124 Ss Rps Case Neg 1.0

RPS Neg
DDI Serrano/Strange 08
R. Choy
CPs
States 1NC............................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
States Renewables............................................................................................................................................................................... 3
States Renewables............................................................................................................................................................................... 4
States RECs.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
States Flexibility + RECs................................................................................................................................................................... 6
States Flexibility................................................................................................................................................................................. 7
States Flexibility................................................................................................................................................................................. 8
States !" N#t !$a%able................................................................................................................................................................... &
States !" C#''e$(e Cla)se * R#ll +a(,..................................................................................................................................... 1-
States !" Ra(e t# t.e +#tt#'...................................................................................................................................................... 11
/#0e1 S#l2en(y....................................................................................................................................................................................... 12
3#l)nta$y !ax C$e%its....................................................................................................................................................................... 13
3#l)nta$y 4 5an%at#$y Flexibility.................................................................................................................................................. 14
N#n6Renewable RPS 7ene$i(............................................................................................................................................................ 15
N#n6Renewable RPS Flexibility....................................................................................................................................................... 16
Ca06an%6!$a%e CP.................................................................................................................................................................................. 17
Case6S0e(i8i( 9:s
N),e !$a%e ;88 9.............................................................................................................................................................................. 18
E(#n#'y 9............................................................................................................................................................................................ 1&
Case
C#'0etiti2eness <)$t =nn#2ati#n.................................................................................................................................................. 2-
C#'0etiti2eness >#nt >#$,.......................................................................................................................................................... 21
C#'0etiti2eness Renewables N#t C#st E88e(ti2e...................................................................................................................... 22
C#'0etiti2eness =ne2itable + >$#n? F#()s................................................................................................................................ 23
Cli'ate Cant S#l2e E'issi#ns......................................................................................................................................................... 24
Cli'ate 1@ =n($ease in Renewables Ase...................................................................................................................................... 25
Cli'ate N# F#()s............................................................................................................................................................................... 26
Cli'ate St$)(t)$al P$#ble's........................................................................................................................................................... 27
Cli'ate Cant Re0la(e Nat)$al 7as................................................................................................................................................ 28
!" !e$$#$is'B;il................................................................................................................................................................................ 2&
We-wed love to see that enny! wo"ldnt we#
0
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y =ne88e(ti2e........................................................................................................................................................................ 3-
S#l2en(y Ene$?y P$i(es !)$n........................................................................................................................................................... 31
S#l2en(y Ene$?y P$i(es /in,............................................................................................................................................................ 32
S#l2en(y C#bs !)$n........................................................................................................................................................................... 33
S#l2en(y Re?i#nal 9i88e$en(e......................................................................................................................................................... 34
S#l2en(y Ca0a(ity +a(,)0 !)$n...................................................................................................................................................... 35
S#l2en(y Ca0a(ity +a(,)0 Extensi#n............................................................................................................................................ 36
S#l2en(y NE5 5#%el Flawe%.......................................................................................................................................................... 37
S#l2en(y Stat)s D)# P#li(y S#l2es............................................................................................................................................... 38
S#l2en(y >in% Fails.......................................................................................................................................................................... 3&
S#l2en(y Nee% ;t.e$ Renewables................................................................................................................................................. 4-
S#l2en(y !" RECs............................................................................................................................................................................ 41
S#l2en(y !" E@ by 2-2-............................................................................................................................................................... 42
9 /in,s
Renewable 9s >in% /in,............................................................................................................................................................... 43
S0en%in? 9 <i%%en C#sts /in,..................................................................................................................................................... 44
RPS P#0)la$............................................................................................................................................................................................ 45
P!Cs P#0)la$.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 46
RPS An0#0)la$....................................................................................................................................................................................... 47
RPS An0#0)la$ /#bbies..................................................................................................................................................................... 48
RPS * Fli0 Fl#0....................................................................................................................................................................................... 4&
9e's F3 RPS........................................................................................................................................................................................... 5-

$
RPS Neg
R. Choy
States 1NC
Text:
The fifty states should establish a gradual national Renewable Portfolio Standard requiring that by 2020 regulated electric
utilities in the United States meet a baseline of twenty percent of their demand through qualifying alternatie energy sources!
including solar! wind! biomass! and geothermal" The #ederal $nergy Regulatory %ommission should administer tradable
renewable energy credits to facilitate this goal"
State RPS soles transition to renewables
S$%& '(! State %nergy Conservat&on '((&)e
*+,e-as Renewa.le Port(ol&o Standard!/ htt01//www.se)o.)0a.state.t-."s/re2r0s-0ort(ol&o.ht34
,e-as &s the nat&on5s leader &n w&nd energy than6s to o"r long-ter3 )o33&t3ent to .olster&ng renewa.le energy so"r)es and
d&vers&(y&ng the state5s energy 0ort(ol&o. R&)6 Perry! ,e-as 7overnor 8 Renewa.le Port(ol&o Standard 9RPS: ens"res that the
0".l&) .ene(&ts o( renewa.le energy! s")h as w&nd and solar! )ont&n"e to .e re)ogn&;ed as ele)tr&)&ty 3ar6ets .e)o3e 3ore
)o30et&t&ve. It re<"&res )o30an&es that sell ele)tr&)&ty to reta&l )"sto3ers to s"00ort renewa.le energy generat&on.,he ,e-as RPS
&s one o( the 3ost e((e)t&ve and s"))ess("l &n the nat&on! w&dely )ons&dered a 3odel RPS. It &s one o( the greatest &n(l"en)es on
the ra0&d growth o( the ,e-as w&nd energy &nd"stry. When ,e-as 0rod")ed &ts (&rst Renewa.le Port(ol&o Standard as 0art o( the
state5s ele)tr&)&ty &nd"stry restr")t"r&ng leg&slat&on &n $=== 9Senate >&ll ?:! &t 3andated the )onstr")t&on o( )erta&n a3o"nts o(
renewa.le energy and 0ro30ted the renewa.le energy &nd"stry to ra0&dly a))elerate &ts 0rod")t&on on ,e-as s&tes. @"al&(y&ng
renewa.le energy so"r)es &n)l"de solar! w&nd! geother3al! hydroele)tr&)! t&dal energy! and .&o3ass! &n)l"d&ng land(&ll gas. 8lso
el&g&.le are renewa.le energy so"r)es on the )"sto3er s&de o( the 3eter that o((set ele)tr&)&ty de3and! s")h as the &nstallat&on o(
0hotovolta&) 0anels and solar water heat&ng. ,he ,e-as P".l&) At&l&ty Co33&ss&on &30le3ented the 0rogra3. ,he RPS
3andated that ele)tr&)&ty 0rov&ders 9)o30et&t&ve reta&lers! 3"n&)&0al ele)tr&) "t&l&t&es! and ele)tr&) )oo0erat&ves: )olle)t&vely
generate B!000 3egawatts 9CW: o( add&t&onal renewa.le energy .y B00=. ,he B00D ,e-as Eeg&slat"re &n)reased the states total
renewa.le-energy 3andate to D!880 CW .y B0$D and a target o( $0!000 CW &n B0BD. %a)h 0rov&der &s re<"&red to o.ta&n new
renewa.le energy )a0a)&ty .ased on the the&r 3ar6et share o( energy sales t&3es the renewa.le )a0a)&ty goal. For e-a30le! a
)o30et&t&ve reta&ler w&th $0 0er)ent o( the ,e-as reta&l ele)tr&)&ty sales &n B00= wo"ld .e re<"&red to o.ta&n B00 3egawatts o(
renewa.le energy )a0a)&ty. ,he state o( ,e-as est&3ates that more megawatts of renewable energy came on)line as a result of
the RPS program than has in the past *00 years. 8(ter the RPS was &30le3ented! ,e-as w&nd )or0orat&ons and "t&l&t&es
&nvested G$ .&ll&on &n w&nd 0ower! )reat&ng Ho.s! add&ng to the ,e-as Per3anent S)hool F"nd and &n)reas&ng the r"ral ta- .ase.
,he ,e-as RPS has .een so s"))ess("l that &ts $0-year goal was 3et &n H"st over s&- years. W&nd 0ower develo03ent &n ,e-as has
3ore than <"adr"0led s&n)e the RPS was esta.l&shed. D"e to &ts )o30et&t&ve 0r&)&ng! ava&la.le (ederal ta- &n)ent&ves and the
state5s &33ense w&nd reso"r)es! w&nd 0ower &s e-0e)ted to re3a&n )o30et&t&ve w&th )oal- and gas-(&red 0lants. Renewa.le
%nergy Cred&ts W&th an &n)reas&ng n"3.er o( states and 3"n&)&0al&t&es &ntrod")&ng renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standards! and a large
n"3.er o( h&gh-0ro(&le )o30an&es loo6&ng to &30rove the&r &3age and red")e the&r env&ron3ental &30a)t! the mar+et for green
tags in the US has neer been stronger. %l&sa Wood! A.S. wr&ter on energy &ss"es ,he RPS 0rov&des (or a Renewa.le %nergy
Cred&t 9R%C: trad&ng 0rogra3 that w&ll )ont&n"e thro"gh B0$=. ,o 3eet the RPS targets! "t&l&ty )o30an&es 3ay ."y or trade
R%Cs. 'ne R%C re0resents one 3egawatt-ho"r o( <"al&(&ed renewa.le energy that &s generated and 3etered &n ,e-as. ,he R%C
trad&ng syste3 )reated great (le-&.&l&ty &n the develo03ent o( renewa.le energy 0roHe)ts. ,he renewa.le energy )a0a)&ty re<"&red
.y the ele)tr&)&ty sellers )an .e 0rov&ded d&re)tly or thro"gh the R%C 3ar6et. I( a "t&l&ty earns e-tra )red&ts! &t )an sell the )red&ts
to "t&l&t&es who need )red&ts to 3eet the RPS re<"&re3ents. ,h&s ena.les ele)tr&)&ty 0rov&ders that do not own or 0"r)hase eno"gh
renewa.le energy )a0a)&ty to 0"r)hase )red&ts &nstead o( )a0a)&ty.
B
RPS Neg
R. Choy
States Renewables
State RPS promote renewables effectiely
>arry 7. Rabe '(! An&vers&ty o( C&)h&gan
*+Ra)e to the ,o01 ,he %-0and&ng Role o( A.S. State Renewa.le Port(ol&o Standards!/ I"ne!
1www.0ewtr"sts.org/"0loadedF&les/www0ewtr"stsorg/Re0orts/7lo.al2war3&ng/PC7CC2renewa.le20J0$K0J.0d(4
,he role o( 83er&)an state govern3ents &n develo0&ng 0ol&)&es to red")e greenho"se gases )ont&n"es to e-0and at a steady )l&0!
3eas"red .oth &n the sheer n"3.er o( 0ol&)&es and the&r 0otent&al &30a)t on e3&ss&ons. 'ne o( the 3ost w&dely-"sed 0ol&)y tools
&nvolves )reat&on o( a renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standard 9RPS:. S")h 0ol&)&es 3andate that "t&l&t&es o0erat&ng w&th&n a state 3"st
0rov&de a des&gnated a3o"nt or 0er)entage o( 0ower (ro3 renewa.le so"r)es as a 0ort&on o( the&r overall 0rov&s&on o( ele)tr&)&ty.
,h&s 0ol&)y &s not "n&<"e to the An&ted States! as &t &s e30loyed .y a n"3.er o( nat&onal govern3ents as well as s".nat&onal
ent&t&es that range (ro3 the state o( So"th 8"stral&a to the 0rov&n)e o( Pr&n)e %dward Island. >"t they have 0rol&(erated a3ong
the 83er&)an states at a ra0&d rate! hav&ng .een ado0ted .y BB states and the D&str&)t o( Col"3.&a as o( 3&d B00J! w&th a strong
l&6el&hood o( )ont&n"ed e-0ans&on &n )o3&ng years. Well over hal( o( the 83er&)an 0".l&) now l&ves &n a state &n wh&)h an RPS &s
&n o0erat&on and at least one state has s")h a 0ol&)y &n every reg&on o( the nat&on e-)e0t the So"theast. ,h&s re0ort ."&lds on
earl&er Pew Center analyses o( the evolv&ng state role &n )l&3ate 0ol&)y develo03ent! 0la)&ng a 0art&)"lar (o)"s on the RPS
e-0er&en)e to date. It 0resents an overv&ew o( th&s 0ol&)y tool and e-a3&nes 6ey (a)tors &n .oth 0ol&)y (or3at&on and
&30le3entat&on. ,h&s wor6 )ons&ders the e-0er&en)e o( all RPS states ."t devotes 0art&)"lar attent&on to (&ve )ase st"d&es that
&ll"strate .oth )o33on the3es and 0o&nts o( d&vergen)e a3ong &nd&v&d"al state 0rogra3s. ,he analys&s )on)l"des w&th an
e-a3&nat&on o( RPS 0er(or3an)e to date and so3e o( the lead&ng o00ort"n&t&es and )hallenges (a)&ng ("t"re develo03ent. ,he
)ont&n"ed 0rol&(erat&on o( state RPSs and the de)&s&on &n 3any states to esta.l&sh se)ond-generat&on 0ol&)&es &ll"strate that these
0ol&)&es tend to draw a (a&rly .road .ase o( 0ol&t&)al s"00ort that o(ten )rosses 0art&san l&nes. States are )o30elled to ena)t or
e-0and RPSs (or 3"lt&0le reasons! and greenho"se gas e3&ss&ons 3ay or 3ay not .e )entral (a)tors &n 0ro30t&ng ado0t&on.
Instead! states )ons&stently ant&)&0ate s&gn&(&)ant e)ono3&) develo03ent .ene(&ts (ro3 0ro3ot&ng renewa.les! 0art&)"larly g&ven
the 0ro3&se o( develo0&ng ho3e-grown energy so"r)es that )o"ld lead to &nstate Ho. )reat&on. In t"rn! states are also attra)ted to
RPSs .y the 0ros0e)t o( greater rel&a.&l&ty o( ele)tr&)&ty s"00ly &n )o3&ng de)ades and the 0ros0e)t o( red")&ng )onvent&onal a&r
0oll"tants thro"gh a sh&(t toward e-0anded "se o( renewa.les. L&rt"ally all state RPSs 3a6e so3e "se o( (le-&.le )o30l&an)e
3e)han&s3s! &n)l"d&ng trada.le renewa.le energy )red&ts! altho"gh there &s so3e &nter-state var&at&on &n de(&n&ng what )onst&t"tes
a renewa.le energy so"r)e.
M
RPS Neg
R. Choy
States Renewables
State RPS incentii,es renewables
Se)ond! state RPS 0rogra3s are &n)reas&ngly )o30le3ented .y other state-la"n)hed &n&t&at&ves to 0ro3ote renewa.le energy as
well as energy e((&)&en)y. L&rt"ally every state has 3ade so3e )o33&t3ent to (oster&ng renewa.le energy and! &n so3e
&nstan)es! these 0rogra3s 3ay )reate &n)ent&ves (or 0otent&al generators that w&ll ease )o30l&an)e w&th RPS standards. New
Iersey! (or e-a30le! has an RPS that rea)hes J.D 0er)ent renewa.le generat&on .y B008! and B0 0er)ent .y B0B0. ,he state
s"00le3ents &ts RPS w&th a +renewa.le energy ("nd/ that &s des&gned to en)o"rage &nvest3ent &n renewa.les and &s ("rther
s"00orted .y other &n)ent&ve and reg"latory 0rogra3s that 3andate e-0anded "se o( renewa.les &n govern3ent ."&ld&ngs 9Ra.e
B00K:. Nowever! so3e states! s")h as Conne)t&)"t! have reallo)ated these ("nds away (ro3 the&r &ntended 0"r0oses toward other
state 0ol&)y goals a3&d state (&s)al 0ress"res. S")h reallo)at&ons leave so3e <"est&on as to the&r long-ter3 ava&la.&l&ty (or
renewa.le energy 0ro3ot&on.
States hae RPS laws that enforce renewables
Union of %oncerned Scientists K -.#act Sheet: Renewable $nergy Standards at /or+ in the States"0 Union of %oncerned
Scientists" 21 September 20023 4http:55www"ucsusa"org5clean6energy5renewable6energy5page"cfm7page89:2(
%-&st&ng state RPS laws w&ll 0rov&de over $B!K00 3egawatts 9CW: o( new renewa.le 0ower .y B0$B an &n)rease o( 3ore than
=0O over total $==? A.S. levels 9e-)l"d&ng hydro0ower:. ,h&s re0resents eno"gh )lean 0ower to 3eet the ele)tr&)&ty needs o( ?.J
3&ll&on ho3es. ,he RPS &n&t&at&ves &n Cal&(orn&a and ,e-as 9see S%RCs RPS Renewa.le Port(ol&o Standards State 8)t&v&ty
Page: )reated the two largest 3ar6ets (or new renewa.le energy growth. ,otal new renewa.le energy 0rod")t&on (ro3 state RPS
0rogra3s w&ll red")e as 3")h )ar.on d&o-&de the 3a&n greenho"se gas that )a"ses glo.al war3&ng as ta6&ng D.K 3&ll&on )ars
o(( the road or 0lant&ng over $.J .&ll&on trees.
K
RPS Neg
R. Choy
States RECs
States will cooperate for economic gains using R$%;s
,h&rd! the )hallenge o( develo0&ng s"0er&or trans3&ss&on )a0a)&ty and RPS 0rol&(erat&on 3ore .roadly s"ggests an &n)reas&ng
l&6el&hood that states 3ay .ene(&t (ro3 greater &ntera)t&on and )olla.orat&on w&th ea)h other. Case st"d&es )on(&r3 that &nd&v&d"al
states are 6een to 3a-&3&;e e)ono3&) and env&ron3ental .ene(&ts (ro3 RPS &30le3entat&on ."t they also h&ghl&ght &nstan)es &n
wh&)h )ross-state )oo0erat&on 3ay .e essent&al. ,h&s 3ay &n)l"de agree3ents (or )o33on de(&n&t&ons o( renewa.les and related
)red&ts as well as shared e((orts to 0ro3ote reg&onally-.ased renewa.le reso"r)es w&th h&gh 0otent&al. States w&ll also need to
g"ard aga&nst +do".le )o"nt&ng!/ ens"r&ng that renewa.le generat&on )an only )o"nt toward RPS and greenho"se gas red")t&on
re<"&re3ents &n one state. S")h )olla.orat&on &s 3ost ev&dent at 0resent &n the Northeast! where states are 0hys&)ally s3all and
the&r e)ono3&) and energy syste3s are )losely )onne)ted. >"t &nterstate )olla.orat&on &s also e3erg&ng as an &ss"e &n other
reg&ons! 0art&)"larly the So"thwest w&th &ts grow&ng )l"ster o( &nd&v&d"al state RPSs. Indeed! one o( the strongest )ases aga&nst
+.otto3-"0/ 0ol&)y des&gn &n a (ederal syste3 &nvolves those s&t"at&ons &n wh&)h 3"lt&0le states (a&l to wor6 )oo0erat&vely and
&nstead esta.l&sh a 0at)hwor6 <"&lt o( 0rov&s&ons that 0re)l"de &nterstate )oo0erat&on. States need to .eg&n to loo6 .eyond the&r
own .orders and se&;e 3"lt&-state or reg&onal o00ort"n&t&es that wo"ld .ene(&t all 0art&es. 'ne early 3odel (or s")h )olla.orat&on
&nvolves an $$-state e((ort )onvened .y the Western 7overnors 8sso)&at&on &n atte30t&ng to develo0 a )o33on reg&onal syste3
(or the &ss"an)e! tra)6&ng! and ret&re3ent o( renewa.le energy )red&ts. ,he so-)alled Western Renewa.le %nergy 7enerat&on
In(or3at&on Syste3 9WR%7IS: has .een wor6&ng &n re)ent years to esta.l&sh s")h a "n&(&ed syste3 (or )red&t de(&n&t&on and
overs&ght 9Penergy! In). B00M: and also &n)l"des a"thor&t&es (ro3 western Canad&an 0rov&n)es and Ce-&)an states.
D
RPS Neg
R. Choy
States Flexibility + RECs
State RPS are speciali,ed according to the state;s needs and capacity using R$%;s
Ind&v&d"al state RPSs d&((er (ro3 one another &n deta&l ."t have 3any s&3&lar des&gn (eat"res. 8ll RPSs ena)ted to date esta.l&sh
so3e s0e)&(&)at&on o( a 0er)entage or a.sol"te a3o"nt o( ele)tr&)&ty generat&on or )a0a)&ty that des&gnated s"00l&ers &n a state are
re<"&red to 0rov&de .y a 0art&)"lar date. %a)h state 0rogra3 de(&nes what )onst&t"tes a <"al&(y&ng renewa.le ele)tr&)&ty so"r)e
9,a.le B: and! over t&3e! &n)reases the 0er)entage or a3o"nt o( )a0a)&ty or generat&on that 3"st .e 0rov&ded (ro3 renewa.le
so"r)es to 3eet the standard. Cost states also allow reg"lated 0art&es to generate the&r own renewa.le s"00ly or 0"r)hase )red&ts
(ro3 other s"00l&ers. ,he so-)alled +renewa.le energy )red&t/ 9R%C: syste3 (ollows other 3ar6et-.ased 3e)han&s3s that allow
o0t&ons (or ass"r&ng )o30l&an)e! ena.l&ng s"00l&ers to 3eet reg"latory re<"&re3ents &n the 3ost &ne-0ens&ve way (eas&.le. In
t"rn! ea)h state RPS des&gnates a lead govern3ental agen)y! 3ost )o33only the state 0".l&) "t&l&ty )o33&ss&on! to oversee 3ost
as0e)ts o( &30le3entat&on.
J
RPS Neg
R. Choy
States Flexibility
#ederal RPS ignores states; resources < that causes a spi+e in energy prices and economic disparities in different regions
Chr&s /omac+ '(! %-e)"t&ve v&)e 0res&dent o( 7eorg&a Power Co.
* +8lternat&ve energy r"le wo"ld .e )ostly!/ 8tlanta Io"rnal-Const&t"t&on! $B/B$/0?! l/n4
In a De). $8 o0&n&on )ol"3n! the So"thern 8ll&an)e (or Clean %nergy )r&t&)&;ed So"thern Co30any (or o00os&ng a one-s&;e-(&ts-
all (ederal renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standard that wo"ld 3andate 0ower )o30an&es to 0rod")e a 0er)entage o( the&r ele)tr&)&ty (ro3
alternat&ve so"r)es s")h as w&nd! solar and .&o3ass 9QF"t"re 5(a&led .y one vote!5 Q R&ss"e:. Renewa.le energy and e((&)&en)y
0rogra3s w&ll 0lay a role &n 3eet&ng )"rrent and ("t"re energy needs! and So"thern Co30any w&ll )ont&n"e to &nvest &n resear)h
as well as 0rogra3s (or )"sto3ers and the env&ron3ent. Nowever! .e)a"se there are d&((eren)es (ro3 state to state &n the
ava&la.&l&ty o( renewa.le reso"r)es l&6e w&nd and solar! there are s&gn&(&)ant d&((eren)es &n what these te)hnolog&es w&ll )ost &n
d&((erent reg&ons o( the )o"ntry. = federal mandate ignores this critical fact. W&nd energy! (or e-a30le! &s one o( the 3ost
e)ono3&)al renewa.le so"r)es &n states where there &s a lot o( w&nd. Wh&le solar &s e-0ens&ve wherever &t &s "sed! there5s s&30ly a
lot 3ore solar )a0a)&ty &n states w&th ar&d )l&3ates. 8s a res"lt! a one-s&;e-(&ts-all a00roa)h 0enal&;es )erta&n reg&ons .e)a"se &t
doesn5t )ons&der the &30a)ts on )ons"3ers and e)ono3&es &n states where these reso"r)es are not as e)ono3&). In real&ty! a
(ederal 3andate )o"ld drast&)ally ra&se ele)tr&)&ty 0r&)es (or )ons"3ers &n states s")h as 7eorg&a! and res"lt &n a s&gn&(&)ant
trans(er o( wealth (ro3 )ons"3ers &n renewa.le energy-0oor reg&ons to d&stant s"00l&ers and the (ederal govern3ent. So"thern
Co30any &s not alone &n &ts o00os&t&on to th&s (ederal 3andate. Do;ens o( other organ&;at&ons &n)l"d&ng )ons"3er gro"0s!
"t&l&t&es and trade "n&ons also .el&eve that good energy 0ol&)y en)o"rages develo03ent o( a var&ety o( )lean reso"r)es! &n)l"d&ng
n")lear 0ower! )lean )oal te)hnolog&es! &n)reased )onservat&on and energy e((&)&en)y and! when &t5s )ost-e((e)t&ve (or )ons"3ers!
0ra)t&)al and e)ono3&) renewa.le energy o0t&ons. Ander the 0ro0osed (ederal 3andate! )o30an&es wo"ld .e (or)ed to 3a6e so-
)alled Qalternat&ve )o30l&an)e 0ay3entsQ to .r&dge the d&((eren)e .etween what they )o"ld generate "s&ng renewa.le so"r)es and
what5s needed to 3eet the 3andate. For So"thern Co30any! these 0ay3ents! at M )ents 0er 6&lowatt-ho"r! a3o"nt to ro"ghly GD.J
.&ll&on &n today5s dollars. 8dH"sted (or &n(lat&on! .y B0M0! the 0ay3ents wo"ld total ro"ghly GB0 .&ll&on.
#ed RPS spi+es energy prices and bac+trac+s current successful RPS
US %hamber >o 9ate
*+'ne S&;e Doesnt F&t 8ll!/ htt01//www."s)ha3.er.)o3/assets/ads/0?08energy/0?08energy2.elt.0d(4
R&ght now! the No"se o( Re0resentat&ves &s )ons&der&ng &30os&ng a (ederal renewa.le energy 3andate (or generat&ng
ele)tr&)&ty.We all s"00ort renewa.le energy! ."t all th&s (ederal 3andate wo"ld do &s ra&se ele)tr&)&ty 0r&)es (or ."s&nesses and
)ons"3ers nat&onw&de. So" see! (ro3 Ca&ne to Cal&(orn&a! states are already s"))ess("lly develo0&ng and &30le3ent&ng
0rogra3s to &n)rease the a3o"nt o( ele)tr&)&ty that &s generated (ro3 renewa.le so"r)es.,hese 0rogra3s are ta&lored to (&t the
needs o( ele)tr&)&ty )"sto3ers w&th the nat"ral reso"r)es ava&la.le &n ea)h state. Cat)h&ng lo)al reso"r)es w&th a var&ety o(
te)hnolog&es &s a s3art way to grow the "se o( renewa.le energy to hel0 s"00ly o"r ele)tr&)&ty. Candat&ng a (ederal +one s&;e (&ts
all/ a00roa)h to 0ro3ote renewa.le energy wo"ld .e a ste0 .a)6wards.,he real e((e)t o( th&s 3andate wo"ld .e to ra&se
ele)tr&)&ty 0r&)es (or ."s&nesses and )ons"3ersT "0set state-.ased renewa.le 0rogra3s already &n a)t&onT and 0&)6 w&nners and
losers a3ong states.
$ery state has a unique RPS specific to their resources < federal RPS doesn;t allow space for modifications or ad?ustments
$88 '(! %d&son %le)tr&) Inst&t"te
*$B/$/0?! htt01//www.ee&.org/&nd"stry2&ss"es/ele)tr&)&ty20ol&)y/(ederal2leg&slat&on/%%I2RPS.0d(4
,he RPS 3andate "nder)"ts or 0ree30ts the state renewa.le 0lans that already e-&st &n BJ states and the D&str&)t o( Col"3.&a. I(
states )hoose a lower 0er)entage re<"&re3ent! a 3ore 3eas"red t&3eta.le! or <"al&(y&ng renewa.le reso"r)es that do not )o30ly
w&th the (ederal 3andate! they w&ll .e 0ree30ted. %very state w&th an RPS 0rogra3 has )hosen renewa.le reso"r)es that <"al&(y
(or )red&ts "nder the&r state 0rogra3 that wo"ld (a&l to re)e&ve )red&ts "nder the (ederal 0rogra3. States also )an 3od&(y the&r
state 0rogra3s to adH"st to )hang&ng )&r)"3stan)es! "nl&6e the r&g&d! one-s&;e-(&ts-all (ederal 0rogra3 &n the No"se RPS
0rov&s&on.
?
RPS Neg
R. Choy
States Flexibility
States hae less and differing capacities < %$PS is the most flexible option to sole for cleaner energy
States >ews Serice '(
*+D'C%NICI1 F%D%R8E R%N%W8>E% P'R,F'EI' S,8ND8RD ANF8IR! ANR%EI8>E%! 8ND AN8FF'RD8>E%!/ D/D/0?! l/n4
A.S. Senator Pete Do3en&)& today sa&d that he .el&eves a 0ro0osal to &30ose a $D 0er)ent a)ross the .oard Renewa.le Port(ol&o
Standard 9RPS: 0resents an "n(a&r ."rden to )ons"3ers. Do3en&)& sa&d that when the Senate ta6es "0 energye-0e)ted to .e ne-t
wee6--he and other Senators are 0lann&ng on o((er&ng an alternat&ve Clean %nergy Port(ol&o Standard 9C%PS: wh&)h wo"ld )reate
a (a&r 0lay&ng (&eld (or all low-e3&ss&on energy reso"r)es. QI s"00ort the "se o( )lean energy so"r)es! ."t the a00roa)h I (avor
wo"ld 0rov&de (or a (a&rer standard. I( o"r goal &s to en)o"rage the "se o( low-e3&tt&ng reso"r)es! then the 0lay&ng (&eld sho"ld .e
(a&r (or all reso"r)es that 3eet th&s standard. For that reason! a Clean %nergy Port(ol&o Standard 3a6es sense!Q Do3en&)& sa&d.
,he Clean %nergy Port(ol&o Standard wo"ld en)o"rage the "se o( a var&ety o( )lean energy reso"r)es! s")h as n")lear 0ower!
.&o3ass! ("el )ells! solar! w&nd! o)ean! geother3al! hydro0ower! land(&ll gas! and )lean )oal te)hnolog&es. C%PS also &n)l"des
0rov&s&ons that wo"ld hel0 states "se less ele)tr&)&ty &n order to 3eet target goals! s")h as energy e((&)&en)y 3eas"res. Ander the
0ro0osed (ederal RPS! a 3")h s3aller set o( reso"r)es wo"ld .e allowed to 3eet targets. Cost states that have ado0ted
renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standards &n)l"de a .roader set o( te)hnolog&es to 3eet the&r standards. States that )annot 0rod")e the
re<"&red a3o"nt o( renewa.le energy wo"ld 0"r)hase )red&ts! the )ost o( wh&)h wo"ld l&6ely .e 0assed on to )ons"3ers. QIn 3y
o0&n&on! states are &n the .est 0os&t&on to deter3&ne what reso"r)es (&t the&r needs. In 3y ho3e state o( New Ce-&)o! (or &nstan)e!
we are a.le to "se so3e energy so"r)es l&6e w&nd that other statesl&6e those &n the So"theast)annot. 8nd even New Ce-&)o5s
)"rrent state standard allows (or 3ore energy so"r)es to .e "sed than the RPS 0ro0osal l&6ely to .e &ntrod")ed &n the Senate!Q
Do3en&)& sa&d. QI .el&eve that we sho"ld (&nd ways (or all D0 states to 0rod")e )lean energy! wh&)h &s what a Clean %nergy
Port(ol&o Standard wo"ld do. States have "n&<"e reso"r)es and the (ederal govern3ent 3"st re)ogn&;e that and leg&slate
a))ord&ngly. 8 Clean %nergy Port(ol&o Standard! &nstead o( a one-s&;e (&ts all (ederal RPS 3andate! wo"ld 0rov&de states w&th
3")h needed (le-&.&l&ty &n 3eet&ng the&r ele)tr&)&ty needs! and wo"ld hel0 o"r nat&on 3ove toward )leaner energy!Q Do3en&)&
)ont&n"ed.
$fficiency proides the most flexibility
$88 '(! %d&son %le)tr&) Inst&t"te
*$B/$/0?! htt01//www.ee&.org/&nd"stry2&ss"es/ele)tr&)&ty20ol&)y/(ederal2leg&slat&on/%%I2RPS.0d(4
,he (ederal RPS &s not a sol"t&on to a)h&ev&ng energy &nde0enden)e! s&n)e o&l a))o"nts (or only M 0er)ent o( 0ower generated .y
the ele)tr&) "t&l&ty &nd"stry. ,he RPS 0rov&s&on allows energy e((&)&en)y 3eas"res to )o"nt (or only "0 to K 0er)ent o( the $D
0er)ent RPS o.l&gat&on! 0rov&d&ng very l&3&ted add&t&onal (le-&.&l&ty (or "t&l&t&es re<"&red to 3eet the (ederal 3andate. >e)a"se
the a.&l&ty o( a "t&l&ty to earn )red&ts "nder the energy e((&)&en)y lang"age &s so restr&)t&ve! the add&t&on o( energy e((&)&en)y o((ers
l&3&ted 0otent&al to 3&t&gate )o30l&an)e )osts.
#ederal RPS is inflexible and ignore specific state energy needs
>=@ '(! Nat&onal 8sso)&at&on o( Can"(a)t"rers
*+PR',%C, %E%C,RICI,S C'NSAC%RS FR'C R8,% INCR%8S%S1 'PP'S% ,N% >IN78C8N R%N%W8>E% P'R,F'EI' S,8ND8RD
8C%NDC%N,!/ htt01//www.na3.org/s2na3/do)$.as0#CIDUB0BD0KVDIDUBBJ8?84
W 8 one-s&;e-(&ts-all (ederal RPS 3andate &gnores the s0e)&(&) energy and e)ono3&) needs o( the &nd&v&d"al states. ,here are
s&gn&(&)ant reg&onal d&((eren)es &n ava&la.&l&ty! a3o"nt and ty0es o( renewa.le energy reso"r)es! res"lt&ng &n d&((erent reg&ons o(
the )o"ntry rely&ng on d&((erent ("el 3&-es. %ven a3ong states that have an RPS! so3e have )hosen to add te)hnolog&es that
wo"ld not .e &n)l"ded &n the >&nga3an 0ro0osal! 3ost )o33only hydro0ower and ("el )ells.

8
RPS Neg
R. Choy
States !" N#t !$a%able
=
RPS Neg
R. Choy
States !" C#''e$(e Cla)se * R#ll +a(,
Regional trading systems allow for tradable tax credits < %P would simply extend membership to all A0 states
Sa3 Schoofs '2! Calv&n College! WIS% Intern Inst&t"te o( %le)tr&)al and %le)tron&) %ng&neers
*+8 Federal Renewa.le Port(ol&o Standard1 Pol&)y 8nalys&s and Pro0osal!/ 8/J/0K! htt01//www.w&se-&ntern.org/Ho"rnal/B00K/WIS%B00K-
Sa3S)hoo(sF&nalPa0er.0d(4
8 (&nal )lass&(&)at&on &s what ty0e o( )red&t trad&ng e-&sts (or the states RPS. 8 (ew states have the&r own )red&t trad&ng w&th&n
the&r own state! s")h as Nevada! New Ce-&)o! ,e-as! and W&s)ons&n *BB4. 'ther states allow )red&t trad&ng w&th&n reg&onal
syste3s! s")h as the N%P''E 7enerat&on In(or3at&on Syste3! wh&)h Conne)t&)"t and Cassa)h"setts have agreed to trade "nder
*BB4. Cal&(orn&a and New Iersey .oth have )red&t trad&ng "nder develo03ent! w&th New Iersey see6&ng to &ntegrate w&th a
reg&onal trad&ng o0t&on "nder develo03ent .y PIC! a reg&onal trans3&ss&on organ&;at&on *BB4! *BK4! *BD4. Eastly! Ca&ne &s
)ons&der&ng Ho&n&ng the trad&ng syste3 set "0 .y N%P''E! wh&le C&nnesota 3ay esta.l&sh &ts own syste3 &n the ("t"re s&3&lar to
W&s)ons&ns that wo"ld also 0erha0s allow (or reg&onal )red&t trad&ng *BM4! *BJ4. Reg&onal )red&t trad&ng &s <"&)6ly .e)o3&ng an
o0t&on (or states w&th an RPS. ,he N%P''E Inde0endent Syste3 '0erator 3ent&oned a.ove allows trad&ng .etween the states &t
serves! wh&)h are Conne)t&)"t! Ca&ne! Cassa)h"setts! New Na30sh&re! Rhode Island! and Ler3ont *B?4. Wh&le only three o(
these s&- states have an RPS! the syste3 that has .een ado0ted allows (or the other states to generate renewa.le energy and trade
these )red&ts "s&ng N%P''E. S&3&larly! PIC &s +a reg&onal trans3&ss&on organ&;at&onXthat serves &n all or 0arts o( Delaware!
Ill&no&s! Caryland! New Iersey! 'h&o! Pennsylvan&a! L&rg&n&a! West L&rg&n&a! and the D&str&)t o( Col"3.&a/ and so the 0oss&.&l&ty
(or reg&onal trad&ng .etween all o( these states e-&sts as well *B84. ,he last 0oss&.le reg&onal trad&ng s&t"at&on &s "nder
&nvest&gat&on .y the Western 7overnors 8sso)&at&on and wo"ld allow renewa.le energy )red&t trad&ng .etween the $8 3e3.er
states *B=4. ,h&s reg&onal )oo0erat&on see3s to .e a 0os&t&ve d&re)t&on (or )red&t trad&ng! allow&ng (or 3ore (le-&.&l&ty (or
o.l&gated sellers to ("l(&ll state RPS 0ol&)&es.
=>9 < no ris+ of roll bac+" >o state RPS has eery been challenged on the basis of iolating the %ommerce %lause
/isconsin Tas+ #orce on Blobal /arming Policy ( < *( 08
*+%nhan)ed RPS!/ ?/$?/08! htt01//dnr.w&.gov/env&ron3ent0rote)t/gt(gw/te30lates/%72enhan)ed2RPS2)lean20?$?08.0d(4
>arr&ers to I30le3entat&on1 ,he 3aHor .arr&er to &30le3entat&on o( th&s 0ol&)y &s the need (or leg&slat&on to a3end B00D 8)t $K$.
'00os&t&on 3ay )o3e (ro3 ele)tr&) )"sto3ers who .el&eve that th&s re<"&re3ent w&ll 3ater&ally &n)rease the&r ele)tr&)&ty )osts.
,he new re<"&re3ents (or W&s)ons&n-.ased renewa.les )o"ld 0otent&ally (a)e legal )hallenges .ased on the Interstate Co33er)e
Cla"se o( the A.S. Const&t"t&on. @"est&ons have .een ra&sed &n other states that already have &n-state RPS re<"&re3ents! ."t to
date none of those state laws hae been challenged in court on that basis. ,he dra(ters o( the %nhan)ed RPS leg&slat&on
sho"ld )are("lly e-a3&ne the Interstate Co33er)e Cla"se &ss"e and dra(t the &n-state re<"&re3ent to 3&n&3&;e the r&s6 o( a
s"))ess("l Interstate Co33er)e Cla"se )hallenge.
$0
RPS Neg
R. Choy
States !" Ra(e t# t.e +#tt#'
States are ambitious on requirements < creating a race to the top
F&rst! states over t&3e have &n)reas&ngly tended to elevate the .ar (or the a3o"nt o( ele)tr&)&ty re<"&red .y an RPS 9see ,a.le $:.
Wh&le all 3a&nta&n so3e 0hase-&n 0ol&)y over a s0e)&(&ed 0er&od o( t&3e! the end target date tends to (eat"re &n)reas&ngly h&gh
levels o( renewa.les. Cany o( the earl&er 0rogra3s set relat&vely low targets (or renewa.lesT the $==$ Iowa law set a standard
that wo"ld rea)h a00ro-&3ately two 0er)ent .y the end o( that de)ade and W&s)ons&ns $=== law esta.l&shed a B.B 0er)ent
standard .y B0$$. Core re)ent RPS ena)t3ent has tended toward 3ore a3.&t&o"s levels! )ons&stently &n do".le-d&g&ts and as
h&gh as MM 0er)ent .y B0B0 &n Cal&(orn&a and BD 0er)ent .y B0$M &n New Sor6. In 3any res0e)ts! th&s rese3.les a 3"lt&- state
+ra)e-to-the-to0!/ where.y 3any states are )o33&tt&ng to ("t"re renewa.le energy levels that see3ed &n)on)e&va.le a hal(-
de)ade ago.
State RPS leads to inter)state cooperation
Fo"rth! as the n"3.er o( states ado0t&ng an RPS and related 0ro-renewa.le 0rogra3s have 0rol&(erated! they have &n)reas&ngly
.eg"n to )on(ront &ss"es o( &nter-state )olla.orat&on. States have a )lear &n)ent&ve to atte30t to reta&n any e)ono3&) develo03ent
and env&ron3ental .ene(&ts (ro3 0ro3ot&ng renewa.les 9Ra.e! Ro3Yn! and Do.el&s B00D:. >"t w&th a (ew e-)e0t&ons! s")h as
Nawa&& and ,e-as! 3ost states share ele)tr&)&ty generat&on trans3&ss&on and d&str&."t&on &n(rastr")t"re and )annot ens"re that all
o( the renewa.le ele)tr&)&ty that they "se w&ll .e generated &n state. In so3e 0arts o( the nat&on! s")h as the So"thwest! a de (a)to
+Reg&onal RPS/ o0erates! )reat&ng a new set o( &ss"es (or these s&- states to )ons&der 9see F&g"re $:. ,o date! there has .een
relat&vely 3odest &ntera)t&on on RPS develo03ent .etween ne&gh.or&ng states! re(le)t&ng the +ho3e-grown/ nat"re o( &nd&v&d"al
RPS )reat&on that &s h&ghly sens&t&ve to 0ol&t&)al! e)ono3&)! and te)hn&)al )ons&derat&ons w&th&n ea)h state. >"t &ss"es s")h as
&nter-state re)ogn&t&on and trad&ng o( R%Cs! and translat&on o( renewa.le energy e-0ans&on &nto greenho"se gas red")t&on )red&ts
&n states that have RPSs and other )l&3ate 0ol&)&es &n 0la)e are .eg&nn&ng to loo3 larger. Indeed! they are 0rov&ng harder to seal
her3et&)ally w&th&n s&ngle-state .o"ndar&es and 3ay ne)ess&tate new (or3s o( &nter-state )olla.orat&on. Eoo6&ng ahead! greater
&ntergovern3ental )olla.orat&on 0resents s&gn&(&)ant o00ort"n&t&es and )hallenges (or states eager to ta6e the ne-t ste0s &n
renewa.le energy develo03ent. S")h a)t&v&ty )o"ld also )ross nat&onal .o"ndar&es! &nvolv&ng Canad&an 0rov&n)es and Ce-&)an
states and re(le)t&ng the real&ty that 3")h North 83er&)an energy 3ove3ent (lows north-so"th and &s &nd&((erent to nat&onal
.orders 9Co33&ss&on (or %nv&ron3ental Coo0erat&on &n North 83er&)a B00B:.
$$
RPS Neg
R. Choy
/#0e1 S#l2en(y
The /hite Couse pushes for state authority oer RPS
Coral 9aenport '(! C@ Sta((
*+Senate De3o)rats See '0en&ng (or Renewa.le Standard!/ C@ 7reen Sheets! D/BD/0?! htt01//0".l&).)<.)o3/do)s/gs/greensheets$$0-00000BD$=?K?.ht3l4
>"t even &( those gro"0s se)"re No"se 0assage! a (&nal .attle loo3s w&th the Wh&te No"se! wh&)h h&stor&)ally has o00osed a
nat&onal renewa.le ele)tr&)&ty standard Z tho"gh &t has never gone so (ar as to threaten a veto! W&)6er sa&d. The /hite Couse
contends that no national standard is needed! and that states can create their own renewable regulations. 'n Wednesday!
an %nergy De0art3ent s0o6eswo3an! I"l&e R"gg&ero! wrote &n an e-3a&l! +,rad&t&onally! we have o00osed a nat&onal renewa.le
0ort(ol&o standard d"e to the (a)t that ea)h state has very d&((erent renewa.le reso"r)es and )an "t&l&;e renewa.le energy &n
d&((erent ways. 8 one-s&;e-(&ts-all a00roa)h w&ll not allow "s to .est 3a-&3&;e ea)h states reso"r)es./
$B
RPS Neg
R. Choy
3#l)nta$y !ax C$e%its
Doluntary incenties spur innoation and adoption of renewables
Cary 8nn Ralls 'E! Nat&onal R"ral %le)tr&) Coo0erat&ve 8sso)&at&on 9NR%C8: as Sen&or Reg"latory Co"nsel
*+C'N7R%SS 7', I, RI7N,1 ,N%R%S N' N%%D ,' C8ND8,% R%N%W8>E% P'R,F'EI' S,8ND8RDS!/ %N%R7S E8W I'ARN8E! Lol. B?!
No. KD$! htt01//www.e.a-net.org/do)s/KD$-K?B.0d(4
F&nan)&al &n)ent&ves are &n 0la)e at the (ederal! state! and lo)al levels! &n)l"d&ng ta- )red&ts (or renewa.le develo03ent and other
0rod")t&on &n)ent&ves! )"sto3er re.ates! and resear)h! and develo03ent grants. The importance of these programs in
proiding encouragement! inducement! and support for renewable technologies! research and pro?ect deelopment
cannot be oerstated. 8t the (ederal level! %P8)t B00D enhan)es these o00ort"n&t&es .y! a3ong other th&ngs! a3end&ng
renewa.le 0rod")t&on &n)ent&ves that are set (orth &n the %nergy Pol&)y 8)t o( $==B. JK Ander %P8)t B00D! the renewa.le energy
0rod")t&on ta- )red&t 9P,C: &s e-tended thro"gh B00?! and &n)l"des &n)re3ental and new hydro0ower and Ind&an )oal as
<"al&(y&ng energy reso"r)es. JD ,he 83er&)an W&nd %nergy 8sso)&at&on 98W%8: est&3ated that "0 to B!D00 CW o( w&nd energy
)a0a)&ty was s)hed"led to go on l&ne .y B00D! and that the e-tens&on o( the P,C wo"ld )ont&n"e th&s strong growth 3o3ent"3.
JJ 8lso! as a res"lt o( the 8)t! ele)tr&) )oo0erat&ves and 0".l&) 0ower syste3s have the a.&l&ty to &ss"e +Clean Renewa.le %nergy
>onds/ 9CR%>:. J? 8 CR%>! 6nown as a ta- )red&t .ond! del&vers to )o-o0s! 3"n&)&0al&t&es! and Ind&an ,r&.es (or the (&rst t&3e
an &n)ent&ve )o30ara.le to the P,C! o((er&ng an &nterest-(ree loan (or (&nan)&ng <"al&(&ed renewa.le energy 0roHe)ts (or a l&3&ted
ter3. J8 ,o date! ele)tr&) )oo0erat&ves have 3ade a00l&)at&on to the An&ted States ,reas"ry De0art3ent (or al3ost GD00 3&ll&on
&n CR%>S to (&nan)e (&(ty-e&ght renewa.le 0roHe)ts a)ross 83er&)a. J= Se)t&on $M0J o( the 8)t esta.l&shes a 0rod")t&on ta-
)red&t (or new advan)ed n")lear 0ower (a)&l&t&es w&th a )red&t a3o"nt o( $.8 )ents 0er Wh (or ele)tr&)&ty 0rod")ed over an
e&ght-year ter3. Se)t&on B0B rea"thor&;es the Renewa.le %nergy Prod")t&on In)ent&ve "nt&l B0BJ. Se)t&on B0M sets goals (or
(ederal 0"r)has&ng o( renewa.le energy "0 to ?.DO &n (&s)al year B0$M and ea)h (&s)al year therea(ter. Se)t&ons $BK and B0J!
res0e)t&vely! esta.l&sh re.ates (or res&dent&al )ons"3ers who sat&s(y <"al&(&ed state energy e((&)&ent a00l&an)e 0rogra3s 9"0 to
GD0 3&ll&on ann"ally thro"gh B0$0:! and (or )ons"3ers who &nstall renewa.le energy syste3s to ho3es or s3all ."s&nesses 9w&th
an ann"al )a0 o( G$D0 3&ll&on &n B00J and GBD0 3&ll&on .y B0$0:. ?0 8 (ew other (ederal .&lls also 0rov&de (or ("nd&ng (or
renewa.le energy and an)&llary 0"r0oses. ,he F&s)al Sear 9FS: B00J 800ro0r&at&ons 8)t (or the A.S. De0art3ent o( 8gr&)"lt"re
9ASD8: &n)l"des GBM 3&ll&on &n ("nd&ng (or the ASD8s renewa.le energy loan 0rogra3 and the D'% 800ro0r&at&ons 8)t (or
FS B00J &n)l"des G$!$8D.? 3&ll&on (or D'%s energy e((&)&en)y and renewa.les 0rogra3s. ?$ ,he (ederal &n)ent&ves! 0art&)"larly
the P,C and CR%>! 0rov&de "n&(or3 (&nan)&al s"00ort to the renewa.le energy &nd"stry. ,hey do not )reate &ne<"&t&es a3ong
states! wh&)h! a))ord&ng to the o00onents o( S. 83dt. ?=$! wo"ld have o))"rred "nder the SR%8P. ?B Nor do they &30ose )ost
sh&(ts a3ong rate0ayers! wh&)h o))"r when "t&l&t&es are re<"&red to 0"r)hase renewa.le energy at a 0r&)e that e-)eeds the val"e o(
the 0ower. ?M ,hese 0rogra3s and the state incenties represent the most efficient! cost)effectie! and equitable means of
supporting the renewable industry. It &s &30erat&ve that these 0rogra3s are ("nded at levels that ena.le renewa.les to )o30ete
w&th (oss&l ("els. State &n)ent&ves! l&6e the&r (ederal )o"nter0arts! 0rov&de )r&t&)al .ene(&ts (or renewa.le reso"r)es that do not
d&st&ng"&sh a3ong )ons"3er gro"0s. Cany states o((er ta- )red&ts/re.ates to var&o"s ta-0ayer gro"0s. For &nstan)e! res&dent&al
)ons"3ers &n Idaho! North Carol&na! North Da6ota! and Atah )an re)e&ve 0ersonal ta- )red&ts on e<"&03ent and &nstallat&on )osts
(or renewa.le heat&ng and/or ele)tr&) generat&on. ?K In New Ce-&)o! North Carol&na! North Da6ota! and '6laho3a! )o33er)&al
and &nd"str&al )ons"3ers )an re)e&ve )or0orate ta- )red&ts on 0ro0erty "s&ng renewa.le syste3s. ?D ,he )red&ts )an .e (o)"sed
on those renewa.le te)hnolog&es that are ava&la.le &n &nd&v&d"al states. E&6ew&se! 3an"(a)t"rers o( renewa.le e<"&03ent &n North
Carol&na! '6laho3a! and Wash&ngton )an re)e&ve )or0orate ta- )red&ts! wh&)h )an .e "sed to attra)t 3an"(a)t"r&ng Ho.s to the
state! and )an also .e (o)"sed on 3an"(a)t"rers lo)at&ng &n de0ressed )o33"n&t&es w&th&n the state. ?J Renewa.le syste3s &n
Conne)t&)"t! Ill&no&s! Iowa! and ,ennessee 3ay .e el&g&.le (or s0e)&al 0ro0erty assess3ents to red")e the ta- ."rden on those
who 3a6e s&gn&(&)ant )a0&tal &nvest3ents &n renewa.le te)hnolog&es. ?? P"r)hasers o( renewa.le e<"&03ent and syste3s &n
Flor&da! Idaho! and Nevada )an re)e&ve re.ates on sales ta-es! lower&ng the "0-(ront )ost o( renewa.le energy te)hnolog&es!
wh&)h &s o(ten the greatest .arr&er to &nvest3ent. ?8 S&3&larly! &n states s")h as Cal&(orn&a! Ill&no&s! and Rhode Island! 0"r)hasers
o( renewa.le e<"&03ent and syste3s )an re)e&ve state re.ates on a 0er)entage o( the a)t"al e<"&03ent or syste3 )osts or on a
CWh .as&s! wh&)h also serves to lower the "0-(ront )osts o( &nvest3ent &n renewa.le energy te)hnolog&es. ?= States also o((er
grants and tr"st ("nds (or resear)h and develo03ent o( renewa.le 0rod")t&on and te)hnolog&es. In Delaware! Ill&no&s! and Iowa!
resear)h and develo03ent grants s"00ort the develo03ent and 3ar6et&ng o( new renewa.le energy te)hnolog&es! wh&)h )an
s&gn&(&)antly s"00ort those ."s&nesses w&th&n the state whose wor6 &s related to renewa.le energy te)hnolog&es or a de0ressed
area w&th&n the state. 80 F&nally! Cal&(orn&a! C&nnesota! Nevada! and Wash&ngton o((er 0rod")t&on &n)ent&ves &n the (or3 o( R%Cs
that )an .e traded or sold as well as &n the (or3 o( s"00le3ental energy 0ay3ents or ta- )red&ts to o((set h&gher 0rod")t&on )osts.
8$
$M
RPS Neg
R. Choy
3#l)nta$y 4 5an%at#$y Flexibility
@andatory RPS is inflexible < that guts solency cu, the design of a oluntary RPS determines solency
Congress&onal e((orts to &30ose a 3andated RPS )onta&ned l&ttle o00ort"n&ty (or lo)al var&an)es! or (or the (le-&.&l&ty or
re)ons&derat&on that are essential components in furthering renewable goals wh&le 3eet&ng the )o"ntrys 0ower s"00ly needs
&n a )ost-e((e)t&ve and rel&a.le 3anner. 8s d&s)"ssed s"0ra at Part II! the de.ates s"rro"nd&ng S. 83dt. ?=$ h&ghl&ghted th&s
short)o3&ng &n that RPS 0ro0osal. Fort"nately! the a3end3ents Congress ena)ted to ,&tle I o( PARP8 res0e)t&ng ("el d&vers&ty
d&d not s"((er (ro3 the sa3e 0ro.le3. 8B Fle-&.&l&ty 3eans that ele3ents o( a renewa.le 0rogra3 )an .e rev&sed &( ne)essary.
Renewa.le 0rogra3s sho"ld .e des&gned to .e (le-&.le &n order to .alan)e )onservat&on and env&ron3ental .ene(&ts aga&nst
asso)&ated )osts and rel&a.&l&ty )on)erns. Fle-&.&l&ty &s &30ortant .e)a"se 0rogra3s o(tent&3es need to .e rev&sed to 3a&nta&n th&s
.alan)e and o((er wor6a.le sol"t&ons (or )ons"3ers. 8 RPS or any renewa.le 0rogra3 sho"ld 0ro3ote energy e((&)&en)y and
)onservat&on in the context of obtaining affordable and reliable power. Fle-&.&l&ty at the state! lo)al! and "t&l&ty levels &s
essent&al &n esta.l&sh&ng RPSs or renewa.le 0rogra3s that (oster these sa3e goals. ,hose who are &30le3ent&ng the 0rogra3s
3"st .e a.le to rev&ew or re)ons&der ele3ents as a 3eans o( ("l(&ll&ng the 0"r0ose o( renewa.les wh&le sa(eg"ard&ng the need (or
sa(e! rel&a.le! and a((orda.le 0ower. Renewa.le advo)ates have .een "rg&ng (le-&.&l&ty &n des&gn&ng renewa.le 0rogra3s (or
years. In B00$! the ,e-as RPS was to"ted as a s"))ess &n that &t de3onstrated that a RPS! &( des&gned 0ro0erly! )an del&ver a
+low-)ost! (le-&.le! and e((e)t&ve s"00ort 3e)han&s3 (or renewa.le energy./ 8M Coreover! an analys&s o( state 0rogra3s
"nderta6en &n B00$ )on)l"ded that state e-0er&en)es showed that + an RPS can be ineffectie unless careful attention is gien
to the details of the RPS design./ 8K It &s essent&al to des&gn a renewa.le standard or goal that &n)or0orates 3any se0arate
ele3ents &n)l"d&ng str")t"re! s&;e! ad3&n&strat&on! 0ol&)y goals! reso"r)e el&g&.&l&ty! 0rod")t&on targets! and )oord&nat&on w&th
other 0ol&)&es s")h as (&nan)&al &n)ent&ves! and 3ost &30ortantly! the (le-&.&l&ty to reassess and re(&ne all o( the a.ove. 8D ,he
)ongress&onal de.ate o( S. 83dt. ?=$ (o)"sed on whether or not ele3ents o( the 0ro0osed RPS wo"ld 0rove too &ntra)ta.le
)on)ern&ng (a)tors s")h as rel&a.&l&ty! )osts! and el&g&.le renewa.le so"r)es to ens"re &ts own e((e)t&veness. It &s o(ten sa&d +the
dev&l &s &n the deta&ls!/ wh&)h &s 0re)&sely the reason why renewa.le 0rogra3s sho"ld .e le(t to those who "nderstand the
3e)han&)s o( o.ta&n&ng )leaner 0ower that &s also rel&a.le and )ost-e((e)t&ve.
$K
RPS Neg
R. Choy
N#n6Renewable RPS 7ene$i(
RPS using %lean %oal and efficiency standards soles better than renewables
>en Beman '(! 7reenw&re sen&or re0orter
*+Eaw3a6ers 3"ll 5)lean energy5 standard &nstead o( renewa.les 3andate!/ D/D/0?! %nergy Pol&)y V Car6ets Lol. $0 No. =! l/n4
,he Senate %nergy and Nat"ral Reso"r)es Co33&ttee5s ran6&ng Re0".l&)an &ntends to 0"sh a Q)lean energyQ standard to advan)e
)oal te)hnolog&es and new n")lear generat&on when the Senate ta6es "0 energy leg&slat&on th&s 3onth. Sen. Pete Do3en&)& o(
New Ce-&)o told re0orters yesterday that a renewa.le ele)tr&)&ty 3andate wo"ld 0enal&;e states that have (ewer renewa.le
reso"r)es. Eaw3a6ers sho"ld &nstead ado0t a .roader Q)lean energy 0ort(ol&o standardQ that en)o30asses .oth renewa.le and
non-renewa.le low-e3&ss&on te)hnolog&es! he sa&d. QI .el&eve we sho"ld (&nd ways (or all D0 states to 0rod")e 3ore )lean
energy! wh&)h &s what 3y 0ro0osal wo"ld do!Q the senator sa&d. 8n a&de added that Do3en&)& &s wor6&ng on the 0ro0osal w&th
other law3a6ers! and &t was not )lear at 0ress t&3e who wo"ld o((er the a3end3ent. ,he %nergy 0anel5s )ha&r3an! Sen. Ie((
>&nga3an 9D-N.C.:! &s 0lann&ng an a3end3ent that wo"ld re<"&re "t&l&t&es to s"00ly $D 0er)ent o( the&r 0ower (ro3 renewa.le
so"r)es .y B0B0. '00onents o( s")h standards &ns&st the )on)e0t 0enal&;es "t&l&t&es -- and th"s )ons"3ers -- &n states w&th (ewer
renewa.le reso"r)es d"e to alternate )o30l&an)e (ees &( renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standards 9RPS: are not 3et. Car)hant Wentworth!
a lo..y&st w&th the An&on o( Con)erned S)&ent&sts! )alled th&s )on)ern over.lown. QWe .el&eve that every se)t&on o( the )o"ntry
has so3e a3o"nt o( renewa.le reso"r)es &t )o"ld t"rn on to 3eet the re<"&re3ent!Q he sa&d. >&nga3an s0o6es3an >&ll W&)6er
sa&d RPS s"00orters are .ra)&ng (or the Q)lean energyQ a3end3ent and .el&eve the .&d w&ll (a&l. Q8ll along! we have ant&)&0ated
an a3end3ent that wo"ld try and d&l"te a renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standard .y add&ng non-renewa.le energy so"r)es!Q he sa&d &n a
state3ent. QI( that5s what th&s a3end3ent &s! we don5t th&n6 &t w&ll enHoy .road s"00ort.Q ,he ("ll Senate &s e-0e)ted to ta6e "0 a
w&de-rang&ng energy .&ll ne-t wee6! and &nterest gro"0s are rally&ng e&ther (or or aga&nst the "nderly&ng 3eas"re 9%V% Da&ly!
I"ne K:. CaHor 0rov&s&ons &n)l"de an &n)reased renewa.le trans0ortat&on ("els 3andate! greater veh&)le 3&leage standards and
e-0anded a00l&an)e e((&)&en)y. In the No"se 8)ross the Ca0&tol! Re0s. ,o3 Adall 9D-N.C.: and ,odd Platts 9R-Pa.: are 0"sh&ng
leg&slat&on that wo"ld )reate a B0 0er)ent RPS .y B0B0. >"t a sen&or law3a6er w&th H"r&sd&)t&on over ele)tr&)&ty 0ol&)y! %nergy
and 8&r @"al&ty S".)o33&ttee Cha&r3an R&)6 >o")her 9D-La.:! has s0o6en s6e0t&)ally o( renewables standards! s"ggest&ng
they may be unnecessary if lawma+ers mandate greenhouse gas reductions. Nonetheless! w&th 0ro0osals a(oot (or .oth
renewa.les 3andates and .roader standards that en)o30ass other te)hnolog&es! >o")her and %nergy and Co33er)e Co33&ttee
Cha&r3an Iohn D&ngell 9D-C&)h.: are see6&ng 3ore &n(or3at&on. ,he two wrote a letter to several do;en energy trade
asso)&at&ons! env&ron3ental gro"0s and other 0art&es last 3onth as6&ng do;ens o( <"est&ons a.o"t the )on)e0ts. QWe .el&eve that
the )o33&ttee5s a.&l&ty to "nderstand the 3er&ts! .ene(&ts and )osts o( a 50ort(ol&o standard5 .&ll! and 0erha0s the energy
)o33"n&ty5s a.&l&ty to rea)h )onsens"s on what s")h a .&ll sho"ld 0rov&de! wo"ld .e enhan)ed &( we .etter "nderstand the range
o( 0ers0e)t&ves! )on)erns! and o.He)t&ves re(le)ted &n s")h 0ro0osals!Q the letter states. ,he law3a6ers as6 <"est&ons s")h as
whether 0ort(ol&o standards are a good &dea and whether they are needed &( Congress ado0ts e)ono3y-w&de greenho"se gas
)ontrols. 'ther <"est&ons e-0lore what energy ty0es sho"ld .e allowed &n a 0ort(ol&o standard! and what 0er)entages and t&3e
l&nes wo"ld .e a00ro0r&ate.
$D
RPS Neg
R. Choy
N#n6Renewable RPS Flexibility
Utah proes
Blobal Power Report '1
*+Atah 0asses .&ll sett&ng 0ort(ol&o standard on a vol"ntary .as&s (or renewa.le 0ower!/ M/$M/08! %than Nowland! l/n4
,he Atah Eeg&slat"re last wee6 "nan&3o"sly 0assed a .&ll that sets a vol"ntary B0O .y B0BD renewa.les goal. QIt5s a (&rst ste0!
."t &t doesn5t go anywhere near as (ar as we )o"ld go &n the state!Q sa&d ,&3 Wagner! a S&erra Cl". o((&)&al. ,he 3eas"re! S.>.
B0B! &ntrod")ed .y Senate CaHor&ty Eeader C"rt&s >ra3.le! a Re0".l&)an! &s 3odeled on a 0ro0osal 3ade .y Ro)6y Co"nta&n
Power &n ')to.er. ,he 0ro0osal )alled (or esta.l&sh&ng a low-)ar.on 0ort(ol&o standard (or Atah5s "t&l&t&es &nstead o( a trad&t&onal
renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standard. QWe5re very 0leased!Q sa&d Dav&d %s6elsen! a s0o6es3an (or Ro)6y Co"nta&n Power. Atah
7overnor Ion N"nts3an! a Re0".l&)an! has &nd&)ated that he s"00orts the .&ll! %s6elsen sa&d. ,y0&)ally! RPSs are .ased on total
reta&l sales! however! "nder S.>. B0B! "t&l&t&es w&ll start w&th total reta&l sales and ded")t (ro3 the3 var&o"s Q;ero-)ar.onQ
so"r)es l&6e hydroele)tr&) 0lants! energy e((&)&en)y 0rogra3s! )ar.on )a0t"re 0roHe)ts and n")lear 0ower. 8lso renewa.le
reso"r)es l&6e .&o3ass and land(&ll gas 0roHe)ts )o"ld .e &n)l"ded. ,he "t&l&ty wo"ld then .ase &ts B0O target on the re3a&n&ng
CWh a(ter the low-)ar.on so"r)es are s".tra)ted. Renewa.le energy )red&ts )o"ld .e "sed to 3eet the B0O goal.
$J
RPS Neg
R. Choy
Ca06an%6!$a%e CP
%ap)and)trade would expand renewables as well as an RPS
Iosh"a P.#ershee '1! 8ss&stant Pro(essor o( Eaw R An&vers&ty o( North Da6ota S)hool o( Eaw
*+Chang&ng Reso"r)es! Chang&ng Car6et1 ,he I30a)t o( a Nat&onal Renewa.le Port(ol&o Standard on the A.S. %nergy In!/ %nergy Eaw Io"rnal! l/n4
nK=. 8 nat&onal RPS &s not the only way to a)h&eve env&ron3ental .ene(&ts v&a renewa.le energy. 8nother leg&slat&ve 0ro0osal!
the Eow Car.on %)ono3y 8)t o( B00?! wo"ld esta.l&sh a 3andatory greenho"se gas 97N7: e3&ss&ons )a0-and-trade 0rogra3.
See Eow Car.on %)ono3y 8)t o( B00?! S. $?JJ! $$0th Cong. 9B00?:. I( s")h a )a0-and-trade 0ro0osal were ena)ted! one st"dy
&nd&)ated that a nat&onal RPS wo"ld have Ql&ttle &n)re3ental e((e)t .e)a"se the 7N7 allowan)e 0rogra3 &n S. $?JJ en)o"rages
an &n)rease &n renewa.le generat&on s&3&lar to what wo"ld .e needed to )o30ly w&th the RPS.Q %nergy In(o. 8d3&n.! A.S. De05t
o( %nergy! %nergy Car6et and %)ono3&) I30a)ts o( S.$?JJ! the Eow Car.on %)ono3y 8)t o( B00?! at v&& 9B00?:!
htt01//www.e&a.doe.gov/o&a(/serv&)er0t/l)ea/0d(/sro&a(9B00?:0J.0d(. ,he st"dy does not! however! &nd&)ate whether a )a0-and-
trade 0rogra3 or a nat&onal RPS 0rogra3 wo"ld .e 3ore e((e)t&ve or 0re(era.leT &t s&30ly &nd&)ates that a $DO RPS wo"ld res"lt
&n ro"ghly the sa3e a3o"nt o( renewa.le generat&on that wo"ld res"lt &( the 0ro0osed )a0-and-trade 0rogra3 were &30le3ented.
See &d.
$?
RPS Neg
R. Choy
N),e !$a%e ;88 9
RPS capacity focus trades off with nuclear power and efficiency technology < turning case
Blobal Power Report '(
*+%I8 says (ederal renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standard o( BDO wo"ld ra&se ele)tr&)&ty )osts! lower 7NP!/ =/$M/0?! l/n4
8ndy ydes! an %I8 analyst! sa&d the 0ol&)y s".stant&ally wo"ld &n)rease renewa.le energy "se! es0e)&ally (ro3 w&nd! .&o3ass
and geother3al reso"r)es! ."t so 3")h o( the energy se)tor5s reso"r)es wo"ld .e d&re)ted to &30rov&ng &ts renewa.le )a0a)&ty
that &nvest3ent &n n")lear energy! advan)ed )oal generat&on and other low-)ar.on or e((&)&ent te)hnolog&es wo"ld de)rease!
wh&)h wo"ld )an)el o"t so3e o( the 3andate5s )ar.on .ene(&ts.
>uclear power soles blac+outs and is critical to the stability of the energy grid
Carv&n #ertel '2! Sen&or L&)e Pres&dent o( the N")lear %nergy Inst&t"te
*At&l&ty Fleet Canage3ent! Lol BM! &ss"e M! ProHe)t C"se4
N")lear 0lants 0rov&de voltage s"00ort .e)a"se rea)tor o0erators )an ra&se or lower 0ower levels as &ss"es w&th the gr&d ar&se.
,h&s hel0s 6ee0 ele)tr&)&ty generat&on )onstant a)ross large reg&onal trans3&ss&on gr&ds! and &t contrasts sharply w&th the 3any
0ower 0lants that o0erate only d"r&ng 0er&ods o( 0ea6 ele)tr&)&ty "se. ,hese 0lants - a3ong the3 gas! hydroele)tr&) and
renewa.le so"r)es - 3"st syn)hron&;e w&th the gr&d ea)h day they are 0owered "0. The performance of the nuclear plants
after the blac+out readily demonstrated their alue to the nationFs energy security" Cons&stent w&th the&r o0erat&ng
0ro)ed"res! n&ne n")lear 0lants &n the .la)6o"t area were sh"t down a"to3at&)ally d"e to s&gnal d&sr"0t&ons (ro3 the gr&d last
8"g. $K. ,he 0lants sh"t down sa(ely and (ollowed d&s)&0l&ned 0ro)ed"res to restart and )onne)t .a)6 to the gr&d. In (a)t! .e)a"se
they are large! ro"nd-the-)lo)6 energy 0rod")ers! 3ost 0lants were restarted as soon as the gr&d was sta.&l&;ed and ele)tr&)&ty
(ro3 the 0lants )o"ld .e 3oved on trans3&ss&on l&nes. ,he a.&l&ty o( the n")lear 0lants to re)onne)t to the gr&d 0layed a
significant role &n e-0ed&t&o"sly restor&ng 0ower to )"sto3ers &n these areas.
Glac+ &uts will permanently cripple the US economy
UP8 'H! An&ted Press Internat&onal! 8/$8/0M
In the end! >"sh wo"ld learn &t was the largest ele)tr&) .la)6o"t ever. ,ho"gh a00arently not )a"sed .y terror&s3! &n the s0an o(
H"st n&ne se)onds D0 3&ll&on 0eo0le &n New Sor6 C&ty and state! New %ngland! Detro&t! Cleveland! 'ttawa and ,oronto wo"ld
lose ele)tr&) 0ower! 0la)&ng the3 &n the hot! o(ten waterless dar6ness. ,ho"sands wo"ld have to wal6 ho3eT tho"sands wo"ld .e
tra00ed "ndergro"nd &n s".ways! s"s0ended &n &no0era.le elevators! or at s)hools and theaters. >"t very <"&)6ly &n the 0ast two
days >"sh and h&s energy tea3 (o"nd that so3e very tr&)6y &ss"es were 0osed .y the blac+out that w&ll not .e eas&ly answered.
,he )r&s&s over 0ower &n the United States 3ay not .e te30orar&ly as devastat&ng as >aghdad5s! ."t &n the long r"n the very
nat"re of U"S" economic and social surial may rely upon correcting the difficulties
US economic decline casues nuclear war
R&)hard C. %oo+ '(! Wr&ter! Cons"ltant! and Ret&red Federal 8nalyst - A.S. ,reas"ry De0art3ent
*+It5s '((&)&al1 ,he Crash o( the A.S. %)ono3y has .eg"n!/ J/$K/0?! htt01//www.glo.alresear)h.)a/&nde-.0h0#)onte-tUvaVa&dUD=JK4
,&3es o( e)ono3&) )r&s&s 0rod")e &nternat&onal tens&on and 0ol&t&)&ans tend to go to war rather than (a)e the e)ono3&) 3"s&).
,he )lass&) e-a30le &s the worldw&de de0ress&on o( the $=M0s lead&ng to World War II. Cond&t&ons &n the )o3&ng years )o"ld .e
as .ad as they were then. We )o"ld have a really .&g war &( the A.S. de)&des on)e and (or all to ha"l o(( and let Ch&na! or
who3ever! have &t &n the )ho0s. I( they dont want o"r dollars or o"r de.t any 3ore! how a.o"t a (ew n"6es#
$8
RPS Neg
R. Choy
E(#n#'y 9
Power generators require compliance costs < RPS would exacerbate problems and collapse the economy
W RPS )osts w&ll .e &30osed )on)"rrently w&th 3ass&ve env&ron3ental )osts. Power generators are e-0e)ted to &n)"r new
env&ron3ental )o30l&an)e )osts o( GD-$0 .&ll&on ann"ally w&th&n the ne-t de)ade to deal w&th a&r <"al&ty re<"&re3ents related to
o;one! 0art&)"late 3atter! 3er)"ry and other &ss"es. I30os&ng a 3"lt&-.&ll&on dollar RPS 3andate on to0 o( that! d"r&ng ro"ghly
the sa3e t&3e (ra3e! )o"ld .e a )r"sh&ng .low to a )r&t&)al se)tor o( o"r nat&on5s e)ono3y.
US economic decline casues nuclear war
R&)hard C. %oo+ '(! Wr&ter! Cons"ltant! and Ret&red Federal 8nalyst - A.S. ,reas"ry De0art3ent
*+It5s '((&)&al1 ,he Crash o( the A.S. %)ono3y has .eg"n!/ J/$K/0?! htt01//www.glo.alresear)h.)a/&nde-.0h0#)onte-tUvaVa&dUD=JK4
,&3es o( e)ono3&) )r&s&s 0rod")e &nternat&onal tens&on and 0ol&t&)&ans tend to go to war rather than (a)e the e)ono3&) 3"s&).
,he )lass&) e-a30le &s the worldw&de de0ress&on o( the $=M0s lead&ng to World War II. Cond&t&ons &n the )o3&ng years )o"ld .e
as .ad as they were then. We )o"ld have a really .&g war &( the A.S. de)&des on)e and (or all to ha"l o(( and let Ch&na! or
who3ever! have &t &n the )ho0s. I( they dont want o"r dollars or o"r de.t any 3ore! how a.o"t a (ew n"6es#
$=
RPS Neg
R. Choy
C#'0etiti2eness <)$t =nn#2ati#n
RPS punishes utilities that already inested in renewables
,he RPS 83end3ent Is Ser&o"sly Flawed W ,he a3end3ent 0enal&;es &nnovat&ve )o30an&es that have already &nvested
s&gn&(&)ant (&nan)&al reso"r)es &nto renewa.le energy generat&on. Co30an&es that have ."&lt e-&st&ng renewa.le energy (a)&l&t&es
wo"ld not re)e&ve renewa.le energy )red&ts (or the 0ower already 0rod")ed. W Ander th&s a3end3ent! even e-&st&ng renewa.le
energy generat&on wo"ld essent&ally .e s".He)t to an energy ta-[ ,he a3end3ent (a&ls to allow "t&l&t&es to s".tra)t the&r e-&st&ng
renewa.le energy generat&on (ro3 the&r .ase sales on wh&)h the RPS 0er)entage re<"&re3ent &s )al)"lated. 8s a res"lt! the
a3end3ent wo"ld! &n e((e)t! &30ose the RPS re<"&re3ent even on sales o( e-&st&ng renewa.le energy generat&on.
B0
RPS Neg
R. Choy
C#'0etiti2eness >#nt >#$,
RPS won;t affect our position in the renewable mar+et
Ro.ert I. @ichaels '1! Pro(essor o( %)ono3&)s R Cal&(orn&a State A! 8.>. R A o( Ch&)ago! Ph.D! A o( Cal&(orn&a
*+N8,I'N8E R%N%W8>E% P'R,F'EI' S,8ND8RD1 SC8R, P'EICS 'R CIS7AID%D 7%S,AR%#/ %N%R7S E8W I'ARN8E! Lol. B=1?=!
htt01//www.e.a-net.org/do)s/elHB=$/nat&onal2renewa.le20ort(ol&o2standard.0d(4
We .eg&n w&th data on renewa.les wh&)h s"ggests that a (ederal RPS w&ll .r&ng l&ttle d&vers&ty &n generat&on reso"r)es and (ew
env&ron3ental .ene(&ts. ,he ne-t se)t&ons e-a3&ne advo)ates )la&3s (or &t! (&nd&ng the3 &nade<"ate at .est. 8s env&ron3ental
0ol&)y! an RPS &s &ne((&)&ent .y every e)ono3&) standard. It &s a )ostly 3eas"re whose e((e)ts on e3&ss&ons are "n)erta&n!
d&((&)"lt to &ntegrate w&th e-&st&ng env&ron3ental reg"lat&on! and needlessly d&sr"0t&ve o( generat&on &nvest3ents &ntended to
)o30ly w&th ant&)&0ated e3&ss&ons r"les. 'ther 0"r0orted )onse<"en)es are also <"est&ona.le. 8s 3a)roe)ono3&) or &nd"str&al
0ol&)y! a nat&onal RPS )annot 0oss&.ly +)reate/ net &n)reases &n e30loy3ent and r"ral areas that &t w&ll +rev&tal&;e/ seldo3 need
the hel0. Cla&3s that &t &s ne)essary to st&3"late red")t&ons &n 0rod")t&on )ost lose the&r (or)e &n a glo.al e)ono3y! as do
e-0e)tat&ons that &t w&ll 0os&t&on the A.S. to do3&nate the world renewa.les 3ar6et. Rather than (a)&l&tat&ng r&s6 3anage3ent!
standard renewa.les )ontra)ts only trans(er &t (ro3 "t&l&t&es to )a0t&ve )"sto3ers. Nat&onal se)"r&ty &s .etter advan)ed thro"gh
d&re)t 0ol&)&es &nstead o( )o30"lsory &nvest3ent &n renewa.les. We ne-t e-a3&ne the "se o( )o30"ter 3odels to 0red&)t the
e((e)ts o( a nat&onal RPS. Fo"rteen years and n"3ero"s rev&s&ons a(ter the &ntrod")t&on o( the A.S. De0art3ent o( %nergys
Nat&onal %nergy Codel&ng Syste3! &ts (ore)ast&ng a.&l&t&es are "n&30roved! 0art&)"larly over long hor&;ons relevant (or
renewa.les 0ol&)y. Its o"t)o3es are deter3&ned .y &ts ass"30t&ons! so3e )on)ealed &n &ts 3athe3at&)al str")t"re and others
)hosen .y the resear)her. S&n)e .oth long-ter3 3odels and re)ent trends s"ggest that 3ost renewa.les ."&lt over the near ("t"re
w&ll .e w&nd t"r.&nes! we ne-t e-a3&ne the&r e((e)ts on rel&a.&l&ty and o0erat&ng )osts. We go on to e-0lore the seldo3-d&s)"ssed
to0&) o( )o30l&an)e w&th state RPS 0rogra3s! and (&nd that advo)ates sele)t&ve re0orts o( state-level s"))ess are generally
&n)o30lete or 3&slead&ng. ,o .etter "nderstand the )o30l&an)e 0ro.le3! we e-a3&ne Cal&(orn&a! whose RPS has (a&led so
thoro"ghly that &n B00D! &ts "t&l&t&es re)e&ved the sa3e 0er)entage o( 0ower (ro3 renewa.les as they d&d &n $==8. ,he 0ol&t&)al
e)ono3y o( Cal&(orn&as reg"lat&on and "t&l&t&es )o30l&an)e s"ggests s&3&larly d&3 0ros0e)ts (or a (ederal RPS (or 3any o( the
sa3e reasons. 8 (&nal se)t&on draws so3e )on)l"s&ons.
B$
RPS Neg
R. Choy
C#'0etiti2eness Renewables N#t C#st E88e(ti2e
RPS won;t ma+e renewables cost effectie
So3e .el&eve that a nat&onal RPS w&ll hel0 dr&ve down the )osts o( renewa.les. MJ It &s! (or e-a30le! 0oss&.le that large 0"r)hase
orders w&ll .r&ng (orth larger 0lants that )a0t"re e)ono3&es o( s)ale that have not .een real&;ed &n todays relat&vely s3aller ones.
Renewa.les! however! have no o.v&o"s )hara)ter&st&)s that wo"ld lead to e)ono3&es &n 0rod")t&on e-)eed&ng those o( s&3&lar
3an"(a)t"red goods! 3ost o( whose 3ar6ets s"00ort at least several A.S. and (ore&gn 0rod")ers. Renewa.les )an eas&ly )ross
nat&onal .o"ndar&es &n .oth d&re)t&ons! and a (ederal RPS w&ll have l&ttle &30a)t on already-)o30et&t&ve world 3ar6ets. M? ,he
develo03ent o( renewa.les has attra)ted te)hnology &nvestors! vent"re )a0&tal&sts! and large (&r3s 9e.g. 7eneral %le)tr&): w&th
ava&la.le &nternal ("nds. %-0er&en)e &n 0rod")t&on lowers )osts! and a nat&onal RPS 3ay add to e-0er&en)e &n renewa.les. S&n)e
B/M o( the 0o0"lat&on already l&ves &n RPS states! &t &s not )lear why add&ng the re3a&nder w&ll y&eld s&gn&(&)ant add&t&onal )ost
red")t&ons. Co30et&t&on also 0ress"res 0rod")ers to red")e )osts! whether &t )o3es (ro3 renewa.les or nonrenewa.les. Costs
3ay (all w&th e-0er&en)e! ."t an &ne-0er&en)ed 0rod")er )an also red")e the3 .y o.serv&ng and &3&tat&ng )o30et&tors. 7row&ng
3ar6ets &n &ntelle)t"al 0ro0erty allow 83er&)ans to .ene(&t (ro3 the resear)h o( others w&tho"t a d"0l&)at&on o( e((ort. M8 8ny
0ol&)y that d&re)ts &n)reased &nvest3ent to a 0art&)"lar &nd"stry )an y&eld )ost red")t&ons that )o3e w&th s)ale and e-0er&en)e! &(
they &n (a)t e-&st. ,hese sav&ngs! however! w&ll )o3e w&th any 0ro-renewa.les 0ol&)y and are not &n the3selves a reason to (avor
a nat&onal RPS to &n)rease the&r 0rod")t&on.
BB
RPS Neg
R. Choy
C#'0etiti2eness =ne2itable + >$#n? F#()s
US competitieness is ineitable in the areas we are SUPP&S$9 to be dominant < RPS won;t help
'thers ho0e that a nat&onal RPS )an .r&ng A.S. do3&nat&on o( the worlds renewa.les 3ar6ets. 'ne advo)ate sees &t as a
ne)essary res0onse to renewa.les-.ased e-0ort 0ol&)&es that are ta6&ng sha0e &n Ia0an. M= Ne .el&eves 83er&)ans 3"st e3"late
the )oo0erat&on .etween Ia0ans 3an"(a)t"rers and govern3ent 0lanners! a v&s&on o( &nv&n)&.&l&ty (ro3 the $=?0s and $=80s that
d&ed w&th the re)ess&on and .an6&ng )r&s&s o( the $==0s. K0 %-0er&en)e g&ves l&ttle reason to e-0e)t that s")h )on)erted 0ol&)y
(or3at&on )an 3a6e e&ther nat&on do3&nant. ,he A.S. w&ll )ont&n"e to e-0ort those &n wh&)h &t has a )ost advantage and &30ort
those &n wh&)h &t does not. K$ Internat&onal trade &n renewa.les ra&ses no se)"r&ty &ss"es! s&n)e they are ord&nary 3an"(a)t"res
that no nat&on or gro"0 )an )red&.ly 3ono0ol&;e.
BM
RPS Neg
R. Choy
Cli'ate Cant S#l2e E'issi#ns
>ational RPS is ague < percentage reductions don;t effectiely limit emissions
Whether state or nat&onal! as env&ron3ental 0ol&)y! an RPS (a&ls every )r&ter&on d&s)"ssed a.ove. States have generally ado0ted
RPS w&tho"t st"dy&ng the )osts and .ene(&ts o( alternat&ve <"otas and target dates. Cost a00ear to have .een )hosen (or 0ol&t&)al
reasons. B8 For as s3all an area as a state or reg&on! an RPS 3ay have advantages. It &s easy to s0e)&(y leg&slat&vely and the )ost
o( )o30l&an)e 3&ght .e 3ore eas&ly )on)ealed &n "t&l&ty .&lls than an o"tr&ght ta- on )onvent&onal 0ower or s".s&dy to
renewa.les. 8s a 0ra)t&)al 3atter! &t w&ll .e )ostly to set "0 and 3a&nta&n a )a0-and-trade syste3 over a s3all reg&on! and
s3allness lowers the 0otent&al .ene(&ts o( &ts 3ar6ets. 8t a nat&onal level! the 0oss&.le advantages o( an RPS de)rease and those
o( 3ar6ets &n)rease. 8n RPS &ne((&)&ently l&3&ts the ty0es o( generat&on to .e "sed rather than )onstra&n&ng allowa.le e3&ss&ons
o( 0oll"tants and 7N7s. Per)entage red")t&ons &n e3&ss&ons over a reg&on w&ll not vary one-(or-one w&th the 0er)entage o( 0ower
0rod")ed .y renewa.les. >oth the a3o"nts e3&tted and the&r )o30os&t&on de0end on the ty0es o( renewa.les ."&lt and the ty0es
o( )onvent&onal generators they d&s0la)e. 8s noted .elow! w&nd t"r.&nes w&ll do3&nate renewa.le &nvest3ents over at least the
3ed&"3-ter3! ."t the&r &nter3&ttent ava&la.&l&ty 3eans that they w&ll largely d&s0la)e gas-(&red generat&on that )an adH"st o"t0"t
on short not&)e. 7as-(&red 0lants e3&t (ewer )r&ter&a 0oll"tants and 7N7s than )oal-."rn&ng ones! so "s&ng &nter3&ttent
renewa.les to sat&s(y an RPS w&ll )"t e3&ss&ons .y less than the RPS 0er)entage. Anl&6e gas-(&red generators! )oal "n&ts w&ll
re3a&n .ase-loaded and o0erat&ng at al3ost all t&3es. 83ong other renewa.les! geother3al and .&o3ass 0lants )an .e .ase-
loaded! ."t the&r growth 0ros0e)ts a00ear s3all.
BK
RPS Neg
R. Choy
Cli'ate 1@ =n($ease in Renewables Ase
>$@S Iwhich is the information model that RPS usesJ predicts a RPS will only increase renewable use by *K
8 log&)al (&rst ste0 as6s what w&ll ha00en &( )"rrent 0ol&)&es re3a&n &n e((e)t! 6nown as a +."s&ness as "s"al/ *>8A4 s)enar&o.
,he 3odels evol"t&on "nder >8A )an then .e )o30ared w&th s)enar&os o( alternat&ve 0ol&)&es. J? >8A &tsel( y&elds so3e
"ne-0e)ted )on)l"s&ons1 7as-(&red and n")lear 0ower 0rod")t&on w&ll re3a&n near todays levels (or the ne-t twenty years! and
0ower (ro3 )oal-(&red "n&ts w&ll sat&s(y 3ost de3and growth.J8 Renewa.les 9e-)l"d&ng hydroele)tr&): w&ll 0rod")e only M.JO o(
the nat&ons ele)tr&)&ty &n B0M0! "0 (ro3 B.MO &n B00J! and (oss&l ("els w&ll 0rod")e a00ro-&3ately the sa3e 0er)entage that they
do today.J= Few )hanges &n >8A ass"30t&ons 0red&)t over KO renewa.le 0ower &n B0M0. %ven &( all e-&st&ng state RPS
standards are atta&ned! renewa.les w&ll 0rod")e only B=O 3ore 0ower than &s generated "nder >8A! st&ll "nder DO o( the
nat&onal total. ?0 'ther )on)l"s&ons are )o33on to 3ost N%CS-.ased RPS st"d&es. ,he (&rst general (&nd&ng &s that a nat&onal
RPS w&ll &n)rease 0ower 0r&)es .y relat&vely l&ttle! generally "nder DO 0er 6wh.?$ ,he low (&g"re &s the net e((e)t o( h&gher )osts
(or renewa.les and (all&ng gas 0r&)es as they re0la)e gas-(&red generators.?B ,he see3&ng a))"ra)y so3et&3es re(le)ts o((sett&ng
errors. Nearly all re)ent state-level st"d&es "nderest&3ated .oth the a)t"al )osts o( renewa.les and the 3agn&t"des o( re)ent gas
0r&)e &n)reases.?M So3e st"d&es o3&t &30ortant )osts o( &ntegrat&ng renewa.les &nto the gr&d! and nearly all ass"3e 0er3anen)e
o( an on-aga&n o((-aga&n (ederal 0rod")t&on ta- )red&t on w&nd energy. 'ddly! al3ost all 0re-B00D st"d&es ass"3ed no ("t"re
)ar.on reg"lat&on that 3&ght .y &tsel( &nd")e greater &nvest3ent &n renewa.les.?K In general N%CS 0red&)ts that al3ost any
0ol&)y that does not )o30el &nvest3ent &n renewa.les w&ll have l&ttle &30a)t on the&r 0er)entage o( ("t"re 0ower o"t0"t. %ven a
)o3.&nat&on o( )ar.on ta-es and 0rod")t&on ta- )red&ts ra&ses renewa.les share o( total 0rod")t&on &n B0BD .y only one
0er)entage 0o&nt.?D
BD
RPS Neg
R. Choy
Cli'ate N# F#()s
RPS can;t address warming directly < no industry or regionali,ed focus
8n RPS v&olates the all-so"r)es 0r&n)&0le .y restr&)t&ng &tsel( to a s&ngle &nd"stry. Instead o( atta)6&ng 0oll"tants! &t atte30ts to do
so &nd&re)tly .y restr&)t&ng the range o( generat&ng te)hnolog&es and ("els. I( a s&ngle RPS standard were ado0ted nat&onally! &t
wo"ld also v&olate the reg&onal&;at&on 0r&n)&0le s&n)e the ava&la.&l&ty o( renewa.le reso"r)es var&es w&th geogra0hy. ,he .ene(&ts
o( a renewa.les <"ota w&ll l&6ew&se de0end .oth on the3 and on the reg&ons lega)y (leet o( )onvent&onal generators. 8.sent a
)red&t&ng syste3 9whose d&((&)"lt&es are d&s)"ssed .elow:! a "n&(or3 nat&onal RPS w&ll .e a h&gh- )ost tool to a)h&eve g&ven
red")t&ons &n 0oll"tants and 7N7s.
BJ
RPS Neg
R. Choy
Cli'ate St$)(t)$al P$#ble's
RPS can;t sole climate changeLstructural problems preent effectieness
Blobal Power Report 'E 9N'R,N 8C%RIC81 R%N%W8>E% %N%R7ST Pg. $8 +Cal&(orn&a %nergy Co33&ss&on re0ort warns state
3ay 3&ss &ts RPS goals/ De)e3.er ?! B00J.: htt01//we..le-&s-ne-&s.)o3/env"n&v/do)"3ent#
23U=a?$8.0?=8e)0dBe(M$deDe8?e$((BaKV2do)n"3U$Vw)h0Ud7E.Lt;-;S6L>V23dDU==DKdeD$80.?((DMJD8KdD0BM0d).)).
8 re0ort .y the Cal&(orn&a %nergy Co33&ss&on &s warn&ng that Cal&(orn&a w&ll l&6ely 3&ss &ts Renewa.le Port(ol&o Standard goals
and 3ay 3&ss )l&3ate )hange goals "nless 0ol&)es are )hanged. ,he dra(t o( the B00J Integrated %nergy Pol&)y Re0ort A0date &s
&ntended to 0rov&de 0ol&)y g"&dan)e to the Eeg&slat"re! governor and reg"lators. 8))ord&ng to the re0ort! Cal&(orn&a5s &nvestor-
owned "t&l&t&es5 Q)la&3 0rogress &n a)h&ev&ngQ RPS goals .ased on renewa.le )ontra)ts they have entered &nto (or as 3")h as
K!0=D CW. >"t o( those )ontra)ts! only BKB CW are onl&ne. ,o 3eet the RPS goals o( B0O renewa.les .y B0$0! I'As
)olle)t&vely w&ll need to add as 3")h as $!D00 CW o( el&g&.le renewa.le generat&on over the ne-t (o"r years .eyond what &s
already "nder )ontra)t! sa&d the re0ort. F&ve 0r&3ary .arr&ers stand &n the way o( a)h&ev&ng RPS goals1 &nade<"ate trans3&ss&onT
)o30le-&ty and la)6 o( trans0aren)y o( the RPS 0rogra3T &ns"((&)&ent attent&on to the real 0oss&.&l&ty o( )ontra)t (a&l"re and
delayT "n)erta&nty a.o"t whether s"00le3ental 0ay3ents (or renewa.le 0roHe)ts w&ll .e ava&la.le! and la)6 o( 0rogress &n
re0ower&ng ag&ng w&nd (a)&l&t&es. ,he re0ort! released &n late Nove3.er! )alls (or n"3ero"s 0ol&)y )hanges to re3edy 0ro.le3s
&n)l"d&ng en(or)&ng 0enalt&es (or non)o30l&an)e w&th RPS goals and )ons&der&ng o((er&ng a h&gher rate o( ret"rn (or renewa.le
(a)&l&t&es to 3a6e the3 3ore (&nan)&ally attra)t&ve.
B?
RPS Neg
R. Choy
Cli'ate Cant Re0la(e Nat)$al 7as
Renewables can;t replace natural gas )
,he RPS 83end3ent &s Not the 8nswer to the Nat"ral 7as Cr&s&s W So3e RPS 0ro0onents )la&3 that a (ederal renewa.les
3andate w&ll s&gn&(&)antly red")e the de3and (or nat"ral gas "sed &n ele)tr&)&ty generat&on! ."t that &s not l&6ely to .e the )ase.
Nat"ral gas has 3any advantages as a ("el (or ele)tr&)&ty generat&on! )h&e( a3ong the3 &ts <"&)6-start )a0a.&l&ty! wh&)h 3a6es
gas-(&red generat&on the )lear ("el o( )ho&)e (or +0ea6&ng/ "n&ts needed to )onstantly re.alan)e s"00ly to serve )"sto3ers
&nstantaneo"sly. ,h&s &s es0e)&ally &30ortant (or 0rov&d&ng +s0&nn&ng reserves!/ or )onstantly r"nn&ng .a)6"0 0ower! needed (or
&nter3&ttent reso"r)es l&6e w&nd and solar. So &t &s d&s&ngen"o"s to H"st&(y an RPS as the answer to the nat"ral gas )r&s&s.
B8
RPS Neg
R. Choy
!" !e$$#$is'B;il
/on;t affect energy security < oil is only HK of our power" RPS won;t address ulnerability of power plants"
8ny )onne)t&on .etween an RPS and energy se)"r&ty &s ten"o"s at .est.D$ L&rt"ally all &nternat&onal se)"r&ty )on)erns are o&l-
related! ."t o&l 0rod")es only MO o( the nat&ons 0ower! so3e &n 0lants that )an also ."rn gas.DB Renewa.les 0r&3ar&ly d&s0la)e
0ower generated .y North 83er&)an gas! whose 0r&)e re(le)ts )ond&t&ons o( de3and! storage! and 9over the longer r"n: 0ol&)&es
that restr&)t or e-0and e-0lorat&on (or &t. Cla&3s that a nat&onal RPS w&ll 3a6e 0ower0lants 3ore se)"re aga&nst terror&s3 a00ear
overstated at .est.DM 8s shown .elow! 3ost generat&on &nvest3ents over the ne-t twenty years w&ll )ont&n"e to .e (oss&l-("eled or
n")lear. 8n RPS &s a )ostly and .l"nt tool (or the 0rote)t&on o( non-renewa.le 0ower0lants.DK Se)"r&ty &s .etter addressed "nder
a nat&onal &n(rastr")t"re 0ol&)y to harden the3 than "nder a 0ol&)y that re<"&res the )onstr")t&on o( renewa.les. 8 nat&onal RPS
w&ll st&ll re<"&re that +.a)6.one/ trans3&ss&on .e "sed as &ntens&vely as today! and there are (ew hard o0t&ons (or red")&ng &ts
v"lnera.&l&ty. ,he &nd"stry! however! has long l&ved w&th 0ro.le3s l&6e these. >e)a"se 0rod")t&on and )ons"30t&on 3"st .e
e<"al every se)ond! ele)tr&) syste3s are des&gned (or <"&)6 res0onse to )ont&ngen)&es rang&ng (ro3 l&ghtn&ng str&6es to .o&ler
e-0los&ons. RPS advo)ates are )orre)t when they assert that a D0 CW w&nd (ar3 *or a D0 CW )o3."st&on t"r.&ne4 &s a less
attra)t&ve target than a D00 CW )oal-(&red 0lant! ."t &n 3ost s&t"at&ons short o( war e&ther )an .e lost w&th l&ttle &30a)t on
rel&a.&l&ty.
B=
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y =ne88e(ti2e
$conomic theory that supports RPS is speculation < compliance proes it;s ineffectie and crowds out more effectie policies
%le)tr&)&ty (ro3 +renewa.le/ so"r)es &s (ast .e)o3&ng a 3"lt&0"r0ose re3edy that w&ll allev&ate energy s)ar)&t&es! a.ate a&r
0oll"t&on! and 3&t&gate )l&3ate )hange. 8s o( I"ly B00?! over hal( o( the states had ena)ted +renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standards/
9RPS: re<"&r&ng ele)tr&) "t&l&t&es to o.ta&n 0ort&ons o( the&r 0ower (ro3 so"r)es leg&slat&vely de(&ned as renewa.le. $ 'n 8"g"st
K! B00?! the A.S. No"se o( Re0resentat&ves voted &n (avor o( a nat&onal RPS! ."t the Senate (a&led to 0ass a )o30ara.le
0rov&s&on. B S"00orters o( a nat&onal RPS have long v&ewed &t as an env&ron3ental 3eas"re that )an also slow the a))"3"lat&on
o( greenho"se gases 97N7:. M ,hey have 3ore re)ently arg"ed that &t &s! a3ong others! an &nd"str&al 0ol&)y to )reate
3an"(a)t"r&ng Ho.s and rev&tal&;e de)l&n&ng reg&ons! a 3ar6et &ntervent&on that )o"ld lower energy 0r&)es! a st&3"l"s to
develo03ent o( new te)hnolog&es! an &nstr"3ent (or r&s6 3anage3ent! a trade 0ol&)y &n&t&at&ve! and a wea0on &n the war on
terror&s3. In real&ty! a nat&onal RPS &s s&ng"larly &ll-s"&ted (or any o( these tas6s. It w&ll .e an &ne((&)&ent and &ne<"&ta.le
env&ron3ental 0ol&)y that red")es e3&ss&ons at h&gher )ost than ne)essary and &s largely &n)o30at&.le w&th e-&st&ng a&r <"al&ty
reg"lat&ons. So3e o( the non-env&ron3ental rat&onales are ele3entary e)ono3&) (alla)&es and others are at .est )onHe)t"res.
Worse yet! the re)ord o( state-level RPS )o30l&an)e and en(or)e3ent strongly s"ggests that the e((e)ts o( a (ederal 0rogra3 w&ll
.e e&ther 3&n&3al or 0erverse. Psy)holog&)ally and 0ol&t&)ally sat&s(y&ng! a nat&onal RPS &s l&6ely to o.str")t the develo03ent o(
e((&)&ent 0ol&)&es. ,he range o( 0".l&) (&g"res and d&st&ng"&shed )o33&ss&ons (avor&ng a nat&onal RPS 3ay &nd&)ate no 3ore than
an e-0e)tat&on that &t w&ll 0rov&de a new (or"3 (or &nterest-gro"0 0ol&t&)s. D
M0
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y Ene$?y P$i(es !)$n
#ederal RPS would spi+e currently low energy prices causing industries to go abroad < that turns competitieness
W&ll&a3 Meatman and Cyron $bell '(! Seat3an %nergy Pol&)y 8nalyst R Co30et&t&ve %nter0r&se Inst&t"te 9C%I:. %.ell the
D&re)tor o( %nergy and 7lo.al War3&ng Pol&)y at C%I
*+7one w&th the W&nd!/ J/$B/0?! No. $$K! htt01//)e&.org/0d(/D=8B.0d(4
Reg&ons W&th a Co30arat&ve D&sadvantage. >y and large! states that have ado0ted renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standards were already
."rdened w&th h&gh ele)tr&)&ty ratesT 3ost o( the3 also have h&gh w&nd 0otent&al. >"t not every state s"((ers h&gh ele)tr&)&ty )osts!
nor &s every state endowed w&th w&ndy 0la&ns. For e-a30le! the So"theast &s a reg&on where )ons"3ers enHoy so3e o( the lowest
ele)tr&)&ty rates &n the land! largely d"e to rel&an)e on )oal-(&red generat&on. 'n the other hand! the So"theast has the least w&nd
0otent&al &n the )o"ntry! )losely (ollowed .y the C&dwest. ,he &30a)t o( a (ederal RPS on 3an"(a)t"r&ng reg&ons w&th low
ele)tr&)&ty )osts and low w&nd energy 0otent&al 0ro3&ses to ra&se ele)tr&)&ty rates )ons&dera.ly. 9Ca0 K: 8))ord&ng to the
Co33er)e De0art3ents >"rea" o( %)ono3&) 8nalys&s &nd"stry s0e)&al&;at&on &nde-! wh&)h 3eas"res states level o( &nd"str&al
s0e)&al&;at&on! the A00er C&dwest and the So"theast are 3ore de0endent on the 3an"(a)t"r&ng se)tor than other reg&ons.
8ltho"gh 3an"(a)t"rers have 3oved the&r (a)tor&es (ro3 states w&th h&gh ele)tr&)&ty )osts to these states w&th lower ele)tr&)&ty
)osts! a federal RPS would then tend to drie these industries to foreign countries with lower electricity rates. Con)l"s&on.
De0end&ng on the )"rrent )ost o( ele)tr&)&ty and renewa.le energy 0otent&al! the e)ono3&) &30a)t o( a (ederal renewa.le
0ort(ol&o standard &s 3odest &n so3e reg&ons o( the )o"ntry and d&re &n others. State leg&slators have we&ghed the e)ono3&) )osts
and .ene(&ts o( an RPS &n the&r states and a)ted a))ord&ngly. Congress sho"ld not &30ose a (ederal renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standard
on those states that have )orre)tly H"dged that s")h a 3andate wo"ld ra&se the&r )ons"3er ele)tr&)&ty 0r&)es and destroy Ho.s &n
energy-&ntens&ve &nd"str&es. Wh&le Ce3.ers o( Congress (ro3 so3e reg&ons o( the )o"ntry 3ay .e te30ted to e)ono3&)ally
d&sadvantage states &n other reg&ons .y vot&ng (or a (ederal RPS! they sho"ld re)ogn&;e that &t &s not &n the nat&ons &nterest to
"nder3&ne any o( o"r 3an"(a)t"r&ng &nd"str&es.
M$
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y Ene$?y P$i(es /in,
State RPS are effectiely producing renewable energy < a federal RPS would ?ac+ up electricity prices and uproot our
industries
8ltho"gh B$ states have already 0assed a renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standard! th&s &s not an arg"3ent &n (avor o( a (ederal RPS. ,hese
RPS states tend to have a 3")h h&gher 0otent&al (or renewa.le energy! less energy-&ntens&ve 3an"(a)t"r&ng! or .oth. In the RPS
states that do have )ons&dera.le 3an"(a)t"r&ng! the e((e)t o( ado0t&ng an RPS has .een to ra&se ele)tr&)&ty 0r&)es and 0"sh
3an"(a)t"r&ng &nto states or other )o"ntr&es w&th lower ele)tr&)&ty 0r&)es. ,here(ore! a (ederal RPS wo"ld re<"&re states w&th low
ele)tr&)&ty 0r&)es and 0ro0ort&onately lower renewa.le energy 0otent&al! s")h as &s (o"nd &n o"r &nd"str&al heartland! to ra&se
ele)tr&)&ty 0r&)es to a level that wo"ld (or)e the&r &nd"str&es to 3&grate overseas to )o"ntr&es w&th )hea0er energy rates and no
renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standards.
RPS would cost *2( billion in electricity prices
,he RPS 83end3ent Wo"ld .e Costly to Cons"3ers W ,he a3end3ent wo"ld &30ose a s&gn&(&)ant &n)rease &n ele)tr&)&ty )osts
on )ons"3ers. ,he >&nga3an RPS a3end3ent )o"ld )ost as 3")h as G$B? .&ll&on &n h&gher ele)tr&)&ty 0r&)es (or )ons"3ers over
the l&(e o( the 3andate. 8t &ts 0ea6 &n B0M0! the RPS 3andate )o"ld )ost )ons"3ers al3ost G$0 .&ll&on &n h&gher ele)tr&)&ty 0r&)es.

RPS doesn;t address renewable potential < that spi+es energy prices
,he se)ond (a)tor &s the 0otent&al (or renewa.le energy .e&ng s0read "nevenly a)ross the )o"ntry. For e-a30le! the so"thern and
3&ddle 0arts o( the )o"ntry have low 0otent&al (or w&nd 0ower! wh&)h &s the renewa.le energy reso"r)e that &s )losest to the
3ar6et )osts o( )onvent&onal energy! g&ven )"rrent (ederal s".s&d&es. 8nd altho"gh w&nd energy 0rod")ed! (or e-a30le! &n
'6laho3a )o"ld .e trans3&tted to 7eorg&a! the add&t&onal trans3&ss&on )osts greatly &n)rease the total )osts o( that energy to the
re)e&v&ng state.
MB
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y C#bs !)$n
RPS shifts ?obs to less effectie renewables
8 nat&onal RPS &s 0r&3ar&ly an env&ron3ental 0ol&)y! ."t so3e advo)ates assert other .ene(&ts. ,hey have )al)"lated &ts e((e)ts
on e30loy3ent! "s&ng 3ethods l&6e those &n govern3ent-)o33&ss&oned st"d&es est&3at&ng the Ho.s that! e.g. a new 3"n&)&0al
stad&"3 w&ll )reate. ,h&s reason&ng 3ay have held d"r&ng the great de0ress&on o( the $=M0s! when "0 to $/M o( the wor6(or)e was
"ne30loyed. ,oday! 3ost "ne30loy3ent )ons&sts o( trans&t&ons .etween ass"red Ho.s! short-ter3 layo((s w&th h&gh 0ro.a.&l&t&es
o( ret"rn! and non- &ntens&ve Ho. sear)h .y )as"al wor6ers s")h as teenagers l&v&ng at ho3e! 3any o( who3 are hardly &n
hardsh&0. C"rrently only K.$O o( h&gh s)hool grad"ates over twenty-(&ve are "ne30loyed! the 3ed&an s0ell o( "ne30loy3ent
lasts 8.B wee6s! and 3ost o( the3 re)e&ve "ne30loy3ent )o30ensat&on. M0 ,he wor6ers who ."&ld a 3"n&)&0al stad&"3 or a
renewa.le generator )o3e (ro3 other Ho.s! and are 0a&d w&th ("nds that ho"seholds and ."s&nesses wo"ld have s0ent elsewhere.
Ea.or &s reallo)ated to renewa.les! ."t the nat&on &s "nl&6ely to see a net &n)rease &n e30loy3ent. Whatever the e30loy3ent
)onse<"en)es o( an RPS! energy and env&ron3ental 0ol&)&es sho"ld .e H"dged .y the&r e((e)ts on the 0ro.le3s they d&re)tly
address. So3e advo)ates ta6e Ho. )reat&on to s")h lengths that they endorse &ne((&)&ent renewa.les over 3ore e((&)&ent ones. 'ne
st"dy notes that +the renewa.le energy se)tor generates 3ore Ho.s 0er 3egawatt o( 0ower &nstalled! 0er "n&t o( energy 0rod")ed!
and 0er dollar o( &nvest3ent! than the (oss&l ("el- .ased energy se)tor./ M$ It )o30ares )oal and solar "n&ts "nder an ass"30t&on
that (o"r 3egawatts o( &nter3&ttent solar )a0a)&ty are e<"&valent to one 3egawatt o( )oal-(&red )a0a)&ty. >"&ld&ng e&ther ta6es the
sa3e la.or &n0"t 0er 3egawatt! as wo"ld ."&ld&ng a .ase-loada.le CW o( .&o3ass )a0a)&ty. ,he st"dys a"thors )on)l"de &n
(avor o( solar .e)a"se &t )reates (o"r t&3es as 3any )onstr")t&on Ho.s 0er e((e)t&ve 3egawatt as )oal or .&o3ass! and also
re<"&res 3ore la.or to o0erate. In e((e)t the solar 0roHe)t attra)ts an "nne)essar&ly large n"3.er o( wor6ers (ro3 3ore 0rod")t&ve
Ho.s and 0ays the3 (ro3 the h&gher .&lls o( )a0t&ve )ons"3ers. MB 8 var&ant o( the Ho. )reat&on (alla)y notes that renewa.les
90art&)"larly w&nd: are o(ten d&stant (ro3 )ons"3ers o( the&r 0ower! so the e)ono3&) st&3"l"s that ste3s (ro3 the&r )onstr")t&on
3&ght rev&tal&;e de)l&n&ng r"ral areas. MM S"00orters o( th&s v&ew do not 3a6e )lear why o"t3&grat&on that has 0ers&sted (or a
)ent"ry sho"ld .e reversed! or why 0ower )ons"3ers sho"ld .ear the )osts. Nere too "ne30loy3ent &s a non-&ss"e. Forty-n&ne o(
North Da6otas (&(ty-three )o"nt&es lost 0o0"lat&on .etween B000 and B00M! ."t the state enHoyed an "ne30loy3ent rate hal( the
nat&onal average. MK 'ther advo)ates see a nat&onal RPS as a tool to en)o"rage )olle)t&ve ownersh&0 o( renewa.les .y r"ral
res&dents. MD ,he Worldwat)h Inst&t"te endorses th&s 0ol&)y .e)a"se +wealth re3a&ns &n the lo)al )o33"n&ty!/ an odd 0ost"re (or
(ar3ers who earn &n)o3es .y sell&ng the&r o"t0"t to "r.an&tes.
MM
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y Re?i#nal 9i88e$en(e
Promoting renewable in multiple regions is infeasible < RPS only exists in some regions because their capacity < forcing an
RPS upon them is counter)productie
Deter3&nants o( RPS I30a)t. Wh&le a one-s&;e-(&ts-all (ederal RPS wo"ld &30ose "n&(or3 re<"&re3ents nat&onw&de! the )osts
wo"ld .e (ar (ro3 "n&(or3. ,he e((e)t o( renewa.le energy targets on ele)tr&)&ty )ost &s deter3&ned )h&e(ly .y two (a)torsZthe
)ost o( )onvent&onal generat&on and the renewa.le reso"r)e 0otent&al o( the area &n <"est&on. ,he relat&onsh&0 o( ea)h (a)tor to
the 3arg&nal )ost o( an RPS &s stra&ght(orward. It )osts 3ore to generate ele)tr&)&ty (ro3 renewa.le so"r)es than (ro3
)onvent&onal so"r)es. ,hat &s why s&gn&(&)ant renewa.le )a0a)&ty &s )"rrently .e&ng added only &n states that have already 0assed
renewa.le re<"&re3ents. ,h&s &s the )ase even tho"gh 3ost (or3s o( renewa.le energy have re)e&ved large (ederal s".s&d&es (or
de)ades. For e-a30le! w&nd generat&on re)e&ves a $.= )ents-0er-6&lowatt-ho"r 0rod")t&on ta- )red&t. 9In B00J! the average )ost o(
ele)tr&)&ty was 8.M? )ents 0er 6&lowatt ho"r.: ,he (&rst (a)tor a((e)t&ng the 0r&)e o( ele)tr&)&ty &n a state w&th an RPS &s the states
)"rrent 3&- o( )onvent&onal so"r)es wh&)h! as )an .e seen &n Ca0 $! var&es )ons&dera.ly .etween the states. Ca0 $ sho"ld .e
)o30ared w&th Ca0s M and K. ,he reg&ons o( the )o"ntry that rely 3ost heav&ly on )oal-(&red generat&on are generally also the
reg&ons w&th the lowest ele)tr&)&ty rates and the h&ghest )on)entrat&ons o( 3an"(a)t"r&ng. ,h&s &s not a )o&n)&den)e.
MK
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y Ca0a(ity +a(,)0 !)$n
Renewable energy is only an add)on < Utilities will go bac+ to conentional fuels to meet consumer needs
W ,he RPS a3end3ent &s really H"st an energy ta- on trad&t&onal energy reso"r)es! s")h as )oal! nat"ral gas and n")lear energy.
,he RPS 0er)entage targets are so "nreal&st&) that they )annot .e ("lly 3et .y only ."&ld&ng new renewa.le generat&on. At&l&t&es
w&ll .e (or)ed to 0"r)hase renewa.le energy )red&ts (ro3 the (ederal govern3ent or )o30an&es trad&ng )red&ts to 3eet the&r
3andated RPS re<"&re3ent. W ,he )osts o( renewa.le energy w&ll .e an +add-on/ to 0rov&d&ng rel&a.le! aro"nd-the-)lo)6 0ower
to )ons"3ers. @any renewable energy resources are intermittent by nature" At&l&t&es )annot tell the&r )ons"3ers that they
w&ll del&ver 0ower only when the w&nd .lows or the s"n sh&nes. At&l&t&es w&ll st&ll need to ."&ld generat&ng (a)&l&t&es "s&ng
)onvent&onal ("elsZ3ost l&6ely nat"ral gasZto 3eet )ons"3ers needs (or rel&a.le 0ower on short not&)e.
MD
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y Ca0a(ity +a(,)0 Extensi#n
Renewable capacity is limited < shortages result in the use of traditional coal ) turning case cu, less energy is produced
E&6e renewa.les 0rogra3s! there &s no +one-s&;e-(&ts-all/ a00roa)h to assess&ng rel&a.&l&ty o( renewa.le reso"r)es. Certa&nly
so3e! s")h as .&o3ass and land(&ll gas! are d&s0at)ha.le.=$ S&n)e there &s no g"arantee that w&nd and solar w&ll generate 0ower
when needed! 0"r)has&ng "t&l&t&es 3ay .e (or)ed to )ont&n"e to o0erate trad&t&onal (oss&l-("el! .a)6-"0 generators when
ne)essary. >e)a"se o( the need to r"n these .a)6-"0 syste3s! the env&ron3ental and e)ono3&) .ene(&ts o( )erta&n renewa.le
reso"r)es 3ay .e overstated.=B In a re)ent st"dy! the North 83er&)an %le)tr&) Rel&a.&l&ty Co"n)&l 9N%RC: noted that .e)a"se
renewa.le reso"r)es are &nter3&ttent &n nat"re! generat&ng )a0a)&ty that &s ava&la.le d"r&ng 0ea6 0er&ods &s less 0red&)ta.le than
)a0a)&ty (ro3 trad&t&onal ("els! and energy a)t"ally 0rod")ed d"r&ng these t&3es &s even s3aller. 8))ord&ng to N%RC! rel&a.&l&ty
has two )o30onentsZs"00ly ade<"a)y and o0erat&ng rel&a.&l&ty. ,wo ele3ents o( renewa.lesZ&nter3&tten)e and low energy
0rod")t&onZne)ess&tate that .a)6-"0 reso"r)es and trans3&ss&on )a0a)&ty .e ava&la.le to ens"re s"00ly ade<"a)y. 8dd&t&onally!
renewa.le reso"r)es 3"st .e assessed on the&r a.&l&ty to 0rov&de levels o( rea)t&ve 0ower )a0a.&l&ty! voltage reg"lat&on! and low-
voltage r&de-thro"gh )a0a.&l&ty s"((&)&ent to 3a&nta&n )onne)t&on to the ."l6 trans3&ss&on syste3 "nder low-voltage
)ond&t&ons.=M ,o the e-tent that &30le3enters o( renewa.le 0rogra3s 0er)e&ve that the la)6 o( rel&a.&l&ty )reates a .arr&er to
s"))ess("l &n)or0orat&on o( renewa.les &nto "t&l&ty 0ort(ol&os! the RPSs or other 0rogra3s )an .e and are .e&ng rev&s&ted. For
&nstan)e! ,e-as re)ently a3ended &ts stat"te to re<"&re "t&l&t&es to "0grade the&r trans3&ss&on syste3s to 3eet RPS goals and to .e
a.le to re)over those )osts &n the&r rate .ases.=K In Cal&(orn&a! the I'As have e-0ressed )on)ern that they 3ay not .e a.le to
3eet the B0O .y B0$0 standard .e)a"se o( trans3&ss&on )onstra&nts.=D
MJ
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y NE5 5#%el Flawe%
RPS relies on the >$@S model which is extremely flawed and uses faulty data
W&th so 3any 0oss&.le ass"30t&ons and ty0es o( 3ar6ets! the do3&nan)e o( a s&ngle 3odel over 3")h RPS resear)h &s odd. Cost
st"d&es rely on the A.S. %nergy In(or3at&on 8d3&n&strat&ons 9%I8: Nat&onal %nergy Codel&ng Syste3 9N%CS:! wh&)h &s also
the so"r)e o( the (ore)asts &n %I8s 8nn"al %nergy '"tloo6.D? N%CS &s an e-)eed&ngly )o30le- )o30"ter 0rogra3 )ons&st&ng
o( th&rteen +3od"les!/ ea)h the wor6 o( d&((erent resear)hers! that est&3ates and (ore)asts h"ndreds o( var&a.les.D8 ,hese &n)l"de
ann"al ("t"re 0r&)es and o"t0"ts (or all (or3s o( energy 9&n)l"d&ng &30orted o&l:! )ons"30t&on .y var&o"s ty0es o( "sers! and
3a)roe)ono3&) var&a.les s")h as gross do3est&) 0rod")t and e30loy3ent. Its o"t0"ts de0end on l&terally tho"sands o(
ass"30t&ons! so3e at the d&s)ret&on o( "sers and others e3.od&ed &n &ts h"ndreds o( e<"at&ons.D= ,he deta&l and )o30le-&ty
e((e)t&vely e-)l"de non-s0e)&al&sts (ro3 "s&ng &t and eval"at&ng the <"al&ty o( &ts res"lts. N%CS re3a&ns the )onsens"s )ho&)e o(
RPS 3odelers des0&te &ts 0ro.le3at&) 0er(or3an)e! wh&)h has not 3ar6edly &30roved s&n)e &ts $==K "nve&l&ng.J0 It a00ears to
0red&)t so3e &30ortant )ons"30t&on .y (a)tors rang&ng (ro3 $0 to B00O.JB F"t"res traded on the New Sor6 Cer)ant&le
%-)hange 0red&)t gas 0r&)es 3ore a))"rately than the N%CS gas 3ar6et 3od"le.JM Eonger hor&;ons are 0art&)"larly &30ortant
(or RPS st"d&es! ."t N%CS-.ased (ore)asts de0end heav&ly on ass"30t&ons a.o"t the )osts o( ("t"re te)hnolog&es. So3et&3es
res"lts a00ear <"&te "nreal! (or reasons that non-s0e)&al&sts w&ll have d&((&)"lty ded")&ng. 8 B00? %I8 st"dy (or the A.S. Senate o(
a $DO RPS (or B0M0 &ll"strates the d&((&)"lt&es. ,he s&30le e-tens&on o( e-&st&ng trends 9see F&g"re $: wo"ld 0red&)t a )ont&n"&ng
&n)rease &n w&nd generat&on and l&ttle )hange &n .&o3ass. N%CS! however! 0roHe)ts a K00O &n)rease &n w&nd-generated 0ower
and a ?00O &n)rease &n 0rod")t&on (ro3 .&o3ass )onvers&on! leav&ng the&r B0M0 0ro0ort&ons o( renewa.le 0ower at $J and
J8O.JK ,he reversal 3ay 9or 3ay not: re(le)t ass"30t&ons a.o"t te)hnolog&)al &30rove3ents that are hard to deter3&ne (ro3
0".l&)ly ava&la.le data.JD 8s )"rrently (or3"lated! N%CS does not &n)or0orate so3e 0otent&ally "se("l &n(or3at&on that 3&ght
shar0en &ts 0red&)t&ons! s")h as read&ly ava&la.le data on 0ro0osed generat&on that )"rrently show tho"sands o( 3egawatts o(
w&nd )a0a)&ty and very s3all a3o"nts o( .&o3ass.JJ
M?
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y Stat)s D)# P#li(y S#l2es
%urrent state laws are promoting the use of renewables
%P8)t B00D does )onta&n reg"latory and (&nan)&al 3eas"res &ntended to s"00ort the renewa.le &nd"stry. E&6ew&se! state! lo)al!
"t&l&ty! and even reg&onal e((orts to en)o"rage renewa.le energy have &n)reased e-0onent&ally! as d&s)"ssed &n(ra at Part III.>.
,a6en together! these a)t&v&t&es are )o30rehens&ve &n nat"re and s"((&)&ent &n s&;e and s)o0e! such that a federal RPS is not
necessary to support the renewable mar+et. 8. F"el D&vers&ty Ander ,&tle I o( PARP8 %P8)t B00D a3ends ,&tle I o( the
P".l&) At&l&ty Reg"latory Pol&)&es 8)t o( $=?8 9PARP8: M= to re<"&re state reg"latory a"thor&t&es! on .ehal( o( the&r rate-
reg"lated ele)tr&) "t&l&t&es! and all non-reg"lated "t&l&t&es w&th ann"al reta&l sales over a )erta&n level! to )ons&der &30le3ent&ng
("el d&vers&ty 0lans as well as other standards that are an)&llary to renewa.le generat&on s")h as D&str&."ted 7enerat&on 9D7:
Inter)onne)t&on. K0 Ander the ("el d&vers&ty 0rov&s&on! state reg"lators (or those "t&l&t&es whose rates they reg"late and ea)h non-
rate reg"lated ele)tr&) "t&l&ty 9&n)l"d&ng )oo0erat&ves and 0".l&) 0ower "t&l&t&es: that has a 3&n&3"3 o( D00 3&ll&on 6&lowatt
ho"rs &n reta&l sales ann"ally 3"st )ons&der whether or not to ado0t a standard where.y an ele)tr&) "t&l&ty wo"ld +develo0 a 0lan
to 3&n&3&;e de0enden)e on $ ("el so"r)e and to ens"re that the ele)tr&) energy &t sells to )ons"3ers &s generated "s&ng a d&verse
range o( ("els and te)hnolog&es! &n)l"d&ng renewa.le te)hnolog&es./ K$ Reg"lators and a((e)ted "t&l&t&es 3"st )o33en)e th&s
)ons&derat&on 0ro)ess .y 8"g"st 8! B00?! and 3a6e the&r deter3&nat&ons .y 8"g"st 8! B008.
States offer enough financial incenties < green generation is being pushed now
W States already are en)o"rag&ng the develo03ent o( renewa.le energy reso"r)es. Core than =0 ele)tr&) )o30an&es &n M0 states
have &30le3ented or anno"n)ed green 0r&)&ng 0rogra3s to s"00ort &nvest3ent &n renewa.le energy te)hnolog&es. Forty-three
states s"00ort 0rogra3s that o((er &n)ent&ves! grants! loans or re.ates to )ons"3ers "s&ng renewa.le energy reso"r)es. ,o date! $M
states have ado0ted renewa.le energy 0ort(ol&o standards! .ased on the&r ("el reso"r)es. 8nd! ele)tr&) s"00l&ers &n n&ne states w&th
)o30et&t&ve reta&l 3ar6ets are o((er&ng green 0ower 0rod")ts to )ons"3ers.
M8
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y >in% Fails
/ind use won;t grow < cost and structural problems will minimi,e its effectieness
W&nd &s the only renewa.le whose o"t0"t has &n)reased s&gn&(&)antly s&n)e $==0. 8n &nde-ed 0rod")t&on ta- )red&t 9P,C:!
)"rrently $.= )ents 0er 6wh! (&rst .e)a3e law &n $==B! and &n $==8 &nvest3ent .egan &ts "0ward trend. ,he P,C has e-0&red and
.een te30orar&ly e-tended (o"r t&3es! and &nvest3ent has (l")t"ated a))ord&ngly.?8 ,he %nergy Pol&)y 8)t o( B00D e-tended the
P,C to )erta&n other renewa.les! ."t &nvest3ent &n the3 has yet to res0ond. W&nd &s the least s&te-s0e)&(&) renewa.le! and so3e
large )ons"3&ng areas are &n easy trans3&ss&on range o( w&ndy ones.?= W&nd "n&ts o(ten en)o"nter less lo)al res&stan)e than
(oss&l 0lants and other renewa.les! and they )an .e gro"0ed &nto large +(ar3s./ ,wo o.sta)les 3ay stand &n the way o( w&nds
)ont&n"ed growth. F&rst! lo)al&;ed host&l&ty &s grow&ng as "n&ts grow &n s&;e! v&s&.&l&ty 9so3e over K00 (eet h&gh:! and a"d&.&l&ty.
Se)ond! w&nds )osts have greatly &n)reased &n re)ent years. Costs 0er &nstalled 6&lowatt stead&ly de)l&ned (ro3 the $=80s thro"gh
the early B000s. ,hey then rose .y J0O 0er &nstalled 6&lowatt .etween B00M and B00J! $8O .etween B00D and B00J alone. ,he
3ost &30ortant 0art o( the &n)rease was an &n)rease &n t"r.&ne )osts! wh&)h are e-0e)ted to re3a&n h&gh over the near ("t"re.80
Cany nat&onal RPS s)enar&os 0red&)t that the 0re0onderan)e o( )o30l&an)e &nvest3ents w&ll .e w&nd. '0erat&ng e-0er&en)e has
)on(&r3ed that the )osts o( add&ng s3all a3o"nts o( &nter3&ttent renewa.les to an e-&st&ng gr&d are low.8$ Rando3 (l")t"at&ons
&n w&nd re<"&re the sa3e ty0e o( res0onse as (l")t"at&ons &n load or 3&nor generator o"tages. ,here &s also general agree3ent that
&( w&nd 0asses so3e threshold level &t .eg&ns to ra&se o0erat&ng )osts. '"tages o( w&nd "n&ts are 3ore h&ghly )orrelated than those
o( )onvent&onal 0lants! &.e. &( &t &s )al3 at one lo)at&on &n a )ontrol area &t &s also relat&vely l&6ely to .e )al3 at others. 8B ,he
3ost )o30lete A.S. st"dy to date e-a3&ned the )ost to a "t&l&ty 9K!J00 CW 0ea6 load: o( 3a&nta&n&ng &nd"stry o0erat&ng
standards w&th alternat&ve a3o"nts o( w&nd )a0a)&ty.8M 8ss"3e that a w&nd "n&t w&ll .e 0a&d the 3arg&nal )ost 0er 6wh o(
)onvent&onal generat&on &t re0la)es! net o( 0ay3ents to the syste3 o0erator (or .alan)&ng and load-(ollow&ng serv&)es. I( there &s
only a s3all a3o"nt o( w&nd )a0a)&ty the syste3 &n)"rs no e-traord&nary )ost and the w&nd "n&ts owner re)e&ves an average GM0
0er CWh over the year. 8s w&nd .e)o3es 3ore 0ro3&nent &t d&s0la)es h&gh )ost gas-(&red generat&on and lowers syste3
3arg&nal )ost! wh&)h lowers the 0r&)e all generators re)e&ve. ,he ret"rn to w&nd 0lant owners &s lower .e)a"se the 0"r)hase 0r&)e
(or &ts 0ower has (allen! and .e)a"se add&t&onal w&nd )a0a)&ty ra&ses &ts &ntegrat&on )ost 0er 3egawatt. $!000 CW o( w&nd on th&s
syste3 lowers &ts net 0ay3ent 0er CWh to G$D! and B!000 CW dro0s &t to G8. I( 3ost &nvest3ents to 3eet an RPS are w&nd! they
w&ll not .e v&a.le &( they 3"st .ear the a)t"al o0erat&ng )osts they &30ose on the gr&d. 8K W&nds "se("lness to a gr&d o0erator &s
("rther lowered .y the general &nverse asso)&at&on .etween 0ea6 loads and w&nd velo)&t&es. In 93ost: reg&ons! on-0ea6 velo)&t&es
are also lower &n s"33er than w&nter. 8t the (&ve h&ghest load ho"rs o( B00J! w&nd "n&ts &n Cal&(orn&a 0rod")ed an average o(
$B.BO o( the&r no3&nal )a0a.&l&t&es.8D 8verage Cal&(orn&a w&nd generat&on d"r&ng on-0ea6 ho"rs 9? 8C to $0 PC: &n I"ly B00J
was K=D CW 9B$O o( )a0a)&ty: and KJK CW &n 8"g"st.8J S&3&larly! the average o"t0"t o( ,e-as B!800 CW o( w&nd generators
&s $J.8O o( )a0a)&ty! 3ost o( wh&)h o))"rs o((-0ea6. For syste3 0lann&ng 0"r0oses &ts gr&d o0erator )"rrently sets a w&nd
t"r.&nes +e((e)t&ve )a0a)&ty/ at 8.?O o( &ts no3&nal a3o"nt.8? 8 trans3&ss&on l&ne to an &solated w&nd 0rod")&ng area
)ontr&."tes less to rel&a.&l&ty than one e3.edded &n a networ6. ,he (or3er w&ll only .e ("lly loaded when w&nds are strong!
ra&s&ng the )ost 0er 3egawatt-ho"r a)t"ally )arr&ed. 8 new l&ne &n a networ6 o(ten 0rov&des an alternat&ve 0ath (or 0ower &(
another one goes o"t o( serv&)e! ."t los&ng a rad&al l&n6 to an &solated renewa.le 3eans that none o( &ts 0ower )an rea)h "sers.
,here are no ava&la.le est&3ates o( add&t&onal &nvest3ent re<"&red "nder a w&nd-do3&nated nat&onal RPS.88 So3e lo)al data!
however! are e3erg&ng. ,he $0!000 CW o( renewa.les 9nearly all w&nd: &n ,e-as B0BD RPS w&ll re<"&re .etween G$.? and GM.0
.&ll&on &n new trans3&ss&on.8= 8s noted a.ove! 3eet&ng Cal&(orn&as B0B0 standard w&ll re<"&re GD.? .&ll&on o( new h&gh-voltage
and s".stant&al a3o"nts o( others. In .oth )ases! the &nvest3ent &n)l"des .oth d&re)t )onne)t&ons (or the renewa.les and other
)onstr")t&on needed to 3a&nta&n rel&a.&l&ty.
M=
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y Nee% ;t.e$ Renewables
@unicipal waste and landfill gas must be included in a RPS
\ ,he a3end3ent (a&ls to )o"nt &30ortant so"r)es o( renewa.le energy! &n)l"d&ng 3"n&)&0al sol&d waste. 8 large n"3.er o(
states! &n)l"d&ng Conne)t&)"t! Flor&da! Ill&no&s! Ind&ana! Caryland! Cassa)h"setts! C&)h&gan! C&nnesota! New Iersey! New Sor6
and Pennsylvan&a! generate a s&gn&(&)ant 0ort&on o( the&r renewa.le energy (ro3 3"n&)&0al sol&d waste and land(&ll gas. ,he
a3end3ent wo"ld not allow 3"n&)&0al sol&d waste to )o"nt toward 3eet&ng the RPS re<"&re3ents.
K0
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y !" RECs
R$%;s preent effectie economic and enironmental distribution
,he geogra0h&) d&str&."t&on o( renewa.les &s "neven! and the <"al&ty 9e.g. w&nd s0eed: o( a g&ven renewa.le )an d&((er a3ong
reg&ons. Cost (ederal RPS 0ro0osals &n)l"de 3ar6ets (or Renewa.le %nergy Cred&ts 9R%Cs: that allow "t&l&t&es &n reso"r)e-0oor
areas to a)h&eve )o30l&an)e &( they 0"r)hase )la&3s on the o"t0"ts o( d&stant 0lants. Reg"lators 3"st 3a6e )erta&n that R%Cs are
real! and that they have not .een sold to 3"lt&0le ."yers. R%Cs 3ay have (&-ed l&(es0ans 9one year: and se)ondary 3ar6ets &n
the3 are 0oss&.le. Cred&ts! however! are not the sa3e as 0ower &tsel(. 'nly )erta&n renewa.les are d&s0at)ha.le! and any so"r)e
w&tho"t de0enda.le trans3&ss&on to the ."yer w&ll re<"&re add&t&onal 0rov&s&ons (or o0erat&ng reserves. So3e state 0rogra3s do
not even re<"&re &nter)onne)t&on .etween the "t&l&ty and the so"r)e o( )red&ts. ,he (&nan)&al (lows asso)&ated w&th R%Cs 3ay
stand &n the way o( an &30le3enta.le nat&onal RPS. So3e advo)ates see renewa.les everywhere! ."t over the 3ed&"3 ter3
so3e "t&l&t&es w&ll .e )hron&)ally de(&)&ent! reg"larly send&ng 0ay3ents to others 3ore (ort"nate. KB ,he env&ron3ental e((e)ts o(
a )red&t&ng 3e)han&s3 3ay also .e &ne<"&ta.le. 8 renewa.le that &30roves a&r <"al&ty 3ay .ene(&t those &n &ts v&)&n&ty! ."t not
the )"sto3ers o( a "t&l&ty that ."ys &ts R%Cs. ,hey 0ay h&gher 0ower .&lls to &30rove the env&ron3ents o( others! who )an ta6e
the .ene(&ts w&th the3 .e)a"se a&r <"al&ty &s 3onet&;ed &n real estate 3ar6ets. No3es &n )lean env&ron3ents sell at 0re3&"3s
relat&ve to s&3&lar ones elsewhere. KM ,he e30&r&)al &ss"e &s whether the env&ron3ental e((e)ts are lo)al&;ed or d&s0ersed.
S"00orters o( a nat&onal RPS arg"e that w&tho"t &t non-RPS states w&ll +(ree r&de/ and get .etter a&r w&tho"t 0ay&ng (or &t. KK I( a&r
<"al&ty &s lo)al! however! R%Cs allow 0eo0le &n renewa.le-r&)h areas to (ree r&de on )red&ts 0"r)hased .y 0eo0le whose a&r
re3a&ns "n&30roved. 8ltho"gh e-0er&en)e &s st&ll s0arse! &t a00ears that R%Cs w&ll not .e "sa.le as )ollateral (or &nvest3ents &n
renewa.les. ,he 0r&)es o( state R%Cs have th"s (ar .een too volat&le! and there are (ew reasons to e-0e)t that those sold "nder a
(ederal&;ed RPS w&ll .e d&((erent. When )a0a)&ty &s short they w&ll .e )ostly or "nava&la.le! ."t when general )o30l&an)e &s
a)h&eved they w&ll lose 3ost o( the&r val"e. KD
R$%s won;t guarantee the distribution of renewables
Ro.ert I. @ichaels '1 8dH"n)t S)holar at C8,' and Resear)h Fellow at the Inde0endent Inst&t"te
*%le)tr&)&ty Io"rnal! +8 Nat&onal Renewa.le Port(ol&o Standard1 Pol&t&)ally Corre)t! %)ono3&)ally S"s0e)t!/ 80r&l! Lol. B$! No. M! l/n4
Renewa.le Cred&ts Car6ets. So3e nat&onal RPS .a)6ers see renewa.les as 0otent&ally ava&la.le everywhere! ."t others
a)6nowledge the&r "neven geogra0h&) d&str&."t&on and the&r "ne<"al )osts. 8ll (ederal RPS 0ro0osals &n)l"de 3ar6ets (or
renewa.le energy )red&ts 9R%Cs: that w&ll allow "t&l&t&es &n reso"r)e-0oor areas to )o30ly .y 0"r)has&ng 0lants or s"00l&es &n
reso"r)e-r&)h ones. Cred&ts 3ay not have the sa3e ("n)t&onal&ty as lo)al reso"r)es. 8 d&stant one 3ay not .e d&s0at)ha.le or
trans3&ss&on 3ay .e "nava&la.le when needed! (or)&ng the ."yer to 3a6e )ostly stand.y arrange3ents. ,hree RPS states do not
even re<"&re that so"r)es o( the&r "t&l&t&es5 R%Cs .e &nter)onne)ted w&th the&r gr&ds. ,wo other (a)ts lead to 0ess&3&s3 on R%Cs.
,he (&rst &s 0ol&t&)al1 so3e states w&ll .e 0er3anently de(&)&ent and )onstantly send&ng 0ay3ents to others whose good (ort"ne
was a rando3 event.DD ,he se)ond &s e)ono3&)1 0r&)es o( )red&ts "nder e-&st&ng state 0rogra3s are too volat&le to .e o( "se (or
)ollateral&;&ng de.t! and there &s no )lear reason why a (ederal 0rogra3 w&ll .e d&((erent. When )a0a)&ty &s short! they are )ostly
or "nava&la.le! ."t as soon as the RPS threshold &s 3et they .e)o3e nearly worthless.DJ
K$
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S#l2en(y !" E@ by 2-2-
RPS percentage mandates are unrealistic < renewables will hae to quadruple capacity
,he RPS 83end3ent &s Anreal&st&) W 8 $0 0er)ent RPS 3andate .y B0B0 &s "nreal&st&). In B00$! nonhydro0ower renewa.le
energy a))o"nted (or only B.$ 0er)ent o( generat&on and &s 0roHe)ted to &n)rease to only M.M 0er)ent o( generat&on .y B0BD!
a))ord&ng to the (ederal govern3ents %nergy In(or3at&on 8d3&n&strat&on 9%I8:. ,he a3end3ent wo"ld re<"&re a <"adr"0l&ng o(
the 0roHe)ted renewa.le generat&on &n a shorter t&3e 0er&od! w&tho"t any )red&t (or e-&st&ng )a0a)&ty. W Ander the >&nga3an
a3end3ent! &n B0B0 "t&l&t&es wo"ld have to generate ele)tr&)&ty (ro3 renewa.le energy reso"r)es e<"al to ro"ghly MD0 .&ll&on
6&lowatt-ho"rs. In )o30ar&son! total ele)tr&) &nd"stry generat&on (ro3 non-hydroele)tr&) renewa.le energy reso"r)es was a.o"t
?0 .&ll&on 6&lowatt-ho"rs &n B00$. ,o )o30ly w&th the $0 0er)ent RPS 3andate &n B0B0 would require a whopping fie)fold
increase in renewable energy generation[ W In order to 3eet the $0 0er)ent 3andate .y B0B0! 3ore than MB!000 3egawatts o(
renewa.le )a0a)&ty wo"ld have to .e added! ass"3&ng that th&s )a0a)&ty o0erates at $00 0er)ent BK ho"rs a day! MJD days a year.
Nowever! this is an unrealistic assumption because most renewable energy resources are intermittent in nature. W ,he
0er)entage targets &n the >&nga3an a3end3ent are .ased on a3o"nts o( energy 0rod")ed! not )a0a)&ty. ,here(ore! &n 3any
)ases "t&l&t&es wo"ld have to +over."&ld/ the&r renewa.le )a0a)&ty &n order to 3eet the targets. ,he 3ost 0ro3&s&ng renewa.le
energy te)hnology! w&nd energy! o0erates at only a.o"t M0-K0 0er)ent o( )a0a)&ty. ,here(ore! al3ost three t&3es th&s a3o"nt o(
)a0a)&ty wo"ld .e re<"&red to generate the 3andated levels o( ele)tr&)&ty (ro3 renewa.les[
KB
RPS Neg
R. Choy
Renewable 9s >in% /in,
=ll other renewable are economically and technically infeasible < RPS would be NHK wind energy
Renewa.le %nergy &s W&nd %nergy. ,he not&on that an RPS w&ll &n)l"de a +0ort(ol&o/ o( renewa.le energy so"r)es &s 3&slead&ng
Zw&nd energy &s the only e)ono3&)ally v&a.le renewa.le energy so"r)e g&ven )"rrent te)hnolog&es. 8ltho"gh other renewa.le
so"r)es! s")h as .&o3ass and solar! have long-ter3 0otent&al! they are )"rrently no 3ore than n&)he te)hnolog&es. %ven ass"3&ng
that these te)hnolog&es &30rove s&gn&(&)antly &n the ne-t de)ade or two! a 3aHor log&st&)al o.sta)le w&ll re3a&n. ,he te)hnology
to )onvert .&o3ass &nto ele)tr&)&ty re3a&ns 0roh&.&t&vely e-0ens&ve and "n)erta&n. N"ge &nvest3ents w&ll .e needed to ."&ld
&n(rastr")t"re to gather and trans0ort large <"ant&t&es o( .&o3ass to generat&ng 0lants. W&th solar energy! the near-ter3 0otent&al &s
al3ost )erta&nly at the )ons"3er level rather than large-s)ale generat&on! aga&n .e)a"se o( )ost and rel&a.&l&ty &ss"es. In other
words! the 0otent&al (or 0hotovolta&) 0anels &s greater on roo(to0s than a)ross deserts. W&nd 0ower! on the other hand! &s an
esta.l&shed te)hnology. In an analys&s o( the &30a)t o( a $0-0er)ent nat&onw&de RPS on the energy &nd"stry! the (ederal %nergy
In(or3at&on 8d3&n&strat&on 9%I8: (o"nd that +non-hydro ele)tr&) te)hnolog&es s")h as geother3al! solar ther3al! solar
0hotovolta&)! and o)ean te)hnolog&es are not 0roHe)ted to have net )a0a)&ty add&t&ons./ B 8s o( B00K! o( the est&3ated B!MMD
3egawatts o( renewa.le energy "se attr&."ta.le to state renewa.le standards! B!$8M 3egawatts 9NH percent3 were generated by
wind. M ,h"s! a renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standard &s! &n real&ty! a 3andate (or w&nd 0ower.
KM
RPS Neg
R. Choy
S0en%in? 9 <i%%en C#sts /in,
Cidden costs < transmission lines from renewable sources costs H million per mile
W 8n RPS 3andate w&ll also re<"&re add&t&onal &nd&re)t )osts. New h&gh-voltage trans3&ss&on l&nes o(ten 3"st .e ."&lt &n order
to 3ove ele)tr&)&ty (ro3 w&nd energy (a)&l&t&es! wh&)h are "s"ally lo)ated &n re3ote areas! a)ross long d&stan)es to 0o0"lated
areas where the 0ower &s needed. ,hese trans3&ss&on e-0ans&ons )an )ost a00ro-&3ately G$ 3&ll&on to GM 3&ll&on 0er 3&le to
."&ld.
KK
RPS Neg
R. Choy
RPS P#0)la$
RPS is oerwhelmingly popular < post opposition is gone
Coral 9aenport '(! C@ Sta((
*+Senate De3o)rats See '0en&ng (or Renewa.le Standard!/ C@ 7reen Sheets! D/BD/0?! htt01//0".l&).)<.)o3/do)s/gs/greensheets$$0-00000BD$=?K?.ht3l4
ey Senate De3o)rats! .el&ev&ng the 0ol&t&)s have sh&(ted &n the&r (avor! are renew&ng the&r e((ort to re<"&re ele)tr&) "t&l&t&es to
0rod")e 3ore 0ower (ro3 renewa.le so"r)es s")h as w&nd and solar. S")h 3eas"res have 0assed the Senate three t&3es &n years
0ast ."t d&ed &n a 7'P-)ontrolled No"se. Now that the De3o)rats are r"nn&ng the No"se! and (ears a.o"t de0enden)e on (ore&gn
o&l and glo.al war3&ng are (ore3ost &n 3any 3&nds! Senate leaders l&6e %nergy Cha&r3an Ie(( >&nga3an! D-N.C.! th&n6 the
t&3&ng 3&ght (&nally .e r&ght. S"00orters say a nat&onal +renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standard/ re<"&r&ng $0 0er)ent to B0 0er)ent o(
ele)tr&)&ty to .e 0rod")ed (ro3 renewa.les )o"ld go (ar toward lessen&ng A.S. (oss&l ("el de0enden)e. Eess than D 0er)ent o( the
nat&ons ele)tr&)&ty now )o3es (ro3 renewa.le so"r)es other than hydroele)tr&)&ty. ,wenty-two states have ena)ted renewa.le
standards. 'n ,h"rsday! a d&verse gro"0 o( $8J s&gnator&es Z &n)l"d&ng so3e o( the .&ggest na3es &n &nd"stry! 3an"(a)t"r&ng
and ele)tr&) "t&l&t&es! along w&th env&ron3ental gro"0s Z sent a letter to )ongress&onal leaders "rg&ng 0assage o( a nat&onal
renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standard. +Its the .roadest ever! &ts the .&ggest ever/ range o( s"00ort seen (or 0"sh&ng the renewa.le
standard! sa&d >&nga3an s0o6es3an >&ll W&)6er o( the s0e)tr"3 o( s&gnator&es! wh&)h &n)l"des 7eneral %le)tr&)! >P 83er&)a!
7oogle and the %d&son %le)tr&) %le)tr&) Inst&t"te! wh&)h re0resents &nvestor-owned "t&l&t&es. W&)6er )alled the e((ort +a very
0ower("l endorse3ent/ that )o"ld go (ar toward 0ers"ad&ng law3a6ers to s"00ort a renewa.le ele)tr&)&ty standard.
RPS : bipart
US #ed >ews '(
*+>IP8R,IS8N 7R'AP IN,R'DAC%S R%N%W8>E% P'R,F'EI' S,8ND8RDS >IEE!/ B/=/0?! l/n4
Re0s. ,o3 Adall 9D-NC:! ,odd Platts 9R-P8:! Fran6 Pallone 9D-NI:! Car6 Adall 9D-C':! Chr&s Shays 9R-C,:! D&ana De7ette
9D-C':! Ierry C)Nerny 9D-C8: and Eloyd Doggett 9D-,P: &ntrod")ed .&0art&san leg&slat&on to esta.l&sh a (ederal Renewa.le
Port(ol&o Standard 9RPS: re<"&r&ng ele)tr&) "t&l&t&es to a)<"&re B0 0er)ent o( the&r ele)tr&)&ty (ro3 w&nd! solar and other renewa.le
energy so"r)es .y B0B0.
KD
RPS Neg
R. Choy
P!Cs P#0)la$
PT%;s sole opposition
The Cill '(
*+Renewa.les 0"shed as 0art&al sol"t&on to glo.al war3&ng!/ $/$J/0?! htt01//theh&ll.)o3/."s&ness--lo..y/renewa.les-0"shed-as-0art&al-sol"t&on-to-glo.al-
war3&ng-B00?-0$-$J.ht3l4
>"t o00os&t&on &snt "n&versal w&th&n the "t&l&ty &nd"stry. Ionathan We&sgall! a lo..y&st (or C&d83er&)an %nergy Nold&ngs Co.!
wh&)h has s"00orted an RPS! .el&eves one way to ("rther red")e o00os&t&on to a renewa.le 3andate &s to )o"0le &t w&th a .roader
0rod")t&on ta- )red&t that 3a6es renewa.le energy 3ore 0r&)e-)o30et&t&ve.
KJ
RPS Neg
R. Choy
RPS An0#0)la$
$nergy consumers hate power prices that unintentionally result from RPS
Blobal Power Report '(
*+RPS 3ay have "n&ntended )onse<"en)es (or "t&l&t&es! says Standard V Poor5s analyst!/ $$/8/0?! Pg. B=! l/n4
Selt&ng sa&d that several <"est&ons regard&ng the 0rol&(erat&on o( renewa.le 0ort(ol&o standards and the&r e((e)t on "t&l&t&es have
not yet .een ade<"ately addressed. Now 3")h renewa.le generat&on w&ll .e needed to 3eet )"rrent and ("t"re RPS# Now 3")h
w&ll &t )ost# What ha00ens &( "t&l&t&es )annot 3eet the RPS goals# 8nd what are the rate &30l&)at&ons (or )"sto3ers# In 0art&)"lar
the <"est&on o( )"sto3ers5 a00et&te (or h&gher ele)tr&) 0r&)es to 0ay (or renewa.le 0ower Qdoesn5t see3 to .e addressed &n any
0".l&) (or"3!Q sa&d Selt&ng. >"t re)ent 0olls s"ggest that customersF tolerance may be lower than 3any 0eo0le are ass"3&ng.
Q,he Western energy )r&s&s ta"ght "s that there )an .e 0ol&)y and 0ol&t&)al ra3&(&)at&ons (ro3 h&gh 0ower 0r&)es!Q she sa&d.
K?
RPS Neg
R. Choy
RPS An0#0)la$ /#bbies
$xtremely influential lobbies oppose the plan
The Cill '(
Wh&le the 0ro0osal has a (ew 0ower("l .a)6ers! an RPS st&ll wo"ld engender the o00os&t&on o( )erta&n "t&l&t&es w&th lo..y&ng
0ower der&ved (ro3 the enor3o"s s"3s they s0end on )a30a&gns and on 0ol&t&)al advo)a)y! as well as the n"3.er o( 0eo0le who
are a((e)ted .y the&r ."s&ness. S"00orters o( an RPS )ontend the standard wont a00re)&a.ly ra&se )ons"3er ele)tr&)&ty .&lls! ."t
the &nd"stry )ontends )erta&n areas wo"ld 0ay 3ore (or 0ower "nder a 0ort(ol&o standard.
K8
RPS Neg
R. Choy
RPS * Fli0 Fl#0
Gush opposes RPS < plan would be a flip flop
$O$%UT8D$ &##8%$ &# TC$ PR$S89$>T '(! 'FFIC% 'F C8N87%C%N, 8ND >AD7%,
*+S,8,%C%N, 'F 8DCINIS,R8,I'N P'EICS!/ D/$B/0?! N.R. J Creat&ng Eong-ter3 %nergy 8lternat&ves (or the Nat&on 9CE%8N: 8)t!
htt01//www.wh&teho"se.gov/o3./leg&slat&ve/sa0/$$0-$/hrJsa0-s.0d(4
Renewa.le Port(ol&o Standards1 ,he 8d3&n&strat&on wo"ld o00ose an a3end3ent to add a narrow nat&onal renewa.le 0ort(ol&o
standard 9RPS: (or 0ower generat&on. 8 l&3&ted Federal RPS wo"ld res"lt &n h&gher ele)tr&)&ty )osts (or )ons"3ers &n areas where
renewa.le reso"r)es are less ava&la.le and )o"ld 0la)e new stra&ns on ele)tr&)&ty rel&a.&l&ty needs. 8 one-s&;e-(&ts-all Federal RPS
3andate &gnores the s0e)&(&) energy and e)ono3&) needs o( the &nd&v&d"al States. ,here are s&gn&(&)ant reg&onal d&((eren)es &n
ava&la.&l&ty! a3o"nt! and ty0es o( renewa.le energy reso"r)es! res"lt&ng &n d&((erent reg&ons o( the )o"ntry rely&ng on d&((erent
("el 3&-es. 8s a res"lt! standards are .est le(t to State d&s)ret&on.
4+2 agendaP
K=
RPS Neg
R. Choy
9e's F3 RPS
9emocratic leadership supports the plan
The Cill '(
,o a))o30l&sh any o( the a.ove! De3o)rat&) leaders 3ay have to over)o3e o00os&t&on w&th&n the&r own )a")"s! &n add&t&on to
0eel&ng o(( Re0".l&)an votes. 8n RPS has 0assed the Senate ."t not the No"se! where Re0".l&)an leaders .lo)6ed &t (ro3
3ov&ng to the (loor. De3o)rats who have o00osed an RPS &n)l"de new %nergy and 8&r @"al&ty S".)o33&ttee Cha&r3an R&)6
>o")her 9D: o( L&rg&n&a! a state heav&ly rel&ant on )oal to 0rod")e ele)tr&)&ty. De3o)rat&) leadersh&0! however! &s l&6ely to
s"00ort an RPS.
D0

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