August 10, 2005—A national renewable electricity standard would save Texas consumers billions on their energy bills and boost rural economies, according to a new study released by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
The national renewable electricity standard, also known as a renewable portfolio standard, would require that 10 percent of our nation’s electricity come from clean renewable sources like wind, solar, and bioenergy.
In June, the U.S. Senate passed an amendment to include the 10 percent renewable electricity standard in the broader energy bill. This is the third time in four years a bipartisan Senate majority approved the standard, while the House bill continued to exclude the provision.
The UCS study found that if Congress included the 10 percent Senate standard in the final energy bill, Texas families and businesses would save $4.7 billion on energy bills, primarily by reducing the demand for—and the price of—natural gas.
For more information, see the UCS Web site.
