By Dennis McGinn, president and CEO of the American Council On Renewable Energy | POLITICO
For many years renewable energy has been treated as a political punching bag in American politics. Americans hear false claims that renewable energy is a government-dependent energy source that forces taxpayers to spend more of their hard-earned money on electric bills. This misinformation, perpetuated by so-called “free market” champions like Grover Norquist is being disseminated in an attempt to halt the successful growth of renewable energy and to ensure that America stays dependent on dirty energy sources.
Yet, all across the country, in places like Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa, Colorado, Kansas and Virginia, an overwhelming majority of Americans — Democrat and Republican, pro-business and pro-environment — support renewable energy.
So as a nationwide initiative funded by opponents of renewable energy targets state Renewable Portfolio Standards , Americans should be asking themselves, with all the benefits that came with doubling our renewable energy capacity from 43.5 gigawatt to 85.7GW from 2008 to 2012, “Do we want more renewable energy or less?”
Well, according to recent polls conducted by George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communications, 77 percent of Republicans support using much more renewable energy than we use today, something policymakers and Norquist should take note of.
If you’d like to discuss energy issues, contact Court Rich, Co-Chair of Rose Law Group’s Renewable Energy Department at crich@roselawgroup.com
