Senator Merkley Announces Plan for 100 percent Renewable Energy
Media Contacts
Environment America
Today, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) took to the Senate floor to tout his commitment to moving America to 100 percent renewable energy. Driven by his profound concern about the impacts of global warming and the urgent need to rapidly shift to pollution-free energy sources, he announced plans to work with others on a bill to meet all the nation’s energy needs with renewable energy by 2050.
“We are, my friends, in a race against time… And at this moment, we are losing that race. So we need immediate, bold action. That is why, in the coming months, I will introduce a plan that challenges our nation to transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy by the year 2050 – a plan that I call 100 by 50.” U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (OR)
Rob Sargent, Environment America’s energy program director issued the following statement in response:
“Senator Merkley is absolutely right – we need to transform our energy system, and do it fast. We commend the senator for leading efforts to tackle climate change by promoting a rapid shift from dirty energy to clean, renewable options.
Burning fossil fuels is polluting our air, water and land while threatening our health and changing our climate even faster than many predicted.
We can have healthier, more vibrant communities and a livable future for our kids, but we must transform the ways we produce and consume energy – and that has to start with a commitment to 100 percent clean, renewable energy.
It won’t be easy. Incumbent energy interests like the oil, gas and coal industry are working hard to slow or stop progress.
But renewable energy is on the rise and has strong public support. And every day the urgency of our environmental challenges becomes clearer.
The good news is that 100 percent renewable is 100 percent possible. We have almost unlimited reserves of pollution-free energy from the wind, the sun, the earth and the oceans. Additionally, we have barely scratched the surface on our ability to use energy more efficiently.
We look forward to working with Senator Merkley and many others to move America to 100% renewable energy. “
