Broad and diverse support for Waxman-Markey’s American Clean Energy and Security Act 4

Support for the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 is coming in from a broad and diverse range of constituencies, including businesses, unions, elected officials, environmental groups, organizations representing low-income Americans and people of faith and coalitions combining some of those constituencies.

Here are excerpts from letters that have been sent to the Energy and Commerce Committee, most of which are posted on the committee website. 

Dow: “We support your aim to move the bill through the Committee, and we look forward to working with you and others in Congress as this legislation is further considered.”

Exelon: “We may be on the brink of something astounding in Washington. This is due to the hard work and political courage of President Obama, Chairmen Waxman and Markey, Congressman Boucher, Senator Bingaman and many others.”

GE: “On behalf of GE, I would like to offer my support for the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. The bill represents a strong step toward an energy policy for the United States that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, set us on a path to a more secure energy and economic future, and make the United States the world’s technology leader in energy.”

United Auto Workers (UAW): “The UAW generally supports H.R. 2454 and urges Members of the Committee to vote to favorably report this measure.”

FPL Group: “We are encouraged by all of the recent progress that has been made on the bill, and as such, we support moving it through the committee process and onto the House floor. It is vital that legislation pass this year.”

Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA): “We feel the time to act is now and the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES) provides a road map of federal policies to move our country toward building a clean energy economy - an economy that both combats global warming and creates millions of good paying jobs.” 

PG&E: “We believe that the ACESA includes many of the key provisions and concepts listed above, to varying degrees, and we encourage you to support moving the legislation out of Committee.”

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: “Our estimate is that setting aside 15 percent of the allowance value for refunds and tax credits for consumers, together with other provisions in the bill setting aside free allowances that the companies receiving them must use for consumer relief, would ensure that the average household in the bottom 20 percent of the population would not experience any reduction in the purchasing power of its budget. We strongly commend you for including this protection for low-income households in your legislation, which we hope the Energy and Commerce Committee will approve.”

United States Climate Action Partnership: “USCAP believes the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACESA) broadly embraces the approach recommended in the USCAP Blueprint for Legislative Action that we issued in January 2009. While not every USCAP recommendation is contained in ACESA, USCAP urges the full Committee to advance the bill so Congress can continue to build on the progress made by the Committee thus far.”

Clean Energy Group (The Clean Energy Group is composed of Austin Energy, Avista Corporation, Calpine Corporation, Constellation Energy Group, Entergy Corporation, Exelon Corporation, FPL Group, Inc., National Grid, PG&E Corporation, Public Service Enterprise Group Seattle City Light):  “We look forward to reviewing the imminent legislative language and hope that the Committee moves swiftly and constructively to advance a bill as a first step toward enacting a national climate change program this year.”

Blue-Green Alliance (United Steelworkers, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Communications Workers of America, Service Employees Union International, Laborers International Union of North America): “As the nation continues to face high unemployment and the threat of climate change, Chairmen Waxman and Markey have shown true leadership on this critical issue. . . Passing comprehensive climate legislation is a critical step forward. The Blue Green Alliance looks forward to working with Congress to make certain that the provisions in this legislation ensure the creation of millions of good, family-sustaining green jobs in the United States and the protection of public health and the environment for future generations.” 

Climate Communities (representing elected officials from Sacramento County, CA; King County, WA; Tacoma, WA; Snohomish County, WA; Montgomery County, MD; Monmouth County, NJ; Sonoma County, CA; Story County, IA; Dubuque, IA; Dane County, WI; New Kent County, VA; Burlington, VT; King County, WA; Stamford, CT; Loudoun County, VA; Washtenaw County, MI; Snohomish County, WA; Savannah, GA; Nassau County, NY; James City County, VA; Annapolis, MD; Santa Monica, CA; Santa Ana, CA; Miami-Dade County, FL):

“On behalf of the hundreds of local governments across America working with the Climate Communities coalition to support national action on climate change, we write to convey our support for the passage of H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy & Security Act (ACES) as a strong first step on the path to climate legislation. Local governments are ready to play our part in meeting the climate challenge and creating a clean energy economy, and this legislation will create real incentives for progress and innovation in both the public and private sectors.”

Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America: “The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, is pleased that based on our discussions with the Chairman Waxman, Subcommittee Chairman Markey and other key offices, the legislation includes non-profits and houses of worship in this retrofit program and we applaud Reps. Waxman and Markey for this important clarification.”

Audubon: “The National Audubon Society strongly urges you to support the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454).”

NRDC: “I urge you to vote in favor of reporting the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) during this week’s markup in the Energy and Commerce Committee. This legislation will create clean energy jobs, reduce our dangerous dependence on oil, and finally limit the carbon pollution that causes global warming.”

American Rivers, Audubon, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Clean Water Action, Climate Solutions, Defenders of Wildlife, Earthjustice, Environment America, League of Conservation Voters, League of Women Voters of the United States, National Parks Conservation Association, National Wildlife Federation, Natural Resources Defense Council, Oceana, Pew Environment Group, Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, Union of Concerned Scientists, World Wildlife Fund:

“On behalf of the millions of people we represent, we urge you to strengthen and support the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), which sets us on the path toward creating clean energy jobs, reducing our dangerous dependence on oil, and cutting the carbon pollution that causes global warming. This committee vote is the most important in decades, and we hope you will do all that you can to strengthen and pass this legislation.”

National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA): “Climate change will severely impact the operations of these utilities, which is why we strongly support comprehensive legislation to mitigate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the overall approach taken in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES).”

(NOTE: These are excerpts. If you want to know all the details of where any organization stands on the bill, read their entire letter.)

[Original post at http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/paltman/broad_and_diverse_support_for.html]

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