EPA Analysis Makes Case for Senate Action on Climate Bill

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) analysis of the American
Power Act discussion draft, which the agency released today, shows the
legislation would dramatically cut global warming pollution, lower
household energy bills through 2030, and only marginally increase
overall household costs between 2030 and 2050. The Union of Concerned
Scientists (UCS) called the bill "a low cost investment that would help
create the clean energy jobs of the future and avoid the much higher
costs of doing nothing."

Below is a statement by Kevin Knobloch, president of UCS:

"The EPA's analysis removes the last excuse senators may have for not
passing strong climate and energy legislation this session. We know the
causes of global warming. The National Academy of Sciences recently
confirmed that burning fossil fuels is the primary driver of climate
change. And now we know that the Kerry-Lieberman bill would invest in a
clean energy future at a minimal cost. That's not surprising. The
National Academy of Sciences found that the economy would continue to
grow substantially even when taking into account the costs of reducing
emissions.

"Its analysis also spelled out what's at stake if we don't act. If
Congress irresponsibly refuses to back up the commitments the
administration made at the G8 and in Copenhagen, we would send a signal
to other countries that inaction is acceptable - and we would lock in
some of the worst effects of global warming. The EPA's analysis shows
we're already perilously close to exceeding a 2 degree Celsius global
temperature increase, which the world community set as a goal to avoid
devastating consequences. As the global temperatures go up, so would the
pain.

"Our country has just gotten a huge wake up call that we can't
ignore, and Americans heartbroken by the damaging gusher in the Gulf of
Mexico want Congress to rewrite our antiquated energy policy. Besides a
fouled coastline of tragic dimensions, our outdated energy policy is
bringing us warmer oceans, hotter global temperatures, and more extreme
weather events. The longer Congress keeps us chained to the dark ages,
the higher the costs of climate change will be. Americans want their
national leaders to adopt policies that will dramatically reduce our
dependence on oil and other fossil fuels."