Waxman-Markey Draft Sets Stage for Climate Legislation Union of Concerned Scientists, March 31, 2009 http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/waxman-markey-draft-sets-pace-0214.html The "discussion draft" for climate and energy legislation released by Reps. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Edward Markey (D-MA) sets the stage for the federal government to rapidly adopt a comprehensive approach to energy and climate policy. Waxman and Markey have pledged to move a bill out of the Energy and Commerce committee by Memorial Day, Monday, May 25. A renewable electricity standard similar to the one included in the discussion draft, requiring all utilities to obtain 25 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2025 would create 297,000 new domestic jobs and save consumers $64.3 billion in lower electricity and natural gas bills. It also would reduce global warming pollution by 277 million metric tons a year by 2025, the equivalent of the current annual output of 70 average-size coal-fired power plants. A national energy efficiency standard, such as the one included in the discussion draft, could save utility customers $168 billion through 2020 and create 220,000 jobs. In the year 2020, such a standard could reduce heat-trapping emissions by 260 million metric tons.