Senate EPW Committee approves Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act

1Sky is pleased to see the progress of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act out of the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee. Two key provisions that 1Sky supporters have lobbied to keep -- 20 percent cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 and keeping Clean Air Act responsibility for shutting down dirty coal plants -- remain in the bill, which is a major victory for everyone who wants to see real action against climate change AND the creation of millions of career-track clean energy jobs.

However, there are also worrisome signs surrounding action in the Senate. Republicans have been irresponsibly refusing to take part in the process and seem committed to trying to derail it. While we applaud Senator John Kerry and Senator Lindsay Graham’s efforts for a bipartisan agreement, we are wary of some of their proposed compromises on issues like nuclear power or increased off-shore oil drilling.

That’s why it is so critical right now for President Obama to step up his involvement in the process and push for a strong bill. He has already been the most engaged president in history on this issue, but unfortunately that is not enough. The state of the climate crisis means that the administration must go above and beyond to get a strong bill that will really move us forward.

1Sky supporters will continue to push for this level of engagement over the next month through a nationwide series of gatherings that will produce art representing the urgency of the situation, a display of that art to the White House to show the depth of support across the country, and the continued circulation of a large petition asking President Obama to take more of a leading role in the process and to attend the Copenhagen conference in December.