Editor:

Re: "House passes major energy-climate bill," June 27.

Congress took a historic step toward a clean energy economy by passing the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454). Unfortunately, Representative Cynthia Lummis did not vote for this bill. In fact, the dramatic shift we need in our energy policy and the dire scientific predictions regarding global warming demand that we do much more; the first step is always the hardest, and Congress should be applauded for taking it.

This historic first step is a great way to fight the impacts of global warming while stimulating the economy with over 1 million jobs. According to a new Environment America report, Wyoming is on track to spend as much as $139.7 on oil, coal, and other fossil fuels by 2030 - 9.7 times the total earnings of all Wyoming workers in 2007 - unless we take action now to repower with clean energy. The bill now moves to the Senate. Sens. John Barrasso and Mike Enzi should strengthen and pass the bill to deliver on the promise that clean energy holds to recharge our economy, put millions of Americans back to work, and protect future generations from global warming.

DEBORAH GORMAN, Washington, D.C.