Clean energy businesses, agricultural interests, and advocates cheered as the
U.S. House of Representatives passed landmark clean energy legislation. Key clean energy provisions
included a national 15 percent renewable electricity standard, 35
mile-per-gallon increase in fuel efficiency, and extension and expansion of
renewable energy tax incentives for production and
investment.
The House passed H.R. 6, the Energy Independence and
Security Act, by a vote of 235 to 181 today. Members of Colorado’s delegation voting in favor included
U.S. Representatives Diana
DeGette, Ed Perlmutter, John Salazar, and Mark Udall, and those voting against
included U.S. Representatives Doug Lamborn,
Marilyn Musgrave, and Tom Tancredo. The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for
final consideration where U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has promised a
swift consideration.
"Today, the House threw down the gauntlet to create a
new vision for America’s energy policy," said Matt
Baker, Executive Director of Environment Colorado. "This would not have happened
without the leadership of U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette and Mark
Udall."
"This is the first energy bill in over 30 years that
actually addresses our nation’s energy needs," continued Baker. "Congress is
finally acting to pass an energy bill that will address energy security, promote
competitiveness, and cut global warming pollution."
According to American Council for an Energy-Efficient
Economy, the House bill would reduce energy use by almost 8%, cut global warming
pollution of carbon by 10%, and save consumers more than $450 billion dollars
through 2030.
Until now, only states such as Colorado have taken the
lead in creating the New Energy Economy by passing a renewable electricity
standard. Colorado doubled its use of renewables such as
wind and solar power for electricity to 20% by 2020. The national standard would
open new markets and help make renewables competitive across the nation. Also,
it will also cut over 80 million metric tons of global warming pollution per
year, or the equivalent of taking more than 10 million cars of the
road.
"The federal renewable electricity standard will benefit
America’s economy and provide huge
new economic opportunities for American workers and local communities across the
country," said Craig Cox, Executive Director of the Interwest Energy Alliance. "By leveraging America’s domestic, inexhaustible
energy resources, Congress is taking steps to put wind, solar and other
renewable energy technologies on the same playing field as conventional energy
resources. This bill will help restore America’s international
competitiveness in these critical clean energy
industries"
"The clean energy bill’s investment in renewables and
energy efficiency will help consumers nationwide, because the ‘fuel’ for most
renewable technologies is free. Renewables provide an important hedge against
the unpredictable cost volatility of fossil fuels, and the new renewable
standard is predicted to save consumers $13 billion by 2020." continued Cox.
Much of the development of wind farms and biomass used
for meeting the standard would happen in rural areas.
"Colorado’s Eastern Plains hold a bumper crop
of wind power," said Benjamin Waters, Government Relations Representative of the
Rocky Mountain Farmers Union. "By making a national investment in clean energy,
Colorado
farmers will not only put food on the table, but also more wind power on the
wires."
Extension and expansion of the renewable energy tax
credits are strongly supported from an array of clean energy businesses such as
independent solar companies, wind companies, and unions such as IBEW Local 68.
Beth Hart of Florence Colorado represents the distributor AEE Solar
and is President of the Colorado Solar Industries Association. “Extending and
expanding the renewable tax credits are critical for long-term stability and
ensuring competitiveness of renewables,” said Hart. "Ensuring solar is a key
part of the electricity market will have big impacts on the economy. Extending
the tax credits will create over 55,000 new jobs in the solar industry and over
$45 billion in economic investment nationwide."
Also, the 35 mile-per-gallon increase in fuel efficiency
marks a historic agreement among national labor unions such as United Auto
Workers, the auto industry, and environmentalists. According to the Union of
Concerned Scientists, the provision would save over 1.1 million barrels of oil
per day in 2020 and cut global warming pollution by over 192 million metric
tons, or the equivalent of taking 28 million cars off the
road.
"Increasing fuel efficiency to 35 miles-per-gallon will
help AmericaVermillion Basin to the oil rush, we can make smarter
investments in how we use and where we get energy.” drive toward energy
independence," said Baker. "Rather than sacrifice our Western lands such as the
Roan Plateau and
More information about
H.R. 6 – the Energy Independence and Security
Act
15% renewable electricity
standard
- save consumers $13-$18 billion by 2020. Electricity
bills would be lower in all 50 states
- cut global warming pollution by 84-126 million metric
tons per year by 2020 (equivalent to taking 10 million - 15 million vehicles off
the road).
- permits utilities to use energy efficiency savings to
meet up to 4 percent of their targets
Increase in fuel efficiency to 35
miles-per-gallon
- save American families $700 - $1000 per year, with $22
billion in net savings in 2020 alone
- reduce oil consumption by 1.1 million barrels per day in
2020 (one-half of what we currently import from the Persian
Gulf)
- cut global warming pollution by over 192 million metric
tons, or the equivalent of taking 28 million cars off the
road
Clean Renewable Energy &
Conservation Tax Act
- includes $9 billion in clean renewable tax
incentives
- create over 55,000 new jobs in the solar industry and
over $45 billion in economic investment nationwide (Solar Energy Industries
Association)
Additional
contacts:
Beth Hart – (719) 821-9354
President, Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association
and Representative of AEE Solar
Benjamin Waters – (303)
283-3549
Government Relations Representative, Rocky Mountain
Farmers Union
Craig Cox – (303) 679-9331
Executive Director, Interwest Energy Alliance
