Showing posts with label The A. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The A. Show all posts

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Renewable energy standard ruling benefits geothermal energy

The Arizona Court of Appeals has upheld the authority of the Arizona Corporation Commission to establish a Renewable Portfolio Standard, or Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff (“REST”) . In somewhat of an oversimplification, the standard was set in 2006 requiring public utilities to produce 15% of their electricity from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and biogas. It also allows distributed power generation rather than large-scale centralized power plants.

The 2006 decision not only increased the goal but added geothermal for the first time. While Arizona doesn't have any commercial geothermal power plants, there is a growing number of ground source (goethermal) heat pumps in residences that contribute by reducing demands for electricity. [right, geothermal well test at Clifton Hot Springs, Arizona, 2005. Credit, APS]