If you google search (or yahoo, we don’t discriminate) for “Energy Bill” under news you get a bonanza of results for both the new national energy and climate bill, just released, as well as for numerous states who are all releasing their own far reaching bills. California just passed one which requires all utilities to purchase 33% of their power from renewable resources by 2020. Tennessee will be releasing their own in a few weeks for discussion and is expected to be a ‘lead by example’ type bill with much of the focus being on greening the government and its operations. It also may include a residential code for certain green and efficiency standards for new homes. And they’re not all rosey…

There’s a Kansas bill up for vote soon, which will include allowances to build 2 700MW coal power plants in the state. Supposedly the green initiatives also included in the bill, in an attempt to make it more palitable, have been wattered down to the point where they will be ineffective.  The Governor, Kathleen Sebelius, has repeatedly vetoed coal fired power plants in the state in the last year. This one may have enough to override her (or her Lt. Gov if she joins Obama) veto… Stay tuned.

The federal bill was just introduced, so who knows how much it will change before it gets to a vote. For now it appears as if it is extremely ambitious. It includes a 25% Renewable Portfolio Standard by 2025 and reductions in global warming pollutants of 20% below 2005 levels by 2020. It was sponsored by Senator Waxman and Rep Markey, so I’m sure it’s good and will push the envelope. The question remains, just how watered down will this one gets by the time they vote on it…? One more article here on the bill.