Right now on the Senate floor, senators are debating dueling amendments from Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., on a possible "portfolio standard," which the Apollo Alliance describes as [1] "setting the minimum amount of renewable energy that must be developed by retail electricity vendors each year."
Bingaman's amendment would set a national standard of 15% of our electricity to come from renewable sources -- like wind, solar and geothermal power -- by 2020. 20-25% would be ideal, but 15% is a significant step forward.
Domenici's version sets the standard at 20%, but would count electricity from coal and nuclear. That won't do anything to advance wind, solar and geothermal power and move us towards a clean energy future.
If you want to make your voice heard on this issue, check out this page from the Union of Concerned Scientists [2] (link via Gristmill [3]).
And the fierce Senate floor debating action is live on C-Span 2. [4]
Links:
[1] http://www.apolloalliance.org/strategy_center/model_legislation/rpsmodel.cfm
[2] http://ucsaction.org/campaign/6_12_07_senate_res_amendment/?source=wacucs_homearspotlig
[3] http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2007/6/12/71313/5423
[4] http://c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan2_wm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS2