Carper Praises Introduction of American Power Act of 2010

WASHINGTON – Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), a key member of the Senate Environment and Public Works and Finance Committees, issued the following statement praising today’s introduction of the American Power Act by his colleagues Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.):

"Senators Kerry and Lieberman have worked tirelessly to produce the bill they released today and I congratulate them for their efforts so far. This is an encouraging step and it reaffirms my hope that this year we will be able to pass comprehensive legislation that will finally put a price on carbon. Putting a price on carbon will spur the development of new technologies that will create over 2 million American jobs and help make our nation a leader in the emerging green economy. This bill will also enhance our investment in energy efficiency and the development of clean energy sources such as offshore wind, solar, and nuclear.

"I have long believed that comprehensive climate legislation must take significant steps to reduce emissions from the transportations sector. That’s why I am pleased Senators Kerry and Lieberman have included my CLEAN TEA legislation in the American Power Act. This robust investment puts us on the right path to reduce transportation emissions and oil consumption and improve our nation’s crumbling transportation infrastructure. The American Power Act provides a strong commitment to a cleaner transportation system by providing Americans with a practical alternative to using their cars, trucks, and vans for every trip. I hope we can continue to build bipartisan support for infrastructure investment as part of the comprehensive climate bill as we move through the legislative process.

"There are still many steps in the process yet to come, and I expect there will be some important changes made as this effort advances and we build consensus around how to address this vitally important global energy and climate challenge, but I am committed to working with my colleagues to pass this critical legislation this year."