lobal warming and war in an
oil-rich part of the world, the heat is on to wean the nation from fossil
In Washington this week, a bipartisan group of
lawmakers, industry leaders (including the three Detroit automakers), farm
groups, governors, county officials, and environmentalists launched an effort
to have the nation get 25 percent of its total energy from renewable sources
This ambitious proposal - dubbed
"25x'25" - goes well beyond what Congress and the White House have
enacted so far, and it's likely to encounter environmental and economic speed
bumps along the way.
The goal of securing one-fourth of the nation's
total energy from renewable sources such as wind, solar, biomass, and biogas
by 2025 was introduced this week as a concurrent resolution in both houses of
Congress. So far, it has at least 30 cosponsors with the number growing daily.
"I think that this goal is definitely
achievable," says Rep. Collin Peterson (D) of Minn., the ranking member
of the House Committee on Agriculture. "I think we're
going to beat this 25 percent in 25 years."
Seen one way, this new energy effort is a coalition
of well-known special interests like ethanol producers, tree farmers, and
solar equipment manufacturers. But boosters believe a critical mass of public
support has developed that puts a strong political wind at their backs.
One example: The kick off session for the
annual meeting of the Western Governors Association this
weekend in Sedona, Ariz., focuses on clean energy. The WGA, whose 18 state
executives (11 of whom are Republicans) oversee the fastest growing states in
terms of population and energy consumption, will propose the development of
30,000 megawatts of "clean and diverse energy" across the American
West by 2015 while increasing energy efficiency 20 percent by 2020.
Meanwhile, 14 states participating in the Clean
Energy States Alliance have set up special funds to promote
commercialization of renewable energy technology. www.cleanenergystates.org
Prominent backers of "25x'25" span
the political spectrum, from former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich to John
Podesta, former chief of staff to President Bill Clinton. So far, seven
governors (four Republicans and three Democrats) have signed on, as have
state legislatures in Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and Vermont. A list of some
140 supporting organizations ranges from the National Wildlife Federation to
the Texas Farm Bureau to the American Bankers Association.
The public seems to like the idea as well. A
recent poll by Public Opinion Strategies of Alexandria, Va., shows that 98
percent see shifting to domestically-produced renewable energy sources as
important for the country with 74 percent agreeing that it is "very
Meanwhile, there are new indications that such
an effort could work. The Worldwatch Institute this week reported that
biofuels can significantly reduce global dependence on oil.
Oil still accounts for more than 96 percent of
transportation fuel use, but biofuel production has doubled since 2001 and it
is poised for even stronger growth as the industry responds to higher fuel
prices and supportive government policies, Worldwatch reported.
The result, the research organization predicts,
is that advanced biofuels could provide 37 percent of US transport fuel
within the next 25 years, and up to 75 percent if automobile fuel economy
Given the rather tortuous history of energy
legislation, translating ambitious goals for renewables into specific
legislation with adequate funding will take considerable political effort.
The six senators and representatives (three Republicans and three Democrats)
who introduced "25x'25" as a national goal Wednesday acknowledged
Meanwhile, the various elements of clean energy
each have their own challenges.
Wind turbines, for example, have sprouted at an
accelerated rate around the country in recent years. But opponents say the
giant bladed towers (some reaching as high as 40 stories) create visual
pollution and can kill bats and migrating birds by the thousands.
As part of a military spending bill, Congress
ordered the Pentago