You can read agenda details and the groups involved on page 2 >>
In a declaration worthy of tomorrow's holiday, 36 citizen organizations say they are fed up with the undue influence of energy companies, utilities, lobbyists and others that are making it impossible for Washington to move forward in achieving America’s clean energy future. They have joined forces to promote a 9-point "American Clean Energy Agenda" and vow to push for a serious renewable energy agenda no matter who is the next President or which party controls Congress.
Organized by the nonprofit Civil Society Institute (CSI) and the Environmental Working Group (EWG), there are reportedly 1.1 million combined members in the network of citizen-run organizations that wants to phase out nuclear power, natural gas, coal and industrial biomass. And based on a national opinion poll, they believe they have the vast majority of Americans behind them.
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"To those who will say that these groups do not have a place at the policy-making table, we say this: These are exactly the people who need to be heard. The harms caused by continued reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear power may not be felt in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill, but they are experienced in the heartland of this nation," said CSI President Pam Solo said. "We do not have the money, the water or the time to waste delaying and deferring serious solutions to these hidden costs of relying on an old energy path."
Senators push investment in industrial energy, water efficiency
Meanwhile, a bill was introduced in the Senate last week that tackles at least some of the issues the citizens groups are lamenting. The bipartisan Expanding Industrial Energy and Water Efficiency Incentives Act would create incentives for America’s industrial sector to greatly enhance its end-use energy efficiency.
The bill would create incentives in four critical areas -- water reuse, advanced motors with adjustable speed drives using process control and connection to the smart grid, chillers and highly efficient thermal biomass. It also enhances incentives for combined heat and power systems.
"A major study on energy efficiency found that the industrial sector represents the largest potential for increasing energy efficiency in the country,” noted Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), who introduced the bill. "Such improvements could save $47 billion annually. This bill offers focused, short-term incentives to help the industrial and manufacturing sectors make the next generation of efficiency investments necessary for these sectors to remain globally competitive and to continue to push innovation."
You can read agenda details and the groups involved on page 2 >>
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