On the recordFebruary 23, 2010
today I am introducing the Support Renewable Energy Act of 2010 with my colleague, Senator Ensign. This bill would modify the Renewable Electricity Standard currently drafted in the American Clean Energy Leadership Act to ensure that all forms of renewable energy qualify. I am pleased that the Senate is again considering the implementation of a Renewable Electricity Standard that will encourage the development and deployment of new and existing renewable energy technologies. However, as the proposed Renewable Electricity Standard is currently drafted, only electricity-producing renewable technologies would qualify. This would exclude direct use renewable energy technologies that displace the need for electricity, rather than produce electricity. Our legislation would modify the definition of renewable energy as it applies to the draft Renewable Electricity Standard to include customer-sited renewable energy equipment. Specific examples of these direct use technologies are solar water heating, solar space heating and cooling, solar daylight and light-pipe technology, biogas, and ground source geothermal heat pumps. These technologies can be used in homes and businesses to provide light, heating, and cooling directly-- without the need for electricity from the grid.
