A little after 7 p.m. eastern time on Friday, June 26, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a highly-controversial and revised version of the American Clean Energy and Security Act (“ACES” aka the Waxman-Markey bill), now an almost 1,500 page bill aimed at controlling pollution that is connected to climate change by establishing mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions. The bill essentially passed on partisan lines, with only eight Republicans supporting the bill and a number of moderate Democrats opposing, for a vote of 219-212. This historic vote and passage of the bill by the House fulfilled Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s vow to clear major energy legislation before July 4.

 

In addition to establishing mandatory greenhouse gas emissions, the bill also includes numerous provisions intended to provide the United States with an era of cleaner, albeit more costly, energy. As written, the bill will now reach into most aspects of the Untied States’ economy, from managing foreign trade to impacting the generation of electricity. Some provisions could even impact how homes are heated and designed.

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