The Bayh Bulletin: Against a National Renewable Electricity Standard
This morning, Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) “was the only Democrat to oppose a renewable-energy requirement” that even some Republicans supported. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee “voted down an amendment offered by Republican Senator Jeff Sessions that would have removed the renewable electricity standard from the energy package the panel is currently debating” by a vote of 9 to 13. Even though the Energy Information Administration has found that a much stronger standard would only affect electricity prices in Indiana by 6 percent in 2026, Bayh argued Indiana would be hit hard:
Bayh said Indiana would be among the states that would bear a disproportionate share of the cost of meeting the requirement. He said a fairer system would be offering tax credits for producing power from renewable sources.
The standard of 15 percent renewable energy or efficiency gains by 2021 is significantly weaker than President Obama’s preferred standard of 25 percent by 2025. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) joined 11 Democrats in support of the standard, and Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) did not vote.
I am having a problem with my senator. We have been fighting hard and long for a RES in Indiana to no avail, because out leaders have been so dependent on money from the old energy sector, and have consequent done a poor job preparing the state to address the issues of the coming decades.
This is one reason for cultivating a creative class, especially among the Political Elite - for that is apparently Evan Bayh only qualification. I think he ought to feel a little political blow back for these kinds of things.
