New Energy Solutions News

Wisconsin Environment Calls on Congress to Pass Legislation

(Madison) – Wisconsin Environment released a new report today from the Union of Concerned Scientists, Cashing in on Clean Energy. According to the report, a national renewable electricity standard requiring utilities to increase their use of wind, solar and other renewable energy sources to 20% of their energy production by the year 2020 would generate 4,240 new jobs in Wisconsin, lower electric and natural gas bills, and slash global warming pollution.

Wisconsin adopted a state level renewable electricity standard in 2006, mandating 10% of Wisconsin’s energy come from renewable sources.  This new report examined the impact of a proposed national standard on the nation as a whole and on 20 states, including Wisconsin. 

“Wisconsin is on the right track with clean, homegrown renewable energy but we can do more,” said Lauren Joy, Wisconsin Environment Field Organizer. “This report shows that expanding renewable energy through a federal standard would bring even more jobs, new capital investment, and consumer savings to our state. Renewable energy is a win-win for our environment and our economy.”

The U.S. House of Representatives may vote on renewable electricity standard legislation, HR 969, as early as next week.  There are currently 128 co-sponsors of this legislation, including four members of Wisconsin’s delegation.  Wisconsin Environment called on Congress to act now to approve this legislation.   

Dr. Joe Bachman from the Wisconsin Interfaith Climate and Energy Campaign has stated that, “Mercury pollution and smog from burning fossil fuels causes a number of health problems.  By diversifying our energy portfolio with clean, renewable energy we can start to address these problems.” 

Gerald Jaeger from the Wisconsin Farmers Union added that “We have an environmental responsibility and a compelling financial interest in making the renewable electricity standard a cornerstone of America’s national energy policy.” 

For Wisconsin, UCS’s analysis found that a 20 percent national renewable electricity standard would:

• generate more than 4,240 total renewable energy jobs by 2020 in manufacturing, construction and other industries.

• be a $291 financial boon for farmers, ranchers and rural landowners who produce biomass energy and/or lease their land to wind developers.

• save Wisconsinites $90 on energy bills through 2020 by reducing demand for fossil fuels and lowering natural gas and electricity prices. By 2030 those cumulative savings would balloon to $320.

Nationally, UCS’s analysis found that a 20 percent national renewable electricity standard would:

• generate an average of 185,000 jobs each year between now and 2020 in manufacturing, construction and other industries.

• be a $25.6 billion financial boon for farmers, ranchers and rural landowners who produce biomass energy and/or lease their land to wind developers.

• save consumers $10.5 billion on energy bills through 2020 by reducing demand for fossil fuels and lowering natural gas and electricity prices. By 2030 those cumulative savings would balloon to $31.8 billion.

• slash global warming pollution by 223 million metric tons a year, the equivalent of taking 36.4 million cars off the road.

For individual state reports and UCS’s projection of the benefits of a national standard, go to http://www.ucsusa.or/clean_energy.

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Wisconsin Environment is a statewide non-profit, non-partisan environmental advocacy organization.

The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit organization working for a healthy environment and a safer world. Founded in 1969, UCS is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has offices in Berkeley, California, and Washington, D.C. For more information, go to www.ucsusa.org.