US

Pressure is mounting in the US to pass comprehensive clean energy legislation in the wake of the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

Earlier this week, President Barack Obama called for action on clean energy and today a new coalition of renewable energy, energy efficiency and biofuels organisations backed that call.

In a letter to all members of the Senate, the coalition – which includes the Alliance to Save Energy, the American Wind Energy Association, Biomass Power Association and Solar Energy Industries Association – urges quick action on legislation promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy and biofuels.

“A series of inconsistent and unstable policies have cost America its leadership in renewable energy and energy efficiency manufacturing and production,” says the letter.

“Enacting policy now is urgent. Ensuring steady growth of the industries that will solve our climate, water, and waste challenges will be a critical way to address not only near-term employment challenges but our long-term environmental and energy security goals,” it continues.

Meanwhile, the influential Pew Center on Global Climate Change released a business case for climate legislation yesterday, which it says is backed by an unprecedented number of companies.

“A growing number of companies – both major corporations and small businesses – are calling on Congress to pass clean energy and climate legislation this year,” says president Eileen Claussen.

Businesses recognise, she says, that a coherent national policy is better for the economy than the status quo and without it could miss the opportunities of the billion dollar clean energy technology market.

On Tuesday of this week, President Obama addressed the nation on the current state of the BP oil disaster and cleanup, adding that now is the time to embrace a clean energy future.

The transition to clean energy needs to be accelerated, he said, and called for ideas and approaches from both parties.

Obama hinted that both the Kerry-Lieberman bill and the recent proposals from Richard Lugar will receive serious consideration in the coming months.

“The one approach I will not accept is inaction,” he said. “We can’t afford not to change how we produce and use energy.”

For further information:
www.whitehouse.gov/
http://ase.org/
www.awea.org/
www.usabiomass.org/
www.seia.org/
www.pewclimate.org/publications/brief/business-case-for-climate-legislation

Related stories:
US Senator introduces alternative climate change bill (10-Jun)
US climate change bill does little for energy efficiency (13-May)