Renewable and Efficiency Portfolio Standard

A renewable and efficiency portfolio standard (REPS) would require electric utilities to generate a minimum share of their power from clean, renewable sources and energy efficiency. 

Twenty-nine states have passed clean energy portfolio standards – a key feature of the bill — including Ohio, West Virginia, Missouri and Illinois. Since passing one in 2008, Ohio has seen tremendous job growth, including 700 solar panel manufacturing jobs announced this year. With better policy in place, Kentucky could attract its own share of wind and solar manufacturing jobs, aiding a state sector that has shrunk in employment by more than 30% in the last decade.

The Clean Energy Opportunity Act contains a REPS that states:

• Utilities will generate at least 12.5% of their retail sales from renewable energy sources by 2021, including at least 1% from solar. (Eligible renewable sources include solar, wind, low-impact biomass, hydroelectric, geo-thermal)
  
• Utilities will offset at least 10.25% of retail sales by 2021 through energy efficiency programs, including 10% of the residential sales portion of that goal to be met by offsets from households at or below 200% of federal poverty level.