A Louisville lawmaker says she plans to re-introduce a bill during the upcoming legislative session to institute a statewide energy portfolio standard.This will be the third year Representative Mary Lou Marzian has introduced some version of the Clean Energy Opportunity Act. Last year, the bill would have offered incentives for in-state renewable energy production, and mandated that utilities get at least 12.5 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2023.This year, Marzian says the bill could morph into two bills—one setting a renewable energy standard, and one incentivizing energy efficient measures. The Democrat says the bill won’t affect coal, and as long as it’s mined the fossil fuel will be important to Kentucky’s economy.“But if we can expand our economy and our resources into wind and solar, then that’s just even more opportunities for job creation. And for clean air,” she said.Marzian says she won’t be surprised if the bill doesn’t move anywhere, especially because this year’s session is only 30 days long. But she says she’s committed to reintroducing a similar measure every year, as long as she’s in Frankfort.She says she’s also considering introducing a bill to ban the chemical BPA, which is used in plastics and cans.
