America's Biggest Challenge | Green Energy News

March 10, 2002 – Vol.6 No.50

AMERICA’S BIGGEST CHALLENGE.

Action by the U.S. Senate this week is a good example of why Green Energy News was created six years ago. In a one-two knock-out punch, the Senate killed efforts to raise Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards to 36 miles per gallon, AND efforts to require that 20 percent of all electricity in the U.S. be generated from renewables by 2020. Like kicking a sick animal, opponents in the Senate will also try to eliminate a lesser plan to require 10 percent renewable capacity by then.

In the U.S. we have few tools to bring about major change in our country. The markets, the vote, free speech and a free press are among them. Certainly and hopefully, those who voted AGAINST cleaner air and water, new job and technology creation, and efforts to mitigate global warming (the effects of which their grandchildren will see) will be targeted for removal when their term is up.

And America’s Biggest Challenge? Some may say it’s the war on terrorism. In the longer term, however, America’s Biggest Challenge is to find a cure for its addiction to the burning of fossil fuels.