Rep. Matt Pierce Introduces Feed Law

Indiana Representative Pierce Introduces Feed Law Bill

January 16, 2009

By Paul Gipe , pgipe@igc.org

Representative Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) has introduced HB 1622, the Advanced Renewable Energy Tariffs Act, into the Indiana General Assembly. The bill received first reading January 16, 2009 and was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Energy, Technology and Utilities. Representative Pierce is Vice Chair of the committee.

The Midwest has become a hot bed of activity around feed-in tariffs since the introduction of HB 5218, the Michigan Renewable Energy Sources Act, in the fall of 2007 by Representative Kathleen Law.

Following a presentation by Representative Law to the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators in early 2008, bills were introduced into the Illinois and the Minnesota state assemblies. Representative David Bly has announced that he plans to reintroduce his bill into Minnesota's new legislative session. Illinois representatives have been preoccupied with the impeachment of Governor Blagojevich and it is uncertain whether the Illinois bill will be reintroduced.

Representative Pierce announced on September 10, 2008 at DePauw University that he intended to introduce a bill calling for a full system of Advanced Renewable Tariffs like those in Germany, France, and Spain into the next legislative session. Since that time Pierce was named Vice Chair of the relevant committee.

Indiana has effectively no renewable energy policy and only a fledgling renewable energy industry. Nevertheless, there is some wind energy development in the north of the state, all for export, and an Italian manufacturer of gearboxes for wind turbines plans to open a factory near Muncie, Indiana.

HB 1622 is patterned after the Michigan bill and like the Michigan bill is intended to spur job creation in a state suffering from the collapse of the auto industry, long a major employer.

• HB 1622
• Status HB 1622

Paul Gipe is an author and reknowned expert on wind energy. His biography and resume can be found at http://www.wind-works.org/bio.html.

Additional information on Feed Laws including Tables of Feed-In Tariffs Worldwide can be found at http://www.wind-works.org/articles/feed_laws.html

Contact Information: Paul Gipe, 208 South Green Street, #5, Tehachapi, CA 93561-1741, USA Phone: +1 661 325 9590 pgipe@igc.org

Sen. Bayh Appointed to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; Cong. Hill Appointed to Energy and Environment Sub-committee

From Kate Sheppard, Grist's D.C.-based political reporter posted yesterday (01/10/09):

At a hearing on Thursday, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) announced the newest Democratic members of his committee (though their appointments aren't yet final): Evan Bayh (Ind.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.), and two new senators, Mark Udall (Colorado) and Jeanne Shaheem (New Hampshire).

Grist is an online environmental magazine offering news, commentary, and laughs. Gloom and doom with a sense of humor.

Earlier this week (01/08/09), the Democratic Caucus of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce made subcommittee selections for the 111th Congress. Indiana Congressman Baron Hill has been appointed to the Energy and Environment Sub-committee as well as the Communications, Technology and the Internet Sub-committee.

Attend Third House Meetings to Talk to State Legislators About Renewable Energy

State legislators are scheduled to return to the State House tomorrow (01/07/09) and will meet until the end of April 2009. This year is the so-called "long session" in which state lawmakers adopt a two year budget. Third House meetings are an excellent opportunity to meet face-to-face with your local state legislators to get an update on important issues. The Third House is you the voter. The other two houses are the Indiana State Senate and the Indiana House of Representatives.

JANUARY 2009

01/09/09 (Friday) Valparaiso, IN
Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce
Legislative Hotline 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m., Valpo Chamber, 2nd Floor Conference Room 2A
Free to attend. No reservations required. Call for details (219) 462-1105. Next meeting 01/23/09.

01/12/09 (Monday) Carmel, IN
Hamilton County Legislative Breakfast
Legislative Breakfasts (aka: Third House Meetings) allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. This breakfast is open to the public and begins at 7:30am at the Mansion at Oak Hill. There is a $25 fee and registration is required by January 8. For more information and to register go to the Noblesville Chamber of Commerce website.

01/13/09 (Tuesday) Franklin, IN
Franklin Legislative Breakfast
Legislative Breakfasts (aka: Third House Meetings) allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. This breakfast is open to the public and begins at 7:30am at the Franklin College Dietz Center. There is a fee of $8 for continental breakfast. For further information or to register, go to the Franklin Chamber of Commerce website.

01/16/09 (Friday) North Vernon, IN
Jennings County Third House Meeting
Third house meetings allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. The meeting is open to the public and will take place at F.P.B.H. in North Vernon from 3:00pm to 4:00pm.

01/17/09 (Saturday) Bedford, IN
Bedford Area Third House Meeting
Third house meetings allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. The meeting is open to the public and begins at 9:00am in the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce Conference Room.

01/17/09 (Saturday) Ft. Wayne, IN
Ft. Wayne Chamber of Commerce Meeting
Third House Forums: Be aware and understand issues and policy that affect Northeast Indiana by attending the Chamber's 3rd House Forums. These forums will provide you with an update on both the legislative climate in the Statehouse, and how the Chamber's business issues are faring in the process. Legislators of the Northeast Indiana Delegation are available to take questions and respond to your concerns. These forums take place on the 3rd Saturday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to noon during the legislative session.

01/26/09 (Monday) Columbus, IN
Columbus Third House Meeting
Third house meetings allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. The meeting is open to the public and begins at 7:30am at Columbus City Hall.

01/26/09 (Monday) Anderson, IN
City of Anderson Third House Meeting
Third house meetings allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. The meeting is open to the public and begins at 8:00am at the Anderson Public Library third floor. For more information go to the City of Anderson website. Additional meetings scheduled for 03/09/09 and 04/13/09. Invited to attend are state Sen. Tim Lanane and Reps. Terri Austin, Jack Lutz and Scott Reske.

01/26/09 (Monday) Danville, IN
Hendricks County Legislative Breakfast Series
The annual legislative breakfast series is sponsored by Hendricks Power Cooperative, Hendricks County Farm Bureau Inc. and North Salem State Bank. The breakfasts are free for the public. Reservations are requested by calling Hendricks County Farm Bureau at 317-272-2460.
The monthly events during the legislative session are scheduled at 7 a.m. on Jan. 26, Feb. 23, March 30 and April 27 in the conference center at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds, 1900 East Main Street, or Old U.S. 36, in Danville. Invited representatives are Republican state senators Connie Lawson of Danville and Philip Boots of Crawfordsville, and Republican representatives Bob Behning, Indianapolis; Ralph Foley, Martinsville; Greg Steuerwald, Avon; and Jeff Thompson, Lizton.

01/27/09 (Tuesday) Greenwood, IN
Greenwood Legislative Breakfast
Legislative Breakfasts (aka: Third House Meetings) allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. This breakfast is open to the public and begins at 7:30am at the Valle Vista Golf & Conference Center. There is a fee of $10. For further information or to register, go to the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce website.

01/27/09 (Tuesday) Indianapolis, IN
5th Annual Conservation Day 2009 at the Statehouse.
A state Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) is one of three issues on the agenda for this Lobby Day. Click here to register online or call 317-951-8818.

01/30/09 (Friday) Bloomington, IN
City of Bloomington Third House Meeting
Third house meetings allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. The meeting will be at the Hilton Garden Inn from noon until 1:30pm. There is a charge of $35 for the meeting. For more information see the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce website.

01/31/09 (Saturday) Madison, IN
Jefferson County Third House Meeting
Third house meetings allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. The meeting is open to the public and begins at 8:30am at the Venture Out Business Center, in Madison. For more information go to the Madison Chamber of Commerce website.

01/31/09 (Saturday) Goshen, IN
Elkhart County Third House Meetings
Beginning on Saturday, January 31, 2009, Third House sessions will be held at the Goshen Chamber offices (232 South Main Street). From 8:00 -10:00 am am you’ll have a chance to meet with our local and state legislators, ask questions, and voice your opinion. Third House meetings will be held every other Saturday from January 31 through April 25, 2009. Sessions are FREE and open to the community. Additional dates: 02/14/09, 02/28/09, 03/14/09, 03/28/09, 04/11/09 and 04/25/09. For more information: 574-533-2102 or goshenchamber@goshen.org.

FEBRUARY 2009

02/02/09 (Monday) Columbus, IN
Columbus Third House Meeting
Third house meetings allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. The meeting is open to the public and begins at 7:30am at Columbus City Hall.

02/03/09 (Tuesday) Greenfield, IN
Greenfield Legislative Breakfast
Legislative Breakfasts (aka: Third House Meetings) allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. Further details TBA.

02/06/09 (Friday) North Vernon, IN
Jennings County Third House Meeting
Third house meetings allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. The meeting is open to the public and will take place at F.P.B.H. in North Vernon from 3:00pm to 4:00pm.

02/09/09 (Monday) Columbus, IN
Columbus Third House Meeting
Third house meetings allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. The meeting is open to the public and begins at 7:30am at Columbus City Hall. Columbus Third House Meetings occur every Monday morning during the Legislative Session.

02/20/09 (Friday) North Vernon, IN
Jennings County Third House Meeting
Third house meetings allow constituents to meet with their state legislators to ask questions and voice their opinions. The meeting is open to the public and will take place at F.P.B.H. in North Vernon from 3:00pm to 4:00pm.

If you are aware of any additional Third House meetings, Town Hall meetings or forums where state legislators will be discussing proposed legislation introduced during the 2009 session of the Indiana General Assembly, please contact me lauraarnold@indianarenew.org or call (317) 635-1701. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce or local League of Women Voters to see if there are additional meetings scheduled for your community.

U.S. Congressman Pete Visclosky representing northwest Indiana has posted a schedule of Town Halls meetings for January 2009. See http://www.house.gov/visclosky/jan_townhalls.htm

Indiana House Committee Rosters Released

The Committee rosters for the Indiana House of Representatives were released today. The 2009 House Committee that we expect will hear renewable energy legislation is as follows:

2009-10 House Commerce, Energy, Technology
and Utilities Committee Members

Rep. Win Moses, Chair, HD 81 (D-Fort Wayne)
Rep. Matt Pierce, Vice Chair, HD 61 (D-Bloomington)
Rep. Kreg Battles, HD 64 (D-Vincennes)
Rep. Sandy Blanton, HD 62 (D-Orleans)
Rep. Ryan Dvorak, HD 8 (D-South Bend)
Rep. Scott Reske, HD 37 (D-Pendleton)
Rep. Dan Stevenson, HD 11 (D-Highland)
Rep. Jack Lutz, RMM, HD 35, (R-Anderson)
Rep. Eric Koch, HD 65 (R-Bedford)
Rep. Robert Behning, HD 91 (R-Indianapolis)
Rep. David Frizzell, HD 93 (R-Indianapolis)
Rep. Ed Soliday, HD 4 (R-Valparaiso)

Key:
RMM = Ranking Minority Member
HD = House District
E-mail: h#@in.gov,
Note: in place of the "#" symbol, add the legislator's district number (one or two digits)

If your state legislator serves on this committee, we urge you to contact them and to express your support for renewable energy before the 2009 session of the Indiana General re-convenes on January 7, 2009.

Please check back to our blog for more details on renewable energy issues expected to be addressed by the 2009 Indiana General Assembly including net metering and a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). We would appreciate your sharing with us any feedback you receive from your state legislators on these issues.

Committee Chairs for 2009 Indiana General Assembly

This week Indiana House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer (D-South Bend) released the list of Chairs and Vice Chairs for the upcoming 2009 session of the Indiana General Assembly. Much to the surprise of veteran State House observers, Rep. Win Moses, Jr. (D-Fort Wayne) was named Chair of the House Commerce, Energy, Technology and Utilities Committee and Rep. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) was named Vice Chair. Neither of these state legislators were even members of this committee during the last session. The complete roster of the membership of the House Committees has not been released yet.

A big CONGRATULATIONS to both Rep. Moses and Rep. Pierce. Also a big THANK YOU to House Speaker Bauer for having appointed these two visionary state legislators to lead the energy discussion in the Indiana House during the upcoming session of the Indiana General Assembly.

Earlier this month Senate Pro Tem David Long (R-Fort Wayne) appointed State Senator Jim Merritt, Jr. (R-Indianapolis) to chair the Senate Utilities and Technology Committee. The members of the Senate Utilities and Technology Committee for 2009 will be as follows:

Sen. James Merrit, Chair (District 31)
Sen. Ed Charbonneau (District 5)
Sen. Beverly Gard (District 28)
Sen. Dennis Kruse (District 14)
Sen. Jean Leising (District 42)
Sen. Marlin Stutzman (District 13)
Sen. Carlin Yoder (District 12)
Sen. Jean Breaux (District 34)
Sen. Bob Deig (District 49)
Sen. Sue Errington (District 26)
Sen. Lonnie Randolph (District 2)

We would also like to CONGRATULATE Sen. Merritt on his new chairmanship and to thank Sen. Long for appointing Sen. Merritt to head this important committee in the State Senate.

If your state legislator serves on these committees, we encourage you to talk to them about your interest and support for renewable energy. More information will be forthcoming in the next few weeks.

Solar Energy Poised to Put Americans Back to Work

Solar Energy Industries Association Announces Policy Priorities

for Obama Administration, 111th Congress

WASHINGTON, DC – The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today (12/03/08) outlined the key policies that President-elect Obama and the Congressional leadership must address to expand the use of solar energy and help put over 1 million Americans back to work by 2011.

SEIA released “Solar Energy: A Blueprint for Job Creation and Economic Security,” which recommends that the new Administration and Congress embrace the following policies and programs to expand the creation of clean energy jobs in the United States:

· Improve solar tax credits
· Increase government procurement of solar power
· Create tax incentives for manufacturing
· Pass a national renewable portfolio standard with solar provisions
· Expand and update transmission infrastructure
· Improve access to federal lands to harness our vast solar resources
· Create a federal clean energy bank
· Create the office of Renewable Energy Development
· Establish national standards for interconnection and net metering
· Increase DOE Solar Appropriations
· Enact climate legislation to reduce carbon emissions, stimulate solar generation

SEIA President Rhone Resch said, “President-elect Obama and the new Congress have expressed their commitment to addressing our current economic crisis. Increasing the use of solar energy will create millions of new jobs and put billions of dollars into the U.S. economy, providing a clean, reliable and domestic source of energy while providing a clean, reliable and domestic source of energy,.

“The growth of solar energy will not happen quickly enough without the right federal policies to stimulate the market and remove fundamental barriers that prevent solar from competing in the electricity marketplace.

“To stimulate this growth, the Solar Energy Industries Association is recommending to the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress a number of immediate and near-term policies to stimulate the growth of solar energy, including: improving the solar investment tax credits to ensure that they can be utilized as Congress originally intended, creating a government procurement program that deploys solar on federal buildings and lands, and establishing a national renewable portfolio standard that requires a specific amount of energy come from solar.

“We look forward to working with the new Administration and the 111th Congress to achieve these important goals for growing our economy, improving our energy independence and reducing global warming.”

SEIA Board Chairman Roger Efird of Suntech America said, “For solar energy to reach its potential as an economic engine and become an important part of our national energy portfolio, we need government leaders to continue to enact the right policies. These policies, especially in the current economic crisis, will allow companies like mine to grow and create green jobs that will reverse the trend of sending American jobs overseas. Instead, the U.S. can become a destination for international companies to find the skilled professionals they need to compete in the global renewable energy economy.”

SEIA’s will deliver the “Solar Energy: A Blueprint for Job Creation and Economic Security” to each member of President-elect Obama’s energy and economic transition teams and Congressional leadership.

SEIA is comprised of over 800 member companies that manufacture, distribute, sell, design, own, install and finance solar power plants and systems.

Background Materials

“Solar Energy: A Blueprint for Job Creation and Economic Security"

RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRIES READY TO LEAD U.S. ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Trade Association Leaders Outline Key Policies Required

The leaders of the American Wind Energy Association, Geothermal Energy Association, National Hydropower Association and Solar Energy Industries Association today (11/13/08) released the following statement:

The fast-growing renewable energy sector is poised to help lead the U.S. economic recovery with millions of new jobs and billions of private investment dollars. However, the new Administration and Congress need to take action to ensure that the renewable industries’ growth continues, given the current economic realities.

President-elect Obama has made a commitment to key policies that will spur substantial growth in America’s clean renewable energy industries and create millions of new jobs.

Building upon these key policies, the renewable energy industries’ top priorities for the Obama Administration and the 111th Congress include:

• Immediate Action:

- Adjust renewable energy tax credit policies so incentives work as intended given current economic conditions.

• 111th Congress:

- Adopt a national renewable electricity (portfolio) standard to ensure that at least 10 percent of electricity consumed in the U.S. is derived from renewable energy sources by 2012, and at least 25 percent by 2025;

- Approve a minimum five-year extension of the federal renewable energy production tax credit (PTC) and additional funding for the Clean Renewable Energy Bonds (CREBs) program;

- Issue an Executive Order expanding federal procurement of renewable energy generation to meet the government’s substantial energy supply needs;

- Launch a major initiative to support investment in our nation’s interstate electrical grid infrastructure and smart-grid technology to deliver green energy from areas with renewable resources to population centers and to support distributed power generation;

- Invest $30 billion in 2009 for financing options that support new project development and installations for all renewable energy technologies as part of the Administration’s commitment to investment of $150 billion over the next ten years in clean energy technologies;

- Adopt a cap-and-trade regime to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that rewards production of clean renewable energy.

If the Administration and Congress can quickly implement these policies, renewable energy growth will help turn around the economic decline while at the same time addressing some of our most pressing national security and environmental problems. Expansion of renewable energy production will mean billions of dollars in economic growth, millions of new jobs, enhanced energy security as we increase domestic energy production, and critically important progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Randall Swisher, Executive Director, American Wind Energy Association, www.awea.org, 202.383.2508

Karl Gawell, Executive Director, Geothermal Energy Association, www.geo-energy.org, 202.454.5261

Linda Church Ciocci, Executive Director, National Hydropower Association, www.hydro.org, 202.682.1700

Rhone Resch, President, Solar Energy Industries Association, www.seia.org, 202.682.0556