Question of the day

What about the RPS in Texas?

Posted by John McGrath (Guest Contributor) at 1:21 PM on 16 Dec 2007

Read more about: politics | legislation | energy | renewable energy | Texas

So Senate Republicans managed to kill the Renewable Portfolio Standard in the energy bill.

One question: who was the big-government, nanny-state liberal who forced one of the nation's largest and most successful RPSs on the poor, unwitting state of Texas?

Hint: As Governor of Texas in 1999, he signed the RPS into law and later moved to the District of Columbia to pursue other opportunities, like threatening to veto a bill that would have treated all Americans like Texans.

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Texas Renewable Standards...

The Texas RPS calls for 10,000 MWs by 2020, of which 500 mucst be non-wind. The RPS would account for nearly 10% of all energy consumed by the state in 1999. Of course, it would be less than 10% for the consumption levels by 2020.

Luckily, it looks like the state will easily exceed the 10,000 standard, the amount of renewables will actually be much higher.

However, it should also be noted that most of thr renewable energy generated in Texas (especially wind) actually goes to other states (such as California).

And if ya think Bush signed the renewable standards for Texas just for the green of it, think again. It part of a much larger piece of legislation that offered large protections, incentives, and tax cuts for oil, gas, and coal interests as well.

by Tasermons Partner at 7:11 PM on 16 Dec 2007

A response

The main objection to the RPS came from the southern states, where renewable resources (specifically wind and solar) are not as concentrated. In contrast, Texas has the resources (mainly wind) PLUS massive amounts of cheap and uninhabited land in the western part of the state.

by vogz at 7:08 AM on 17 Dec 2007

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