Doyle urges passage of renewables task force proposals
In his State of the State address on January 17, 2006, Governor James Doyle made the following comments on energy issues:
. . . we doubled our commitment to energy assistance to help people pay their bills.
…we encouraged the utilities to offer $12 million in relief to middle-class families …
…we ended automatic gas tax increases, and called for legislation sponsored by Senator Hansen and Representative Zepnick to outlaw price gouging at the pump…
…to reduce energy demand, we turned down the temperature in state buildings – including the Capitol.
But we must do more. Thousands of Wisconsin families are struggling to pay their December heating bill, but they aren’t eligible for federal assistance because their income is a little too high.
So tonight … I propose an emergency heating assistance package to provide $6 million to families who make $40,000 a year or less. We’re in the heart of the heating season, and these families need help. I’m asking you to pass this legislation immediately.
And that’s not all. We must reduce our dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels.
Senator Cowles and Representative Montgomery are working to pass the recommendations of my Task Force on Renewable Energy – including getting 10 percent of our energy from renewable sources by 2015.
It’s an ambitious goal … but it’s the right goal and we should settle for nothing less. I urge you to pass the bill without watering it down and without delay.
