MontPIRG is working to: Increase auto fuel economy standards to 35 miles per gallon, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and saving Montana consumer more than $15 million a year by the year 2015 Increase production of clean renewable energy. By requiring that 20% of our electricity come from renewable sources by 2020, combined with energy efficiency policies, we could reduce global warming pollution from power plants by one-third and save consumers $70 billion per year by 2020, compared to business-as- usual. Eliminate subsidies for polluting energy sources such as nuclear, oil and coal. Protect sensitive wildlands, like the Rocky Mountain Front, national monuments, roadless areas in our national forests from oil and gas drilling. Clean up old dirty power plants by setting strict limits on emissions of the four priority pollutants—global warming pollution (carbon dioxide), smog (nitrogen oxides), soot (sulfur dioxide) and mercury.

Montanans are not the only ones concerned about their energy future.  Across the country people are debating the future of our nation’s energy policy.  MontPIRG is working with other state PIRGs in Washington DC to support national solutions that increase energy efficiency and production of clean, renewable energy. 

The Usual Suspects
But the battle for a clean energy future is an uphill battle.  Big utility, coal, and oil interests have been lobbying the Administration for more than a year to persuade them to ease regulations for oil and gas drilling, coal-fired and nuclear power plants, and transmission of electricity.  Among the industry lobbyists and executives meeting with the vice-president and Energy Secretary were representatives from Enron, the Edison Electric, the Southern Company, and Peabody Coal.

The result?  The Bush-Cheney Administration is promoting an energy policy that is dirty, dangerous and does not deliver for consumers. It uses taxpayer dollars to subsidize profitable and polluting corporations, leaving consumers with little more than the side effects of a shortsighted and dirty energy policy—more drilling, more spilling, more air pollution, more global warming, and more radioactive waste.  The Administration’s approach puts at risk public health, sensitive public lands, and leaves the nation’s energy security at risk.

We Need A Smarter, Cleaner Energy Future
There is no reason to destroy amazing places, weaken clean air protections or waste our tax dollars on coal and nuclear power. A smarter, cleaner energy policy would:

1. Save Energy Through Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is the quickest, cheapest, cleanest way to save energy and money and reduce pollution. Energy efficiency means using energy smarter, such as building cars that go farther on a gallon of gas and making light bulbs that use one quarter the energy of traditional bulbs. By 2020, we should double the efficiency of energy use in homes, in commercial buildings, in industry and for transportation.

2. Cut Pollution By Producing More Clean Power
The potential power output of wind, solar and geothermal resources in the U.S. is many times greater than our total electricity consumption. For example, the wind that blows in just four states––North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas and Nebraska––is enough to meet the electricity needs of the entire country. By 2020, as much as one-third of our energy could come from renewable energy.

3. Stabilize Energy Costs By Investing In Sustainable Energy Sources
The price of fossil fuels such as petroleum and natural gas are controlled by a handful of producers and can fluctuate wildly. By increasing power production from renewable sources that remain at a constant price as long as the wind blows and the sun shines, we will be less vulnerable to dramatic fuel price hikes.

New Energy Solutions
1. Energy Efficiency, Not Environmental Destruction
Instead of drilling for oil in the Arctic Refuge and other sensitive areas, we should close the loophole that lets SUVs and other light trucks meet lower miles per gallon standards than cars. This step would save consumers $7 billion annually at the gas pump and would conserve more than twice as much as oil as would ever come from the Arctic Refuge.

2. Clean Energy, Not More Pollution
Instead of weakening Clean Air Act protections so that dirty power plants can keep polluting, we should enforce the current Clean Air Act and set new standards to protect the public from all four of the major power plant pollutants that cause smog, soot, acid rain, mercury poisoning and global warming.

3. Sustainable Energy, Not Wasted Tax Dollars
Instead of forcing taxpayers to pay billions for more polluting coal plants, we should require all electricity companies to provide power from clean, renewable energy sources as an increasing portion of the electricity they sell. By 2020, at least 20 percent of our power should come from renewables.