Introducing: The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009

On March 31, the House Energy and Commerce Committee  Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Subcommittee on Energy and Environment  Chairman (and Alliance Honorary Congressional Vice Chair) Edward Markey (D-Mass.) released a discussion draft of legislation entitled the American Clean  Energy and Security Act of 2009, which combines energy and climate  policy into one package.

Summary  of the Discussion Draft

The legislation currently has four titles, including one on  energy efficiency that increases energy efficiency across all sectors of the  economy, and another on global warming that establishes a cap-and-trade program  to ensure that aggregate emissions from "covered entities" (e.g., electric  utilities, oil companies, large industrial sources) are reduced by 3  percent below 2005 levels in 2012, 20 percent below 2005 levels in  2020, 42 percent below 2005 levels in 2030, and 83 percent below 2005  levels in 2050.

While the bill is not yet finished and currently does not  address many important issues such as allowance allocations, the energy  efficiency provisions reflect the hard work and advocacy of the Alliance and  many of its Associates and allies. The legislation includes a requirement for  utilities to realize a target of 15 percent electricity savings and 10  percent natural gas savings by 2020; building energy code provisions aimed  at 50 percent savings starting in 2016; building energy labeling  requirements; new and modified appliance standards; emission reductions goals  for transportation, and much more. Chairman Waxman has stated his goal to move the bill through  committee and to the floor of the House of Representatives by the Memorial Day  recess.

On the Senate side, it remains unclear whether energy and  climate legislation ultimately will be combined or considered separately.   However, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is making progress  under the able leadership of Chairman Jeff Bingaman (who also serves as an  Alliance Honorary Congressional Vice Chair) and has completed work on four  separate bills to serve as the foundation for a comprehensive energy bill that  the Committee hopes to release by the end of April. These bills, all of which  enjoy the bi-partisan support of the Committee, include important energy  efficiency policies and programs advocated by the Alliance. To access these  bills, visit Energy  and Natural Resources Committee Web site. The Alliance also will have  summaries and other information available on these bills available thorough the policy  section of our Web site.

The Restoring America’s Manufacturing Leadership  through Energy Efficiency Act (S. 661) would improve energy efficiency in  American manufacturing, including the establishment of financing mechanisms  that would help both small and large manufacturers to adopt advanced energy  efficient production technologies and processes.

The Energy and Water Integration Act (S.531) would increase our  understanding of the role of energy consumption in water treatment and  delivery, the use of water in fuel refining and electricity generation, and the  best practices to increase the efficiency of each. 

The Appliance Standards Improvement Act (S. 598) would strengthen  the U.S Department of Energy (DOE) appliance standards program and the DOE/Environmental Protection Agency  ENERGY STAR program;  establish standards for portable light fixtures (table and floor lamps) based  on California standards; and require studies on compliance with the DOE  standards program, the costs and benefits of requiring direct current  electricity in buildings, and the efficiency opportunities of electric motors.

The draft Energy Innovation and Workforce Development Act, would  extend and expand 1) DOE research and development of industrial and  vehicle electrification technologies and 2) workforce training programs – particularly for the skilled technician and trade construction and maintenance  workers.

In addition to these four bills, Chairman Bingaman has noted  that the Committee’s final energy package may also include other sections on  energy efficiency, market financing, energy production, electricity  transmission and nuclear waste.