mission: Working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a more sustainable community

House Bill 408 would require Kentucky ’s electric utilities to meet 12.5% of their electricity sales from renewable sources by 2020 (up from only 2% in 2007). Utilities would also have to achieve cumulative energy efficiency savings equal to 10.25% of total retail sales by 2020. At least 10% of the energy efficiency savings would have to be accomplished through programs to assist low-income households, such as weatherization.

Feed-in tariffs would require electric utilities to pay a premium for renewable electricity generated within Kentucky from sources such as solar, wind, low-impact biomass, and low-impact hydro, under guaranteed long-term contracts. The rates paid for renewable power would be based on the cost of generating the power plus a reasonable return on investment.

Feed-in tariffs have led to dramatic expansions of renewable energy capacity, accompanied by economic growth and job creation, in countries that have used them. Germany used feed-in tariffs to become the world leader in solar energy and their renewable energy sector now supports hundreds of thousands of workers.

Please call your legislators today and urge them to support HB 408!
You can leave a message for any or all Kentucky legislators at 1-800-372-7181.

HB 408 was developed with the support of the Kentucky Sustainable Energy Alliance, whose members include the Kentucky Solar Energy Society and the Kentucky Solar Partnership.

To learn more about the policies in HB 408 and KySEA’s policy agenda, visit http://www.kysea.org/legislative-policy-work/2010-legislative-goals

To read the bill, visit http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/10RS/HB408.htm.

To read a white paper on Feed In Tariffs prepared by the Kentucky Conservation Committee, visit http://kyconservation.org/production-incentives.htm.