More states harness power of renewable energy

Sun, wind, even pigs are used to power homes as USA seeks ‘greener’ sources

RALEIGH, N.C. — Some focus on the sun, others on the wind, and at least one includes a role for pig power.

While the particulars vary, state laws requiring electric utilities to use renewable energy sources to help curb greenhouse-gas emissions and meet growing power demands are rapidly becoming the norm.

Laws in Washington, New Hampshire and Oregon are less than a year old. On Monday, Gov. Mike Easley signed a bill into law in North Carolina. Exactly half of the states are now on board, and Congress is mulling a national measure.
The new law in North Carolina, like many of the others, will mean that a percentage of the electricity powering homes five years from now will come from the sun and other renewable sources, including, in this case, pig waste.

Following the states’ lead, the House of Representatives voted this month for a 15% standard for electric utilities nationwide. The requirement would go to President Bush for approval if it makes the cut when the House and Senate merge their energy legislation.

“We’re seeing a dramatic upswing in the interest in renewable energy from the general public,” said Dave Hollister, co-founder of Sundance Power Systems in Mars Hill, N.C. “Ultimately what’s going to happen is if the utilities don’t do it, the people are going to do it anyway and the utilities are going to be left on the sideline.”

It’s uncertain how the laws will affect electrical rates, University of Michigan public policy professor Barry Rabe said.

The North Carolina law, similar to laws passed in 24 other states and the District of Columbia, requires utilities to produce 7.5% of their electricity using renewable energy resources by 2021 and to satisfy an additional 5% of demand with either more renewables or reduced energy use. It allows an increase in a home energy bill of up to $34 a year.

USA Today