Clean Energy Bill
On a 219 to 212 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the landmark H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES), the most important environmental and energy legislation in our nation’s history. The bill that emerged from the House has the fundamental structure we need to significantly reduce carbon pollution while growing the economy. It puts strong cap on emissions and reorients our energy market to make low-carbon power the goal. It ensures that utility rates will stay affordable and a competitive playing field for U.S. companies.
The House climate bill would mandate that 15% of the nation’s electricity come from sources such as wind and solar power by 2020, potentially expanding the market and profit potential for companies in those sectors. Towards that goal, it seeks to boost nascent industries such as wind-generated electricity and solar power. By putting a price on emissions of common gases, such as carbon dioxide, the bill would affect the way electricity is generated, how homes and offices are designed, how foreign trade is conducted and how much Americans pay to drive or to heat their homes.
This legislation was masterfully written by two longtime champions for building a clean energy economy in America and aggressively fighting climate change - Chairman Henry Waxman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman Ed Markey of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.
The vote was close. Know that all of your efforts — whether a signed petition, a donation, or a call — made a difference in the outcome. Together, we are truly showing the power of government by the people and for the people.
Now that the House has passed this historic bill, it is on to the Senate. Everything we are hearing on the Hill tells us that Big Oil will continue to spread their lies in order to sabotage our chances to transition to a clean energy future. Big Oil and its cronies launched an opposition campaign that was tough, well-funded, and relentless. Thanks to more than 70,000 calls and over 60,000 emails to your Representatives, we were able to stand up to the corporate and special interests who tried to sabotage this bill at every turn.
Now it’s time to repeat those call, this time to your Senators. Let them know that we support clean energy and want them to pass this bill.
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