August 4, 2007
House Energy Bill Will Strengthen Energy Security, Save Consumers Money, Create Jobs, and Fight Climate Change, Science Group Says
Amendment Establishing a National Renewable Energy Standard Adopted
WASHINGTON (Aug. 5, 2007)—By a 241 to 172 vote, the House of Representatives today passed a landmark energy bill that would significantly boost the nation's energy security and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. Notably, the energy package included a national renewable electricity standard (RES) that requires utilities to obtain at least 15 percent of their power from a combination of energy efficiency and renewable sources such as wind, solar and biomass and energy by 2020. Analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) shows that a national RES would save consumers money, create jobs, and make a down payment on fighting global warming.
"In one fell swoop the House has embraced a vibrant solution for a slew of problems, including national energy security, high energy costs, global warming and slack rural economies," said Marchant Wentworth, Washington representative with UCS's Clean Energy Program. "With the House RES coupled with the Senate's new fuel economy standard, Congress is well on its way to fulfilling its promise of a cleaner energy future for all Americans."
The RES amendment introduced by Reps. Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Todd Platts (R-Pa.) and Ciro Rodriguez (D-Texas) that passed today by a 220 to 190 margin will lead to wide-ranging benefits, according to UCS analysis of similar legislation. The science-based advocacy group found a 15 percent national standard would save consumers $16.4 billion on energy bills through 2030 and create tens of thousands of new jobs over the same time. A national RES also would slash global warming pollution by 180 million metric tons per year by 2030—equivalent to taking more than 29 million cars off the road. (For more information on a national RES, go to: www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/clean_energy_policies/cashing-in.html.)
A provision to increase the average fuel economy of America's vehicles was conspicuously missing from the House energy bill, but the Senate passed a measure in June that would raise the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) minimum to 35 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2018. According to UCS, this requirement would save consumers $61 billion at the gas pump and increase U.S. employment by 241,000 jobs in the year 2020, including 23,900 in the auto industry. (For more on increased fuel economy benefits, go to www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/raising-fuel-economy-0045.html.)
Congress will reconcile the House and Senate energy bills this fall in a conference committee.
The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading U.S. science-based nonprofit organization working for a healthy environment and a safer world. Founded in 1969, UCS is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and also has offices in Berkeley, Chicago and Washington, D.C.
