Due to reports that congressional leaders are contemplating dropping core provisions from national energy legislation under consideration, 100 businesses and organizations have delivered a letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives as well as members of key congressional committees, urging that any national energy legislation include several key sustainable energy provisions.
These include extension and expansion of key renewable energy tax incentives; a mandatory national standard of at least 15% of the nation's electricity generated from renewable sources by 2020; and a fuel efficiency standard of at least 35 mpg for cars and light trucks by 2020.
‘The rapidly worsening threat of global climate change, the economic and national security risks posed by rising oil prices and energy imports, and the ongoing environmental and safety concerns associated with nuclear power all call for increased national support for sustainable energy policies,’ according to the letter's signers, which included more than two dozen individuals.
The letter goes on to say, ‘Ideally, a renewable electricity standard should be designed to support and promote the environmentally responsible deployment of the full portfolio of renewable energy technologies. including solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, and water power. A federal standard should also advance energy efficiency – as provided for in the House bill and already in place in Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.’
