We applaud Rep. Markey especially for his recognition that renewable energy can set America on a path to a cleaner environment, a stronger economy, and a more secure energy supply. But numerous barriers still prevent renewables from competing in the electricity marketplace against heavily subsidized fossil and nuclear fuels. Rep. Markey's bill uses market-based policies to overcome these barriers by creating enough of a market to help renewables achieve economies of scale, lower prices, and contribute critical environmental, employment, and security benefits to the nation. Renewable energy makes environmental sense.
Renewable energy means clean air.
These and other by-products of the utility sector cause respiratory illnesses and damage to crops, forests, buildings, and other infrastructure. Most renewable technologies produce no emissions whatsoever, avoiding expensive piecemeal fixes to one pollution problem after another. They provide insurance against emissions and the costs of controlling them. Renewable energy does not interfere with the climate. Electricity production is responsible for more than a third of all US emissions of carbon dioxide, the most abundant green house gas.