House Energy Bill Is an Important Step Forward on Innovation

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives is poised to pass an energy package today, a first step on a path toward more comprehensive climate action in the coming years. The House bill includes measures to boost energy efficiency programs and funding, solar innovation and development for low-income communities, and research on clean energy and the deployment of energy storage.
 

The bill also includes a landmark agreement to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent greenhouse gases. Several helpful amendments improved the legislation – including one from Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) that would boost clean energy funding by 50%.

The following is a statement from John Bowman, managing director for governmental affairs at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

“Given the crisis of climate change too many Americans are experiencing first-hand, we need to accelerate our efforts to make our energy system cleaner and more efficient. This legislation is an important step forward, including making environmental justice a priority for the federal government.“

"Investments in innovation and the deployment of cleaner technologies will allow us to both reduce our energy use and ensure that the energy we do use is cleaner. And phasing down hydrofluorocarbons is one of the best ways we can cut greenhouse gas emissions quickly."

“While this legislation is one piece of solving the climate puzzle, it includes some problematic provisions to prop up the dirty energy sources of the past. As Congress continues its work, it should clean up this legislation. We need a final energy package that supports the technologies of the future – not the polluting sources we need to leave behind.”

For more on the different provisions in the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, see this blog from Marc Boom and this letter from NRDC and partner organizations.

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NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.