Foreign Policy Blogs

Quick Update on Energy Bills

The energy bills are under threat of having the tax credits for renewables and the renewable portfolio standard unceremoniously yanked by the Democratic leadership.  (See last post from November 10 immediately below.)  Here's a good look, from RenewableEnergyAccess.com, at the what and the why of this:  Lessons from The Political Process: Energy Bill Woes.  See also this alert from the American Solar Energy Society.

Furthermore Here's an editorial, Where's That Energy Bill?, from the "NY Times" today, Nov. 14.  It's succinct, eloquent, and definitely what the Congressional Democratic leadership needs to hear.

And More Investors managing more than $1.4 trillion in assets have called for the Congressional leadership to include a strong renewable energy standard (RES) , which is the same thing as the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) to which I've been referring , as well as strong energy efficiency standards and increased fuel economy standards in the final energy package.  See this from the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR).

Will Pelosi and Reid play politics as usual or will they make the play that most Americans, according to all the polls, want?  See some further insight from RenewableEnergyAccess.com here.  According to the article, " because of increased pressure from industry associations, their members and other concerned citizens, Congressional leaders say they are still looking at all possible options for the energy bill and that a decision on final language probably won't come until next month."

 

Author

Bill Hewitt

Bill Hewitt has been an environmental activist and professional for nearly 25 years. He was deeply involved in the battle to curtail acid rain, and was also a Sierra Club leader in New York City. He spent 11 years in public affairs for the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation, and worked on environmental issues for two NYC mayoral campaigns and a presidential campaign. He is a writer and editor and is the principal of Hewitt Communications. He has an M.S. in international affairs, has taught political science at Pace University, and has graduate and continuing education classes on climate change, sustainability, and energy and the environment at The Center for Global Affairs at NYU. His book, "A Newer World - Politics, Money, Technology, and What’s Really Being Done to Solve the Climate Crisis," will be out from the University Press of New England in December.



Areas of Focus:
the policy, politics, science and economics of environmental protection, sustainability, energy and climate change

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