Support for climate bill
The United States has an energy problem.
The entire planet has a warming problem.
The American Clean Energy and Security Act, scheduled for a vote in the U.S. House as early as Friday, will not solve either completely.
Although it’s an imperfect bill, it’s a good first step toward addressing two issues of significant national concern.
We endorse its passage.
The ACES Act, also known as the Waxman-Markey bill, would cap the amount of carbon emissions from major U.S. sources such as electric companies and oil refineries. It would allow companies to trade permits called “emission allowances,” and provide economic incentives for industries that reduce their emissions.
It would require electric utilities to invest in renewable energy sources, meeting 6 percent of power demand through renewable energy by 2012, and 20 percent by 2020.
It would invest nearly $200 billion in new clean energy technologies.
It would require higher energy-saving standards for new buildings, vehicles and appliances.
In many ways, the bill doesn’t do enough in a proper amount of time. Much of the requirements aren’t mandated until 2020. And it takes away a federal requirement to reduce coal pollution in new plants.
Yes, there also will be a financial cost. Opponents of the bill say it’s the wrong time – during a tough recession – to add new costs to businesses and industries, as well as families.
But many of the costs have been exaggerated. House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and fellow opponents of the bill have cited a Massachusetts Institute of Technology study in claiming that passing ACES would add more than $3,000 to the annual energy bill of the average American family. But the report’s authors have rebutted that, saying the average cost per household is 20 times less. And the nonpartisan Congressional Budget office estimates the increased cost at $175 annually per household.The bill also includes a rebate for lower-income families.
Ultimately, the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term costs. Global warming is real, and its impacts will be significant if we don’t dramatically reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. The cost of doing nothing will be far greater than any short-term financial costs this bill creates.
The bill also will help the United States become more energy independent. We rely far too much on foreign oil. Investing in American resources to produce cleaner energy at home will create more jobs, and be in our country’s national security interests.
Environmental advocates aren’t the only groups to support this bill. Many businesses and industries do as well, including Exelon, ComEd’s parent company; DuPont; Duke Energy; Shell; and hundreds of others.
McHenry County’s two congressional representatives are divided on the bill. Democrat Melissa Bean, barring an unforeseen amendment, said she will vote for it. Republican Don Manzullo said he will vote against it, and is supporting an alternative bill, the American Energy Innovation Act, that would do little to curb carbon emissions.
As we’ve said, the ACES act is just the beginning of what will be needed to reverse global warming and establish energy independence for America. But the most difficult step is often the first one. Let’s get this first step behind us.
