Two Congressmen have authored a bill that would require 25% of the electricity generated in the United States to come from renewable sources by 2025.
Reps. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Todd Platts, R-Pa., introduced the American Renewable Energy Act on Wednesday. If passed, the legislation would take effect in 2012. Markey also introduced another bill that would require the nation to cut its power use by 15% by 2020. The reductions would result from setting new codes for buildings and appliances, and from utility-run or other programs that encourage conservation.
The lawmakers claim that the two bills together would create more than 500,000 jobs while saving people more than $180 billion in energy costs.
The Union of Concerned Scientists has endorsed the renewable energy bill, saying it would increase renewable energy generation by 135% above what current federal and state policies would create.
The two lawmakers hope a new administration would make it possible to pass the two bills. They tried to get a renewable energy standard passed in 2007, but it didn’t receive enough support in the Senate, reported Grist.
Reps. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Todd Platts, R-Pa., introduced the American Renewable Energy Act on Wednesday. If passed, the legislation would take effect in 2012. Markey also introduced another bill that would require the nation to cut its power use by 15% by 2020. The reductions would result from setting new codes for buildings and appliances, and from utility-run or other programs that encourage conservation.
The lawmakers claim that the two bills together would create more than 500,000 jobs while saving people more than $180 billion in energy costs.
The Union of Concerned Scientists has endorsed the renewable energy bill, saying it would increase renewable energy generation by 135% above what current federal and state policies would create.
The two lawmakers hope a new administration would make it possible to pass the two bills. They tried to get a renewable energy standard passed in 2007, but it didn’t receive enough support in the Senate, reported Grist.
