Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act
Global warming stems from the release of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere, primarily when we burn fossil fuels and clear forests. We are putting too much carbon in the atmosphere, which results in problems ranging from extreme heat, droughts, and storms to acidifying oceans and rising sea levels. To help avoid the worst of these effects, the United States must play a lead role and begin to cut its heat-trapping emissions today.
The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act will rein in global warming pollution and establish a cleaner approach to our nation's energy system. Specifically, the bill:
Ensures Significant Emissions Reductions
The pollution limits proposed in the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act will reduce global warming pollution 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. See more on UCS recommendations for emissions reductions.
Creates the Ability to Rapidly Adjust Policies in Response to Emerging Climate Science
The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act contains a provision that requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to review technological advancements and make recommendations to the administration. NAS would also be charged with conducting a science review if the EPA hasn’t done it. In response to the NAS recommendations, the EPA and other agencies would be required to adjust certain aspects of the policy. If the latest science indicates that we must accelerate or deepen reductions, the president is required to propose legislative changes for Congress to consider. UCS supports this provision and recommends strengthening it by requiring Congress to quickly take up legislation to deepen emissions reduction proposed by the president, or by allowing EPA to alter the emissions reduction requirement directly.
Enacts Complementary Energy and Transportation Policies
The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act takes a comprehensive approach to climate and energy policy by packaging a limit on carbon pollution with incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency. To make global warming pollution reductions more affordable, the bill incorporates additional policies to increase the efficiency of our buildings, homes, and transportation sector. While this is a good start, UCS also supports additional clean energy and transportation polices. See more on UCS recommendations for a comprehensive climate and clean energy policy.
Protects Tropical Forests
The Clean Energy Jobs and America Power Act commits to providing funding for developing countries to reduce their tropical deforestation. The bill creates a limit on how much global warming pollution can be emitted. Companies must purchase permits from the government to emit specified amounts of pollution. This creates a financial incentive for companies to pursue clean, efficient technologies, because they can save money by purchasing fewer permits, or make money by selling their permits to other polluters. The bill invests 5 percent of the revenue from these sales of permits in programs that prevent tropical deforestation. Tropical deforestation accounts for about 15 percent of global warming pollution worldwide. The world cannot reduce emissions to the levels deemed safe by science without including the protection of tropical forests as a part of the solution. See more UCS recommendations for tropical forest provisions in a strong climate bill.
Paves the Way for an International Climate Treaty
The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act provides for elements that will be essential to ensuring a global solution. In addition to demonstrating U.S. leadership on climate action, the bill commits assistance to fund international adaptation and clean technologies for developing nations. These are crucial elements in our negotiations with other countries as we lead up to the December 2009 international climate treaty in Copenhagen, Denmark. This is consistent with UCS recommendations for supporting international engagement.
Areas for Improvement
While the current bill sets us on a course to create a clean energy economy, we will keep working to ensure that final legislation achieves the greatest possible amount of consumer savings and clean energy jobs by maximizing energy efficiency and renewable electricity.
