Resources eligible for renewable resource credits

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

This bill provides that heat that is a byproduct of a manufacturing process is considered a renewable resource for the purpose of the renewable portfolio standards law. Under current law, an electric utility or retail electric cooperative is subject to certain requirements for ensuring that, in a given year, a specified percentage of electricity that the utility or cooperative sells to retail customers is derived from renewable resources, commonly referred to as “renewable portfolio standards.” To meet its specified percentage, a utility or cooperative uses renewable resource credits (RRCs) that it may create or purchase from others. A utility or cooperative creates an RRC when it generates electricity from a renewable resource. Current law defines “renewable resource” to include solar and wind power, geothermal technology, biomass, and other specified resources. Under this bill, heat as described above is also a renewable resource.

Current law also allows a utility or cooperative, or its customers or members, to create an RRC based on their use of certain energy sources, to the extent that the use displaces the use of electricity derived from conventional resources. This bill provides that heat as described above that is used as thermal energy for another purpose may be used to create an RRC, to the extent that its use displaces the use of electricity derived from conventional resources.

Who's behind it

8 senators are its authors⁠. All 8 are Republicans.

18 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.

Versions and amendments

Every text the Legislature printed for this bill, including proposed changes. Each opens on the Legislature's site.

• Amendment Histories