SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
On Eve of KXL Vote, GOP Senate Rejects Sanders' National Solar Expansion Plan
'If you're interested in reversing the dangers of climate change and creating jobs, I would urge you to support this amendment,' said Sanders
Jan 29, 2015
The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate on Wednesday defeated a proposal by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would have spurred the purchase and installation of 10 million solar panel systems for homes and businesses nationwide over the next decade.
Sanders's amendment, which he said would have generated enough power to replace one-fifth of the nation's coal-fired power plants, was attached to the Keystone XL legislation currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate.
With the backing of Vermont's largest power company, Green Mountain Power, the amendment called for a 15 percent rebate for the purchase of photovoltaic systems. The amendment got 40 votes. It needed 60 to pass.
"The scientific community tells us very clearly if we're going to reverse climate change and the great dangers it poses for the planet we must move aggressively to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to energy efficiency and sustainable energy," Sanders said in a press release. "So if you're interested in reversing the dangers of climate change and creating jobs, I would urge you to support this amendment."
More amendments were expected to be debated on Thursday, followed by the final Senate vote on the bill to approve the pipeline. The U.S. House already passed its own Keystone XL legislation. President Barack Obama has vowed to veto the bill if it gets to his desk.
On Thursday, the SUN DAY Campaign--a non-profit research and educational organization that promotes sustainable energy technologies as cost-effective alternatives to nuclear power and fossil fuels--noted that renewable energy sources, namely solar and wind power, cumulatively provided more new electric generating capacity in 2014 than did natural gas.
And according to RenewableEnergyWorld.com, the U.S. is on pace to complete its one millionth installation in 2015. This follows a 36 percent increase in solar PV installations in 2014.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate on Wednesday defeated a proposal by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would have spurred the purchase and installation of 10 million solar panel systems for homes and businesses nationwide over the next decade.
Sanders's amendment, which he said would have generated enough power to replace one-fifth of the nation's coal-fired power plants, was attached to the Keystone XL legislation currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate.
With the backing of Vermont's largest power company, Green Mountain Power, the amendment called for a 15 percent rebate for the purchase of photovoltaic systems. The amendment got 40 votes. It needed 60 to pass.
"The scientific community tells us very clearly if we're going to reverse climate change and the great dangers it poses for the planet we must move aggressively to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to energy efficiency and sustainable energy," Sanders said in a press release. "So if you're interested in reversing the dangers of climate change and creating jobs, I would urge you to support this amendment."
More amendments were expected to be debated on Thursday, followed by the final Senate vote on the bill to approve the pipeline. The U.S. House already passed its own Keystone XL legislation. President Barack Obama has vowed to veto the bill if it gets to his desk.
On Thursday, the SUN DAY Campaign--a non-profit research and educational organization that promotes sustainable energy technologies as cost-effective alternatives to nuclear power and fossil fuels--noted that renewable energy sources, namely solar and wind power, cumulatively provided more new electric generating capacity in 2014 than did natural gas.
And according to RenewableEnergyWorld.com, the U.S. is on pace to complete its one millionth installation in 2015. This follows a 36 percent increase in solar PV installations in 2014.
Deirdre Fulton
Deirdre Fulton is a former Common Dreams senior editor and staff writer. Previously she worked as an editor and writer for the Portland Phoenix and the Boston Phoenix, where she was honored by the New England Press Association and the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. A Boston University graduate, Deirdre is a co-founder of the Maine-based Lorem Ipsum Theater Collective and the PortFringe theater festival. She writes young adult fiction in her spare time.
The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate on Wednesday defeated a proposal by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would have spurred the purchase and installation of 10 million solar panel systems for homes and businesses nationwide over the next decade.
Sanders's amendment, which he said would have generated enough power to replace one-fifth of the nation's coal-fired power plants, was attached to the Keystone XL legislation currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate.
With the backing of Vermont's largest power company, Green Mountain Power, the amendment called for a 15 percent rebate for the purchase of photovoltaic systems. The amendment got 40 votes. It needed 60 to pass.
"The scientific community tells us very clearly if we're going to reverse climate change and the great dangers it poses for the planet we must move aggressively to transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to energy efficiency and sustainable energy," Sanders said in a press release. "So if you're interested in reversing the dangers of climate change and creating jobs, I would urge you to support this amendment."
More amendments were expected to be debated on Thursday, followed by the final Senate vote on the bill to approve the pipeline. The U.S. House already passed its own Keystone XL legislation. President Barack Obama has vowed to veto the bill if it gets to his desk.
On Thursday, the SUN DAY Campaign--a non-profit research and educational organization that promotes sustainable energy technologies as cost-effective alternatives to nuclear power and fossil fuels--noted that renewable energy sources, namely solar and wind power, cumulatively provided more new electric generating capacity in 2014 than did natural gas.
And according to RenewableEnergyWorld.com, the U.S. is on pace to complete its one millionth installation in 2015. This follows a 36 percent increase in solar PV installations in 2014.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy