MADISON, Wis. -- The developers of a sweeping renewable energy bill say the measure positions Wisconsin well if the federal government restricts coal use.

Roy Thilly was co-chairman of Gov. Jim Doyle's Global Warming Task Force, which developed recommendations that have become the basis for the bill. He told lawmakers during a hearing Wednesday that the task force wanted to help the state to survive if carbon regulations come down from Washington.

Wisconsin currently relies heavily on coal, a major source of greenhouse gases.

Thilly said the bill will eventually reduce utility bills because renewable sources will negate the need to build expensive new power plants.

The bill would mandate 25 percent of the state's energy come from renewable sources by 2025, create vehicle emission standards and do away with the state's ban on new nuclear power plants.

The state Senate Select Committee on Clean Energy and the Assembly Special Committee on Clean Energy Jobs held a joint hearing on the bill Wednesday.

Opponents say the bill will cost the state billions of dollars and thousands of jobs.

Environmentalists have denied those claims.