OLYMPIA — Senate Bill 5280, sponsored by Sen. Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake, is gaining support recognizing conserved energy as a renewable energy source to help reduce energy costs.

“To my knowledge we are the only state in the western U.S. to have both a renewable energy standard and an energy conservation standard, and failure to meet these requirements is punishable with a financial penalty,” Holmquist stated. “This bill takes a step toward allowing utilities to exceed their conservation targets, then include that excess conservation as a credit against renewable energy standards rather than buy more expensive renewable energy.”

The proposed renewable energy source would be recognized under the Energy Independence Act created in 2006. The Senate Environment, Water and Energy Committee voted in favor of Holmquist’s bill Wednesday.

Currently the act requires all electric utilities with more than 25,000 customers to meet the renewable energy standard and the energy conservation standard. The standards require utilities to have renewable energy account for 15 percent of their service by 2020.

Holmquist stated if the utilities can use the conserved energy as renewable energy, it will prevent higher costs for consumers.

“Like many in my district, I did not support (the Energy Independence Act),” she stated. “Given the economic woes being felt by many in our communities, this bill is a commonsense idea that will help mitigate some of the harms caused by (the act) and reduce energy costs for our consumers when they need it most.”

Eligible renewable resources covered by the act include wind, geothermal energy, landfill and sewage gas, solar and wave and tidal energy.

“Our state relies primarily on hydropower, one of the cleanest power sources,” Holmquist stated. “While some Democrats have tried to stop my bills recognizing hydropower as renewable, I will continue my efforts to get that language into bills still moving through the process.”

The bill will be voted on by the Rules Committee before heading to the state Senate for consideration.