Leo Says: This Is Our Moment ... We Agree

Why it matters:

Because the future is what you make it. (Inspirational enough for yah?)

Recap:

This past September, Senators John “Lightnin’” Kerry (D-MA) and Barbara “The Unifier” Boxer (D-CA) introduced Senate Bill 1733. Senate Bill 1733. That sounds awesome! What’s that? They’re calling it The Clean Energy Jobs & American Power Act? Yeah, okay, that is better.

For the banalities, check out the Pew Center for Global Climate Change’s summary of the bill, or if you’re having trouble sleeping read the entire bill in its entirety, right here. But since this is the “Recap” section, allow me to do so.

S. 1733 “Draws heavily from the climate provisions of the American Clean Energy and Security Act” but includes even loftier goals for emissions cuts than its House predecessor. At its core the bill focuses on “a market-based program” for reducing emissions (if this sounds like a potentially disastrous Cap and Trade system, it is). Luckily the bill goes further to include:

Targeted emission standards (the very critical “Cap” in Cap and Trade); support for research, development and deployment of low carbon energy alternatives; and expanded programs to increase energy and water efficiency. Finally, the bill includes provisions intended to ease the transition to a clean energy economy by protecting consumers, workers, and energy-intensive industries from the impact of higher energy costs.

Putting the emphasis of Cap and Trade on trade is a recipe for disaster. But both the Senate and House bills set concrete, incremental emissions targets:

The Senate bill sets a more stringent 20 percent reduction target from 2005 levels in 2020 compared to the 17 percent reduction in the House bill. The other targets are the same: a 3 percent reduction from 2005 levels in 2012; 42 percent reduction in 2030; and an 83 percent reduction in 2050.

By the way, this thing is coming up for a vote in the next few months.

Commentary:

Cap and Trade has its flaws — Specifically when it becomes, simply, a “Trade” system –but if the emissions “targets” proposed in both the House and Senate legislation become emissions “caps”, we’ll be in business. Oh, and incentivizing policy and technological innovation, green job creation, and emissions cuts above and beyond the letter of the law? That’s not too bad either.

The Natural Resources Defense Council has scooped up the proverbial red phone and called to action its full army of celebrities with their “This is Our Moment” campaign. I’m not sure where you come down on celebrity soap-boxing (Reality TV idea: Celebrity Soapbox Derby!).

To some its the best thing to happen to politics since Billy Beer, to others it’s the dumbest thing to happen to politics since, well, Billy Beer. At any rate, no one’s political philosophy should be WWLD? What would Leo do? But whether you’d rather drink from the fountain of celebrity glory, or whiz in it, join the NRDC’s This is Our Moment campaign to tell your Senators that you support the bill, and that the status quo of marching toward disaster while dumping loads of cash into OPEC doesn’t do much for you.