July 14, 2009
By Ellen Peterson
Like Chicken Little, critics of clean energy
legislation predict dire consequences if legislation like the American Clean
Energy and Security Act (ACES) is passed.
Opponents claim that millions of jobs would be lost, energy prices would
increase, consumer costs would range up to $3,000 per year, etc. Many of these
same critics do not believe that global warming exists despite the overwhelming
scientific consensus.
So, what is the real truth? For starters, their claims of millions of
lost jobs are untrue. Together with the stimulus package, this legislation will
help create a net increase of 1.7 million more jobs, according to the Political
Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts and the Center
for American Progress.
Another falsehood is the claim about what this bill means for energy
prices. According to the EPA, consumer expenditures on their utility bills will
be reduced approximately 7 percent by 2020 as a result of the ACES energy
efficiency standards. If we do nothing, increasingly expensive fossil fuels
will stall our economic recovery. America's energy bill will increase by $420
billion annually within the next 5 years if our dependency on oil and fossil
fuels continues. This translates to $3,500 annually for every family in the
nation.
Opponents of change also predict that consumer costs will range anywhere
from $1,700 to $3,000 a year. The costs to consumers would be only about a
postage stamp a day according to the Congressional Budget Office and the net
annual economy-wide costs in 2020 would be only $175 per household.
The consequences of global warming are already impacting our nation as
evidenced by the devastating Western forest fires, the disappearing glaciers,
and increasing incidents of severe flooding and drought. Passing ACES is a
strong, first step to ensuring America's Clean Energy Future.
We cannot afford to listen to the Chicken Littles of our society and
continue our old, polluting ways. Our future and the future of our children and
grandchildren is at stake. Do we continue to blindly follow dirty energy
practices or do we act now to follow a new path, one that will rebuild
America's economy and fight global warming?
Source: http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009907140323