Senators introduce bipartisan climate and energy legislation
Yesterday, Senators John Kerry, D-Mass., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., released their clean energy and climate bill, and it couldn't come any sooner. With more than 200,000 gallons of oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico every day, what greater reminder do we need that the United States needs to shift to cleaner sources of energy -- and make that shift now?
The American Power Act (which Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also helped draft, but has now backed away from) is a step forward in the transition to a clean energy future: It will significantly raise demand for clean energy by putting a cap and price on carbon emissions and by setting meaningful pollution reduction targets.
However, in attempting to gain broad support for this legislation, its authors sought the input of fossil fuel polluters, and at great danger to our economy and ecosystem, this bill falls short of being the strong comprehensive climate and energy bill that the Michigan League of Conservation Voters had hoped for:
It does so by providing for new offshore oil drilling. In an earlier version, it garnered the support of British Petroleum, which is responsible for one of the biggest environmental disasters in American history. Given that hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil are spewing into the Gulf of Mexico each day with no end in sight, how could there be any excuse for increasing offshore drilling?
Another way it is lacking is in its much too weak targets, falling far short of the greenhouse gas reductions that scientists say are necessary to credibly address climate change. And it explicitly guts measures that are strong enough to ensure progress — namely, key sections of the Clean Air Act and existing state laws, such as the California legislation already passed that calls for much deeper cuts in greenhouse gases.
In a slap-in-the-face to one of the original environmental regulation laws, first enacted under President Richard Nixon in 1970, the bill takes away key EPA abilities to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act and substitutes weaker standards that do not reverse global warming. It also preempts stronger state laws on global warming.
If Congress cannot enact comprehensive legislation this year, great progress can and should be made using EPA's Clean Air Act powers along with narrower bills on such matters as a nationwide renewable standard. It would be best for the world if the Senate could pass truly strong legislation.
It is time for America’s leaders to get serious about a comprehensive clean energy and climate policy that will reduce our oil dependence, enhance our security, revitalize our economy and protect our environment.
Every day the Senate fails to pass comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation we put our economy, our national security and our environment at greater risk.
President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid now have an opportunity to demonstrate bold leadership by passing a comprehensive plan to reduce our reliance on oil, create millions of new jobs in a clean energy economy, and cut dangerous pollution in the water we drink and the air we breathe.
Americans overwhelmingly support action on clean energy and climate. According to a new national poll by Benenson Strategy Group, 61 percent of 2010 voters support a bill that limits pollution, invests in domestic energy sources, and encourages companies to develop clean energy. There is also wide support for action among business, national security, environmental, labor, faith-based and veterans’ organizations. This broad coalition believes that the bipartisan-supported legislation signifies a major step forward in passing meaningful climate and energy policies, and that now is the time for the Senate to act.
And while this broad coalition continues working on making this bill stronger, we cannot afford to wait to act to put America back in control of its energy future. President Obama and leaders of both parties in Congress must provide the leadership necessary to develop a clean energy and climate solution that becomes law this year.
The American Power Act (which Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also helped draft, but has now backed away from) is a step forward in the transition to a clean energy future: It will significantly raise demand for clean energy by putting a cap and price on carbon emissions and by setting meaningful pollution reduction targets.
However, in attempting to gain broad support for this legislation, its authors sought the input of fossil fuel polluters, and at great danger to our economy and ecosystem, this bill falls short of being the strong comprehensive climate and energy bill that the Michigan League of Conservation Voters had hoped for:
It does so by providing for new offshore oil drilling. In an earlier version, it garnered the support of British Petroleum, which is responsible for one of the biggest environmental disasters in American history. Given that hundreds of thousands of gallons of oil are spewing into the Gulf of Mexico each day with no end in sight, how could there be any excuse for increasing offshore drilling?
Another way it is lacking is in its much too weak targets, falling far short of the greenhouse gas reductions that scientists say are necessary to credibly address climate change. And it explicitly guts measures that are strong enough to ensure progress — namely, key sections of the Clean Air Act and existing state laws, such as the California legislation already passed that calls for much deeper cuts in greenhouse gases.
In a slap-in-the-face to one of the original environmental regulation laws, first enacted under President Richard Nixon in 1970, the bill takes away key EPA abilities to regulate greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act and substitutes weaker standards that do not reverse global warming. It also preempts stronger state laws on global warming.
If Congress cannot enact comprehensive legislation this year, great progress can and should be made using EPA's Clean Air Act powers along with narrower bills on such matters as a nationwide renewable standard. It would be best for the world if the Senate could pass truly strong legislation.
It is time for America’s leaders to get serious about a comprehensive clean energy and climate policy that will reduce our oil dependence, enhance our security, revitalize our economy and protect our environment.
Every day the Senate fails to pass comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation we put our economy, our national security and our environment at greater risk.
President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid now have an opportunity to demonstrate bold leadership by passing a comprehensive plan to reduce our reliance on oil, create millions of new jobs in a clean energy economy, and cut dangerous pollution in the water we drink and the air we breathe.
Americans overwhelmingly support action on clean energy and climate. According to a new national poll by Benenson Strategy Group, 61 percent of 2010 voters support a bill that limits pollution, invests in domestic energy sources, and encourages companies to develop clean energy. There is also wide support for action among business, national security, environmental, labor, faith-based and veterans’ organizations. This broad coalition believes that the bipartisan-supported legislation signifies a major step forward in passing meaningful climate and energy policies, and that now is the time for the Senate to act.
And while this broad coalition continues working on making this bill stronger, we cannot afford to wait to act to put America back in control of its energy future. President Obama and leaders of both parties in Congress must provide the leadership necessary to develop a clean energy and climate solution that becomes law this year.