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 |  | | << Back to Wellhead | | House passes alternative energy goals for Oklahoma March 2010 | |
| Legislation seeking to boost Oklahoma’s alternative energy usage, especially locally-produced natural gas and wind, was overwhelmingly approved in the state House of Representatives.
House Bill 3028, by House Speaker Chris Benge, creates the Oklahoma Energy Security Act.
“Oklahoma has a variety of alternative energy resources to offer our nation as we seek to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. This goal will serve as official support for further development of alternative energy resources in our state,” said Benge, R-Tulsa. “We cannot secure our economic future until we secure our energy future. Our state has an opportunity to lead the way as we take advantage of our abundant natural resources and develop the next generation of energy.”
The bill passed the House with a vote of 91-3 and now moves to the Senate for consideration.
The legislation creates a renewable energy standard for Oklahoma, which will set a goal for the state that aims to best utilize the state’s abundant natural resources. The renewable energy standard will be that 15 percent of all electricity generated within the state by the year 2015 be generated from renewable energy sources, including wind, solar, geothermal and energy conservation efforts.
“Oklahoma has led the way nationally in alternative energy development, and this legislation will help ensure we continue to do so as we seek to reduce our country’s dependence on dangerous foreign oil,” said Benge. “This goal will help expand alternative energy development and usage in Oklahoma, all while also serving as an economic development tool for our state.”
Currently, approximately 35 states including Washington, D.C. have some form of renewable portfolio standard. Arkansas is the only neighboring state without one.
The bill also creates a natural gas energy standard that will help promote natural gas energy development in Oklahoma to complement renewable energy sources like wind.
Additionally, the bill also seeks to promote wind-energy development in Oklahoma by increasing the capability of transmitting the electricity generated by wind across the state through improved transmission capability.
Finally, the bill works to increase the number of compressed natural gas fueling stations in the state by setting a goal of having one public CNG fueling station located approximately every 100 miles along the entire interstate highway system in the state by the year 2015. That goal will increase to at least one CNG station approximately every 50 miles by the year 2025.
“We will continue to push officials in Washington to take note of our progressive reforms with the hope of influencing federal energy policy,” said Benge. “Our country’s energy security is intricately tied to our economic and national security. It is vital we continue to push this issue both at the local and federal level to further reduce our dependence on OPEC oil.”
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