Many folks are praising the House’s passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act, but stressing that they want to see it improved in the Senate.
Sierra Club:
“With today’s historic vote, Congress has taken the first step toward unleashing a true clean energy revolution. ... We urged the House to pass this bill so that we could work to strengthen it before it reaches President Obama’s desk. It is now of the utmost importance that the Senate improve several of its provisions. In particular, a mechanism for cleaning up the oldest and dirtiest coal plants must be included in a final bill. It’s also vital that we ramp up the bill’s investments in energy efficiency, hasten our transition toward clean energy sources like wind and solar, and steer more of the bill’s investments toward the public benefit—not polluters.”
Blue Green Alliance:
“Today marks a historic and critical step forward in building a clean energy economy in the United States—an economy that creates good jobs and reduces the carbon pollution that causes global warming. ... Strengthening this legislation as it moves through Congress is essential to meeting its potential to jumpstart the American economy and revitalize the middle class. We look forward to working with the Senate to strengthen key provisions related to the Renewable Electricity Standard, investments in clean energy, energy efficiency, worker training and fair treatment of our workers.”
American Wind Energy Association:
The group praises the bill’s Renewable Electricity Standard (RES)—“a key first step in balancing our electric generation mix by expanding America’s renewable energy generating capacity and creating thousands of new American manufacturing jobs”—while saying it hopes the RES can be strengthened.
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which will take up climate legislation later this summer:
“There are very few bills that we pass that trigger so many benefits for the American people—energy efficiency, new jobs, cleaner air, healthier families, and energy independence. This bill gives us the momentum we need in the Senate, and signals that when we promised change for the better in America, we meant it.”
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R):
“Although this bill is not perfect, it is a significant step in the national fight against climate change and it puts the United States in a position of leadership in international climate negotiations that must produce a global solution to this global problem. My Administration will work with the Senate and President Obama to improve and strengthen this legislation so that it achieves its goals while boosting economic growth and I commend the House of Representatives for taking this historic step today.”
Fourteen Democratic senators stick up for coal
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ed abbey Posted 4:16 am
27 Jun 2009
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randino Posted 4:42 am
27 Jun 2009
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veritone Posted 7:51 am
27 Jun 2009
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sukumar Posted 12:11 pm
27 Jun 2009
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Bart Anderson Posted 3:02 pm
27 Jun 2009
Dennis KucinichI oppose H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.
The reason is simple. It won’t address the problem. In fact, it might
make the problem worse.
“It sets targets that are too weak, especially in the short term,
and sets about meeting those targets through Enron-style accounting
methods. It gives new life to one of the primary sources of the
problem that should be on its way out– coal – by giving it record
subsidies. And it is rounded out with massive corporate giveaways at
taxpayer expense. There is $60 billion for a single technology which
may or may not work, but which enables coal power plants to keep
warming the planet at least another 20 years.Bill McKibben (Greenpeace interview)... You can't do what needs to be done with the current constellation of political forces. I was in the White House a month ago and the clear message was 'Make us do it.' Build us a movement that gives us the room to do the things that we want to do. Because they don't have it now.Climate Change Activists Dismayed by Some of Bill's Provisions (Washington Post)
many green groups seem to be supporting the bill -- now stuffed with
benefits for emitters such as utilities, manufacturers and farmers --
while holding their nose. "We're not saying, 'Kill the bill,' " said Frank O'Donnell, of the
group Clean Air Watch. "But we're saying it sure as heck ought to get
better in the Senate, or it's going to be a sorry day."Bart / Energy Bulletin
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ed abbey Posted 5:16 am
28 Jun 2009
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Dave from Canada Posted 9:01 am
28 Jun 2009
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sukumar Posted 12:31 pm
28 Jun 2009
we pass a bill that only creates the illusion of addressing the
problem, we walk away with only an illusion." (And that illusion destroys any chances of improving the bill in the future) "Not
only can we do better; we have no choice but to do better." (Dennis Kucinich again)
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