Local environmentalists are looking to President Bush to talk about clean and renewable energy tonight during his final State of the Union address before Congress.

Bush has plans to talk about domestic production of energy, according to the White House.

Margaret Hartzell, field organizer for Environment North Carolina, said Bush should push to include business tax incentives for clean energy in the economic stimulus package now being discussed by Congress, reports Barb Barrett. The incentives, for businesses that use solar, wind and other clean energy, are set to expire at the end of 2008.

Sen. Elizabeth Dole, a Salisbury Republican, has signed onto a letter from Sen. Maria Cantwell, Democrat of Washington, urging the Senate to continue the incentives.

Hartzell said in an interview today that she also hopes Bush pushes Congress to set a standard on renewable energy, much as North Carolina did last year in passing a state standard.

“We hope the president comes out strongly on ending global warming,” Hartzell said.