By a nearly two-thirds margin, Indiana representatives passed the state's first renewable energy standard and expanded net metering in April 2009. The vote on Senate Bill 300 was 62-37.The bill would require utilities to get 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by the end of 2025. Indiana is the only Midwest state without such a standard.
The bill would also increase the amount of electricity from renewable resources that customers can sell back to the utility company for credit, and expands the type of customer who can do so to include businesses.
Jesse Kharbanda, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council, was ecstatic to hear the news.
"It's the most significant renewable energy standard, green jobs policy, Indiana has ever moved," he said.
If signed into law, the bill would create jobs fast and reduce Indiana's greenhouse gas emissions, which are seventh-highest in the nation per person, he said.
Because the House bill was an amended version of the Senate bill, Senate author James Merritt Jr. would have to accept the changes. The House bill states businesses, industries and farmers would be allowed to sell back up to 1 megawatt of electricity. The Senate version says 100 kilowatts. Current law allows one-tenth of that, and only for residential customers and K-12 schools.
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Sorry but neither revisions to net metering nor a state renewable electricity standard passed the 2009 session of the Indiana General Assembly. This was only a status report part-way through the session. Visit my blog for current updates on renewable energy developments in Indiana at www.indianarenew.blogspot.com.
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