Energy Saving News
Will Reworked American Power Act Do Enough for Energy Efficiency?
A U.S. Senate measure intended to make the United States a "clean-energy leader," will direct a cut in carbon emissions of 17 percent over the next 10 years.
U.S. Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman have introduced The American Power Act.
"We can finally tell the world that America is ready to take back our role as the world's clean energy leader," said Kerry.
The act backs commitments made by President Barack Obama made to world leaders in December that the United States, for the first time, would get serious about cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
The act has its detractors and has had to be amended to hope to be voted in as there is no Republican sponsor.
Also the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) complains that the proposal does much less for energy efficiency than previous major climate change bills.
“The compromise Kerry-Lieberman proposal misses out on a key opportunity to address the cost of curbing climate change by including little on energy efficiency - the first, best, and least-cost carbon-reduction opportunity,” read a statement from the ACEEE.
The planned legislation is basically different from previous energy and climate change bills. An allowance has been made to heavy industry with emission restrictions not being imposed on the energy intensive industries until 2016, and power plants being regulated first. Under the propels energy intensive industries will also receive allowances to offset their compliance costs, under the proposals.
The 985 page bill is a little long to post on these news pages, so here is a portion from the 21 page summary with the section listing relating to energy efficiency and renewable:
Subtitle D -Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Sec. 1601. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency: Provides findings from Congress on the importance of large-scale deployment and accelerated progress in the areas of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Sec. 1602. Rural Energy Savings Program: Amends Subtitle D of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to direct the Secretary to make available loans to qualified consumers to implement energy efficiency measures.
Sec. 1603. Support of State Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Programs: Provides direction for how the allowances distributed to states and Indian tribes should be used for the purposes of promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency programs.
Sec. 1604. Voluntary Renewable Energy Markets. Finds that voluntary renewable energy markets can be efficient and effective programs for supporting renewable energy and states the policy of the United States is to continue to support the growth of these markets.
Thursday 13th May 2010
