America's economy could profit from renewable energy. (News).(report from U.S. PIRG)

WASHINGTON, DC--America has the potential to generate four times its current electricity generation from renewables, not counting its considerable solar resources, according to a new report released April 16 by U.S. PIRG.

Generating Solutions: How Clean, Renewable Energy is Boosting Local Economies and Saving Consumers Money claims that a national standard increasing the use of renewable energy to 20% of the U.S. electricity supply by 2020 would benefit the economy by creating three to five times as many jobs as a similar investment in fossil fuels, consumers by saving $4.5 billion by 2020, and the environment by reducing global warming emissions from power plants by 19% in 2020.

Pointing to recent price spikes in the natural gas market, U.S. PIRG urged Congress and the Bush administration to take steps to protect consumers from future price fluctuations and noted that increasing the percentage of electricity generated by renewable energy could save consumers money in the long run by reducing the demand for natural gas.

By diversifying the electricity mix to include renewable energy, consumers would have alternative choices when prices rise rather than being held captive to the volatility of the fossil fuel market, noted PIRG Clean Energy Advocate Katherine Morrison.

The PIRG report cited examples of ways the U.S. currently uses renewable energy in 35 states, including Nevada's recent boom in renewable energy development after passing a renewable energy standard. ...