Time Is Energy

Well blow me down!

I am astonished but very grateful that the Illinois legislature managed to put together a solid RPS:

"The RPS will require Illinois utilities to supply 2% of their power from renewable energy sources by 2008, 10% by 2015, and 25% by 2025."

Since that 2008 number sounds really soon to me, I checked out the EIA website to learn that IL used 14,452 thousand MWh of electricity in April 2007 and in the first four months of 2007 we generated 554 thousand MWh of electricity from renewables. Assuming those numbers are indicative of what we can expect year round, that is about 138 thousand MWh/month or almost exactly 1%. That means we will have to double our renewable supply by next year.

"There are now 5,500 megawatts (MW) of wind power in the development pipeline in Illinois" quoted from the article on the IL RPS...so it appears we may well be able to achieve this.

The legislature also passed a mandate to increase efficiency by what looks like a growing percentage each year.

Whoa, IL is mandating more efficiency AND renewables starting next year...how enlightened. GOOD JOB GUYS!

posted by Daniel @ 11:01 AM