Moving U.S. from carbon energy to clean power

The American Clean Energy and Security Act begins to lay the groundwork for a future powered by the wind and sun. America needs this bill to maximize job creation, invest in the skills of our workers and the long-term economic prosperity of our country, and significantly reduce the pollution that has been caused by fossil fuel industries for decades.

University of Massachusetts economists estimate that investing $100 billion in clean energy and green infrastructure over two years would generate 235,198 jobs here in California. Between the $80 billion in the president's economic recovery plan and funding in his budget, we're on track to do even more.

To deliver on the promise that clean energy holds to transform our economy, the House of Representatives should strengthen the act in these ways:

• Increase the clean energy standards to 30 percent by 2020, combine renewable energy and energy efficiency to deliver more clean energy jobs to the U.S. economy more quickly.
• Restore authority to the EPA to regulate carbon emissions from power plants under the Clean Air Act.
• Reduce incentives to polluting industries to supplement programs that create green jobs and train workers to fill them.

There may be efforts to roll back the target for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 2020. The bill's science-based standards aim to reduce U.S. global warming pollution by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, and achieve an additional 10 percent reduction through agreements to prevent tropical deforestation, for a total reduction of 27 percent by 2020. By 2050, the bill would reduce emissions by 83 percent. We are urging Congress to oppose any effort to weaken the pollution reduction targets.

Congress needs to hear from people who are ready to repower America - to move away from the polluting energy sources of the past and toward the clean energy technologies of the future.

The author of this article, Representative Michael Honda is a member of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. Actress Amy Smart serves on the boards of the Environmental Media Association and Heal the Bay.