“We send one billion dollars a day overseas to buy oil –often from countries that are hostile to America. If we develop clean energy sources here at home, that’s money we can invest in our own economy,” says Keith Gaby of the Environmental Defense Fund.

    As renewable energy development has become a major industry, it’s no small wonder that the United States has failed to support its fledgling renewable energy businesses, lagging behind China and Europe’s rapid expansion of alternative energy technology and infrastructure. That’s why H.R. 2454, The American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), has been charging through Congress with the support of a broad coalition of non-profit organizations and energy companies, including the Environmental Defense Fund(EDF).

    ACES is the first comprehensive piece of legislation designed to support the country’s growing energy industry while reducing its foreign oil imports and greenhouse gas emissions. The Bill calls for a $20 billion cut in oil imports to pay for a cap on greenhouse gas emissions, carbon trading scheme, subsidies to maintain low utility costs, and promote the expansion of the renewable energy portion of the power grid.

    Since 2007, the EDF has been working to build a coalition of industry leaders and advocacy groups, the United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP), whose goals are to encourage innovation, enhance America’s energy security, foster economic growth, improve the balance of trade, and provide U.S. leadership in the global debate on climate and clean energy. Members include Ford, Chrysler, Alcoa, DuPont, Rio Tinto, Shell, the World Resources Institute and EDF itself.

    Asked about EDF’s support of the bill, Keith Gaby, EDF’s National Climate Campaign Communications Director, writes, “Our experts have been on TV and radio shows, and done interviews with reporters and bloggers, to talk about various aspects of climate and clean energy policy. We also created a web site, http://www.LessCarbonMoreJobs.org, that maps companies that are poised to grow under a clean energy economy.”

    ACES passed a House vote in June, 2009. All that remains is for a Senate counterpart to pass. In the meantime, the EDF will continue to lead the campaign for a new, clean energy economy. Writes Gaby, “As a bill works its way through the Senate, we’ll have our scientists and economists analyzing it so we can answer questions and post more information on our web site, http://www.edf.org”