Democrats want to give America the
edge on energy independence by moving in a new direction. Senate
Democrats’ Clean Energy Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) Initiative
will help transform America’s energy policy to meet the most pressing national security,
economic, and environmental challenges of our generation. Democrats
understand—and our nation’s history demonstrates—that America can
rise to the occasion. Making energy independence a truly national effort
takes a bold plan, leaders with resolve, and a shared sense of commitment among
individual citizens.
Like the Manhattan
and the Apollo Projects in previous generations, the Clean EDGE Initiative
begins with an aggressive goal: to reduce American petroleum consumption by
almost 6 million barrels a day in 2020—or 40 percent of America’s
projected imports. By promoting innovation, investing in our workers and
infrastructure, and providing American consumers with broader, more responsible
choices, the Clean EDGE Initiative will provide the tools to help move America
forward, toward real energy security for the 21st Century.
Transforming America’s Vehicles and Infrastructure
Flex fuel vehicles. The
Clean EDGE Act accelerates the conversion of American vehicles to
flexible fuel technology. The legislation mandates that 25 percent of new
vehicles sold in the United
States by 2010 must be flex-fuel capable,
increasing to 50 percent by 2020. Flexible fuel vehicles can run on
higher blends of biofuels, which helps displace
petroleum and provide competition at the gas pump.
Accelerating infrastructure conversion. A
major barrier to using flex fuel vehicles to reduce petroleum consumption is
the lack of refueling stations that provide biofuels.
The Clean EDGE Act sets a national goal of making alternative fuels
available at 10 percent of American gas stations by 2015. To help achieve
this goal, the legislation provides additional tools to individual retailers,
along with support to local governments that partner with private industry to
establish alternative refueling corridors. In order to break the oil
industry’s lock on the gas pump, it also requires major integrated oil
companies that own refueling stations to install alternative fuel pumps.
Hybrids and advanced vehicle technology. The Clean EDGE Act accelerates and extends
incentives to purchase and manufacture vehicles that rely on advanced fuel
efficiency technologies.
Protecting American Consumers and Businesses
Preventing gas price gouging and increasing
transparency in the oil and gas industry. The
Clean EDGE Act makes gas price-gouging a federal crime, enhances federal
authority to prevent and prosecute manipulation of fuel supplies and
anti-competitive behavior, and increases the transparency of petroleum markets.
Energy price relief for low-income Americans. The Clean EDGE Act will provide
additional assistance to Americans struggling under the weight of rising energy
costs by providing flexibility in Food Stamp and Section 8 Public Housing
requirements and a refundable tax credit to LIHEAP-eligible households to help
cover residential energy costs.
Energy emergency loans for farmers and small
businesses. Volatile prices place an extra burden on businesses
that operate close to the margin. The Clean EDGE Act creates
disaster loan assistance through the Small Business Administration and USDA for
small businesses and farmers trying to cope with rising energy costs.
Leveling the Playing Field for Clean Energy
Technologies
Ending giveaways to Big Oil. The Clean EDGE Act will revoke
subsidies for profit-rich, major oil companies and make sure they pay their
fair share in royalties owed to American taxpayers for drilling on public lands
and in federal waters.
Providing certainty to emerging technologies. Rather
than subsidizing the petroleum industry, the Clean EDGE Act will use
these savings to provide greater certainty for clean energy development by
extending incentives for renewable energy and efficiency technologies.
Real Government Leadership for Clean and Secure
Energy
A serious federal commitment. The
federal government is the single largest energy consumer in America.
The Clean EDGE Act requires the federal government to reduce its
petroleum consumption by 20 percent in five years and 40 percent by 2020,
increase its renewable electricity use to 10 percent of total consumption by
2013, and employ advanced, efficient, and renewable technology to help drive
innovations and jump-start markets.
Innovative new tools for states. The Clean EDGE Act provides enhanced
bond issuing authority to states and local governments for projects to reduce
oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, develop non-petroleum fuels,
invest in efficient vehicles, and construct alternative infrastructure and
transit.
Diversifying American Energy Sources, Investing in
the Future
Renewable electricity. To
help reduce America’s
reliance on fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Clean EDGE
Act sets a national renewable portfolio standard requiring that 10 percent
of all electricity produced in the country come from renewable sources by 2020.
ARPA-E. The Clean EDGE Act
will create an Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) to develop
cutting-edge technologies that will reduce oil consumption, improve electricity
efficiency and reliability, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Investing in American jobs and industry. The Clean EDGE Act will create a clean
energy investment administration to help deploy new, on-the-ground solutions.
It will also invest in education programs to develop a skilled domestic
workforce in advanced energy technologies.
