Senate energy bill passes through committee

On June 17, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed the American Clean Energy Leadership Act, which includes the manufacturing energy efficiency provisions from S. 661, the Restoring America's Manufacturing Leadership through Energy Efficiency Act of 2009, as well as several other major energy bills. According to the Committee's website, the bill will:

• Accelerate the introduction of new clean energy technologies in the United States, creating new jobs and helping businesses grow through clean energy project financing, a renewable electricity standard and a robust and secure national electricity transmission highway;
• Increase energy efficiency in buildings, major equipment and appliances, saving consumers and businesses billions of dollars on their energy bills;
• Enhance America’s energy independence by increasing clean energy supplies and energy security, including new access to over 20 trillion cubic feet of clean natural gas resources;
• Strengthen America as the world leader in energy innovation, by doubling our national investment in energy research and technology;
• Build a new energy workforce for the future;
• Protect consumers by making energy markets more transparent and fair, and by providing new tools to fight market manipulation; and
• Tackle future energy and climate challenges with smarter, more integrated planning.

See ACEEE's preliminary analysis of the bill here. The full text of the legislation can be read here.