Combating global warming is important both to the health of middle-class Americans who will be adversely affected by climate change and to their economic wellbeing. Middle-class Americans are hurting from an energy policy that still favors large oil companies over the economic and environmental benefits of sustainability. Congress must strengthen a renewable energy and energy-efficiency industry that benefits both the environment and the economy. The American Clean Energy Leadership Act creates a renewable electricity standard that requires that 15% of electricity come from renewable sources by 2039. The legislation also establishes a clean energy investment fund, administered by a new Clean Energy Deployment Administration (CEDA), to expand access to credit for the deployment of clean energy technologies. CEDA will focus on financing riskier investments in the most innovative technologies. The Act sets targets for energy savings achieved by residential and commercial building codes; establishes uniform guidelines for electricity generation and transmission; strengthens standards for energy-efficient appliances and other consumer products; and promotes use of energy-efficient technologies by American manufacturers. The legislation doubles funding for the Department of Energy’s research and development program. Finally, the American Clean Energy Leadership Act opens some areas to offshore drilling for oil and gas.

The American Clean Energy Leadership Act is a companion to the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act of 2009. The American Clean Energy and Security Act is the House companion to these two pieces of legislation.