Re: 2010 House Bill 2471 (Requiring consumer compensation for electrical generator use)

JR Sloan — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:17:32 GMT

In the substitute bill:

Reference Sec. 2. lines 18 through 29.

It appears from the above that through 2013, less than 25% of 1% of the 1996 peak demand will be incentivized for net billing systems; Thereafter, incentives will be 50% of 1%. Of these minuscule amounts, at least 50% must be reserved for renewable sources.

I have no quarrel with incentives that actually achieve something. This petty incentive system will provide for little more than public relations “feel good” demonstrations, without offering a sincere, market-driven opportunity to entice citizens and domestic firms to first, install the desired energy systems, and second to realistically measure their impact on total consumption.

Total energy (read electricity) demand is in no danger of declining. Offering realistic levels of incentives, not just token demonstration measures, is the only way the State can encourage citizen participation on any kind of a commercially-developable scale.

Drop the “0.25%” and “0.5%” limits. If anything, raise them to 5% and 10% in the short run, larger amounts in the future. If achieved, the numbers would provide additional energy to the state and relieve production pressures for utilities. More importantly, this would help the developing industries that create and install smaller-scale energy plants for use by thousands of smaller firms and private residences across the state.

Encouraging a broader range of potential energy providers builds sustainability in the energy system. It’s one of only a few ways that could help Washington be less dependent on monopolies and concerns that engage in contracts to sell power outside the state.

JR Sloan, Spokane

2010 House Bill 2471 (Requiring consumer compensation for electrical generator use)

admin — Mon, 01 Jan 2001 05:00:00 GMT

Introduced in the House on January 11, 2010

Click here to view bill details.

Economy

Re: 2010 House Bill 2471 (Requiring consumer compensation for electrical generator use)

2010 House Bill 2471 (Requiring consumer compensation for electrical generator use)