Moderate Republicans signal support for renewable energy bill

For many Democrats the concept of a moderate Republican senator has become something of an oxymoron in recent years, but it appears that when it comes to renewable energy policy, there may still be a few left.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Republican senator Sam Brownback said he was confident that several other Republican senators would support the bipartisan Renewable Energy Standard bill that he unveiled earlier this week alongside Democrat Senator Jeff Bingaman.

Republican senators Susan Collins of Maine and John Ensign of Nevada have already signed up as original co-sponsors of the bill and Brownback said that a number of other Republicans could join them.

"I think we've got a couple of others we’re working on who I think are reasonably good prospects," he told reporters.

Rumours are circulating on Capitol Hill that Iowa Republican senator Charles Grassley could become the fourth Republican co-sponsor of the bill, which would require utilities to source 15 per cent of their energy from renewable sources by 2021.

The Republicans are pushing for the rules governing the target to be expanded so that a wider range of low-carbon sources such as hydroelectricity, nuclear and biofuel can be used to count towards the mandate.

Brownback said he had pushed for ethanol to be included in the bill, arguing that it would help to secure the support of a number of farm-state senators. However, Bingaman is keen to proceed with the bill in its current form on the grounds that any expansion would make it harder to pass the legislation in the lame-duck session following the mid-term elections.

Senator Grassley has said he agrees with the bill in principle, but will only support it if the Senate is given the option to add amendments.

Crucially, senator Brownback said that he would continue to support the bill even without amendments, but only if Senate majority leader Harry Reid does not hitch it to other legislation.

"If it starts looking like they're going to antics play with it, you may not have any Republican votes," he warned.

The potential support of at least three, and possibly up to five Republican senators, significantly increases the chances of the bill passing this year.

Industry insiders expressed support for the bill, arguing that it would accelerate the growth of the US renewable energy industry while helping to create tens of thousands of new jobs.

It is also expected to help drive energy efficiency improvements as under the legislation states would be allowed to use energy efficiency measures to count towards 25 per cent of the mandate.