WWF and other Environmental Groups Urge Senators to Forgo Passing an Energy-Only Bill

The issue of energy independency and climate change are inseparable challenges that must be addressed together. In a letter to the U.S. Senate last week (25 Feb 2010), WWF and other environmental organizations urged lawmakers to forgo an energy-only bill and address energy and climate change challenges together.

The nation faces three fundamentally linked crises that must be addressed without delay: the environment, the economy, and national security. We cannot afford to neglect opportunities for creating American jobs, to leave our national security at risk, or to pump more dangerous pollution into the atmosphere. Our collective goal must be an integrated solution to these crucial issues. Success must be measured by bold steps forward on these inherently inseparable challenges.

The letter states that forgoing action on integrated legislation in favor of the energy-only bill -- American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009 (ACELA) -- would be a huge mistake. “Even though it contains important energy efficiency programs, the overall impact of ACELA as it now stands would be to forgo over 1 million potential jobs, fail to reduce our oil dependency, pose serious risks to the environment, and potentially increase carbon pollution.”

As drafted, in the following ways, ACELA would be woefully inadequate to improve national security, boost the economy and reduce climate pollution. (bullets were pulled directly from letter)

• The renewable electricity standard would not deploy any more renewable energy than is already required under current state and federal policies.
• Its investments in energy technologies would divert scarce taxpayer dollars to mature industries and promote more dirty fossil fuels, rather than jump-starting the clean energy transition we need.
• In the absence of a carbon limit, its electricity transmission provisions could increase emissions by facilitating greater reliance on dirty power sources.
• ACELA could expand oil and gas development into protected areas, increasing carbon emissions while degrading our oceans and other natural resources.

The letter concluded with:

The challenges facing the nation today are far too serious and too urgent for half-measures or steps backward. Now is the time to meet these challenges with a climate and energy bill that cuts the pollution causing global warming, sets America on a course to energy independence, and unleashes American entrepreneurial power to revitalize the economy.