Federal Climate and Energy Policy

The Council advocates for passage of comprehensive federal climate and energy legislation that will address America's contribution to global climate change. Meaningful climate and energy legislation must achieve several fundamental goals: invest in the development and deployment of clean energy sources, like wind, solar and geothermal energy; make major greenhouse gas emitters pay while protecting the impact on consumers during the transition to a green economy; and protect vulnerable eco-systems and communities that are the most susceptible to the devastating impacts of climate change. Furthermore, the Council supports the preservation of greenhouse gas reduction programs that many states have already implemented, such as RGGI - the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The Council's federal climate and energy policy campaign also seeks to protect the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Supreme Court-mandated authority to regulate greenhouse gases as pollutants under the Clean Air Act.

The Council will continue working with members of U.S. Congress from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware to pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation that would ensure the aforementioned goals. A top Council priority will be to ensure that Congress does nothing to hinder EPA’s regulations to reduce greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Economy Standards to Address Light-Duty Vehicle Emissions

In the city of Philadelphia alone, motor vehicles account for almost 60% of total air pollution. One of Clean Air Council’s top priorities is to reduce the impact of vehicle emissions on air pollution. Thanks to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), cleaner air and more fuel efficient vehicles may be just around the corner.

On March 18, 2011, Clean Air Council submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding rulemaking for new greenhouse gas emissions standards for fossil fuel fired power plants and petroleum refineries. The comments can be read below.

The Council vs. Rep. Jim Gerlach

The Council has been very concerned with recent federal attacks on the EPA and it's Supreme Court mandate to regulate harmful greenhouse gas pollution under the Clean Air Act. One member of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation who has been out front on these attacks is Rep. Jim Gerlach (R, PA-06). As such, Katie Feeney of the Council recently published this letter to the editor in the Pottstown Mercury:

The Council shows support for EPA

The 112th Congress has not signaled that it is likely to pass meaningful, comprehensive climate and energy legislation this year. Meanwhile, the Obama Administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving forward with strong regulations to protect public health. Some elected leaders in U.S. Congress have responded to these forthcoming regulations with short-sighted bills to either delay or strip the EPA of it's authority to regulate greenhouse gas pollution under the Clean Air Act.

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