FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 6 December 2007CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384 With Historic Energy Legislation,House Delivers on Promises to American PeopleSierra Club Applauds Strong Leadership, Resounding Victory for Clean Energy Washington, D.C.--Today, by a margin of 235 to 181, the House ofRepresentatives passed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007--atruly comprehensive, pro-environment, pro-economy energy bill. By 2020, itwould save consumers $22 billion at pump, up to $18 billion on their energybills, create nearly a million new manufacturing jobs, cut our oiladdiction by 1.1 million barrels every day, and make real progress incutting our global warming emissions. The bill will raise fuel economystandards to 35 miles per gallon in 2020; require that we get 15 percent ofour electricity from clean, renewable sources like wind, solar, andbiomass; mandate a massive increase in homegrown biofuels, includingadvanced cellulosic ethanol; and provide over $20 billion for clean energy,green cars, energy efficiency and other staples of the new energyeconomy--all without any new deficit spending. Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director "In January, Speaker Pelosi promised to deliver energy legislation thatwould put us on the road toward a new, clean energy future. The energybill that the House passed today not only puts us on that road, but pushesthe accelerator to the floor. It is a dramatic pivot away from the failedenergy policies of the past and sets the stage for the Senate to flip theswitch on America’s new energy future. "It is a bill of firsts: the first increase in fuel economy standards inmore than three decades, the first national requirement for renewableenergy, the first environmentally sensitive mandate for homegrown biofuels,and the first energy bill to provide billions for clean energy instead ofshoveling subsidies to Big Oil and other polluters. Instead of a pork-ladenmonstrosity tailored to the needs of the dirty energy industry, this billwill give us clean electricity, greener cars, provide billions for cleanenergy instead of Big Oil’s bottom line, strengthen our economy, make usmore secure, and begin to address the challenge of global warming. It is atremendous achievement for the Congress, but more importantly, it is avictory for the hardworking American families who are now suffering as aresult of decades of failed energy policies. "Speaker Pelosi and the leadership in Congress deserve special praise forthis achievement. Without looking back, they took on the some of therichest, most powerful industries and most entrenched special interests inAmerica. Through skillful leadership, tenacity, and sheer force ofpolitical will, they were able forge landmark legislation that is supportedby a broad coalition of environmentalists, faith leaders, labor unions, andbusinesses. "It’s now up to the Senate to flip the switch on America’s new energyfuture by passing this vital legislation. This legislation already enjoysstrong, bipartisan support and we will redouble our efforts to make surethat it does not fall prey to the machinations of a small group of senatorsdetermined to derail this historic compromise. Senators must choosewhether they will side with American consumers suffering under skyrocketingenergy costs, our farmers in the heartland who want to help us solve globalwarming and cut our addiction to oil, the tens of thousands of workers inthe new energy economy, those wishing to make us more energy independentand secure, or a few rich and powerful special interests who wish to blockprogress." # # #
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