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. A renewable electricity standard would create more than one hundred thousand jobs, save consumers money on their electricity bills, and reduce the emission of pollutants that contribute to global warming. Indeed, Vice President Biden’s Middle-Class Task Force has signaled that such a standard is necessary to spur the private sector creation of green jobs capable of supporting a middle-class standard of living. The Renewable Electricity Standard bill requires that 25 percent of the electricity generated by electricity suppliers come from renewable sources by 2025. The bill establishes a system of renewable energy credits that suppliers can earn by producing renewable energy. The suppliers may also buy, sell, and exchange the credits.

H.R.890 is the House version of this bill.