The Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) is a regulatory framework that requires states to generate a certain amount of electricity from renewable energy sources. For instance, under its RPS, California aims to generate twenty percent of its electricity from qualifying renewable energy sources by December 31, 2010. To accomplish this goal, most state RPS programs require utilities to buy a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable sources.

One of the key elements of an RPS is the types of energy sources that qualify as renewable. Typically, solar and wind are the most preferred renewable energy sources in an RPS. Since the goal of an RPS is to encourage the development of new renewable energy sources, most states don't let existing hydropower qualify. However, each state treats hydropower in its own way. In some states, hydropower is restricted by capacity  (e.g. 10 MW in North Carolina) while in others it is restricted by technology (e.g. pumped storage does not qualify in Maryland).

The Coalition supports inclusion of following types of hydropower in an RPS standard:

1. Hydropower generated from efficiency improvements at existing facilities.
2. Hydropower generated from capacity additions at existing facilities.
3. Hydropower projects that take additional steps to protect the local system- for example, through the Low Impact Hydropower Institute's certification program.

However, we do not support inclusion of hydropower generated from new dam construction or capacity added through operational changes (e.g. a change to release schedule).

More information on what types of hydropower should be considered renewable and eligible for incentives is available on our "Hydropower and Renewable Energy Policy" paper.

In various states, attempts are being made to include existing hydropower to be eligible for RPS. This is problematic because such a move would do nothing to create new renewable energy sources. Many of the utilities will be able to claim their existing hydro portfolio as being eligible under the RPS and could easily meet their targets without developing new sources of renewable energy, which would defeat the purpose of an RPS.

Click here to download a summary table of hydropower provisions in an RPS for various states in the United States.

View State Renewable Portfolio Standards & Hydropower in a larger map.

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