American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009

The American Clean Energy Leadership Act of 2009 was a comprehensive legislative proposal designed to modernize the U.S. energy grid, increase domestic energy production, and promote energy efficiency. It sought to establish a federal "Renewable Electricity Standard," which would have required major utility companies to obtain 15% of their electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar, and geothermal by the year 2021.

For everyday citizens, the bill aimed to lower long-term energy costs by providing rebates for energy-efficient home retrofits and creating new federal loan programs to help small businesses and manufacturers adopt clean energy technologies. It also included provisions to strengthen the cybersecurity of the electrical grid to prevent power disruptions and expanded support for workforce training programs to prepare students for jobs in the growing renewable energy and nuclear power sectors. Additionally, the bill addressed national energy security by authorizing new oil and gas leasing in parts of the Gulf of Mexico while simultaneously funding research into carbon capture and advanced vehicle batteries.