Potential source of jobs? Congress pushing for national renewable energy portfolio standards

Reuters reported today that there is enough congressional support to pass a federal renewable energy standard. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on a draft of legislation for the creation of a national renewable electricity standard. The goal of the legislation is to require a gradual increase in the amount of energy supplied from renewable energy sources to:

- 4 percent in 2011-12

- 8 percent in 2013-15,

- 12 percent in 2016-18,

- 16 percent in 2019-20

- 20 percent in 2021-39

"I think that the votes are present in the Senate to pass a renewable electricity standard. I think that they are present in the House," Sen. Jeff Bingaman, the energy committee's chairman, said. "I think that we need to get on with figuring out what we can pass and move forward."