Bipartisan Support Seen For Coal-Fired Power Plant Moratorium, Stepped-Up Focus on Renewables

[jpak]

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-18-2007/0004685179&EDATE=

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans may be
addicted to coal, gasoline and other fossil fuels today, but a new national
opinion survey makes it clear that the public is ready to go "cold turkey"
and put an end to its costly and environmentally harmful dependence on
fossil fuels.

The Opinion Research Corporation (ORC) poll of more than 1,000 U.S.
adults was conducted for Citizens Lead for Energy Action Now (CLEAN) -- a
new effort by clean power and coalfield state grassroots organizations
facilitated by the nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute (CSI)
-- found strong support for such significant steps as: a five-year
moratorium on new coal-fired power plants; increased investments and tax
credits for stepped-up renewable energy production; greater emphasis on
energy efficiency in all new construction; a sharp jump in federal mile per
gallon (MPG) fuel efficiency standards; and changes in personal energy
consumption patterns. The grassroots groups active in CLEAN are now are
circulating a comprehensive national "call to action" on energy policy for
endorsement by other grassroots organizations across the U.S.

Key survey highlights include:

-- More than four of five Americans (84 percent) -- including 78
percent of Republicans, 92 percent of Democrats and 73 percent of
Independents -- agree with "a national energy strategy based on a 'phasing
in' of new technologies and a 'phasing out' of carbon based energy sources
... America should commit to a five-year moratorium on new coal-fired
plants and, instead, focus on aggressive expansion of wind, solar and other
renewable energy sources. Tax and other incentives should be provided for
all new construction to help reduce energy consumption. Homeowners should
get incentives to make their homes more energy efficient to help reduce
energy demands."

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[phantom power]

1. Call me cynical...

but I doubt that Americans have any clue what "going cold turkey" means, when it comes to energy.

[kestrel91316]

2. They think it means not leaving the bathroom light on so much.