Last month, Senate Democrats unveiled a new energy bill which includes programs essential for growing the clean energy economy while cutting carbon pollution.
The legislation is sponsored by Senator Maria Cantwell (WA) and co-sponsored by thirty clean energy champions including Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (NV), Senator Chuck Schumer (NY), Sen. Dick Durbin (IL), Chris Coons and Tom Carper (DE), Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken (MN), Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey (MA), Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow (MI), Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley (OR), Michael Bennet (CO), and Angus King (ME). The bill makes ambitious but achievable reductions in carbon pollution, repeals centuries-old oil subsidies, and begins to level the playing field for renewable sources of energy.
Taking into account today's energy needs and tomorrow's energy challenges, this bill lays the groundwork for a responsible energy plan for American families that cuts carbon pollution, invests in the booming clean energy economy, and tackles the challenge posed by global climate disruption. This legislation offers a bold vision for growing our clean energy economy and tackling the climate crisis, and the Sierra Club commends Senator Cantwell and Senate Democratic leadership for taking this bold step.
The bill aims to:
Advance policies that give consumers access to their electricity data.
Create a federal Energy Efficiency Resource Standard, which would save consumers $150 billion over the next 15 years, and support research and development on smart buildings.
Invest in energy storage, integrate clean energy into the grid, improve the security of the grid and help manage electricity demand.
Implement recommendations from the Quadrennial Energy Review to improve the resilience of the U.S. electric grid, natural gas distribution system and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Cut greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to all passenger vehicles and a third of U.S. homes, and secure carbon reduction targets from other countries
Triple funding for basic energy science and technology research, to maintain global leadership and to invest in the next generation of clean energy technologies that we can export internationally.
Double investments in cybersecurity research and develop and designate the Department of Energy (DOE) as the sector-specific lead for energy.
Prepare a new generation of skilled workers for a 21st century energy workforce through job training and model energy workforce curriculum.
Permanently reauthorize and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Offer technical assistance to small and medium manufacturers to implement smart manufacturing technologies and expands the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program to include trucks.
Invest in clean energy technologies and repeal subsidies for fossil fuels.
The Sierra Club hopes that the rest of Congress follows these Senators’ leadership and works to pass a responsible energy bill. While there is still much left to do, this bill takes a powerful step toward an America powered by safer energy choices that will create jobs, keep our air and water clean and take action to help curb the climate crisis.