I cover the renewable energy beat here at Green Options, and I particularly enjoy writing about the states, communities, and businesses that are showing great leadership on advancing a clean, efficient, and innovative energy system for the 21st century. Although I agree that global warming and the related energy problems do require a federal goals, it is heartening to see citizens around the country taking action in spite of Washington.

This week brings a lot of renewable energy news from the states. So instead of covering just one, here’s a run down on the big legislative action that’s been going down. Do you know what’s going on in your state?

• Hawaii became the 2nd state in the nation, after California, to pass a statewide cap on global warming emissions. On July 1 the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2007 took effect, which aims to bring emissions down to 1990 levels by 2020. A 10-member Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Task Force will develop a plan by the end of 2009 for “maximum practicality and technically feasible and cost-effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions” by 2009.

• Florida is set to enact tough new emissions standards for air pollution that will attempt to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050. New limits would go into effect for automobiles and trucks, toughen energy efficiency goals and require that state-owned vehicles use cleaner fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. Electric utilities would also be required to cut emissions 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 and generate at least 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources.

• Missouri Governor Matt Blunt signed legislation to increase the use of renewable energy from sources such as wind, hydroelectricity, solar power, hydrogen, and biomass. Specifically, utilities must get 11 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Not as aggressive of an objective as other states, but it’s a start. Also, at least 70 percent of the state’s fleet of new vehicles must be flex fuel.

• New Jersey passed a global warming law this week that requires the state to cut global warming emission to 1990 levels by 2020.

CBN News
CNNMoney.com
Environment News Service
Renewable Energy Access

When I woke up this morning, it was -16 degrees windchill. So I think I’d get a lot better perspective on this story from Hawaii if Green Options insisted I cover the news from there…

Newly elected Mayor Charmaine Tavares of Wailuku, Maui – the county seat of Maui County – plans to spend her first year in office drawing up progressive policies for renewable energy.

Although many of her constituents are calling on her to implement policies now, Tavares insists that a thorough and thoughtful renewable energy plan will take time to draw up and determine the best course of implementation. Tavares, who has been particularly enthusiastic about renewable energy for years, noted to the Maui News,

People have been waiting for the state to drive this, but I think the planets have aligned so everyone can contribute to this goal.

Her proposals may include growing fuel crops on the island, property tax incentives for renewables, and grants for research and development. In order for the plan to be successful, Tavares notes that local governments must be an active partner with the private sector.

Hawaii may also soon join 12 other states by adopting its own version of the Kyoto Protocol. However, as Sustainability in Hawaii points out, the bill introduced to monitor and cap global warming pollution is missing a key number – a target date. The same bill also features the ultimate goal of moving Hawaii to the #1 spot of lowest emitter of global warming pollution per capita in the nation. The state is currently 33% above the lowest emitter: Rhode Island.

The Maui News
SusHi: Sustainability in Hawaii
Wikipedia: Wailuku, Hawaii