Vote Expected As Early As
Wednesday
Clean Power Provision Modeled
After Current Nevada Law
Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) today
(December 4, 2007)
renewed her call for creation of a national renewable electricity
standard (RES) requiring a percentage of all U.S. energy to be generated using
sun, wind, geothermal heat and other clean power resources. A strong advocate
for green energy development in Nevada and nationwide, Berkley has consistently
supported legislation in Congress that utilizes the same concept as Nevada’s
renewable portfolio standard (RPS) law.
“Passage
of a renewable electricity standard will encourage the production of more solar,
wind and geothermal power and help move America toward real energy
independence. As we have seen in Nevada, having such a requirement in place
will promote the development of new clean energy sources for families, while
also protecting our environment and addressing climate change,” said Berkley,
referring to the requirement in Nevada law that 20% of energy consumed in the
Silver State be drawn from renewable sources by 2015.
Berkley
pushed for inclusion of a nationwide RES as part of a comprehensive energy bill
authored and passed by House Democrats earlier this year. A new version of the
package is expected to come to the House floor as early as Wednesday of this
week. President Bush has repeatedly threatened to veto legislation establishing
such a mandatory renewable requirement. Berkley and fellow Democrats in
Congress are preparing to stand their ground and challenge the President and his
supporters on the clean energy issue.
“The
State of Nevada has been a leader on this issue and we can look to the Silver
State as an example of what should be done on a nationwide scale when it comes
to a renewable energy requirement. The sun and wind are not owned by nations
hostile to the U.S. and renewable energy does not create toxic radioactive waste
or increase pressure for this nuclear garbage to be dumped in Nevada. The need
for clean energy is not a partisan issue and I hope that those who support
renewable power will join me in calling on the White House not to block passage
of an RES in Congress,” said Berkley.
