WASHINGTON, DC — Landmark legislation that would address climate change and lay the foundation for a new clean energy economy advanced closer to final passage today.

The bill, S.1733, the Clean Jobs and American Power Act, passed the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. This legislation will be a key component of a broader climate and energy package that will include input from other committees before being voted on by the full Senate.

“With world governments gathered this week in Barcelona to make final preparations for next month’s Copenhagen climate summit, passage of this bill by the EPW Committee sends a strong signal that the US will act on climate change," Lou Leonard, director of US Climate Policy for World Wildlife Fund, stated in response to the announcement. “Climate change is a crisis that does not respect geographic borders or political affiliation. Although it was not visible in the EPW Committee today, senators from both sides of the aisle recognize the severity and urgency of the climate threat and the need to take action. Bi-partisan attempts to tackle climate change started in 2003 with the McCain-Lieberman bill, and have recently been evidenced by the leadership of Senators Graham, Lieberman and Kerry." 

Stephen L. Miller, President and CEO of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE), also expressed his support of this announcement.

"ACCCE supports the adoption of a mandatory federal program to reduce greenhouse gases and recognizes that a cap-and-trade program is one alternative for achieving this goal," he said. "The Kerry-Boxer bill (S. 1733), reported by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee today, contains important incentives for new technologies, including carbon capture and storage. Like many other groups, we will continue to seek responsible changes to the bill. These changes include guaranteed protection for electricity consumers; adjustments to ensure emission reduction targets and timetables are reasonable; provisions to avoid conflict with a federal cap-and-trade program; and establishment of a legal, regulatory, and long-term liability framework to safely store CO2."

For more information about WWF’s efforts to secure Senate passage of climate legislation, visit www.ActForOurFuture.org. For more information on the ACCCE, visit www.cleancoalusa.org.

< Prev		Next >