US Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton would increase the share of renewable energy in electricity generation to 33% by 2027 and defend President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, she said Sunday.

The Democratic campaigner released the first of four planned announcements on climate and energy, which focused on boosting renewable energy.

Clinton said more than half a billion solar panels would be installed by the end of her first term, a 700% increase on current levels, and that ten years after her taking office, the US would generate enough renewable energy to power every home in the country.

The latter would take the share of renewables in electricity generation to 33% by 2027, compared to 25% under Obama’s and the EPA’s Clean Power Plan and 16% under current policy settings.

She also said defending the CPP against the raft of planned legal challenges from Republicans.

“The Clean Power Plan is a crucial tool in our national strategy to reduce carbon pollution, level the playing field for and increase the deployment of renewable energy, and build a clean energy future,” a fact sheet released by Clinton’s campaign said.

“In the face of attacks from climate change deniers, we will need a champion in the White House to defend it and implement it effectively,” it said, adding that the federal plan set the floor for future action, not the ceiling.

The final CPP rules, to be released in August, are expected to have provisions making it easier for states to use market-based policies to meat their targets under the plan.

Clinton promised to introduce a ‘Clean Energy Challenge’ to states, cities and rural communities, that among others would offer “competitive grants and other market-based incentives to empower states to exceed federal carbon pollution standards and accelerate clean energy deployment.”

news@carbon-pulse.com

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