ISSUE: Energy bill

OUR VIEW: Congress has historic opportunity

Congress is preparing for final action on a new energy bill when the House and Senate return from Thanksgiving recess. The final result must bring togther the best of separate legislation passed by the two houses, including a national renewable electricity standard, significantly improved fuel economy standards, and strong energy-efficiency incentives and standards.

It's the only way Americans can receive long-term relief at the gas pump and ensure that negative effects on the environment are abated.

This is a unique opportunity to take America in a new direction on energy policy. The House and Senate energy bills passed this summer together would help put Americans on a path toward clean energy while reducing our dependence on oil and substantially cutting global warming pollution.

The challenge now is for leadership to stay the course during the compromise process.

Twenty-five states and the District of Columbia have already adopted renewable electricity standards, requiring the production of more electricity from clean, renewable sources. A recent poll by the American Wind Energy Association found that 85 percent of independent voters want a national renewable electricity standard similar to those passed in the 25 states.

Now is the time for Congress to follow state leaders and enact energy legislation this year that:

* Promotes clean energy by adopting the House provision establishing a national renewable electricity standard, ideally requiring utilities to produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020, and by extending renewable energy tax credits. A national RES will substantially reduce global-warming pollution while sparking a clean energy boom across the country. According to recent analysis by Environment America, renewable energy development in states with RES policies is already boosting local economies by attracting new manufacturing and other skilled jobs.

Every state in the nation currently has at least one business that participates in the renewable energy economy and would benefit from its growth. A recent report by the Renewable Energy Policy Project for the United Steelworkers demonstrated that a national investment in renewable energy development could bring 22,351 new manufacturing jobs to South Carolina.

The House-passed national renewable electricity standard would also save families and businesses $13-18.1 billion in lower electricity and natural gas bills by 2020 (growing to $27.7-31.8 billion by 2030) according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. South Carolina families and businesses would save $300 million.

* Reduce our nation's dependence on oil by increasing miles-per-gallon standards for cars and light trucks to 35 mpg by 2020. In June, the Senate passed the first increase in fuel-economy standards in more than 30 years. The Senate provision replaces the current standards with an attribute-based system that gives the auto industry tremendous flexibility by mandating the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration set different mileage requirements for different classes of vehicles. The standards in the Senate bill would save 1.2 million barrels of oil a day in 2020, save consumers $25 billion at the pump and substantially reduce global-warming pollution.

In South Carolina this improvement in gas mileage would save consumers $447 million in 2020, and reduce the equivalent amount of pollution as if you took 256,739 cars off the road. With oil prices continuing to set new records and nearing $100 a barrel, Americans want to continue traveling while using less fuel. It can happen.

* Save energy by adopting strong energy-efficiency incentives and standards. Both the House and Senate bills contain provisions that would help Americans save energy in their homes and businesses. These policies include appliance and lighting-efficiency standards, tax incentives and building codes.

Congress has a historic opportunity to enact legislation this year that will lead to a new energy future by weaning the nation from oil. It's a step that must be taken.

You must be logged in to comment.