This piece was co-written by Kate Gordon, vice president for energy policy at American Progress. A critical element of President Obama's domestic agenda is transforming the United States to a low-carbon-pollution economy, which would spur recovery, create jobs, and generate long-term prosperity. The president also made clear in his State of the Union address this year that we need to ramp up our exports, especially of clean energy technologies, if we are going to stay competitive in the global economy. Comprehensive, bipartisan clean energy legislation that establishes a price on carbon pollution could provide the resources for a strong clean …

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is taking a page out of David Roberts' book by railing on the U.S. Senate to pass the clean energy jobs bill in this celebri-full video. It formally launches a new video advocacy campaign called This is Our Moment, which is banking on the pure pop-sexiness of stars like Chace Crawford to push the populace toward climate politickin'. They even get Chace to gossip to girls and guys about the senators saying "there's still time to sit on our ass and wait." At the same time, Jason Bateman scolds senators for the arrested development …

During President-Elect Barack Obama's transition, the Center for American Progress proposed a 10-point clean-energy agenda for the president and Congress that would speed the economic transformation to a clean energy economy. A review of these items today finds that all were adopted or are working their way through the process. This is a startling achievement amidst the worst economy in 70 years, two wars, and an opposition party disinterested in cooperation. President Obama did much of what he promised, and he can do more in 2010 by cajoling Congress to do its part. These achievements will have real world impact. …

The 15th United Nations climate summit has just ended in Copenhagen after a tense two weeks of negotiations between the developed and developing world. An "environmental Woodstock" to some, a high stakes diplomatic showdown to others, the meeting led to some critical but incomplete agreements. Now that it's over, the world's attention will focus on the United States Senate as it plans to consider clean energy and global warming legislation in 2010. The newly inked Copenhagen Accord, along with other factors, increases the odds for Senate passage of clean energy jobs and global warming legislation. The Copenhagen Accord should form …

The Congressional Budget Office -- the arbiter of the federal budget impact of all legislation -- just released an analysis that the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, S. 1733, ... would reduce budget deficits (or increase future surpluses) by about $21 billion over the 2010-2019 period ... In years after 2019, direct spending would be less than the net revenues attributable to the legislation in each of the 10-year periods following 2019. Therefore, CBO estimates that enacting S. 1733 would not increase the deficit in any of the four 10-year periods following 2019. This is crucial given that …

Susan Collins Though Sen. Susan Collins seems supportive of climate legislation, she remains a toss-up in the debate over the Kerry-Boxer bill. In this letter sent to a constituent in early December, she calls for "meaningful action" to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, while saying that solutions must be "reasonable": Dear [Constituent], Thank you for contacting me regarding climate change legislation.  I appreciate your letting me know of your support for the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act and Copenhagen climate negotiations. On September 30, 2009, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act was introduced by Senators Kerry (D-MA) and …

Sen. John Cornyn is expected to vote against a climate bill, and that's confirmed in this letter he wrote to a constituent.  He argues that the Kerry-Boxer climate bill would "create a massive new government bureaucracy, raise energy prices, increase taxes, and send American jobs overseas." Dear [Constituent]: Thank you for contacting me regarding a new international treaty on global climate change. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter. As you may know, the annual climate change conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December …

Sen. Daniel Akaka is considered a likely "yes" vote on climate legislation, but in this letter sent to a constituent in late November 2009, he doesn't reveal much of anything about his views on climate change or what should be done about it. Dear [Constituent]: Thank you for your comments on climate change and energy legislation. Related legislation includes S. 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, S. 1462, the American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009, and H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. Input from a full range of stakeholders is being …

Sen. Charles Schumer is an advocate for climate legislation and said in July that he believed such legislation would attract the 60 needed votes.  In this letter to a constituent, Schumer expresses his support for a bill "that gets America running on clean energy, ends our dependence on foreign oil and includes energy incentives that help businesses create jobs and consumers realize the benefits of clean energy without seeing their costs rise." Dear [Constituent]: Thank you for writing and expressing your support for strong climate change legislation. I share your concern about the harmful impacts climate change is having on …

President Obama announced today that he will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, raising the stakes for himself and all participating nations. The initial goal for Copenhagen was to forge a binding treaty. But that ambitious goal has been scaled back. With American climate protection legislation bogged down in the Senate after clearing the House, Obama can't put enough commitments on the table to secure a final agreement. Division over how to financially help developing nations respond to global warming also remains far from resolved. But the participating nations do not want Copenhagen to be an exercise …