U.S. politicians, environmental groups propose $ 50 billion solar energy fund

Wed Aug 28 - AP World Politics

By STEVEN GEYER, Associated Press Writer

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - U.S. Representative Dennis Kucinich and Mayor Jerry Brown distanced themselves Wednesday from American government energy policy and urged countries at the World Summit for Sustainable Development to make a financial commitment to solar power.

The two politicians, backed by the Global Green USA and Green Cross International environmental groups, urged the United Nations (news ö web sites) to set up a $ 50 billion Solar Venture Fund to support solar initiatives over the next 10 years.

Funds could be raised by cutting subsidies for fossil fuels like oil and coal, which the World Bank (news - web sites) estimates amount to $ 210 billion a year around the world, they said at a news briefing.

The United States has expressed broad support for the promotion of renewable energy sources. But Kucinich, a democrat from Ohio, criticized the Bush administration for resisting the inclusion of specific timetables in the summit's action plan. He accused the government of a "failure of political will and of vision."

In the world's most developed countries, the burning of fossil fuels like oil and coal accounts for over 75 percent of energy generation. Less than 2 percent of U.S. energy production comes from renewable sources.

"While the burning of fossil fuels is responsible for climate change, air pollution, acid rain and human health damage, solar energy is clean, sustainable and reliable," said Matt Petersen, president of Global Green USA.

"It is time for the nations of this summit, particularly the United States, to make a binding and unambiguous commitment to solar energy," said Brown, mayor of Oakland, California.