House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders unveil plan to achieve 100 percent clean economy by 2050

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Environment and Climate Change Chairman Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) announced Tuesday that the committee is adopting a target of achieving a 100 percent clean economy by 2050.

“Communities across the country are suffering from historic flooding, raging wildfires, increasingly severe storms, extreme heat, and persistent droughts,” Pallone said. “The climate crisis is here, and it requires serious federal leadership that’s up for the challenge. Today, we are announcing a plan that will help us produce comprehensive legislation to reach a 100 percent clean economy by 2050. This is an ambitious but necessary goal, and we’re committed to working hand-in-hand with all stakeholders across the country to get the job done.”

Over the coming months, the Energy and Commerce Committee plans to hold a series of hearings and stakeholder meetings to hear ideas for developing a deep decarbonization strategy. This process will inform comprehensive climate legislation to address the climate crisis and facilitate the transition of the U.S. economy to net zero greenhouse gas pollution by 2050, the committee said.

The first hearings series began yesterday with the Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee’s hearing on Pathways for Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy. The Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee and the Energy Subcommittee will hold hearings over the coming months. Hearings will cover reducing industrial emissions, reducing transportation emissions, modernizing the electric grid, economy-wide solutions, and other topics.

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Vice President of Congressional Affairs Erin Duncan commented on the announcement, noting the potential role of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) in achieving the 2050 goal.

“Today Chairman Pallone, Reps. Tonko and Rush shared their bold vision for policies to mitigate the impacts of climate change,” Duncan said. “Moving to 100 percent clean energy by 2050 will require solar deployment at a massive scale, and our companies are ready to deliver with the right policies in place, such as an extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC).”