Action Still Needed on
Renewable Energy
--Statement of Nathan Willcox,
PennEnvironment's Energy & Clean Air Advocate
Today marks a critical victory in the effort to tackle global warming,
save Pennsylvanians money at the gas pump, and cut our dependence on
oil. Eleven months after President Bush called for an increase in
fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks in his 2007 State of the
Union address, Congress has signed, sealed, and delivered it to him.
PennEnvironment applauds Congressional leaders for finally making our
cars go farther on a gallon of gas.
Perhaps most importantly, this improvement in fuel efficiency will make
real progress on global warming, with the potential to cut global
warming pollution by more than the total annual emissions of countries
like Brazil, France or Spain.
However, while we are thrilled that this Congress has turned a corner
on energy policy by delivering long-overdue oil savings for America, we
are disappointed the President and some senators have blocked progress
on renewable energy. The original House-passed energy bill would have
ensured that 15 percent of the country’s electricity come from
renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by 2020. The original
bill also included provisions to close tax loopholes for Big Oil to
fund renewable energy projects. White House opposition to the
renewable electricity standard and to the tax package helped lead to
these provisions being dropped on the Senate floor.
We look forward to taking the next step toward a new energy future by
passing a renewable energy standard when Congress returns in 2008, and
we urge the President to make signing a renewable energy bill a
cornerstone of his final year in office.
