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Renewable energy
Senator Chuck Grassley added renewable energy production tax credit to the 1992 Energy Policy Act; one of critical importance to rapid expansion of wind energy industries. https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-works-renewable-energy-0 -
Senate approves U.N. framework convention on climate change
George W. Bush signed the (UNFCCC)-which committed all nations to take action and laid the foundation for future agreements. President Bush vowed that the U.S. fully intended to protect the global environment. https://www.c2es.org/content/congress-climate-history/ -
Senate pre-empts Kyoto Protocol
the Senate adopted a nonbinding resolution introduced by Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), with Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) and 44 other cosponsors, stating that the United States should not enter into any international climate agreement that did not include comparable emissions commitments by developing countries . But the agreement was never submitted to the Senate for advice and consent, and in 2001, President George W. Bush declared that the United States would not join it. -
The Climate Stewardship Act of 2003
Senator John McCain and Senator Joe Lieberman offered The Climate Stewardship Act of 2003 to institute a cap-and-trade program to reduce emissions from electricity, manufacturing, commercial, and transportation sectors of the economy (representing 85 percent of U.S. emissions). The bill had a House companion and was reintroduced in the 109th and 110th Congresses.
https://www.c2es.org/content/congress-climate-history/ -
Energy Policy Act of 2005
Investment tax credit for solar energy installations through Energy Policy Act of 2005. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58) created a 30 percent investment tax credit (ITC) for commercial and residential solar energy systems that applied from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007 -
Consolidated Appropriations Act, signed into law in 2007
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was ordered to publish a rule requiring public reporting of greenhouse gas emissions from large sources. The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program database provides comprehensive nationwide greenhouse gas emissions data (electric power companies were already reporting their carbon dioxide emissions under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990). Congress now mandates emissions reporting -
American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009
Barack Obama declared a comprehensive climate and energy bill among his top legislative priorities. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 https://www.c2es.org/content/congress-climate-history/ -
2012: Clean Energy Standard
Following the failure of Congress to act on climate, Senator Jeff Bingaman introduced the Clean Energy Standard Act to enact a tradeable energy standard to reduce emissions in the power sector. -
2016: Formation of the Climate Solutions Caucus
In February 2016, Representatives Carlos Curbelo and Ted Deutch, launched the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the House of Representatives. The caucus describes its mission as educating members on “economically-viable options to reducing climate risk and protecting our nation’s economy, security, infrastructure, agriculture, water supply and public safety.” https://www.c2es.org/content/congress-climate-history/ -
2020: Major energy legislation
In December 2020, Congress passed an omnibus package which includes the first major energy policy since 2007. The bipartisan bill includes research and development and deployment for clean energy technologies, clean energy tax incentives, and directs EPA to phase down the production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons. https://www.c2es.org/content/congress-climate-history/ -
Deb Haalland New Green https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/environment/2021/mar/25/deb-haaland-us-interior-policy-climate-change
Deb Haalland was sworn in to her post last week and has vowed to be a “fierce advocate” for public lands. Wildlife, parks and climate advocacy groups have hailed her confirmation as a major win for public lands and say that under Haaland’s leadership the interior department will renew its focus on fighting the climate emergency. She was one of the first co-sponsors of the Green New Deal and really broadly has a bold agenda for climate justice.