Sorting Out Facts on Energy Bill

by Chester Sansbury, South Carolina REP coordinator, published October 15, 2009 in The State, Columbia, SC

I always strive to get my facts straight on political issues, especially those on environmental policies. The proposed American Clean Energy and Security Act (known as cap and trade) is not perfect, but it bothers me to see misleading facts published about it. 

The current bill would require states to produce 20 percent of their energy beginning in 2020 from renewable sources and energy savings, not 25 percent as a recent writer stated; 15 percent must be from renewable sources of electricity production and 5 percent from electricity savings (efficiency). The bill also provides for further increasing the efficiency portion and reducing the renewable portion of this 20 percent requirement.

While nuclear power is not and should not be counted as a renewable energy source, the bill supports loan programs for financing nuclear power plants.

The bill also provides incentives for clean-tech energy technology, which increases efficiency. This includes renewable energy sources, such as biofuels and wind, which have potential in South Carolina and would benefit our economy and reduce reliance on coal.