Energy Bill Spurs Growth of America’s Clean Economy
Washington, DC — The Apollo Alliance today hailed the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act as “a major milestone on America’s path to a clean energy economy”. The bill includes historic measures to:
- Improve the energy efficiency of buildings and industry across America, increasing the productivity of the U.S. economy, creating new jobs, and saving money for American businesses and consumers;
- Help domestic automakers retool their production lines to build more efficient vehicles, create good jobs, and speed development of a new generation of a electric vehicles;
- Provide $125 million annually to support training for “green-collar” jobs and prepare low-income workers for emerging opportunities in the clean energy economy.
“With the commitment to energy saving technology and new training for green-collar workers, Congress has taken its boldest step yet toward a clean energy economy,” said new Apollo Alliance Chairman Phil Angelides. “Clearly reducing our dependence on oil, protecting our environment and modernizing our energy economy all go hand in hand.”
“Congress just made a major down payment to rebuild our economy clean and green,” said Jerome Ringo, President of the Apollo Alliance. “We thank the cosponsors Sens. Clinton (D-NY), Sanders (D-VT) and Reps. Solis (D-CA) and Tierney (D-MA) for their strong leadership on “green collar” jobs in America.
How the Energy Bill Will Boost America’s Clean Energy Economy
Creating the Next Generation of Cars and Domestic Jobs
In addition to setting new mileage standards, Congress required automakers to produce smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles in the United States, increasing the job security of tens of thousands of American workers who assemble and produce parts for these vehicles. In addition, Congress authorized incentives to help domestic automakers retool to build a new generation of more efficient vehicles. Finally, the Energy Independence Act provides funding to spur the development of next generation electric-drive vehicles in America.
Energy Savings for American Consumers and Businesses
Efficiency provisions in the Energy Independence and Security Act will save US consumers and businesses more than $400 billion by 2030, according to the American Council on an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The bill includes new efficiency standards for lighting, appliances and other products; new initiatives to reduce energy use in commercial and federal buildings and industrial processes. Altogether, the energy savings amount to three times the savings provided in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, according to ACEEE. The bill’s efficiency provisions will create thousands of jobs for electricians, boilermakers, sheet-metal workers, engineers, designers. It will also boost manufacturing of products from advanced air conditioners, to boilers, windows and insulation.
Training for Green-Collar Jobs
The Energy Independence Act authorizes $125 million annually for a pilot program to train workers to build wind farms and other renewable energy systems; install energy-saving products; and manufacture new clean energy technology. Of that, $25 million would be directed to a new program to give low-income workers the skills they need to follow a pathway out of poverty into the emerging clean energy economy. These workforce provisions were sponsored in the Senate by Sens. Clinton (D-NY) and Sanders (D-VT) and in the House by Reps. Solis (D-CA) and Tierney (D-MA).
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