As debate heats up on the proposed American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES), President Obama met with Congressional leaders to negotiate a consensus on moving the United States a step closer to energy, economic, and climate security. The ACES bill (or the “Clean Energy Jobs Plan,” as it’s also known) is a comprehensive piece of energy legislation aimed at creating jobs, strengthening national security, protecting public health, and preventing the worst damages of global warming.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Representative Markey, chairman of the subcommittee on Energy and Environment, establishes a market-based cap-and-trade program that reduces global warming emissions from large carbon emitters in electricity generation, transportation, industrial facilities, and liquid fuel and natural gas production. The bill would also establish a national renewable electricity standard, require electricity and natural gas providers to meet energy savings targets through efficiency improvements, and create a low carbon fuel standard to reduce emissions from the transportation sector.

As debate heats up on the proposed American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACES), President Obama met with