In exclusive blog post, Kerry calls for energy progress and laments GOP roadblocks
Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) swung by our blog Gristmill yesterday to post about the ongoing tussle in the Senate over a bill intended to reform the U.S. energy system. He and his allies are pushing for 20 percent of U.S. electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020, for auto fuel-economy standards to be raised to 35 miles per gallon by 2020, and for a ban on new coal-fired power plants unless they capture and sequester their carbon emissions. But even the less ambitious goal of 15 percent renewable power by 2020 provoked a filibuster threat from Republicans yesterday. Voting on amendments will resume next week, and the Democratic leaders will have their work cut out for them as they try to pass a meaningful energy bill by July 4.
