ACES Faith and Facts
Exploring the unique support for and facts behind the landmark climate legislation.
By Christy Harvey, Mic Check Radio
June 25, 2009
AP/Ron Edmonds
Know Five Things
As the House of Representatives nears a vote on the landmark American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), Know 5 Things takes a look at support for the bill among the faith community as well as facts on the bills intentions and costs.
1. The New Ad
This week, Catholics United launched a new radio ad campaign in South Bend, IN, calling on Congress to support the American Clean Energy and Security Act. [Catholics United]
From their press release: “The ad, entitled “In This Together,” features South Bend native Sister Sharon Dillon, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis and former executive director of both the Franciscan Mission Service of North America and the Franciscan Federation of the Third Order for the United States. In the ad, Sister Sharon explains that despite hard times for Indiana’s working families, the energy bill promises to jump-start local economic development through investment in technologies like wind and solar power.”
2. People of Faith And The Environment
This past year, a large group of churches united in an effort to create a “greener” Palm Sunday, “promoting palm fronds that are produced in a way intended to preserve the environment and protect the livelihood of the Mexican and Guatemalan harvesters.” [Washington Post]
A majority of Catholics are worried about climate change. According to a recent Zogby poll, “55 percent of the 1,001 Catholics polled between March 30 and April 14 believed global warming and climate change were serious problems. The poll found that 60 percent of respondents felt that climate change must be addressed immediately even if not everything is known about it.” [CNS]
Still work to be done: Overall, 47 percent, of the adult U.S. population acknowledges the solid evidence that the earth is warming because of human activities. Of white Protestant groups, a Pew study found “white mainline Protestants the figure was 48 percent, it was 39 percent for black Protestants and 34 percent for white evangelical Protestants, a key base for the Republican Party whose leaders have often cast doubt on the link between emissions and climate change.” [Pew]
3. Clean Energy Effect: The Economy
A study released last week by the Center for American Progress found that the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) would help spur $150 billion of investment in clean energy technology every year, creating 1.7 million net jobs. [CAP]
4. Clean Energy Effect: Energy
Reducing reliance on foreign oil: According to a new Clean-Energy Debate Guide by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, “The United States imported 57 percent of its oil last year, sending $342 billion out of the country. Nearly three-quarters of oil use goes toward transportation.The new fuel economy standards announced by President Barack Obama on May 19, 2009 will reduce oil use by 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the life of the program.
The standards will produce a car and light truck vehicle fleet that would achieve the equivalent of 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. This is nearly a one-third improvement in fuel economy.” [Clean Energy Debate Guide]
Reducing emissions: ACES requires greenhouse gas emissions to be 17 percent lower than 2005 levels by 2020. This is equivalent to taking half a billion cars off the road. [Clean Energy Debate Guide]
5. The Cost of ACES
According to new research from the Congressional Budget Office, ACES will cost the average American household about the same amount of money as a postage stamp per day. [Al Gore]
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