New Energy Future News

Environmental Groups Call On Congress To Deliver A Strong Energy Bill This Year

As House and Senate leaders deliberate over an energy bill in the week before Congress recesses for Thanksgiving, Environment America was joined by the Sierra Club and the National Audubon Society in applauding state officials for their bold leadership on energy issues.  States were lauded for policy initiatives to increase renewable energy, save energy and require more clean and efficient cars in a report released today.

The Environment America report, “America’s Clean Energy Stars: State Actions Leading America to a New Energy Future,” singled out 21 states for adopting bold policies to promote clean energy that can provide a model for the entire nation.  Seven states were awarded gold stars for leading the nation. In releasing the report, Environment America was joined by key members of Congress along with representatives of the Sierra Club and the National Audubon Society in calling on Congress to follow the lead of the states by passing a strong energy bill that increases renewable energy, fuel economy and energy conservation.

“These states are rising to our nation’s energy challenge reducing energy consumption and promoting clean renewable energy.  They deserve tremendous credit for leading the nation,” said Environment America executive director Margie Alt.  “While the states can and should do even more to meet our energy challenges, it’s time for Congress to start dancing with the stars and deliver a strong energy bill this year.”

“We can build a cleaner energy future with less global warming and more economic security, and governors and state legislators from across the country have provided us with a blueprint for action on these issues here in Washington,” said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. “We must pass the energy bill this year to set us on a positive path towards a cleaner, greener, more prosperous future.”

In developing the report, Environment America researchers looked at five areas of cutting-edge clean energy policy adopted by the state governments: renewable electricity standards, the Clean Cars Program, utility energy efficiency programs, energy efficiency standards for appliances, and building energy codes.

“At a time when Americans are enduring the consequences of a long dormant national energy policy with their heating bills and gas at the pump, it is astonishing that Congress is unable to pass a comprehensive energy package,” said Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine). “The Energy Stars Report illustrates that states across the country are attempting to fill the void of a national energy policy; Congress must heed these successes and pass a strong energy bill that promotes energy efficiency and renewable energy.”

“The energy challenge facing America demands bold action at every level.  The states have begun to take action. We need to do more, but we cannot do it alone,” said National Audubon Society President John Flicker.  “We are counting on Congress to join us as we work together to achieve the promise of a new energy future for America.”

The following states were spotlighted for special recognition in the report.  

·    California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington were highlighted as “gold star” clean energy states for adopting strong policies in at least four of these areas.

·    Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Pennsylvania and Vermont  were highlighted as “silver star” clean energy states for adopting strong policies in at least two areas and meaningful policies in one to two others.

·    Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico and Wisconsin were highlighted as “rising star” clean energy states in recognition of their strong recent actions to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable sources of energy.

“State leaders have begun to move us in the right direction on energy, but we must do a lot more at every level of government,” said Dave Hamilton, director of Sierra Club’s global warming program. “Congress should pass a strong energy bill that helps us use energy more efficiently, saves consumers money, creates thousands of new jobs, reduces our dangerous dependence on oil, and makes real progress on global warming.   Congress can flip the switch on America’s clean energy future by increasing fuel economy standards to at least 35 MPG and requiring that we get 15 percent of our electricity from clean, homegrown sources like wind, solar, and biomass by the year 2020. 

Read the full report. 

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Environment America—a federation of state environment groups—is the new home for U.S. PIRG’s environmental work.