The Honorable Harry Reid the Honorable Mitch Mcconnell
May 24, 2007
The Honorable Harry Reid The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Majority LeaderMinority Leader
United States SenateUnited States Senate
The Honorable Jeff BingamanThe Honorable Pete V. Domenici
ChairmanRanking Member
Energy and Natural ResourcesEnergy and Natural Resources
Committee Committee
Dear Senators Reid, McConnell, Bingaman and Domenici:
As a diverse group of corporations, manufacturers, electric utilities, renewable energy developers, labor organizations, farm groups, faith-based organizations and environmental advocates, we are writing to urge the Senate to include a national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in energy security legislation that may soon be considered by Congress. An RPS is an essential component of a broader national energy strategy, because it will help the nation to take full advantage of the abundant domestic renewable resources available for the generation of electricity.
An RPS is a market-based mechanism that requires electric utilities to include a specific percentage of clean, renewable energy in their generation portfolios, or to purchase renewable energy credits from others. By substantially increasing renewable electricity generation, the RPS would enhance national energy security by diversifying our sources of electric generation. At a time when the United States is increasing energy imports, an RPS would make America more energy self-reliant. The reduction in the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity would also limit fuel price volatility, which is important to both industry and consumers. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy’s own Energy Information Administration has found in several studies that an RPS would actually cause natural gas prices to decline.
Increasing the market share for renewable energy resources would also have substantial environmental benefits. An RPS is one of the most important and readily available approaches to reducing greenhouse gases from the electricity generation sector. In addition, an RPS also would help reduce conventional pollutants including nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury emissions.
Moreover, a national RPS will produce substantial economic benefits. The additional investment in renewable electric generation would create hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs. In addition, because many renewable resources are located in remote areas, rural America will experience a substantial economic boost.
We believe the time has come for Congress to move quickly to enact national RPS legislation. The costs of inaction for our environment, national security and economy are too high. Although more than 20 states have adopted individual RPS programs, the country will not realize the full potential for renewable electricity without the adoption of a Federal program to enhance the states’ efforts.
Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.
Sincerely,
GE Google
BP America, Inc.United Steelworkers
National Venture Capital AssociationEdison International
MiasolePacific Gas & Electric
Wisconsin Power and LightUnion for Reform Judaism
National Council of Churches of Christ in the USAGT Solar
TechnetPPM Energy, Inc.
APX, Inc.Avista Utilities
Alliant EnergyHorizon Wind Energy
Sempra EnergyEnel NA
Shell Wind Energy, Inc.D.H. Blattner and Sons
Solar Turbines, Inc.Applied Materials, Inc.
Business Council for Sustainable EnergyGreene Engineers
Alliant EnergyOregon Steel Mills
Invenergy LLCLM Glasfiber ND, Inc.
Owens Corning Composites System BusinessNoble Environmental Power
Leeco SteelenXco
Clipper Wind Power, Inc.Interstate Power and Light
National Audubon SocietyPhysicians for Social Responsibility
American Wind Energy AssociationMcNiff Light Industry
Blue Green AllianceCitizen’s Utility Board
Big Crane & Rigging CompanyGreat Southwestern Construction
Iberdrola U.S.A.RES America
Natural Resources Defense CouncilJPW Riggers
DMI IndustriesAES Wind Generation
Union of Concerned ScientistsSuzlon Wind Energy
Lake Superior WarehousingU.S. PIRG
Rocky Mountain Farmers UnionUniversity of Alaska, Fairbanks
Pennsylvania Interfaith Climate Campaign Atlantic Testing Laboratories
Interfaith Power & LightNational Environmental Trust
Environmental Law and Policy CenterAWS Truewind
Western Organization of Resource CouncilBig Stone Wind
ATS Wind Energy ServicesCAB, Inc.
BioResource ConsultantsBluewater Wind
Bosch Rexroth CorporationBQ Energy
Castle & Cooke ResortsCompetitive Power Ventures
Chermac Energy CorporationChinook Wind
Dominion EnergyEcoEnergy LLC
EFormative OptionsElectric Power Engineers
Energy UnlimitedEnerpro
EnertechFAW Foundry
Environmental Stewardship & PlanningForesight Wind Energy
Eurus Energy AmericaExcellent Energy Solutions
FPC ServicesGeneral Compression
Generation EnergyHopwood
Green Energy TechnologiesGreenwing Energy
GroWind IHailo
Highland New Wind DevelopmentHMH Energy Resources
Knight & CarverPandion Systems
LAPP ResourcesReEnergy
Louis J. Manfredi ConsultingTamarack Energy
Mackinaw PowerMariah Power
Mizuho Corporate BankMolded Fiber Glass Companies
Nordex USAOak Creek Energy Systems
Old Mill Power CompanySierra Club
Otech EngineeringPadoma Wind Power
Phoenix ContactProject Resources
Renewable Energy Consulting ServicesRSMR Global Resources
San Gorgonio FarmsSignal Wind Energy
SIPCO (MLS Electrosystem)Sustainable Energy Strategies
TCI Renewables LimitedThe Conti Group
Tideland SignalTMA, Inc.
Trinity Structural TowersOregon Rural Action
Varelube SystemsVenti Energy
Wind Capital GroupWind Turbine Tools
Wind Utility ConsultingWindland
WindLogicsWindRose Power
WindsmithWinergy Drive Systems
PowerWorksWinergy Power
Appropriate EnergyCabazon Wind Energy
Castaic Clay ProductsZephyr Lake Energies
Cannon Power Hodge Foundry
TOWER LogisticsCommonwealth Capital Group
Energy Development and Construction Corp.Mankato Area Environmentalists
Institute for Environmental Research and EducationClean Wisconsin
RENEW Wisconsin Missourians for Safe Energy
Fallon County Disaster & Emergency ServicesOklahoma Wind Power Initiative
Stevens County (KS) Economic DevelopmentOverSight Resources
Dakota Resource Council Kansas Rural Center
Montana Department of Environmental QualityChesapeake Climate Action Network
West Wind WiresGreenpeace
Interwest Energy AllianceSouthern Alliance for Clean Energy
Concord Energy Policy GroupClean Power Now
Renewable Northwest Project RMT/WindConnect
Friends Committee on National LegislationThe Land Institute
American Lung Association of the Central StatesWestern Colorado Congress
Tompkins Renewable Energy Education AllianceIdaho Rural Council
Alaska Wilderness LeagueClean Water Action
1000 Friends of Wisconsin Coulee Progressives
Citizens Campaign for the EnvironmentLeague of Conservation Voters
Grassroots Citizens of WisconsinPenn Future
NH Sustainable Energy AssociationREACH for Tomorrow
Southwest Wisconsin ProgressivesThe Minster Machine Company