On December 6th, US Congress passed a clean energy bill that would: raise fuel economy standards by 40%, increase the requirement for national use of renewable fuels, require utilities to use more renewable energy, end tax breaks for big oil companies, and more. The Bush administration, who originally criticized congress for pushing a "partisan bill they knew had no chance of being signed into law," changed their tune after weeks of negotiation. President Bush signed a modified version of the bill into law this morning, which will cause the first major increase in fuel efficiency standards in over 30 years along with some other really positive changes.

So what got Bush to sign the bill? The much debated, modified version of the bill (that was delivered by Congress to the White House on Tuesday in a gas-hybrid sedan) left out two important provisions that Congressional Democrats had been encouraging for months. The first was the end of tax breaks for big oil (which would have generated over $20 billion in funding for renewable energy). The second was the requirement that utility companies would have to buy 15% of their power from renewable sources.

Although some pieces of the original bill are now missing, its passage marks a new and clean direction for U.S. Energy Policy.

* Automakers will have to improve the fuel efficiency of their fleets 40% by 2020, a change from 25 to 35 miles per gallon.

* Of the 140 billion gallons of gasoline the US uses annually, 36 billion of those gallons must be replaced with biofuel by 2022. And, only 15 of the 36 billion gallons will be allowed to come from corn-based ethanol, a provision that will calm fears of food shortages. Today, the United States uses only 6 billion gallons of biofuel annually.

* By 2013, all Federal buildings will be required to have replaced their general purpose lighting with Energy Star products, or products designated under the Energy Department's Federal Energy Management Program by 2013.

* The Energy Policy and Conservation Act will be revised to set new residential appliance efficiency standards. These new and efficient refrigerators, heaters, and other household appliances will have to meet higher efficiency standards that will save us all money and lower our greenhouse gas emissions.

Overall the new laws will give a huge boost to the green movement.  The parts of the bill that did pass are a great start to a cleaner future for everyone.  The parts that were left out will not be forgotten; environmental groups and members of the congress already have plans to continue to push for their passage.  Go green!