Key House Leaders Support Renewable Energy Bill

Legislation to require more use of renewable energy from sources such as windmills and solar panels has the backing of key House leaders, who described it recently as a good deal for business, consumers and the environment.

"We are creating a market for renewable energy," said Montgomery County Delegate Kumar Barve, D-District 17, the House majority leader. "It's good for business. It's good for the environment."

The legislation (House Bill 1308) would require companies that supply energy to Maryland customers to provide a minimum amount of that energy from renewable sources. The minimum percentage would ramp up slowly to 7.5 percent by 2014. Suppliers that do not meet the standards would have to pay money into a fund that would be used to encourage development of renewable energy sources.

The bill has drawn opposition from some manufacturers who fear that the legislation would drive up the cost of energy. Supporters said safeguards built into the bill will protect customers from substantial increases in costs and, in the long run, could save money.

Representatives of two companies that are interested in building windmills to generate power in western Maryland said at a news conference with House leaders that wind energy eventually could be cheaper than traditional energy sources.

Clipper Windpower Inc., of Carpinteria, Calif., plans to erect as many as 67 giant, three-bladed windmills atop Backbone Mountain, Maryland's highest ridge, south of Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County. The wind farm would be bigger and higher than a 25-turbine project planned in neighboring Allegany County by U.S. Wind Force of Baden, Pa.

David McAnally, CEO of U.S. Wind Force, said renewable sources of energy "would provide a hedge against volatility of natural gas costs."

As gas prices increase and the cost of wind power comes down, wind energy will become competitive with traditional sources of energy, McAnally said.

McAnally and Kevin Rackstraw of Clipper Windpower said the legislation would encourage development of alternative energy sources by providing a market for the electricity.

"It [the bill] will provide clean energy. It will provide jobs for the state," he said.

Former House Speaker Casper Taylor also supported the bill.

"There are no losers here," he said. The environment wins. Economic development wins."