So the US House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act on Friday. Given that many of us in the climate community have been griping for months on end about what a compromised, watered down, insufficient, coal friendly, piece of corporate welfare that the bill is, many of you may be wondering how you’re supposed to feel about this. Should we jeer or cheer? Should we do like Al and celebrate the mere passage of a climate bill as an historic achievement, or make like Greenpeace and raise our fists in protest against this flawed product of a hobbled political system?

If you’re ambivalent, that’s okay. Torn is exactly how you should feel about this bill. You’re just experiencing a very common condition I like to call ACES Ambivalence Disorder (AAD). Symptoms include irritability, frustration, dissatisfaction, anger, resentment, and political disillusionment on the one hand, and on the other a vague sense of hope and relief that the government is finally, actually, incredibly doing something (and may do more if only we push them).

If you peruse the array of statements many environmental orgs and yea-voting reps released after the ACES vote, you’ll find that most of the authors have been stricken with AAD as well. Just consider this press release from 1Sky, entitled “1Sky is Relieved by House Victory on Energy Bill; Ready to Work for More.” We feel you 1Sky. Or, kind of. I think.

We at CCAN are not entirely immune either. On Friday after scrambling (successfully!) to get MD Congressmen like Frank Kratovil just to vote yes on ACES, I joined Mike Tidwell, Jesse Tolkan and over a hundred climate activists on the east lawn of the Capitol to demand that Congress give us more.

So, again, to all you suffering from AAD, fear not. It’s perfectly normal. You’re in perfectly good company.

And best of all, there’s a cure. And you can be part of it. Here’s how: finish reading this blog, go directly to your phone and call Senators Cardin and Mikulski to let them know how you feel. Tell them that for starters what we need to help us all feel better about the bill and alleviate our AAD is the restoration of the EPA’s authority to regulate emissions from coal-fired power plants, and a huge dose of their leadership. For the full prescription check out Mike Tidwell’s recent letter.

Here’s to our speedy convalescence.

Sitting outside of the House office buildings, our groups of green shirts and hard hats were met by Capitol police insisting arrests will happen if we kept standing in front of the office building. I recall one officer asking if we were planning to commit any civil disobedience.

“Man these cops really have nothing going today except hassling us for building awareness about clean energy and green jobs,” I thought to myself. As an instigator at heart, I felt answering, “Keep threatening us with intentions of arrests,” “Go ahead and throw us in jail, but our message will never be put in jail.” My instincts though informed me that this wasn't the time for me to be put in jail and how true my instincts were.

Our group decided to move our presence into the Longworth House office building to find as many representatives as we could to show them we want green jobs and clean energy. Making our way through security and downstairs to the basement one of my fellow group members asked me what we should be doing. Beginning to answer her question I spotted my Representative, Dr. Steve Kagen, hurrying past me. I informed my group member to hold that thought and I went after my Representative.

“Congressman Kagen,” I said as I closed in. He stopped and looked over his shoulder. Standing next to him, he began speaking,

“Hey there. I swear every time I see you, you get taller and taller.” I smiled and started laying down my concerns.

“Congressman Kagen you are voting on the American Clean Energy and Security Act tonight. I just wanted to let you know that this bill is very important to my people on the Menominee Reservation. I have recently been awarded a grant by the Clinton Global Initiative to implement renewable energy technology on the transportation system that serves the Menominee community and surrounding communities. I envision the renewable energy powering the transportation system in the fall, but that