Missoula County supports HB 607: Generally revising energy generation laws and renewable requirements, up for hearing this afternoon, in the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee.
Montana’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES), adopted in 2005, requires utilities to obtain 15% of the electricity they sell to their customers from renewable sources. This bill would gradually increase the standard year by year until it reaches 80% in 2035. It would allow existing large hydropower facilities to count toward the standard after 2024, but only if the total of the hydropower and other renewable resources exceeds 80%. It would cap the retail rate impact of the new standards at a 2% increase per year. It would also require utilities to work with any local government that has established its own renewable energy goal higher than the RES to determine how the higher goal will be met; and, if needed, to procure additional renewable energy on behalf of the local government (and its residents) to meet the higher goal.
This bill represents a thoughtful approach to transition the state to cleaner energy sources, and is strongly supportive of Missoula County’s efforts to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2030.
Representatives Olsen and Sullivan.
ReplyDeleteMissoula County supports HB 607: Generally revising energy generation laws and renewable requirements, up for hearing this afternoon, in the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee.
Montana’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES), adopted in 2005, requires utilities to obtain 15% of the electricity they sell to their customers from renewable sources. This bill would gradually increase the standard year by year until it reaches 80% in 2035. It would allow existing large hydropower facilities to count toward the standard after 2024, but only if the total of the hydropower and other renewable resources exceeds 80%. It would cap the retail rate impact of the new standards at a 2% increase per year. It would also require utilities to work with any local government that has established its own renewable energy goal higher than the RES to determine how the higher goal will be met; and, if needed, to procure additional renewable energy on behalf of the local government (and its residents) to meet the higher goal.
This bill represents a thoughtful approach to transition the state to cleaner energy sources, and is strongly supportive of Missoula County’s efforts to achieve 100% clean electricity by 2030.
Please support HB 607.