Texas Senate Votes To Eliminate RPS

April 23, 2015

The Texas Senate voted to eliminate the Renewable Portfolio Standard. The RPS called for 10,000 MW of wind and solar energy by 2025, but passed the goal in 2010; the state is now at 12,800 MW in just wind energy capacity. Lawmakers behind the bill explained it wasn't about removing the standards, but that their job was done, and renewables no longer need a helping hand from the government. The measure will also end the state's Renewable Energy Zone initiative, which was administered by the Public Utilities Commission of Texas and helped transmission projects to be constructed by seven transmission and distribution utilities. That initiative had a goal, through the facilities, of transmitting 18,456 MW of wind power from West Texas and the Panhandle to other areas of the state. The bill now moves to the state House.

http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/texas-senate-votes-eliminate-rps/2015-04-16