Obama energy goals getting short shift from Congress

AP Photo

A promise made by Obama during the presidential campaign, that one quarter of the nations electricity be from renewable sources such as wind, solar, biomass and geothermal by 2025, may fall by the wayside.  Congress does not seem in any hurry to go whole hog on the requirements for electric utilities to generate a percentage of power from these renewable sources.

The Associated Press (AP) reported on June 11, 2009, that while both the House and Senate are considering legislation that would establish the first national energy requirement however it is much less than what Obama wanted. In the past, he has maintained that the shift away from coal and other fossil fuels is necessary in order to combat climate change and make the U.S. energy independent.

Instead, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is expect to lower this to 15 percent of the U.S.'s power by 2021. The House is considering requiring 20 per cent by 2020. However some utilities will be exempted and others will be allowed to substitute efficiency improvements.

Obama wanted a much more aggressive shift to renewable energy, setting a goal of 10 percent by 2012 and 2025. At the present time, only 3 percent of the U.S. energy comes from renewable sources.

To read the entire AP article, go to
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2009/06/10/congress_abandoning_obama_clean_energy_goals/?page=2

Other articles about U.S. and renewable energy

Obama global warming bill to be slowed down by Democrats

Energy to be rationed under Democrats Global Warming Bill

Sen. Feinstein says no wind turbines in nearby desert

Gore pushes for clean energy, coal industry fights back

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