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Building momentum to generate new jobs, fight global warming
The introduction last month of S. 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, was an important step forward. Last week’s release of the Chairman’s Mark was another major milestone. This week we will embark on comprehensive legislative hearings on the Kerry-Boxer bill in the Environment and Public Works Committee. Sen. John Kerry, my partner in this effort, will open our first hearing today on the Chairman’s Mark, which will focus on the views of the Obama administration regarding the urgent need for action.
The committee will hear from a total of 54 witnesses on nine panels, representing different views from across the nation. Over the course of three days, witnesses will include some of the nation’s top business leaders — including energy CEOs, veterans and national security experts, economists, labor leaders and environmental scientists. Each will provide testimony on the details and policy implications of this landmark legislation.
The Kerry-Boxer bill that we introduced last month is built on the successful House effort.
The Chairman’s Mark is also a collaborative effort. It is a reflection of the work of the majority members of the Environment and Public Works Committee as well as members off the committee from regions around the country. It builds on the foundation of S. 1733 as introduced. The Chairman’s Mark:
• Specifies distribution of emissions allowances;
• Ensures that the majority of investments in the bill are for consumer protection;
• Includes new provisions to address clean coal technology;
• Increases investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy;
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions and increases investments in the transportation sector;
• Enhances agriculture and forestry provisions;
• Directs assistance to rural communities;
• Includes greater assistance for small and medium refineries;
• Enhances the role of tribes;
• Increases the size of the market stability reserve; and
• Promotes advanced renewable fuels.
The clean-energy arena has been one of the bright spots in the economy. The Pew Charitable Trusts reports that 10,000 new clean-energy businesses were launched in California from 1998 to 2007. During that period, clean-energy investments created more than 125,000 jobs and generated jobs 15 percent faster than the California economy as a whole.
A recent analysis from UC Berkeley estimates that comprehensive clean-energy and global warming legislation will drive improvements in energy efficiency and create up to 1.9 million jobs in America by 2020.
Clean energy is the ticket to strong, stable economic growth in this country and California. Not only will it result in new jobs, but it is also vital to maintaining America’s competitive leadership in the global economy.
The EPA’s analysis of the Kerry-Boxer bill shows that the costs are modest and the benefits substantial. The analysis found no significant change in the estimated cost to American families when compared with the Waxman-Markey legislation. EPA found that the overall impact on the average household would be 22 to 30 cents per day ($80 to $111 per year).
What do we get for a few cents a day? This bill will reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create millions of jobs, increase our national security and protect our families from dangerous pollution.
Other countries are putting enormous resources into clean energy developments. Europe, Japan, China and India are heavily investing in clean energy technologies, while North American investment has actually dropped.
The U.S. should be on the forefront of the clean energy transformation and job creation. The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act provides the roadmap to do just that.
Global warming, economic recovery and American leadership are our challenges today. Let’s step up right now. Let’s not quit until we have fulfilled our responsibility to our children and our grandchildren.
Boxer is chairwoman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
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