Washington, DC — A new proposal to create a federal clean energy standard offers a greatly-needed pathway to swiftly decarbonize the electricity sector and help America address climate change.

“We need climate solutions that boldly move us toward net-zero emissions — the goal laid out by the world’s scientists. This legislation from Senator Smith and Congressman Luján charts a path forward for a truly national and technology-inclusive approach to a net-zero carbon energy policy,” said Shannon Heyck-Williams, director of climate and energy policy for the National Wildlife Federation. “As we move forward, Congress should build off this legislation to ensure we do not leave workers or communities behind who have powered America for generations and should benefit from the transition to our clean energy future.”

The Clean Energy Standard Act of 2019, introduced by U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), would:

• Establish a technology-neutral federal Clean Energy Standard to put the United States on a path to net-zero electricity emissions, 
• Reduce emissions by an estimated 80 percent by 2035, and more than 90 percent by mid-century — critical for wildlife, public health and climate change; and,
• Encourage companies to bring cost-effective, emission-free technologies to market, including long-term storage.