2011.03.02 Press Release
Securing a Clean Energy Future for the Northeast
The Sierra Club today released a new report detailing the steps necessary for northeastern states to lock in clean energy advances. The report, A Clean Northeast: Moving the Northeast Beyond Coal and Toward a Clean Energy Future, examines how to maintain and build on current clean energy initiatives.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2011
Contact: Randy Francisco 412-802-6161
randy.francisco@sierraclub.org
New Report: Securing a Clean Energy Future for the Northeast
Includes Specific Recommendations for making clean energy stick
Pittsburgh: The Sierra Club today released a new report detailing the steps necessary for northeastern states to lock in clean energy advances. The report, A Clean Northeast: Moving the Northeast Beyond Coal and Toward a Clean Energy Future, examines how to maintain and build on current clean energy initiatives.
“The Northeast is riddled with old dirty coal plants, and Pennsylvania is home to more of these plants than any other northeast state. Their pollution is making people sick;” said Randy Francisco, Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Organizer “Pennsylvania has started down the path to a better, cleaner future. Now we need to take the next steps.”
Pennsylvania’s manufacturing history and infrastructure could be primed to take advantage of a northeast clean energy boom, but with one of the lowest renewable energy standards and green house gas reduction goals in the region, we may be at a disadvantage compared to other states.
Pennsylvania has the opportunity to leverage the manufacturing capabilities of established companies like Gamesa, a major wind turbine producer in the state, to lead the way and put thousands of Pennsylvanians back to work, but If the state doesn't catch up to the rest of the region, we won't see the jobs.
The common sense recommendations in the report include continuing financial support for clean energy programs, both through protecting current clean energy funding and supporting financial incentives for new renewable energy and energy efficiency projects; pushing incentives for clean energy projects that don’t damage land, water or air; improving coordination and streamlining large-scale renewable projects, like offshore wind; and strengthening energy efficiency measures, which could reduce electricity demand by more than 20 percent.
“We have the technology to replace all of the energy we currently get from coal with cleaner energy. That will mean healthier kids and a healthier economy. Pennsylvania can be the manufacturing powerhouse for the entire region” said Francisco
The benefits of supporting and implementing a clean energy future in the Northeast include:
- Creating over 96,000 direct jobs in the region
- Stabilizing electricity prices and lowering overall energy bills with energy efficiency
- Reducing dangerous carbon pollution by 65% compared to baseline estimates
Full Report available here: http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/resources/downloads/BeyondCoal_NEReport.pdf
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