Potential of renewable energy outlined

WASHINGTON -- Energy from renewable sources has the potential to provide 50 percent to 60 percent of U.S. power needs by 2030 if policies are put in place to support the growing technologies, industry and environmental experts said Tuesday.

Representatives from the wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower and biomass sectors said Congress must extend tax credits, set minimum renewable energy requirements for states and cap greenhouse-gas emissions as quickly as possible to ensure continued growth.

"Stable, consistent policy is what this country is lacking and what we really need," said Randy Swisher, executive director of the American Wind Energy Association.

Industry officials, along with environmentalists and congressional aides, spoke at a briefing on the role renewable energy might play in reducing U.S. greenhouse gas output.

"We have to set national goals for these technologies," said John Coequyt, global warming and energy program representative for the Sierra Club.

"No one should think that renewables are going to be only a small percentage of the future if we decide that that's the future we want," Coequyt said.

During presentations, Swisher said wind power could provide 20 percent of all electricity generation in the United States by 2030.

"For just one technology, this is very significant," he said. "When you're looking at all available technologies together, you're talking about getting really serious about doing something."

John Stanton, executive vice president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, said solar power production could provide 23 percent of electricity needs by 2015.

Geothermal power production could triple in 10 years, producing up to 15,383 megawatts in 2025, said Karl Gawell, executive director of the Geothermal Energy Association. Generally, 1 megawatt of electricity is enough to power 1,000 homes.

However, officials said that reaching the goals depends on what Congress does in the near future.

Tax credits that reward companies and consumers for investing in the fledgling technologies and producing renewable power are set to expire at the end of the year. Last year, a bill requiring power companies to provide a minimum of 20 percent of their power from renewable sources failed in the Senate.

Contact Stephens Washington Bureau reporter Sara Spivey at sspivey@stephens media.com or 202-783-1760.