Markey, Platts Introduce Renewable Energy Legislation

Bill continues Platts' long-standing bipartisan effort to achieve a comprehensive national energy policy

Washington, D.C. – In a bi-partisan effort to create jobs and re-power the American energy sector, Reps. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Todd Platts (R-Pa.) today introduced a renewable electricity standard that would ensure that America is generating a quarter of its electricity from clean energy sources by 2025.

“With our economy in crisis, renewable energy can create hundreds of thousands of new green jobs, revitalize declining manufacturing sectors, and decrease global warming pollution,” said Rep. Markey, who chairs key energy panels in the House. “If we follow an ambitious clean energy path, American families will save money, construction and manufacturing workers will be back on the job, and our environment will be safer for generations to come. Massachusetts and more than half of the country already have renewable energy standards, and so should our entire nation.”

“The American Renewable Energy Act takes a significant step - similar to what is already taking place in many states, including my home state of Pennsylvania - to help ensure America reduces its dependency on foreign oil and creates a more stable energy supply for our nation," said Rep. Platts. "Establishing a federal Renewable Electricity Standard will help to protect our environment as well as promote economic development and energy security.”

Reps. Markey and Platts joined together to pass the 35 mile per gallon fuel economy standard in the 110th Congress.  More information regarding the American Renewable Energy Act can be found at: http://globalwarming.house.gov/tools/3q08materials/files/0094.pdf.  Congressman Platts joined with Former Congressman Tom Udall (D-NM) - now a U.S. Senator to New Mexico - in introducing similar legislation in the 110th Congress. 

The American Renewable Energy Act creates a national renewable electricity standard (RES) that calls for generating 25 percent of electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar and geothermal by 2025. While the American Renewable Energy Act creates manufacturing jobs, it will also save families and small businesses money on electricity bills while dramatically reducing our nation’s global warming pollution.

Twenty-seven states and the District of Columbia have passed renewable electricity requirements, and a national standard will further unleash technology innovation and put Americans back to work, creating more than 350,000 green jobs over the next decade. During the last Congress, the House repeatedly passed similar legislation with bipartisan support, and a recent Washington Post/ABC News poll said that 84 percent of Americans support requiring utilities to increase their use of renewable energy.  The American Renewable Energy Act embodies President Obama’s goal of ensuring that 25 percent of our electricity come from renewable sources by 2025.