Reducing oil dependency 25 by 25
TEXT OF STORY
SCOTT JAGOW: The US, of course, wants to wean itself off Middle Eastern oil. The latest proposal in Washington is called 25 by 25. It calls for the US to get a quarter of its energy from renewable sources by 2025. But getting this through Congress is another matter. Here’s Sam Eaton.
SAM EATON: It’s one of those rare occasions in Washington: An energy resolution with bipartisan support as well as a seal of approval from environmental groups, the farm lobby and the big 3 automakers. Sound like a sure thing? Don’t count on it.
Timothy Profeta heads the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy at Duke University. He says lawmakers have other things on their minds.
TIMOTHY PROFETA: In an election year like this, the parties aren’t nearly as oriented towards making the hard compromises that they have to in order to produce energy legislation. They’re more into taking the issues into a public forum and using it to try and defeat their opponents.
That means the 25 by 25 legislation and the host of other bills circulating Capital Hill will likely do just that. Circulate. That is until the next Congress is sworn in. Profeta says unlike many other campaign issues, the energy problem isn’t going away anytime soon.
I’m Sam Eaton for Marketplace.
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