In an effort to stave off a future energy crisis in the Midwest similar to the one occurring on the Pacific Coast, the Environmental Law and Policy Center—a group comprised of leading environmental advocates such as the Citizens Action Coalition and the Izaak Walton League of America—has drafted “Repowering the Midwest: The Clean Energy Development Plan for the Heartland,” a blueprint for developing clean energy to help diversify energy sources, reduce pollution, increase energy efficiency, and help improve the reliability of the power supply.
The report compares the energy future of ten Midwestern states through 2020 using “business-as-usual” practices versus implementing a Clean Energy Development Plan that calls for expanding investment in energy efficiency and renewable electricity. According to the report, this plan would curb electricity consumption by 17 percent over the next decade and 28 percent by 2020, while also reducing hazardous pollution.
The plan also calls for an Energy Efficiency Investment Fund to be developed at the state and federal levels to support energy efficient development. Under the plan, each state would establish a fund to support energy efficiency initiatives. The plan also proposes creation of a renewable energy investment fund to support wind, solar, and biomass power development.
