Congressman G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., voted to approve climate change legislation during a committee vote on Thursday night. Butterfield, vice chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, worked closely with the authors of the legislation, Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Edward Markey, D-Mass.,

to ensure that consumers and jobs were protected. And, in his closing remarks before the vote, Chairman Waxman singled out several legislators, including Butterfield, for their strong work to achieve a compromise Butterfield said that during his discussions with Markey and Waxman he stressed the

need for changes to the proposed renewable standard, increased consumer cost protections and for the establishment of three green energy Centers of Excellence at 1890 land grant institutions.

The original draft of the legislation required that at least 25 percent of the electricity produced in each state come from renewable sources by 2025. Given the lack of wind and solar opportunities, Butterfield said this standard would be “impractical and virtually impossible” for states like North Carolina to meet.

Butterfield explained that the committee compromised with a “strong but realistic” standard requiring that by 2020, 15 percent of power generation in each state come from renewable sources and each state achieve a 5 percent gain in energy efficiency measures such as recycling lost heat, updating older facilities and other low-cost actions.

Recognizing the already high cost of energy in North Carolina, Butterfield said he also strongly advocated for devoting a large share of the revenues generated from the cap-and-trade activities be devoted to offsetting any cost increases for low- and moderate-income consumers.

Under language adopted this week, Butterfield said 15 percent of the revenues – estimated to be as much as $10 billion in the first year – would be reserved for consumer cost offsets.

Butterfield also noted a successful amendment offered with Rep. Baron Hill, D-Ind., aimed at ensuring that recreational marine vessel manufacturers avoid being unfairly burdened by the new rules. Greenville, N.C.-based Grady-White, New Bern, N.C.-based Hatteras, Edenton, N.C-based Albemarle Boats and Tarboro, N.C.-based World Cat all operate within Butterfield’s district