Petition for KEY SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROVISIONS
From: kbossong614@yahoo.com
Subject: SIGN-ONS INVITED: Letter to Congress. re. Energy Bill + Sustainable Energy Provisions
Date: November 6, 2007 4:02:18 PM EST
To: kbossong614@yahoo.com
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY NETWORK
8606 Greenwood Avenue, #2
Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-588-4741
sustainable-energy-network@hotmail.com November 6, 2007
To: Members, Sustainable Energy Network + Other Interested
Organizations/Individuals From: Ken Bossong
Below please find a letter to the Members of the U.S. Senate and U.S.
House of Representatives urging that stronger CAFE standards, a renewable
electricity standard, and extension of renewable energy tax credits be
included in any energy bill that is enacted.
If you would like to sign on your organization or business, please
provide:
ORGANIZATION NAME
YOUR NAME & TITLE
CITY, STATE
If you would like to sign the letter as an INDIVIDUAL, please clearly
indicate as such and provide:
YOUR NAME
CITY, STATE
If you are signing as an individual but would like to include a title or
organizational affiliation "for identification purposes only" please
provide that information as well.
The letter will be faxed on Tuesday - November 13 to the Members of the
leadership of both the House and the Senate as well as to the Members of
key congressional committees. A pro forma news release will also be
issued.
SIGN-ON DEADLINE: If you wish to sign this letter, please let us know by
no later than MIDNIGHT - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12.
Thank you.
P.S. Please accept our apologies if you receive more than one copy of
this message - we are using several overlapping mailing lists.
==================================
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY NETWORK
8606 Greenwood Avenue, #2
Takoma Park, MD 20912
301-588-4741
sustainable-energy-network@hotmail.com
November 13, 2007
PLEASE SUPPORT THESE KEY SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROVISIONS IN PENDING ENERGY
LEGISLATION
U.S. Senate
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC
attn: Energy Policy Staff Members
Dear Senator, Representative:
We the xx undersigned businesses, organizations, and individuals are
writing to urge that national energy legislation now under consideration
include a broad range of measures to aggressively promote renewable energy
technologies and improved energy efficiency.
The rapidly worsening threat of global climate change, the economic and
national security risks posed by rising oil prices and energy imports, and
the on-going environmental and safety concerns associated with nuclear
power all call for increased national support for sustainable energy
policies.
At the least, the following provisions should be included in any energy
legislation enacted by the U.S. Congress.
AUTOMOBILE FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS:
First, fuel efficiency standards for cars and light trucks must be
substantially improved. The U.S. Senate's energy bill calls for a
standard of 35 mpg by 2020. This is well below what has been technically
and economically achievable for many years and falls far short of what
will ultimately be needed.
For example, studies suggest that using hybrid technologies, the fuel
economy level could be raised to 55 miles per gallon and with fuel cell
technologies, they could approach 80 miles per gallon.
Nonetheless, the target set by the Senate bill represents a significant
improvement over the current fleet-wide average of approximately 25 mpg
and should be supported as a positive first step.
NATIONAL RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY STANDARD:
Second, a minimum national standard should be set for producing
electricity from renewable energy sources. The House energy bill calls
for a standard of 15 percent of the country's electricity to come from
renewable sources by 2020. At best, this should be viewed as a minimal
goal.
Already 25 states plus the District of Columbia have approved renewable
electricity requirements with many setting targets far more aggressive
than the proposed federal standard. For example, California is seeking
20% by 2010 while Minnesota, Hawaii, and Colorado are mandating 20% by
2020. Internationally, even more aggressive standards have been set by
the member nations of the European Union; Germany is now aiming for
getting 27 percent of its electricity from renewables by 2020 and at least
45 percent by 2030.
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 also might be
flexible and include energy efficiency - as provided for in the House bill
and already in place in Nevada, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
To the extent that the House approach sets a lower-than-necessary standard
and may not promote the full spectrum of sustainable energy technologies,
it could be improved. Nonetheless, it is a positive step that should be
supported.
RENEWABLE ENERGY TAX INCENTIVES:
Third, any national energy legislation should extend and expand existing
renewable energy tax incentives, particularly the production tax credit
for renewable power plants, Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, and the
investment tax credits for commercial and residential solar and fuel cell
technologies. These tax incentives are vital to ensure continued, dynamic
growth in the production of electricity using renewable energy resources
and should be given longer-term extensions (e.g., eight years).
The existing mix of tax incentives - many of which are scheduled to expire
by the end of 2008 - really should be seen as only a beginning in the
shift in federal funding away from fossil fuels and nuclear power to
sustainable energy technologies. Extension of existing sustainable energy
tax incentives is an absolutely necessary, but only initial, step in that
process.
A national energy strategy that truly addresses the multiple challenges
posed by climate change, energy imports, rising oil prices, and nuclear
safety will necessarily need to be far more comprehensive than suggested
by these initial measures. Moreover, we believe that energy initiatives
far more aggressive than those now under consideration will need to be
acted upon by the U.S. Congress in the very near future.
Nonetheless, these preliminary actions would represent steps in the right
direction and accordingly we urge your support for measures to improve
automobile fuel efficiency, to set minimum national standards for
electricity production from renewable energy sources, and to extend the
tax incentives needed to expand the nation's renewable energy industries.
We appreciate your attention to these views.
Sincerely,
