Renewable Electricity Mandate: Pay More For Less
A National Renewable Electricity Mandate Would Increase the Cost of Electricity
WASHINGTON--In advance of a Senate Energy Committee hearing on the renewable electricity mandate (REM), the Institute for Energy Research (IER) released the following fact sheet:
A National REM Would Increase the Cost of Electricity:
- Wind and solar electricity are significantly more expensive than efficient and reliable traditional electricity sources.
- Energy Information Administration (EIA) projections state that these sources will also be significantly more expensive than coal in 2016.
- 34 states already have renewable electricity standards
- Residential electricity rates are 38 percent higher and industrial rates are 50 percent higher in states with binding renewable mandates
- Wind generated 1.3 percent, geothermal 0.4 percent, biomass 1.3 percent, and solar less than 0.03 percent of the electricity Americans used last year.
- Energy Secretary Stephen Chu told the New York Times that solar technology would have to get five times better to be competitive in today's market.
- The Spanish government attempted to mandate and subsidize renewable electricity.
- Spain spent $753,778 of taxpayer dollars to create each green job.
- Spain gave $1,319,783 in subsidies to create wind industry jobs.
Read next: Renewables: Myths and Realities
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Institute for Energy Research——Bio and Archives
The Institute for Energy Research (IER) is a not-for-profit organization that conducts intensive research and analysis on the functions, operations, and government regulation of global energy markets. IER maintains that freely-functioning energy markets provide the most efficient and effective solutions to today’s global energy and environmental challenges and, as such, are critical to the well-being of individuals and society.
