Report: Energy Bills to Achieve 44% Reduction in Heat-Trapping Emissions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 202-225-4081, Select Committee

New Environmental Group Analysis Points to Need to Pass Energy Bill to Save Climate

Bills Would Achieve Up to 44 Percent Reductions in Heat-trapping Emissions, Says Report

WASHINGTON (September 24, 2007) – An analysis released today by the group Environmental Defense shows that legislation passed by the House and Senate would reduce heat-trapping emissions by up to 44 percent by 2030, if the best provisions are adopted and signed into law by the President.

The two pieces of legislation, H.R. 6 in the Senate and H.R. 3221 in the House, include provisions that would reduce America’s dependence on fossil fuels and cut the pollution that causes global warming. Among other provisions, the House bill includes a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) that would increase the percentage of electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar to 15 percent by 2020. The Senate bill looks to increase the fuel economy of America’s cars, trucks and SUVs to 35 miles per gallon.

In order to make the necessary cuts needed to stabilize the climate—80 percent or more in the United States by 2050—comprehensive global warming legislation would still be needed. Democratic leaders in Congress are committed to passing robust climate legislation this Congress.

Below is the statement of Chairman Edward J. Markey, Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming:

“Environmental Defense finds that the energy bill alone could achieve up to 44 percent of the global warming pollution reductions we need to prevent global catastrophe. Nothing could more eloquently state the need to pass the energy bill now. None of these benefits will materialize if Congress waits for this administration to decide that carbon dioxide is a threat to the planet.”

# # #

Return to Press Releases »

del.icio.us   Digg this   Reddit   Stumbleupon  

 Print This Page