Clean Energy and Jobs Bill is a Key Step in the Right Direction But Must Be Strengthened

1Sky and Allies Plan Citizen Action for April

For Immediate Release: March 31, 2009      

Takoma Park, MD – Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), have floated a draft green economy bill that lays the groundwork for a revitalized clean energy economy. Reps. Waxman and Markey are co-authors of the legislation, which Gillian Caldwell, Campaign Director for 1Sky is calling, “a key step in the right direction for America.” She added, “This is the first bill to come out of Congress that reaches for science-based targets in reducing global warming pollution, and we look forward to working hard with our allies in Congress to strengthen it in the coming months.”   1Sky is a collaborative national campaign for bold federal action on climate policy.   

“Now it falls to all of us who care about getting this right to make our voices heard so that the green economy bill that emerges from Representative Waxman's committee is as strong as possible. It may be our best opportunity to see science-based legislation enacted this year.” Caldwell said, “We want to convince remaining skeptics in Congress to support legislation that helps the U.S. economy recover with green jobs and a transition to a cleaner economy, and saves consumers and businesses money by driving us towards more energy efficiency.”

Caldwell noted that the legislation titled the Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which has not been formally introduced in Congress, is still a work in progress and represents a compromise position when it comes to competing views on the relevant House committee. 1Sky will work with hundreds of allied organizations nationally and field organizers in twenty states to push holdouts on the House committee so that the draft can be strengthened to deliver on its promise for a new economy.  1Sky and its allies will be meeting with their Members of Congress over the April in-district work period to send the message that the time for serious clean energy legislation such as the Waxman-Markey bill is now.

“To propel the green economy bill forward in the House and Senate, 1Sky and our allies will be meeting with Energy and Commerce Committee members in their districts and asking them to make the bill stronger when it comes to provisions regarding offsets, global warming pollution reductions under the domestic cap, and coal.  The April congressional recess provides a unique opportunity for people all across the nation to meet with their federal Representatives and Senators and advocate for a bold transition to a new green economy,” said Caldwell.

“The road out of this economic crisis clearly runs straight through a clean energy economy,” said Caldwell,  “This draft legislation will provide good paying jobs to build the wind farms, solar panels, and hybrid cars of the new economy, and will help us develop and install energy-saving technology for our homes, our businesses, and export markets abroad,” she added. “It is clear that our champions in Congress understand that the costs of acting now are far smaller than they will be later if we don't act immediately to turn our economy in the right direction.”

1Sky’s allies include 350 organizations from all sectors of society and more than 135,000 committed climate advocates who support policies in line with the 1Sky solutions. 1Sky has organizers in 18 states and growing, and has recruited more than 450 volunteer Climate Precinct Captains covering 47 states.