What will it take for the U.S. to make clean energy a viable source of energy in this country? How can clean energy policies both make clean energy more widely available and boost the economy? What clean energy policies are being developed and implemented locally? How are these policies creating new opportunities for local green building projects?

1. Clean Energy Policy & Green Buildings
Green Roundtable
Boston, MA
February 20, 2008
Progressive Ideas for a Strong, Just and Free America

2. Climate & Energy Policy Is Changing Fast
Energy Bill Passed
• Green Jobs Act
Important Renewables Legislation is on the Table
Climate Legislation is Moving in House & Senate
Stimulus and Infrastructure are going green
The terms of debate are changing…

3. Discussion of the Environment is Changing too
Green is becoming an organizing principle for all policy
Focus on investment and reconstruction
Economic security linked to energy independence
Green Jobs Acts: Economic opportunity & equity
National security being linked to renewables policy
Policy driven market creation is becoming accepted
Solving Global Warming means Rebuilding Everything
Green Building is increasingly relevant to all policy

4. Energy Bill of 2007
1. CAFÉ Standard (+40% to 35 MPG by 2020)
2. Renewable Fuel Standard (36B Gal. by 2022 / 21B advanced)
3. Appliance and Lighting Efficiency (-30% by 2014 / -65% by 2020)
4. Building Efficiency (Goal of 0 net energy commercial by 2030)
5. Federal Buildings (all - 30% by 2015 / new -100% by 2030)
6. Green Jobs Act (125 Million for training in ee and renewables)
7. Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (2B, 5 yrs.)
8. Carbon Capture and Storage & Smart Grid Research

5. Key Renewable Energy Provisions Dropped
Federal Renewable Electricity Standard
• 15% of all electricity from renewables
• Would have saved $35B through 2030, 41k Jobs
• Cut 121M metric tons CO2
Renewable Energy & Conservation Tax Act
• 9B in tax incentives / 13.5B Oil Subsidy Rollback
• Investment Tax Credit (for Solar & Geothermal)
• Production Tax Credit (for Wind & Biomass)
• 4K Energy Efficiency Prperty Tax Credit

6. Action on Climate: Coming Soon…
Lieberman Warner voted out of committee
• Flawed but strong bill, getting serious consideration
• 65 to 70% reductions from 2005 by 2050 (not enough)
• Significant free allocations = windfall to polluters
• Auctions: 26.5% in 2012, 41% in 2022, 69.5% in 2031
• No performance standards on new coal
This is the warm up for a serious bill in 2009
Pricing Carbon & Auctions = $50 to $300B / Year
Climate bill + real energy policy = major change for cities.
More on Horizon -- Stimulus & Infrastructure going
green!!

7. States and Cities are Leading the Way
36 States have climate action plans
17 States have GHG reduction targets
Over 1/2 of all states have RPS laws
Many over 20% renewables (CA, OR, NV, NM, IL…)
KA, NV, FL, TX, new battle grounds for coal plants
3 Regional Cap and Trade programs
• RGGI, Western Climate Initiative, Midwest Regional Accord
Over 700 Mayors - US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
• Task now is to implement agreements = green development

8. Local Initiatives are Breaking New Ground
Washington DC Experience (Just one example…)
• Green Building Law
• Moving to the Space Between the Buildings
• Looking at Economic Development Pipeline (LSDBEs)
• Job Training & Green Collar Jobs (Advisory Council)
• Infrastructure (Storm Water, eg.)
• Green Team created by Mayor to cut across agencies
• Community Action (Ward 8 Green Jobs Fair)
Organizing gets results, and builds local markets for green!

9. Clean Tech and Green Building = Investment
Wind Power is growing: $17.9B in 2006 to $60.8 B in 2016
Solar PV is growing: $15.6B in 2006 to $69.3 in 2016
3 largest IPO’s in 2005 were all solar companies
4 largest clean techs will grow (4x) to $226.5B in 2016
Green as a sector:
• 5.3 million jobs
• $341B in sales & $47B in tax revenue
• 3x Chemicals, 10x Pharmaceuticals
• Larger than biggest Fortune 500 company

10. Green = Jobs, Growth, and Economic Security
Renewables and EE = 2x the jobs of fossil fuel
25% renewables = $700B for US Farmers
Renewable Energy and Efficiency
• will create 8.5 million jobs (MISI/ASES)
• $970B industry revenue
EE is the most cost effective energy source and creates
the greatest local investment and job creation.
Clean energy politics is a winner if it can be mobilized
Positive jobs focus brings new partners to the table…

11. In Conclusion
The environmental debate has changed
Green building has much to gain from this shift
Green building has much to teach these new approaches
We need a broad based movement - more than green…
We are being offered a new political moment
It is time to organize and build on political support
The scale of the challenge is enormous,
but so is the scale of the opportunity.
What do we want to build ???

12. Bracken Hendricks, Senior Fellow
Center for American Progress
1333 H Street, NW. 20005
Phone: 202-481-8227
bhendricks@americanprogress.org