Three US governors push plan to boost use of renewable energy

Washington (Platts)--8Dec2006

Three US Democratic governors Friday helped to launch a new campaign by
an alliance of labor unions and business and environmental interests to
promote among states a plan to cut the nation's oil imports and increase the
use of renewable energy by 2025.

"The most important issue in America is energy independence and energy
security, and it's national security and energy independence," New Mexico
Governor Bill Richardson said at a Washington news conference hosted by the
group, which is known as the Apollo Alliance.

Richardson, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer and Pennsylvania Governor
Edward Rendell urged states to adopt an Apollo Alliance plan that would
establish minimum targets for the use of renewables to produce transportation
fuels and electricity and would establish standards for energy efficient
buildings.

Richardson said his state and others have already adopted such standards,
adding that six new Democratic governors who campaigned on energy security
plan to follow up on that theme when they take office.

Richardson also promoted the Apollo Alliance plan during a meeting of
democratic governor's Wednesday, a spokesman said.

"Action on energy is happening in the states. It's not happening in
Congress," Richardson said, arguing that the Energy Policy Act of 2005
provides insufficient support for energy alternatives."

The news conference also provided another national forum for Richardson,
a former energy secretary and UN Ambassador during the Clinton administration,
who is considering entering the 2008 presidential race.

--Bill Loveless, bill_loveless@platts.com

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