One speculated piece of pending legislation in the 2009 Energy Bill is a Federal RPS, which would force electricity suppliers to produce a specified fraction of their energy from renewable sources. Certified renewable energy generators can earn certificates for every unit of electricity they produce, and can sell these along with their electricity to supply companies.  Obama’s plan would require that 10 percent of the nation’s electricity consumption come from alternative energy including wind, solar and geothermal by 2012, and 25% by 2025.  However, trade associations like the Edison Electric Institute have taken a stand against a nationwide RPS, saying it would raise consumers’ electricity prices and create inequalities among states.

By Michael Morris, at The Element Agency in New York