Voters. To view what MCV has to say about the legislation, click below.

http://www.mtvoters.org/agenda/agenda_renewable.html

Pat Judge of the Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC) was a prime mover in bringing about concensus on early drafts of SB 415. To view MEICs links through the Legislative web site to SB 415 (which has passed the State Senate by a vote of 32 to 18) and other information on the bill including a list of the 34 organizations supporting SB 415, click below:

http://www.meic.org/2005Legislature/ENERGY/LegENERGY.html

The person whom persons opposing renewable portfolio standard legislation rely on to carry that message is Glenn R. Schleede. It is not often mentioned that he is the former Vice President of the National Coal Association. The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has responded to some of Mr. Schleede's claims. Click below to see those responses:

Schleede debunked by AWEA

For more information on Mr. Schleede's views contact:

Laurie Jodziewicz
Communications & Policy Specialist
American Wind Energy Association
122 C Street, NW
Suite 380
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 383-2516
Fax: (202) 383-2505
Mobile: (202) 253-7181
ljodziewicz@awea.org