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January 7, 2008
Taking steps toward a new energy future
From a guest editorial in the Wisconsin State Journal by Dan Kohler, director of Wisconsin Environment, a nonprofit is a statewide, environmental advocacy organization:
With the first meaningful improvement in gas mileage standards in a generation, Congress took a significant step toward a new energy future this week in an energy bill signed by President Bush.But even this big step forward is just the beginning of what we must do to address America 's energy challenges. If we 're serious about America 's transition to a clean energy economy and solving global warming, we can 't stop now.
The next milestone in the journey toward clean energy must include making a national commitment to renewable energy. And, the best way to put America on a path to clean, homegrown, renewable energy is one that is simple and has proven remarkably effective -- setting a nationwide minimum standard for renewable electricity.
Congress just missed a golden opportunity to jumpstart renewable energy in America by including a renewable electricity standard in this energy bill.
Unfortunately, the threat of a presidential veto and a Republican-led filibuster fueled by the coal industry and the utilities forced the Senate to drop a provision that had been passed by the House of Representatives to require that utilities provide 15 percent of their power from renewable resources, despite Sen. Russ Feingold 's support.
Posted by Ed Blume at January 7, 2008 2:01 PM