WASHINGTON (February 9, 2015) – Today, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) released his energy agenda, which, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), fails on nearly all counts. The announced proposal incentivizes coal and natural gas exports and expedites domestic natural gas pipeline sitings, while simultaneously doing nothing to promote or invest in renewable energy.
UCS contends the plan ignores the nation’s worsening climate change dilemma by locking in fossil fuel use. Below is a statement by Rob Cowin, director of government affairs at UCS.
“The proposed framework falls far short of the kind of progress we need to make towards a clean energy economy. While there are some positives within the suite of policies put forth by Chairman Upton, overall it’s one-dimensional and almost completely dismisses the critical role renewables should play in our nation’s energy future. This framework lacks balance as it locks us into a more fossil dependent infrastructure and economy when we need to ramp up our clean energy investments.”