Senate Committee Votes Against Renewable Standards

A Kansas Senate committee has voted to repeal the state’s renewable energy standards.

The measure would repeal the 2009 Renewable Portfolio Standard, or RPS, which required major utility companies to have the capacity to generate 10 percent of their energy through a renewable source by 2011. It also called for the companies to generate 15 percent of their energy through a renewable source by 2016 and 20 percent by 2020.

The Senate Utilities Committee approved the measure repealing the standards Thursday.

Renewable energy advocates said repealing the standards would hurt Kansas’ ability to recruit industries that say an RPS helps provide a reliable and equitably priced energy source.

State Sen. Rob Olson, R-Olathe, however said the standards are to blame for increased electric costs.

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Associated Press information from: Lawrence Journal-World