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We’re leading an all-out national mobilization to defeat the climate crisis.

Join our work today to help us build a thriving and just clean energy future. 

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What Is a Clean Electricity Performance Program?

The Clean Electricity Performance Program is the most powerful tool we have to reduce America’s carbon pollution, confront the climate crisis, and build a just and thriving economy run on 100% clean energy. Here's how it works and the benefits it will deliver.

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100% Clean Power Climate in Congress

The power sector currently accounts for over one-quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas pollution. Cleaning up our power grid is essential to winning the fight against the climate crisis. And Congress has a huge opportunity right now to invest in our electricity system and make it happen. It’s called a Clean Electricity Performance Program or CEPP. 

So What Exactly is a CEPP? How Does It Work? 

A Clean Electricity Performance Program is a federal investment program that helps drive our power sector toward 80% clean electricity by 2030—a crucial milestone on the path to 100% by 2035. This is a federal investment program designed to mimic the impact of successful state Clean Electricity Standards (CES). Congress has the opportunity to pass this program as part of the budget reconciliation process.

As Evergreen senior policy advisor Dr. Leah Stokes explained on A Matter of Degrees, “Budget reconciliation is a way that the federal government can invest, can spend money or raise revenue—or do both. And it’s the way you can pass a bill through Congress with just 50 votes.” 

CEPP would use federal investments to incentivize electric utilities to increase their use of clean energy. It would also include financial penalties to ensure that these utilities don’t fall behind in their transition to carbon pollution-free power sources. Think of it like a carrot-and-stick approach. 

Why Does It Matter?

A new independent analysis recently found that a robust CEPP would deliver major benefits over the next decade, including: 

  • Expanding the workforce by nearly 8 million jobs. 
  • Injecting nearly $1 trillion into the economy
  • Raising $154 billion in tax revenue for federal, state, and local governments
  • Driving economic development through the construction of over 600 GW of new solar, wind and other clean energy projects. 

Bottom line: A Clean Electricity Performance Program would massively increase jobs, reduce toxic air pollution, and ease the burden of Americans’ utility bills. It's an investment not only in combating the climate crisis, but improving health and quality of life for people around the country. 

Here’s What You Can Do 

We stand at a really critical moment. If federal lawmakers pass a well-designed CEPP and robust complementary investments this year, it could put the U.S. on a path to 80% clean electricity by 2030. This program is critical for our 100% clean energy future.

Congress must act now to pass the Clean Electricity Performance Program and the other critical climate investments in the Build Back Better Act. Call your members of Congress right now and let them know you support a CEPP. It only takes a minute, and we’ve got a script ready if you need it. Make the call now.

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