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Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)

Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) require a certain percentage of electricity sales, generating capacity, or electricity purchases to be produced from renewable resources. Each state defines "qualifying renewables" to suit its particular situation. Some states strongly value the creation of electricity from waste and have included various Waste to Energy (WTE) fuels in the list of qualifying renewables presented in their RPS. These fuels currently include: This list may grow as more waste materials and energy recovery processes emerge as viable renewable energy alternatives.

An RPS is sometimes employed in an aggregation of a particular government's electricity accounts. These aggregations often stipulate that a fraction of a government's electricity expenditures must be generated renewably. These government aggregations must define which renewables qualify in an RPS. See the table below for a summary of government aggregation of electricity purchases. Read more about government aggregations.Exit EPA

Learn about the Green Power Market and EPA's Green Power Partnerships.

Read about EPA's own green power purchases. EPA's offices and laboratories are buying green power for 100 percent of their electrical needs.

See which states allow the use of one or more WTE fuels to qualify as a renewable source of electricity.

Government Aggregation of Electricity Purchases
State*
Target
Digester Gas
Biomass
Landfill Gas
Fuel Cells
Solar (Photovoltaic)
Wind
Federal 2.5% by 2010    
X
    
X
X
Connecticut 20% by 2010    
X
X
X
X
X
Illinois** 5% by 2010    
X
    
X
X
Maine 50% currently    
X
        
Maryland 6% currently
X
  
X
X
  
X
X
New Jersey 12% currently    
X
    
X
X
New York 30% by 2015    
X
X
X
X
X
Pennsylvania 5% currently      
X
  
X
X
* The links in this column exit EPA's website. Exit EPA
** Forbids the use of MSW, tires, and wood waste.

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