Legal Definitions - renewable electricity standard

A Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) is a government policy, typically enacted at the state or national level, that legally requires electricity providers or generators within a specific jurisdiction to source a predetermined percentage of their electricity from renewable energy sources.

Essentially, an RES sets a mandatory target for how much "green" electricity must be part of the overall energy supply, encouraging the shift away from fossil fuels towards cleaner alternatives like solar, wind, and hydropower.

• Example 1: State-Mandated Renewable Targets

  Imagine the state of Colorado passes a law stating that by the year 2035, 75% of all electricity sold to consumers within the state must come from renewable sources such as wind, solar, or geothermal energy. This legislative act is a Renewable Electricity Standard. It compels utility companies operating in Colorado to significantly increase their procurement or generation of power from these clean energy technologies to meet the mandated 75% threshold, driving investment in new renewable projects across the state.

• Example 2: Utility Company Compliance

  A major electric utility company serving customers across several states operates in a region where a national Renewable Electricity Standard requires 40% of all electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2030. To comply with this RES, the utility company might invest heavily in building new solar farms, purchasing electricity from independent wind power producers, or upgrading existing hydroelectric dams. The RES directly influences the utility's business strategy and infrastructure development, ensuring a substantial portion of its energy portfolio is renewable.

• Example 3: National Energy Transition Goal

  Consider a small island nation that implements a national Renewable Electricity Standard aiming for 100% renewable electricity generation by 2045. This ambitious RES would necessitate a complete overhaul of the nation's energy infrastructure, phasing out fossil fuel power plants and replacing them entirely with renewable alternatives like large-scale battery storage coupled with solar arrays and offshore wind farms. The RES acts as the foundational legal framework driving this comprehensive national energy transition.