Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA) introduced their follow up to the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act, which narrowly passed the House in June. The senators claim that the bill will clean up the skies, but with limited transparency, one has to wonder if the legislation will ever see the light of day.

From West Virginia Watchdog:

The Senate’s version of the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy And Security Act of 2009 was introduced today by Senators John Kerry, D-Mass., Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act claims it will “cut carbon pollution and stimulate the economy by creating millions of jobs in the clean energy sector.” The goal is to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 20 percent by 2020, bringing them down to 2005 levels; a 3 percent increase over the cuts called for by the Waxman-Markey Bill.

From the press release:

“This is a security bill that puts Americans back in charge of our energy future and makes it clear that we will combat global climate change with American ingenuity. It is our country’s defense against the harms of pollution and the security risks of global climate change,” said Kerry.

“Global warming is our challenge. Economic recovery is our challenge. American leadership is our challenge,” added Boxer. “Let’s step up right now. Let’s not quit until we have fulfilled our responsibility to our children and our grandchildren.”

Other than a difference of percentages, the bill mirrors the Waxman-Markey Bill, including a cap-and-trade plan which would put a limit on how much carbon can be emitted and require companies to purchase carbon credits.

The bill is 821 pages long, but if you’ve got the time it could make for some interesting reading. The bill is posted in full below:

UPDATE (1:42 p.m.): I tried to do what I usually do, meaning post the document using Scribd. However, it seems that Sen. Kerry wants to control how a public document is distributed. Here is the link to the bill (Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act). I would encourage Sen. Kerry and Sen. Boxer to allow this bill to be openly distributed.

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