Democratic senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Tim Johnson of South Dakota are co-sponsoring S.3576, the Securing America’s Future with Energy and Sustainable Technologies (SAFEST) Act.
This would require a quarter of the nation’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025.
The bill would also extend the eligibility period for section 1603 – the grant version of the production tax credit, equivalent to 30% of project costs – by two years.
The House of Representatives passed climate and energy legislation, including an RES of 20% by 2020, in May 2009.
The Senate energy and natural resources committee then passed an RES of 15% by 2020.
But Senate efforts have stalled for some months.
Democrat John Kerry of Massachusetts and independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut floated another bill in May of this year in an effort to restart the process. The bill called for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions but no RES.
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said the bill may be combined with other legislation expected to be introduced this week by senate majority leader Harry Reid.
Former senate leader Tom Daschle, who is advising AWEA on energy legislation, said: "There is strong momentum now to bring an energy bill to the floor as early as next Monday.
"I’m very hopeful Sen. Reid and President Obama and leadership of the Senate will seize the moment."
This would require a quarter of the nation’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025.
The bill would also extend the eligibility period for section 1603 – the grant version of the production tax credit, equivalent to 30% of project costs – by two years.
The House of Representatives passed climate and energy legislation, including an RES of 20% by 2020, in May 2009.
The Senate energy and natural resources committee then passed an RES of 15% by 2020.
But Senate efforts have stalled for some months.
Democrat John Kerry of Massachusetts and independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut floated another bill in May of this year in an effort to restart the process. The bill called for cuts in greenhouse gas emissions but no RES.
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) said the bill may be combined with other legislation expected to be introduced this week by senate majority leader Harry Reid.
Former senate leader Tom Daschle, who is advising AWEA on energy legislation, said: "There is strong momentum now to bring an energy bill to the floor as early as next Monday.
"I’m very hopeful Sen. Reid and President Obama and leadership of the Senate will seize the moment."
