Environment New Hampshire
applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a 21st
Century energy bill that will harness American ingenuity and put us on a path
to cleaner, smarter new energy future for America. This bill is a
breakthrough on energy policy and sets the country firmly on a path to
increasing clean energy, lowering energy demand, and reducing U.S. dependence on oil.
We applaud Speaker Pelosi, Chairman Dingell and Representatives
Paul Hodes and Carol Shea-Porter for delivering an excellent energy bill that
makes a significant down payment on reducing global warming pollution.
The Senate and President Bush should act quickly to deliver
a bright green holiday for the American public.
Highlights of the bill include:
Promote Clean
Energy by following the lead of
half the states to establish a national renewable electricity standard,
requiring utilities to produce 15% of their electricity from renewable energy
sources by 2020. The bill also extends renewable energy production tax
credits for four years and investment tax credits for 8 years.A national renewable
electricity standard will substantially reduce global warming pollution while
sparking a clean energy boom across the U.S. According to a recent analysis
by Environment America,
renewable energy development in states with RES policies is already boosting
local economies by luring new manufacturing and other skilled jobs. The Union of
Concerned Scientists projects the standard would save consumers at least
$13 billion and cut 126 million metric tons of global warming pollution per
year by 2020 (equal to taking more than 20 million cars off the road).
Reduce U.S.
Dependence on Oil by increasing
fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks to 35 mpg by 2020. This
would be the first meaningful increase in fuel economy standards in more than
15 years. The provision replaces the current standards with an
attribute-based system that gives the auto industry tremendous compliance
flexibility by allowing for different mileage requirements per vehicle size.
The standards in the Senate bill would save 1.2 million barrels of oil a
day in 2020, save consumers $25 billion at the gas pumps, and substantially
reduce global warming pollution. With oil prices continuing to set new records
above $80 a barrel, Americans want new standards and more efficient vehicles
now.
Save Energy by
adopting strong energy-efficiency incentives and standards. Both the House and Senate bills contain
legislation that would help Americans save energy in their homes and
businesses. These policies include appliance and lighting efficiency standards,
tax incentives, and building codes.
