DENVER—A coalition in support of clean energy jobs rallied at the Colorado state Capitol Wednesday to urge the U.S. Senate to pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act.
The bill calls for the nation’s first limits on pollution linked to global warming. It has already passed the House of Representatives.
Republicans were overwhelmingly against the measure, arguing it would destroy jobs in the midst of a recession while burdening consumers with a new tax in the form of higher energy costs.
Supporters who rallied in Denver Wednesday included members of Colorado Interfaith Power and Light, the Denver Area Labor Federation and Colorado renewable energy businesses.
Gavin Clark, spokesman for Environment Colorado, said the proposed new laws would protect the environment and create jobs.
“It’s time to get America running on clean energy and fight global warming. Clean energy is here and clean energy is growing,” Clark said.
John Fleck, president of the Denver Area Labor Federation representing about 90,000 union members, said the legislation would create hundreds of new jobs refurbishing buildings, building transit lines, landscaping and installing solar panels.
“We need jobs, not rhetoric for these troubling times,” he told dozens of supporters carrying signs supporting clean energy.
The legislation would require the U.S. to reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 and by about 80 percent by mid-century. That was slightly more aggressive than President Obama originally wanted, 14 percent by 2020 and the same 80 percent by mid-century.
U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels are rising at about 1 percent a year and are predicted to continue increasing without mandatory limits.
Under the bill, the government would limit heat-trapping pollution from factories, refineries and power plants and issue allowances for polluters.
