Here are some devastating criticisms of Senator Kerry's and Senator Lieberman's polluter-friendly American Power Act, along with a ringing endorsement from Darth Vader:

 The bill would decimate the Clean Air Act as it applies to global warming, and it would undercut states’ ability to seek innovative solutions. The bill would also hand billions in giveaways to corporate polluters, including the oil, coal, nuclear and agribusiness industries, while creating a risky new subprime carbon market for Wall Street traders. All this is in exchange for pollution reduction goals far weaker than what scientists say are needed and myriad loopholes. No wonder so many corporate polluters are reportedly poised to welcome this bill’s introduction. 

The fact that the bill contemplates expanded offshore drilling while millions of gallons of oil are still gushing into the Gulf of Mexico underscores the extent to which it has been co-opted by polluters. It doesn’t have to be this way. Our country can be powered with 100 percent clean energy. The only thing standing in the way is a lack of political leadership.

Without dramatic improvements this bill should not be passed, and senators should consider alternatives. In the meantime, existing tools like the Clean Air Act must be put to work. More broadly, we must end a system in which polluter lobbyists exercise effective veto power in Congress. Our economy, global security, and the health of the public are all at stake.

-          Statement of Erich Pica, President of Friends of the Earth

In the midst of a disastrous oil spill, we have a bill that incentivizes off-shore oil drilling. In the aftermath of a horrific explosion in the West Virginia coal mine, we have a bill that proposes to subsidize coal. And as Nashville dries out from historic flooding that may well be climate change related, we have a bill which does not present meaningful reductions in fossil fuel use and carbon pollution necessary to prevent catastrophic climate change. It seems that after a year and a half wrangling, the only people who can be happy with this bill are the fossil fuel industry lobbyists.

-          Phil Radford, President of Greenpeace

Oceana is dismayed that the offshore drilling provisions of this legislation will hinder climate solutions rather than strengthen them.  Expanded drilling makes slowing climate change harder; expanding renewables, such as offshore wind, would make it easier.  We need to reject the failed policies of the past and reduce carbon dioxide emissions to reap the economic and environmental benefits of a clean energy future for our children and grandchildren.  … Oceana is left with no choice but to oppose this bill in its current form and any other climate legislation that extends our unsustainable dependence on fossil fuels into the foreseeable future, rather than moving us into the clean energy future we all deserve.

-          Statement of Oceana

The bill’s inclusion of a program to build the resilience of those hardest hit by climate impacts around the world and to promote global security is vital. However, we are deeply disappointed that the funding is inadequate and is not set to begin until 2019.  As the bill moves forward, it is crucial for international adaptation programs to receive the necessary resources now, as well as down the road.

-          Statement of Oxfam

We also are disappointed that the draft would block states from enacting their own cap-and-trade programs and curtails EPA authority to deal with new coal plants, especially if the federal program is found to be ineffective in future years.  On the heels of research by Environment America showing that state-led action on energy and global warming will cut pollution by more than 535 million metric tons by 2020—which is more than the annual emissions from all but eight of the world’s countries—it is imperative that states have the freedom to continue to innovate, especially in the event that the federal program fails to meet its goals in future years.

We know that energy efficiency is the cheapest, cleanest and safest way to build our clean energy economy and cut global warming pollution, but the discussion draft does not do nearly enough to advance energy efficiency efforts, leaving significant numbers of jobs, real pollution reductions and cost savings on the table.  More must be done to fully realize the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy, and to reduce our dependence on oil and other polluting dangerous fossil fuels.

Finally, Environment America does not believe that nuclear power is needed to tackle global warming—and in fact may hold back our efforts to build a clean energy economy—thus we oppose huge new investments in nuclear power and especially language in the draft which would streamline the licensing process for new nuclear power plants.  Given the danger and expense of building new nuclear power plants, all existing permitting safeguards should be maintained, not weakened.

-          Statement of Environment America

350.org continues to focus on what's scientifically required -- The American Power Act doesn't meet the test of atmospheric science since the targets are very weak, and the offsets mean even they won't be met in time to prevent climate catastrophe.

Our partners around the world are dismayed by the weakness of the targets in this bill since many of them will continue to bear the costs of our inadequate response. And in this country, many local organizers and state legislators don't like the curbs put on states to reduce their carbon emissions through comprehensive legislation. The APA allows states to set clean energy quotas for utilities, but doesn't let them cap carbon effectively -- it's wrong to block strong state leadership on climate change.

-          Bill McKibben, 350.org

 We at the American Lung Association were shocked to read language included in the draft American Power Act introduced today by Senators John Kerry and Joseph Lieberman that would unleash a dangerous process to attack life-saving rules on coal-fired power plants and threaten to permit much more air pollution around the nation.  The outrageous proposal creates an open door through which millions of tons of life-threatening pollution could be allowed to flow. We oppose these provisions.  The American Lung Association cannot support legislation that includes changes to the Clean Air Act that undermine the protection of public health.  We urge the Senate to strip such unnecessary and objectionable language from any bill.

-          Charles D. Connor, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Lung Association

Unfortunately, we can’t go backwards to move forwards. Legislation that promotes offshore drilling is not the answer to achieving American energy security and reducing global warming pollution. We are disappointed that the bill includes provisions that promote offshore oil drilling and therefore cannot support the bill in its current state.

-              Rodger Schlickeisen, president, Defenders of Wildlife