Transforming Our Power
Read More:
American
Power Act
, Clean
Energy
, Climate
Bill
, Climate
Change
, John
Kerry
,
Green News
I don't think there are many people left who really question
that we need a major transformation in the way we produce power, the
disaster in the Gulf being the latest wakeup call for anyone who was
still sleeping. It was the most recent reminder that 40 years after
Richard Nixon started talking about "energy independence," we're still
stuck or moving backwards -- our economy constantly rattled by the
volatile price of oil, our planet's climate increasingly unstable thanks
to the pollution we're pumping into the atmosphere.
And, oh yes, we're sending billions of dollars a day overseas, with
the global oil market enriching some of the most autocratic and
anti-American regimes around the world. Here's one fact to stiffen the
spine: as my friend Jon Powers and his band of veterans remind me, every
day we keep going with what we're doing makes Iran $100 million richer
and takes over a billion dollars out of our economy. Every single day.
That's why I'm doubling down on the proposal I'm rolling out today
with Senator Lieberman, a work product that reflects six months of
contribution from Lindsey Graham, and hundreds of meetings with our
colleagues: major energy and comprehensive climate change legislation
that meets this big challenge. It's a practical pathway to finally end
our addiction to oil, put Americans back in control of our own power
production, and release the innovation and ingenuity of Americans to
build the clean energy economy we need to build prosperity in the 21st
century.
It'll help us create nearly 2 million new jobs, develop new products,
and support the research and development to help us maintain leadership
in the global economy. And it'll even reduce the deficit by about $21
billion in nine years.
And we've got to pass it this year.
I'm asking you to look at it on the merits, but also knowing that we
have to find 60 votes in a tough atmosphere in Washington, on an issue
where even a lot of good Democrats have been reluctant to act over the
years.
The big details:
In the bill, we finally start to bring down carbon pollution by
sending a clear price signal on that pollution. This market is tightly
controlled, with only folks who need the permits able to buy the permits
in the initial auction. No Wild West of speculation, no big banks
coming in to buy up permits. Then the corporations who buy those permits
can trade among themselves, so if a company makes great strides in
bringing down their carbon pollution, they get the benefit of being able
to sell off their permits, and if they don't, they need to buy more.
It's simple, fair, and rewards those American companies who work hard to
bring down their emissions of carbon pollution. And much of the
proceeds of that carbon auction get sent straight to the American
people, helping out consumers with their energy bills. Bottom line: it
does what President Obama told the world we'd do -- it reduces
greenhouse gas emissions to 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, and 80
percent below 2005 levels at 2050.
We also set up a tough, WTO-consistent border adjustment mechanism so
that there won't be any "carbon leakage" of companies manufacturing
things overseas in countries that don't manage their emissions. Imports
from those countries will have to pay a fee at the border. This will
protect American industry and make sure jobs stay here at home. And we
threaded that needle in a way that President Obama can support -- you'll
remember he was concerned about the way it's been handled in previous
bills.
Next, we know we're in the middle of a major catastrophe in the Gulf,
and we need to learn all the right lessons. The big lesson? Get us to
the day when oil spills are infinitely less likely because we're not
scrambling to pump every last barrel of oil out of every inch of the
earth. You do that by transforming energy in America.
But there's more we do in the short term. This bill starts tightening
up federal law around offshore drilling, adding two major reforms.
First, any state can veto drilling less than 75 miles off their coast.
Second, each new rig needs to be studied for the effects of any
potential spill, and any state that could be affected has the right to
call a halt to the project. This creates important local control over
the beaches and waterways of our country.
And here's what I get excited about as a true-believer on climate and
clean energy: We also make major new investments in clean energy
research and production. We need to make our country a leader in the
production of clean energy technology, from cars and batteries to wind
and solar technology to technology we haven't even dreamed of yet. And
we direct local, state and federal authorities to take carbon pollution
into account when planning new transportation projects. With these new
policies and the price signal on carbon pollution, we can finally end
our oil addiction and give the wind, solar, and other clean fuels the
level playing field they need to grow.
Look, it's long, long overdue for America to lead. Economically, we
need to get out in front of the clean energy economy of the 21st century
to become the leader on technologies that will power the world. Other
countries aren't waiting on this. China just raised their
auto-efficiency standards to over 36 miles a gallon, and last year, for
the first time, China's investment in clean energy exceeded ours. We
can't let this continue. I want to close the energy gap with China, not
let a lack of political willpower allow it to grow.
And, in terms of our planet's climate, we need to lead the way -- or,
at this point, finally join the parade.
There's very tough politics in the Senate, no doubt. But we've made
sure that states and Senators that have been uncomfortable with this
issue for decades have an unprecedented opportunity to take part in the
new, clean energy economy and that's why we make strong investments in
clean coal technology. And we make sure that nuclear power also has a
fighting chance by streamlining and reforming the permitting process and
making loan guarantees available. Many Senators have worked together to
make sure these provisions are strong, fair, and don't compromise the
environmental integrity of the bill. And there's a reason why people and
American businesses that have always opposed and fought against
previous legislation -- quite successfully! -- are standing behind this
one.
My bottom line: Al Gore and I held the Senate's first climate change
hearings in the Commerce Committee way back in 1988. Since then,
precious little progress has been made and ground has been lost
internationally, all while the science has grown more compelling. I can
barely even count any more the number of international summits I've
attended, or press conferences we've held after losing climate change
votes in the Senate where our message was: "Next year, we can get this
done -- don't give up on the United States or the Senate." Two
Congresses ago, we had 38 votes for a bill. Last Congress, we had 54
votes for cloture out of 60 needed -- and we said then -- me, Joe,
Barbara Boxer -- that this Congress we could get to 60 and pass a bill.
Now we can do it -- if we find the will. And we damn well better,
because I don't want to attend another event, this year or next year,
where I have to look anyone in the eye again and say, "Next year we can
do it."
No, this is the year. This is the moment. Half-measures won't cut it;
now is the time for the full-court press to make it happen.
No comments:
Post a Comment