Chicago IL—Environment
Illinois applauded U.S. Representatives Bobby Rush and Jan Schakowsky
today for
voting today to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R.
2454) through the House Energy & Commerce Committee. The bill,
which passed by a vote of 33-25, would set the first ever federal
limits on global warming pollution and move America toward clean
energy.
“This bill fires the
starting gun in the race to build America’s clean energy economy and
solve global warming. It lays the groundwork for a
future powered by the wind and sun – energy sources that won’t run out,
don’t harm our environment, and will only grow cheaper over time. We
applaud Representative Rush and Schakowsky for voting for the bill,”
said Environment Illinois program director Max Muller.
The bill will 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 United
States to achieving additional emission reductions through agreements
to prevent deforestation. The bill will 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 will save consumers $25 billion a year by
2030. And the bill will provide money to state and local governments
to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy.
“Unfortunately, Big
Oil, Dirty Coal, and other polluters want to continue their
stranglehold on our economy. Polluters have weakened the bill,
delaying the economic and environmental benefits it will deliver.
America, and the Congress, can and must do better to unleash the
potential of clean energy to transform our economy, put millions of
Americans back to work, and solve global warming,” said Muller.
The renewable
electricity standard in the bill was watered down to the point that it
will not require the nation to use more renewable energy, such as wind
and solar power, compared with what we will already achieve through
state standards and through investments from the economic recovery bill
passed earlier this year. In addition, the bill allows global warming
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.
“Now is the time for
bold and meaningful action on clean energy and global warming. We look
forward to working with Congress to strengthen and pass the America
Clean Energy and Security Act,” said Muller.
