Make the Utility Giants Pay You for a Change

The key to growing a renewable energy economy is making power companies buy the solar, wind and other energy produced by individual businesses and homeowners. It works in Gainesville, Florida, and Kentucky Rep. Tanya Pullin wants to make it work in Kentucky.

A state House panel unanimously supported a first step toward Kentucky allowing utilities to pay residents who have alternative energy supplies, such as solar panels, that generate excess power.

The House Natural Resources and Environment approved House Bill 562, sponsored by Rep. Tanya Pullin, D-South Shore. The bill directs the Public Service Commission to set up a framework for power companies to pay residents who feed in power to the grid. She said now is the time to do it as utility rates rise.

“I think we have to set up possibilities for our people to take care of themselves,” she said. The measure now goes to the full House.

Meanwhile, another bill to require utilities companies to purchase more renewable energy is being murdered by our very own too-stupid-to-live global climate change denier and defender of the Magic Buggy Whip Industry.

Legislation that would force utilities to supply electricity that comes from renewable sources like wind and the sun is running into trouble in the Kentucky House — even after lawmakers added provisions to help new coal technologies.

The recently introduced House Bill 3 had been scheduled for a hearing and possible vote in the Natural Resources and Environment Committee Thursday, but it was pulled from the agenda at the last minute.

“It’s a work in progress,” said the committee’s chairman, Rep. Jim Gooch, D-Providence.

He said electric utilities are balking at being told what kind of electricity they may have to produce or purchase. Also, some lawmakers don’t want to force on consumers energy generated from renewable sources such as wind, solar, water and crops.

The bill, introduced by House Majority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, would also give a boost to technologies such as coal-to-gas and injecting carbon dioxide from coal plants deep underground.

And utilities wouldn’t have to buy the renewable or alternative fuel electricity if it was more than 3 percent more expensive than buying it from conventional sources.
Gov. Steve Beshear backs the bill, saying it would save energy, boost renewable forms of energy while also supporting methods of using coal that cut down on its harmful emissions.

And after Thursday’s meeting, Kentucky Energy and Environment Secretary Len Peters said Beshear administration officials, lawmakers, industry representatives and others are trying to keep the bill alive as the General Assembly approaches its final two weeks.

Read the whole thing.

Then call or write your legislators and urge them to support both of these bills.

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