Section 1 strikes a reference to a section of statute repealed by section 9.
Section 2 changes the renewable energy standard (RES) for electric utilities. Both XCEL energy’s separate requirement and all other electric utilities RES requirement are increased to 40 percent by 2030 with an intermediate increase for both. Changes the mix of wind that XCEL must use to comply with the RES to 20 percent of retail electric sales by 2016, and 25 percent by 2020. Repeals a cap on use of solar to meet XCEL’s RES.
Section 3 amends current law requiring electric utilities to report on the cost of complying with its RES obligation. The Public Utilities Commission is to set standards for reporting that all electric utilities must follow.
Section 4 creates a solar energy standard for the same electric utilities subject to the RES. The standard is staged from 2014 to 2025. The percentage of solar energy standard is left blank.
Section 5 clarifies the use of renewable energy credits to satisfy the RES or the solar standard. Only credits representing solar generated electricity may be used to satisfy the solar standard.
Section 6 exempts from the requirements for a certificate of need a wind energy conversion system or a solar electric generation facility.
Section 7 repeals a subdivision of law that provided an exception from the certificate of need law for renewable generation facilities build to satisfy the RES. This subdivision of law is replaced by the broader exemption provided by section 6.
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