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With all of the media focused on healthcare, it's important to remember that a major piece of climate legislation called the American Clean Energy and Security Act passed the House of Representatives in late June. The U.S. Senate will soon mark up similar legislation. The House bill has its merits, such as the energy efficiency provisions which will save American households hundreds of dollars on their energy bills and a clean energy bank that will drive tens of billions of private investment dollars into job-creating clean energy technologies. At the same time, it has flaws such as a weak 2020 emissions target and a weak renewable electricity standard. Strengthening these would give America a stronger negotiating position in international climate talks in Copenhagen this December. Right now, Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin is playing a key role on the Environment and Public Works Committee in drafting the Senate legislation. I urge residents who want our country to produce more clean energy and less pollution to call Sen. Cardin and demand he support a strong bill.

Matt Dernoga, Laurel

The writer is the campaign director of UMD for Clean Energy at the University of Maryland.