Renewable electricity standards (RES), also called renewable portfolio standards (RPS), are a tool for promoting cleaner, renewable energy sources for electricity production. An RES requires electric utilities to gradually increase the amount of renewable energy resources (wind, solar, and biomass) in their electricity supplies. Whereas an RES can help build new markets for renewable energy then alternatives become more competitive and affordable when compared to traditional forms of dirty energy such as coal or oil, which are heavily subsidized in the energy market.

To date, 18 states and Washington D.C. have implemented minimum renewable energy standards. On November 2, 2004, Colorado voters passed the first-ever RES ballot initiative requiring the state’s utilities to generate 10 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2015.

Map courtesy of Union of Concerned Scientists, www.ucsusa.org

The Union of Concerned Scientists projects that state RES laws and regulations will provide support for more than 25,550 megawatts (MW) of new renewable power by 2017—an increase of 192 percent over total 1997 U.S. levels (excluding hydro). This represents enough clean power to meet the electricity needs of 16.9 million typical homes.

There is immense potential for renewable energy to meet electricity needs across the U.S. Tie this to Indian Country and you have a new vision for the future – one based on clean energy and economic justice. In the Great Plains alone, 23 Native communities have the potential to produce up to half of present U.S. electrical consumption, or 300 gigawatts of power, just by harnessing wind power. Our communities, among those most exploited for harmful energy resources, now have the opportunity to develop safe energy on our lands. By harnessing local and renewable sources of energy from the sun and wind, we cannot only bring alternative energy to Native America but to the rest of the continent as well.