New York weighs 25%
green standard

Hawaii picks 20% by 2020

New York's PSC is looking at requiring utilities and marketers to meet a 25% renewables portfolio standard by 2013 or 2015 and that all retail customers share the cost.
     Exceptions are the New York Power Authority and munis.
     About 19% of the state's power already comes from renewables.
     An ALJ recommended wind, solar, tidal, fuel cells, biomass, biogas and some hydropower qualify in meeting the standard but not municipal solid waste.
     The standard would raise electric bills by 1.8% for residential, 2% for commercial and 2.4% for industrial customers, the ALJ predicted.
     More than 150 stakeholders have been discussing the RPS for 15 months, the PSC noted, including consumer and environmental groups, generators, public officials, public interest groups, utilities and marketers.
     The public, who'll pay the cost, is invited to eight forums around the state this month while stakeholders can file comments by June 23 on the ALJ's recommendations (www.dps.state.ny.us/03e0188.htm).
     Hawaii Gov Linda Lingle signed a law requiring 20% of the state's power to come from green sources by 2020.

(Story originally published in Restructuring Today 6/7/04)