Op-Ed

Why the American Clean Energy and Security Act Doesn't Cut It!

Why the American Clean Energy and Security Act Doesn't Cut It!

By Sarah Cote

Clean Power Now, a local non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to educating and empowering citizens to support viable renewable energy projects and policies, is vastly disappointed in the American Clean Energy Security Act (ACES). It passed the House of Representatives on June 26th by a narrow margin of 219-212.

This bill, which could very well set our nation's precedent for action on climate change, will be introduced to the Senate this Wednesday, September 30th. Clean Power Now is teaming up with the CLEAN Network - Citizens Lead for Energy Action Now- and calling on its collaboration of 140 organizations nation-wide to encourage activists to contact their Senators immediately and tell them that ACES just isn't good enough! Both Clean Power Now and the CLEAN believe that this bill fails to adequately address global warming, fails to encourage true economic and energy security for Americans and continues the transfer of wealth from taxpayers to the fossil fuel industry.

Please contact your Senator today and tell them that the Senate Bill must:

• Allow the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to do its job. Under its current state, ACES strips the EPA of its authority to regulate carbon.
• Invest our money in true energy solutions. We cannot afford to continue to pump money into the fossil fuel and nuclear industries. A serious investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy are the least costly and most effective ways to an energy policy that builds our economy, creates jobs and reduces carbon emissions.
• Put a cap on carbon consistent with science based goals and set up a transparent and equitable system to regulate it. As Senator Byron Dorgan (D-NE) said, he does not have "any interest in supporting legislation that will establish a trillion-dollar carbon trading securities market." The cap and trade system in ACES is a costly way to not solve our problems.

Without substantial changes, Clean Power Now and CLEAN will continue in their opposition to this Bill and encourage our political leaders to either make significant changes to the Bill or vote against it! Our government needs to take a stand against the fossil fuel industry interests and put their money where their mouth is when it comes to making changes in the way our country uses energy.

Please visit www.theclean.org for more information and talking points and to contact your Senator today.

Sarah Cote
Executive Assistant
Clean Power Now