Renewable Energy Voted Down

1/24/2008

An Indiana House committee today defeated a bill that would have required electric utilities to obtain 10 percent of their power from renewable resources by 2018.

Source: Inside INdiana Business

The bill was sponsored by Chairman David Crooks (D-Washington) and co-authored by Representative John Ulmer (R-Goshen). It was backed by the Indiana Coalition for Renewable Energy and Economic Development.

Press Release

Today, the Indiana House Utilities committee took a historic vote on House Bill 1102, a bill that would require electric utilities to obtain 10% of its power from renewable resources by 2018.

The bill sponsored by Chairman David Crooks (D-Washington), and co-authored by Rep. John Ulmer (R-Goshen) represented the first time in the Indiana legislature that a renewable bill without coal or coal waste had been offered for a vote in committee.

While HB 1102 did not pass, it makes a clear distinction between those who vigorously support strong policy to promote renewable energy and economic development, and those who would forgo billions in investment and improved air quality.

The bill was strongly backed by the Indiana Coalition for Renewable Energy and Economic Development (ICREED), a diverse group of renewable energy businesses, and clean energy, consumer, environmental and public health organizations. ICREED members commend Representative Crooks and the other committee members who supported the legislation for their leadership in pursuing a foresighted policy for Indiana. .

Sighting a recent Indianapolis Star poll which asked “Do you support a measure to require Indiana to generate 10% of its power from wind, solar and other renewable sources by 2018” Seventy three percent responded yes.

Grant Smith, Executive Director for the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana, a member of ICREED said “Chairman Crooks along with the other committee members who supported this effort recognize the significant liability Indiana faces with future carbon regulation, and they recognize that an RES is the best policy approach to attracting new investment and creating jobs in the emerging renewable energy sector. This was the first true test of were committee members stand and leaves those who voted against the RES clearly at odds with public opinion on the issue.”

Indiana is 95% dependent on coal and faces huge rate increase with coming carbon regulation. An RES would diversify the energy mix and could help to mitigate the future rate impacts from our heavy dependence on coal fired power.

Jesse Kharbanda, Executive Director of the Hoosier Environmental Council and a member of ICREED said “Today was a golden opportunity for Indiana to send a strong signal to investors outside of Indiana, and to budding entrepreneur’s in-state that Indiana is open for a new type of business, a business that anticipates the dramatically different energy future ahead. Sadly that welcome message was not sent, and that is a missed opportunity for our state’s environment and our economy. We intend to let the public know how these legislators voted on this critical bill.”

Voting in favor of the RES were Representatives Dave Crooks, (D-Washington), Ryan Dvorak (D-South Bend), and Sandra Blanton (D-Orleans).

Voting against were Representatives Dan Stevenson, (D-Highland), Chet Dobis, (D-Merrillville), Kreg Battles, (D-Vincennes), Jack Lutz, (R-Anderson), Tim Neese, (R-Elkhart), Edmond Soliday, (R-Valparaiso), Bob Behning, (R-Indianapolis), and Dave Frizzel, (R-Indianapolis).

Rep. Paul Robertson, (D-DePauw) was absent.

Source: Indiana Coalition for Renewable Energy and Economic Development

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The report below is provided by the Citizens Action Coalition.

Indiana has 40,000 megawatts of wind potential. 1000's of megawatts of biomass potential. Great renewable energy manufacturing potential. In short, Indiana’s good renewables resources = more jobs + better air quality + less greenhouse gases + lower electric utility rates over time.

What did the House Utilities Committee do about this opportunity on Thurs, Jan 24, 2008?
Despite extensive testimony by well-respected renewable energy businesses and technical experts, the committee voted down a bill 8 to 3 that would have brought Indiana up to par with dozens of states that have strong policies to diversify energy away from over-reliance on fossil fuels.

About the “no” votes:
1. Five of the “no” votes live in areas with strong wind potential, thereby voting against their district’s best economic interests:
Chester Dobis (D-Merrillville – h13@in.gov), Dan Stevenson (D-Highland – h11@in.gov), Ed Soliday (R-Valparaiso – h4@in.gov), Jack Lutz (R-Anderson – h35@in.gov), Tim Neese (R-Elkhart – h48@in.gov).

2. The remaining three “no” votes live in areas near to particulate pollution hot spots, voting against legislation that would improve their state’s public health:
Kreg Battles (D-Vincennes – h64@in.gov), Bob Behning (R-Indianapolis – h91@in.gov), and David Frizzell (R-Indianapolis – h93@in.gov).

What You Can Do About it:
1. If your legislator is from one of the cities above, email him and respectfully ask why he voted against a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). Share your feedback with us (jkharbanda@hecweb.org).

2. Send an email to Chairman David Crooks (D-Washington - h63@in.gov), the principal sponsor of the bill, thanking him for his integrity to keep a bill focused purely on renewable energy, despite major pressure to do otherwise.

3. Send emails to Rep. Ryan Dvorak (D-South Bend – h8@in.gov) and Rep. Sandra Blanton (D-Orleans – h62@in.gov) thanking them for voting with Chairman Crooks to promote a true RES for the benefit of current and future generations. Thank co-sponsor Rep. John Ulmer (R-Goshen, h49@in.gov) for making the support for an RES bi-partisan.

4. Be on the look-out for other RES bills this session – we will keep you informed. Some Indiana senators and representatives insist that fossil fuels -- like coal -- must be included in the definition of renewable energy, which are by no stretch renewable and which would not solve Indiana’s greenhouse gas problem.

5. Stay in this for the long haul. Despite this defeat, the Indiana legislature has done the right thing before. In fact, the Indiana House as a whole voted overwhelmingly in favor of a clean, renewables-only RES in 2007, thanks to Rep. Dale Grubb (D-Covington) and Rep. Dave Crooks (D-Washington). Great legislation often takes years to win, especially at the state level. As ICREED works with you all to win in 2009, keep engaged on this issue. Keep expressing your support for legislation focused purely on RES at every public meeting where this issue arises. Despite the setback, this legislative issue – an RES -- is more prominent in the public eye than ever, with front page coverage of ICREED members in the Indiana Business Journal and state-wide coverage in the Associated Press.

Thank you for your commitment.
Executive Committee, Indiana Coalition for Renewable Energy and Economic Development (ICREED)

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