Hope for alternative energy?
More good news...
Work in the States
In addition to working on federal renewable energy policies, UCS continues our work in states to pass or raise renewable electricity standards.Michigan
A renewable electricity standard in Michigan, with its manufacturing base and skilled workforce, would be an engine for new growth and job creation, according to numerous analyses. Governor Jennifer Granholm (D) has endorsed a 10 percent standard and supported a longer-term goal of getting 20 percent of Michigan's energy from clean, renewable sources. UCS analysts are making suggestions on bill language, and we are supporting outreach to the agriculture community around new income from wind turbines and energy crops.
Iowa
Governor Chet Culver (D) has proposed raising the Hawkeye state's renewable energy goal by setting a standard of 25 percent by 2025. UCS consultants are working with an environmental, agriculture, and renewable energy coalition to help pass the standard as well as incentives for energy efficiency. UCS and our consultants are making the case that when combined, renewable energy and energy efficiency can decrease the need for the new coal-fired power plants that have been proposed in Iowa, and bring far more jobs and farm income than coal.
California
In California, a ballot initiative—the Solar and Clean Energy Act of 2008—would mandate the admirable goal of getting 50 percent of the state's energy from renewable sources by 2025. However, the measure would do nothing to address the real obstacles that California faces in reaching the renewable electricity standard it already has on its books—20 percent by 2010—not to mention attaining the even higher goal set by the governor and state energy agencies of acquiring 33 percent renewable energy by 2020. In addition, loopholes in the measure would make it less likely for CA to reach the 20 percent standard, and because a two-thirds majority in the assembly would be required to change the ballot initiative, the problems it creates would become even harder to fix. After unsuccessful meetings with the sponsors of the initiative, UCS, along with our labor, renewable energy, and environmental allies, signed a letter opposing it.
Massachusetts
The Minerals Management Service has released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on the proposed Cape Wind offshore wind farm. We issued an initial statement on the draft, and will be submitting comments on the DEIS as well as inviting our activists to submit comments and to attend the public hearing.
The bad news...
The Union of Concerned Scientists posted this today:
National Renewable Electricity Standard
As you've probably heard, opposition from a few senators and the White House stripped the national renewable electricity standard from the energy bill that passed in December. But we continue to work with our coalition and champions in congress to pass a renewable electricity standard at least as strong and high as the one passed by the House—mandating that utilities acquire 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020, and allowing utilities the option to meet about a quarter of their requirement with energy efficiency.