Stage Five: Original editorial or commentary #1

The American Clean Energy and Security Act

For the first time, both houses of Congress addressed and approved the Bill involving the seriousness of global warming pollution. In June.2009 the House of Representatives successfully passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act. This legislation created a plan to develop America into a clean energy economy and reduce pollution. The Bill proposes a cap and trade system. The government will set a limit (cap) for the total amount of greenhouse gases that can be emitted nationally. Permits to emit these gases, primarily carbon dioxide, will be sold and bought by companies (the trade part of the program). In order to reduce the total carbon emissions, the cap is reduced overtime. The cap on total emission is set for a period of 2012, through 2050. The legislation would regulate specific entities to hold the right, or the allowance ti emit greenhouse gases. Those entities, which emit more gases, face a higher cost, providing an economic incentive to reduce emissions. The sharp increase of dramatic warming in the past fifty years is a result of human activity. The high levels of atmospheric gases are the results of burning fossil fuels, clearing of land and agricultural activity. United Stated energy-related carbon dioxide emissions represent 82 percent of our total human greenhouse gas emission.

President Obama is in full support of the bill, and it is now time to send it through the Senate for approval. The Bill has created deserved excitement and mixed feelings about how it will affect the economy and the American citizens. This issue has been addressed for decades, and time is running out. Several members of the Congress and the Senate are concern that the fees in relation to the Bill, would equal an new tax, which would not only be affecting the consumers but hurt the nation's economy. This bill will lead to changes in many sectors of the economy, such as, electric power generation, agriculture, manufactures and construction. However, the bill also contains a provision; the Congressional Budget office estimated that the average American household would pay $170.00 a year in energy cost by 2020. The poorest household would receive rebates that would lower the annual energy by $40.00.

Even though, there is a concern about increased taxes and how this gradual change may affect certain individuals with job opportunities, it is important to understand that the global warming must be stopped in its tracks, because the overall effects are widespread and largely irreparable. Aside from the fact that it is affecting the animal and plant productivity and vitality, along with fragile ecosystem, it is also affecting the human race.

According to the Center of Disease Control, and increase of injuries and death caused by severe weather such as hurricanes is expected which, in return affects the economy and financial stability of the affected area. Due to drought and driven air pollution, there will be more cases of respiratory problems. There will be higher rates of waterborne diseases, such as cholera and mental health problems such as depression and post traumatic stress. It seems to me that the consequences can be so severe; we might be having a much larger issue with our health care than what we are experiencing now.

The Democrats and Republicans need to set their differences aside and support this legislation. If we do not take care of our Earth, pretty soon we will not have a safe place to live in. We need the political support and the economic capital to make clean energy. It is our moral duty to address the carbon usage in today's world, in order to protect the generations to come. If this bill passes then we are taking a huge step forward in securing our future energy and investing in the protection of natural resources.

http://www.globawarmingsolutions.org/basics
http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press 111/20090724/hr2454 housesummary.pdf.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/27/us/politics/27climate.html
http://www.npr.org/blogs.thetwo-way/2009/06/obamalobbiesforenergybill.html