PETERSON INTRODUCES BILL TO EXPAND RURAL INVESTMENT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Congressman Collin Peterson (D-Minn) has introduced legislation that would provide expanded incentives for public power and rural cooperatives to use renewable energy sources, including wind energy systems.

“We want to maximize the use of alternative and renewable energy sources in our rural communities,” Peterson said. “This bill will make it easier to invest in renewable energy technologies.”

The Renewable Energy Production Incentive Reform and Reauthorization Act improves and reauthorizes the Renewable Energy Production Incentive (REPI) program run by the Department of Energy. The program was started in 1992 to provide incentives for investments in renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, geothermal and biomass generation systems.

In recent years, the REPI program has been under-funded, and authorization for the program expired in 2003, making it impossible for additional organizations to apply.

The bill re-authorizes the REPI program and provides up to $30 million per year to fund the program. It also allows cooperatives that invest in systems using livestock waste to generate electricity to qualify for the credits program.

“Minnesota has been a leader and innovator in the use of renewable energy technologies, and I hope that this bill can help to continue that progress,” Peterson said.