Global Warming News

Philadelphia, PA—On Friday, U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and Subcommittee Chairman Ed Markey introduced the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454), comprehensive energy legislation that the committee will consider this week.

“Now is the time to replace the dirty, polluting energy sources of the past with the clean, homegrown energy sources of today.  In addition to reducing air pollution and limiting the country's contribution to global warming, creating a clean energy economy will increase our security and help put Pennsylvanians back to work in clean green jobs,” said Nathan Willcox, Energy & Clean Air Advocate for PennEnvironment.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act sets up a framework for transitioning to clean energy and curbing global warming.  It would reduce U.S. global warming emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and by 83 percent by 2050.  In addition, the bill commits the U.S. to achieve additional emission reductions through agreements to prevent deforestation.  The bill would establish strong minimum targets for commercial and residential building codes of 30 percent energy savings starting in 2010 and 50 percent savings for residential buildings starting in 2014 and for commercial buildings in 2015; these improved building standards would save consumers $25 billion a year by 2030.  And the bill would provide money to state and local governments to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

“To deliver on the promise that clean energy holds to transform our economy, put millions of Americans back to work, and solve global warming, this bill is a first step.  We commend Chairmen Waxman and Markey for their leadership and their steadfast commitment to advance the bill,” said Willcox.

However, the renewable electricity standard in the draft version of the bill was weakened so significantly that it will not require the nation to use more renewables compared with what we’re set to achieve through the state standards already in place and through investments from the economic recovery bill passed earlier this year.  In addition, the bill allows polluters to purchase offsets rather than reduce their own pollution, which will result in less-certain emission reductions and delay the transition to cleaner technology.  The bill also largely fails to require polluters to pay for their pollution.

“Unfortunately, Big Oil and other polluters, and the members of Congress who do their bidding, have weakened the bill in ways that will delay the economic and environmental benefits of clean energy and miss the opportunity to make a real transition in the nation’s energy policy.  Given the huge opportunity before us, the science on global warming, and the dire state of our economy, these are delays that neither the environment nor the economy can afford,” said Willcox.

“Now is the time for bold and meaningful action on clean energy and global warming.  We urge Pennsylvania Members of Congress Mike Doyle, Tim Murphy and Joseph Pitts, who are members of the Energy & Commerce Committee, to do everything in their power to strengthen and pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act.”