Clean Energy Legislation Is Important Step in Right Direction

WASHINGTON  (March 1, 2012) – Legislation introduced today by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) is a long overdue step toward reducing life-threatening carbon pollution and expediting our progress toward a cleaner energy future, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The following is a statement from Franz Matzner, associate director of government affairs for NRDC:

“Sen. Bingaman has established a strong, new cornerstone for building a cleaner electricity sector in America - one that reduces carbon pollution and encourages American innovation to develop and deploy more clean energy sources.

“To meet these goals, final legislation will ultimately need complementary safeguards for our air, water and other natural resources, as well as a robust energy efficiency component.

“America needs to move forward to a clean energy economy that relies on renewable resources, not the dirty, old technologies of the past.  This bill is an important step in that direction, and Sen. Bingaman deserves praise for his tenacity in keeping these issues on the agenda.”

For more details on the need for clean energy in America, see NRDC Director of Renewable Energy Policy Nathanael Greene’s blog here.

To speak to an NRDC expert on clean energy and clean energy policies, please contact Bob Keefe at bkeefe@nrdc.org or Elizabeth Heyd at eheyd@nrdc.org.