This week, the Senate is
debating the Climate Security Act, the most comprehensive global warming
legislation ever to come before Congress.
Most of my Senate colleagues understand that global warming is real and is
caused mainly by manmade pollution. We must begin now to greatly reduce our
emissions to restore some balance to the global climate system.
Global warming is a problem
we cannot ignore. As some of you have already experienced directly, the
wildfire season in the West is getting longer each year. It is now 78 days
longer than it was 30 years ago. These fires are larger and burning longer.
Add to that the severe
droughts we are seeing in Nevada. In February, a major study concluded that Lake
Mead could go dry by 2021. This would change our way of life, and devastate
millions of people.
That’s the bad news. The
good news is that the Climate Security Act would create a new and powerful
economic engine. It will slow the impacts of climate change and will make the
world habitable for future generations.
The climate bill will
create hundreds of thousands – probably millions – of high-paying jobs
throughout our country, including thousands in Nevada. It would help Nevada
become the global leader in renewable energy production.
Nevada
has the energy resources that will make a green economy possible, and our solar
and geothermal resources will become even more valuable.
