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Vt. won't make renewable energy goals

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - Two key lawmakers say Vermont won't meet its goal of getting 20 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2017.

And the chairman and vice chairwoman of the House Natural Resources and Energy Committee say they're scaling back a goal of 30 percent renewable by 2025 that had been outlined in legislation pending before the panel.

Reps. Tony Klein and Margaret Cheney say they were surprised to learn from the Department of Public Service that a renewable energy program set up in 2005 won't meet its 2017 goal. When renewable projects currently in the pipeline are built, Vermont will be 16.5 percent renewable. Klein and Cheney say building that up to 20 percent in five years is unlikely.

Vermont has a goal of being 90 percent renewable by 2050.

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