Energy Bill Passes the House (235-181)!
And we thought they weren’t working. Just minutes ago, the House of Representatives passed a landmark bill that takes a few steps toward promoting clean, renewable energy.
The House Energy Bill contained several important provisions. Chief among them, however, were the renewable energy standard, which requires utilities to provide 15% of their electricity from clean, renewable sources by 2020, and an increase in CAFE (fuel economy) standards to 35 mpg. This is the first increase in fuel economy standards in my lifetime!
To see how your Representative voted, click here.
A strong energy bill is an important first step in helping us to reduce carbon dioxide emissions 80% by 2050, which is what scientists say we need to do to avert the worst of global warming. This bill is expected to save us all money at the pump (by increasing fuel economy) and creating new jobs by promoting the development of clean, renewable electricity sources.
Up next: the Senate will vote on this bill in a few weeks. Then (if it passes the Senate), on to the President, who will definitely veto the bill. Isn’t politics fun, ya’ll?
