An American Power Act for An Ambitious U.S. Sustainability Policy

On 12 May 2010, a proposal for an American Power Act (APA) has been introduced by two renowned U.S. Senators, John Kerry and Joe Liberman.


The bill has as purpose to "secure the energy future of the United States, to provide incentives for the domestic production of clean energy technology, to achieve meaningful pollution reductions, to create jobs, and for other purposes."

The arguments put forward vy Senator Kerry basically 5, or as he puts, 5 "principles":

1. "Consumers will come out on top" by redistributing revenues not spent on U.S. deficit to consumers;
2. developing domestic energy generation, or "We need energy made in America";
3. invest in innovative energy technologies (all energy sources concerned) for allowing the US to "regain its competitive edge and lead the global clean energy economy;"
4. adopt an appropriate approach to the three main pollution sectors (power plants, heavy industry and transportation) in matter of carbon emissions reduction;
5. a "simple, stable and secure" system for controlling carbon pollution for the largest source of emissions and elimating possible manipulations.

Taking a closer look at the text of the APA: to be completed.

References

• Full text of the bill (987 pages!) as introduced on 12 May 2010, Senator Kerry's website;
• Summary of the American Power Act, Senator Kerry's website;
• For a follow-up of the legislative process, including commentaries, see Columbia Law School website dedicated to the Senate Climate Bills.