Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Donald M. Payne voted to pass landmark clean energy legislation that will create millions of new American jobs, limit the pollution that causes climate change, and reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil. The American Clean Energy and Security Act  (HR 2454) builds on clean energy investments made in the Recovery Act and unleashes private sector investment to create jobs that cannot be outsourced—and American-made technology that can.

"This bill is a crucial part of our economic recovery," said Payne. "It will create millions of new American jobs and entire new industries. It will decrease our dependence on oil from unstable nations, thereby strengthening national security. It also reduces the carbon pollution that causes global warming - using the same American solution that successfully fought acid rain in the 1990s."

With a combination of price spike protections, energy refunds and cost-saving technology, this bill will protect consumers, keep costs low, and protect current jobs by helping energy-intensive industries transition to a cleaner, more profitable future. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the legislation would cost a typical American household less than a postage stamp per day or less than $111 a year. Lower income households will see no new costs; in fact the Congressional Budget Office found that they would actually save $40 per year with this bill.

"We cannot afford to be inactive," said Payne. "After years of energy costs going up, stagnant job creation, increasing dependence on foreign oil, and carbon pollution going unchecked for far too long, the American Clean Energy and Security Act takes America in bold new direction, towards a lasting prosperity."

The bill will significantly reduce dangerous pollution by limiting emissions from electric utilities, oil refineries, and other major sources. It also promotes all forms of American clean energy, including wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass. It supports private investment in nuclear power, cleaner coal technology, and new efficient American vehicle technology. The legislation also creates an opportunity for farmers and ranchers, allowing them to earn carbon offsets in exchange for planting trees, preserving existing forests, practicing sustainable farming methods, and other stewardship activities.

This bill is the same type of market-based American solution we successfully put into place to fight acid rain with the bipartisan Clean Air Act in 1990. That legislation led to a 10 percent decrease in electricity rates and 16 million new jobs.

"This bill sets out to tackle the most pressing global challenge we face-in a way that creates jobs, grows the economy, makes us more energy independent and protects consumers and taxpayers in the process. We have done this successfully before on a smaller scale, so we know how to make it work," said Payne.

Taking a balanced approach, the American Clean Energy and Security Act has received broad support from both industry and environmental groups and Members of Congress from across the country. It is backed by a coalition that includes consumer groups, electric utilities, car companies, manufacturers, environmental organizations, agriculture and forestry groups, and labor organizations among many others. 

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