2004 analysis
Renewing America's Economy
A 20 Percent National Renewable Electricity Standard Will Create Jobs and Save Consumers Money
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Photo: GE Wind Power |
A national renewable electricity standard1 would require electric utilities to supply a minimum percentage of their electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar, geothermal, and bioenergy. Similar policies have already been enacted in 21 states and the District of Columbia.
The U.S. Senate has voiced its support for a 10 percent by 2020 national standard three times since 2002—most recently in June 2005. Congress has also considered a national standard of 20 percent by 2020.
In 2004, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) used the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) National Energy Modeling System computer model to examine the costs and benefits of a 20 percent by 2020 national standard. We modified the model using more optimistic assumptions for renewable energy technology costs and performance that are more in line with projections by the Department of Energy’s national laboratories. Our analysis found that a 20 percent standard would reduce electricity and natural gas prices and provide significant economic and environmental benefits for America.
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Benefits of a 20 Percent by 2020
National Renewable Electricity Standard |
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Job Creation - 355,000 new jobs—nearly twice as many as generating electricity from fossil fuels
Economic Development - $72.6 billion in new capital investment, $16.2 billion in income to farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners, and $5.0 billion in new local tax revenues
Consumer Savings - $49 billion in lower electricity and natural gas bills
Healthier Environment - Reductions of global warming pollution equal to taking nearly 71 million cars off the road, plus less haze, smog, acid rain, mercury contamination, and water use |
Download Renewing America's Economy (PDF) to see the benefits of a national 20 percent by 2020 renewable electricity standard
UCS also examined the costs and benefits of a national 20 percent by 2020 renewable electricity standard at the state-level as well as for the Western United States. To see the benefits the national standard can bring to your state or region, click below.
RENEWING ARIZONA'S ECONOMY
RENEWING COLORADO'S ECONOMY
RENEWING ILLINOIS' ECONOMY
RENEWING IOWA'S ECONOMY
RENEWING MICHIGAN'S ECONOMY
RENEWING MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY
RENEWING NEW HAMPSHIRE'S ECONOMY
RENEWING NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY
RENEWING NEW YORK'S ECONOMY
RENEWING OREGON'S ECONOMY
RENEWING PENNSYLVANIA'S ECONOMY
RENEWING TEXAS' ECONOMY
RENEWING WISCONSIN'S ECONOMY
RENEWING THE WEST (regional results)
A June 2005 study by the EIA examined the costs and benefits of the national 10 percent renewable electricity standard passed by the U.S. Senate.2 In 2004, UCS also used EIA’s model to examine a similar 10 percent national standard, but again with more optimistic assumptions for renewable energy technology costs and performance. Both studies found that the consumer, economic, and environmental benefits would be significant, but less than compared with the 20 percent by 2020 standard. To see the benefits that the 10 percent national standard can bring to the United States, and your state or region, click below.
RENEWING AMERICA'S ECONOMY - 10 PERCENT BY 2020 RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY STANDARD
RENEWING ARIZONA'S ECONOMY
RENEWING COLORADO'S ECONOMY
RENEWING ILLINOIS' ECONOMY
RENEWING IOWA'S ECONOMY
RENEWING KANSAS' ECONOMY
RENEWING MICHIGAN'S ECONOMY
RENEWING MINNESOTA'S ECONOMY
RENEWING NEW ENGLAND'S ECONOMY (regional results)
RENEWING NEW HAMPSHIRE'S ECONOMY
RENEWING NEW MEXICO'S ECONOMY
RENEWING NEW YORK'S ECONOMY
RENEWING OREGON'S ECONOMY
RENEWING PENNSYLVANIA'S ECONOMY
RENEWING TEXAS' ECONOMY
RENEWING UTAH'S ECONOMY
RENEWING WISCONSIN'S ECONOMY
To learn more about the Renewing America's Economy analysis, view our methodology, and view the methods chapter in our 2001 report, Clean Energy Blueprint.
Notes and References
1 The renewable electricity standard is also known as a renewable portfolio standard or RPS.
2 Letter to Senator Bingaman from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA), June 15, 2005. | 
