Renewable energy requirements may be a reality

An increased focus on the effects of global warming in recent months has US states and countries around the globe considering laws that require companies and residents to obtain a portion of their electricity from renewable sources. About half of the states in the country already have some sort of requirement for utlities to have a certain percent of energy coming from renewable sources.

Right now, only 2-3% of our country's energy comes from renewable sources, but some proposals in Congress are suggesting a nationwide standard, with a goal of 15% renewable energy by the year 2020. California is ahead of the curve, with a goal for utilities to get 20% of their energy from renewable resources by 2010, which is just three years away.

These requirements would also help to strengthen the local job market, as states would be forced to develop local renewable energy initiatives rather than relying on imported fuel from other states or other countries.

A nationwide standard would also level the playing field for all states. It's much cheaper to burn coal for electricity, so its not fair for environmentally conscious states to spend more on renewable energy, while their neighbor continues to load CO2 into the atmosphere and save money at the same time.

However, all states don't have an equal opportunity for renewable resources, according to a spokesman for Edison Electric. Some Southeastern states have fewer resources to power renewable energy systems, which would force them to purchase renewable energy credits from producers elsewhere.

Fortunately, the Energy Information Administration estimates a national standard to have a minimal affect on the amount that consumers pay in utilities, with an increase of 1% at most, since the cost would be spread across the public.

The EU leads the world in renewable energy sources, and has a goal of 20% of all energy coming from renewable sources by 2020. At 5% more than the US's goal, I feel more confident that the EU will carry out this plan, as the EU president Angela Merkel has been much more active in taking a firm stance against global warming than G.W. Bush.