Twenty-three of the 50 U.S. states have established "renewable portfolio standards" that, depending on the state, are either guidelines or rules regarding the share of renewable power generation of electricity delivered to customers.
Twenty-three of the 50 U.S. states have established "renewable portfolio standards" that, depending on the state, are either guidelines or rules regarding the share of renewable power generation of electricity delivered to customers.
The following list is not a direct comparison because the definition of renewable power varies by state.
Comparisons may not be proportional. For instance, New York requires 24 percent renewables by 2013, including large hydropower generation, which currently accounts for 19 percent of power consumed in the state, while California's 20 percent standard by 2010 does not count large hydropower projects in place now. Large U.S. hydropower projects are considered a mature source of energy and are not significantly expanding.
The following table shows states with renewable energy portfolio standards, compiled by the North Carolina State University's Solar Center.
STATE STANDARD BY YEAR
Iowa 105 megawatts 1983
Maine 1% more annually to 10% by 2017
Massachusetts 4% 2009
California 20% 2010
Connecticut 10% 2010
New Mexico 10% 2011
* Vermont 10% 2013
New York 24% 2013
* Illinois 8% 2013
Nevada 20% 2015
Montana 15% 2015
Colorado 10% 2015
Wisconsin 10% 2015
Texas 5,880 new MW 2015
Delaware 10% 2019
Maryland 7.5% 2019
Hawaii 20% 2020
Pennsylvania 18% 2020
Rhode Island 15% 2020
Washington 15% 2020
New Jersey 22.5% 2021
Washington, D.C. 11% 2022
Minnesota 25% 2025
Arizona 15% 2025
* A renewable portfolio goal, which is voluntary, as opposed to a renewable portfolio standard, which is generally enforced by a state regulatory agency.
Maine has goal to increase the share of renewable power by 10 percent by 2017.
A megawatt, by U.S. average, can power about 800 homes, but the number is lower for areas with high air-conditioning use, such as Arizona and Florida, where a megawatt can power about 400 homes.
Source: Reuters
Contact Info:
