MONTPELIER, Vt., and DES MOINES, Iowa - Vermont and Iowa have both passed legislation that will encourage greater use of renewable energy within their states.
In Vermont, Governor Jim Douglas signed a bill that establishes a renewable energy requirement for electricity sold within the state. Through 2011, every retail provider of electricity in Vermont must meet its growth in electrical demand using new renewable energy resources or must buy renewable energy credits equal to its growth in energy sales. Electricity providers can also use a combination of new renewable energy resources and renewable energy credits. The new law sets a cap at 10 percent of the electricity provider's energy sales in 2005 and provides an incentive for electricity providers to enter into long-term purchase agreements with renewable energy facilities.