Thread by @JesseJenkins

Building on the momentum from states & utilities (see catf.us/wp-content/upl…), @TinaSmithMN & @repbenraylujan introduced legislation today that would put the US electricity sector on a path to #100PercentClean, the Clean Energy Standard Act of 2019:
m.box.com/shared_item/ht…

The bill is notable and important contribution to efforts to build national consensus for serious clean energy and climate policy action. Here's why I like it...

1. There's broad consensus electricity is the linchpin in any effort to confront #climatechange, not only because it's responsible for ~30% of US CO2, but also because electrifying more energy use in transportation, buildings, & industry is key to decarbonize those sectors too.

2. The Smith-Lujan bill would put all US utilities on a path to 100% clean carbon-free electricity. But it also recognizes every utility starts on that path from a different place. Utilities all have different targets, w/those starting further behind ramping up faster to catch up

3. The Smith-Lujan bill is technology-inclusive and focused on ends (getting to 100% clean, carbon-free electricity) not means (specifying particular technologies). That's smart because using every tool in our toolbox means lower costs + less risk to reach #100PercentClean

4. The bill recognizes that we need what I've called "firm low-carbon resources" (see bit.ly/FirmLowCarbon) and the bill calls "dispatchable" to cost-effectively reach #100PercentClean & rewards their early deployment to ensure we have these techs when needed to finish the job

Decarbonizing electricity alone isn't enough. But it IS necessary. A Clean Electricity Standard is a flexible and pretty cost-effective way to get that job done. (It could be even more cost-effective if paired with a modest carbon price, as I discuss here kleinmanenergy.upenn.edu/policy-digests…)

Finally, I applaud @TinaSmithMN and @repbenraylujan -- and particularly their staff!! -- for the hard work and careful though put into this bill. This is not a simple "message bill" or an aspirational resolution. They put a LOT of time & thought into this. It shows.

PS @cleanaircatf has a nice summary of the Smith-Lujan Clean Energy Standard Act here as well catf.us/2019/05/smith-…

Oh, one other thing: the Clean Energy Standard Act has a provision I like a lot: it adjusts pace of increase in clean electricity required up/down if costs are lower/higher than expected. That's smart. If costs of clean energy fall faster, we get to #100PercentClean faster too.