In a report released today, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy shows that if the energy bill enhanced efficiency provisions even more, we would triple the number of jobs created, get four times the energy savings, and save families more than $200 a year. Using less energy translates directly into job creation and savings for all Americans.
And passing the energy bill doesn't mean an end to oil drilling, coal mining and nuclear. Those industries continue to get support through the bill - the only hope for getting 60 votes. Why Republicans are so attached to dirty, dangerous fuels is hard to understand.
Last week there was a major vote on a resolution by Senator Murkowski (R-AK) to remove EPA's right to regulate greenhouse gases, which, by the way, was instituted by the US Supreme Court. It also would have nullified the new fuel economy standards for cars and light-duty trucks, which would reduce our reliance on oil, while saving Americans significant money at the pump.
Luckily, the resolution was voted down. But if Republicans take over the majority of Congress in the mid-term elections, we'll move right back to this kind of antiquated ideology.
It's that kind of thinking that's confused Americans about climate change - they're no longer so sure it's happening. They're not so sure we should spend money on it, but the EPA analysis of the energy and climate change bill shows that addressing the issue will contribute to economic growth, not harm it.
The National Climatic Data Center, which has been measuring the weather since 1880, said today that global temperatures were the warmest on record for January through May. Arctic sea ice melted 50 percent faster than average in May.
The earth is getting perilously close to exceeding a 2 degree Celsius global temperature increase - the goal the world has set to prevent devastating consequences.
Inaction and outdated thinking have run their course. Our choice as Americans is to demand a clean energy bill or close our eyes and hope it's not true, and continue sending $100 million a day to Iran and live through environmental disasters like the today's Gulf oil spill.
Senate Democrats held a meeting yesterday to review which measures might be included in an energy and climate bill that could get the elusive 60 votes. They emerged without a clear path - they simply can't find a formula that can garner the votes.
The only solution, from my point of view, is to take the same path Democrats took to pass health care reform. They should use the Reconciliation process to pass the energy bill so they can pass it with a simple majority.
Americans should understand that if they vote Republican in the mid-term elections, an energy and climate bill will never be passed.
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Rona Fried, Ph.D. is CEO of SustainableBusiness.com
