Our Mission
The RES Alliance for Jobs is a coalition of businesses and organizations that support Congressional enactment of a strong federal Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). The Alliance seeks to demonstrate that a strong RES would provide the national commitment to renewable energy that is needed to create certainty in the renewable energy industries, enabling manufacturers to invest billions of dollars in the U.S. economy and create hundreds of thousands of high-quality American jobs.
The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are currently considering a national RES as part of energy legislation. As the respective energy bills move through Congress, the RES provision is being watered down. On the campaign trail, President Obama called for a national 25% renewable electricity by 2025 standard. Representative Ed Markey originally introduced the same RES provision to the House Energy & Commerce Committee. Now, the House Energy and Commerce Committee has passed a bill that calls for 20% of U.S. electricity to be met by renewable sources by 2020, allowing 8% of the standard to be met by energy efficiency. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is considering a bill that calls for 15% of U.S. electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020, allowing 4% of the standard to be met by efficiency. To signal a real commitment to renewable energy, and to foster a sound investment environment for the renewable industries in the U.S., Congress needs to pass a strong RES.
What We Will Do
The Alliance will build support within Congress for an effective federal RES by implementing a targeted strategy focused on Members whose key support is lacking and one that capitalizes on the major support that now exists for a viable RES.
The Alliance will demonstrate to the Administration how its goals are aligned with those of the President and the Congress on expanding renewable energy to stimulate the economy while protecting the environment.
The Alliance will implement a national media and grassroots program to mobilize and build public support for federal RES legislation.
