Congress is struggling to answer President Obama’s call for energy reform, even as our climate and economy continue to degrade. Deadly storms and floods have left Alaska, Kentucky, Missouri, West Virginia, Illinois, and Arkansas in states of emergency, as wildfires fueled by drought rage in California and Florida. Gasoline prices “jumped 12 cents, or 6 percent, last week, after several weeks of relative stability.” And the Bureau of Labor Statistics has announced that there are “roughly 4.8 unemployed workers for every available job today,” up 280 percent from 2007. To create millions of green jobs, end our dependence on coal and oil, and halt global warming, Obama has asked for comprehensive energy legislation like the American Clean Energy and Security Act, co-sponsored by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA), which would set federal standards for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and global warming pollution.
From: thingkprogress.org