The president’s plan does not take us to an energy future based on
renewable energy and does nothing to address the growing threat from
global warming. Funding for renewable technologies has been gutted
since 2001, and only recently has been made a policy priority. Although
the administration supports a small increase in fuel economy standards,
it does not want to extend the standards to light trucks and SUVs. The
Bush administration continues to ignore the overwhelming consensus of
its own scientists that conclude that humans are driving a rapid change
in the earth’s delicate climate systems. Greenpeace is calling on the
Bush administration and Congress to create an energy policy that
incorporates the following elements, rather than just paying
lip-service to moving toward a renewable-based energy economy:
- The doubling of current fuel economy standards by 2025, with a 50%
increase for new vehicles by 2015.
- No less than 25 percent of the nation’s liquid transportation fuels
and electricity should be provided, or displaced by renewable sources,
including renewably-generated hydrogen, and should be increased by at
least on percent per year thereafter.
- State and federal standards should mandate the energy efficiency of
appliances, motors and lighting be improved by no less than 20% by
2025.
- Energy use in the electricity sector reduced by at least 10% by 2025,
through improved energy storage and transmission technologies.
- The expansion of renewable energy, efficiency and generator
technologies should be encouraged through tax incentives, government
procurement, and planning programs.
- Increased funding for research, development and deployment of
renewable energy and efficiency technologies; doubled over the next
five years, and be expanded to five times the current levels by 2025.
This funding should come from gradually increased dedicated taxes on
carbon-based fuels, energy imports, and fossil-fuel leases on federal
lands.
- Licenses for new nuclear power plants should not be extended or
renewed, and nuclear funds should be directed towards plant
decommissioning, waste clean-up, storage and disposal.
“The President’s PR tour is no substitute for substance,” said Chris
Miller, Greenpeace energy campaigner. “We need these pragmatic, prudent
and necessary policy changes if we are going to stop global warming and
lead the U.S. towards a clean energy future. If we refuse to act now,
we do so at our own peril,” he continued.
