(From an email sent to me by the Union of Concerned Scientists)
Urge Your Senators to a Support National Renewable Energy Standard
Take Action: Link
Clean sources of renewable energy like wind, solar, geothermal, and energy crops reduce global warming pollution, create jobs, save consumers money, and increase America's energy independence and security.
A bill expected in the Senate would require utilities to have 15 percent of their electricity come from these clean, renewable sources by 2020. Please urge your senators to support this strong renewable electricity standard.
Sincerely,
Ben Larson
National Field Organizer
Clean Energy Program
What's At Stake?
Urge Your Senators to Support a National Renewable Energy Standard
The composition of the new Congress offers us the brightest prospects we have seen in years to pass strong federal renewable energy policy through a renewable electricity standard (also known as a Renewable Portfolio Standard or RPS).
Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), head of the Senate Energy Committee, has said he will support a 15 percent national renewable electricity standard.
As of April 4, 2007, 48 Senators have signed a "dear colleague" letter supporting the renewable electricity standard.
The House renewable standard bill, introduced February 8, 2007 by Tom Udall (D-NM), Todd Platts (R-PA) and others, would require that utilities generate or buy 20 percent clean, renewable energy by 2020. Fifty-nine representatives have co-sponsored the bill.
UCS analysis shows that a 20 percent RPS will:
* create 355,000 new jobs, nearly twice as many jobs as generating the same amount of electricity from fossil fuels;
* save consumers a total of $49 billion dollars on their utility bills for both natural gas and electricity; and
* reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 400 million metric tons, the equivalent of taking 71 million cars off the road or planting 104 million acres of trees.
If both Senate and House bills are passed, the different standards or requirements could be resolved in conference committee.
The renewable standard is one of the most viable solutions to global warming. Release of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels is a leading source of global warming pollution. The renewable standard will reduce U.S. global warming emissions by decreasing our reliance on fossil fuels. The magnitude of the threat from climate change demands that we act now.
The Senate has passed a renewable electricity standard three times, only to be defeated in the House. However, many newly elected members of Congress campaigned in favor of renewable energy, and with new leadership in the House and a high level of public support for renewable energy, we are more hopeful than ever that the House will at last pass this bill.
UCS activists across the country can play a critical role in the campaign by contacting their representatives to urge them to support clean, renewable electricity.
Take action online:
Or copy, print and mail sample letter below:
(Sample letter )
Subject: Please Support a Strong Federal Renewable Electricity Standard
Dear Senator,
Please support strong federal renewable electricity policy by adopting a national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) of at least 15 percent by 2020.
Renewable electricity from sources like wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass would reduce our global warming pollution, create jobs, increase farm income, and save consumers money.
A high renewable electricity standard would increase demand for good-paying manufacturing jobs, create new sources of income for farmers from land leases and energy crops like switchgrass, significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and help consumers save billions of dollars on their electric and natural gas bills.
Lastly, please promote genuine renewable energy sources and resist attempts to include nuclear power or coal in the national renewable electricity standard.
Sincerely,