HispanicBusiness

Democratic Senate candidate Rick Noriega called Tuesday for all Texas households to get their electricity by renewable energy resources, such as wind and solar power, by 2019.

Mr. Noriega insisted, however, that such a goal wouldn't entail shuttering the state's coal, nuclear and natural gas-fired power plants, which account for the vast majority of Texas' electricity generation.

"Those plants are going to continue to be in use for a whole variety of other uses," Mr. Noriega said during a news conference outside Dallas City Hall. Such plants could be used for petroleum products, plastics and manufacturing needs, he said.

Mr. Noriega said Texas' energy security is incumbent on moving from nonrenewable energy sources -- particularly fossil fuels from "unstable" foreign nations -- to American-generated renewable sources.

The U.S. must also increase fuel efficiency standards, invest in renewable energy development and improve the electricity distribution system -- goals that Mr. Noriega says his opponent, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, hasn't prioritized or has actively fought against.

Mr. Noriega also said the U.S. must seek to stem high energy prices by requiring oil companies to maximize output on federal land leased for drilling and legalizing offshore oil drilling, a fairly uncommon position for a Democrat. President Bush has rescinded the offshore ban, but a congressional moratorium remains.

Mr. Noriega does not, however, support drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, which is believed to contain significant oil deposits.

Mr. Cornyn's campaign dismissed Mr. Noriega's energy plan as unrealistic.

"The sad truth is Rick Noriega is against many mainstream solutions that will put America on the path to a comprehensive energy plan," Mr. Cornyn's campaign manager Rob Jesmer wrote in a statement.