Senators Tom Udall and Mark Udall introduced a bill to establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard that would not only expand the generation of renewable energy, but would also create jobs.
Two United States senators introduced a bill that will reduce pollution, save consumers’ money, and create hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Senators Tom Udall and Mark Udall introduced a bill to establish a national Renewable Electricity Standard that would not only expand the generation of renewable energy, but would also create jobs.
The bill introduced mandates utilities to generate 25 percent of their own power from wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources by 2025. The initiative would encourage the growth of the country’s renewable energy, reduce their dependence on foreign fossil fuels, boost private investments in state economies, and lower utility rates.
“The global clean energy race is increasingly competitive, and our bill is the best way to help America take the lead and build a thriving clean energy economy,” said Senator Tom Udall.
“A National R.E.S. will get America running on homegrown clean energy, create almost 300,000 new jobs and help revitalize our rural communities – all while fighting global warming,” he added.
“Clean energy creates jobs, spurs innovation, reduces global warming and makes us more energy independent. This common-sense proposal would extend Colorado’s successful effort to expand the use of renewable energy alongside natural gas and coal to the entire nation,” Senator Mark Udall explained.
The legislation would be the first in creating a national threshold for utilities to provide a certain percentage of their electricity from renewable resources. It will require utilities to generate power from renewable energy starting with 6 percent by 2014, followed by gradual increases thereafter until the 25 percent by 2025.
“A national renewable energy standard is key to helping meet our moral obligation to cut pollution, address climate change, and protect our health and environment,” said Franz Matzner, associate director of government affairs at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Based on a study that was done regarding the national R.E.S., it can create 274,000 to 297,000 new jobs; save consumers almost $100 billion on their utility bills by 2030; create new economic activity in rural communities across the country; and add $11.5 billion in new local tax revenues.
First cousins Tom and Mark Udall first introduced a similar initiative in 2002 while members of the U.S. House of Representatives. – EcoSeed Staff