With new rounds of air quality and greenhouse gas mitigation from Clean Air Act and Kyoto Agreement implementation, we need all the help we can get. For consumers to effect change, market signals and foundations must be in place. It is the state's job to influence this to the desired effect. These standards can apply to fuel supply or to emissions. Fuel standards can be as a percentage of the total delivered.
Emissions can be as a maximum per kWh.
We will need help from the industry to tag or track these attributes, but I believe this is quite feasible, especially if there is to be a spot market for power and ancillary services Without taxation, portfolio standards enables the market to figure out the efficient way to meet a minimum societal requirement. In addition, we are looking at a two tiered renewable standard. Maine's RPS has this focus. Vermont is considering a second tier which would be satisfied by specific efficient, clean technologies, and which would grow slowly over time. Because of the special nature of these sources, it is likely that bilateral contracts will be necessary to manage these obligations.