SEN. COLLINS INTRODUCES BILL CALLING ON RENEWABLE ENERGY STANDARDS

Washington, DC –Senator Susan Collins has joined Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) in offering an amendment to the Energy bill that would require that 10 percent of the country's electricity come from renewable energy sources by the year 2020, such as wind, biomass, solar, and geothermal. The Bingaman-Collins 10 percent Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) would be about a five-fold increase over our current nationwide renewable energy use of 2 percent. This could help turn renewable energy into a valuable export business for Maine.

"Using more renewable energy resources will reduce air and water pollution caused by burning fossil fuels, ease shortages and price spikes in our natural gas supplies, and protect our environment for future generations. Developing these resources will also create new investment, income, and jobs, especially in rural areas," Senator Collins said. "It is important that Congress adopt a federal standard to ensure that regional renewable energy markets develop more efficiently."

A similar amendment was included in the Energy bill that passed the Senate in 2003. Unfortunately, the provision was stripped from the bill in a Senate-House of Representatives Conference on the bill.

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