Representatives Udall (D-NM), Platts (R-PA), Udall (D-CO),
and Pallone (D-NJ) introduced a
bill today that would require the U.S. to generate 20 percent of its electricity from
renewable sources by 2020.
“We commend Representatives Udall, Platts, Udall and Pallone
for introducing this critical bill. By developing our homegrown energy
resources we can break our dependence on fossil fuels while creating jobs and
saving consumers money,” said Environment Maryland Clean Energy Associate Kate
Johnson.
America is
currently overly dependent on fossil fuels, relying on coal, oil and natural
gas to meet around 70 percent of our electricity needs. As a result, power
plants are the nation’s largest industrial source of air pollution and are a
leading contributor to global warming.
The U.S.
has virtually unlimited potential to generate electricity from renewable
resources like wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass energy. The Udall-Udall-Platts-Pallone legislation
would require utilities to gradually increase the amount of renewable energy
they use, reaching 20 percent of the electricity they sell by 2020. Similar
policies are now in place in more than 20 states
A 2006 analysis by Environment Maryland found that obtaining
20 percent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020 could cut
global warming pollution by 511 million tons—the equivalent of taking
approximately 89 million cars off the road.
“This bill is a critical step toward a cleaner, more secure
energy future. By tapping into the incredible potential of renewable energy, we’ll
establish a cleaner, more sustainable foundation on which to build America’s
economy for the 21st century,” said Johnson.
In addition to Representatives Udall, Platts, Udall,
and Pallone, the other original cosponsors include: DeGette (D-CO), Shays
(R-CT), and McNerney (D-CA).
