Utilities

Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008

atraub — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:43:06 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Cost of one barrel of crude oil the day this bill passed the House:$100.83

Date on which President Bush said, “With $55 [per barrel] oil we don't need incentives to oil and gas companies to explore. There are plenty of incentives. What we need is to put a strategy in place that will help this country over time become less dependent”: 4/14/2005

Date on which the Bush Administration nevertheless announced that the President would veto this bill: 2/26/2008

Average amount per gallon Americans paid for that gas the week this bill passed the House: $3.18

Profit made by oil company Exxon Mobil every minute in 2007, according to the Center for American Progress: $77,245

Percentage of total U.S. electricity demand that could technically be met by renewable energy resources by 2020, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory: 100

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

The Middle Class Supports: Today, as middle-class consumers struggle with the high costs of gasoline and home heating oil and are increasingly concerned about the threat of global warming, federal incentives that spur energy efficiency and promote renewable energy couldn’t be more timely. By reviving the abandoned provisions of the 2007 energy bill, this legislation offers the substantial public investment necessary to jump start the development and promotion of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technologies. In the short term, this investment will create jobs producing renewable energy and technology. In the long term, new energy sources and more efficient technology promise environmental and public health benefits, as well as lower costs, for the American middle class. The bill also funds the investments in an appropriate way: by repealing taxpayer subsidies to the oil industry, which is already making booming profits at the expense of middle-class consumers.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

"New Energy for America: The Apollo Jobs Report for Good Jobs and Energy Independence,” from the Apollo Alliance

“Kick the Oil Habit: Stop the Subsidies” from the Center for American Progress

The Renewable Energy Policy Project

“Clean Energy,” from the Union of Concerned Scientists

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

atraub — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:37:08 -0500

Legislation

The middle class

Supports

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Amount this legislation would save U.S. consumers in 2020, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists: $22 billion

Barrels of oil per day that would be saved in 2020 due to this bill: 1.1 million

Metric tons of global warming pollution that would be prevented by 2020 due to this bill: 190 million

Number of states, including the District of Columbia, that have already adopted renewable electricity standards: 26

Corporate profits made by oil company Exxon Mobile in the first three quarters of 2007: $28.95 billion

Average cost of a gallon of gasoline the week this legislation passed the House: $3.11

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

The Middle Class Supports. This legislation represents a major step toward redirecting U.S. energy usage in a cleaner, more sustainable direction. The bill will save American consumers money at the fuel pump and on their heating bills, reduce air and water pollution, and mitigate the threat of global warming. Like its earlier incarnation, the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 this bill recognizes that fossil fuels are not a sustainable option for the nation’s growing energy needs, and that a substantial public investment is needed to jump start the development and promotion of renewable energy sources and energy-efficient technologies. In the short term, this investment would create jobs producing renewable energy and technology. In the long term, new energy sources and more efficient technology promise environmental and public health benefits, as well as lower costs, for the American middle class. The bill also funds the investments in an appropriate way: by repealing taxpayer subsidies to the oil industry, which is already making booming profits at the expense of middle-class consumers.

This legislation also goes beyond what the original CLEAN Energy Act attempted, by establishing a Renewable Electricity Standard and stricter fuel economy standards for cars. These improvements marshal even more of the nation’s resources in support of conservation and a shift toward renewable energy, building on advances already adopted in many states to create a more sustainable energy future for the nation.

Quotes from Experts

Beyond this Bill

Additional Resources

Union of Concerned Scientists Energy Bill Resource Center

“Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: How Much at What Cost?” from McKinsey and Company

Utilities

Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources

Renewable Electricity Standard of 2007

Legislation

The middle class

Video Summary

Injustice Facts

Overview/Summary

Middle Class Position Analysis

Related Blog: Header

Quotes from Experts

Related Blog: Text

Beyond this Bill

Related Blog: Link

Additional Resources