Markey tries to keep green sector going

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WASHINGTON, March 14 (UPI) -- Cutting the federal budget could make it more difficult for the United States to add renewables to its energy mix, U.S. Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said.

Markey announced findings from Government Accountability Office that suggested policies from President Barack Obama decreased the time needed to get a permit for renewable energy projects.

Markey, the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee, said budget considerations on Capitol Hill would put the renewable energy drive on hold.

A 10-year plan to balance the federal budget released this week by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., suggests the Obama administration is allocating too much money for renewable energy programs despite failures like bankrupt solar company Solyndra.

Markey says that the time to get a permit for wind and solar energy projects declined from four years in 2006 to about 18 months by 2009.

"The last thing we should do right now is reverse this progress but that is exactly what Republicans pushing the budget sequester and the Ryan budget would do," Markey said.

Across-the-board budget cuts known as sequester went into effect two weeks ago.