Feed-In-Tariffs

[Towntalk]

It would be extremely helpful if you were to provide the bill number with your information so that we could intelligently voice our opinion to our Congressman. Hundreds of bills are introduced and without a specific number they have no way to know what we are talking about.

What's the status of this bill?

Has it gone through the committee process?

With only about 6 more weeks for the 110th Congress it's highly unlikely that a newly introduced bill will ever come to a vote at this late date, and if it doesn't, it will have to be re-introduced in the 111th Congress.

By knowing the present bill number we can lobby our Congressman to introduce it next Congress.

If the bill number is H.R. 4059, here is some info on it's progress:

COMMITTEE(S):
Committee/Subcommittee: Activity:
House Energy and Commerce  Referral, In Committee
House Natural Resources  Referral, In Committee
  Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Referral
House Transportation and Infrastructure  Referral, In Committee
  Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment Referral

You might check the above committees web sites to see where it stands at this point.

[irishbobcat]

Finally, US House Introduces Feed-In-Tariffs

July 2, 2008

U.S. Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA), Bill Delahunt (D-MA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), and Mike Honda (D-CA) introduced landmark legislation last Thursday that will provide security for investments in the renewable-energy sector by guaranteeing rates for renewable-energy generation. This policy mechanism, also known as a national feed-in tariff, may be the single most effective tool to expand renewable energy development that we know of.

International Energy Agency, the European Commission and the United Kingdom’s Stern Review have determined that feed-in tariff policies in Germany, Spain, France and other European Union countries have achieved larger renewable energy deployment at lower costs, compared with policies in other European Union countries.

The legislation has two principle titles. The first would streamline interconnection standards and the patchwork of policies currently governing interconnection. The second title addresses the actual process of setting of renewable energy tariffs, and what would qualify. This bill would not only apply to the mom and pop backyard wind turbines, and rooftop solar - the tariff extends to projects as large as 20 megawatts!

As it is currently written, the tariff would be revisited no later than one year after it is enacted and every two years thereafter, thus incorporating a ratcheting mechanism that allows the rate-setters to adjust for technological advances, bottlenecks in supply chains, changes in demand, and other unforeseen stimuli that might necessitate a rate revision.
According to a statement released by the bill’s co-sponsors:
“Enacting a federal renewable-energy payments policy would streamline what could become a patchwork regulatory structure and an unstable investment climate for the U.S. domestic renewable energy market. It also would complement incentives for renewable-energy deployment, such as existing federal-tax credits as well as proposed plans to cap carbon emissions and set federal renewable-electricity requirements, among others.”

Rep. Inslee added:
“With hundreds of billions of dollars in capital slated for investment in the clean-energy sector in coming decades, we’d be fools if we didn’t ensure American manufacturers would be on the receiving end of this rapidly growing market.”

Rep. Delahunt continued:
“It is time for the United States to take a leadership role in the new ‘clean energy’ economy. By giving our own consumers access to proven financial incentives and boosting demand for clean energy technology we can position the United States to become a world leader in this emerging sector of the global economy that has the potential to create thousands of new ‘green-collar’ jobs here at home.

As the Green party Candidate for State Representative for the 60th district, It is about time the US House recognizes that feed-in-tariffs have helped renewable energy grow in Europe. We will also need such tariffs here on a state-wide basis to help renewable energy production to grow here in the 60th District.  This is an important piece of legislation needed for the poor, working, and middle class of the valley.

Dennis Spisak-Green party Candidate for State Representative-60th District

Campaign site: Http://votespisak.tripod.com
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