MEDIA
RELEASE
For Immediate Release: May 22,
2009
Contact: Winston Vaughan (617)
747-4447 winston@environmentmassachusetts.org
Representative Markey Votes for Clean Energy Future
Boston, MA—Environment
Massachusetts applauded Representative Markey on the passage of his bill, the
American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) through the House Energy
& Commerce Committee. The
bill, which passed by a vote of 33-25, would set the first ever federal limits
on global warming pollution and move America toward clean energy.
“This bill
fires the starting gun in the race to build America’s clean energy economy and
solve global warming. The bill begins
to lay the groundwork for a future powered by the wind and sun – energy sources
that won’t run out, don’t harm our environment, and will only grow cheaper over
time. We applaud Representative Markey
on the passage of his bill through committee,” said Environment Massachusetts
Field Organizer Winston Vaughan.
The bill
will reduce U.S. global warming emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by
2020 and by 83 percent by 2050. In
addition, the bill commits the United States to achieving additional emission
reductions through agreements to prevent deforestation. The bill will establish strong minimum targets for commercial and residential building
codes of 30 percent energy savings starting in 2010 and 50 percent
savings for residential buildings starting in 2014 and for commercial buildings
in 2015. These improved building standards will save consumers $25 billion a
year by 2030. And the bill will
provide money to state and local governments to invest in energy efficiency and
renewable energy.
“Unfortunately,
Big Oil, Dirty Coal, and other polluters want to continue their stranglehold on
our economy. Polluters have
weakened the bill, delaying the economic and environmental benefits it will
deliver. America, and the
Congress, can and must do better to unleash the potential of clean energy to
transform our economy, put millions of Americans back to work, and solve global
warming,” said Vaughan.
The renewable
electricity standard in the bill was watered down to the point that it will not
require the nation to use more renewable energy, such as wind and solar power,
compared with what we will already achieve through state standards and through
investments from the economic recovery bill passed earlier this year. In addition, the bill allows global
warming polluters to purchase offsets rather than reduce their own pollution,
which will result in less-certain emission reductions and delay the transition
to cleaner technology. The bill
also largely fails to require polluters to pay for their pollution.
“Now is
the time for bold and meaningful action on clean energy and global
warming. We look forward to
working with Congress to strengthen and pass the America Clean Energy and
Security Act,” concluded Vaughan.
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Environment Massachusetts is a
state-based, citizen-funded environmental organization working for clean air,
clean water, and open space.
