HR 2454 - The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES)

Basic Provisions:

1) Renewable Energy: Utilities required to meet 20% of their electricity through renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by 2020.

2) Energy efficiency:  Requires new buildings to be 30% more efficient in 2012 and 50% more efficient in 2016, utilities must become at least 5% more efficient.

3) Stops Greenhouse gas pollution:  Reduce carbon emissions from major U.S. sources by 17% by 2020 and 83% by 2050 compared to 2005 levels (also invests in stopping deforestation and supports other carbon sinks)

4) Investments in new clean energy technologies and energy efficiency:  at least $90 billion in energy new investments by 2025, electric and other advanced technology vehicles get $20 billion.  Over the lifetime of the bill, this funding will increase.

For a longer, more detailed summary check out the House Committee website: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090602/hr2454_reported_summary.pdf

What Can You Do to Help?

Concerned citizens can help by CALLING or visiting their representatives office.  Just tell them you want to comment on legislation, and tell them where you live.  Then, ask that your representative support the American Clean Energy and Security Act, without letting it be weakened.

There are several aspects of the bill which are essential to its value, in addition to the overall goal of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.  We urge that these provisions not be allowed to be weakened, and that if possible, they be strengthened:

- Renewable Energy and efficiency provisions
Efficiency in particular is this cheapest and quickest way to meet our energy needs.  It creates jobs in every community, and has no requirement for building or increased infrastructure, which often taxes the environment.  We urge Congress to increase, or at minimum, hold, the current efficiency provisions.

- Building code efficiency improvements
We have received indication that there may be an attempt to weaken the mandate for more efficient building codes.  As buildings are a key source of energy usage, and is crucial to the efficiency aspects of the bill, no weakening of this provision should be allowed.

- Transmission lines
Federal authority over the planning and siting of transmission lines should be limited to situations where new transmission is needed to connect identified renewable generation to the existing transmission grid.  The ability to use this authority should be tied to a demonstrable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and should avoid impacts to all protected lands, including lands under conservation easement.