{"id":19958,"date":"2020-03-09T13:10:38","date_gmt":"2020-03-09T18:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/?p=19958"},"modified":"2020-03-09T13:22:47","modified_gmt":"2020-03-09T18:22:47","slug":"momentum-for-climate-action-on-capitol-hill-launches-bipartisan-senate-innovation-package-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/2020\/03\/09\/momentum-for-climate-action-on-capitol-hill-launches-bipartisan-senate-innovation-package-forward\/","title":{"rendered":"Momentum for climate action on Capitol Hill launches bipartisan Senate innovation package"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/span><\/i>Local officials, lawmakers, and business leaders across the country are coalescing around initiatives to put the United States on a path to a 100% clean economy by 2050.<\/span><\/p>\n

To achieve this ambitious objective and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, we must ensure that no more climate pollution is produced than can be removed from the atmosphere across our economy.<\/span><\/p>\n

While there are different paths to achieve a 100% clean economy, we know we can\u2019t be successful on the timeline science demands without a comprehensive limit and price on carbon emissions, accelerated deployment of existing clean energy technologies and rapid advancement in technology innovation. Together, this will spur a transition from a fossil fuel based economy to one driven by clean, affordable, reliable energy sources.<\/span><\/p>\n

This transformation will affect every sector of our economy. But it can\u2019t happen on its own, and it certainly won\u2019t take place overnight, which is why we need lawmakers in Washington, D.C. to make progress whenever the opportunity arises.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), leaders of the Senate\u2019s Energy and Natural Resources Committee, recognize the important role innovation will play in a 100% clean future and <\/span>have developed<\/span><\/a> a major legislative package that includes dozens of provisions supporting new and expanded investment in research, development and demonstration for a wide range of low-carbon energy technologies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While this bipartisan package provides much-needed resources for an array of emerging low-carbon technologies, it could be improved by more balance in its funding levels. The current bill greatly increases funding to research and develop advanced nuclear and carbon capture, two technologies with potentially long timelines and limits to where they can be deployed to achieve significant emissions reductions, while keeping funding for renewables relatively flat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Notable clean energy bills in this package include:<\/b><\/p>\n