The Proposed Senate Climate Bill Compared to The New Apollo Program
On Wednesday, September 30, 2009, Senators John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) and Barbara Boxer (D-California) released the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act.
Much of what is in the bill is the same as the climate portion of the House bill. For example, the bill includes the same support for building energy efficiency (improved building codes, Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) program), transportation efficiency, worker transition assistance, and green job training.
Some of the differences in the proposed Senate version include:
* An emissions reduction target of 20 percent versus 17 percent in ACES;
* A reduction in the amount of international offsets;
* Support for nuclear and natural gas as a bridge fuel;
* Support for city and county recycling programs, with a 30% waste diversion goal;
* Requirement for metropolitan planning organizations to consider sustainability, livability, and emissions reductions in land use planning, including expansion of public transit and bike/pedestrian infrastructure.
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Contact: Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act and The New Apollo Program |
Not in the bill: specific allowance allocations - but Boxer has said that allowance allocations will mirror those of the House bill; and IMPACT, Clean Energy Deployment Administration (CEDA), the federal Renewable Energy Standard (RES), and significant support for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and clean energy manufacturing - they are under the jurisdiction of a different committee.
The next step for other committees to do their markups, and a Manager’s Amendment from Sen. Boxer that will bring in a number of elements from other committees. IMPACT and CEDA are expected to make it into the final bill in some form.
Phil Angelides, chairman of the Apollo Alliance said the bill “is a giant leap forward in our national push to establish energy security, reduce harmful carbon emissions, and stabilize our economy…. The transition to a new clean energy economy holds vast potential to create millions of well-paid, family-supporting jobs in the research, development and manufacture of new clean technologies, as well as in the trades that weatherize homes, operate power facilities, and install more energy efficient appliances and heating and cooling systems.”
