…According to a report at Energy Prospects, at least one state’s legislature is considering including hydro: the very wet state of Washington, in the rainy Northwest. Attempts to include hydro have been made in the last three legislative sessions and a fourth attempt next session has the blessing of the Public Utility District.

Their relatively recent RPS – just begun in 2006 – requires utilities to add 15% renewable energy or credits by 2020, excluding hydro power. The mandate starts with a low bar, requiring just 3% by 2012.

With its abundance of hydropower, Washington state would already exceed the current renewable mandates if hydro were counted. The state would be second only to Maine in hydro power nationally. (Maine gets 30% from hydro and 22% from other clean energy sources) Supporters cite the attractiveness to investors from Europe who are under the EU mandates on carbon.

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