WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined 14 Senate colleagues to introduce the Electrifying America’s Future Resolution. The resolution aims to advance the vision of widespread electrification of appliances and machines in American homes and businesses, and outlines the ways that widespread electrification will address climate change, put millions of Americans to work, and advance an equitable economy and strong labor standards.

“Climate change is the most pressing global crisis of our lifetimes – but it is also an opportunity to create millions of new jobs, protect communities from longstanding environmental threats, and sustain America’s economic leadership for decades to come,” said Senator King. “Moving away from fossil fuels and electrifying our nation is vital to any effective climate response, and we have the technologies to get the job done; now, we simply need the political will. I’m proud to stand alongside my colleagues to call for modernizations that will support our environment, our economy, and our future.”

Specifically, the Electrifying America’s Future Resolution calls for:

·         Electrifying the activities of high-emissions sectors, such as the residential and commercial construction, transportation, and industrial sectors

·         Increasing the deployment of zero-emission electricity resources

·         Expanding interregional transmission capacity and planning to promote widespread and reliable zero-emission electrification

·         Adopting and expanding the use of technologies and processes that will make the electric power grid more resilient, reliable, and efficient

·         Improving commercial, infrastructural, and manufacturing capacity for zero-emission electrification

·         Lowering total energy costs for households and businesses

·         Increasing the available financing for zero-emission electrification supporting technologies at all scales, from utility-scale power stations and transmission lines to individual homes and businesses

·         Creating accessible financing mechanisms to make electrification projects affordable for all households

·         Improving quality and access for higher education, vocational training, and certification programs for electrification workers, including low-income workers and people of color

·         Facilitating the modernization of Federal, State, and local building, electric, and other codes to encourage the adoption of low-cost zero-emission electricity resources

·         Investing in energy efficiency programs paired with electrification measures

·         Investing in achieving full access to zero-emission electricity for rural and Tribal communities through a combination of new transmission and distribution, and new generation, such as through distributed solar and microgrids

·         Pursuing a Federal Government-wide approach to zero-emission electrification

·         Investing in research, development, and demonstration on the efficient use, recycling, and waste management of materials used in clean energy technologies

·         Increasing research, development, and demonstration funding for the next generation of cutting-edge zero- emission electricity resources, deployment techniques, and grid modernization technologies 

A forceful advocate for clean energy solutions wherever they can be found, Senator King is a founding member of the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus, and a lead sponsor on a range of bills that encourage energy efficiency and research on clean energy technologies. Senator King has been outspoken about climate dangers posed by methane, an extremely dangerous greenhouse gas released during natural gas extraction. Senator King is a leader in the effort to repeal the Trump Administration’s relaxation of methane regulations – which passed the Senate in April.

Senator King is the lead sponsor of the Battery and Critical Mineral Recycling Act, which aims to incentivize the recycling of rechargeable and electrochemical batteries needed to meet the United States’ growing clean energy needs and decrease dependence on critical mineral imports, and the Joint Long-Term Storage Act seeks to speed up deployment of long-duration energy storage technologies through strategic collaboration between federal agencies. Senator King is a cosponsor of the Renewable Electricity Standard Act of 2019 which would put the U.S. on a trajectory to decarbonize the power sector by 2050, and the Clean Economy Act which would address the need for bold climate action and at the same time boosts American competitiveness, promotes healthier communities and fosters a growing economy that works for everyone. He focused the December 2019 edition of Inside Maine on the impact of climate change in Maine, as well as emerging bipartisan solutions to address this global existential crisis.