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Earthjustice Promotes "Clean Energy" Agenda
U.S. must take international leadership role in building clean energy economy to prevent effects of climate change
Update: The clean energy tax credit will expire at the end of this year. Earthjustice, the nation's leading public interest environmental law firm, believes the United States must take an international leadership role in building a clean energy economy to prevent the worst effects of climate change. Such a role begins at home, with aggressive clean energy policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by weaning the nation from its dependency on fossil fuels. It is widely recognized that the United States must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and 80 percent by 2050. Because the electricity sector is responsible for 40 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, many greenhouse gas reductions are going to have to come from this sector. With the hope that a new administration brings, we offer the following recommendations for a national clean energy agenda:
A clean energy future means reducing our consumption of fossil fuels, which are the single greatest contributors to global warming
TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress to Extend the Renewable Energy Tax Credit!
We can substantially cut energy consumption -- and thus greenhouse gases -- by setting strong national conservation and efficiency standards for buildings and appliances. Efficiency is a fast, cheap cornerstone of any serious national climate change plan.
Within 12 years, through investment incentives and national energy standards, the United States can obtain at least 20 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Immediate benefits: hundreds of thousands of jobs created and global warming emissions cut by an amount equivalent to taking millions of vehicles off the road.
We must create a national transition away from fossil fuels -- the greatest contributors to global warming. The first step is to stop the expansion of coal-fired power generation, and get rid of coal industry subsidies. The government must also require efficient, clean use of all fossil fuels, and reduce the climate impacts of transportation.
The nation must have mandatory limits on U.S. emissions, and join with other countries in setting global emission standards.
Some of the best measures for clean energy and reduced greenhouse gases have been developed by the states, but many were thwarted by short-sighted federal regulators. The states must be allowed to establish efficiency standards, carbon limits and other clean energy incentives that go beyond federal requirements.
