Ohio enacts tough renewable law

subscribe

In a unanimous vote, the Ohio legislature has passed a new bill requiring 12.5% of Ohio's energy be generated from renewable sources like wind and solar.

Ohio now becomes the 26th state, including California, New York and Texas, to adopt renewable energy portfolio standards (RPS) - tough new laws which are creating one of the most dramatic shifts in the delivery of energy to American consumers ever.

Dozens of planned coal, natural gas and diesel-fired power plants have been cancelled across the country. Instead, 60-gigawatts of wind and solar power (enough energy to serve 20 million American homes) will be constructed, according to a new study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Not surprisingly, wind and solar companies are enjoying record growth. Solar wafer maker ReneSola and photovoltaic company Yingli Green Energy both received upgrades from analysts at Piper Jaffray recently.

But as busy as the solar companies are wind is America's renewable energy of choice. Last year the wind industry installed an astonishing 5244-megawatts of new wind power outpacing solar's 254-megawatts by 20-1. The American Wind Energy Association estimates Ohio's new RPS law on its own will result in at least $10 billion of new wind energy project investments.

Related News

IESO

Key Ontario power system staff may end up locked down at work sites due to COVID-19, operator says

TORONTO - A group of personnel key to keeping Ontario's electricity system functioning may end up locked down in their control centres due to the COVID-19 crisis, according to the head of the province's power operator.

But that has so far proven unnecessary with a change-up in routine, Independent Electricity System Operator CEO Peter Gregg said.

While about 90 per cent of staff were sent to work from home on March 13, another 48 control-room operators deemed essential are still going into work, Gregg said in an interview.

"We identified a smaller cohort of critical operations room staff that need to go in…

READ MORE
justin trudeau

Trudeau vows to regulate oil and gas emissions, electric car sales

READ MORE

thermoelectric materials

A new approach finds materials that can turn waste heat into electricity

READ MORE

hydro one

Hydro One and Alectra announce major investments to strengthen electricity infrastructure and improve local reliability in the Hamilton area

READ MORE

pickering ngs

Time running out for Ontario to formally request Pickering nuclear power station extension

READ MORE