Co-ops Provide Cost Calculator for Climate Bill
MADISON, Wis. (March 18, 2010) – A do-it-yourself cost calculator enabling utility customers to estimate their personal energy cost increases from Wisconsin’s pending Clean Energy Jobs Act is now available on the Internet, courtesy of the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA) and Cooperative Network.
The Clean Energy Jobs Act derives in part from the July 2008 recommendations of Governor Doyle’s Task Force on Global Warming. One provision would mandate an increase in the percentage of electricity sold by Wisconsin power providers that must be obtained from renewable energy sources.
The final percentage and timetable of the increase is expected to vary as a result of legislative negotiations, but the original proposal calls for 25 percent renewable energy by 2025. Figures published last spring by the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC) and cost data from recent PSC wind energy project approvals suggest meeting that mandate would require the expenditure of about $15 billion to build new generation facilities.
The cooperatives’ cost calculator examines only that aspect of the legislation. The web site displays a message indicating that insufficient data was available to reliably estimate other costs likely to result from the bill.
Lawmakers were attempting to conclude revisions to the proposal this past week. Action on the bill would be expected between April 13-22, in the final regular business floor period for the 2009-10 Legislature. |
