Environment, Energy & Global Warming

I believe we can live in a country in which everyone can breathe clean air, drink clean water, and eat food without toxins. Many Americans choose to embrace sustainable environmental practices, but history shows that we can’t rely solely on corporations and the free market to do what’s right. I believe it is the responsibility of government to take decisive action to protect our natural resources, enact sustainable policies, and promote a green economy.

We need a safe and clean planet for all communities, not just for some. I am a strong supporter of the environmental justice movement, which brings low-income communities and communities of color into the larger efforts to create a cleaner world for future generations.

We must make strategic investments in green technologies, provide strong incentives for companies to act responsibly, and make it more affordable for American families to adopt Earth-friendly lifestyle choices.

My top environmental priority is to address the very serious challenge of global warming. I support necessary policies that will help our country reduce its carbon footprint, transition away from reliance on fossil fuels, and implement a carbon cap and trade system.

Ellison Observes 40th Anniversary of Earth Day - Introduces Ban on Toxic Pesticide Print
Wednesday, 21 April 2010 23:00

Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) observed the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by introducing a bill to ban a weed-killing agricultural pesticide known as atrazine due to its documented toxicity.  The 5th District Congressman’s bill precedes next week’s U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Scientific Advisory Panel on the human effects of atrazine in drinking water.

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Historic Climate Change Legislation Print

On June 26, 2009, the House passed H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES).  This is historic legislation. I supported the ACES bill because I believe that the future of our economy depends on the balancing of environmental protection and economic sustainability and that this legislation represents the most serious and successful effort to date to accomplish this goal.  H.R. 2454 is the product of broad participation from stakeholders of all stripes including environmental groups, industry leaders, labor organizations and citizen advocates, coming together to move America toward energy independence.  

The ACES Act requires that all electric utilities meet 20% of their electricity demand through renewable energy sources and energy efficiency by 2020.  The bill invests $190 billion in new clean energy technologies and energy efficiency, including energy efficiency and renewable energy, carbon capture and sequestration, electric and other advanced technology vehicles, and basic scientific research and development.  Finally, the ACES Act reduces carbon emissions from major U.S. sources by 80% by 2050, in part, by creating a cap-and-trade program for Greenhouse Gases (GHG), as a market incentive-based approach for regulating and reducing emissions.  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis of the bill found that in 2020 the cap-and-trade program would cost each household approximately $175 a year, or less than the cost of a postage stamp a day.

As with any legislation of this size and importance, it is not perfect.  I authored a letter signed by 47 of my fellow colleagues to the House leadership voicing our concerns and recommendations to strengthen the bill.  I am happy to report that as a result of this letter, a number of additional Green Jobs provisions were added into the legislation.

 
Climate Change Bill - CPC Special Order Print
Thursday, 11 June 2009 16:06

Keith talks about the ACES climate change legislation.

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