American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) passed by House
“To create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy.” Bill # H.R.2454
Today the House of Representatives debated and passed (219-212) the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454, ACES), which is intended to radically redefine the way the United States uses and pays for energy. The Waxman-Markey climate change legislation centers on a renewable electricity standard, encouraging the use of renewable energy, and a cap-and-trade policy. The bill establishes a cap-and-trade system regulating carbon dioxide emissions, in which emitters will be allowed a certain allotment of permits and will be able to sell unused permits or buy more as needed.
Highlights of the American Clean Energy & Security Act include:
- Targets reduction of greenhouse gases by 17 % from 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 % by 2050 through cap-and-trade;
- Caps emissions from major industrial sources, including power plants, factories, refineries and electricity and natural gas distributors.
- Emissions from agriculture not capped.
- Places limits on carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use, and six other greenhouse gases;
- Includes offset allowances to permit companies to meet emissions targets by investing in things such as tree planting and forest protection;
- Requires electric utilities to produce at least 12% of power from renewable sources such wind and solar by 2020; requiring as much as 8% in energy efficiency savings;
- Imposes stricter performance standards on new coal-fired power plants and provides $1 billion a year to fund carbon capture for such plants;
- Requires new buildings to be 30% more energy-efficient by 2012 and 50% more efficient by 2016;
- Provides for energy rebates for consumers and credits to low-income households (intended to offset anticipated increases in energy costs).
To build broader support for the bill, its chief sponsors, Democratic Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Edward Markey (D-MA), agreed during the past month to reduce the bill’s environmental mandates and increase aid to greenhouse gas emitters, including coal-fired power plants in order to help companies meet the measure’s emission regulations.
The House rejected Rep. Randy Forbes' (R-VA) substitute bill amendment, the only Republican amendment to clear the Rules Committee. Had the amendment passed, it would have replaced the current version of the bill with Forbes' proposals for the US to reach 50% energy independence in 10 years and 100% in 20 years.
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