Analysis: House vote may spur energy revolution (Updated)

[ProSense]

Analysis: House vote may spur energy revolution

By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – Congress has taken its first step toward an energy revolution, with the prospect of profound change for every household, business, industry and farm in the decades ahead.

It was late Friday when the House passed legislation that would, for the first time, require limits on pollution blamed for global warming — mainly carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels. Now the Senate has the chance to change the way Americans produce and use energy.

What would the country look like a decade from now if the House-passed bill — or, more likely, a water-down version — were to become the law of the land?

"It will open the door to a clean energy economy and a better future for America," President Barack Obama said Saturday.

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Updated to add reaction:

House Passes Most Important Environmental Bill In History

WASHINGTON – Today, the House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act by a vote of 219 to 212. The act represents America’s first comprehensive attempt to build a new, clean energy economy. It will create millions of jobs, reduce our dangerous dependence on oil, and mitigate the threat of global warming. The League of Conservation Voters considers today’s vote the most important environmental vote ever taken by the House of Representatives.

“Today’s victory will be remembered as a key moment in American history, the moment when America began to build the clean energy economy that fueled the 21st Century,” LCV President Gene Karpinski said. “LCV thanks Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Waxman, Chairman Markey, Majority Leader Hoyer, Majority Whip Clyburn, and the other leaders who made this bill possible.”

“We commend all those Members of Congress who voted for this bill, particularly those Republicans who stood in support of a new clean energy economy,” Karpinski continued. “Their courage and foresight will be the foundation on which we build a safer, cleaner, more prosperous America.”

“Passing this bill through the House of Representatives required the combined efforts of labor unions, environmental organizations, businesses, faith groups, and veterans,” Karpinski concluded. “That powerful coalition will continue to work together to strengthen and pass this bill in the Senate as it moves towards President Obama’s desk.”

In light of the tremendous importance of this legislation, LCV made the unprecedented decision that it will not endorse any member of the House of Representatives in the 2010 election cycle who voted against final passage of this historic bill. LCV stands by that policy.

Clean Energy Jobs Plan Clears House in Historic Vote

Sierra Club Cheers House, Looks Ahead to Senate Action

Washington, D.C.—The House of Representatives today passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454/2998, also known as Waxman-Markey). The Sierra Club offered the following comments in response.

Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director

"With today's historic vote, Congress has taken the first step toward unleashing a true clean energy revolution. President Obama and tens of millions of environmentalists, union members, veterans, people of faith, small businesspeople, corporate leaders, sportsmen, and concerned citizens have been calling on Congress to get America running on clean energy. Congress has finally answered that call.

"Speaker Pelosi, Chairmen Waxman and Markey, and many others deserve hearty congratulations for shepherding a comprehensive clean energy and climate plan to passage. For decades, they have been the strongest champions for our environment. Without their extraordinary leadership, today's vote would not have possible.

"This bill sets the stage for the dawn of the clean energy future. While imperfect, it sets forth a set of goals America must achieve -- and exceed. Its most important achievement is setting the United States on a path to reduce carbon emissions some 80 percent by 2050. It also makes strides in halting international deforestation, requires new buildings to dramatically slash energy waste, will speed the development of made-in-America electric vehicles, and provides important protections for workers, consumers, and others who may be affected by our transition to a clean energy future.

"We urged the House to pass this bill so that we could work to strengthen it before it reaches President Obama's desk. It is now of the utmost importance that the Senate improve several of its provisions. In particular, a mechanism for cleaning up the oldest and dirtiest coal plants must be included in a final bill. It's also vital that we ramp up the bill's investments in energy efficiency, hasten our transition toward clean energy sources like wind and solar, and steer more of the bill's investments toward the public benefit—not polluters.

"An unprecedented coalition of environmental, faith, community, labor, veterans, business, and other groups mounted one of the most vigorous grassroots campaigns in decades to move this crucial legislation through the House. We will now redouble our efforts to move an even stronger bill through the Senate and on to the president's desk as soon as possible."

Video of Frances Beinecke on Clean Energy and Climate Vote:

The House has just passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, a bill that would start America down a path toward prosperity, job creation, sustainable energy, and enhanced climate security.

This is an historic moment. But work still lies ahead. We need to strengthen the bill as it works its way through the Senate and on to the White House.

Watch this NRDC video to find out more about the significance of this legislation and where we need to head next.

Landmark Waxman-Markey Climate and Energy Bill Clears House

Statement by Kevin Knobloch, Union of Concerned Scientists

WASHINGTON (June 26, 2009) — The House of Representatives today passed the first comprehensive climate and energy bill, the "American Clean Energy and Security Act," by a 219 to 212 vote. Below is a statement by Kevin Knobloch, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

"We're thrilled that Congress has finally caught up with science and the American people in recognizing the need to switch on clean energy. Our future is now looking more like the Jetsons and less like the Flintstones.

"This vote was a major hurdle, and we've cleared it. President Obama can walk into the G8 summit of world leaders in Italy next week with his head held high. Now we have momentum to move and improve legislation in the Senate and put it on President Obama's desk so he can go to December's international summit in Copenhagen with the full backing of the Congress and the American people.

"Representatives Waxman and Markey, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer and other House leaders threaded the needle with incredible skill. They seized the moment and they delivered. We thank them."

[ProSense]

1. No comments? n/t

[vaberella]

2. This is great news and I said it on your other thread.

I'm definitely a supporter of the carbon tax over C&T but I will say that overall the bill is definitely the first and primary step. It's not a dirty bill and it's getting things done. Admittedly, I do fear it's failure in the Senate---since there are a lot of dirty players and a lot of Dems are going to see the narrow pass in the Senate as a way to fuck over Waxman, Obama, Pelosi, and so many other's push towards something significant. I hope it does pass because for people in the world at the G8 Summit to see Obama successfully pull this off it would show that post his presidency things are getting done in a significant way.

[ProSense]

3. Yes, it is. n/t

[ProSense]

4. AFL CIO pushed for bill's passage

Union Makes Last-Minute Pitch For Climate Change Bill's Passage

"The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, though not perfect, represents an important first step toward achieving these goals, and we urge a yes vote," reads the letter from Bill Samuel, director of government affairs at the AFL-CIO. "The American Clean Energy and Security Act maintains a diverse energy portfolio that includes renewable energy, fossil fuels, and nuclear and hydro power, while spurring economic investment in new energy technologies that will create jobs for American workers. At the same time, the bill imposes an economy-wide carbon reduction program and seeks to minimize the burden on anyone sector."

<...>

The 11th-hour effort by the ALF-CIO and others illustrates just how close the debate and vote over the Waxman-Markey bill has become. On Thursday, the president made a direct appeal to lawmakers to support the legislation, which contains a controversial cap-and-trade component. It was about as far as Obama has gone in support of a bill since entering the White House.

That the labor community would support the bill was not entirely expected, though it's not entirely surprising either. The AFL-CIO's argument is that Waxman-Markey is a jobs bill, likely to put tens of thousands of people to work in green industries. The union even notes, in its letter to lawmakers, that it is hoping to improve the legislation by strengthening "its international competitiveness provisions."

In the process, however, ALF-CIO officials are hoping to recruit enough votes for the bill's passage. And their targets, an aide says, are Democrats from hard hit-industrial states who stand to benefit from a new, environmentally conscious economic focus.

[HughMoran]

5. Juxtaposed against the thread stating it might make things worse

I guess some research is in order. Often these bills are so complicated that only end-result as measured many years form now will determine how effective the legislation was.

[pjt7]

6. I think we all wish the bill was clear cut & just reduced

carbon emmisions. But it's much more complicated than that. Does anybody really think creating a Enron type dervative market is the answer?