As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, I have fought for the energy issues that are important to Texans.
Our most recent fight concerned the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act of 2009.
Our district has five refineries that employ many of my constituents. Under the agreement reached by oil-patch Democrats, U.S. refiners will receive 2 percent of allowances starting in 2014 and ending in 2026. This funding will help defray expenses for domestic refineries that are associated with complying with the climate program, as well as improve the energy efficiency of refineries through technological, process, and feedstock changes. We need to protect these blue-collar jobs here at home and our agreement will help do that.
Climate Change Legislation
Climate change legislation is a top energy priority, and President Obama has established national goals to end our addiction to foreign oil, invest in clean renewable energy and transition to a low-carbon economy.
I voted for H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act because I believe it protects consumers from most climate-related energy price increases. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy estimates the bill’s energy efficiency provisions could save $3,900 per household by 2030.
Major energy reform should not stop with climate change. I believe America needs a national energy policy that recognizes the role that all forms of domestic energy can play — from wind and solar to natural gas and oil — in order to provide reliable and affordable supplies of energy to American consumers and businesses. We cannot drill our way out of our energy needs, but we cannot ignore the benefits America gains with responsible domestic production: reduced reliance on foreign imports, increased economic growth, new high-paying jobs, additional federal and state revenues and an improved ability to meet our clean energy goals.
The administration and Congress have an opportunity to develop a comprehensive energy policy that addresses both climate change and our ability to safely utilize all domestic resources to provide affordable energy supplies to consumers and businesses.
Click Here to read Congressman Green's editorial featured in Roll Call.
Click Here to view a summary of the ACES Act of 2009, an independent cost analysis of the bill, and other supporting documents.
Click Here to view the full text of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.
Below is Congressman Green's statement regarding the ACES Act of 2009:
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