May 24, 2007

The Honorable Nancy PelosiThe Honorable John A. Boehner

SpeakerMinority Leader

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives

The Honorable John D. DingellThe Honorable Joe Barton

ChairmanRanking Member

Energy and Commerce CommitteeEnergy and Commerce Committee

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Congressmen Boehner, Dingell, and Barton:

As a diverse group of corporations, manufacturers, electric utilities, renewable energy developers, labor organizations, farm groups, faith-based organizations and environmental advocates, we are writing to urge the House to include a national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) in energy security legislation that may soon be considered by Congress. An RPS is an essential component of a broader national energy strategy, because it will help the nation to take full advantage of the abundant domestic renewable resources available for the generation of electricity.

An RPS is a market-based mechanism that requires electric utilities to include a specific percentage of clean, renewable energy in their generation portfolios, or to purchase renewable energy credits from others. By substantially increasing renewable electricity generation, the RPS would enhance national energy security by diversifying our sources of electric generation. At a time when the United States is increasing energy imports, an RPS would make America more energy self-reliant. The reduction in the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity would also limit fuel price volatility, which is important to both industry and consumers. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy’s own Energy Information Administration has found in several studies that an RPS would actually cause natural gas prices to decline.

Increasing the market share for renewable energy resources would also have substantial environmental benefits. An RPS is one of the most important and readily available approaches to reducing greenhouse gases from the electricity generation sector. In addition, an RPS also would help reduce conventional pollutants including nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury emissions.

Moreover, a national RPS will produce substantial economic benefits. The additional investment in renewable electric generation would create hundreds of thousands of well-paying jobs. In addition, because many renewable resources are located in remote areas, rural America will experience a substantial economic boost.

We believe the time has come for Congress to move quickly to enact national RPS legislation. The costs of inaction for our environment, national security and economy are too high. Although more than 20 states have adopted individual RPS programs, the country will not realize the full potential for renewable electricity without the adoption of a Federal program to enhance the states’ efforts.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely,

GE Google

BP America, Inc.United Steelworkers

National Venture Capital AssociationEdison International

MiasolePacific Gas & Electric

Wisconsin Power and LightUnion for Reform Judaism

National Council of Churches of Christ in the USAGT Solar

TechnetPPM Energy, Inc.

APX, Inc.Avista Utilities

Alliant EnergyHorizon Wind Energy

Sempra EnergyEnel NA

Shell Wind Energy, Inc.D.H. Blattner and Sons

Solar Turbines, Inc.Applied Materials, Inc.

Business Council for Sustainable EnergyGreene Engineers

Alliant EnergyOregon Steel Mills

Invenergy LLCLM Glasfiber ND, Inc.

Owens Corning Composites System BusinessNoble Environmental Power

Leeco SteelenXco

Clipper Wind Power, Inc.Interstate Power and Light

National Audubon SocietyPhysicians for Social Responsibility

American Wind Energy AssociationMcNiff Light Industry

Blue Green AllianceCitizen’s Utility Board

Big Crane & Rigging CompanyGreat Southwestern Construction

Iberdrola U.S.A.RES America

Natural Resources Defense CouncilJPW Riggers

DMI IndustriesAES Wind Generation

Union of Concerned ScientistsSuzlon Wind Energy

Lake Superior WarehousingU.S. PIRG

Rocky Mountain Farmers UnionUniversity of Alaska, Fairbanks

Pennsylvania Interfaith Climate Campaign Atlantic Testing Laboratories

Interfaith Power & LightNational Environmental Trust

Environmental Law and PolicyCenterAWS Truewind

Western Organization of Resource CouncilBig Stone Wind

ATS Wind Energy ServicesCAB, Inc.

BioResource ConsultantsBluewater Wind

Bosch Rexroth CorporationBQ Energy

Castle & Cooke ResortsCompetitive Power Ventures

Chermac Energy CorporationChinook Wind

Dominion EnergyEcoEnergy LLC

EFormative OptionsElectric Power Engineers

Energy UnlimitedEnerpro

EnertechFAW Foundry

Environmental Stewardship & PlanningForesight Wind Energy

Eurus Energy AmericaExcellent Energy Solutions

FPC ServicesGeneral Compression

Generation EnergyHopwood

Green Energy TechnologiesGreenwing Energy

GroWind IHailo

Highland New Wind DevelopmentHMH Energy Resources

Knight & CarverPandion Systems

LAPP ResourcesReEnergy

Louis J. Manfredi ConsultingTamarack Energy

Mackinaw PowerMariah Power

Mizuho Corporate BankMolded Fiber Glass Companies

Nordex USAOak Creek Energy Systems

Old Mill Power CompanySierra Club

Otech EngineeringPadoma Wind Power

Phoenix ContactProject Resources

Renewable Energy Consulting ServicesRSMR Global Resources

San Gorgonio FarmsSignal Wind Energy

SIPCO (MLS Electrosystem)Sustainable Energy Strategies

TCI Renewables LimitedThe Conti Group

Tideland SignalTMA, Inc.

Trinity Structural TowersOregon Rural Action

Varelube SystemsVenti Energy

Wind Capital GroupWind Turbine Tools

Wind Utility ConsultingWindland

WindLogicsWindRose Power

WindsmithWinergy Drive Systems

PowerWorksWinergy Power

Appropriate EnergyCabazon Wind Energy

Castaic Clay ProductsZephyr LakeEnergies

Cannon Power Hodge Foundry

TOWER LogisticsCommonwealth Capital Group

Energy Development and Construction Corp.Mankato Area Environmentalists

Institute for Environmental Research and EducationClean Wisconsin

RENEW WisconsinMissourians for Safe Energy

FallonCounty Disaster & Emergency ServicesOklahoma Wind Power Initiative

StevensCounty (KS) Economic DevelopmentOverSight Resources

Dakota Resource Council Kansas Rural Center

Montana Department of Environmental QualityChesapeake Climate Action Network

West Wind WiresGreenpeace

Interwest Energy AllianceSouthern Alliance for Clean Energy

Concord Energy Policy GroupClean Power Now

Renewable Northwest Project RMT/WindConnect

Friends Committee on National LegislationThe Land Institute

American Lung Association of the Central StatesWestern Colorado Congress

Tompkins Renewable Energy Education AllianceIdaho Rural Council

Alaska Wilderness LeagueClean Water Action

1000 Friends of Wisconsin Coulee Progressives

Citizens Campaign for the EnvironmentLeague of Conservation Voters

Grassroots Citizens of WisconsinPenn Future

NH Sustainable Energy AssociationREACH for Tomorrow

Southwest Wisconsin ProgressivesThe Minster Machine Company