A strong focus on the environment has been a defining characteristic of John Kerry’s entire public life, from long before his time as a politician. The coordinator of the First Earth Day, Denis Hayes once said of John Kerry that “no constituency has more cause to rally to Kerry than environmentalists” and that “Kerry has always been there when [the environmental movement] needed him.”

This is one of those times when the environmental community (of which I consider myself a part) needs leaders. And, thankfully, Kerry is again there when we need him. <!-more-> There was an effort to push coal-to-liquid technology in this energy bill, a technology that would actually make our climate crisis worse. But John Kerry introduced some key provisions that will force liquid coal to either live up to the goals of reducing greenhouse gasses, or not be deployed at all. And his plan also rolls back tax breaks to big oil companies, along with boosting incentives for environmentally friendly fuels and buildings. Here’s the press release explaining all:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Finance Committee accepted several key provisions introduced by Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.) to the energy tax package. Kerry’s plan rolls back tax breaks for big oil companies, saving taxpayers $9.5 billion during the next 10 years. His proposals for tax credits for energy efficient homes and buildings, plug in hybrids cars, and renewable fuel production were also agreed to by the Finance Committee.

The Committee also accepted a Kerry amendment to demand higher environmental standards on liquid coal facilities. The amendment mandates a 20% life cycle greenhouse gas reduction requirement to liquid coal facilities that receive the alternative fuels tax credit.

“Ending big tax breaks for the oil companies is a huge step forward in solving our energy crisis,” Senator Kerry said. “It’s just not right that big executives are riding the gravy train while Americans can’t afford heating and cooling bills and suffer historic pain at the pump. We aren’t going to solve our energy crisis until we start getting smart about efficiency and new fuels, and providing incentives for greening and production of renewable fuels will move the ball forward.”

“Coal to liquids hurts our efforts to adopt clean, new, renewable sources of energy that are good for our environment and our future,” Kerry added. “My amendment will help curb greenhouse gas emissions from liquid coal facilities. We can burn coal in a clean way, while keeping jobs in our country and adding new ones. This legislation is a good place to start.”