Lack of Will on Cap & Trade Undermines Recovery and Hurts Climate, But Is There a Future for HomeStar?

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Credit: Hamad Saber, on Flickr

Show your support
for new clean energy jobs by contacting your representatives. This national organization makes it easy, just type in your zip code:

1sky.org

You can also reach out to your reps directly. If you live in New York State, show your support for the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Accountability Act of 2010 by writing Senator Charles Schumer and clicking on “Contact Chuck” or Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

By Jay Ackley

The bad news is that, last week Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that the US Legislature would not be considering the widely expected ‘Cap and Trade’ carbon emission restriction bill before November’s elections. As a not-for-profit energy efficiency organization dedicated to global environmental sustainability, Community Environmental Center (CEC) is highly distressed by this news and concerned about the prospects for a sustainable American recovery that creates jobs and mitigates the threats from global warming.

The continued delay of a meaningful climate bill sends the message to Americans and the international c

ommunity that the US government does not see climate change mitigation as a priority. Considering that the US never joined the international Kyoto Protocol, and that little-to-no meaningful progress was made at the 2009 Copenhagen summit, American citizens could be forgiven for thinking that global climate change isn’t a pressing or dangerous issue. The continuance of unrestricted greenhouse gas emissions is not an environmental danger that can be ignored without catastrophic consequences for our global environment, and politicians of both parties must recognize this.

The good news is that Senator Reid has decided to include the HomeStar energy efficiency rebate program in the Clean Energy Jobs and Oil Accountability Act of 2010. If passed, this bill will provide substantial incentives and rebates for homeowners who make efficiency investments in their homes. In addition to reducing energy consumption on a nationwide scale, HomeStar will create living-wage jobs for out-of-work construction workers and laborers across the country. Although a comprehensive carbon-restriction bill will still be necessary to avert the catastrophic consequences of climate change, HomeStar is an important step toward recognizing that environmental sustainability is a sound foundation for economic recovery.

The American public now has a second chance to voice its support for a program that provides citizens with energy savings and economic benefits that far outweigh potential government expenditures. If Americans can get behind this legislation, then perhaps Congress can find the political will to pursue comprehensive climate legislation that will secure America’s future. Particularly with regard to improving the efficiency of our built environment, government support can be economically and environmentally beneficial for homeowners, laborers, and manufacturers of advanced energy generation products.

Community Environmental Center will continue to perform cost-effective and environmentally responsible retrofits for our stakeholders in New York City, but if a meaningful shift toward sustainability is to be achieved on a nationwide scale, all Americans must write or call their Congressmen and women to urge them to stand behind these vital federal efforts.

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