The U.S. House of Representatives may vote this week on a bill that promises to create green energy jobs, lessen the nation's dependence on fossil fuels and put the nation on a course to reducing the greenhouse gases that feed global warming.

As the name suggests, the American Clean Energy and Security Act -- HR 2454 -- includes incentives to encourage green energy sources such as wind and solar. To further combat pollution, it uses a cap-and-trade approach.

A cap would be set on total carbon emissions, but companies could buy or sell credits depending on whether they are above or below specified emissions goals. In this way, the bill would reduce emissions in stages -- by 83 percent over the next 40 years.

There's a lot to like in this bill, but you wouldn't know it from the critics. They portray it as a job killer that won't reduce global warming. Yet environmental groups like the Sierra Club (which sees the evidence of global warming firsthand) and labor unions like the United Steelworkers (which has an interest in jobs) have joined together in a Blue Green Alliance that supports this legislation.

The opposition has several strands. In part, it reflects outright denial that global warming is occurring, a position that grows ever more ridiculous. (Just last week, a scientific report made it clear that climate change is already lifting temperatures, increasing rainfall and rasing sea levels around the nation.) It also reflects fear and an aversion to change in some old communities with traditional links to industries such as coal.

That brings us home to Pittsburgh. U.S. Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has been a progressive and supportive force on this legislation. The same can't be said for Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair, a member of the same committee.

As he said in a recent Post-Gazette op-ed column, Mr. Murphy views cap- and-trade as a pollution tax and trade scheme -- a position that takes some chutzpah, given that cap-and-trade harnesses the power of the marketplace and rejects a straightforward carbon tax.

Mr. Murphy is very unlikely to vote for this bill. Unfortunately, in the Obama era the Republican Party is dead set on embracing the old and saying no to the new. A new day may be coming to America, but wake them up when it comes.

That is not an excuse that Rep. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, can use. While other Democrats lead the charge on this legislation, he is on record as saying that cap-and-trade is bad policy. This reflects the misplaced fears of his constituents -- and perhaps his own fear of losing his seat. It has nothing to do with taking an enlightened stand.

Working people in the Beaver Valley or anywhere else are not served by clinging to the past. A recent study by a project of the Pew Charitable Trust shows why. Green energy jobs are exploding at a rate of 9.1 percent a year. In 2007, Pennsylvania already had more than 38,700 of them.

This is the future: Clean energy, clean jobs and greater security for the nation. This is the moment our local representatives in Congress need to seize.