ACES

Read our letter to Senator Barbara Boxer on offsets and strengthening US climate legislation!

2 billion offsets are allowed in the both the House and Senate bills

On May 21, 2009, the Energy and Commerce Committee approved H.R. 2454, "The American Clean Energy and Security Act" (ACES), by a vote of 33 to 25. The House of Representatives passed H.R. 2454 by a vote of 219-212 on June 26, 2009. This legislation, introduced by Chairman Henry A. Waxman and Subcommittee Chairman Edward J. Markey, seeks to create millions of new clean energy jobs, save consumers hundreds of billions of dollars in energy costs, enhance America's energy independence, and cut global warming pollution. The legislation has received wide support from a diverse range of stakeholders.

Barbara Boxer Official Photo

Chairman Barbara Boxer
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
410 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Chairman Boxer:

We respectfully ask you to limit total offsets in Senate climate and energy legislation to a constant 10 percent of the emissions cap. Although we believe that offsets should not be included in climate and energy legislation and recognize the particularly problematic nature of forest-based offsets, it is apparent that they will be a part of the bill emerging from your committee this fall.

Originally published in the San Francisco Chronicle

At the Joseph Farms dairy in Atwater (Merced County), farmers aren't just transforming milk into cheese. They've also figured out how to turn manure into fuel - and a paycheck.

This spreadsheet shows the impact upon the targets in the Waxman-Markey climate bill of allowing pulluters to use up to two billion offsets every year to meet emission reduction obligations.

The bill is formally known as the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES). It was introduced by Representatives Waxman (D-CA) and Markey (D-MA).

 

Originally published in the Albany Times Union

WASHINGTON -- When Connie Patterson began expanding her Auburn. Cayuga County, dairy farm in the 1990s -- growing from 100 cows to a 950-cow operation -- she went from spreading manure over fields to housing the liquid waste in lagoons.

Analysis by International Rivers and Rainforest Action Network of the first draft of the American Clean Energy and Security Act.

The Honorable Charles Rangel
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means
United States House of Representatives
1102 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Rangel,