RES RISES AGAIN

Daschle, Reid differ on 60-vote prediction for green-power mandate
Darren Goode, July 26, 2010 (The Hill)

"Former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle and other advocates of a first-time [renewable electricity standard (RES) mandating a minimum use of renewable sources] insist they have enough votes to include it in an upcoming Senate oil spill and energy package, despite Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) prediction to the contrary."

[Tom Daschle, former Senate Majority Leader:] “We are very, very confident that we’ve got the votes… We can virtually guarantee there’ll be an amendment offered…”

How could any self-respecting politician see these numbers and be against an RES? (click to enlarge)

"…[Reid] may only allow a limited number of amendments to get something passed in a short available window on the floor and avoid other contentious provisions that could sink the broader bill… [Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association] said they have done a whip count, which Daschle said was based off support for an RES that was included in a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee bill that passed with bipartisan support last year. That mandate would require electric utilities to produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar and geothermal by 2021. A quarter of that mandate could be met through energy efficiency measures.

"Republicans have wanted that to include both existing and new nuclear production, while Southeastern lawmakers in both parties have argued their region lacks the resources necessary to meet a national mandate. Green groups, meanwhile, have been calling for a tougher standard than the one in the Senate energy panel’s product…Daschle — who co-wrote a recent op-ed with former Senate Republican leader Bob Dole advocating an RES — said Reid may have confused whether there are 60 votes for a mandate itself and whether there are enough votes overall for the spill and energy package…"

Is there any need for jobs these days? (click to enlarge)

"He said the best chance to get the RES through is as part of the larger spill and energy strategy, and acknowledged it is unlikely a stand-alone RES would be moved on the Senate floor after the upcoming August recess…Daschle, Bode and others — including Iowa Gov. Chet Culver (D) — stressed that the Senate has to act on the mandate to save jobs and the future of the wind and other industries in the United States…

"Bode said investment in wind energy in the U.S. has taken a sharp decline this year and that the country has fallen behind both China and the European Union. “We’re going backwards, we’re not going forwards,” she said."