Five years ago Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Rep. Edward Markey (D-MA) introduced the American Clean Energy and Security Act. The bill sought to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, 42 percent by 2030, and 83 percent by 2050. The bill narrowly passed the House of Representatives but it failed in the Senate.
Many assumed the bill’s defeat meant U.S. greenhouse gas emissions would continue to increase over time. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reported that U.S. emissions in 2012 were 10 percent lower than in 2005 and are at their lowest levels since 1994. Most of the decline is due to reductions in energy consumption, increased automotive fuel efficiency, and a shift to using natural gas rather than coal in power plants.
Reducing our nation’s emissions 10 percent in less than ten years is remarkable, but far more is possible. For example, the school where I teach, Luther College, has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent over the same period of time—25 percent via investments in energy efficiency and 15 percent via investments in renewable energy, especially wind energy. Our goal is to cut our carbon footprint in half by 2015, and we are on track to achieve our goal.
It is possible to make significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in our homes, at work, and in our houses of worship. While these reductions are motivated by good financial and environmental stewardship, they are assisted by good public policy. For example, energy efficiency programs offered by our electric utility and mandated by the Iowa Utilities Board have aided Luther’s efforts. Various federal and state incentives for investment in renewable energy have also played a vital role.
Iowa Interfaith Power & Light stands ready to help all people of faith reduce their carbon footprints and to serve as champions for climate and energy policy that will help our nation and others make significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.