Background Congress is voting on the 2009 energy bill this week. But the latest version of the new energy bill would repeal a key part of the existing Clean Air Act. Yes We Can! Long Island strongly supports President Obama's energy strategy to create a green economy and combat global warming by reducing human output of greenhouse gases. But we are deeply troubled by a provision in the current version of the energy bill, called the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454), which would actually remove power from the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. The EPA has those powers under the Clean Air Act, and this bill would rescind those powers. This effort to revoke existing CAA authority seems to be driven by Big Coal companies who want to revoke President Obama's authority to crack down on global warming pollution from their dirty power plantsâand they're on the verge of winning. While the 2009 energy bill does lay out a cap and trade system that may eventually reduce carbon dioxide pollution, there is no such scheme for other greenhouse gases, some of which can have tremendous effects in small quantities. Regulation has played a key role in most environmental successes, and we view it as crucial that the EPA retain the ability to regulate all greenhouse gases. The clock is ticking down to the big vote this week. It's now or never. We need to protect the provisions in the existing Clean Air Act that allow the EPA to regulate those gases that contribute to global warming. The Petition We support President Obama's energy strategy. We strongly urge you to remove Sections 831-834 from the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) which would prevent the EPA from regulating all greenhouse gases, including those not covered under the cap and trade scheme, thus hobbling the government's ability to combat climate change.

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