WASHINGTON - JUNE 27 - As the House Energy and Commerce Committee begins its markup of energy legislation, U.S. PIRG urged the committee to pass a renewable electricity standard, increase fuel economy and support the conservation provisions already in the bill.

 “A sensible energy plan must include a strong renewable electricity standard, significantly improve vehicle fuel economy, and promote efficiency,” said U.S. PIRG Washington DC office director Anna Aurilio. “Congress should promote proven solutions like making cars go farther on a gallon of gas, making buildings more efficient, and increasing the use of clean, renewable energy. Congress should invest in win-win solutions like making cars go farther on a gallon of gas, making buildings more efficient, and increasing the use of clean, renewable energy. Congress should not gamble taxpayer dollars on a risky scheme like liquid coal,” continued Aurilio.

The environmental community sent a letter to the committee urging that they include the following priorities in their energy bill: 

• *  Establish a strong national renewable electricity standard by adopting the Udall-Platts Renewable Electricity Standard (H.R. 969) that requires utilities to produce 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020.
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  *  Strengthen Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards by adopting the Markey-Platts Fuel Economy Reform Act (H.R. 1506) to ensure that we get at least 35 mpg fleetwide within ten years.
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• *  Maintain EPA and state Clean Air Act Authority to set global warming pollution standards for vehicles or fuels.
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  *  Reject mandates or incentives for liquid coal
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  *  Promote energy efficiency in buildings and industry
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  *  Include environmental and public health safeguards for biofuels production.

Twenty three states and the District of Columbia have already enacted renewable electricity standards of their own because of the policy’s benefits. Ten states have increased or accelerated their standards.

While many utilities support the federal Renewable Electricity Standard, several coal and nuclear utilities and their allies worked to derail a Bingaman Renewable Electricity Standard amendment in the Senate and to push for billions of dollars in tax breaks to develop liquid coal technology. 

“The coal industry and their allies in Congress are working overtime to derail the renewable energy standard. We call on the House to support a strong Renewable Electricity Standard and meaningful improvements to gas mileage standards,” concluded Aurilio.

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U.S. PIRG is the federation of state Public Interest Research Groups. State PIRGs are non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organizations.