.svg) | |
| Other short titles | |
|---|---|
| Long title | An Act to move the United States towards a greener and renewable future, to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions, to invest in clean renewable energy sources, to authorize funds for the construction and maintenance of sustainable climate resilient infrastructure, to create green jobs, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes. |
| Acronyms (colloquial) | EARTH Act |
| Enacted by | the 110th United States Congress |
| Effective | September 22, 2007 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | 110-140 |
| Statutes at Large | 121 Stat. 1492 |
| Codification | |
| Acts amended | Clean Air Act |
| Titles amended | 42 U.S.C.: Public Health and Social Welfare |
| Legislative history | |
| |
The Environmental Applications and Renewable Technologies for Habitability Act of 2007 (Pub.L. 110-140[1]), commonly known as the EARTH Act, is a landmark United States federal law that aims to provide large-scale investment into climate change mitigation and green infrastructure. As part of the Democratic Party's 100-Hour Plan during the 110th Congress, it was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Representative Nick Rahall of West Virginia, along with 198 cosponsors. Even though Rahall was 1 of only 4 Democrats to oppose the final bill, it passed in the House without amendment in January 2007. When the Act was introduced in the Senate in June 2007, it was combined with Senate Bill S. 309: Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act of 2007,[2] Senate Bill S. 1419: Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007,[3] and Senate Bill S. 2191: America's Climate Security Act of 2007.[4] This amended version passed the Senate on June 21, 2007. After further amendments and negotiation between the House and Senate, a revised bill passed both houses on September 20, 2007 and President Gore signed it into law on September 22, 2007.
The act followed another major piece of energy legislation, the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
Background
editDuring his State of the Union address, President Al Gore spoke on "the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address environmental challenges and promote renewable energy sources", and urged Congress to pass legislation on tackling climate change. This led the Senate to initiate efforts on legislating a climate bill.
The proposed budget of the EARTH Act rounded up to a rough total of $500 billion. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid commented that the substantial financial commitment "reflects the gravity of the issues at hand and the comprehensive approach envisioned by the legislation". The proposed budget aimed to support various initiatives and programs aimed at mitigating climate change, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and improving infrastructure and transportation systems.
The primary objective of the EARTH Act was to address and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The legislation includes provisions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance resilience to climate-related hazards, and promote sustainable practices across various sectors. By implementing stricter emission standards and incentivizing the adoption of renewable energy sources, the EARTH Act seeks to curb the negative effects of climate change and mitigate its long-term consequences.
In addition to climate and energy-related provisions, the EARTH Act also encompasses measures to improve infrastructure and transportation systems. Recognizing the interconnectedness of these sectors with environmental sustainability, the legislation aims to promote the development and modernization of infrastructure that aligns with sustainable practices. This includes investing in renewable energy infrastructure, improving public transportation networks, and enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure to climate-related events.
Provisions
editProvisions within the act include:
1. Green Energy Research and Development (R&D) Funding:
- $100 billion towards R&D for renewable energy technologies, including solar, wind, geothermal, and energy storage.
- Establish grants and subsidies to encourage private sector investment in clean energy innovation and promote collaboration between research institutions and industry.
2. Climate Change Mitigation:
- $50 billion towards climate change mitigation efforts, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting energy efficiency.
- Investing in the development and deployment of clean technologies to decarbonize sectors such as transportation, manufacturing, and agriculture.
3. Renewable Energy Infrastructure:
- $150 billion towards building and upgrading renewable energy infrastructure, including transmission lines, smart grids, and energy storage facilities.
- Promotes the expansion of clean energy generation capacity, such as offshore wind farms and large-scale solar installations.
4. Sustainable Transportation:
- $100 billion towards sustainable transportation infrastructure, including electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, public transportation systems, and bike lanes.
- Incentivize the production and purchase of electric vehicles through tax credits, grants, and subsidies.
5. Resilient Infrastructure:
- $50 billion towards improving infrastructure resilience to climate change impacts, such as extreme weather events and rising sea levels.
- Prioritizes investments in infrastructure projects that incorporate climate resilience measures, including flood control systems, green infrastructure, and coastal protection.
6. Environmental Justice and Equity:
- $25 billion towards addressing environmental justice concerns and promoting equity in the transition to a green economy.
- Ensures that marginalized communities disproportionately affected by pollution and climate change have access to clean energy, clean water, and green jobs.
7. Job Creation and Workforce Development:
- $25 billion towards job creation and workforce development in the green energy and infrastructure sectors.
- Provides funding for training programs, apprenticeships, and job placement initiatives to support the transition to a clean energy economy and ensure a just transition for workers in fossil fuel industries.
8. Monitoring and Accountability:
- Establish mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of funded projects in achieving green energy, climate change, transportation, and infrastructure goals.
- Require regular reporting and transparency on the use of funds, outcomes achieved, and progress towards meeting targets set under the legislation.
Legislative history
editThe initial version[5] of H.R. 6 passed the House of Representatives on January 18, 2007, by a vote of 264 to 163. Following President Gore's State of the Union address, the Senate began using H.R. 6 as the legislative vehicle for the new climate bill.
Senate Minority Leader, Republican Mitch McConnell, led a significant opposition to the bill and expressed concerns about the proposed budget's impact on the national deficit and argued that the bill's provisions would impose burdensome regulations on industries and hinder economic growth, saying Democrats had "shown how to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory" by "inserting an enormous tax hike, a tax hike they knew would doom this legislation."
Representative Ted Poe said the bill "will decrease U.S. exploration and will increase our dependence on foreign oil," and, "by raising taxes and fees on oil and gas companies that choose to manufacture in America, the U.S. will become a less attractive place to produce oil and natural gas. This essentially creates incentives for foreign importation and could kill manufacturing jobs in an industry that employs nearly 1.8 million Americans."
Democrats commanded a 60-seat supermajority in the Senate at the time, enough to end a filibuster. However, concerns were raised on whether Independent Democrat Connecticut Senator Joe Lieberman would place a roadblock on the legislation's progress by choosing to sustain a filibuster or knock down some of the provisions in the legislation. Following extensive negotiations, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid agreed on May 18, 2007 to incorporate selected provisions from Lieberman's climate security bill in exchange for his support for the legislation.
On June 20, 2007, Reid proposed an amendment which would replace the text of the previously passed bill with the text of the Environmental Applications and Renewable Technologies for Habitability Act of 2007. This substitute amendment was later adopted. On June 21, 2007, the Senate passed the bill 61–31 while the House passed the final version 250–179 on September 20, 2007. President Gore signed it into law two days later on September 22, 2007.
Upon the legislation's passage, House Speaker Dick Gephardt commended the EARTH Act, and said the act "marked a significant milestone in the United States' commitment to addressing environmental concerns and transitioning towards a more sustainable and renewable future."
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Pub. L. 110–140 (text) (PDF)
- ^ S. 309
- ^ S. 1419
- ^ S. 2191
- ^ "Bill Text - 110th Congress (2007–2008) - THOMAS (Library of Congress)". Thomas.loc.gov. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved 2010-11-27.