Act: Congress

Senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman finally released the latest version of the climate bill, the American Power Act on May 13. Swift action on this climate bill is needed; however, competing policy priorities may delay a vote. We can’t let this happen. The Senate needs to pass climate legislation now and include provisions for modernizing electricity distribution systems.

Clean, distributed generation and smart microgrids have not yet been a part of the climate bill discussion, but their inclusion is critical if we are to integrate significant levels of renewable energy without compromising reliability. Microgrids create local jobs, promote energy independence, reduce polluting carbon emissions, and help us transition to an efficient, clean energy economy — making them the best approach for achieving our nation’s energy and environmental goals.