Nuclear Energy Information Service
Illinois' Nuclear Power Watchdog for 25 Years

20-20 Energy Vision -- for Now, and the Future

Get 20-20 Energy Vision in PDF Format

The undersigned organizations of the Illinois environmental community reject the priorities of the Bush/Cheney National Energy Strategy and call for a real energy strategy with the following priorities that will provide safe, cleaner, reliable and affordable energy:

For the Nation:

A "20-20" plan, which would result in 20% of all electricity generation from truly renewable energy resources (wind, solar, select forms of biomass) by the year 2020, to be accomplished by adoption of a national Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS)
A doubling of federal support for energy efficiency and conservation;
No new subsidies for fossil fuel and nuclear power , and a phase out of existing subsidies by the year 2020;
Actual U.S. CO2 greenhouse gas reductions of 7% from 1990 levels should be achieved by 2010
Emission reductions and caps on the 4 major fossil fuel pollutants: NOx , SO2, mercury, and CO2 by 2007; and retrofit or closure of "grandfathered" coal plants that fail to meet modern emission standards by the year 2007;
No new nuclear plant construction;
Increasing vehicle fleet mileage for cars and light trucks to 40 mpg by 2010, and 65 mpg by 2020;
No drilling for oil or natural gas on sensitive public lands such as Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and on or under the Great Lakes;
No renewal of current operating licenses for nuclear plants prior to the year 2020.

For the State of Illinois:

A "20-20" plan, which would result in 20% of all electricity generation from truly renewable energy resources (wind, solar, select forms of biomass) by the year 2020, to be accomplished by adoption of a Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS);
A doubling of State support for energy efficiency and conservation;
No new subsidies for fossil fuel and nuclear power, and a phase out of existing subsidies by the year 2020;
Actual U.S. CO2 greenhouse gas reductions of 7% from 1990 levels should be achieved by 2010;
Emission reductions and caps on the 4 major fossil fuel pollutants: NOx , SO2, mercury, and CO2 by 2007; and retrofit or closure of "grandfathered" coal plants that fail to meet modern emission standards by the year 2007;
No new nuclear plant construction;
Increasing State vehicle fleet mileage for cars and light trucks to 40 mpg by 2010, and 65 mpg by 2020;
No drilling for oil or natural gas on, in or under Lake Michigan

Signatories to the "20-20 Energy Vision:" as of 5/15/01

Citizen Action/Illinois
Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest
Illinois Environmental Council
Illinois Public Interest Research Group
Illinois Sierra Club
Lake County Conservation Alliance
Nuclear Energy Information Service, Evanston
Lake Michigan Federation
Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago
Students for Ecological and Environmental Development - Northwestern University, Evanston
South Cook County Environmental Action Coalition, Chicago
Illinois Student Environmental Network, Urbana

Nonpartisan Green affiliates including :

Chicago Greens;
Pilsen/Southwest Side;
Edgewater-Uptown;
Rogers Park Greens;
Chicago Greens North Branch, Chicago;
Blue Island;
Springfield;
Lake County

Illinois Food Safety Coalition, Chicago
Chicago Media Watch, Chicago
Coalition for New Priorities, Chicago

Back to the top of this Page